Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!

A Dibakar Bannerjee directed movie starring Abhay Deol as Lucky, a super thief whose ready wit helps him not only during his burglaries but also in ousmarting his captors while being cornered. Added to this is his flamboyance and carefree attitude that helps him to win people's trust. His original style soon transforms him from a petty thief to a famous one and brings him to the brinks of his dream for a rich lifestyle. But time and again he is faced with betrayals and he has to evade getting captured again and again from the police. Though the story is a nice one but sometimes is too slow and at other times too fast and as a whole seems to lack cohesion. Paresh Rawal is on a triple role but he seems to lose his natural zeal while Archana Puran Singh is good in her opportunist type portrayal of a side character.

Ordeal By Innocence

Another Agatha Christie classic but my enjoyment was marred by knowing the plot in advance, that too from its picturised version viewed quite sometimes back. So I could not enjoy the flavour of the mystery very much though the thrilling ending in the signature Christie style could glue me tightly to the final chapters that once more revealed to me the mastery of Christie's writing! That I knew the criminal didn't matter much in the final chapters but the sheer way of presentation kept me enthralled to the very end. Still I must say that the ending was rather poor compared to other Christie novels that I'd read though I'll recommend this again and again to mystery lovers for its surprising twist.
The storyline is itself a new one where we find a young boy, previously accused of murdering his foster mother, being given a free pardon after two years based on a very late evidence. But it was too late in the sense that the boy had died while in jail. So though the family was in one hand pleased at having the truth unveiled but the cloud of suspicion also engulfed them as it was obvious that the murder was an inside job, given the time and condition of the event. Thus as the case reopened once again, the members of the family starts doubting each other and the pain and anguish become apparent in the conversations that covers the most part of the story. Fresh evidences are sought out and the whole aspect is considered from a different point of view. Some tries to unearth the actual criminal and thus becomes a threat to the murderer. Some tries to keep the past in the dark and thus becomes obstacles in the path of truth. Thus the web is formed and readers will find this complex situation well handled by the author. This is more of a psychological battle between the good and the evil and the phrase 'innocent must not suffer' ultimately prevails. A very complex plot and enjoyable to those who loves psychological plots.

Sadhu Babar Lathi

Based on a novel by Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay, the movie is the most poorly directed that I ever saw in a Nandan II premiere. Added to this are the unnecessary overacting and the slow pace of the movie. The only thing that deserves mention is the quality of the songs that is not only rich in melody but the lyrics of each one is both simple and appealing.

Sonar Kella

Maybe this book (or maybe Joy Baba Felunath, actually both came in a single gift package from my parents) was my first introduction to Feluda but this time as I read it on the eve of my proposed holiday to Rajasthan, the excitement was of a new type. Not only did I choose this book just to savour the adventure but also to have a glimpse of Rajasthan in Satyajit Ray’s eyes so that I can match it during my travel. Probably Jaisalmer and its Fort were made famous to the average Bengali by Ray only after publishing this book. And also he must be the only person in India to successfully christen an age old Fort to a new name that his imaginative brain provided observing the golden texture of the same. To tell about the story will do injustice to the millions and millions of Feluda fans who surely will never forget this story though it may not be a favourite one for them. One can never forget the adventure following the little Mukul’s tales of his previous life and precious stones. Then there was the failed attempt to kidnap Mukul and thereafter begins the race between Feluda and the miscreants. In this, several suspicious characters are introduced and it is upto Feluda to undo the mask of decency from the face of the villains. This novel is not only famous for its storyline and its later filming but in this story Ray introduced the character of Lalmohan Ganguly aka Jatayu, the thriller novelist and thus was struck a lifelong friendship between Feluda, Topshe and Jatayu. Just one point to further note is that in the sketches of this book Lalmohan is far from chubby and only after the filming of Sonar Kella and Santosh Dutta’s renowned performance as Jatayu in it did Ray modify his sketch to make Lalmohan’s figure more to correspond that of Santosh Dutta. The climax of the story is inside the Fort and while reading this those who have viewed the movie surely could never resist comparing it from the movie version.

