Movie Review: My Name Is Khan

Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Jimmy Shergill, Zarina Wahab

Director: Karan Johar

Questions of religious and national identity, of the sense of right and wrong, of combating a certain isolation that comes with a behavioural disorder. But what triumphs over all the complexities unfolding in a tumultuous post 9/11 America is Rizwan Khan and his essential goodness that tells you unwaveringly - his name is Khan and he is not a terrorist.

Director Karan Johar is in unfamiliar territory here. No candyfloss romance, no sweet nothings, nobody breaking into song. Just the super intelligent Rizwan, who has Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism, his halting voice with his inability to communicate, and his many relationships - with his mother, his brother, and yes, Mandira, and her son Sam.

Move over Rahul, Rizwan is here. Shah Rukh makes the transition from the eternal romantic to the intense Rizwan who finds love and loses it some years later when his Khan identity becomes all important in a tense, suspicious America. You sit through three hours waiting to get a glimpse of Shah Rukh through Rizwan Khan, but it doesn't happen.

If Shah Rukh lives and breathes Rizwan in what is one of his finest roles, Kajol as Mandira, the vivacious single mother, is also good - as always. The chemistry between them if not always crackling, then heartwarming.

It's an unlikely romance, not very easy to portray. But it's dealt with a light touch. There they are sitting on either side of the bed after their wedding with Mandira telling Rizwan, who doesn't like to be hugged, that this is something they can't do without touching. It's a scene that could quite easily have gone wrong, but it doesn't.

All credit to Karan Johar for that.

Like a piece of music that gradually rises to grand crescendo, "My Name Is Khan" begins with Rizwan as a child with his mother - so good to see Zarina Wahab after such a long time - in a tenement in Mumbai and ends with cheers from the US' first African American president in a crowded rally.

It's from his mother that Rizwan learns his first lessons of humanity; as the 1983 Mumbai riots rage outside, she tells the young boy that the world is divided into good people and bad people.

It is this essential humanism that carries Rizwan through from Mumbai to San Francisco where his brother stays, then to the suburb of Banville where he moves in with Mandira and Sam, and even when he is taken to be a terror suspect.

Sam, his "only best friend", is subjected to a vicious race attack because he takes on Rizwan's surname. Mandira hits back, saying that the worst thing she could have done was marry a Khan and Rizwan is out on the roads - unable to articulate his feelings but backpacking his way across the US to meet "president sahib" so he can tell him: "My name is Khan and I am not a terrorist."

It is a road journey through a troubled post 9/11 America towards humanism and the essential goodness of the human spirit.

This is a US where chanting the name of Allah gets you into trouble, where the word terrorist and Khan in conjunction can put you behind bars. Rizwan moves from being a terror suspect to a nationwide hero who exposes a terror mastermind. And then, the man with the mission who travels to Wilhelmina that is literally drowning in a hurricane to supervise a heroic rescue mission.

There's Afghanistan and Iraq, Bush and Obama too.

The US' first African American president is voted in and, in that final feel good moment Rizwan meets him in front of thousands of people and his goodness is validated.

Plenty of great one liners. When he is refused entry into a presidential fundraiser for the poor in Africa that is only for Christians, he leaves behind $500 saying: "This if for those who are not Christians in Africa."

The music by Shankar Ehsaan Loy is superb.

This is not a film without flaws, it is at least 20 minutes too long for one and flags in the pre-interval period, but here is one straight from the heart.

It has a message, in these days of tensions over language and religion, one which needs to be heard. Go watch.

Priyanka's date with SRK on Valentine's Day

Priyanka Chopra's single status didn't come in the way of her Valentine's Day celebrations at all - she celebrated it by watching "My Name Is Khan".

"Hey guys on my way to see MNIK. My Valentine's Day gift to myself! Yay! Excited, " Priyanka posted on her Twitter page.

The actress is currently in Las Vegas for the shooting of "Anjaana Anjaani", which also features Ranbir Kapoor and Zayed Khan.

Smita was so unhappy doing rain song that she cried

Pratik and not Abhishek Bachchan will pay the lead in Goldie's film.

