Dhoom 2 2006

Starring: Hrithik Roshan | Abhishek Bachchan | Bipasha Basu | Aishwarya Rai | Uday Chopra Director: Sanjay Gadhvi Studio: asian gold Run time: 147 mins Genres: Indian Cinema Languages: Hindi Subtitles: English, French, Spanish Released: February 12, 2007

In terms of business, DHOOM 2 is bound to create dhoom at the ticket window. It's a box-office triumph all the way. Time for Yash Raj to pop champagne yet again!
Ali's [Uday Chopra] dream of becoming a police officer has come true. He is now ACP Jai Dixit's [Abhishek Bachchan] right hand man. Together, they are trying to keep a tight leash on the crime in India. Little do they know what they are going to be up against.
Enter Aryan -- Mr. A [Hrithik Roshan]. A hi-tech international thief. After pulling off a series of impossible heists all over the world, his next target is Mumbai, India. The case is given to ACP Jai and Ali. Helping them put the pieces of the puzzle together is ACP Shonali Bose [Bipasha Basu], Jai's college mate, now a police officer in her own right. For the last two years, Shonali has been tracking these amazing thefts and is now an expert on this thief, who no one has seen.
The cops -- Jai, Shonali and Ali -- are after the robbers -- Aryan and Sunehri. From the deserts of Namibia to the backwaters of Goa, the mean streets of Mumbai and the ancient forts of Rajasthan and finally to Rio, Brazil. DHOOM 2 is modeled on the lines of the chor-police sagas that Hindi films specialized in the 1970s and 1980s. In essence, it's not a path-breaking/inventive story, but what takes the film to dizzy heights is the sequence of events that unravel at a feverish pace. Right from the start of the film [Hrithik's first heist in Namibia; the robbing of a crown from a moving train] to his next target [robbing a precious diamond from a museum in Mumbai] to the theft in Jamnagar [Hrithik and Ash come face to face for the first time], the film whets your appetite from the word 'Go'.
DHOOM 2 is director Sanjay Gadhvi's finest effort so far. The execution of the subject is such, you just can't help get transported to a world of make-believe. Gadhvi has handled a number of sequences with aplomb. The Hrithik-Ash sequence mentioned above is one of them. The dialogue between Hrithik and Abhishek -- after they've known each other's true identities -- is another. The final scene of the enterprise [it would be unfair to reveal it here!] is yet another sequence that indicates that the director has done his homework well.

Pritam's music is fair. Barring the 'Krazy Kiya Re' track and the title track [filmed on Hrithik], the score is outright mediocre. However, the saving grace is the vibrant and energetic picturization, which takes the songs to another level. The choreography of the title track by Shiamak Davar is outstanding. Vaibhavi Merchant's choreography of 'Krazy Kiya Re' is admirable as well. Salim-Sulaiman's background score is highly effective.
Abhishek in DHOOM 2 is what Shashi Kapoor was in Amitabh Bachchan starrers. Important yes, but relegated to the backseat. Abhishek does a fine job nonetheless. Only thing, he needs to take care of his appearance and posture when he's pitted against someone with a personality like Hrithik.

Aishwarya evolves into a different person in DHOOM 2. Her tanned makeup, her styling, her performance, it's a different Ash here. It's a complete departure from what Ash has done in the past. Does it work? Of course, she is in form!

Bipasha is just about okay as the cop, but is lively as the twin sister. Uday irritates at times, but handles a few scenes well. His portions with Bipasha's twin sister in Rio are sure to bring a smile on your face. Rimi Sen is hardly there.
On the whole, DHOOM 2 is a winner all the way. At the box-office, the film has already embarked on an earth-shattering initial and with multiple shows being conducted at multiplexes [16/18] with inflated ticket rates, the film will set new records in days to come. For Yash Raj, who've not only produced but also distributed the film, DHOOM 2 should emerge as one of the biggest hits of their career. Blockbuster!

