APKGK: A Movie Review

Prem (Ranbir) is a happy go lucky fun loving chap staying in a small town (ooty actually). But problems follow him everywhere as we see from frame one . Prem along with his friends runs a ‘Happy Club’ which believes in joining lovers (even when they have to be kidnapped). Naturally our hero saab loses his heart to our heroine madam who is the new girl in town- Jenny (Katrina). After loads of bollywood melodrama and hindi songs we are shown that its not a straight love story after all, coz our heroine loves one Rahul (Upen) and wants to elope and get married to him. Prem (in true hindi-sacrifice-your-love-style) decides to bring the two lovers together. But complications arise further. What happens after this, forms the rest of this fun filled entertainer.

The songs, need one ask, are truly hummable! Pritam’s done it yet again... Tera hone laga hoon is absolutely beautiful and has quite a huge fan following on most social network sites. Prem ki naiya is the perfect fun song that is picturized to completely entertain... Tu jaane na nah, will be the slow-big-hit-sensation of the flick, which will catch on once people watch the movie.

The Katrina-Ranbir pair is cute, totally- young, stylish, happening and look absolutely great together! There is something about the good looking people coming together, that makes good chemistry. Their on-screen romance is completely endearing and you come out wanting to see the couple together again-and-again! A definite winner.
Raj Kumar Santoshi has attempted a rom-com and has got somethings right...
One, the romance is a sure shot livewire. Two, the film makes you laugh your heart out. Most importantly, the on-screen chemistry is electrifying. Ranbir and Katrina look nothing but great together. (move on Akshay and look out Sallu bhai!)
As for the cast, both Ranbir and Katrina, I repeat, make a wonderful fresh jodi as they share a crackling chemistry. Upen Patel needs to stop acting (seriously!) and is awful as competition to Ranbir. There is not even an iota of doubt in your mind, and you know from the moment you see him, that there is no way KK will go for him. Darshan Jhariwala and Smita Jaykar playing Ranbir’s parents are first-rate amazing. Darshan has always excelled in comedy and this role’s tailor made for him. His comic timing whether he’s screaming or repeating his dialogues are truly hillarious.
"Ajab is the kahaani of Prem, but is it gazab?" is the one thought that does strike you towards the end... but you walk out all smiles, knowing you have just seen a simple, clean, romantic film after ages (all bollywood glory in-tact).


And so finally my verdict is... Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahani with shades of comedy & loads of fun; is definitely watchable & highly hummable!
So guys, go for it and don’t forget to take your girlfriend along. :)

The New Lux Commercial!

The first time I heard about the commercial was when it made news for being the most expensive celebrity endorsement, almost 3 weeks back! "Abhi-Ash make cash!" was what most news channels reported! And with a whooping 25 crores, I wondered what would the Ad men do differently this time! Afterall, there's only so much you can do with celebrities in a commercial eh? But it was the first time Abhi-Ash came together in an endorsement, so my curiosity was definitely piqued!

And then I saw the commercial... and I liked what I saw (or should I say heard)! For me, what stood out most was the music- "Soney se bhi sona lagey, Salona mera yaar hain!" Composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, specifically for the commercial, its a simple track, amazingly composed in a very desi-sufi-style which touches your heart strings.

The naughty, playful and charming way in which the celebrity couple is shot in this ad film is cute no doubt. Their love story has been shown in a different- young at heart kinnda way, which will appeal to young and the romantic everywhere. They create another epitome of the beauty they symbolize which will make many a woman swoon for the puuuurfect love in their lives too.

Personally I felt that the facial expressions look repetitive. It feels like you have seen both Abhi and Ash do this a million times (almost like deja-vu). But the set sure is beautiful and the lighting creates the mood very well... All in all a great execution but the jury's still out on "What's different to make it worth 25 crores exactly?"

Down Memory lane... the forgotten melodies of the 90's!

I have been spending some of my time going through my old archives of hindi songs... and I realised just how long its been since I heard some of these long-forgotten-melodies that still bring smile to my face. So here is my small reminder for all of you who loved the songs in the 90s; but have't found the time to go through your archives... :) They are not in any order of preferences, just the way I found them...

