Highlights of the IIFA Awards April 24-26th 2014

Deepika Padukone poses for us on the Green Carpet! (Note: unless indicated otherwise, all these pictures were taken by us!)

…And the award for best (pretty much every category) goes to….Bhaag Milkha Bhaag!! There was no surprise that this Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra film starring Farhan Akhtar would take home a grand total of 16 IIFA trophies! The true hero of the night, however, was the real Milkha Singh. Director Mehra generously handed Singh the coveted “Best Picture” trophy – at 84 years old, Singh was honored on stage and was the star of the night. As a Lokvani.com journalist, I had the opportunity to meet the legendary athlete known as “The Flying Sikh,” on the IIFA Green Carpet! What a hero – and still in such great shape!

‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ wins Best Picture

The 2014 Tata Motors IIFA Awards was a spectacular event – filling over 30,000 Bollywood fans into Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium. Although the show itself was nearly five hours long, the emcees, Shahid Kapoor and Farhan Akhtar, kept you well entertained with their improv comedy rapping, and Ellen DeGeneres-inspired celeb ‘selfies.’

The performances were mind-blowing! Ranveer entered on a motorcycle circling the stadium, Priyanka acrobatically emerged from the sky, Deepika danced to her best number, “dhol bhaje,” Siddharth strut his stuff to make every young girl’s heart skip a beat, and Madhuri floored us with her graceful dancing to our favorite classics. Hrithik’s Krrish-themed performance, however, was the most jaw-dropping of them all. Stunning the audience with his usual flair and unique dance style, Hrithik suspended all memory of the fact that less than a year ago he was undergoing brain surgery!

Hrithik’s stellar performance

IIFA is not only about the awards ceremony, but also about a weekend full of celebrations surrounding fashion, music, acting workshops, business, and glamour. Even Hollywood’s very own, John Travolta and Kevin Spacey, embraced Bollywood at the IIFA Weekend events. Travolta was honored with an award for Outstanding Contribution to International Cinema. At Travolta’s press conference, I asked him, “If you could be any Bollywood actor, who would you be?” This was his response! Travolta also revealed to us that he will likely star in Shekhar Kapur’s Bollywood movie, Paani, which is set to start filming this fall in India and Spain. This Saturday Night Fever star is even hoping to participate in a “dance number” for the film! Later that night, Travolta showed off his legendary dancing skills at the show with Hrithik and Priyanka.

Priyanka Chopra waves to us!

The flawless PChops

Interviewing John about his Bollywood interests at the Press Conference

Priyanka and John give a stellar performance! (Getty Images)

Kevin Spacey, the star of the Netflix series, House of Cards, held a Master Class Panel with Priyanka Chopra – an exclusive event open only to sponsors and VIP ticketholders. The two-time Academy Award winner stated, “I would really love to do a play in India because I think the theatre scene could really use a boost.” His enthusiasm for Bollywood was truly exemplified that evening, as he did a hilarious “lungi dance” with Deepika, Shahid and Farhan at the show.

Mr. Spacey speaks to the media on the Green Carpet

During the daytime before the awards show, fans had the opportunity to visit the IIFA Expo at the Tampa Convention Center. There were stalls of delicious Indian food, jewelry, garments, and extravagant fashion shows. Parineeti Chopra also attended the Expo to host the fashion show raffle and greet her fans. If fans weren’t at the Expo, they were most likely caught standing outside the main IIFA hotel, Hilton Downtown Tampa, eagerly waiting to catch glimpses of their favorite stars.

Actress Aditi Roy Hydari walks the ramp at the IIFA Expo Fashion Show

As a journalist, the most exciting part of the weekend was attending the Green Carpet Events for the IIFA Awards show. Over 50 Bollywood stars, directors, and singers walked the carpet, waving to their fans, signing autographs, interviewing with the press, and of course, showing off their stunning outfits to the photographers. Social media played a significant role on the Green Carpet – stars could take ‘selfies’ at the Instagram station and also get captured on a 360-degree video camera!

