First Look: Yash Chopra's Next

Almost a full year ago, I expressed my great inner turmoil regarding this movie. It will mark the joining of two polarizing forces: my one great love, and my one great hate. A film with both Shahrukh Khan and Katrina Kaif seems so unnatural. How can something so pure be paired with something so vile? I contemplated this and then decided to drop the matter. We'll cross that bridge when we get there, I thought.

This week, that bridge has come. My chilling fears were brought to life in the form of visual stills. A movie with Shahrukh and Katrina. It's really happening.  I must now face my fears.

For those unaware of the upcoming project, it's a movie starring Shahrukh Khan, Katrina Kaif, and Anushka Sharma and is Yash Chopra's first directorial venture after the brilliant Veer-Zaara (2004). It's said to be a romantic and emotional film (clearly this is assuming Kat knows how to express emotion on screen) and began filming on February 22 in London.It's set to release this Diwali.

Currently, I'm at a loss. A movie starring the king of romance, directed by Yash Chopra, produced by Yash Raj Films, and with music by A.R. Rahman is bound to be amazing. Anushka Sharma is also something to look forward to. But will it be possible to love a movie if you detest the heroine? Perhaps. After all, Mere Brother Ki Dulhan was one of my favorite movies of 2011 despite the Kaif.

Right now all I can do is believe that Shahrukh Khan will redeem this film regardless of Katrina's performance (or lack thereof).

And maybe one good thing can come of this. Maybe Katrina will learn how to act.

Source: http://bollyspice.com/38477/two-new-looks-at-shah-rukh-khan-and-katrina-kaif-for-yash-chopras-film

Obsessed: Do Dhaari Talwaar

New feature alert! Obsessed will be a feature where I simply gush about something I'm currently obsessed with, whether it be a song, movie, actor, preview, etc. Sometimes a Bollyfan just needs a channel from which to vent her current love for something. And what better channel than a Bollywood blog? :)

I have one thought about this song from the September release, Mere Brother Ki Dulhan: why isn't it overwhelmingly popular??!! I have to admit, when I first listened to the MBKD soundtrack, I sort of brushed off this track. Then I saw the movie and wondered how exactly I missed such a gem of a song.

The song itself is obviously great, but I think it's the picturization/choreography that takes the cake. I actually love the snake charmer/belly dancer feel going on. I also really love the use of fire throughout the entire video. Who doesn't love the excitement of flames and fireballs alongside an already super hot song?

The video is also groundbreaking for me in one very interesting way: for the first time, I actually find Imran Khan to be attractive. Yep, the first time. And hopefully not the last.

Choreography, like I said, is pretty stellar. I have to admit that Katrina Kaif does a pretty good job with her steps. Tara D'Souza dancing, on the other hand, is pretty expressionless and looks rather dry next to Katrina (sigh). Oh well, she looks totally gorgeous in her outfit. Ali Zafar is a cutie, as per usual.

I only have two real gripes with this song/video:

1. WHAT is Katrina wearing? That is a horrendous outfit that completely clashes with the entire set and theme. Are we supposed to be at a fiesta? Sorry, but I don't see the mariachi band.

2. Too. Much. Dialogue. Less talking, more dancing!

Regardless, this song is an A+.

Forthcoming: Mere Brother Ki Dulhan

I love love love YRF, but I hate hate hate Katrina Kaif. So. What do I do with this unfortunate combination? I grow up and accept the fact that Katrina's in the movie, try to ignore her as much as possible, and officially get excited for Meri Brother Ki Dulhan. After all, YRF rarely fails to disappoint me.

