I know I'm late to join in the bandwagon but I haven't watched many Hindi films lately. Blame Telugu cinema for that :D I've been on a writer's block for several months and haven't written a full review with lots of caps. Instead I've been writing a bunch of mini-reviews.
Since I haven't blogged about a Hindi film in a while, I thought I should list my top 5 Bollywood film of 2010 that I've seen so far.
Here goes....
#5
Udaan
After being expelled from school, Rohan (Rajat Barmecha) returns home after being gone to boarding school for 8 years to learn he had a 6-years-old half-brother, Arjun, who he never knew about. Rohan's father re-married, had Arjun, and divorced. Rohan's mother passed away when he was really young. He wants to be a writer but his father rejects the idea. Instead, his father wants him to work in his factory and go to school to become an engineer.
Film opens with four friends mischievously skipping school only to find themselves expelled. Honestly, I thought the film would show the lives of four of the friends but I was totally wrong. The film focused on only one of the guys, Rohan. His relationship with his father.
The actor who plays Rohan, Rajat Barmecha, reminds me of a young Imraan Khan. He has a sweet, innocent look. He is definitely a fresh of breath air. I look forward to seeing him more in the future.
The person who stole my heart was the little boy who played Arjun who was just too cute. I just wanted to go and hug him. He had me in tears many times. I could feel his pain when he was trying to be the obedient son.
Even though Rohan and Arjun had a heartless father who only cares for himself, I am glad there was a supportive relative, their uncle, Jimmy, who tried to be an emotional helping hand when needed.
I wonder how the storyline would be if the father had one daughter instead of two sons? Just a thought.
Udaan is a very good film but it starts off slow. It's not the type of film I could watch over and over. Therefore, it ranks #5 on my list. However, I do like it for the storyline, acting, and brilliant direction. To me, it's definitely Oscar-worthy.
#4
Once Upon a Time in Mumbai
Once Upon a Time in Mumbai...
Sultan Mirza - the man Mumbai once feared....
Shoaib Khan - the man Mumbai now fears....
Sultan (Ajay Devgan) grew up as an orphan and worked hard for everything. As an adult, he becomes a don in Mumbai. He is feared by everyone. However, he has a soft spot for those who are cheated by the government. He loves the famous actress, Rehana (Kangna Ranaut).
Since childhood, Shoaib is a petty thief and a nobody. Ironically, his father is a police officer who cannot control his only son. Even his beloved, naive girlfriend, Mumtaz (Prachi Desai) cannot help him either. Thinking that he could scare his son, he seeks Sultan's help to help "set his son straight."
Because of Sultan's respected status, Shoaib wants to be just like Sultan and joins his gang. So he starts imitating Sultan, the way he smokes, dresses, to wanting to have an actress girlfriend.
When Sultan left Mumbai, he let Shoaib in charge. Mumbai starts to deteriorate, which cause a rift between the two guys.
Film starts off with DCP Agnel Wilson (Randeep Hooda) trying to commit suicide. However, he was saved and explains why he tried to do so. He narrates the stories of Sultan Mira and Shoaib Khan. I enjoyed the narration. Hello Randeep Hooda! I never noticed him before until now. He has that suave look and sexy voice, which reminds me of Arjun Rampal. He was the cool cop who wanted to bring down the two most feared guys in Mumbai but was unsuccessful.
I got this from
Wikipedia....
"The film covers the growth of the Mumbai underworld, from crime and smuggling in its early stages through its connection with international terrorism in recent times. It is based on actual events. It is believed to be loosely based on the lives of Haji Mastan and Dawood Ibrahim, as the characters Sultan and Shoaib respectively."
With a moustache, Ajay looks even better. He is a handsome man who doesn't get that much credit in the film industry. He was the perfect choice for playing Sultan. Even though Sultan is known as a don, I think he is more like Robin Hood. He tries to help the people in need who has been victimized by the government.
This is Emraan Hashmi's film all the way!! He is definitely the most underrated actors...EVER! I've been a fan of his since his debut film,
Footpath. I cannot stress how much I adore him. He is known as the seriel kisser but I don't care. He is damn good at acting too.
The film started off with Sultan and how he got to where he was. However, you see the changes and growth of Shoaib who was more of a shady character who didn't give a damn and selfishly thought about himself. He didn't care about what his father or girlfriend thought.
I love the retro look and feel. The hairstyles from the ladies were on point and made me think of the Bollywood Disco movies!
The ladies didn't have that much screentime as the guys but did well in their parts. I like Kangana a lot. She doesn't play the typical girl-next-door roles. She looks even more gorgeous in the film. I never noticed Prachi before until now. She played her part very well.
Well worth a watch!
3.
