Saturday 31 August 2013

Zanjeer - Kerala Release (Malayalam) Posters


 Zanjeer - Kerala Release (Malayalam) Posters



Hindi version of the film releasing in Kerala on September 6th - No Malayalam dub 

 



Zanjeer - Exclusive Censor Report - Ramcharan, Priyanka Chopra



  Censor Certificate











Friday 30 August 2013

SATYAGRAHA : Movie Review




SATYAGRAHA : Exclusive Movie Review

Directed by Prakash Jha

Produced by Prakash Jha/Ronnie Screwvala/Siddharth Roy Kapur

Music by Salim-Sulaiman/Meet Bros Anjjan/Aadesh Shrivastava

Written by Anjum Rajabali/Prakash Jha/Rutvik Oza

Stars: Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Arjun Rampal, Manoj Bajpayee & Amrita Rao

Movie Review by Sree Prasad Nair 

Theater – Grand Al Mariah Cinemas, Abu Dhabi, UAE 
29/08/2013 – 10.40pm Occupancy – 70%

Director Prakash Jha is known for his political and socio-political films such as Damul, Mrityudand, Gangaajal, Apaharan & Raajneeti. Most of his films were box office hits. However the director's last two movies Chakravyuh & Aarakshan were flops at the box office. Both films without his favorite actor, Ajay Devgn.

Satyagraha is the 5th film of 'Prakash Jha - Ajay Devgn' team. Like all Prakash Jha films, Satyagraha is also a multistarrer with Mr.Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Arjun Rampal, Manoj Bajpayee & Amrita Rao. Satyagraha is a UTV film. The makers are riding high this year with all of their movies worked big time at the box office, blockbusters like Chennai Express & YehJawaaniHaiDeewani (Distribution), Hits like Kai Po Che & ABCD and an average grosser in Ghanchakkar.

Story
Retired teacher Dwarka Anand (Amitabh Bachchan) is an idealistic man. His engineer son Akhilesh's buddy Manav (Ajay Devgn) is an ambitious capitalist. Manav cherishes his friend - who suddenly dies. Minister Balram Singh (Manoj Bajpai) announces compensation which Akhilesh's wife Sumitra (Amrita Rao) cannot get despite daily applications before government babus. Incensed, Dwarka slaps an arrogant official and gets imprisoned. Manav starts a campaign to free him, using social media, roping in wannabe-bahubali Arjun Singh (Arjun Rampal) and journalist Yasmin (Kareena Kapoor).


Positives

The only positives of Satyagraha are the acting of Mr. Amitabh Bachchan & Manoj Bajpayee. Their performances are of a high standard. It's a delight to watch Mr.Bachchan in complete form after a long time. Mr.Bachchan as Dwarka Anand is excellent. He has some of the toughest scenes in the film. In fact, a lesser actor would've failed to do justice to the role. But Mr.Bachchan's expressions, voice and movement bring the character to life.

Manoj Bajpayee delivers yet another performance that he can be proud of. The actor is flawless in a role that seems tailormade for him. Special 26, Shootout At Wadala & now Satyagraha, 2013 turning out ot be a good year for the actor.

Ajay Devgn & Arjun Rampal are average. The powerful punchlines are missing this time. Kareena Kapoor is strictly ok. Amrita Rao leaves a mark in the first half. But in the second half her role is limited and have very few dialogues. Bengali actor Indraneil Sengupta is good in a limited role.

The film has quite witty one liners. Mr.Bachchan's 'Aap Ka Time Shuru Hogaya Hai Ab' & Manoj Bajpayee's "Tum Jiase Dost Hai To Dushman Ka Kya Zaroorat Hai" is extremely funny! The role of social media (Facebook & Twitter) in modern day revolution is highlighted well in the film. Prakash Jha's direction is good. Some scenes are directed brilliantly. Cinematograph by Sachin Krishna & Editing by Santosh Mandal are good.

