Enemmy movie review

Enemmy (Law And Disorder)

RATING:

First things first! Let the title ENEMMY not mislead you into believing that this one's about a war with the neighbouring country or with the extremists. This one's about the battle within: The conflict between cops and gangsters. A recipe that's

worked several times in the past…

Without beating around the bush, let me state that masala movies that depict the fight between virtuous/upright and evil/wicked can never go out of fashion. Bollywood has been churning out suchmasaledaar entertainers since time immemorial. Asshu Trikha's ENEMMY too borrows from films of yore. The good news is that ENEMMY remains faithful to the entertainers that masses love and relish. The distressing news is that ENEMMY relies too heavily on unabashed conventionalism, brandishing the same stuff in the name of entertainment. 

A thriller set against the backdrop of the battle between the Mumbai mafia and cops, ENEMMY is the story of four officers [Suniel Shetty, Kay Kay Menon, Johny Lever and Mahaakshay], who are entrusted with the responsibility of cracking down on the underworld and cleaning up the city by any and all means possible. When the four initiate an investigation and manage to nab Mukhtar [Zakir Hussain], a crime lord, everyone heaves a sigh of relief. However, the relief is short-lived and after a brief spell of peace, the gang-wars start again, shocking everyone. 

Deciding to up the ante, the political leader R.G. [Akshay Kapoor] sends a CBI officer [Mithun Chakraborty] to Mumbai to get to the bottom of things. However, what the officer discovers is that the gang-war is merely a façade to find out about a heist, in which hard cash was stolen from Mukhtar, who will stop at nothing to get his money back. The question is... who is crazy enough to steal from the king of the city underworld? 

Trikha borrows every ingredient on the shelf that constitutes an entertainer -- cops versus gangsters, fists of fury, heavy-duty drama, item song, clap-trap dialoguebaazi... as a matter of fact, he goes full throttle with the assets available on shelf. This is vintage 80s masala that refuses to age. Once the stage is set, the narrative, although interesting at times, meanders into been-there-seen-that kind of situations, more so towards the penultimate moments. Sure, Trikha tries to integrate a twist or two in the tale, but, again, you know where the film is heading a few sequences later. 

The soundtrack too pays homage to the films of yore. The song towards the end credits is the best of the lot. ENEMMY relies heavily on action and the stunts/action do give you adrenaline rush at times. Dialogue are aimed at the hoi polloi. 

Although it boasts of an ensemble cast, it is Mithun, the veteran, who stands out with an earnest performance. Suniel is in top form after a hiatus. Kay Kay fits into the masala scenario faultlessly. Mahaakshay shows vast improvement over his earlier works and seems more self-assured and confident now. Johny Lever, cast in a serious role, is alright. Zakir Hussain, playing the menacing villain, is first-rate. He's mean and maniacal without trying too hard. 

Yuvika Chaudhary doesn't get much to do. Priyanka Upendra is alright. Deepraj Rana is wasted. Akshay Kapoor plays the mandatory politician well. 

On the whole, ENEMMY is vintage masala in a new avatar. This one's aimed at the masses primarily!

Shortcut Romeo movie review

Shortcut Romeo

Rating:

CRITIC REVIEW

Just last week, FUKREY depicted the shortcuts the youth of today indulge in to accomplish their dreams and desires. SHORTCUT ROMEO also talks of the shortcut the male protagonist undertakes to lead a comfy life. The film, directed by Susi Ganesh, is a remake of the film-maker's successful Tamil film THIRUTTU PAYALE.

Although a remake, Susi takes the essence and gives it a complete makeover. The scale is larger. Also, a few modifications have been made to cater to the pan-India audience. The plot orbits around blackmail and deceit and Susi makes sure the thriller is embellished with several edge-of-the-seat-moments to create an anxiety-crammed environ. Although the film has its share of blemishes [more on that later], one cannot overlook the fact that Susi knows the grammar of film-making right and makes an impressive debut in Hindi films.

