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Saif Ali Khan is just five minutes away before he addresses the Indian media on his maiden venture into production for his film Love Aaj Kal in which he stars opposite the beautiful leggy Deepika Padukone. But inside the PVR theatre, the room temperature is high and our mind is on overdrive. He has it all. A successful career and a blissful relationship with Kareena Kapoor. Media keeps waiting for more than an hour but they don't complaint because the man in question is a 'nawab'. In fact, there is a 99% possibility that he can be declared as the sexiest man alive in Bollywood. So there he was; he walks up to the stage with an English walk, wearing the summer cliche white shirt and blue denims. His brown boots, brown sun-glasses and belt make him the ultimate spaghetti western and a true style icon of Hindi cinema. For the genial Indian actor, there is more than usual at stake because Love Aaj Kal is too personal for him. Not only is Saif inspired by his idol Clint Eastw

Barely has the announcement come around Ram Gopal Varma's next film titled Warning that Riteish Deshmukh's phone hasn't stopped buzzing. For the uninitiated, Ramu's Warning is going to be India's first-3D horror film and the only actor finalized so far is Riteish Deshmukh. Naturally, Riteish is all excited about the film and is looking forward to the experience. "I have worked in one of the segments of Ramu's Darna Zaroori Hai . In fact the short story that featured Amitabh Bachchan and me was directed by Ramuji himself. But Warning should be unique since it's a full length film. Moreover, the 3D experiment should bring a new dimension (pun intended) to the film. I like Ramuji's vision here and I am now keen to see how he films it", says Riteish for whom this would be fourth film with Ram Gopal Varma. While his first foray with the filmmaker was Naach , he was later seen in Darna Zaroori Hai . After that, he has been directed by Ramu in

Fruit and Nut is a madcap comedy with a central character named Jolly Maker, who is a simple, hard working middle class struggling bachelor in search of love, money, friends and success. Jolly Maker works as a clerk/accountant in the office of a greedy and corrupt builder named Khandar. He is typically nerdy and un-stylish. He is also accident-prone and leaves a trail of disaster behind him. One fine day in broad daylight, Jolly Maker's beautiful, sexy, smart and snobbish colleague, Monica, gets mysteriously kidnapped. Through a roller coaster ride and series of comical mishaps, Jolly Maker finds himself in the middle of plot that has been hatched by an insane Ex- Maharaja to destroy Mumbai!! Whether the poor, adorable, accident- prone Jolly Maker finally falls in love or not, gets his girl or not and above all is able to save Mumbai or not, makes for rest of the film.

Yahoo is the story of a talented and passionate young struggling actor called Sameer. Positive and brimming with energy, Sameer juggles various jobs while working towards getting his big break in the industry. During his struggle he meets Tina who is a choreographer. Just when Sameer is promised his big break, he is left without a house as he cannot pay his rent. Not one to lose heart Sam starts living in his rickety old car and starts teaching dance in a school to young kids who have never won any dance competition. He hates kids and the kids hate dancing. The struggle in life continues as the director who was to launch Sameer now decides to choose his hero through a talent hunt. Sam is shattered but he diverts his focus towards the kids. Getting over his initial dislike of children, Sam not only emotionally bonds with them, but also helps them win a prestigious inter-school dance competition and gets their confidence back - aided by the spirited and beautiful Tina. Tina urges Sameer

This is a story of humanity. Madholal's simple life has modest dreams and usual challenges. The Times were perfect. A supportive wife, Kamla. Loving daughters, Sudha and Summi. A trusted neighbour, Anwar. And friendships like none other. Each morning Madholal starts a journey with his inseparable comrades on the local train. An eclectic mix of buddies. Witty Peon, Rajan. Fastidious lawyer, Varma. Beetlejuice spewing stockbroker, Jayesh. Romantic young executive, Satish. And a youthful retiree, Joshi Kaka. They laugh with and at each other. Meeting only in the trains, squibbling and laughing all the way they pass the journey everyday. Till the tragedy strikes. One event blows it all into smithereens. Shatters the very fabric of Madholal's life. Come the testing times for a family, a neighbourhood and a friendship. Tumultuous times that turn a perfect home into a gloomy abode. Wife into a stalwart, daughter into a crutch, trusted confidant into a suspect and concerns of a father

