Short cut had shown crude realities of bollywood industry.

Short cut had shown crude realities of bollywood film industry.

Anil Kapoor’s project Short cut had shown the crude realties of bollywood film industry. Those actors who hardly can even play a proper character had become superstars over the years. Arshad Warsi’s character was used to show the success of less-callibered performers in bollywood. Once they had been made stars, whatever they had done had become myths.

Akshay Khanna’s character had also shown that directors who had been innovative over the years and did original work could not get breaks. Stories were stolen, ideas were robbed, scripts were copied. This has been the story of bollywood industry for the last 25 years.

There was a time, during the 50s and 60s, when genuine creative work was appreciated. Audience were educated, learned, cultured and able to appreciate rich creations. Directors like Bimal Roy could make risky films like Devdas, Do Beegha Zamin, Madhumati, Kabuliwala, etc., which were appreciated and got box-office success as well. Actors like Dilip Kumar who were tragedians ruled the industry. Even Raj Kapoor could experiment with serious subjects in films like Boot Polish, Jaagte Raho, etc.

Music in bollywood films reached their level of excellence with composers like Naushad, Shankar Jaikishan, Roshan, Salil Choudhury,etc., lyricists like Sahir Ludhianvi, Shailendra, Kaifi Azmi, singers like Rafi, Lata, Manna Dey, and others sang even pure classical numbers which were digested and liked by the audience. The concept of commercial films and art films did not develop at that stage.

In the recent past it had been seen, that the industry had been run by influential people, who had contacts, good distribution capability and were engaged in politics who did shine. Akshay Khanna and Arshad Warsi were characters who tried to depict the reality of modern bollywood industry. Purely talented characters in all the fields of the film industry, had struggled to get producers to finance their work in recent past, and sometimes their work had been copied or stolen and reproduced by others. Anil Kapoor had been daring enough to deal with a subject which could have brought lot of controversy. Viewers should see the film.

Review of Anil Kapoor's Shortcut.

Review of Anil Kapoor’s Shortcut.

Anil Kapoor had come up with another production venture titled Shortcut. The full name of the film is Shortcut –the con is on. Akshay Khanna had been a struggling assistant director in the film. He met a struggling actor Arshad Warsi and both dreamt about getting good start to their career. Although Akshay Khanna had merit and deserved a good project, Arshad Warsi was nothing better than a joker. He himself thought that he had a lot of potentials and deserved good role.

Arshad Warsi stole Akshay Khanna’s script and used it for his own purpose. Akshay Khanna got dejected. Even her wife Amrita Rao left her after she came to know about the entire incident. The rest of the film was related to the manner in which Akshay Khanna tried to reconcile with Arshad Warsi and manage with him for his own cause.

The film had been shot in the romantic locations of Thailand. Along with the comedy elements in the films there were romantic sequences as well. Anil Kapoor was ably supported by director Neeraj Bhora. Neeraj Bhora previously had experience in making comedy films like Hera Pheri, where his work was appreciated.

Shankar Ehsaan Loy composed music in the film. They had done a great job once again. Most of the songs were innovative, especially “kal nau baje” had a great romantic appeal. The song already had become hit even before the release of the film. The performance of Akshay Khanna and Arshad Warsi were brilliant. Akshay Khanna is probably the only actor in bollywood who had lost his hair, yet had maintained his steady stardom. Amrita Rao did well in the film.

Anil Kapoor as producer, can expect a good response. The viewers will also enjoy the guest appearance of Sanjay Dutt in a song sequence in the film. The film has all the elements of success and is going to be hit.

IIFA awards are action replay of filmfare awards.

IIFA awards are action replay of filmfare awards.

This year’s IIFA awards are announced in June, 2009. Most of the awards were action replay of the filmfare awards given this year.

Hrithik Roshan won the IIFA award for the best actor for his performance in the film Jodha Akbar. He deserved it and viewers are happy that IIFA had acknowledged it. He won the filmfare award for the best actor also for the performance in the same film earlier this year. Ashutosh Gowarikar won the IIFA award for the best director for the direction of the film Jodha Akbar. He received the filmfare award for the best director too earlier this year. Films like Jodha Akbar require lot of hardwork, sincerity and monumental task with cast and crew. It is good that his immense dedication was rewarded.