First of all, I love this title track. I don't really get the appeal for Imran Khan, but he's cute enough so maybe I'll come around after this movie. The song is fun and catchy, and I like the tributary "Khan" dance steps. He mimics Salman from Dabangg, Shahrukh's "Chaiyya Chaiyya," and apparently Aamir's "Pathshaala" (although I see more of a "Eh Kya Bolti Tu" inspiration?). As an ardent SRK fan I can say that Imran fulfilled the "Chaiyya Chaiyya" steps pretty well...he just doesn't quite have the hair for it ;)

The song promo for "Dhunki" was also released today and is causing quite a sensation:

Despite Katrina's played out New York look and vibe, I gotta say that I like this song. And she does look good. YRF sure knows how to make its promos. At first I was unsure of the picturization of this song vs the actual audio, but as the promo went on, I was sold. And considering I was watching Katrina on screen for almost a full 3 minutes, that's a big feat.

Other cool things about this movie? Ali Zafar! I haven't actually seen Tere Bin Laden yet, but I've known of Ali Zafar through his music--and he's such a cutie! I'm excited to see him on screen and in such a big name film.

Generally, Mere Brother Ki Dulhan looks like a played-out and formulaic story, with nothing new or particularly unique to bring to Bollywood. But, I think that's exactly what I'm looking forward to--a fun movie, with catchy songs, and an overall entertainer. And, I swear, I'll try really hard to look past...the Kaif.

Meri Brother Ki Dulhan releases September 9th.

Forthcoming: Ek Tha Tiger

Recently it was big news that Salman Khan would apparently be acting in a Yash Raj Film for the first time in his career. Well, it's officially true! Ek Tha Tiger, directed by Kabir Khan and starring Salman and Katrina Kaif, is slated to start shooting in July. The film is currently being marketed as a "romantic thriller" and is scheduled for release in mid-2012.

We all know my feelings about Kat. And I'm frankly getting a bit tired of Salman's one-dimensional acting. But I'm a sucker for YRF films, so I'm actually looking forward to this. In my opinion, the YRF banner just has a style of its own, and one that rarely seems to fail. So I'm optimistic that maybe they'll be able to work some magic with this rather mundane Sallu-Kat pairing. I was a fan of Kabir Khan's New York so I'm excited to see what he can do next. If all else fails, though, at least Pritam is doing the music meaning we should have some fantastic tunes to look forward to!

And, I swear, I'll try to keep an open mind to Katrina in this one. But only for you, YRF, only for you...

P.S. Ek Tha Tiger? Really? Couldn't think of a better name than that...?

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/salmankatrina-team-up-for-yrfs-ek-tha-tiger/785913/

No Priyanka in "Dostana 2"?

It has been officially reported by Piggy Chops herself that she won't be a part of the forthcoming film Dostana 2. I guess this really isn't a surprise, considering her story pretty much ended in Dostana. But I'm hoping for at least a cameo from Priyanka in the sequel--which still seems entirely possible!

In case you didn't already know, Katrina Kaif will be the new leading lady in Dostana 2. Excuse me while a barf. Multiple times. First of all, was there really a need for a sequel at all? Don't get me wrong, I adored Dostana, but it didn't really seem like a movie that would need a sequel (unlike Don!). And, okay, if you're really going to make a sequel, what's Katrina Kaif going to add to it--besides a dose of terrible acting?

Bollywood isn't really known for creating stellar sequels, so I'm afraid that the Dostana brand will be tarnished with this upcoming potential disaster. Dostana was a groundbreaking (and hilarious) film mainly because of the premise of Abhishek and John's pseudo-homosexuality. If they use that same premise again, the sequel will have nothing new to offer. If they don't, it could turn into a lame, over-done romantic comedy. Annoying.

Perhaps Tarun Mansukhani will come up with something new and innovative for the sequel. If not, hopefully John and Abhishek can manage to save the show. Either way, I do hope to get at least a glimpse of my beloved Priyanka!

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Nothing-for-Priyanka-in-Dostana-2/articleshow/7924083.cms

Top 5 Onscreen Bollywood Couples?

 

Some time ago, Bollywood Mantra published an article naming the top 5 onscreen couples of B-Town. Here's their list:

1. Raj Kapoor and Nargis
2. Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha
3. Shahrukh Khan and Kajol
4. Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif
5. Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

While I personally feel that SRK and Kajol should have won that top spot, I can see the "old is gold" mentality here, so I won't argue too much. But, sorry Bollywood Mantra, I have a real problem with the rest of the list.