Suraj [Neil Nitin Mukesh], a good for nothing youth, arrives from Goa to Mumbai. He chances upon a couple indulging in love making on the lawns of a golf course. He shoots the act and later learns that the lovers, Monica [Ameesha Patel] and Ashish [Bunty Grewal], wouldn't mind shelling out a couple of lacs to keep their affair a secret from Monica's husband [Rajesh Shringarpure].

Suraj starts blackmailing Monica, demanding money for the footage he has shot. Monica has no choice but to succumb to the blackmail. In the meanwhile, Suraj falls in love with Sherry [Puja Gupta] and has a change of heart. But Monica decides to get even with Suraj and a dangerous cat and mouse game ensues…

Almost 31 years ago, BEZUBAAN narrated the story of a housewife [Reena Roy] trying to keep an affair concealed from her husband [Shashi Kapoor] when a blackmailer [Naseeruddin Shah] comes knocking on her door. Although the plot of BEZUBAAN bears a striking resemblance to SHORTCUT ROMEO, the similarities end there. For, not just the blackmailer, but each and every character in the movie has grey shades. That's one of the prime reasons why this cat and mouse saga seems fascinating.

Susi embellishes the film with several attention-grabbing moments. The characters of Neil and Ameesha, for instance, give the film the required edge. Additionally, Susi knows how to keep the audience attention arrested. The screenwriting never falls prey to the tried and tested formulaic stuff that Bollywood is known for. Even the conclusion leaves you completely shocked [it's super!], since the spectator had never imagined the film would end on that note.

The film loosens its grip slightly at times. Besides, the drama leading to the climax could've been crisper. Also, the romantic portions are not as persuasive as the thrilling moments.

Susi is an accomplished storyteller, no two opinions on that. His handling of a complex subject deserves immense praise. Besides, he ensures that the film bears an affluent, striking look all through. Aiding him in giving the film a rich luster is the DoP, who captures the scenic locales of South Africa dexterously on celluloid. Himesh Reshammiya's music gels well with the mood of the film. 'Khali Salaam Dua' is easily the pick of the lot. Action is, generally, okay, but the one in Masai Mara is top notch. Dialogue are a mixed bag.

Neil gets a solid part to display his talent and he grabs the opportunity with his hands. The actor, who left a strong impression in DAVID earlier this year, is superb, displaying the varied streaks in his character with flourish. This film could prove to be a game-changer in his career. Ameesha gets an equally challenging character and she's in top form here. Also, she makes sure she doesn't go over the top since that would make her look like a vamp, which she's not. Puja Gupta, who displayed abundant confidence in GO GOA GONE, enacts her part with confidence, although the focus is on Neil and Ameesha chiefly.

Rajesh Shringarpure is efficient. Jatin Grewal is passable. Vrajesh Hirjee provides a few laughs in the sequence that he's in. Errol Peter Marks, Ashutosh Kaushik and Meherzan Mazda are perfect as Neil's friends. Susi Ganesh [plays the detective] is appropriate.

On the whole, SHORTCUT ROMEO is a well-made, stylish crime story with high-voltage drama as its highpoint. It may not boast of A-listers in its cast, but it has ample entertainment and edge-of-the-seat moments to offer. I suggest, give this one a chance!

Raanjhanaa movie review

Raanjhanaa

rating:

CRITIC REVIEW

Okay, before I move forward with the review of RAANJHANAA, I must state on record that I find it absolutely uplifting and invigorating that our stories have relocated from foreign destinations to the hinterland of India. It's a welcome change, isn't it? Most of us being desi at heart, we tend to connect more with stories that are set in our backyard. And that's the first thing you observe as the reels of RAANJHANAA unspool. This time, the talented Aanand Rai places his plot in Benaras, saunters into Punjab for a while, before concluding the tale in Delhi.