Priyanka Chopra won the IIFA award for the best actress for the performance in the film Fashion. Shreya Ghoshal won the IIFA award for the best female singer for the song “teri ore teri ore” from Singh is Kinng. Javed Ali won the IIFA award for the best male singer for his song “jashne-bahara” from the film Jodha Akbar.

Javed Akhtar also won the best lyricist award for the lyrics written for songs in the film Jodha Akbar. AR Rehman won the best composer award for his music composition in the film Jodha Akbar. Kangana Ranaut won the best supporting actress award for her performance in the film Fashion. Rajesh Khanna won the lifetime achievement award at the IIFA.

Shahrukh Khan won the male star of the decade award, while Aishwarya Rai won the female star of the decade award. Abhishek Bacchan won the best comedian award for his performance in the film Dostana, while Akshay Khanna won the best villain award for his performance in the film Race.

With few exceptions almost the same recipients of filmfare awards won the IIFA awards. Some of the good work again got unnoticed, for example, for example Pritam’s music in Sinng is Kinng, Vishal Shekhar’s music in Dostana, Amir Khan’s superlative performance in Ghajini.

But again best debutant awards for Farhan Akhtar in the male category ( for Luck by Chance) and Asin in the female category (for Ghajini), are encouraging signs. IIFA should start second best performance awards for all categories to encourage better performances of all the performers in bollywood industry.

Happy birthday to Dimple Kapadia.

Happy birthday to Dimple Kapadia.

The viewers of bollywood films wish happy birthday to Dimple Kapadia on 8th June, 2009. She had been considered as one of the most dynamic actresses of bollywood films after Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil.

She started her career with a bold, sizzling demeanor in Raj Kapoor’s Bobby in 1973 opposite Rishi Kapoor. Raj Kapoor introduced the concept of teenage romance in the 70s and his effort got justice due to brilliant performance of both Dimple and Rishi Kapoor. Dimple’s smart, dashing lips in the songs “hum tum ek kamre me bandh ho”, “jhoot bole kowa kate”, “mujhe kuch kehna hai” sung by Lata and composed by LP just flabbergasted the audience of the 70s. Viewers thought both Dimple and Rishi Kapoor were made for each other.

But after Rajesh Khanna married Dimple Kapadia, he stopped her acting, and bollywood films lost one of the most promising actresses for 13 years. Again she made a classic comeback in Ramesh Sippy’s Saagar. The film showed a triangular love story with Kamal Hassan and Rishi Kapoor. The brilliant locations, powerful music composed by RD Burman, all contributed for the success of the super hit film. Rishi Kapoor was always considered to be the most romantic actors produced by Indian films. He proved it again in Saagar. Dimple balanced the sacrificing performance of Kamal Hassan who died at the end of the film to save Rishi Kapoor and allow Dimple marry her. All the three performers were brilliant in the lips given in the songs “o maria”, “saagar kinare”, “yeh to bata tera naam kya”, etc., sung by Lata, Bal Subhramanium, Kishore Kumar, etc.

In the mid -80s, Dimple acted in most of the successful commercial films opposite leading stars like Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Sunny Deol, etc. She was brilliant in Feroz Khan’s Jaanbaaz. In fact her smart performance balanced the cowboy image of Anil Kapoor in the film. She was sublime opposite Jackie Shroff in the film Kaash.

In the late 80s, producers and directors experimented with her in challenging roles. She was exceptional in Gulzar’s film Lekin. Lata’s songs “yara silli silli”, Suresh Watkar’s “surmai sham” composed by Hridaynath Mangeshkar were landmarks of classical music in Indian films. Dimple Kapadia portrayed the character of rajasthani folk community who were used for crying in funerals in the film Rudaali. She played the role of her lifetime and got national and international awards. Her lips in Lata’s song “dil hum hum kare” composed by Bhupen Hazarika, still haunts the listeners 20 years after its creation.

Her other successful films include Ram Lakhan, opposite Jackie Shroff, Krantiveer and Prahar opposite Nana Patekar. Her performance in the off-beat films gave her a special place just like Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil. Even in her middle-age she amazed viewers with brilliant performance in the film Dil Chahta Hai opposite Akshay Khanna who was at least 15 years younger than her. She again amazed the viewers in character roles opposite Rishi Kapoor in the films Pyar Me Twist and Farhan Akhtar’s Luck By Chance.

The viewers expect her to continue the brilliant work and go on astonishing the viewers with dynamic performances like before.

Review of Salaam-e-Ishq.

