Movie Reviews: Fast Forward

Films like DIRTY DANCING and GREASE have enthralled millions of moviegoers across the globe. There have been few attempts to make out-and-out dance-based films in Bollywood, although there's a barrage of dance-based shows on television these days.

FAST FORWARD, directed by debutante Zaigham Ali Syed, has some brilliantly choreographed songs, but there's a hitch: Absence of a gripping storyline.

Actually, FAST FORWARD stands on a faulty story and the patchy screenplay only worsens the situation. The sole redeeming aspect of the enterprise is the dance numbers. That's it!

FAST FORWARD tells the story of two friends, Rehan Khan and Akshay Kapoor, who are exceptional dancers. Akshay falls in love with Rehan's sister Bhavna Pani, only to discover she was suppressing her burning desire to dance. Akshay shows Bhavna a whole new world through dance, but unknowingly they revive Rehan's painful and dark past.

The story is full of contradictions. Firstly, the lead man is haunted by visions of his mother performing dances at sleazy joints and surprisingly, he aspires to be an accomplished dancer some day. But the moment his kid-sister wears her dancing shoes and starts gyrating, he actually throws a fit and gets those visions again that haunt him. Strange!

Here's another gaffe. When Rehan's buddy Akshay professes love to Rehan's kid-sister Bhavna, all hell breaks lose. Rehan severs all ties with Akshay, opts out of the dance group, even bashes him and also detests his sight. Sure, Akshay has a roving eye, but even to the viewer, his intentions this time [for Bhavna] seem honest, so why this fuss? Suddenly, in the finale, there's a change of heart too!

The climax fight between Vinod Khanna and Mahesh Manjrekar is ridiculous. Khanna bashes up a dozen-odd villains like a 20-year-old would, which is hard to digest. Something like this may have worked when Khanna was in his prime, not today.

Zaigham seems technically adept, but he's letdown by a tacky script. The songs are okay, although the choreography is top notch. 'Taali Bajao' - towards the end credits - is the best of the lot.

The youngsters pitch in decent performances. Rehan is natural. Akshay is equally at ease. Bhavna makes a sincere attempt. Siddhanth Karnick and Sabina Sheema are perfect. Each of them is exceptional in dancing. Vinod Khanna and Mahesh Manjrekar are wasted.

On the whole, FAST FORWARD is a weak product.

Music Reviews: All the Best

EXPECTATIONS

Masti. Masala. And some 'dhamaal'. That's exactly what one expects from the music of All The Best. Movies and music coming from the house of Rohit Shetty have a certain template feel to them. His films like Golmaal, Golmaal Returns and Sunday have been youthful entertainers with good music. This is what one looks forward to from All The Best as well which, as the title itself suggests, is a movie about celebration and letting your hair down. With composer Pritam and lyricist Kumaar at the helm of affairs, you know exactly what you are getting into.

MUSIC

Drum beats mark the beginning of 'Dil Kare' that have the cry of All The Best creating the much required rhythm all throughout the song's duration. A number that is set exactly in the manner of 'Socha Hai' [Rock On], whether lyrically, musically or thematically, 'Dil Kare' is a heavy duty rock track that is mounted on a really lavish scale. Suraj Jagan is a good choice for a number like this though one feels that K.K. at the helm of affairs would have further added zing to 'Dil Kare'. Roopam Islam is there as a backup vocalist in the opening number of this album that gets into top gear from the very onset and also gives it a euphoric ending with a high voltage 'remix version'. Expect the track to make it to the DJ's list in a matter of few days from now.

Well, wait for K.K. is over with 'Haan Main Jitni Martaba' which does have a very strong rock beginning to it, especially with the heavy bass doing the trick. However, the moment K.K. comes behind the mike, the scene changes for better. '... Martaba' turns out to be a love song set in a rock genre that has a sound good enough to make you root for it after the first listening itself. With newcomer Yashita being the female vocalist bringing the perfect sound for a rock rendition, '... Martaba' turns out to be one of the best songs to have come out this year. Also, it boasts of the kind of lyrics that Kumaar has excelled in over the last few years that he has been active. He makes best use of the platform made available to him and spins a romantic tale that is given a 'rock solid' (pun intended) contemporary treatment by Pritam. A winner which also makes an impression in the 'remix version'.

One of the major reasons for the promos of All The Best to have made the kind of strong impression is the music that plays along with them. The beats of title song 'All The Best' are the ones that catch your attention in the promos and on listening to it's full length version, you know that the funda of Rohit Shetty, Pritam and Kumaar was clear i.e. to create an instant impression amongst the youth by bringing in a funky sound aided by some full-on orchestra. Rana, now turning out to be a regular with Pritam, Soham (who recently created his own What's Your Raashee) and Antara come together for 'All The Best' that goes perfectly well with the celebration theme of the film and should again boast of some wide spread choreography and eye catchy picturisation.

Mood of the album shifts again with Clinton Cerejo getting a rock solo for him in the form of 'Kyon'. This time around the proceedings are really soft and slow with minimal musical instruments aiding Clinton's rendition. Even though the song has a sad setting to it which is about changing times and drifting friends, 'Kyon' is yet another very good number after '.... Martaba'. Tailor-made for youth and boasting of the kind of sound that worked so very well for the music of Life In A...Metro, 'Kyon' is the kind of number that film maker of any biggie would be glad to place in his product.