Chanda suraj laakhon taare hain jab tere hi yeh saare
Kis baat par hothi hai phir thakraarein
Keenchi hai lakkeere is jameen pe par na keencho dekho
Beech mein do dilon ke yeh deewaarein
I love this song. Gurus of Peace is simply magical! I have often thought this song would be perfect as a choreography for any annual day function- performed by 5 to 6 year olds dressed as flowers... :)

Chura Lo Na Dil Mera Sanam
Bana Lo Na Apna Sanam
Ki Tere Bin Na Ji Sakenge
Ki Tere Bin Na Mar Sakenge
Kuchh Bhi Na Kar Sakenge.
To me this song from Kareeb, has always been the epitome of Innocence, or should I call it puppy-love? The way the song's been picturized only adds on to the mood and smiles... :)

Is Deewane Ladke Ko, Koi Samjhaye
Pyar Mohabbat Se Na Jaane,
Kyun Yeh GhabrayeDard-E-Dil, Jaane Na,
Paas Maein Jitna Aaun
Utni Door Yeh Jaaye, Jaaye, Haan Jaaye
Is Deewane Ladke Ko, Koi Samjhaye...
'Don't mind' but this is one of my favourite Aamir Khan movies, I think he did a fab job and I loved the interesting way in which this song was picturized.

Dil mein sanam ki surat,
Ankhon mein ashiqui de
Mere khuda mujhe tu ek aur jindagi de
Maybe Phir teri kahaani yaad ayi, didn't do that well as a film, but this song did create some heartfelt sighs!

Is tarah ashiqui kaa asar chod jaoonga
tere chehre pe apni nazar chod jaoonga..
main deewana ban gaya hoon ,
kaisee yeh muhabbat hai jindagi se badhke
ab mujhe teri jarurat hai mujhko tu chahiye ,
tera pyar chahiye, ek nahi sau baar chahiye ...
One of Kumar Sanu's melodies... For some reason me like it... :)

Jeeye to jeeye kaise.. bin aapke
lagta nahi dil kahin.. bin aapke...
This song from the movie Saajan was one of 90s specials! It says many things quite simply, I love the simple lyrics of the song which leaves quite a romantic impact!

Chaha to bahut na chahein tumhein
chahat pe magar koi zor nahi
dil he to hai tumpe aa he gaya
dil kaa magar kusur nahi
Nice melody, slow number... It's a song that has to be heard alone preferably with lights off.

Dil Ne Kaha Chupke Se
Ye Kya Hua Chupke Se
Kyon Naye Lag Rahe Hain Ye Dharti Gagan
Maina Poochha To Boli Ye Pagli Pawan
Pyaar Hua Chupke Se
Ye Kya Hua Chupke Se
1942, A love story was a very very cute movie with lots of lovely songs... Every song in this movie is worth mentioning here, but I loved Chupke se the most, for its surreal picturization.

Dheere Dheere Se Meri Zindagi Mein Aana
Dheere Dheere Se Mere Dil Ko Churaana
Tum Se Pyaar Humein Kitna Hai Jaane Jaana
Tumse Milkar Tumko Hai Bataana
Who can forget Aashiqui- the sensation of our 90s days! This song captures a nice emotion and it does it very well! Really nice melody.

Adaye bhee hain,
mohabbat bhee hain,
Sharaafat bhee hain,
mere mehaboob mein
Woh deewaanaapan
wo jaalim adaa,
Sharaarat bhee hain,
mere mehaboob mein
No matter what people said about the movie's originality, this beautiful number from Dil hain ki manta nahi was an original melody. Very neat! Very awwwww... :)

Badi mushkil hai, khoya mera dil hai
Koi usse dhoondke laaye na
Badi mushkil hai, khoya mera dil hai
Koi usse dhoondke laaye na
Jaake kahan main rapat likhaaoon
Koi batlaaye na
Main roun ya hasoon, karoon main kya karoon
Anjaam was not really a great film, but its saving grace was this song- highly hummable and really neat!

Tum aaye to aaya mujhe yaad,
gali mein aa chaand nikla
Jaane kitne dinon ke baad
gali mein aa chaand nikla .
Pooja Bhatt proved her acting skills in this movie. Zakhm is a lovely movie and this song is just so heart touching! It captures the lady's joy and the kid's sceptism really well. One of my personal favourite!

Okay, I end here. I know I haven't mentioned the DDLJs and the Hum Aapke hain kauns of the world here. Believe me when I say it was deliberate. The songs of the big banners of the film world, aren't forgotten and hence don't deserve a space in this write-up. This is just my small way of reminding you about the songs that have been left behind! I'm sure I have left loads more... So feel free to comment and help me remember!

Let's wake up and start reminiscing! :)