This sweeping, melodramatic saga of a powerful father, and his two sons, presents an honest view of the rugged life and goals of a simple farming family against the lush green agricultural lands of modern day Punjab. It begins with a Kisaan, Dayal Singh ( Jackie Shroff ), a widower who's immersed in the legacy of his ancestral lands as he raises two very different sons; Aman, ( Arbaaz Khan ) is formally schooled to become a city based lawyer while Jigar ( Sohail Khan ) through lack of funds and inclination towards anything other than farming is kept by his father's side. When Sohan Seth ( Dalip Tahil ), a shrewd businessman, convinces many beleaguered farmers to sell their lands for his commercial interests some by using the violent tactics of the village's heavy hand, Nirmal ( Romeo ) it shatters the harmony of village life, and Dayal's family is jeopardized. Dayal Singh and his sons are locked into a battle of right; each is f

Characters: Anupam Kher: Joymohan A professor living on his own in Kolkata Emotional yet willing to make amends, he surprises his loving son Indra by moving to Mumbai to stay with him. Indra has now changed as he has additional responsibilities and a family to look after Life takes a sudden turn one day when he is out for his morning walk. Sharmila Tagore: Neelima Staying in Mumbai with her daughter, she has a come a long way in life Part of an abusive and cold marriage earlier Is now a yoga instructor and preparing to send her daughter to the USA for further studies Rajit Kapoor: Indra The most loving and caring son that any father could ask for Is caught up between the frictional relationship shared by his wife Rita with his father Joymohan Divya Dutta: Rita Strong, smart yet edgy, Rita personifies today's working woman who has many wants and desires but circumstances have led her to be an altogether different person Has a tumu

Parag Dixit is living a dream life with a great job and his loving girlfriend Maansi! However things take an ugly turn when after a series of unfortunate events the suddenly wakes up in jail; handcuffed and randomly beaten up by the cops. Parag is perplexed and in a place far from his utopian life. He tries hard to face away from the ugly truth and wish it's all a bad dream but soon succumbs to the prison anarchy. The only salvation he finds is in Nawab, a convict and a warder who believes that Parag is innocent. Soon, Parag discovers the inner mechanism and the science responsible for the wretched status inside the prison and hordes of broken hearts and shattered souls which managed to find comfort amidst the four prison walls. He is left with a choice, to either live a life that controlled and exploited or fight against the system!

Characters: Prashant Raj: Sami Intensely talented and serious Sami is the creative head of a leading ad agency. He is honest, upfront and a doting lover. Someone who's so righteous and idealistic, believes in simple living suddenly faces a complex situation brought in by the toss of a coin. Sami now has to make a choice- his principles or the fatal attraction. Rannvijay Singh: Ryan Ryan, the happy go lucky, handsome dude has only one achievement-he has won Fiyona's heart. He lives for the moment and wants it the easy way. He doesn't want to slog and knows for a fact that his stars will smile upon him someday. He does get lucky by the same flip of coin but will luck sustain him? Ashmit Patel: Josh Sami' colleague and bum chum Josh is an aggressive marketing professional. Josh believes in ends and not so much the means. He can easily trade morality should he see results coming his way. This stylish hunk also makes a choice b

