Taare Zameen Par (Must Watch)

If you want to pick only one movie and show it to current Indian public, it's Taare Zameen Par. British established education system to produce Brown skinned Englishmen to serve the empire during their colonial rule in India. They did not want this workers to think or imagine innovatively. Unfortunately the same education system is not only intact but flourishing in today's modern India. Very few parents are aware of their children's complete growth in the area of their interest while letting their imagination power work innovatively.

But dont misunderstand, this movie is not an art film or a training class either. It's a full fledged commercial movie with complete entertainment for a family. But unlike other bollywood movies you walk out of theaters with a proper mental attitude towards child development and education if you didn't had one.

Master Darsheel Safary has been extra ordinary playing role of a child suffering from dyslexia while struggling with the cruel world around. He picks your attention right from the shot one in the movie up to the extent that you wont even realize that Amir Khan is not on the screen for the first good half of the movie. Not only this child actor but the whole cast and crew is just perfect. The family and school set up is just natural and full with all day today characters a child may "face" in a big Indian city. A child who has difficulties in reading, and spelling and whose world is filled with amazing wonders of colours, fish, dogs and kites, is systematically abused by the current social system under the name of discipline, education and life readiness. Forget about even remotely appreciating his talent, his teachers and even parents (particularly father) scold and beat him from time to time.

And then comes an art teacher in Ishaan Awasthi's life. Ram Shankar Nikumbh, played by Aamir Khan, gets interested in this child because of his abnormal behavior. He digs down the life of Ishaan only to find himself in it. And then starts a journey to bring back this child into the normal life.

The soundtrack of the movie is catchy and cool. The trio, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy has produced melodious songs with lyrics by Prasoon Joshi.
Amol Gupte's story line is perfectly canvased on the film under the banner or Amir Khan who is not only producer and actor for this film but a director, too. It would not be hypocrisy to say that Mr Perfect Khan has done the work which many government or social programs can't do at times. No wonder if the government has made it tax free. If taken seriously, this film has teachings and power that may ignite the educational transformation in the country.

Halla Bol (First tragedy of 2008)

The first most awaited film of this year (2008) is out in theaters in the form of Rajkumar Santoshi's Halla Bol. If you are planning to watch it, wait a moment. First try eating bhel-puri made with saambar-masala and then watch it so that you wont get disappointed much. Decide what you want to watch. If you want to see some good acting, its there with master class Ajay Devgan and Pakaj Kapur.
Ajay has exceeded what director might have expected from him. Not only his expressions and voice but also his composure, dialogues and body language is perfect for, Sameer Khan, reckless superstar who returns to his self in the later part of the movie. Sameer Khan's guru is a Sikh dacoit reformed into street theatre group owner and Pankaj Kapur has got into the role perfectly. The veteran actor has brought life to the script and up to some extent balanced one man show that would otherwise be just Devgan show. But that's it from acting. Be ready to ignore Vidya Balan who has no role to play and also Darshan Jariwala who has played a lifeless negative Marathi (Hindu) leader's role. Specially Darshan Jariwala has not justified his noticeable role he could have cashed for his future. Its pathetic to see his pronunciations of very common Marathi dialogues. Other cast are also average. Guest appearances of a dozen real life characters including Karina Kapoor, Tushar Kapoor, Jockie Shroff and Sridevi is one more marketing tactic that might help advertise this movie.

From the story line, one can clearly understand that Rajkumar Santoshi has picked up spices from real life incidents of Salman Khan, Jessica Lal murder case and Amir Khan's Narmada project incidents. But none has brought enough intensity. Efforts of trying to bring religious balance have also failed miserably as Sikh and Muslim characters are all portrayed as great (except one minute shot when Muslim leaders try to lure the hero) while all Hindu activists are in negative role. Santoshi is also confused while handling media as movie starts accusing media initially while it ends up with it's glorification.

Film is backed with average soundtrack as there are not many chances for romantic songs. The song More Haji Piya comes and goes as a cold drink ad while watching a games on TV channel.

Bottom line is you wont get enough frustrated with movie to walk out of theatre in the middle just because of Ajay Devgan and Pankaj Kapur.

Jab We Met

Jab We Met is one of a very few fine movies Bollywood produced in an average year of 2007. This cute love story starts with dull scene when heart broken Aditya Kashyap (Shahid) leaves his girlfriend, who is marrying someone else, and lands up on a train to meet Geet Dhillon (Karina).

Aditya is son of a well known industrialist who's died after a family breakup. Having left the world behind, Aditya has nothing to cheer about while Geet has every reason to celebrate. She wants to run away with her boy friend Anshuman (Tarun Arora) against her family elders' decision of wedding her off with her childhood friend. But the events on the train take them away together while Geet's nonstop engine is telling all about her.

The first one hour of the movie travels with Aditya and Geet from Mumbai to Bhatinda while exciting events keep happening one after another. After reaching Bhatinda, you see a perfect Panjabi environment where director Imtiaz Ali has set up three songs one after another. First song Nagada Baja is melodious Bhangda after which the music intensity has went down.

One night Aditya and Geet run away. Aditya leaves Geet to Anshuman and comes back to Mumbai as a new changed businessman who not only stops his business downfall and raises it up high but also solves his family problems, credit to the teachings from Geet. But all of a sudden Geet's family members attack Aditya assuming he has done something with her as she has disappeared since they left Bhatinda nine months back. Aditya leaves Mumbai to find out what happened to Geet and find her sheltered at a Christian school. Don't ask how a Sikh girl meets a Christean missionaries as its a style or side theme of many bollywood movies now a days. This is only scene in the movie which does not fit the overall environment of the movie. Aditya then tries to bring home Anshuman and Geet which leads to the Bollywood style climax.

Music director Pritam has continued his good form of 2007 while Irshad Kamil's lyrics is just average. Choreographers Ahmed Khan & Saroj Khan have also done quite a sensible job. Along with Shahid Kapoor and Karina Kapoor, rest of the supporting cast, specially Dara Singh as Geet's grandfather is wonderful.

Jab We Met is definitely a love story that would steal hearts of those who are in love!