C Kkompany

The story of three losers and friends, one a crime reporter Akshay Kumar who is betrothed to the daughter of an underworld Don and dreams of settling in Dubai, second the retired Joshi who is considered to be a burden by his son and his family and third is Lambodar, whose height and self-esteem both seems to be the obstacle to his dream of reaching for the sky. These three hatch upon a plan to extort money from Joshi’s son, Purushottam by way of threatening him on phone in the guise of an emerging underworld gang. To enhance the effect they shoot a video in Akshay’s camcorder where Joshi acts as the hooded hostage whom Lambodar feigns to kill. They names the gang C company. This not only terrorizes Purushottam but the CD is misplaced and is telecasted over the whole country that alarms both the underworld and also the corrupt police forces. Meanwhile these three also starts to intimidate the corrupt officials and promoters by threatening phone calls and thus helps the common man who labels the gang as the Robinhood of underworld. TV shows are organized and the whole country seems divided in their opinion of the operations of this gang. The Don is also excited as one of his pubs is forced to close and so he also sets on the trail to finish off the leaders of C company. Though the climax is not so interesting but the final twist near the end is nice. As to the acting, the best part is done by Rajpal Yadav and Raima Sen is nice in her side role and never crosses her defined boundary to gain attention as the case is for several other actors of recent times. But Mithunda is not so correct in his characterization and at time overacts.

Mumbai Meri Jaan

It portrays the triumph of a city’s spirits in the face of terror. The film picks up representatives of certain classes of people, the principled corporate personnel, the professional journalist, the apparently corrupt policeman, the easy going shopkeeper and the idle supplier whose philosophy of life is challenged following the fateful day when serial bomb blasts ripped through Bombay railways and sent various emotions in the minds of the survivors and the other citizens. The film is truly based on how these five struggles to lead a normal life following the mental trauma and shock following the incident. Though the theme of the movie is based on bomb blast but the film chants the promise of life through mutual belief, courage, repentance and love of the city and the country. The chief characters are played by K.K. Menon, Paresh Rawal, Irfan Khan, Madhavan and Soha Ali Khan and I don’t any other could have done better in portraying the respective roles.

Tarnikhuror Kirtikolap

The content is as

1. Dumnigorer Manushkheko

2. Conway Castler Pretatma

3. Seth Gangaramer Dhandoulat

4. Lucknowr Duel

5. Dhumolgarer Hunting Lodge

6. Kheloar Tarinikhuro

7. Tollywoode Tarinikhuro

8. Tarinikhuro o Betal

To some, Ray’s Feluda belongs to the series of ‘Dada’s to which belongs Premendra Mitra’s Ghonada & Narayan Gangopadhyay’s Tenida, but to me Feluda appears to be Ray’s creation to meet the intellectual need of the Bengali youth. But Tarinikhuro, his other creation, can be more appropriately placed in the ‘addabaaz’ Bengali class and can be looked upon as an older version of Ghonada. Though the later’s exploits takes him around the globe but Tarinikhuro has always kept his adventures within the borders of his country. But that didn’t stop him from coming face-to-face with maneaters, ghosts, noblemen, murderers, actors, artists and men of various other professions as he claims to his audience comprising of the narrator and his four friends, Bhulu, Napla, Chatpati, Sunanda. According to him, much of his life has been spent touring the whole of India in pursuit of adventure for which he had to switch between various professions including that of journalist, model, production manager of a film company, personal assistant, personal secretary, private tutor and several others. And in almost every occasion he became involved in curious situations.

Eight of his exploits are penned by Ray in this book and he, as always had excelled in his storytelling ability and his brilliance in carving extraordinary stories out of an ordinary surrounding that is evident in 3, 4, 6 and 7. The other four are mainly ghost stories but here too the twists near the end will surely fascinate the readers.

Rock On!!

Smartly directed!! Magnificently performed!! Briliantly orchestrated!!