Characters: Akshaye Khanna: Shekhar Quiet yet intense, immensely talented yet low key... how aptly these adjectives fit the actor as well as the character he plays in the film. Shekhar's value system is sound and his funds in life are very clear - come what may, there are no short cuts to success. And if you have a dream, protect it. Amrita Rao: Mansi Behind her petite delicate frame hides a core of steel. For it needs immense strength to give up a starry career when you are at the top, and even more strength to walk out on your family to be with the man you love. Arshad Warsi: Raju He bluffs his way out of trouble and comes across as a good for nothing harmless fellow. Known for his out and out comedy, Arshad bring out a dark edginess to this loud mouthed character. Chunky Pandey: Guru Kapoor Raju (Arshad Warsi) comes acting, and almost makes him weep in frustration. But they become partners and then both flourish. Siddharth Randeria:

Guru (KK Menon) is a smalltime car thief. Ganpat, who owns a dilapidated garage, is his partner-in-crime. Guru wacks cars and Ganpat (Dilip Prabhawalkar) gives them a make-over in order to sell them for tidy profits. One night, while returning to his kholi, Guru chances upon a swank Mercedes parked outside a brothel, unattended. He steals the car and takes it to Ganpat. While working on the car they discover a sum of Rs. 1 crore in the boot. They are delirious with joy at the unexpected turn of events and start spinning dreams. Little do they know what lays in store - for the car and the money belongs to a vicious gangster/loan shark called Faujdaar (Anupam Kher)! Guru's plans ricochet when he tries to sell the stolen Mercedes to Suleman Supari (Rahul Dev), a hitman, who recognizes the car and notifies his friend Faujdaar. Scared for his life, Guru squeals that the moolah is in Ganpat's garage. Faujdaar sends his henchman with Guru to retrieve the cash. Unknown to them, the pa

Love Aaj London, San Francisco, Delhi - 2009. Jai and Meera is a modern-day couple in London. They are very happy together but do not believe in tying each other down. So when life pulls them in different directions, they decide to go with the flow. "These Heer-Ranjha, Romeo-Juliet type janam janam ka saath type couples exist only in story books," Jai says. In the real life, we have to be practical. Love Kal Delhi, Calcutta - 1965. Veer Singh is struck by a thunderbolt when he sees Harleen for the first time. Soon after, he stands under a tree and swears that "is janam mein aur har janam mein... yehi meri votti banegi - Harleen Kaur." He travels a thousand kilometers by train to stand under her balcony only to have a glimpse of her face. And yet not speak a word with her. Love Aaj Kal Veer does not understand how Jai can treat matters of the heart without passion, like a financial transaction. Jai does not understand how Veer Singh could have been so naive and

Set in India and England, and starring two of the greatest living acting legends of our times - czar of the Indian film industry, Amitabh Bachchan and Academy Awards Winner Ben Kingsley - Teen Patti is an emotionally riveting and razor sharp thriller about greed, deception and giant feats of imagination. Relayed against the backdrop of modern India - made internationally beloved following the success of Slumdog Millionaire, Teen Patti is one of the most fascinating new films to emerge from Asia, its themes and narrative are so profoundly particular to India that it is ultimately transcendent and therefore universal in its appeal. Ben Kingsley, who essays Perci Trachtenberg, widely regarded as the word's greatest living mathematician, meets Venkat, played by Amitabh Bachchan, a reclusive math genius from India, at a high rolling casino in London. Venkat tells Perci about an equation that could not only change the dialogue on mathematics forever, but one that has already left an i

24x7 RAFTAAR details the life of an acclaimed news Reporter. His personal life and television talk show are at the pinnacle of success. His show is constantly in the limelight for expose's on politics to prostitution to the underground activities of Delhi. His life takes a U-turn when his bosses find his show to be too controversial for primetime TV... His next assignment offered by a dynamic media tycoon plunges him into a vortex of violence in a deadly game of cat and mouse. Beneath the veneer of glamour, money, power and the enviable life of media, lays a truth that is at once unbelievable and shocking.

'Pangaa Gang' traces the action-packed journey of Chintu, Rinki, Gatru, Matru, Muchmuch and Thulthul as they battle evil forces to protect their beautiful homeland from deforestation and also save their animal friends from extinction.