All in all, the 2014 IIFA Awards and Weekend were a blast and huge success for Bollywood’s presence in America. The Tampa community and sponsors Drs. Kiran and Pallavi Patel were fantastic hosts for this incredible event we will remember for a lifetime. Let’s hope IIFA returns to the USA in the near future!

List of celebrities seen on the Green Carpet:

Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone, Madhuri Dixit, Priyanka Chopra, Aftab, Vivek Oberoi, Rishi Kapoor, Arsad Warsi, Shabana Azmi, Govinda, Bipasha, Diya Mirza, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Shankar-Eshaan-Loy, Milkha Singh, Kalki, Ritesh Deshmukh, Anupam Kher, Ranveer Singh, Vani Kapoor, Nirmat Kaur, Yami Gautam, Gohar Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Mika Singh, Sakina Jaffery, Sharman Joshi, Gulshan Grover, Aditya Roy Kapoor, Boman Irani, Malaika Arora Khan, Javed Akhtar, Madhavan, Richa Chadda, Divya Datta, Rakesh Omprakash Mehra, Kevin Spacey, John Travolta…and more! Who was not there? SRK and Bachchans!

Hrithik strikes a pose!

Vivek Oberoi shoots us a dashing smile 🙂

Complete list of all the IIFA winners:

Best Film: Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
Best Director: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
Best Actor: Farhan Akhtar for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
Best Actress: Deepika Padukone for Chennai Express
Best Entertainer of the Year: Deepika Padukone
Best Debutant (Male): Dhanush for Raanjhanaa
Best Debutant (Female): Vaani Kapoor for Shuddh Desi Romance
Best Supporting Actress: Divya Dutta for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
Best Supporting Actor: Aditya Roy Kapur for Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani
Best Male Playback Singer: Arijit Singh for Tum Hi Ho from Aashiqui 2
Best Female Playback Singer: Shreya Ghoshal for Tum Hi Ho from Aashiqui 2
Best Lyrics Writer: Mithoon for Tum Hi Ho from Aashiqui 2
Best Story: Prashoon Joshi for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
Best Performance in a Comic Role: Arshad Warsi for Jolly LLB
Best Performance in Negative Role: Rishi Kapoor for D Day
Outstanding Contribution to Indian Cinema: Shatrughan Sinha

Outstanding Contribution by An Indian in the US: Drs. Kiran & Pallavi Patel

Outstanding Contribution to International Cinema: John Travolta

Lifetime Achievement:Shatrughan Sinha

‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ also won nine technical awards:

Best Cinematography– Binod Pradhan
Best Screenplay and Best Dialogue – Prasoon Joshi
Best Editing – P S Bharti
Best Sound Design – Nakul Kamte
Best Sound Mixing – Pranav Shukla
Best Background Score – Shankar-Ehsaan- Loy
Best Costume Designing – Dolly Ahluwalia
Best Make-Up – Vikram Gaikwad

‘Krrish 3′ received two technical awards:

Best Action – Sham Kaushal & Tony Ching Siu Tung
Best Special Effects (Visuals) – Keitan Yadav & Haresh Hingorani – Red Chillies VFX)

‘Chennai Express’ also received two technical awards:

Best Song Recording – Vinod Verma for Lungi Dance
Best Sound Mixing – Anup Dev

Anil Kapoor lookin’ sharp!

Celeb shots from IIFA 2014:

Shabana Azmi, so passionate!

Madhuri Dixit-Nene and her husband on the Green Carpet

More photos here!

Special thanks to my dear friend, Neha Sanan, for help with photography for this event. Neha, I could not have done this without you!

Are you IIFA ready?

The countdown has begun…

the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards 2014 will be held this Saturday, April 26^th in Tampa Bay, Florida! Hosted by Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., this is the first time IIFA will be happening in the United States – attracting 30,000+ people into Tampa Bay!

So how should you prepare to see your favorite Bollywood stars on the “green” carpet? Whether you are actually attending the show (like me!) or watching it from your home, here are a few key ways to indulge into IIFA 2014!