Krrish 2006

Director: Rakesh Roshan Writers: Rakesh Roshan, Robin Bhatt, Honey Irani, Sachin Bhowmick, Akash Khurana Producer: Rakesh Roshan Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Naseeruddin Shah, Priyanka Chopra Country: India

Krrish is centred around the unusually gifted Krishna—played by Hrithik Roshan—who has inherited all these remarkable powers from his father Rohit, and also a startling resemblance to his father.

Now Rohit, as we all remember, was the star of the previous film, that slow but lovable guy who turned into a slick stud after he befriended Jadoo the alien. Rohit's dead unfortunately, so Krishna lives in Kasauli with his grandmum Rekha.

He has the IQ of a genius, the strength of a bull and the speed of a cheetah. He leaps across rivers, climbs mountains effortlessly and zips around faster than a speeding jet. He also falls hook, line and sinker for Priyanka Chopra, who's on an adventure holiday in his part of the world, and before long he follows her all the way to Singapore to ask her hand in marriage.

Once there, he has his work cut out for him. Krishna must get to the bottom of a big mystery linked to his father's death, and must also stop megalomaniac scientist Naseeruddin Shah from accomplishing his sinister plan to take over the world. Now this, he does under an assumed identity—Krrish —a masked, caped crusader.

Now the film has been positioned as India's first superhero film, and I suspect that if you go in with those expectations, you're going to be very disappointed. Because, let's face it, apart from about 20 minutes of spectacularly stylish stunt work, there's very little superhero stuff in this picture. And that's a pity, because Hrithik makes a terrific superhero.

In fact, you're only willing to suspend your disbelief and make this journey because it's a fantastic actor like Hrithik Roshan who's holding your hand and taking you through what is really a fractured story. I should confess here that I wasn't mighty impressed with Koi Mil Gaya, the film whose sequel this is. I have a problem with plagarism and to me, Koi Mil Gaya was an ET rip-off no questions asked.

For me that film was watchable for one reason and one reason only: Hrithik Roshan. In Krrish, once again the actor is the only saving grace. Despite the ludicruous plot, Hrithik immerses himself completely in his role and it's only his sincerity that diverts your attention from the film's many flaws.

My biggest complaint against Krrish is directed towards its screenplay: It stinks.

Lakshya 2004

Starring: Amitabh Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan, Preity Zinta, Om Puri, Sharad S Kapoor, Raj Zutshi, Sushant Singh, Prashant Chainani, Nawab Shah, Boman Irani, Amrish Puri
Director: Farhan Akhtar
Music: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Producer: Ritesh Sidhwani

The film is a tale adapted from the war or rather the scuffle between India and Pakistan along with the insurgents in the strife torn Indian state of Kashmir. The film by Farhan Akhtar is a huge deviation from the film he made earlier - Dil Chahta Hai. Karan Shergill (Hrithik Roshan) is a duffer. He is a loser in life and does nothing…. Cars, music systems and DVD form a part of his life… so much so that everyone loses interest in him, including his girlfriend Romila Dutta (Preity Zinta) who is in fact the most stable factor in his life.

Hrithik's performance as the happy-go-lucky youth who is transformed into a soldier is one of the movie's highlights. Preity Zinta plays Karan's love interest. She is a TV journalist Romila Dutta, who is modeled on Barkha Dutt of the NDTV. This is to recall that Barkha Dutt has been on the front of Kargil for reporting events for her channel.

A rich kid, Karan has an air of innocence about him, which appeals to his classmate, Romilla Dutta (Preity Zinta). The two are in love. Romilla's only grouse is that her boyfriend has no ambition in life and is totally clueless about his future. Ditto for his parents. Hrithik's lost boy look is really cute. Wish the director had played this up more! The audience is really entertained in this portion of the film. Hrithik shines in both the songs, 'Main Aisa Kyun Hoon' and 'Agar Main Kahoo'. So how does the aimless boy turn into a soldier? Does love transform him? No! Like most kids his age he is influenced by a friend who has a brainwave that he wants to join the army. This combined with a glamorous view of a soldier's life prompts him to take it up as a career. His father's resentment at this decision further strengthens his resolve. Now starts his training at the IMA (Indian Military Academy). There are genuinely hilarious moments here and Hrithik tackles each scene like a pro. However, the film becomes boring after he becomes a dedicated and sincere army guy who feels for his country. I'm sure most viewers will agree with this. Now starts the typical goings on in a war film till the predictable end.

