Mini-reviews: part 1 (Hindi/Tamil edition)

Hello everyone!

I started this post a few days ago and got sick, constant coughing :( Therefore, I couldn't finish up this post.

I've been soooooo behind in blogging this year! Urgh. I have been wanting to write up another review but since I'm a visual whore, there was no way I was going to do a full review with *out* any screen caps.

Here's some films I watched but haven't blogged about....
I will continue the Telugu mini-reviews later.

HINDI



Chance Pe Dance (2010)

Sameer (Shahid Kapur) has big dreams to make it big in Mumbai. He meets the choreographer, Tina (Genelia D'Souza), at an audition and ends up being in a film with her. However, his world turns upside when he ends up homeless and jobless. With the encouragement and help of Tina, he ends up putting his life back together and participate in a tv talent show.



I've been wanting to see Shahid and Genelia in a film together for the longest. He has a babyface and unfortunately, most of the heroines opposite him look too old for him with the exception of Amrita Rao and Ayesha Takia. Therefore, I was looking forward to the Shahid-Genelia jodi. However, this movie did not live up to my expectations.

Don't get me wrong. It's not a bad film but it's not a good one either, so it's meh. I wanted to see more dancing. I was so disappointed with the choreography. Shahid is a fabulous dancer but the film didn't portray his dancing skills.



I Hate Luv Storys (2010)

Simran (Sonam Kapoor) has the perfect life! She has a loveable fiance, Raj (Sameer Dattani) who is exactly like her. Both love being in love and live a fairytale life. Raj is her prince charming, everything who she has ever dreamed of. But why does she second-guess herself when she meets Jay (Imraan Khan), a guy who is nothing like her Prince Charming? He is hates anything to do with love!



Even though my brief synopsis may be focused on Sonam, it isn't. The film is all about Imraan! He does really good in his role and has cute facial expression. Sonam is gorgeous and has strong fashion-sense but her acting needs to be worked on. Sameer is cute but was just there.

Direction is weak. Storyline is nothing new but that has never stopped me for loving a film before. I am completely in love with the soundtrack. I don't hate love stories. I just don't care for I Hate Luv Storys.

TAMIL



Ayan (2009)

Deva (Surya) is a cool, slick smuggler and works for Dass (Prabhu Ganesan), who Deva's mother (Renuka) does not approve of. She does not understand why a smart guy like Deva who has a Masters Degree would do illegal things for quick cash. She wants him to have a government job instead.

Chitti (Jegan) joins forces with Dass and Deva. Kamalesh (Akashdeep Saigal) is a jealous foe who wants to be on top and tries to take down the trio.
Deva falls for Yamuna (Tamannah Batia), Chitti's younger sister.



I haven't seen a fun-filled masala film like this in a while. Everything about it, I loved! Surya looks hotter with age. That man is just too good-looking! I had to wipe my drool off several times! Even though Surya is more than a decade older than Tamannah, I couldn't see it. He looks that good. Tamannah is one of my favorite actresses. I've loved her in everything I've seen! Cannot wait to see her with my favorite hottie next! That jodi will be sizzling!

Everything from the storyline to the direction to the songs to the acting were on point. What I love most is seeing how gorgeous Malaysia and Congo are. I cannot complain at all. I just want more affordable, accessible Tamil dvds for me to buy :D



Chinna (2005)

Chinna (Arjun) is a rowdy to be feared and don't care for anyone. All this changed when he met Gayathri (Sneha). He ends up going to jail and Gayathri is forced to marry someone else. What happens when he gets out of jail and comes back to Gayathri's life?



Since I have the Arjun crush, I watched this film for Arjun Sarja. I was stoked to find out that Sneha is in the film too. However, this movie, I would not recommend to anyone. Only watch if you're a fan of Arjun or Sneha. I was extremley disappointed. Sneha had the most fickle character ever. Arjun was good but even he couldn't save the film for me. Total Bore!



Dhool (2003)

Even though Arumugham (Vikram) is uneducated, he has a strong heart and mind to become the leader to take down a factory that is polluting his village's water. He, along with his grandmother and Eeswari (Jyothika), goes to Chennai to meet Minister Kaalapaandi (Sayaji Shinde) to alert him of the situation.



Overall, the film is good. However, I preferred the second half over the first. The first half was silly with Eeswari and her love-hate relationship with Arumugham. Adding the sexy Swapna to the love-hate angle just made it more comical. I didn't really care for it and found Eeswari very annoying! The second half focused more on the plot of the crooked politicians and government.

Vikram is a handsome man but I don't drool for him like a lot of my online friends do. Besides being a pleasure to look at on screen, he is a good actor. I love Jyothika but disliked her childish character. Reema Sen was good to see and looking lovely.
Definitely worth a watch but I don't love it.

Uyirile Kalanthathu - on a mission to see all Surya & Jyothika films

No doubt Surya is my ultimate Kollywood crush. I'm such a fangirl now because I'm making it a mission to see all his films. Don't be surprise that I enjoy films with him and his real-life wife, Jyothika. I adore them so much. They bring the best out of each other.



Could someone help me out and tell me what Uyirile Kalanthathu means? Thanks in advance.

Thanks to anonymous! Uyirile Kalanthathu means "mixed life"



Raghu used to be the only son. He was his parents' world.



That was until his brother, Surya was born. Since Surya was the youngest, the parents turn their focus more towards him, making Raghu very jealous.



Raghu (Raghuvaran - RIP! Thanks Kiran for the info) grows up being jealous of his younger brother. He feels that his parents love Surya more than him and hate Surya for that. After many years, he starts to hate Surya so much that he tries to hurt Surya physically and emotionally.