Negatives

The problem with Satyagraha is film is so predictable & very slow. First half is strictly ok, but second half is unforgivably long! The film has moments of optimism, but failed to impress any real passion. The romantic angle between Ajay Devgn & Kareena Kapoor was unnecessary. So is their romantic song just after the interval. There is no scope for music in political thrillers, yet the makers added few songs in the second half. 'Janta Rocks' song in every 20 minutes is irritating. Music by Salim Sulaimaan, Meet Bros Anjjan & Aadesh Shrivastava is ordinary. Script by Anjum Rajabali, Prakash Jha & Rutvik Oza is confusing.

Kareena Kapoor's role is just ok. Infact not an ideal role for her after Talaash. Arjun Rampal is miscasted.The actor had a rocking role in DDay, but in Satyagraha nothing to offer. Mugdha Godse is wasted in a miss-before-you-can-blink role! Sad to see Ajay Devgn's poor acting (which is very rare) in Satyagraha. Just watch out for his crying scene in the first half. Shockingly horrible expressions. Himmatwala & now Satyagraha, not a good sign Mr.Devgn!

Actually it's not the actors fault. Satyagraha is a just an average film with a bad script & good actors. That's why the result is mixed! It's hight time... Mr. Prakash Jha should make films without 'politics' theme. Satyagraha is promoting so many advertisements in it. Advertisements in a political thriller?



Overall Satyagraha is a mixed bag from Prakash Jha. Film has some moments, yet not enough to evoke any real patriotism or any good message. Watch it for Mr.Amitabh Bachchan & Manoj Bajpayee's acting and to see some real truth. At the box office will film have an average opening 6-8cr with a weekend of 18-22cr! A long run is ruled out due to the back to back multiple films from next friday onwards.

P:S:Watch it for Mr.Amitabh Bachchan & Manoj Bajpayee!!!

Verdict - SATYAGRAHA ... Film has some moments, yet not enough to evoke any real patriotism or any good message!!!

Rating - 2.75/5! Average !!!

 Reviewer can be contacted on Twitter : @i_spn :


Wednesday 28 August 2013

Onam 2013 - Malayalam Premier Movies on Television

Onam 2013 - Malayalam Premier Movies on Television



Surya TV












Asianet















Kairali TV










Mazhavil Manorama















Amrita TV









* - are subject to last minute changes, timings will be updated later

Friday 23 August 2013

Madras Cafe - Movie Review



Madras Cafe - Exclusive Movie Review



Thursday, August 22, 2013

MADRAS CAFE : Exclusive Movie Review
                                          

Directed by Shoojit Sircar

Produced by John Abraham/Viacom 18 Motion Pictures/Ronnie Lahiri

Music by Shantanu Moitra

Stars: John Abraham, Nargis Fakhri, Siddhartha Basu, Prakash Belawadi, Ajay Ratnam, Raashi Khanna & Dinesh Nair

Movie Review by Sree Prasad Nair

Theater – National Cinemas, Abu Dhabi, UAE

22/08/2013 – 8.45pm

Occupancy – 80% (Surprised because movie was not even promoted in overseas)

Director Shoojit Sircar debuted in 2005 with the critically acclaimed film Yahaan. But the film was a flop mainly because it was slotted among much bigger summer releases. But with his second film , Vicky Donor he bagged the National Award for Best Popular Film providing wholesome entertainment. The film was a superhit at the box office. Vicky Donor was produced by actor John Abraham! Juhi Chaturvedi was the screen/dialogue writer.

Madras Cafe is the second film of Superhit Shoojit-John-Juhi team after Vicky Donor. Madras Cafe stars John Abraham & Nargis Fakhri in the main leads. Indian television producer and quiz show host Siddhartha Basu playing a vital role in the film. Raashi Khanna makes her debut with Madras Cafe. Madras Cafe also stars Prakash Belawadi, Tamil actor Ajay Ratnam, Malayalam actor Dinesh Nair.