After attempting a film on male bonding in DIL CHAHTA HAI, Farhan Akhtar goes into a different zone in LAKSHYA, which brings back memories of AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN [1982; starring Richard Gere] in parts. The young maverick did leave an indelible impression in his first film and with LAKSHYA, he consolidates his position as one of the finest storytellers of India.

Javed Akhtar's script has several interesting incidents in the first half, but you can hardly count the intriguing ones in the post-interval portions. However, the dialogues are flawless and only a seasoned writer could've come up with such lines.

Cinematography is outstanding. The visuals of North India look mesmerizing and one can't help but fall in love with the locales. The lighting during the war scenes is also perfect.

Bachchan is a special disappointment. He has neither the space nor the chance to grow beyond the space provided. The only actor who makes some impression beyond the all-pervasive impact of Hrithik's main performance, is Sushant Singh as the Muslim soldier. The music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy is of a decent standard, which is the least you expect of them. The songs are not exactly superhit material, though Agar main kahoon or Main aisa kyon hoon could prove me wrong.

On the whole, LAKSHYA will meet with diverse reactions. Watch Lakshya. You won't be disappointed

Koi... Mil Gaya 2003

Starring	:	Rekha, Hrithik Roshan, Preity Zinta
Director	:	Rakesh Roshan
Producer	:	Rakesh Roshan
Music Dir	:	Rajesh Roshan
Lyricist	:
Singer	:	Udit Narayan, Shaan, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Chitra, Alka Yagnik
Distributor	:	Yashraj

koi... Mil Gaya, director Rakesh Roshan has proved two things. One, he truly can give Hrithik Roshan a role to chew into and two, it takes guts and gumption to make a really 'different' film within the commercials parameters of filmmaking.

Sanjay Mehra [Rakesh Roshan] is a scientist, obsessed with establishing contacts with extraterrestrial life. He invents many innovative gadgets, instruments and finally succeeds in devising a computer that can transmit messages to space. His foresight becomes a reality when, as a response to his signals, a spaceship is sighted in the sky. But before Sanjay can even enjoy his success, he and his wife Sonia [Rekha] meet with a horrific accident where Sonia survives, but Sanjay loses his life. Sanjay's son Rohit [Hrithik Roshan] is born; he's a mentally challenged child who faces ridicule and torment at every phase of his life. His lone companion is Nisha [Preity Zinta]. One day, Rohit discovers his father's computer and calls Nisha to help him use it. Both of them are completely fascinated by the images and instructions that appear on the screen and experiment with the device, not realising the impact it would have. The entire town witnesses a blackout and a bizarre phenomenon. In an incandescent glowing sky, a colossal spaceship is sighted. More strange findings are in store in Rohit's town. A pair of footprints not belonging to man or animal is found.

A mega positive is Hrithik Roshan's acting. He is the turbojet that propels the film to the realm of the extraordinary. On screen you see Rohit, the mentally challenged adult, and not Hrithik Roshan, the star. Rohit connects with you immediately. His endearing innocence and the clean-hearted fun he indulges in has you in splits. But within seconds, he also brings a lump to your throat when the bullies pick on him.

Preity Zinta's outfits, Rekha's passive sob-sob sniff-sniff mother role, Prem Chopra as the collector of Kasauli, Mukesh Rishi as the honest cop, and Johnny Lever as the loud Sindhi constable strike jarring notes.

Filmkraft Productions (Rajesh Roshan Productions) is back again with its new flick, Koi Mil Gaya. KMG would be carrying a different theme altogether, which might be the first of its kind in India. Rakesh Roshan also sharpens his skills of direction with this movie whereas brother Rajesh Roshan scores music for the songs. The movie has a big starcast and features the likes of Hrithik Roshan, Preity Zinta and Rekha in the lead roles. The story of KMG revolves around Hrithik in particular who has a mind of 10 years old kid. Renowned poet-lyricist Ibrahim Ashq bags maximum number of lyrics of the soundtrack whereas Nasir Faraaz and Dev Kohli play their respective parts too with KMG. Famous Music Company Sare Gama HMV comes up to release the album, which is laced with 8 tracks in total to entertain the ears of the listeners. The promos are very much on air these days on all usual satellite channels for the entertainment of the viewers, who are desperately waiting for the release of the film.