It's the story of four friends, the lead guitarist Joe (Mascarenhas), vocalist Adi (Aditya Shroff), Rob (Nancy) with his keyboards & KD aka Killer Drummer (Kedar Zaveri) whose dream was to launch a music album of their group that they called Magik with the motto 'nobody will takeover'! But alas when opportunity came of releasing their album, first the reality bite from the music company's executives and secondly the growing ego clash between Joe & Adi broke their dream and their group in one crushing blow.

10 years went by and we find the four friends diverted to different careers. Aditya, now a married man and a workaholic, never reveals his past and his true inner self to his wife. Rob now works as a composer in the commercials, KD, the jolliest of the four, assists his father in his jewellery business. The dreamer Joe is running a store for musical instruments and his wife Debbie, is running the family business of fish trading to counter the financial crisis of the family.

But a curious turn of fate brought the four frendz face to face and it was up to them to decide whether or not Magik can be rekindled. For this Rob has to fight against his cancerous tumour, Joe & Adi must wipe out their differences, Joe must choose between Magik & his family and KD must keep the spirits high for the group.

Arjun Rampal as Joe is superb and though he has very limited dialogues but his expressions were perfect to convey the emotions of the true dreamer, I think I've never seen him acting with so much passion before. Shahana Goswami, portraying Debbie, also shows a marvelous performace and I can say for sure that we have another of the like of Konkona Sensharma coming up in her. Next to mention is Farhan Akhtar, debutant in acting, though a seasoned director and also a fine singer. His characterization of Adi was just perfect for the role. Luke Kenny (Rob) and Purab Kohli (KD) are also outstanding in their performances, the former depicting what true love to music means and the latter breathing relief to the movie. Last but not the least mention must be made of the performer in the background, the genius of Shankar Ehsan Loy whose 'Magik'al touch is the best gift of this production.

The story is simple and will touch all the deep chords in ur heart and if u've ever lost a dear frend in ur life......................hope he is also watching this movie so that one day when opportunity arrives u can use all the lessons composed by Rock On to repair the broken wires and tune up once again to the music that is being played in ur heart!

Saradindu Omnibus Vol I

It was with a thrill that I took up this volume as I was trying to find some stimulant to freshen up my damped mood. It was neary a decade that I re-read the stories but as usual it was a pleasant experience.

The content, as all the fans of Byomkesh and the author know by heart, runs as
1. Satyanwesi
2. Pather Kanta
3. Seemanta Heera
4. Makorshar Rash
5. Arthamanartham
6. Chorabali
7. Mrityuban
8. Upasanhar
9. Raktamukhi Neela
10. Byomkesh O Barda
11. Chitrachor
12. Durgarahasya
13. Chiriakhana

The super-sleuth (as Shri Sukumar Sen has aptly termed him in the introduction) of Bengali crime-fiction saw its culmination in Byomkesh Bakshi, the best detective ever created by a Bengali author, in my opinion. The thirteen cases penned by his companion Ajit Bandyopadhyay takes us through some exciting puzzles and murder mysteries that required the super brain of Byomkesh to solve. The author Saradindu Bandyopadhyay has never tried to portray his most famous creation as a superman but Byomkesh has been projected much like an ordinary Bengali guy but with a keen intellect that distinguished him from the others. The Byomkesh stories were woven on the fabric of the Bengali social structure and so never had it lost the realistic touch. Also the author has never compromised to use his literary talents to enrich the text but never for once had he been carried away and left the reader miles from the actual plot. The simpleness of the story telling and the distinctive features of the crimes have made these jewels of both crime fiction and Bengali literature as a whole.

Hari Koreche Pratigya

A drama by Sandipan directed by Kajal Chakraborty who also plays the part of the chief protagonist of the narrative.

The story is about Hari, who under the guise of domestic servants is always on the lookout to steal his master's jewelleries for his sweetheart Kusum so as to win him over from his rival Jata, another wooer of Kusum. But Kusum's craving for jewellery is neverending and so Hari is found to switch his job and his name to meet Kusum's needs. But Hari's inner self begins to protest and finally we find him at the crossroads where he gets confused to choose between the life of a common thief and the ascetic.