Akshay and Katrina? Really? Really?! Just because they have about a thousand movies together, do they really deserve to be on this list? And correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't both parties at least have some artistic talent (I'm looking at you, Kat) in order to be named one of the best onscreen couples of all time? Ok, sorry for all the rhetorical questions but this one just perplexes me.

Then there's Hrithik and Aish--who've done a grand total of three movies together and still landed on this list. And one of those three films was a total disaster (Sunehri, like, made me wanna cut my ears off). On top of that, I don't really feel they had much chemistry between them in their films.

Here are some couples that I feel were shafted from the list:

* Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla
* Abhishek Bachchan and Rani Mukherji
* Govinda and Karishma Kapoor
* Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor
* Salman Khan and Madhuri Dixit

Who do you think should've been included?

Source: http://www.bollywoodmantra.com/news/top-5-onscreen-couples-of-bollywood/7036/

Possible SRK-Katrina Pairing?

There's current buzz going around saying that Shahrukh Khan and Katrina Kaif may be seen opposite each other in Yash Chopra's next.

I have one word: NOOOOOOOOO!!!

Dear God, I hope this isn't true. Katrina is probably one of the worst actresses of our time, famous only for being another pretty face. She doesn't deserve nor can she handle starring opposite a brilliant veteran like Shahrukh.

Right now this is just mere rumor and speculation. Let's hope it stays that way. But, truth be told, if the pairing does turn out to be a reality, I'll still be first in line to watch the film. I just won't be very happy about it.

Source: http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/2011/03/24/15542/index.html

Movie Review: Tees Maar Khan

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif
Director: Farah Khan
Original Release Date: December 24, 2010

*No Spoilers*

One thing about Akshay Kumar movies is that you never know what you're in for. Although Akshay is currently the highest paid actor in Bollywood, his films are either a complete hit, or a complete miss. Let's just say that I knew this film was doomed from the opening credits with the title track featuring an incredibly creepy baby-in-the-womb dance sequence. I was left horrified from the outset.

A remake of the Italian film After the Fox (1966), Tees Maar Khan is an utter disaster. The story lacked originality, with the second half of the film being largely reminiscent of the 2009 flick Billu Barber. Now, I'm a strong believer in the idea that a movie doesn't need to be original in order to be a success as long is it's well-made and entertaining. This movie is neither of those things. Marketed as a slapstick comedy, Tees Maar Khan just wasn't funny. At all. Akshay's one-liners had almost no comedic effect, his three "sidekicks" in the film were just plain annoying, and the "Johri Brothers" offered failed attempts and comedic relief. This movie tried really hard to be funny, but reverted to sheer buffoonery (think 1990s Govinda gone wrong) as an excuse for humor, making the entire film seem like a cheap comedy--minus the comedy.

As for acting, there weren't any memorable performances in the film. Akshay did a decent job and fulfilled his role as the careless conman Tabrez Mirza Khan adequately. Akshaye Khanna's cameo was interesting, but the role seemed beneath him. I will say that Katrina Kaif's character was a perfect fit. She played a ditzy aspiring actress who does nothing but overact--no role could be more true to life, don't you think?

Shameless attacks on Katrina aside, she did contribute to the one bright spot of the film-- Sheila ki Jawani. This item number, with all its glitz and glamor, lives up to the colossal hype surrounding it. The music is upbeat and catchy, the lyrics are memorable, and the choreography is impeccable. On top of that, Katrina looks simply ravishing with a body to die for. I would have liked to see more expression in her face, but the sheer spectacle of the song itself made up for that. Wallah re Wallah is also a memorable song, with a special appearance by Salman Khan being the cherry on top.

All in all, save yourself some time by watching Sheila ki Jawani on YouTube, and skipping Tees Maar Khan all together. Farah Khan attempted to make another formulaic masala film, which do usually work, but this one just doesn't leave a mark and is rather disappointing.

Final Verdict: 1/5 stars