Shooting in the Mumbai streets in movies about life in the metropolis has become a way of life for Pratik Babbar. Last month he shot for Raghav Dar's My Friend Pinto on the Mumbai streets. Now during the whole of July Pratik will be on the streets of Mumbai shooting in the pelting rain for a thriller set in the monsoon.

Remember Smita Patil's celebrated song in the rain Aaj rapat jayen with Amitabh Bachchan in Namak Halal?

Apparently Smita was so unhappy doing a rain song that she cried after she came home.

One hopes Pratik likes the rain more. Goldie will shoot the entire film tentatively entitled Copycat in the rains.

Says the director, “It's gritty realistic romantic thriller set on the streets of Mumbai during the rains. We'll be shooting from July through the monsoon.”

Goldie didn't want artificial studio rains for the film. But he did want Pratik for the lead.

Says Goldie, “There's something special about that boy, besides the fact that he looks so much like his mother. He suits the role perfectly.”

A new girl will star opposite Pratik. A short-list of hopefuls has been drawn up and Goldie would take his best-friend and almost-brother Abhishek's help to choose the finalist for the female lead.

At least respect my dad if not me: Shahid Kapoor

Shahid Kapoor is amused that his father Pankaj Kapoor's directorial debut "Mausam" is being likened to Tom Cruise's "Top Gun" just because he plays an air force officer in the film.

"I am relatively new to the industry but at least respect my dad's credibility as a film personality. 'Mausam', which actually is a working title, has nothing to do with 'Top Gun' except for the fact that Tom Cruise played the role of a naval flight officer while in 'Mausam' I play an air force officer, " Shahid told.

"Other than that, there is no similarity whatsoever since my dad has written an entirely original story and screenplay of the film, " he said.

The young actor says his father's credibility should be kept in mind by those floating rumours that "Mausam" is a remake of "Top Gun".

"My father's career spans more than 25 years and he has been known for his original work even as an actor. This is the reason why he has acted in only 35-odd movies despite getting so much critical acclaim. Do you think that for his own film as a director, he would end up remaking another film, " he said.

"I don't know how someone just picked the Tom Cruise angle just because I play a uniformed officer in my film. On the contrary, 'Mausam' is a love story, " said Shahid.

The leading lady of this 'love story' has not yet been decided, but work is on to get the entire pre-production in place for "Mausam", which will go on floors in April.

"I am glad that I have full two months to prepare for the role. I have a lot of time now to give to the film and since I am not working on anything else in the interim, I have requested dad that he allow me to work on some other departments in the film as well.

"I am quite interested in contributing to 'Mausam' other than just being an actor and I am sure dad would be sympathetic enough to give me an opportunity."

Shahid is not signing up for any other new film. So will it be only one film at a time from now on?

"That's not really the case. Also, it's not that just because it is dad's film, I am giving it any extra attention. 'Mausam' is the kind of film that an actor should be doing in a single stretch without working on anything else.

"The script is such that as an actor, I have to dedicate all my time and presence to it. It's more to do with the subject and the character than anything else and you'll see it for yourself once the film releases, " he said.

Shahid would next be seen in Ahmed Khan's "Paathshaala", which releases in April, "Milenge Milenge" with Kareena Kapoor in the same month and Parmeet Sethi's directorial debut for Yash Raj Films in June.

I want to say sorry to Shah Rukh and Karan Johar

The prolific Priyadarshan's reputation after his television appearance calling the conflict between the Shiv Sena and Shah Rukh Khan a publicity stunt, has put him in the 'block' list of many important cellphones in Mumbai.

Predictably Priyan pleads innocence. “I was quoted out of context. I'd never speak like that about Shah Rukh Khan and Karan Johar. They've both been very nice to me. If I've hurt either of them I apologize to them publicly, and would like to add that in any conflict between filmmakers and politicians I'd naturally and inevitably support my own fraternity.”

Priyadarshan wanted to call his new film with Ajay Devgan, Bipasha Basu and Akshay Khanna Ishaq. In fact he had all but finalized the title when to his horror Priyan found out that a film entitled Ishqiya is already out.