Actually watch the movies that are nominated for BEST FILM. These directors and actors will be the most buzzed about!

Film – Director:

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag – Viacom 18 Motion Pictures & Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
Dhoom 3 – Aditya Chopra
Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani – Karan Johar
Goliyon Ki Rasleela-Ramleela – Kishore Lulla & Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Krrish 3 – Rakesh Roshan
Kai Po Che – Ronnie Screwvala & Siddharth Roy Kapoor
Chennai Express – Ronnie Screwvala,Siddharth Roy Kapoor, Gauri Khan & Karim Morani

Here is the FULL list of nominees in their categories

Who will be there?

Keep a look out for Deepika Padukone, Farhan Akhtar, Priyanka Chopra, Hrithik Roshan, Madhuri Dixit, Ranveer Singh, Ranbir Kapoor, Siddharth Malhotra, Parineeti Chopra, Anil Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor, and Anupam Kher just to name a few!

Did you know?

The IIFA weekend is full of events starting Wednesday, April 23^rd,such as IIFA Stomp (music festival), IIFA Rocks!, IIFA Magic of the Movies Awards, IIFA Expo and of course the main event, IIFA Awards! Click here for the full itinerary.

IIFA Weekend will have an economic impact of $30 million for the city of Tampa!

Emcees for the IIFA Awards will be Shahid Kapoor and Farhan Akhtar – great duo!

Kevin Spacey and Vidya Balan will be doing a “Masterclass Panel Acting Workshop” together! How exciting!

Get pumped! Listen to the official IIFA soundtrack here: “Do the Tampa” IIFA Soundtrack! and “Do the Tampa” video!!

Catch these videos!

Bollywood dancers rehearsing for IIFA – and Deepika Padukone taking a peek!

Here’s a video of Madhuri Dixit watching the rehearsals!

IIFA 2014 Video Trailer

Download the App. Keep yourself updated on the go with the IIFA Mobile app – you can even cast your own votes!

JUST A FEW DAYS LEFT UNTIL IIFA 2014!!!

Top 10 Bollywood Hits of the Week!

These past few weeks leave us with some fresh tracks from movies such as Main Tera Hero, Queen, Youngistaan, Kaanchi, 2 States, and Hasee Toh Phasee. Enjoy!

Rank	Song Title	Movie, Starring	Music Director, Singers	Best Time to Listen
1	London Thumakda	Queen – Kangana Ranaut, Raj Kumar Rao	Amit Trivedi – labh Janjua, Sonu and Neha Kakkad	Daytime
2	Palat – Tera Hero Idhar Hai	Main Tera Hero – Varun Dhwan, Nargis Fakhri, Illena D’cruz	Sajid-Wajid – Arijit Singh	Evening/ Dancing
3	Zehnaseeb	Hasee Toh Phasee – Siddharth Malhotra, Parineeti Chopra	Vishal Shekar – Chinmayi Sripaada, Shekar Ravjiani	Morning
4	Besharmi Ki Height	Main Tera Hero – Varun Dhwan, Nargis Fakhri, Illena D’cruz	Sajid-Wajid – Benny Dayal, Shalmali Kholgade	Anytime
5	Thumka	Kaanchi – Kartik Tiwari, Mishti, Rishi Kapoor, Mithun Chakraborty	Salim-Sulaiman – Sonu Nigam, Suzanne D’Mello	Evening/ Dancing
6	Baby Doll	Ragini MMS2 – Sunny Leone, Saahil Prem	Meet Brothers Anjjan – Kanika Kapoor, Kunal Avanti	Anytime
7	Patakha Guddi	Highway – Randeep Hooda, Alia Bhatt	A.R. Rahman – Sultan and Jyoti Nooran	Daytime
8	Drama Queen	Hasee Toh Phasee – Sidharth Malhotra, Parineeti Chopra	Vishal Shekar – Shreya Ghosal, Vishal Dadhlani	Dancing
9	Offo	2 States – Arjun Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Amrita Singh, Ronit Roy	Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy- Aditi Singh Sharma, Amitabh Bhattarcharya	Evening
10	Suno-Na-Sangemarmar	Youngistaan – Jackky Bhagnani, Neha Sharma	Jeet Gannguli – Arijit Singh	Morning

Top 10 Bollywood Hits of the Week – March 28th 2014

These past few weeks leave us with some solid tracks from movies such as Queen, Bewakoofiyaan, Gulaab Gang, Highway, and Hasee Toh Phasee. Enjoy!