Over the years, Neeraj Sridhar has been heard singing in a particular style and sound for many a Pritam hits. In case of 'You Are My Love', he does bring in a definite change in both the departments. Also Pritam incorporates a certain child like innocence in the making of this song which is high on orchestra, is quite urban and contemporary and yet boasts of simplicity. An ensemble piece that also sees the coming together of Kunal Ganjawala, Rajesh, Alisha Chinoy and Megha, 'You Are My Love' is a celebration track about the coming together of friends in happy times.

OVERALL

One expected a decent time pass score for All The Best which would make an instant impression and ensure that audiences are entertained as they play on screen. For this purpose, Pritam does compose songs like 'Dil Kare', 'All The Best' and 'You Are My Love'. However, there is a pleasant surprise in store with '... Martaba' and 'Kyon' turning out to be two of the purest compositions by Pritam and Kumaar that bring in further quality to this album.

Movie Previews: Main Aurr Mrs Khanna

Characters:

Salman Khan: Samir
Traditional to the core, he hates the thought of his wife going to work. For he staunchly believes that it's the man's duty to be the primary bread earner of the family. He also feels success and wealth are two main things to lead a beautiful life.

Kareena Kapoor: Raina
Brought up in an orphanage she thirsts for love and finds it in Samir. Her belief in their love never wavers for she knows that's it's not money but love, loyalty and support that makes life beautiful.

Sohail Khan: Akash
Boisterous and flirty, he's the kind who falls in love every minute. Till he meets Raina, and knows this time it's for real and wants it to be forever. And for him, it's friendship, laughter and freedom is what makes life beautiful.

Synopsis

An international airport is an unmatched location for human drama. As planes arrive and take off, so do people carrying their baggage of emotions, tensions and unresolved conflicts.

Our three protagonists - Raina, Samir and Akash - are three such people whose lives entwine at an international airport. Here the three find themselves in transit - at the crossroads of life where each has to make a decision that will change their lives forever... Samir (Salman Khan) has to decide whether he wants to stay in the same city that gave him so much and then took away everything...or fly away to a new city ...a new life ... Raina (Kareena Kapoor) has to decide whether her love and loyalty for her husband, who left her to peruse success is more justified, than her faith and trust in her new found friend... Akash (Sohail Khan) has to decide whether what he feels for a married woman is lust or true love...and whether he's justified in trying to win her at all costs...even at the cost of her marriage...

Three people coming to terms with their conflicting feelings, personal and psychological problems and the overriding emotion - LOVE....set against the hustle and bustle of an international airport...

Movie Previews: Love Ka Tadka

Love Ka Taddka is a feel good romantic comedy aimed at both the mass and class audience. The concept has been selected after a lot of research. At cinema today, we firmly believe that the film viewing audience is today ready to accept a good concept if the look, feel the acting and the treatment is right.

As the title suggests, the film essentially deals with love and the various spices or shades it has. Our story beings with a romantic track between Aditya played by Sammir Dattani and Sheetal played by Nauhid Cyrusi. Exaggerated and overtly emotional father played by Veteran Satish Kaushik takes the humor to another level. And the colourful and varied characters in the film who stay in the same society are a cause of complete madness. This tongue in cheek comedy has all ingredients required to cook up a fun film.

The story begins with Aditya, a struggling, middle class boy who makes ends meet working in an 'Easy Finance' as an executive. Aditya's life revolves around his work, friend Vicky and his corrupt boss, till he accidentally bumps into pretty Sheetal who keeps mistaking him for a Romeo. Every time Aditya tries to follow his friend Vicky's advice and prove his innocence, he only ends up creating a bigger misunderstanding. In this process, he ends up falling in love with her. And eventually they end up getting married. But here our story does not end with - they lived happily ever after.

On the contrary, the story starts getting juicer. Out of fear of losing Sheetal, Aditya had lied that he is as a Manager and lives in a cool condominium. Naturally, the girl is lived at entering a chawl after marriage. But finally, they both manage to pool in money to buy an apartment. To add to their worries, Sheetal's dad insists on coming to stay with her. They evade him and make him stay with Vicky till they move into their new house. But when they go to buy their new house, they run short on funds and Vicky ends up cutting a deal where he promises to pay balance money in a year or lose the amount they have given to the owner. Just when they think all their financial woes are over, and are about to inter their new house, they realize they are going to be moving in a strictly vegetarian society.

Both being non-veg, find it difficult to digest the fact, but have no choice. The real cat and mouse game begins when the Sheetal's father who is strictly an anti vegetarian, comes in to stay with them. He is not exactly happy with his son in law, so not to upset him any further, Sheetal and Adi do not reveal to him that the society being pure vegetarian. The real fun begins when the two have to smuggle the banned food items into the house and they keep the balancing act between the father and the society members.

This pure vegetarian story with a 'tadka' of little tangy and a slightly spicy story will end up leaving a sweet taste and a smile on your faces.