On the whole, KOI... MIL GAYA tackles a novel concept as far as the Indian screen is concerned. But this genre is bound to meet with mixed reactions, varying from good to just-about-fair to disappointing. At the box-office, the initial draw has been terrific, but it remains to be seen how the audiences respond to the alien.On the whole, KOI... MIL GAYA tackles a novel concept as far as the Indian screen is concerned. But this genre is bound to meet with mixed reactions, varying from good to just-about-fair to disappointing. At the box-office, the initial draw has been terrific, but it remains to be seen how the audiences respond to the alien.

Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon 2003

Director: Sooraj R. Barjatya
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Abhishek Bachchan, Kareena Kapoor, Jaya Bachchan, Reema Lagoo, Pankaj Kapoor
Release: 27th June 2003 by Yash Raj Films

The story is based on Sanjana (Kareena Kapoor), a vivacious young girl who lives with her family in the picturesque town of Sunder Nagar.

Upon graduation, Sanjana dreams of getting married to Mr Perfect - a true gentleman to the core.

The happy trio in Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon

So thanks to elder sister, Roopa, Prem is chosen to be her prospective partner.

But much to Sanjana's dismay, Prem turns out to be a total opposite to what she is - he loves adventure sports which she hates; she loves reading which Prem totally detests.

More so, he befriends Sanjana upon their first meeting.

Despite this fact, Sanjana gets attracted to this stranger.

Abhishek Bachchan as the workaholic Prem

Soon they begin to enjoy those special moments which make life worth living.

Prem's attitude convinces Sanjana that he is the man for her.

She promises to love him till the end of time.

Onto the scene enters Prem Kumar (Abhishek Bachchan) with his mother (Rima Lagu).

Prem is a young, introvert businessman who does not have many friends.

Workaholic by nature, Prem is respected by his family.

Prem, the prospective partner for vivacious Sanjana

It so happens, that Sanjana's boyfriend is actually the best friend of this Prem (Abhishek) - what a surprise!

The twist comes when Sanjana's Prem (Hrithik) is forced to go to Delhi on a business assignment.

Unaware of what lies ahead, Sanjana meets this Prem Kumar. She sees Prem as a workaholic human being with a gentle nature - someone wanting to laugh and love but simply cannot bring himself to do so.

She teaches him to be free of all his inhibitions.

By doing so, Sanjana finds a true friend whom she can confide her innermost secrets.

As for Prem Kumar, he realises that this is the girl he has been waiting for, all his life.

Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon (meaning I will love you till the end. . .) is the story of Sanjana who becomes indecisive about love and friendship when she meets her two Prems.

Going by director, Sooraj Barjatya's track record, one can easily predict that this film too, will be a runaway success at the box office this summer.

Previewed by Manish Gajjar, BBC Shropshire's Mr Bollywood.

Mujhse Dosti Karoge! 2002

Producer: Yash Chopra Director: Kunal Kohli Starring: Hrithik Roshan, Rani Mukherji, Kareena Kapoor, Uday Chopra, Satish Shah, Kiran Kumar, Sachin Khedekar, Smita Jayakar and Himani Shivpuri Music: Rahul Sharma Lyrics: Late Anand Bakshi

Raj, Pooja and Tina are childhood friends. While Raj has always been attracted to the vivacious Tina, he is completely unaware of the quiet Pooja's feelings for him.

Raj's father decides to move to England with his family to take up a new job, so Raj has to go away from his friends. He makes Tina promise to write to him via e-mail. But Tina soon becomes occupied with other things, so it's the loyal Pooja who writes to Raj; but she always signs with Tina's name to help Tina keep her promise, sometimes coming close to signing her own name. Raj and Pooja have many things in common, and their e-mails bring them very close to each other. A decade and a half later, Raj returns to India for a short vacation. By now, he's in love with the girl he has been writing to, and believes he can recognise her at first sight.