Tere Bin Laden
Because of the 9/11 tragedy in America, Ali Hassan (Ali Zafar) is unable to fulfill his dreams of a better life in the USA. Immediately, he gets deported right back from America to Pakistan. On top of that, his visa application has been rejected numorous occassions in a short amount of time. In order to make his dreams come true, he has to have enough money to get a new visa. After seeing an Osama Bin Laden look-alike, Noor, who owns a chicken farm, Ali comes up with an idea to make a false video tape by tricking Noor to be in it acting as Osama Bin Laden. However, the USA gets seriously involve when they see the tape and want to capture Osama Bin Laden.
Full of laughters! I haven't LMAO this much in a long time! I looooooove it! From beginning to end, everything about it was hilarious.
Ali Zafar. Ali Zafar. Ali Zafar.
What a debut film! He was so natural. I was already in love with his music and him (see him on my
list of drool-worthy guys I wrote in 2008) and now love him even more after this film. I hope he makes it big as an actor.
As an American by nationality (Hmong by ethnicity), any topic with Osama Bin Laden is really touchy. A lot of Americans still grief at even the thought of the 9/11 incident.
But not with
Tere Bin Laden! It was a great tongue-in-cheek film.
The satire take of this tragic incident in
Tere Bin Laden was done so brilliantly and cleverly!! Hubby and daughter have watched it with me and laughed so much. I am getting my American friends to watch the film and laugh along with me.
2.
Dabangg
Dabangg means fearless and is about the fearless corrupted cop, Chulbul Pandey (Salman Khan), who nicknames himself, "Robin Hood Pandy." Even with working with the flaws and corruption of the police system, Chulbul still has a soft side -- his love for his widowed mother, Naina (Dimple Kapadia).
He has a love-hate relationship with his stepfather, Prajapati (Vinod Khanna), and stepbrother, Makkhi (Arbaaz Khan). But he has to try to make peace in the household per his mother.
Behind this stubborn, badass cop, he falls in love with the potter village girl, Rajo (Sonakshi Sinha). With juggling with his job, home, and now love, he is challenged by Chhedi Singh (Sonu Sood). How will he overcome it?
I loved
Dabangg!!!
I caught it in the theater when it released.
Taken from earlier review
here and read more in depth why I love it.
1.
Band Bajaa Baaraat
Bittoo Sharma (Ranveer Singh) and his friends are college students and wedding crashers. He bumps into Shruti Kakkar (Anushka Sharma) who she calls him out for being a wedding crasher where she helped organized. Instantly, Bittoo becamse intrigued with Shruti for her sassy attitude.
They later become friends and get to know each other. She tells him her dream of becoming the best wedding planner in India with her future company,
Shaadi Mubarak.
Because Bittoo is un-ambitious and doesn't think much about his future, his father wants him to be run the family business at the village. With a quick reply, he lies to his father he is going to be a wedding planner and partners with Shruti.
At first Shruti refuses. But when she finally gives him to letting Bittoo be her partner, they start off with small budget weddings and became an instant hit! They slowly merged to bigger weddings and became successful at that too.
When they mix business with pleasure, the business starts to go downwards. Shruti starts to fall in love with Bittoo, but he didn't want to hurt Shruti's feelings. Both decide to go their separate ways, even with separate businesses. Shruti running
Shaadi Mubarak solo. Bittoo starting
Happy Wedding.
Both businesses did not do well separately. A wealthy millionaire's daughter wanted only the "original"
Shaadi Mubarak to host their wedding. They must come together and work as a team again. But will their pride get in the way and ruin the wedding? Will they ever talk about their feelings for each other?
OMG, I love love love
Band Baaja Baaraat!
I know my taste in films are totally different from some others.
If you like a romantic comedies and tired of seeing the same faces, this is for you.
What I like most about it is relationships between the two leads. There isn't a problem with parents or elders disapproving their love. It was because of both of their ego's.
Shruti is smart, independent, strong, and beautiful. She knows what she wants and aims to get there. Even though Bittoo piggybacks on Shruti's ideas, he is there for her to help her business get started. He is a true friend.
Some people may not like Shruti's unnecessary rude attitude towards Bittoo. But what people failed to realize is that Shruti didn't want to go back on what she said about relationships and businesses. There are many times when my pride overtakes what I should be doing. I'm like Shruti in wanting to be the best I can be and no room for errors. Plus Shruti's take on love. She thought Bittoo would have the same feelings as her. Of course, I would feel devastated too! So excuse me, if I act like a biatch!
I do adore Bittoo. Overall, I don't think he's a jerk. He also had a huge ego like Shruti. Both were just too stubborn to talk about their feelings towards each other.
Besides the relationship, I enjoyed seeing the beautiful, colorful outfits and the "making" of the wedding. Along with friends helping out the small business turn successful.
Anuksha Sharma. Why isn't this girl more well known? She is cute, can act, and dance! I enjoyed watching her swirl her hips to the "Dum Dum" song. Ranveer Singh isn't bad either. He is good looking and made a good debut choice. I hope to see more of him.
This is why
Band Baaja Baaraat is my fave film of 2010