Surya is the apple of his parents' eyes. But his older brother is very jealous of him. Surya is too kind-hearted to even think anything negative of his brother. He and Priya are deeply in love with each other.



What's funny is that I know that if I was to see Surya in this look now, I may not have been head-over-heels for him because I like his look now. But still find him adorable in his earlier films.



I *heart* Surya ;P

This man is soooo talented, good-looking, a great family man and husband. What more can you ask for?



Priya (Jyothika) is the sister of a big-time rowdy and is in love with Surya.



Jyothika is so cute. Her playful moments with Surya on-screen reminds me when my hubby teases me. So real. So much chemistry. No wonder these two married in real life and are doing well.



Shivah, Priya's brother. Even though he's a rowdy, he loves his sister so much, showing off the softer side of him.



Raghu & Surya's father. Did you know he is Surya's father in real life? Mutham Sivakumar.



Raghu & Surya's mother (Radhika)



Even though I read the soundtrack did very well, I felt a few songs could have been removed. It wouldn't have effected the storyline at all.



Song #1 - "Sanjaandu Sanjaandu"
Family of four together







Song #2 - "Martina"
Surya teasing Priya







Song #3 - "Deva Deva"
Surya & Priya in love









Song #4 - "Hussaine Hussaine"
Priya misses Surya





Song #5 - "Uyire Uyire"
Priya love Surya so much











Song #6 - "Kulukki Vacha"
Rowdies having fun





I spy a Preity Zinta life-size cardboard thingie - I am sure it's from Kya Kehna.



Overall, the movie has a lot of great moments.

Is it a good movie? Yes. Would I watch it again. Probably, but only for the Surya & Jyothika scenes.



Definitely, it's not one that I can watch over and over, claiming it's one of the best. The film is definitely worth it for the performances. I felt it was a little too long.



Yes, it could be a hit or miss. If you watch the film for either Surya & Jyothika, then you won't be disappointed :)

I am still on a mission to see all of Surya & Jyothika films

Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu - Gautham Menon does it again!

After Kakkha Kakkha and Vaaranam Aayiram, I wanted to see Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu. Thanks to Sita-ji who commented about Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu. Having Kamal, Jyothika, Kamalinee, and Prakash in one film? That'll be awesome!



Guatham Menon is really talented too.



Like Kakkha Kakkha, Guatham works on another type of police story.



Raghavan (Kamal Haasan) is a hardworking cop. One of his former cop and friend, Arokiyaraj (Prakash Raj) ask him to help him find his daughter, Rani's murderer. Sadly, Rani's body is found but no suspects yet. In the meantime, Arokiyaraj and his wife re-locates to New York City, where Rani wanted to go live. Nine months later, Raghavan learns that Arokiyaraj and his wife are brutally murdered. Raghavan heads out to New York City to investigate. While reminiscing about the recent killings, Raghavan remembers his late wife Kayalvizhi's (Kamalinee Mukerjee) terrifying death. When settling in New York City, he learns there is some connection with their deaths and Rani's, along with several more deaths. There is a serial killer on the loose.



A bit surprise to see Kamal Hassan credited as Dr. Kamal Haasan (with two a's)



Raghavan is one hell-of-a-cop. One of the best.



Kamal Hassan is one really good, underrated actor. The first film I've ever seen of his was Ek Duje Ke Liye and became a fan. I have to admit that I didn't get to watch many of his films because during that time -- South Indian films were not very accessible for me. Plus I was younger and didn't know much about it either. He has a long filmography and hope to see more of his films.



Arokiyaraj and his wife. Losing a child is very hard, especially if it's your only child.



Prakash Raj only had a short role, but very significant. I swear, I see him in almost every Southie film now! He's awesome!



Rani, Arokiyaraj's daughter. I think she is so cute. I have no idea who the actress is. Anyone knows?



Kayalvizhi, wife of Raghavan.

Kamalinee is one of my all-time favorite South Indian actresses. I've loved her in every film I've seen so far - Anand, Godavari, & Happy Days. I do have Gamyam & Classmates but haven't watched it yet. Can't wait!



Aradhana and Raghavan meet in New York City. He saves her and she re-thinks about her life.



Jyothika is very natural. I absolutely love her. In some scenes, she had too much makeup on, which I dislike because she has natural beauty.



The two pyschopath killers. I wish that the movie wouldn't reveal the killers until much later and make it more of a thriller.



Amudhan is one of the killers. Daniel Balaji does an awesome job. He is so good that he scares me.



Ilamaran is the other killer. Saleem Baig is the more passive villian, meaning he wasn't as ruthless as Amudhan and had more of a heart. In some scenes, he reminded me of Dino Morea.



I really like the soundtrack. Got me wanting to get up and dance.



Song #1 - "Karka Karka"
Life of Raghavan









Song #2 - "Paartha Mudhal Naale"
Memories of Raghavan's wife, Kayalvizhi











Song #3 - "Vennilave Velli Velli Nivale"
Raghavan & Aradhana hang out







Song #4 - "Neruppac Sikki Mukki Neruppae"
Villians hang out with girls
(the two main girls being famous item girl, Mumaith Khan & her sister, Zabyn Khan)









Watch Below



Song #5 - "Uyirilae Enathu Uyirilac"
Raghavan & Aradhana in love







I am soooo mesmerized by the banyan tree. First time I've ever seen one was in Miami. Just looking at how different and exotic the trees looked, I forgot that the tree originally is from India. According to Wikipedia, the banyan tree aka Indian Fig Tree is the National tree of India.





Funny that I wasn't able to find a picture of the dvd for Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu. Only found the Telugu-dubbed version. It's called Raghavan.



Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu, the Tamil version, or Raghavan, the Telugu-dubbed version is definitely worth watching. Although I felt the film could have been shorten a bit, not disappointed at all.