Chalo Cinema

Kyun kissne dekha...

Kal Kissne Dekha (Hindi)
Starring: Jackky Bhagnani, Vaishali Desai, Archana Puran Singh, Rishi Kapoor, Farida Jalal, Satish Shah
Direction: Vivek Sharma
Rating: '1/2

What it's about: You've waited long for a Hindi film to hit the screens. The wait is over but after watching Vashu Bhagnani's Kal Kissne Dekha, you wish it wasn't. Chandigarh boy Nihaal (Jackky) moves to Mumbai for further studies, after finally convincing his mother. In college, his professor and ex-NASA scientist, Siddharth Verma (Rishi Kapoor) takes him under his wing. Together, they work on project but Nihaal has no idea that he is actually Professor Evil, who is using him for a devious plan. To make things interesting, Nihaal sees visions of things that will happen in the future. Before long, Nihaal finds himself in the middle of a terrorist plan to blow up many parts of the city, and it's up to him to stop the baddies.u00a0

What's good: Producer Vashu Bhagnani gives his son a lavish launch breathtaking locations, et al. The premise is interesting; how you hope the screenplay had matched up to it! Newcomer Jackky Bhagnani is no show-stealer, but he doesn't disappoint either. His vulnerability is endearing. Riteish Deshmukh, in a brief role, raises a few laughs. Archana Puran Singh is first-rate as Nihaal's typical Punjabi mother. Watch out for her in the scene when she says, "Mera beta famous ho gaya."

What's bad: KKD reminds you of the films that were made in the '80s. It's riddled with clichu00e9s like the hero's geeky friend, bad boys on bikes (who bully the hero), the rich spoilt girl who later falls for the hero, and villains (Rahul Dev and Co), who all dress in black and hang around in a seedy den. We know they want to blow up the city but no one knows why. A perfect launch vehicle needs to be fresh and imaginative but in KKD, the producer attempts to sell his son as the ultimate star the same mistake that Harry Baweja did with Love Story 2050. KKD is a show reel for Jackky, which tries to market him as the perfect hero. He can dance, he can fight, he can ride a dirt bike like a pro and he can even romance. Only if they'd focused as much on the script.

Rishi Kapoor totally miscast he looks just too sweet to work as an evil scientist (his crazy wig doesn't help).
What's that? Someone forgot to tell the writer that the film is based in 2009, and while mobiles are being used by everyone, including the doodhwala to the bhajiwalas, our hero doesn't own one. His mother calls on the hostel line (sitting on a tractor) and yells at whoever answers the landline at his college. Also in the climax, there are bombs placed all over the city, but there is just one team to defuse them, and they are being led by you guessed it apna Bhagnani boy. The leading lady (Vaishali Desai) is over-dressed almost all the time. Whether she is in college, on the beach and at home, she is always red carpet-ready.

Verdict: Watch it only if you're scared that the multiplexes will go on strike again. After all, kal kissne dekha?

Strange are the ways of love

Film: Nights in Rodanthe (English)
Starring: Diane Lane, Richard Gere and Christopher Meloni
Direction: George C. Wolfe
Theatres: PVR, Inox, Fame, Fun
Rating: '''

What it's about: This film is a screen adaptation ofu00a0 the best-selling romance by Nicholas Sparks, au00a0 contemporary novelist. Three of his works have previously been turned into movies: Message in a Bottle (1999),
A Walk to Remember (2002) and The Notebook (2004). Nights in Rodanthe is tweaked from the original storyline by scriptwriter Ann Peacock (Kit Kittredge).

Adrienne Willis's (Lane) is a married woman whose father dies when she is having a meltdown. Her husband (Christopher Meloni) has dumped her, and her spoilt teenager (Mae Whitman) has become impossible to live with.

Adrienne's friend, Jean (Viola Davis), owns a Bed & Breakfast on Hatteras Island. Needing to go to Florida on business, Jean offers Adrienne room for relaxation and, in turn, asks her to look after the place and her guest, a surgeon from Raleigh who is on a four-night stay.

Dr Paul Flanner (Gere) has his own emotional baggage, being inconsolable ever since a patient (Linda Molloy) accidentally died on the operating table. He also has issues to work out with his 28-year-old son. What follows is a meeting between two troubled souls. Careless whispers, romantic candlelit dinners and long beach walks revive their spirits.

What's Hot: When the two strangers locked lips lingeringly, it gladdened my heart. Kudos to Diane Lane who has done a wonderful job, especially in the last part where she lets herself go in showing her true feelings and grief when losing her love.

What's Not: The book has more depth than the movie.

Verdict: Watch it if you enjoy sentimental fare.u00a0

For your ears only

Kaaranjji (Kannada)
Starring: Vijay Raghavendra, Chandrashekar, Gouri kaurnik
Direction: Sridhar
Theatres: Nartaki, Prasanna, Navarang, Fun Cinemas
Rating: '' 1/2

First-time director Sridhar's screenplay is refreshing, but the narration fails to impress the viewer. Musically Kaaranjji scores a point, but when it comes to acting skills, it falters.
What it's about: Vijay (Vijay Raghavendra), a small town boy, is a musician with a band called Kaaranjji. He dreams of taking Indian folk music to international platforms.u00a0 He falls in love withu00a0 Anupama (Gauri Karnik) whom he meets in a music store. The girl with the lovely voice fits the bill as Vijay is scouting for a female singeru00a0 for his band.

What's Hot: Veera Samarth's music is the winner here.u00a0u00a0u00a0

What's Not: The actors need to brush up their skill. The dialogues lack sparkle and the editing is shoddy.

Verdict: Save yourself the trip to the theatre. Buy the audio CD and enjoy the music.