Music Review: Aladin

Singers: Shankar Mahadevan, Shaan, Amitabh Bachchan, Shreya Ghosal, Sudesh Bhosle, Vishal Dadlani, Shekhar Ravjiani, Anushka Manchanda, Sunidhi Chauhan and Sanjay Dutt

Lyricists: Vishal Dadlani and Anvita Dutt Guptan

Music Directors: Vishal-Shekhar

Rating:***

The soundtrack of the much-talked about Amitabh Bachchan-starrer "Aladin", a contemporary take on the classic fairy tale, is racy and energetic. Composer duo Vishal Dadlani and Shekhar Ravjiani have tried to go beyond their usual tunes and beats.

"Aladin" contains six originals and two remixes. It opens with "Genie rap", where Amitabh turns rapper along with Anushka Manchanda. The song seems to be a situational number and doesn't interest much.

"Genie rap" has a remixed version too by DJ Suketu. This version is faster and has more beats.

Up next is "Tak dhina din", the title track. Sung by Shankar Mahadevan and Shaan, the song starts with a bang and is full of energy. The tempo is maintained all through.

Then we have a complete shift of genre with "O re saawariya". It has a soft start but picks up pace later. It's an entertaining piece with a mix of classical and rustic influences. Sudesh Bhonsle, Shreya Ghoshal, Shaan and Amitabh have lent their voice to the song.

"O re saawariya" has a remix version again by DJ Suketu. It is foot-tapping and adds more colour to the original song.

Next in line is the only soft number of the soundtrack "You may be", which has composers Vishal and Shekhar behind the microphone. A love ballad, it has a mix of English and Hindi lyrics. Soothing to the ears, "You may be" is a pleasing song.

"Bachke o bachke" sung by Shankar, Shaan and Sunidhi is another upbeat, foot-tapping number that has a long prelude. Initially the song seems just average, but it grows on you slowly.

Finally, there is "Giri giri", a different track sung by Sanjay Dutt. Sanjay doesn't do justice with the song and adds no vocal quality. It is an average number, even though the music is interesting.

On the whole, Vishal and Shekhar have composed fast-paced, high on beats songs and most of them are enjoyable.

After sexually groping Bipasha, a pervert strikes again

It was a day Bipasha Basu won't forget easily. Amidst the celebration of Durga Puja the dusky beauty got a shock of her life when a pervert sexually groped her at the North Bombay Sarvojonin Pandal at Santacruz.

A source present at the event said, “Bipasha and John came together for the Durga Puja in the evening and Bipasha was very excited as has always been part of Durga Pujas in Mumbai over the years.

Just after the darshan, she was near the stage when someone pervert groped her breasts. Bipasha, of course, was taken aback and flew into a fit of rage. People around her tried to calm her down.

John too was present there and he whisked her away to calm her down. She even wanted to lodge a police complaint. However, she had second thoughts. As for the sick man, he quietly and promptly ran away, taking advantage of the commotion.”

Incidents of actresses being sexually groped are not new. Many popular actresses have had to face the embarrassment of being mauled by strangers.

Now, model-turned-actress Maushmi Udeshi was a victim while she was on a flight from Delhi to Mumbai. The troublemaker, identified as Khan Mehfooz, was sitting behind her on the plane when he suddenly began to caress her shoulder and make lusty noises.

She tried to change the way she was sitting but he grabbed her shoulder. Annoyed to the extreme, she turned around and slapped him.

She then realized that he was the same man who had tried to push her not once but twice when they were boarding the flight.

His friends, who were sitting next to him, started laughing. She was disgusted by the man.

Tells Maushmi, “I thought such incidents were common in buses and trains, but flight mein bhi aisa hota hai? How can a guy get so lusty and be disgusting in public? He was a desperate, slimy b*****d. He initially denied that he touched me, but they fired him and called the security.”

Maushmi asked the flight crew to do something about the incident. Khan was then made to change his place. At first he denied touching her but when the security was called to take him away, he began to apologize.

She was asked if she wanted to register a police complaint but she didn’t want to get into any kind of hassle. The incident was confirmed by the airlines..

The Man Priyanka Chopra adores

Priyanka Chopra has thousands of fans, but who is the actress's all-time idol? The man she admires most is adored by millions across the globe as well... who else but superstar Shah Rukh Khan.

"Shah Rukh Khan is my idol and has always been. He has been a favourite actor of course, but I really look up to him also as a person. Looking at where he came from and how he became who he is today, I find it extremely fascinating, " Priyanka told in an interview.

"He started with theatre, did plays, got a break in TV - he turned from a regular college kid to a mega superstar... and all that completely on his own with no help from anybody in the film industry. I admire a lot about him and I think it's just fantastic, " said the actress who has bagged the youth award icon for entertainment.

In the past, Priyanka has teamed up with Shah Rukh for Farhan Akhtar's "Don" and did a cameo in a song with him in Farah Khan's "Om Shanti Om" and also in "Billu".

Priyanka and Hrithik Roshan bagged the youth icon awards in the entertainment field at the inaugural edition of the India Youth Icon Awards at an awards ceremony in Gurgaon Friday.

The actress is currently on cloud nine after getting rave reviews for essaying 12 roles in Ashutosh Gowariker's "What's Your Rashee?", which also stars Hurman Baweja.

"It's been great feedback so far. People are enjoying the film...I had an author-backed role which included playing 12 different characters - very difficult to do. And it feels fantastic to be encouraged and be told that I pulled it off well, " she said.

