Review: Dum Maaro Dum

Sometime ago I read a review on Dum Maaro Dum on somebody's blog. Based on it, I thought the movie must be completely a piece of shit. The guy mentioned that the movie was a mixture of too many old flicks, that people didn't act, Abhishek was crap, Bipasha looked like a useless sex bomb etc

Till then, I only had a vivid experience of watching the new Dum Maaro Dum song of the movie in which Deepika Padukone was the sexy item girl. It was a complete disappointment when I heard...unchay se uncha banda, potty pe bethay nanga. I agree, everybody shits like that but sorry I give no marks for such pathetic creativity even if Deepika is dancing her ass off in such a song. She looked hot but I could not give any points to the bad lyrics.

However, when I saw Dum Maaro Dum, I felt the review I read was more than biased. In my opinion, it was a fairly decent movie for one time viewing. We can't expect every movie to be a super duper hit. I was more than happy to see Abhishek act nicely in this one. I hated him in Game in which he was being way too over smart. Abhishek has put on a lot of weight. In fact, as I recall, there was a very short time span when Abhishek looked really handsome. For quite sometime, I can only recall his round face. Nevertheless, I found his role and acting incredible. It is painful to see good actors not act nicely when they actually can.

The best part of the movie was Rana Daggubati. I never knew him till I followed updates of this movie. Anyway, he is a genuinely good actor. And I found him fairly decent looking as well.

However, Bipasha Basu offered nothing new. She should pack up I believe. She can not act and she has exposed enough earlier. I like actresses who can act at least. I remember, all the while during the promotions of the movie she was more worried about the fact that Deepika was offered the item song and not her. She needs to get a life. Deepika is the new face in the industry after all. Other than that, she was also facing rumors of link ups with Rana Daggubati. It aint surprising, Bipasha does fall for men shortly time and again.

The worst and most unimpressive was Prateik Babbar. I felt, all this while we have all been fooled. We all thought he is such an amazing actor. Well, he would have the sparks inherited through his incredible acting genes but in this movie, he looked and acted pathetically. They could have easily done without him in this movie. Any unknown actor could have carried that role better than him. His accent and curls were irritable.

Aditya Pancholi has never done anything worthwhile in his career and similar was this movie. He is one person I don't consider an actor.

Most of the movie was great except the scene when Aditya Pancholi lost his sanity completely after loosing his stored drugs, they showed a blurry kissing scene, a provocative love making scene and then he was suddenly killed. The very last part of the movie was not that greatly done.

Like I said, the movie was ok but Abhishek and Rana were good. The story was not as bad or confused as I read in the review. It was fairly focused on the drug mafia of Goa. It was quite sad to see a few good characters die in their battle against the drug mafia. Rest up, it was not that bad to watch at least once.

Rana Daggubati - A Crowd Puller For Dum Maaro Dum

It is being said that Telegu star Rana Daggubati has been the real crowd puller for Rohan Sippy's 'Dum Maaro Dum' in and around Hyderabad.

Rana Daggubati is quite popular in these areas and he definitely helped in getting in more crowds in the cinemas. Apart from that the film's title and a strong star cast with Abhishek Bachchan, Bipasha Basuand Prateik Basu has not failed Rohan Sippy at all.

The thriller has gained some Rs. 6.2 crore in India on its opening day. In Mysore's it's box office collection is the highest among all Bollywood films released in 2011 so far. Thus, with such a start, they are hoping the film will do well over all.

Actually, I feel Rana Daggubati is not that bad looking. In fact, he is actually the only interesting person in the movie for me at least. Bipasha and Abhishek have not impressed us recently in anyway. Abhishek is consistently portraying these over smart roles that can be irritable. Bipasha can not act and was more focused on bitching about Deepika throughout the promotions. Prateik is a good actor but he is not the centre of attention here nor does he appear so powerful in presence at the moment. Thus, that leaves Rana Daggubati who is the main crowd puller for his Telegu fans at least.

Dum Maaro Dum Screening In Juhu, Mumbai

Dum Maaro Dum Is Set To Be Released

Dum Maaro Dum is now all set to be released as the Bombay High Court disposed of a petition seeking a ban on the release of the film. The controversial portions of the film has been deleted.

Justice S.C. Dharmadhikari and Justice F.M. Reis disposed the petition. Savio Rodrigues filed the petition claiming that the film showed Goa, especially the women of Goa inappropriately. According to him, the movie portrayed Goa in an indecent way and would affect the state's tourism.

Now, the inappropriate dialogues have been deleted from the film. Thedialogue, 'In Goa, liquor is cheap and women cheaper' has been removed, which Bipasha was seen delivering in the promos. The word 'women' has been replaced with the word 'relationships' in the promos.

Thus, the film will be released with an 'A' certificate as the censor board has given the movie a go ahead. Unlike the claims, the censor board stated the film did not promote drugs in Goa but was based on the fight against the drug mafia.

Dum Maaro Dum will be released on April 22nd globally. The cast includes Abhishek Bachchan, Bipasha Basu, Rana Daggubati and Prateik Babbar.

Review - Dhobi Ghat

I wasn't getting the time to watch Dhobi Ghat but I did this week. Although it is a very small film about 90 minutes but I watched in two halves. The movie is written and directed by Kiran Rao. It was her first movie as a director.

The movie is about four characters belonging to different class and social strata. All of them live in Mumbai. The movie shows how they get into contact with each other. Aamir Khan plays the role of Arun - a very renowned painter who is a recluse. He keeps to himself and doesn't even make an appearance at his own exhibitions and show casing. I loved the way he was smoking. It was very natural. And the expressions he gave were brilliant.