Now to the film! Simplicity and unfussiness catches your eye/attention right away in this world of flashy and ostentatious makeovers. Aanand attempts to encapsulate the love story of regular people caught in a complex scenario in his new outing RAANJHANAA. The focus is on emotions here and RAANJHANAA is akin to a container that encloses myriad emotions such as affection, abhorrence, penance, euphoria and betrayal. On surface, this may seem like an uncomplicated story, but scratch the exterior and there's a strong undercurrent of emotions ready to explode and engulf you... Embellished with a taut screenplay and super performances, RAANJHANAA easily charms its way into your heart!

RAANJHANAA narrates the story of Kundan [Dhanush], who falls in love with Zoya [Sonam Kapoor] the moment he sets his eyes on her. The story takes a turn when Zoya goes to Delhi for further education. There, she falls in love with a budding politician [Abhay Deol]. But there are complications in this love triangle...

Initially, RAANJHANAA manages to hook you with the atmospherics, but the ingenious narrative and worthy performances win you over gradually. The romance, the simplistic lines, the heartbreak... the film transports you to a different zone altogether. The dream-like world gives the impression of being pure and unadulterated initially, but this illusory world is soon shattered by reality [read corrupted by greed and power] as the plot thickens.

There are times when you feel Aanand might borrow from romantic movies of yore -- most storytellers take the tried and trusted course to appease the spectator -- but the plot changes relentlessly as it advances. Let me add, it's not the customary love yarn we spectators are habituated to watching on the Hindi screen. The sequences between the lead pair are humorous and endearing, with some distinctive moments. There are heartrending and distressing flashes too and also sequences that astonish... that's when you put your hands together for the screenwriter and also the director for being so unconventional, so original, so innovative.

Aanand elicits the conservative/old school middle class setting wonderfully well. The milieu and narrative wholly absorb you, making you believe that you're as much part of the goings-on. Furthermore, the director uses only expressions -- without resorting to heavy-duty dialogue in few sequences -- delightfully.

The sole hiccup is that the film deviates in the middle of the second hour, when politics takes precedence, while romance takes a backseat. That's when you start feeling fidgety. But these portions are vital to the plot as it leads to an explosive climax, which comes across as a shocker. In fact, the sequences before the wrap up are the highpoint of the movie and you can't help but applaud the writer as well as the director for thinking out of the box.

The DoP capture the stunning locales of North India exquisitely. The radiant colors explode in every sequence, getting you enthralled at numerous junctures. Dialogue, befitting the milieu and characters, are interspersed dexterously in the sequence of events.

A.R. Rahman's musical score fits into the scenario admirably. The music -- the songs as well as the background score -- augment the impact on several occasions. The quality of music is supreme and each of the compositions has the distinctive Rahman stamp of uniqueness and exclusivity. Sure, like all Rahman compositions, the soundtrack of RAANJHANAA takes time to grow, but you listen to it once, you feel like hearing it persistently.

Dhanush, who makes his Hindi film debut with RAANJHANAA, is simply outstanding. To state that he's the mainstay of the film would be most appropriate. You take back his innocence, his dedication for his beloved, his emotions as you exit the auditorium. Here's a performance that deserves an ovation! The actor in Sonam was waiting for a role that would make the spectator sit up and notice it and the one in RAANJHANAA gives her that opportunity. The headstrong and emotional persona comes across so well in this film. In addition, like DELHI 6, she's devoid of makeup and that makes the character so appealing. This film is a huge leap frontward for Sonam as an actor. Abhay Deol is understated, but effectual in a special appearance. It's a superior act, something you've come to expect from the talented actor.

The supporting cast is unblemished and each of them pitches in a superior performance. Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub is a talent to watch out for. He's remarkable as Dhanush's friend. Swara Bhaskar is equally fab in a role that offers her plenty of scope to display histrionics. Kumud Mishra is first-rate. Vipin Sharma is adequate. Sujata Kumar is first-rate as the scheming politician.

On the whole, RAANJHANAA encompasses romance and myriad emotions most wonderfully, besides bravura performances and a popular musical score from the maestro. A film that touches the core of your heart. A film that's definitely worthy of a watch. Not to be missed!