Meghna Sengupta, a correspondent working at a news channel in New Delhi, one day receives a videotape from a remote place in Madhya Pradesh, Anuppur. On the tape, a battered young man claims to be the real Mohandas and alleges that someone else has stolen his identity. Someone else is living as 'Mohandas'. Intrigued by what looks like an unusual small-town scam, Meghna makes a trip to Anuppur. There, she unearths a more harrowing and surreal story. Mohandas is a topper in studies from the poor community of basket-weavers and is overjoyed at long last when he is selected for a good white-collar post in Oriental Coal Mines. But he is kept waiting and waiting to actually get the job. Long afterwards, when he has given up and reconciled to it, he learns that someone else has assumed his name and has already taken his job! When he rushes to protest, he is beaten up and thrown out. Meghna places this story in the media. Harshvardhan, a lawyer from the district, takes this case of st

Myth: NEW YORK is about 9/11. Fact: It's not. But it reflects the mood that's prevalent across the globe, post 9/11. The world is divided today. No two opinions on that! Myth: NEW YORK bears a striking similarity to KHUDA KAY LIYE. Fact: Nope. KHUDA KAY LIYE and NEW YORK may belong to the same family, of an innocent person being picked up for questioning after the WTC catastrophe, but the similarities end there. In fact, KHUDA KAY LIYE and NEW YORK are as diverse as chalk and cheese. NEW YORK, helmed by Kabir Khan, attempts to be as real as possible. A tale of friendship, with terrorism as the wallpaper, NEW YORK hits you like a ton of bricks at several points in the narrative. In fact, there was a possibility that NEW YORK may turn out to be a dry experience, a documentary perhaps, but the drama is so well structured and so gripping that you get sucked into the world of Sam, Omar and Maya from its inception. NEW YORK is a triumph for Kabir Khan, who deserves distinction m

Never judge a book by its cover. But we do! We tend to get carried away by eye-catching promos that a film-maker unleashes prior to a film's release. We act in haste, rush to a nearby cineplex and soon realise that the best parts were actually highlighted in the promos itself. That's exactly what you feel when you watch PAYING GUESTS, helmed by first-timer Paritosh Painter. Comedy is serious business and Paritosh Painter ought to know this by now, since he has successfully directed a number of plays in the past. Sadly, PAYING GUESTS stands on a waferthin plot, although Paritosh tries hard to add meat to the skeletal body. The film doesn't have the power to hold your attention for the next 2 hours, although it does [intermittently] make you smile or break into a guffaw. Earlier too, we've had our macho men getting disguised as girls [Rishi Kapoor and Paintal in RAFOO CHAKKAR were hilarious], but PAYING GUESTS tries so hard to tickle your funny bone, but falls flat. F

There are times when you genuinely feel that there's bankruptcy of ideas in Bollywood. And you feel strongly this when you watch a film like HUM PHIRR MILEINGE. The recipe is simple. Add DILWALE DULHANIYA LE JAYENGE, QAYAMAT SE QAYAMAT TAK, HUM DIL DE CHUKE SANAM and KABHI KHUSHI KABHIE GHAM, shake it rigorously and presto, HUM PHIRR MILEINGE is ready to be served. To put it bluntly, HUM PHIRR MILEINGE is archaic and outdated. You actually pinch yourself while watching this one. Is this real? Perhaps, director Manish Goel is completely clueless about the kind of cinema being made these days. The direction is unbelievably weak and so is the writing. Frankly, nothing works in this film, except for a couple of tuneful songs [Sandesh Shandilya], which, sadly, show up even if there's no situation. Given its poor script, the actors go through their parts mechanically. It's sad to see a talent like Sarwar Ahuja being reduced to such roles. Newcomer Kkhushi [veteran Tabassum'