Prateik on the other hand is a poor dhobi guy - Munna (Zohaib). He works as a dhobi in the day and as a rat at killer at night to earn extra money. But he likes to workout, dress up well and is a big fan of Salman Khan. He dreams to work in movies. He is a born artist and delivers dialogues in a flow. I loved his pet cat in the movie. 

Monica Dogra plays the role of an American banker (Shai) who has come to Mumbai for sometime. She is a bit different and becomes friendly with Munna. He asks Munna to show her dhobi ghat and other places. She and Arun also have a few sparks but Arun got all agitated and blew things up by telling her he isn't the relationship sort of guy. But Shai has the hots for him. Although there is a class difference between Munna and her but she is actually genuinely nice and friendly with him. I didn't really like her much but she was an important part of the story. 

The fourth character is played by Kriti Malhotra - another new comer. She plays the role of Yasmin. Arun finds a few tapes on which he saw Yasmin talking to her family who was elsewhere in India. She was a young girl who recently got married and was always alone. Arun got inspired by her natural way of expressing things. He felt her emotions, her pain, her loneliness and tried to understand her life through her tapes. Yasmin lived in the same flat in which Arun lived now. In the end, Arun discovered that the girl was so tired of her unhappy life and her unfaithful husband that she would hang herself. This was the best scene in which Aamir Khan really gave the best expressions ever. He seemed so helpless and was scared.

For Kiran Rao's first directorial work she did well. I liked the story and the script very much. Aamir and Prateik were great. In the girls I liked Kriti more. I actually liked the casting selection because everybody portrayed their class pretty well. I think most art movie fans would like it and people who look for movies with some depth could watch it. It is a clean movie and not at commercial.

Dhobi Ghat Getting Extreme Reactions

This is something all the movie geeks knew would happen. Aamir Khan and wife Kiran Rao made it evidently clear much before the movie got release that Dhobi Ghat will not be a movie for the masses. A segment of the society will relate to it and understand it.

However, now after the release, media is again talking about the very extreme reactions that Dhobi Ghat is receiving. Dhobi Ghat is Kiran Rao's directorial debut and has a very raw and new cast such as Prateik Babbar and two new comers - Monica Dogra and Kriti Malhotra. Aamir Khan is the only well known artist but he is not the main character in the film. It is a movie about four individuals with very different backgrounds and what happens when they all get in touch.

Dhobi Ghat is not even being liked by the younger audience as of now. Only the critics are loving the movie. Now this is what Aamir Khan wrote on his facebook page on Jan 25th:

"I can see that the film has evoked extreme responses... as I had expected actually. Well, I had tried my best to say that this film is not for everyone," 

"For those of you who the film has touched so deeply...K (Kiran) and I are so happy. Thank you for your overwhelming response, it has been most rewarding. So happy that the film connected so deeply with some of you. That is how it has been for us too. Thank you."

Kiran Rao: Prateik is the backbone of DHOBI GHAT

The director Kiran Rao discloses that it was during the screening of Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na that they had chosen Prateik for DHOBI GHAT. She has been frank enough to admit that despite the presence of Aamir Khan in the film, it's Prateik who is the main hero of DHOBI GHAT. Kiran calls Prateik the backbone of DHOBI GHAT and says that he has essayed a brilliant role which has shaped up even better because an actor of the caliber of Aamir Khan was there to help him out throughout.

It won't be incorrect to say that acting runs in the blood of Prateik. I don't think there ever has been anyone like Smita Patel in the industry. She was truly class apart. And his father Raj Babbar too happens to be a very different kind of actor. Prateik has surely taken good points from his parents. His character is more outstanding than that of Genelia & Imran Khan in Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na. This guy is a natural & I think he would go a long way.

Kiran Rao has the eye to notice the best (read unique) I guess. I don't think everyone has that quality.

Prateik, Monica & Kriti Promoting Dhobi Ghat At Radio Mirchi, Mumbai

These guys definitely look like some very simple team with nothing flashy about them. So it is quite possible their acting is what we should all look out for. Aamir Khan has already talked a lot about the youngsters and their brilliant raw talent.

Salman Is Remembered In Dhobi Ghaat

It seems Aamir Khan is quite fascinated with the idea of using Salman Khan's style statements in his productions. Keeping up the trend, the Bollywood perfectionist has made visible references to the star in his upcoming movie 'Dhobi Ghat'.

It's believed that the hit song 'Pappu can't dance saala' in Aamir's 2008 hit production 'Jaane Tu...Ya Jaane Na' was a dig at Salman and his lifestyle. Then Aamir's small-budget satirical hit 'Peepli Live' last year had an actor sporting the star's trademark bracelet with blue stone.

Now in his wife Kiran Rao's directorial debut 'Dhobi Ghat', releasing Jan 14, Aamir strikes a hat-trick.

"Prateik Babbar's character in 'Dhobi Ghat' is shown to be a Salman Khan fan. Prateik is seen wearing the famous Salman Khan bracelet. He loves working out to build a body like Salman's and he wants to become an actor like him," said the film's publicist.

"Prateik's character hails from a different city and is a part-time dhobi, and a wannabe actor. He is into body-building and thinks Salman is a cool dude."

Also starring Aamir, Monica Dogra, Kriti Malhotra, Kitu Gidwani and Nafisa Khan, the movie revolves around four characters from different classes of society and how their lives are intertwined with each other.