The chief part of the drama is humorous but the problem is that the entire presentation is marred with a very feeble direction, and loosely woven sequences. Added to this is the inadequate use of background score and stage lighting. The entire performance can only be labelled as average though the individual acting of Mr. Chakraborty as well as the persons playing the role of Janardan and Panu (& the eununch) are excellent.

Maan Gaye Mughal-E-Azam

A situational comedy starred by a fascinating cast of Paresh Rawal, Kay Kay Menon, Rahul Bose, Mallika Sherawat, Zakeer Hussain, Tanaz Currim and Pawan Malhotra about how a drama company going by the name of Kalakar Natak Company saves a city from bomb blasts under the supervision of a RAW Agent, Arjun Rastogi.
The story revolves around the central plot of preventing a severe bomb blast masterminded by an underworld Don operating from Dubai. As RAW gets the information they starts immediate action but a blow to them comes when they discover that the agent appointed for the case is actually a double agent and is helping the terrorists. Then it is upto Arjun who uses the members of Kalakar Natak Company to help him protect the city.
Paresh Rawal is fascinating in his role as Udayshankar Mazumdar, the lead actor and a timid person in heart who rises to the occassion to take responsibility at the risk of his life to save his country. Kay Kay Mennos is also wonderful in his role of a gazal singer cum double agent and though his appearance is brief but he too breathes life to the movie. Mention must be made of Tanaz Currim who, with her distinct dialect, adds a special attraction. Pawan Malhotra is also nice, playing the part of a local goon and playing it correctly while Zakeer Hussain also plays his brief part succinctly. Mallika & Rahul, they are good, but it could have been better still!

Hijack

A hollywood style action packed drama reminding of 'Executive Decision' during the early parts and starring Shainey Ahuja and Esha Deol.

The story starts with the news that a terrorist group under the guidance of the mysterious Abdullah is will be trying to recover Rashid, another con man who had been captured by the police earlier. For this the terrorists stage a skyjack and in the process holds several people as hostages and starts killing them one by one as time passes without the Govt. avoiding their demands. Among the hostages was the little Priya, the daughter of Vikram Madan, the ex-pilot, now a demoted chief of maintenance, who had eralier lost his wife in another air-hijacking. Coincidentally the hijacked plane lands in the port where Vikram was currently stationed and thus began Vikram's ploy of rescuing his daughter and ensuring safety of the other passengers. In this, he is assisted by Saira, the air-hostess and together they carry out their plan to save the passengers and Priya.

The movie contains a good twist near its end and the first half is really quite exciting but the end is abrupt and oversimplified during certain sequences. Also it contains certain unnecessary songs that dilutes the main flow of the movie.

Via Darjeeling

A new concept, an unique last scene, 'down-to-the-audience' (coined the phrase to drive the meaning home) acting, these are the phrases I will choose to describe the classic. Added to this are the excellent acting of Vinay Pathak and Kay Kay Mennon! What more can you ask for?
The story starts with a police inspector, Robin, earlier posted at Darjeeling, now at Calcutta narratting one of his very curious experiences in Darjeeling at a gathering of friends. It was about a couple on their honeymoon at Darjeeling where the husband suddenly vanishes from their hotel room hours before he was to board the return train with his wife. The wife, who was at the bathroom, at the time of the dissapearance, consults with the hotel manager and calls the police and it was Robin who was given the charge to find the missing man. But Robin, after interrogations and investigations failed to find any trace of the husband.
The story serves as the prelude to the drama in which each of the friends in the gathering tries to find an answer to the mysterious dissapearance and though some of them go astray in their explanations, others manage some logical conjectures.
There is apparently no real climax in the story but the novel concept will keep the audience glued to the seat and the audience may identify their thoughts with that of the characters.
So I again say that those who like to experiment with their imaginations can enjoy the story as it not only is an excellent watch but also provides food for the brain.