The 27-year-old actor said she was extremely nervous before the film's release Friday.

"My biggest worry was - 'Oh God! Will I ever be able to pull this off or not?'. Since most people who get to play multiple roles in a movie get it after a lot of experience, I was nervous.

I have spent a short span to do roles as difficult as the one in 'What's Your Rashee', but as an actor all I can say is that I do my work with as much honesty as possible and the rest is destiny, " she said.

If "What's Your Rashee?" hits the jackpot at the box office, it will be her fourth consecutive hit in a row after "Fashion", "Dostana" and "Kaminey".

But she is unmoved. "Hits and flops are a part of the business, isn't it?" she said. Asked how she handles success at a young age, the former Miss World said: "I have always been grounded. I have an incredible passion for what I do (acting). I don't know how to do anything else, I don't want to do anything else and I love what I do. There's nothing else that affects me."

What about growing expectations from audiences and critics?

"It scares me when my films release. I wonder if people will like it or not. That for me is the most important thing. But at the same time I think: what's the point of living a life without any expectations?

You will just stagnate, become complacent - that's not the kind of person I am. I like striving, I like things that challenge me; I take up difficult films and difficult roles to challenge myself, " Priyanka said.

"I like it when people say things like 'Fashion' was a female-centric movie and yet it was successful and that 'Kaminey' was an all-boys film, still my part was really appreciated, and 'Dostana' was majorly on gay guys, and it ended so well. I enjoy that - I like the fact that I can take up different scripts.

"It's just that I like to take up challenges, " she added.

Priyanka's next will see her paired with Uday Chopra in Yash Raj Films' "Pyaar Impossible", where she will play the beauty and the latter a geek.

Malaika Arora Khan Sizzles on Filmfare Mag

Malaika Arora Khan – Filmfare Magazine (September 2009). Malaika Arora Khan hot scans from Filmfare Magazine (September 2009).Malaika Arora is one of the hottest mom of bollywood.

She is hot cake even after having baby and she dare to give such revealing pose. Its a nice treat for all the bollywood babes lover. Check out Hot Malaika sizzles in Filmfare Magazine.

Akshay and Aishwarya in their own Action Replay

Producer Vipul Shah has announced that Akshay Kumar and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will be teaming up for the first time since Khakee for his new movie Action Replay. Set in the elegant world of 1950s Mumbai, it will give both actors the chance to shine in a period drama.

“Action Replay will combine a contemporary setting with a period look where Mumbai of the 1950s will be recreated,” said Vipul, “Nitin Desai will do the set design. He will replicate the time period by constructing roads, cars and houses over six acres of land in his Karjat studio.”

It’s been an up-and-down year for Akshay with the disastrous Tashan followed by the super-duper-mega-hit (that’s a technical term) Singh is Kinng! It also looks as though he has more hits lined up with Chandni Chowk to China with Deepika Padukone and Ranvir Shorey; Blue with Sanjay Dutt and Lara Dutta; and the US-based Kambakth Ishq with Kareena Kapoor, Amrita Arora, Denise Richards and Sylvester Stallone.

Aishwarya is currently in Peru filming for Enthiran with Rajnikanth, having just finished with the Unforgettable tour and The Pink Panther 2 with Steve Martin and John Cleese. Aishwarya is also reading a script that would pitch her alongside Will Smith. “There is the possibility of a movie with Will Smith and I am very excited about it because the script is fabulous and no doubt, he is a great actor and is a funny companion to work with,” she says.

Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani Story

A Rajkumar Santoshi movie Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani will be releasing in 2009 starring the gorgeous Katrina Kaif and cute Ranbir Kapoor. This is going to be his first movie with Ranbir and Katrina. Though Rajkumar Santoshi is famous for his intense love stories, this is not going to be a typical love story as it contains a lot of humor in it.

This romantic comedy has been shot at different parts of India like Ooty, Mumbai, Goa and also Turkey. Salman Khan will also be seen in a guest appearance. Upen Patel, Darshan Jariwala, Govind Namdev and many more will also appear in the movie. The music has been given by Pritam.

This movie is jointly written by Rajkumar Santoshi and R.D.Tailang. Ahmed Khan has done the choreography and cinematography is by Tinu Verma. This movie is releasing on 6th November 2009.

Music Review: London Dreams

Music Directors: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Lyricists: Prasoon Joshi
Singers: Vishal Dadlani, Roopkumar Rathod, Abhijit Ghoshal, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Shankar Mahadevan, Zubeen Garg, Feroz Khan and Mohan
Rating:***

Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's music rarely disappoints. And they have lived up to people's expectations once again with great tracks in "London dreams". The forthcoming musical stars Salman Khan, Ajay Devgan and Asin.

The album contains eight originals and three remixes. While most of the original numbers are interesting, the remixes are average.

"Barso Yaaro" has a total rock feel with heavy percussion and contemporary sounds. A power-packed song, it is sure to attract listeners, especially youngsters. Sung by Vishal Dadlani and Roop Kumar Rathod, the song starts with a bang but mellows down in between when Rathod makes his entry. The music then becomes more Indianised. But it does revisit the rock mode in the last minute as well...A really nice song.