“Vishal Bhardwaj beat me to it!” laughs Priyan. “He took the title Ishqiya. And once that was out there was no point in calling my film Ishaq. So we've named it Garam Hawa after M S Sathyu's classic.”

Priyan hopes to live up to the title of Sathyu's film. “I'm not such a bad filmmaker, you know. If I'm the director of De Dana Dan I also made Kancheevaram.”

Aishwarya is much better now and it's all due to TLC

Aishwarya Rai, who was down with high fever and a sore throat for past four days, is now recuperating well, informs her father-in-law, veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan.

"Many have inquired after Aishwarya's health. Thank you. She repairs well and even though there are some remnants of the ailment persisting, she has decidedly improved in her condition, " Amitabh posted on his blog.

"We have all been with her and by her side. Abhishek has come away from his shootings and I have come away from my incessant TV interviews on 'Teen Patti', " he added.

Aishwarya was unable to talk or swallow food due to her condition, Amitabh had earlier informed.

Abhishek, who came down to be with her from his shoot for "Crooked", says that his wife is now improving.

"Aishwarya is much better. I'd like to think it's all the TLC (tender loving care), " he posted on his Twitter page. "But think it's got more to do with all your wishes and concern. And of course...Of course antibiotics lend slight support. But why let medication take all the credit when we can share it?"

The actress was shooting for Vipul Shah's "Action Replay" in Manori in northern Mumbai when she returned home with high fever.

Kat denies sex tape rumours, finds solace in diamonds

Katrina Kaif, these days is busy with the promotion of her forthcoming film 'Raajneeti' in which she will be seen in a de- glam look. Now the news is that this sexy actress also has her best friend accompanying her where ever she goes. And well her best friend is none other than- Diamonds! A friend of Katrina said, “Katrina feels that diamonds are a symbol of security that you can pass on to the next generation. And that is why they are so special to every woman. She firmly believes that diamonds are a women's best friend.” Apart from promoting her latest film, Katrina is also busy clarifying about the sex tape, allegedly of her younger sister Isabel Kaif. Katrina appealed to everyone that they shouldn't believe in such fraudulent claims. Well we can understand the concerns of sis Katrina toward Isabel, who by the way is making headlines for all the wrong reason even before entering B-town.

Hrithik-Sussanne tweet love

Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan and his wife Sussanne are a reclusive couple, but the duo has been quite vocal about their feelings for each other on social networking site Twitter.

"Friends, please welcome my wife, my friend, my lover, the coolest, the purest, the exotic Sussanne to Twitterland! Give love tweeple," Hrithik posted on his Twitter page.

Sussanne, on the other hand, appreciated her husband's dedication to his work.

"So inspired when I see my Hrithik working.. (he) has the eye of the tiger.. no stopping till he gets it perfect and only because he loves you (the public) all too much," posted Sussanne, who is daughter of yesteryear actor Sanjay Khan.

Hrithik was probably left embarrassed by his wife's shower of compliments and replied - "Stop it Sussanne, stop complimenting me in twublic! But thanks, felt good".

The couple got married in 2000 after dating each other for long. They have two sons, Hrehaan, four and Hridhaan, two.

Music Review: Teen Patti

Singers: Sunidhi Chauhan, Naresh Kamat, Salim Merchant, Sonia Saigal, Abhijit Vaghani, Anushka Manchanda and Joe Alvares Lyricist: Irfan Siddique, Asif Ali Beg and Ajinkya Iyer Music Director: Salim Merchant-Sulaiman Merchant Rating: *** Composer duo Salim and Sulaiman Merchant have crafted an apt soundtrack for director Leena Yadav's suspense thriller "Teen Patti" starring Amitabh Bachchan and Hollywood veteran Ben Kingsley. It has six originals and two remixes and the music comes across as edgy, dark and truly international. The album starts with "Life is a game" that is presented in two versions - English and Hindi. The English version is crooned by Sonia Saigal that is interspersed with dialogues in Amitabh's baritone voice. The Hindi song has another addition in the guise of Anushka Manchanda. It has a dramatic element that makes it sound truly international. It is chic and stylish. Next in line is "Summertime" by Joe Alvares. The lyrics are in English and Alvares impresses with his range. Then there is "Neeyat kharab hai", a slow song that flows at its own leisure pace. It is sung by Sunidhi Chauhan, who has done a commendable job by modulating her voice to create a sense of mystery and thrill. The video of the song is currently on air and it is at its seductive best. The song also has a remix version, which is equally good with elements of electronica. The version has a few lines by Amitabh and also entails portions of rap. It is quite catchy and will set everyone grooving. Up next is the title track "Teen patti ke gulam" with composer Salim Merchant behind the mike. The upbeat song revolving around gambling is fast paced with psychedelic beats. However, it is average. The re-mixed version of the track has more beats attached to it. Finally, the soundtrack offers "Intezar me chupa kahin" in the voice of Naresh Kamat. The song starts off slowly but picks up pace and culminates into a rock anthem. Strong orchestration makes the song impactful. On the whole, the album is meant for a niche audience and is truly international in its approach. Salim and Sulaiman have given music that perfectly gels with the theme of the film.