Just last week, Vashu Bhagnani showcased his son Jackky Bhagnani's acting skills in KAL KISSNE DEKHA. This week, another father - Arvind Patel - attempts to showcase his daughter Gayatri Patel's dancing skills in LET'S DANCE, directed by Aarif Sheikh. Come to think of it, such launch pads often act as a showreel for furthering the career in Bollywood. In that respect, LET'S DANCE succeeds... to an extent. But there's a hitch! The film bears an uncanny resemblance to Ramgopal Varma's immensely likable RANGEELA and Yash Raj's utterly forgettable AAJA NACHLE. No issues if LET'S DANCE seeks inspiration from elsewhere [coincidence?], but in an effort to showcase Gayatri's dances, the remaining aspects take a backseat. The dances appeal, but the love story doesn't. And the crime angle, injected in the plotline, is a big bore. Let's be specific. Gayatri's dances are a treat [she dances exceptionally well], but her love interest cuts a sorry pi

If you could see the future, wouldn't you first use it to your advantage? It seems like many are thinking futuristic nowadays, which is a good thing. But the irony is, be it AA DEKHEN ZARA or 8 x 10 TASVEER, the genre wasn't well exploited on screen. KAL KISSNE DEKHA too falls short of expectations. KAL KISSNE DEKHA walks on a tight rope. The writers could've explored the concept to the optimum, making their imagination run wild. But what eventually unfolds is just not exciting. It catches your attention at times, but gives away later. KAL KISSNE DEKHA is meant to be the launch pad of Jackky Bhagnani. Yes, he can act. And as we know by now, he can dance exceptionally well too. But how one wishes the debutante had the backing of a solid script. Nihal Singh [Jackky Bhagnani] from Chandigarh is a seemingly simple yet unconventional boy. He talks too much, questions everything and builds complicated gadgets in his spare time. He has a brilliant mind and an oddball sort of cha

A good idea gone wrong. That summarizes ZOR LAGAA KE... HAIYA in a sentence. The Indian audiences are gradually tilting towards sensitive and meaningful subjects. If the idea makes sense, but the writing and execution of the material doesn't, then all efforts go in vain. That's a prime reason why this film suffers. ZOR LAGAA KE... HAIYA is about how a group of children, with the help of a homeless man, overcome all the obstacles to save a tree from being razed by a money-minded construction giant and his contractor. Their quest mirrors the apathy of contemporary society to such types of environmental issues. ZOR LAGAA KE... HAIYA has its share of interesting moments and Ashwin Chitale contributes to making this film an interesting exercise. Portions that depict the gang befriending him, his plight, his tricks and how he gets them out of trouble, keep your interest alive. At the same time, ZOR LAGAA KE... HAIYA has its share of unexciting moments. The portions between Mahe

Recall Chetan Anand's Raaj Kumar - Rajesh Khanna - Vinod Khana - Hema Malini starrer KUDRAT. The film has tremendous recall value for various reasons, especially the lilting musical score ['Hume Tumse Pyaar Kitna, Yeh Hum Nahin Jaante' and other lilting tracks], besides a gripping storyline. KARMA - CRIME, PASSION, REINCARNATION seems inspired by KUDRAT, but the problem is that the film doesn't have the power to hold your attention after an interesting start. At best, it works in bits and patches, that's it! Vikram [Carlucci Veyant], estranged and separated from his father Ranvir [Vijayendra Ghatge], for the past thirty years, visits him in Ooty with his bride Anna [Alma Saraci] from New York at her insistence, but only for a day or two. The moment Anna alights from the train that brings them to the small town, she unwittingly becomes the medium of events including visions of a murder that took place in the woods thirty years ago. Even though Anna had never set f