Review of Salaam –e –ishq.

The viewers of bollywood films had witnessed probably the biggest form of multi-starrer film in the form of Salaam-e –Ishq. Multi-starrer films generally used to be considered as films having two or more actors or actresses. Salaam –e-Ishq had much more number of performers than two or three.

Salman Khan was paired with Priyanka Chopra with the character Rahul. Priyanka Chopra was an aspiring actress. She required a scandal which could create her fame. After that she would have got the scope of acting in Karan Johar’s film. Salman Khan artificially created the love story between him and Priyanka Chopra and made the fans realize that he had an affair with the star and then left her. By the time the playacting was over, Priyanka Chopra fell in love with Salman Khan.

Vidya Balan lost her memory after meeting with an accident and never recognized her husband John Abraham. John’s parents never accepted Tehzeeb, the character of Vidya Balan as she was a muslim. At the end of the film both of them agreed to live with each other inspite of failing to retain her memory. Govinda, the tax-driver in the film fell in love with an American woman who travelled in his taxi. She came to marry her Indian boyfriend but realized that he had married an Indian woman.

Sohail Khan and Isha Kopikaar’s love story showed semi-rural form of romance. Every time they came close to each other they faced obstacle in form or the other. Akshay Khanna declined to marry Ayesha Takia at the beginning of the film, to avoid the responsibilities of married life. After he realized that it was his wrong conception he agreed to marry her. Anil Kapoor, a middle-aged person got attached with a young dance teacher. His closeness with the dance teacher created distance with his wife Juhi Chawla. At the end of the film the relation was revived after Anil Kapoor repented for his wrongdoing.

The biggest asset of the film included its music composed by Shankar Ehsaan Loy. The songs “yah rabba, de de koi pyar bhi agar” sung by Kailash Kher, “tenu le” and “teri ankho ki mastani kajal jo mera salaam” sung by Sonu Nigam stormed bollywood after the release of the film. In fact all the songs were extremely successful.

The other factor which was new was the acceptance of six romantic stories of six heroes and heroines together. The exotic locations used in the film also require special mention. Film makers should get inspired by films like Salaam-e-ishq to make similar types of entertaining films in future.

Review of Salaam-e-Ishq.

Review of Salaam –e –ishq.

The viewers of bollywood films had witnessed probably the biggest form of multi-starrer film in the form of Salaam-e –Ishq. Multi-starrer films generally used to be considered as films having two or more actors or actresses. Salaam –e-Ishq had much more number of performers than two or three.

Salman Khan was paired with Priyanka Chopra with the character Rahul. Priyanka Chopra was an aspiring actress. She required a scandal which could create her fame. After that she would have got the scope of acting in Karan Johar’s film. Salman Khan artificially created the love story between him and Priyanka Chopra and made the fans realize that he had an affair with the star and then left her. By the time the playacting was over, Priyanka Chopra fell in love with Salman Khan.

Vidya Balan lost her memory after meeting with an accident and never recognized her husband John Abraham. John’s parents never accepted Tehzeeb, the character of Vidya Balan as she was a muslim. At the end of the film both of them agreed to live with each other inspite of failing to retain her memory. Govinda, the tax-driver in the film fell in love with an American woman who travelled in his taxi. She came to marry her Indian boyfriend but realized that he had married an Indian woman.

Sohail Khan and Isha Kopikaar’s love story showed semi-rural form of romance. Every time they came close to each other they faced obstacle in form or the other. Akshay Khanna declined to marry Ayesha Takia at the beginning of the film, to avoid the responsibilities of married life. After he realized that it was his wrong conception he agreed to marry her. Anil Kapoor, a middle-aged person got attached with a young dance teacher. His closeness with the dance teacher created distance with his wife Juhi Chawla. At the end of the film the relation was revived after Anil Kapoor repented for his wrongdoing.

The biggest asset of the film included its music composed by Shankar Ehsaan Loy. The songs “yah rabba, de de koi pyar bhi agar” sung by Kailash Kher, “tenu le” and “teri ankho ki mastani kajal jo mera salaam” sung by Sonu Nigam stormed bollywood after the release of the film. In fact all the songs were extremely successful.

The other factor which was new was the acceptance of six romantic stories of six heroes and heroines together. The exotic locations used in the film also require special mention. Film makers should get inspired by films like Salaam-e-ishq to make similar types of entertaining films in future.