Up next is "Man ko ati bhavey" crooned by Shankar Mahadevan and it combines Western music with Indianised vocals. The number is fast-paced but doesn't impress much.

It also has a remixed version.

"Tapkey masti" has youngster Feroz Khan behind the microphone. Though it has a strong musical backing and a Punjabi influence, it ends up as an average number.

This too has a remixed version.

Next in line is "Khanabadosh", another heavily orchestrated track sung by Mohan. Energetic and foot-tapping, this rendition grows on you. It doesn't make an impact instantly, but the more you hear it, the more you will like it.

The remixed version of the song is not that great. The original is much better.

The next track "Khwab jo" is a complete shift from the other songs. Wonderfully sung by two brilliant singers, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Shankar Mahadevan, it is a soft, pleasing track in the signature style of the composer trio. The number is a mix of classical and soft rock.

Roop Kumar Rathod creates an impact with the next song "Yaari bina", a strong and power-packed song that instantly gives you an adrenaline rush. It has a Sufi flavour and electronic elements as well.

Then we have "Jashn jeet ka" by Abhijit Ghoshal. The track is edgy and energetic. The highlight of the song is the electronic, rock and Arabic arrangements apart from the vocals by Ghoshal.

Finally, there is an interesting track called "Shola shola" sung by Zubeen Garg. It has a dark flavour and gives a sense of intrigue.

On the whole, the composers have churned out really interesting tunes. But Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy have tried to move away from their style and try something different with the music of "London Dreams".

Movie Preview: Jail

A great job, a lovely house, a lovelier girlfriend Maansi, a night out with friends at some suburban watering hole after a hard day’s job, life just couldn’t get better for him.

Speed... that’s what Parag’s life was all about and a certain impatience that came with it, to get on with the next step of life when a sudden twist thrown up by Fate destroys Parag’s utopia...

A rude shock from which he recovers only to find himself in a lockup; handcuffs slapped on his wrists, answering cops, infrequently getting slapped or rammed in the stomach, all he can remember is his mother’s worried face and his girlfriend’s trying to be brave but failing, everything else was a blur, confused visuals, sounds emotions, events...

Parag Dixit was now in Jail.

A place far removed from reality, a system that functions on its own rules, not so easy to comply, for some it is a life worse than hell, everything here is taken for granted, including one’s crime ... Parag was now surrounded by the dregs of society.

Parag is now a numbed soul, zombied, blank, unmoved — the new entrant to Barrack number 2 and its mini world within — a clear misfit and sitting target for anyone who had anything against clean cut, good looking, upper middle-class boys, it’s a nightmare that’s only just begun, compounded by dirty, crowded spaces, inedible food, hostile cellmates, angry policemen and weird rules of the place.

No one believed Parag would survive this, for even a day, except for Nawaab... the Resident Supervising Convict (Warder) who believed in two things — one that Parag was innocent and another that his inner integrity would see him through.

From the comfort of his numbness, Parag slowly steps out to actually see and understand the world around him — the world of arrests, court cases, pending cases, years of waiting, broken hearts, shattered souls — some sad people in search of hope and those who had found their happiness within the four walls too... slowly Parag lets himself feel the helplessness and the anger, rebelling, questioning, hurting himself to gradually learn to accept his Fate and begin to find a steely resolve within.

Why should he accept the helplessness that the system forces upon you when there were those for whom Jail was just an inconvenience... their powers not diminished by a degree and whose hawk eyes were constantly scanning for souls that could be broken in? Souls like Parag, who were willing to accept any answer that seemed to quieten his questioning mind...

What begins now is a race to the finish between the powerful forces of the place that can offer Parag his freedom and Nawaab’s friendship that can only offer Faith and Hope.

In the end what would you choose? Freedom or Hope?

Exploring life’s tough choices through Parag Dixit’s journey, Jail is a complex fabric of human emotions that is eventually a metaphor for life itself...

Movie Preview: Tum Mile

Two people who meet after a hiatus of six years, now occupying different worlds. Evidently, they had moved on ...

What starts off as a seemingly innocuous encounter on the same flight back to Mumbai ends up as a roller-coaster ride through some of the darkest hours of Mumbai, as they see the city get swamped with disaster and loss ... and are forced to stick together in this time of crisis. The story shifts perspective between the past and the present, a glorious but crazy past of two starkly different people falling in love, the differences at first being exciting.

Gradually with time, they journey through the emotional pitfalls attached, the constant bickering, the frantic and urgent making up, and irreconcilable differences that give way to a final break up.

And then we see those very people struggling their way through a stormy night in Mumbai that threatens to take over the city, their fears and insecurities lying bare as their guard drops.

As emotions run high, the two learn more about each other on that night possibly than they knew in all those years of being together — tough situations call on some important revelations and they realize how transient and unpredictable life is and they need to make the most of the time that has been given to them together.

Movie Review: Fast Forward

Starring: Vinod Khanna, Akshay Kapoor, Rehan Khan, Bhavna Pani, Siddhant Karnick and Sabina
Director: Zaigham Ali Sayed
Rating: *1/2

Fast Forward narrates the tale of two best buddies Rishi (Rehan) and Sunny (Akshay Kapoor). Both are fantastic dancers.