Rank	Song Title	Movie, Starring	Music Director, Singers	Best Time to Listen
1	London Thumakda	Queen – Kangana Ranaut, Raj Kumar Rao	Amit Trivedi – labh Janjua, Sonu and Neha Kakkad	Daytime
2	Gulcharrey	Bewakoofiyaan – Sonam Kapoor, Ayushmann Khurrana, Rishi Kapoor	Raghu Dixit – Aditi Sharma, Benny Dayal	Morning
3	Zehnaseeb	Hasee Toh Phasee – Sidharth Malhotra, Parineeti Chopra	Vishal Shekar – Chinmayi Sripaada, Shekar Ravjiani	Morning
4	Baby Doll	Ragini MMS2 – Sunny Leone, Saahil Prem	Meet Brothers Anjjan – Kanika Kapoor, Kunal Avanti	Anytime
5	Gulaabi	Gulaab Gang – Madhuri Dixit, Juhi Chawla	Soumik Sen – Malabika Brahma, Shilpa Rao	Anytime
6	Jiya	Gunday – Ranveer Singh, Arjun Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra	Sohail Sen – Arjit Singh	Morning
7	Patakha Guddi	Highway – Randeep Hooda, Alia Bhatt	A.R. Rahman – Sultan and Jyoti Nooran	Daytime
8	Drama Queen	Hasee Toh Phasee – Sidharth Malhotra, Parineeti Chopra	Vishal Shekar – Shreya Ghosal, Vishal Dadhlani	Dancing
9	Tune Maari Entriyaan	Gunday – Ranveer Singh, Arjun Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra	Sohail Sen – Bappi Lahiri, K.K., Neeti Mohan, Vishal Dadlani	Dancing
10	Maahi Ve	Highway – Randeep Hooda, Alia Bhatt	A.R. Rahman	Morning

‘Gunday’ Movie Review

Released: February 14th, 2014
Director: Ali Abbas Zafar

Please note: there are NO spoilers in this review.

Gunday is this year’s masala-packed film with a 1970’s Bollywood flare. Ranveer Singh, Arjun Kapoor, and Priyanka Chopra keep you entertained just enough to last you through this fairly lengthy movie. Although it can be saved for a DVD night at home, Gunday might be worth a watch if you’re fan of throwback Hindi movies.

In summary, Gunday, is about two orphan childhood friends, Bikram and Bala, who are stranded during the Bangladesh Liberation War and end up in Calcutta seeking a new life. They eventually find their fortune as “gundays” of the city’s coal industry. They are chased by police (Irrfan Khan) and fall in love with the cabaret dancer (Priyanka Chopra).

The positives:

1. The soundtrack by Sohail Sen is a highlight of this film (see my “Music Review” in a previous post).

2. Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor have clearly worked very hard to build their sculpted, hairless, and oil-chested bodies for this film – let’s give them the credit they deserve!

3. Priyanka Chopra’s item number, “Asalaam-E-Ishqum,” is a hit! She definitely looks smoking hot in this film.

The negatives:

1. The action scenes are painfully in extreme-Matrix slow motion. I understand they are trying to create an old-school Hindi movie theme, but even movies back in the day had better action shots! You will get sick of seeing Bikram and Bala running at snail’s pace with their every sweaty hair strand swishing in your face.

2. The dialogues are quite poor. There is one awful line by Irrfan Khan that summarizes just how creative the writers got with this script… “Newton Baba ne kaha hai ki every action has an equal and opposite re-action.” Seriously?!

3. The movie was too long…there were at least five different scenes that I thought were going to be the ending, including the intermission.