Been there, seen that, moved on… That's one phrase we keep using to express various things in life. We use it for cinema too. As viewers, we've moved on to far more interesting subjects. Films that we can relate to and indentify with. Films that marry realism and make-believe beautifully. Films that not only entertain, but enlighten too. Watching a film like TEAM THE FORCE in today's jet-age is a complete put off. Vintage cars and vintage furniture are still in demand, but vintage subjects aren't. Films like TEAM THE FORCE were the order of the day, a decade or more than a decade ago. But times have changed. Nothing works in this team, frankly! TEAM THE FORCE tells the story of three friends [Sohail Khan, Yash Tonk and Vrajesh Hirjee], who want to make it big in the music industry. They live with a doting person [Kulbhushan Kharbanda] and his family at their bungalow as paying guests. This gentleman considers them as his own sons, even finances them and prods them t

Animation film HANUMAN triggered off a trend. It made you realize that 'kiddie films' can stand on their feet if they tell a story that they [kids] haven't watched on the numerous kiddie channels. Like HANUMAN, MARUTI MERA DOSST is about Lord Hanuman too. This one has two kids essaying central roles, merges animation and live, has loads of computer graphics, but, for a very valid reason, it just doesn't magnetise the kid or the kid in you. Let's probe. Movies targeted at kids ought to have that certain innocence, that purity, that simplicity that zooms straight into their heart. Surprisingly, like the animation ROADSIDE ROMEO last year, MARUTI MERA DOSST also treats kids as grown ups. The negative forces here [Sushmita Mukherjee, Murli Sharma, Shahbaaz Khan] are straight out of masala films that adults enjoy. Even the lighting of sequences as also their make up [Sushmita, Murli specifically] are straight out of scary movies. Plus, these are very strong characters [

EXPECTATIONS Soham Shah's last film Kaal had boasted of chartbuster music. So much so, that it is selling even till date while the songs continue to play across satellite channels. Now with a bigger star cast and much bigger budget in hands, Soham returns with Luck which is easily one of the most anticipated films of the season. Its thriller promo has done the trick and one expects that the music too will follow the high adrenalin mode and get the right thump in place; something which is much needed for the movie belonging to this genre. MUSIC Salim-Sulaiman and lyricist Shabbir Ahmed had created 'dhoom' with the soundtrack of Kaal and with Luck they come back to the scene once more. As expected, the title song ' Luck Aazma ' arrives first and goes on to find a place throughout the album with two more versions to follow. Sukhvinder Singh sounds ordinary in the original version but things get seriously zany once the 'remix version' of the song arri

EXPECTATIONS Huge. Very huge in fact are the expectations from the soundtrack of Love Aaj Kal . And why not? First and foremost it's the return of Jab We Met team of director Imtiaz Ali, composer Pritam and lyricist Irshad Kamil. Now that's a reason huge enough. Moreover, with Saif Ali Khan playing the twin role of an actor and producer, one can be rest assured that Love Aaj Kal would be a zero compromise project both from the film and music front. No wonder, Love Aaj Kal is not just the hottest film of the season but also has listeners waiting to lay their hands on yet another blockbuster musical score. MUSIC What a kick start! That's an immediate reaction the moment you are through listening to the opening number ' Aahun Aahun ' for the first 100 seconds. A true blue fusion piece that has various flavours of Punjabi, Hindi as well as English coming together not just lyrically but also musically, ' Aahun Aahun ' has a HIT written all over it. Whether

EXPECTATIONS When the name of a film is Let's Dance , it is but natural to expect the album to be comprising of quite a few dance numbers. Well, there is that and a lot more to offer if one looks at the album cover since Let's Dance boasts of as many as 16 tracks (including a couple of remixes and extended versions). The film primarily features newcomers but one does expect a surprise or two in store from this album that has music by Vipin Mishra and lyrics by Prateek Bhardwaj, Ashish Khazanchi, Vipin Dhyani and Vipin Mishra. MUSIC First to arrive is the title song ' Let's Dance ' which is written by Prateek Bharadwaj and has an early 80s disco feel to it (remember songs from films like Star etc.?) A Sunidhi Chauhan number that has Kirti Sagathia joining her towards the end (and change the dimension of the song with his rustic singing); ' Let's Dance ' is a stage/rehearsal number that marks a good beginning to the album. Since it is the flagship s