When the three of them finally meet, Raj, to Pooja's disappointment, completely ignores her and is besotted with Tina, who is as vivacious as ever. However, during the two weeks of his vacation, he cannot help but notice that the real Tina is completely different compared to the Tina he knew from the e-mails. He also starts to like Pooja, without realising she is the one he is really in love with.
He returns to London, where Pooja coincidentally arrives for an interview, and there he discovers that it was Pooja who wrote all the letters. They confess their love for each other and decide to get married, but fate plays an unexpected trick on them. Back in India, Tina's father has died, leaving Tina all alone in the world. By now, she is in love with Raj as well.
Pooja now refuses to marry Raj, since she does not want to break Tina's heart. Raj is the only one Tina has left now. Raj's parents also agree to the marriage, but Raj wants to tell them that he really loves Pooja. Pooja however, still refuses to marry Raj and so he angrily vows to her that he will only marry Tina if Pooja marries someone else on the same day.
Enter a friend Raj's, Rohan Verma. Rohan is greatly attracted to Pooja and the families are all for the match. Pooja bows to the inevitable and agrees to marry Rohan on the same day as Raj and Tina. That way, she hopes to satisfy Raj's condition and ensure Tina's happiness. Rohan realises something is wrong and that Pooja does not love him, but keeps up the charade nevertheless. On the day of the marriage, Tina realises that Raj is really in love with Pooja, so she gives him up and finally Pooja and Raj get married.

Na Tum Jaano Na Hum 2002

Director: Arjun Sablok
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan,Esha Deol, Moushumi Chatterjee, Rati Agnihotri, Alok Nath, Smita Jaykar, Anang Desai and Ashima Bhalla.
Length: 180mins
Release: Eros International

Na Tum Jaano Naa Hum (meaning "Only God Knows"); is inspired by the Hollywood flick, "You've Got Mail" and the Bollywood movie, "Sirf Tum". This film brings together three much talked about stars in Bollywood today.
We have Saif Ali Khan who gave a flawless performance in Dil Chahta Hai and is now banking for the same in Na Tum Jaano Naa Hum, Hrithik Roshan who is all out to prove that he is still number one in Bollywood after his mega hit Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai and Esha Deol who is trying to prove that she is one of the upcoming young actresses on the movie scene.
The story of this film revolves around Rahul, a photographer who grows up in the household of his best friend, Askhay.Rahul who is shy and emotional by nature, strikes up a friendship with Esha via an FM Radio broadcast even though he is unaware of her identity.

Askay, on the other hand, is a womaniser who happens to change girlfriends like there is no tomorrow.

All seems to be going well until Askhay's parents decide to get him married off to none other than Esha.

Totally against the idea of an arranged marriage, Akshay decides to send best friend Rahul to find out more about this girl. Hence Rahul ends up posing as a photographer in the home of Esha.

The twist in the emotional drama comes during Esha and Akshay' s engagement party when Rahul learns that the mysterious girl he has been communicating with via the FM Radio is none other than Esha.

Shocked and totally heartbroken, Rahul manages to hide his true emotions so as not to hurt Akshay.

But Esha could not forget her unknown friend with whom she has now fallen in love.

Which path will Esha take? Will Rahul be able to speak the truth without hurting his best friend's feelings? And what will happen to Akshay?

Answers to these questions and more will be revealed in the climax scenes that have been extremely well executed by director Arjun Sablok.

Debutant Sablok has done a commendable job considering that the screenplay was an inspiration from his own personal life.

Technically the film excels in all departments. Rajesh Roshan's music flows with the story line but one cannot fail to notice the innovative background score by Raju Singh which integrates well with the emotions of the saga on the big screen.

Cinematography by Manoj Soni is breathtaking as he captures the beauty of the European locales with great finesse.

Both Hrithik and Saif give a true to life performance as usual but its Esha Deol who comes up trumps.

She dances with great elegance, emotes naturally and looks more mature since her debut performance in Koi Mere Dil Se Pooche.

All in all Arjun Sablok has given his film a great cast, a commendable story line and excellent technical support. So what are you waiting for? Go and see the movie.