Movie Review: Karthik Calling Karthik

Produced by : Ritesh Sidhwani & Farhan Akhtar

Writtern & Directed by : Vijay Lalwani

Meet Karthik: an introvert by nature and shy by choice. Karthik suffers with huge confidence issues and is miserable at his just average job that yields less than average results.

His boss treats him like dirt. Shonali, his colleague who he secretly loves doesn’t even know he exists. Karthik is a loser, knows it, and accepts it.

Karthik believes his life cant get any worse and then suddenly one night, it happens; The phone rings. And Karthik speaks to someone he never though he would - He speaks to a man who also claims to be Karthik. The man on the phone says that he is here to change Karthik’s life.

Karthik accepts the phone in his life and soon it becomes his guide, his mentor, friend and guardian. And most importantly it becomes the ticket to the love of his life, Shonali and Karthik’s life changes in ways that he hadn’t imagined.

Movie Review: The Hangman

Starring Om Puri, Shreyas Talpade, Gulshan Grover, Amrita Bedi

Directed by Vishal Bhandari

Rating: ** ½

A long-delayed film but one that comes with its own baggage of silent merit, The Hangman hinges on a rather heart-wrenching irony. A noble hangman Shiva (Om Puri) must finally execute the son on whom hinges his whole hope of the future.

Tragically the execution of this executioner’s tale suffers from an excruciating linguistic anomaly. For some strange and inexplicable reason the characters located in a Maharashtrian village speak in English. Their clipped self-conscious accent jars and reduces the impact of the powerful drama by alienating the characters from the words that come out of their mouth.

Om Puri playing a character apparently inspired by real life is in emotional form as the doting dreaming father of an earnest son who, stereotypically, is spoilt and ruined by the Big Bad City. The opposition of values between rural and city life is done with a simplistic yet sincere flourish.

The story could’ve done with a less pedantic treatment.

The characters are almost parabolic. The hangman Shiva’s wife is named Parvati, and played with a clipped accent and eyebrows to match, by Smita Jaykar and the son, believe it or not, is named Ganesh! There begins the tormenting tandav on migration from the villages and its ruinous aftermath.

There’s a touching core to Shiva’s hopes of getting his son out of the noose into a world of prosperity. This side of the plot needed further nurturing and irrigation. The father-son sequences as played out by Puri and Talpade, convey a wealth of warmth, sadly melted-down by outdated values and narrative devices.

By the time the narration moves clumsily into the city life to show the urban corruption of the poor rustic Ganesh the narration embraces naivete wholesale abandoning any deeper thoughts for a surface-level exploration of the relationship between ambition and guilt. And portraying the city girl (Amrita Bedi) as a toxic influence is the last straw.

In case the director hadn’t noticed the villages have moved and merged into the cities. The city-rural divide is only a mind-set now.

Tackling a concept that is thoroughly outdated The Hangman never proceeds beyond conveying the mood and modality of a serious high-school morality- play performed with touching earnestness.

It’s the sincerity of Om Puri and Shreyas Talpade’s performances that place this film a peg or two above the trite level. If we add Gulshan Grover’s acting as an upright jailor The Hangman is a bearable depiction of a rustic family’s dreams gone to seed.