The fun loving Sunny finds dancing a great way to express himself and is in love with Rishi’s sister Jeel (Bhavna).

(There is an unintentionally hilarious proposal scene between later in the film). Sunny realizes Jeel has purposely kept herself away from her biggest passion – dancing. He goes on to rekindle it but it leads to the revealing of Rishi’s dark past.

The finale sets up in a dancing competition called Fast Forward (hence the title) amongst many top dancing groups including Sunny and Rishi’s.

Fast Forward is the kind of a film which appears exciting on paper what with all the right ingredients thrown in which many urban youngsters can relate to. But it’s a failure when executed on screen.

Neither the script nor the direction nor acting and most importantly neither the music has any fire to keep u interested throughout this 2 hours plus film.

Debutante director Zaigham Ali Sayed also squeezes in an unwanted mafia angle to the film in an attempt to give it a thriller edge. But alas, even that doesn’t leave you wanting for more!

Music by Akbar Sami is a mega let down, however the dances choreographed by Jhalak Dikhla Ja winner Sonia Jaffer, Vishnu Deva and Seema Desai are the only noteworthy thing of this enterprise.

The film features a heady mix of dance sequences (hip hop, Salsa, Rumba, Samba) also add to that B Boying stunts that are packed with high energy.

Rehan Khan attempts to be an angry young man only to end up looking a wannabe Sunny Deol. However, he is good in dancing.

Akshay Kapoor is okay and impresses with his dancing skills. Bhavna Pani and Sabina complement the boys well with their dancing skills. Mahesh Manjrekar and Vinod Khanna leave their mark as always. Siddhant Karnick needs to improve his acting skills.

Fast Forward is an utterly forgettable experience. Go only if you are a crazy dance freak and can bear bad acting and mediocre direction.

Movie Review: What's Your Raashee?

Starring Priyanka Chopra (x 12 ), Harman Baweja
Directed by Ashutsoh Gowariker
Rating: *** ½

A Gujarati downmarket wannabe bride dragged out of her traditional habitat into tight skirts tops and a 7-star hotel by her parents to meet the eligible bachelor from Chicago.The girl’s longing to go West leaps out at you even when he politely rejects her.

“It must be snowing in Chicago, ” she says with a warm wistfulness that melts your heart.

Elsewhere, almost at the end of Yogesh’s long and exhausting bride-hunt an under-age 15-year old is passed off by her desperate parents as a purported bride. When our hero politely asks her which college the girl attends, the school girl burst into wracking sobs.

There are enough heart-melting moments in this lengthy treatise on How NOT To Go Bride-Hunting For Money’s Sake, to make Ashutosh Gowariker’s reputation as a filmmaker who constantly ventures into areas of filmmaking that seem at first, commonplace but actually secrete the most valuable truths of life.

We saw him make a resplendent virtue of simplicity in the storytelling in Swades where Gowariker said, go back home to the NRI.

It tugged at our heartstrings because the message manoeuvred the movie’s vision into places that are the opposite of artifice.

A lack of pretension and a thorough affinity to simplicity and grace in the narration imbue WYR with shades of life done in the quirky satirical tones that completely reject obscure images and symbols.

Raashee relates the episodic story of the NRI’s search for a groom in the easygoing rhythms of a folk tale set to a contemporary but unobtrusive beat. The director’s eye for detail is unmatchable.

When a postman huffs and puffs up that dusty village-road to deliver a much-awaited birthday card to a rich Nanajee from his favourite grandson in Chicago, the postman’s shirt is sweat-stained. When the first of Yogesh’s wannabe brides (arguably the best of Priyanka’s 12 spectacular turns) walks in, her shoes seem to have been bought hours ago.

Ashutosh Gowariker pitches the elemental tale at a satirical level. Some of the supporting characters (too broadly parochial to match the narrative’s mellow mood) needed to be toned down, and the whole subplot about the marriage broker (Darshan Zariwala, excellent )’s extra-marital affair and a bumbling detective on his trail, needed to be edited out.

Some of the music in the otherwise-interesting mix of acoustics and sporadic melody by debutant Sohail Sen is also a burden on the narrative.

But Yogesh’s bride-hunt never gets tedious, thanks to the unadorned interiors of the simple plot.

The bride-encounters move from the poignant (the girl who frankly tells Yogesh she had sex with her neighbour) to the satirical (the self-crowned yogini who gets horny on the flustered Yogesh) to the unabashedly idealistic (a barefoot doctor who invites Yogesh to move from Chicago to the gaon) to the satirical (a theatre actress who spews venom at the NRIs)…each character brings her own little universe of flickering emotions and ideologies.

WYR is the consummate post-date film. It tells us about what happens to the nice decent Gujarati boy (played with heartwarming niceness and decency by Harman Baweja, more of that later) when he meets 12 prospective brides.

By now we all know Priyanka Chopra plays all the 12 brides.

What we don’t know is how beautifully she balances every charcaters’ inner life in the swarming but serene paradigm of the plot creating for each of the 12 intended brides an inner life and an outer glow within a restricted time-span.

It’s an amazing achievement.Priyanka gives soul to all the 12 characters she plays.

In the climactic song she brings all of them together, quirks and mannerisms all on display in one unified flow of feelings and body-language. The actress achieves indidivuality for all her characters while giving the plot a homogenous flow.