Story

Madras Cafe is a political spy thriller, set against the backdrop of Sri Lankan Civil War of 1990's. Madras Cafe is the story of an Indian Intelligence agent (John Abraham) is deputed into a war torn coastal island, to conduct covert operations and break a resolute rebel group. Madras Cafe is a story about the assassination of our former Prime Minister.

Madras Cafe is a must visit place for cinegoers!!! Let me start with the positives of the film.

Positives

Madras Cafe starts off very well. Infact the first half of Madras Cafe is simply brilliant, superb thrilling almost at par with the recently released thriller D Day. Madras Cafe is Shoojit Sircar's third outing and you can't help but notice the giant strides he has taken as a technician. The film is stylishly shot, has a grand look despite it being a political thriller film. Direction is top class and easily the main positive about the film. Kudos to him for making a brilliant film without a single song in those 2 hour 18mins!

Madras Cafe will be a landmark film of John Abraham's acting career (yes way better than Dhoom, acting-wise). Good to see that finally John is selecting some sensible scripts. John Abraham as Vikram Singh is remarkable. There is a marked growth in John's performances and his performance in Madras Cafe only endorses this statement.

Special mention must be given to the Background Music Composer Shantanu Moitra. BG Music is just terrific  and almost at par with my personal favorite BG music of the year, Lootera! The end credit song, Sun Le Re is really good. Cinematography by Kamaljeet Negi is topnotch, captured the beautiful locations of Kerala, Tamil Nadu & Hyderabad beautifully.

Script writers Somnath Dey, Shubendu Bhattacharya deserve a pat for attempting a novel theme and packaging it very well. Same goes to dialogue writer Juhi Chaturvedi. Her dialogues are simple, but intelligent!

Nargis Fakhri finally gets a role and this time she is really good. Her acting/expressions is improved and super confident as charismatic and passionate journalist. Raashi Khanna makes an imposing debut as John's wife. Truly admirable in the emotional scenes. Good find!

Indian television producer and quiz show host Siddhartha Basu is surprisingly good as government officer RD. Prakash Belawadi as Bala is quite a scene-stealer! Tamil actor Ajay Ratnam as Anna & Malayalam actor Dinesh Nair as Rajashekaran are proficient. Sanjay Gurbaxani as the former Prime Minister is good in a limted role. Famous Journalist Dibang's cameo is perfect. Controversial South Indian Model-Actress is OK in a 20sec role!

Negatives

Madras Cafe is slow paced at some portions in the second half. Editing could have been much better. Some of the important portions in the second half is fast paced. Climax is predictable although filming is well executed.

I would like to add an extra paragraph in this negative portion for Madras Cafe makers poor promotion. Under-promoting a film is not new in bollywood. But if you are planning to release your movie between Shah Rukh Khan/Akshay Kumar films and multi-starrer Satyagraha (releasing next week) No other option, You makers should promote the film very well!!! Disappointing to realize that makers not even promoted the movie at the overseas. Promotion strategies were undoubtedly very poor from the makers. Not to forget it is strictly a multiplex film!

Overall Madras Cafe is a honest effort from director Shoojit Sircar. A brilliant first half, good direction by Shoojit, John's performance & Shantanu Moitra's BG Music as plus points . The film is mainly targetted for limited audience, i'.e Multiplex audience. Don’t think much takers in Single Screens and also the chance of a long run is ruled out with multi-starrer Satyagraha releasing next week and Zanjeer/Shudh Desi Romance releasing on September 6th! At the box office film is all set to open 4-6crores with a weekend of 15-18crs.

Word Of Mouth will be very good!

P:S:REALLY WISH THIS GOOD FILM HAD A GOOD PROMOTIONS!!!

Verdict - MADRAS CAFE... A MUST VISIT FOR CINEGOERS!!!

Rating - 3.50/5!  Very Good !!!

This Reviewer can be contacted on Twitter : @i_spn : https://twitter.com/i_spn