But Do Bigha Zameen, this is not.

Movie Review: Striker

Starring: Siddharth, Aditya Pancholi, Padmapriya, Vidya Malvade, Ankur Vikal and Anupam Kher Director: Chandan Arora Rating: *** Its December 1992 and curfew time in Malvani, Mumbai’s north western suburb when Suryakant Sarang aka Surya (Siddharth) arrives back in Mumbai from an out of town trip. Communal riots have broken out in the area mostly dominated by Muslims. Surya is stopped by the police, headed by local in charge Faroukh (Anupam Kher). But Surya is restless after he comes to know his family members have fallen prey to the riots. From hereon the narrative alternates between the flash back and current scenario mode. It narrates the tale of how Surya, a lower middle class boy, the youngest of the three siblings rises to become an ace carrom champion in the carrom betting syndicate headed by spearheaded by Jalil (Pancholi). Surya and Jalil keep crossing paths as Jalil desperately wants him to play under him. But Surya nurses a childhood grudge against him. Making matters more complicated is Surya’s childhood buddy Zaid (Ankur) who is working under Zaid. Editor turned director Chandan Arora (Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hun, Main, Meri Patni Aur Who) has always narrated character based tales and this time with through the eyes of an extremely well written central character he has showcased a never before exposed on Indian screen, the betting underbelly. The carrom game sequences are fantastically shot what with real carrom champs used. Making them more entertaining is the sledging running commentary by the bystanders. Vijay Maurya and Pankaj Saraswat’s dialogues are sufficiently spicy. The camerawork enhances the edgy mood of the film. Sound design is excellent too. Songs are not lip synced and don’t act as speed breakers but carry the story forward. In fact even Siddharth has sung a song in the film. Siddharth is nothing short of excellent in the film. Exhibiting a cute boyish charm he is very real and vulnerable at the same time. His splendid carrom playing skills are in full display in the film. Aditya Pancholi with amazing screen presence exudes scare whenever he appears on screen. Ankur Vikal is perfectly cast as Siddharth’s druggie best friend. Vidya Malvade gets few scenes but she manages to leave an impression. Playing a fisherwoman running the local dingy bar, newcomer Padmapriya resembling Tabu is wonderful and is extremely expressive. Anup Soni, Anupam Kher and Seema Biswas are good as usual. Nicolette as Siddharth’s first crush is good too. Chandan Arora’s Striker works for the fact that it actually narrates a never seen before story as also for its authentic setting and excellent acting. Do not give it a miss.

Deols' Con act: Sunny to woo a Canadian hottie

In Samir Karnik's Yamla Pagla Deewana Dharmendra and Bobby Deol play a father-son con-men duo in Varanasi.

Sunny plays an upright man married to a Canadian living in Canada who gets to know after two decades that he has a father and brother in Varanasi. The film is about Sunny's journey into his past and into a culture that he had left behind. Karnik will shoot in Varanasi in April.

The interesting part of the film is the bum-chum relationship between father Dharmendra and son Bobby, when in real life Bobby is intimdated by his father.

Laughs Karnik, “Not so any longer. Thanks to the preparation for my film both Bobby and Sunny have loosened up with their Dad.”

While Bobby is paired with television actress Kulraj Randhawa, the Canadian leading lady for Sunny is yet to be finalized.

The film's shooting starts on Feb 15.

“And we release Yamala Pagla Deewana on December 24, Aamir Khan's slot. This year he won't have any release in the last week of December. So we've decided to release our film in that a slot, ” announces Samir Karnik.

Incidentally Karnik's lucky mascot, little Dwij Yadav who features in all of the director's works so far, won't be part of Yamla Pagla Deewana.

“Let him grow up off camera now. He's my insurance for the future, just like Rakesh Roshan has Hrithik, ” says the director emotionally.

The film's title is obviously inspired by the chartbuster Main jat yamala pagla deewana from Dharmendra's 1975 blockbuster Pratiggya.

Karnik intends to record a remix version of the Mohd Rafi hit. The director introduces a new composing duo Nouman Javed and Rahul Seth, one of whom happens to be from Pakistan.