As for Harman Baweja, this film is his actual debut. His equation with Priyanka is similar to Shahid’s vis-à-vis Kareena in Jab We Met.

Harman is warm and sincere and ever- articulate before the camera. What a nice guy he has made out of Yogi!

And what a lovely uncluttured unassuming and transparent film you have made, Mr Gowariker!

Govinda, Riteish and David nearly rape Salman

Govinda and David Dhawan are back once again on 10 Ka Dum- this time with added masti in form of Riteish Deshmukh to promote their forthcoming film Do Not Disturb.

When Salman and Govinda get together, David Dhawan is the butt of all their jokes and pranks. But this time the tables were turned. Govinda, Riteish and David Dhawan gave Salman a taste of his own medicine.

They got together and practically ripped his shirt off on the show. For once Salman was genuinely shy and blushed a shade of crimson. “That was near rape!” he was heard muttering.

“For the first time in my life I felt shy. Otherwise I am always looking for an excuse to take off my shirt!”

But when the audience gave a 100 percent verdict to a question on his removing his shirt in this season of the show- he decided to take off his shirt and flaunt his taut muscles quite happily. Everybody went home happy- the women in the audience all the more so.

More fun than ever before on this episode of 10 Ka Dum on Saturday, September 26, at 9.00pm only on Sony Entertainment Television.

Kareena Kapoor had a couple of surprises on her birthday

Kareena Kapoor had two great birthday surprises this year. The first was when Aamir Khan postponed their shoot for 3 Idiots from September 21 to 25 and then it got better when beau Saif Ali Khan flew in her mom and close friends to Udaipur where she was shooting for a magazine cover.

Last year too the actress was shooting on her birthday (September 21) for 3 Idiots. This year too, when the shooting was delayed, she accommodated and gave up her janam din date. When Aamir learnt about it, he requested Raj Kumar Hirani to postpone the shoot, ad let her have a free day.

Bebo was in Rajasthan on Saturday for a shoot and was to return later in the day. But that evening, Saif flew in and booked them into the Udai Vilas Palace Hotel.

Then on Sunday night, he surprised her further by flying in her best friend Reena, her designer Shabina Khan, some other close friends and her mom Babita to bring in her birthday.

Says a source close to the actress, "He had booked a suite and in true Saif style, he had it decorated it with candles, flowers and everything that she loves. Saif had recently taken her for a European holiday so Bebo wasn't expecting Saif to surprise her again, which he did!"

Bappi Lahiri`s daughter has a baby boy

Bappi Lahiri has become a grandfather. His daughter Rema delivered a baby boy at Lilavati Hospital on Monday. The king of disco with his wife Chitrani, son Bappa and son-in-law Govind were present at the hospital.

Rema had a low-key wedding over a year ago to New Delhi-based businessman Govind Bansal and had been shuttling between Mumbai and the capital ever since.

She was a child singer in her right who crooned for several of her father's Bollywood tracks.

Says Bappa, "We are all so excited. The baby arrived when everyone was celebrating as it was Eid Day. Moreover Durga Puja is also on. So for us, the festivities have really begun. The new arrival has added to our joys."

He adds, "Dad always had this rockstar image. The fact that he is a daadu now is sinking in. We have not yet thought of a name as yet."

Rema earlier had a short-lived marriage to US-based Shouvik Mondle, a Broadway opera singer.

Asin hospitalized

Asin who’s lately been working round-the-clock was admitted into the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani on Monday morning with an acute sinus condition.

She is expected to be out after treatment in couple of days. But the news of the hot-and-happening star-on-the-rise being hospitalized on Eid was being whispered behind closed doors. Some said Asin was admitted into hospital after suffering from acute exhaustion.

However sources at the hospital saw the young chirpy actresses whistling humming and singing Hindi film songs with the nurses.

Says a source close to Asin, “Asin was admitted into the Dhirubhai hospital. But not for exhaustion but an acute sinus condition. She had been neglecting the condition for quite some time now. But now the sinus situation had to be attended to. But she was in great spirits, her usual chirpy and friendly self singing even as her treatment was being done.”

Asin’s condition got aggravated because of the night shooting for London Dreams.

Says the source, “She had no choice but to get into the hospital to have the condition treated. She waited until Eid when there was break from work.”

The Kokilaben hospital was chosen because it’s close to Asin’s home in Andheri.

Though the actress herself was unavailable for comment her father who was with her in the hospital said, “Yes she’s in hospital. Nothing to worry about. All this is part of the process of my daughter’s growing up.”

Bipasha doesn't like sitting on my bike: John

John Abraham's love for bikes is well-known but his lady love, actress Bipasha Basu, doesn't like riding pillion with him for that very reason.

"Bipasha doesn't like sitting on my bike because I am very passionate and possessive about my bike. When she sits, I keep saying 'I hope you don't leave a scratch on the bike and all that', so that's why she prefers a car to sitting behind me in a bike, " John told reporters here during an event.

John will be next seen in "Hook Ya Crook" and "1-1800 Love".