Says Karnik, “I heard Nouman's music on the internet and asked him to send me his songs on the MP3 format. Then I took another new composer Rahul Seth to Dubai and we recorded the songs in a Nouman's land (Dubai).”

While doing a re-mix of the old hit may be considered a stroke of clever marketing, bringing the father Deol and his two sons together hardly qualifies as a novel strategy.

Says Karnik, “I know Dharamji, Sunny and Bobby have been brought together earlier in Apne. But that was a very emotional drama. Yamala Pagla Deewana is an out- and- out comedy.”

Katrina rescued by the forest department

Now before you get any ideas let us clarify that the Katrina we are referring to is a 15-day-old rare leopard rescued by the forest authorities in Bhopal.

After having a Barbie named after her, Katrina Kaif now has a beautiful rare leopard named after her as well. Reveals a source, “The leopard is one of its kind.

She's absolutely stunning and there is something very unique about her, hence the locals and forest department decided to name her Katrina.

Katrina Kaif has a huge fan base in the interiors as well” Funnily enough the zoo authorities under whose care the leopard now is wish for Katrina Kaif to adopt the little leopard.

Knowing Katrina's loves for animals who knows she just might!

My Name is Khan fever hits Priyanka Chopra

Not just Shahrukh Khan-Kajol fans but industrywallas too are awestruck with the mellifluous music of 'My Name Is Khan'. And the latest entrant to the MNIK's music club is none other than the very gorgeous Priyanka Chopra who is eagerly waiting for the film to release.

“I absolutely love the music of 'My Name Is Khan'. I can't wait to see the film, ” says Priyanka Chopra.

Despite the debacle of her recent release Yash Raj Films' 'Pyaar Impossible' Piggy Chops still seems to be in high-spirits and is wishing her colleagues good luck for their forthcoming ventures.

Though judging her excitement it can be safely said that 'My Name Is Khan' seems to be her hot favorite and is on the top priority. Apart from raving about the music she was heard conveying her best wishes through a social website. Here goes Piggy Chops routing for MINK team, “Way to go team MNIK, ” she tweets.

Vidya Balan not apologetic about her lust

Vidya Balan is fascinated with the poetic wooing style of old-timer Naseeruddin Shah rather than wickedly funny guy Arshad Warsi in Vishal Bhardwaj's protégé Abhishek Chaubey's directorial debut 'Ishqiya'.

Talking about the difference in the approach of both her lovers in the movie, Vidya informs, “Arshad's character is a typical guy for whom love is the way to get sex and Naseer saab's character is more old school.”

She continues, “Krishna is not apologetic about her needs. She gets attracted to Arshad's character and there is a certain culmination to it. With Naseer saab she enjoys that attention. He woos her in a classical way.”

No wonder Vidya falls for Naseeruddin Shah when he woos her with 'Dil toh bachcha hai ji'.

Ask her how she would like to be wooed in real life she admits, “Fortunately or unfortunately I love the Naseer saab kind of romance, someone who woos with beautiful words and poetry. It's old school filmy style.

I don't mind when a man opens a door for me or pulls out the chair for me. That chivalry is there in his character though in a different way because it's a rural setting.”

Why Aunty Malaika is not so happy these day?

Malaika Arora Khan is in two moods. She is ecstatic because her sister, Amrita Arora, gave birth to a son recently.

Malaika is super-excited at being an aunt and the baby has no doubt brought in cheer into the family.

However, the lovely lady is upset at having lost out as the brand ambassador of a lifestyle product.

She has instead been replaced by former Miss World, Diana Hayden.

Well, all we can say is, Malaika shouldn’t let this get in the way of her family celebrations right now! After all, there will be more products to come, right?

Miss Lovely: Former Miss India in a film on Porn

A film, ‘Miss Lovely’, has been made on the porn industry of the 1980s. It has a character based on a real life person, Rajesh Singh, aka Bunty. Bunty was jailed when he was found guilty of being involved in the porn industry. Nawaz Siddiqui and former Miss India Niharika Singh star in the film. Nawaz plays a guy called Sonu, who wants to save a girl from the porn industry. According to him, the film shows how sleazy the industry is and how it works. It even shows how the girls get exploited.