View wallpapers of Bipasha basu

Wedding bells for actress Meghna Naidu

Actress Meghna Naidu, who made her debut in Kollywood with K.S. Ravikumar’s ‘Saravana’, is all set to enter wedlock with her boyfriend Gushal Punjabi. Meghna has been a successful actress in Kollywood as well as in Telugu film industry. The engagement ceremony was recently held at a five star hotel in Mumbai in the presence of family members, close friends and relatives. Meghna has admitted that the marriage will be taking place in February 2010. Apart from ‘Saravana’, the actress had played female lead in various Tamil films: ‘Vaitheeswaran’, ‘Pandhayam’, ‘Jambhavan’ and more. We extend our advance congratulation to Meghna and Gushal for a happy married life To View Wallpapers of Meghna Naidu, Click Here....

Soha smooches with Emraan not once but twice

Despite reservations, Soha smooches with Emraan not once but twice

Though there was buzz that Soha Ali Khan had refused a liplock with Emraan Hashmi in Tum Mile, she has kissed the actor not once but twice over!

The snapshot above shows that Saif Ali Khan's sister has puckered up with her co-star (known for his on-screen smooches) though with great reservations.

Says director Kunal Deshmukh, "I told Soha at the outset that the script demanded one kiss which was to be in a song. Though she had agreed to it, when it came to the shoot, she had second thoughts."

It is learnt that the actress needed a lot of convincing to do the scene. Finally, when the director explained the context to her, she performed the sequence in one shot." But things did not end there. Kunal later felt there was a need for another liplock. "Soha had agreed to kiss during a song sequence. But while shooting, I realised that one more scene needed a kiss."

The director explains that as Soha and Emraan play a live-in couple there had to be physical closeness. "In stead of having the camera all over them, I thought a liplock would say it all. Soha was extremely reluctant but she agreed later."

Says Soha, "I had reservations as this was the first time but after discussions with the director, we went ahead with it. It wasn't in the script, that's why it took me by surprise. But it is a very sweet, tame kiss and is shot in good taste."

Produced by Vishesh Films, Tum Mile is set against the July 2005 Mumbai floods and is slated for a November release.

Indian men are boring: Lara Dutta

In an exclusive backstage chat before she walks the ramp at the ongoing Lakme Fashion Week, actress Lara Dutta tells Shweta Shiware it's a waste expecting Indian guys to dress stylish, and why Sush topples Ash in the style chart. Plus a wrap-up of the finale. The backstage recesses of the show area is simmering with activity just before Raakesh Agarvwal's show, manifesting itself in an unsettling quiet before a stylish storm breaks through. Actress Lara Dutta walks in nonchalantly, and on time. She seets herself down to get her make-up and hair done, looking comfortable in a worn-out Ed Hardy tee, ripped jeans and animal print wedges. She juggles two phones - an iPhone and a Blackberry - alligning them on the dressing table to match her line of vision. Fashion has been a familiar playground, she admits, with international supermodels Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista, and Indian counterparts Madhu Sapre and Mehr Jesia inspiring the little Lara to preen like a model in family photographs. "I understood couture as early as 10, " she smiles before getting ready to take our volley of questions. "Shoot." Who is the most stylish beauty pageant winner - Priyanka Chopra, Aishwarya Rai or Sushmita Sen? Sushmita, of course. I appreciate her personal style. She doesn't believe in sticking to rules. And what's Lara's personal style? It depends on my mood. I am inspired by the classic styles of the 1920s, 40s and 50s. But I am not a fashion victim. I invest in pieces that stay relevant irrespective of cyclical trends. Which designers sit in your wardrobe? Shahab Durazi, Tarun Tahiliani and Raakesh Agarvwal. Among the international lot, if I am feeling young, it's Dolce & Gabbana and Roberto Cavalli. For classic styles, it's Armani and Valentino. How long do you take to get ready? If I am not walking the ramp or a red carpet, not more than 30 minutes. And that includes hair, make-up and dressing up. Indian designers are taking an active interest in styling Bollywood films. Has style overridden substance? My experience in modelling has helped me in Bollywood, as far as confidence with clothes is concerned. With Bunty aur Babli, Aki Narula changed the way masses dressed. In Tashan, each character was individually styled, and the trailers looked fabulous. But the film didn't do well. A huge PR machinery was at work to promote Bebo's shoes in Kambakkht Ishq. I've worn an expensive Alexander McQueen dress in my next release, Houseful, for all of 30 seconds. Producers understand the needs of global viewers. They know that the audience won't go, "Kya pehna hai!" after looking at a fashionable outfit. If they (producers) are spending lakhs on outfits and accessories, they will make sure it's all publicised. Who makes it to the most stylish Bollywood stars list? Sonam Kapoor makes an effort to look fashionable. I like that about her. Among men, it's Shahrukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan. They have an inherent sense of style. Do you think Indian men need to make an attempt to dress more stylish? Men don't really believe in taking chances. They are a boring lot (laughs). Actors who walk for designers are handsomely paid... I haven't charged a dime for this show. I have done it because I genuinely like Raakesh's clothes - they are avant-garde and cutting edge. Else, I walk for friends. It takes me back to my modelling days (winks). Any fashion fetish? I have one, a really bad shoe fetish. I can't divulge how many pairs I have. Easily over 100. Shoes matter. What sort, doesn't. So, I have everything from Kolhapuri chappals to Louboutins.