On the whole, Gunday is a light-hearted film to watch with some friends at home.

Acting: 3/5 (Ranveer & Arjun get most of the credit here)
Story: 3/5
Costumes: 2.5/5
Choreography: 3/5
Sets/Filming Location: 3/5
Action Scenes: 1/5
Songs: 4/5
Eye Candy: 4/5
Length of Movie: 1/5

Rating: PG-13

Overall: ** 1/2 (2.5/5) or 5/10

Gulaab Gang & Bewakoofiyan Music Review!

Movie: Gulaab Gang
Release Date: March 7th, 2014
Director: Soumik Sen
Cast: Madhuri Dixit-Nene, Juhi Chawla

Gulaab Gang is the latest unique soundtrack trending in Bollywood! The movie, releasing a day before International Women’s Day, is about a group of women in rural India who fight against social injustice. Thus, the classical/folk tracks are mixed with the empowering, patriotic tunes creating a unique package for listeners. We are definitely excited for this film – Madhuri and Juhi on the silver screen together! Let take a good look at each track…

‘Gulaabi,’ sung by Malabika Brahma and Shilpa Rao is the most powerful track full of patriotism. The singers’ impeccable energy captivates you with each and every word of Neha Saraf’s lyrics. Definitely a favorite on your playlist this week!

‘Dheemi Dheemi Si’ is sung by Kaushiki Chakroborty and Malabika Brahma. It is a true blend of classical and folk tunes in which you can imagine a playful event taking place in the scene. It sounds like an introductory song to a major scene/character.

‘Sharm laaj,’ sung by Malabika Brahma and Pavni Pandey, is also a catchy folk song that has a dance-able feel to it. If you’re a classical/folk dancer, you might find yourself choreographing some steps to this one!

‘Aankhiyaan,’ sung by Kaushiki Chakraborty, is a very beautiful yet incredibly snail-paced track. The flute is the highlighted instrument and makes the track sound like a perfect lullaby.

‘Rang se hui,’ also by Kaushiki Chakraborty, is the token Holi song of the film. No, it probably won’t be the first track you play at your Holi party, as it is more of a folk song that sounds almost bhajan-like. It is appropriately placed in this album and it will most likely have an important role in the movie.

‘Rangi saari gulaabi’ is a special track as it starts off with Madhuri Dixit’s mother, Snehalatha Dixit, singing the intro! Madhuri Dixit and Anupama Raag also join in on this traditional, slow folk song – something you might hear at a wedding function. I’m sure we all agree Madhuri’s strong suit is her dancing vs. singing, but nonetheless collaborating with her mother is priceless!

‘Teri jai ho’ is a solid track and a wonderful tribute to women. It is the only track with a male voice – sung, composed, and written by Soumik Sen. Females – this song is a great morale boost and wonderful to listen to in the morning time!

Best tracks: ‘Gulaabi’, ‘Dheemi Dheemi Si’, ‘Sharm Laag’
Overall Rating: ***1/2 (3.5/5)

Gulaab Gang Full Soundtrack Jukebox

Gulaab Gang Official Trailer

Movie: Bewakoofiyan Release Date: March 14^th, 2014

Director: Nupur Asthana Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Sonam Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor

Music Label: Yash Raj Music

Bewakoofiyan actually has a surprisingly appealing soundtrack with a few hits to add to your playlist this week. Raghu Dixit, the music director of this film, recently won his first GIMA (Global Indian Music Awards) for Best Live Performer. This Bangalorean indie folk band is actually more popular for its non-film music and is widely known to combine Indian classical rhythms with contemporary, up-beat styles.

Fun facts about Raghu Dixit: He has performed for the Queen of England at the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations and he has hit the #1 spot on the iTunes World Music Charts seven times!

My favorite track of this film is ‘Gulcharrey‘ (Aditi Singh Sharma-Benny Dayal), which literally means “flowers scattering.” In this context, however, it is describing a celebration of life’s pleasures, or, “living the high life.” It has a catchy tune and is one of the stronger take-aways from this soundtrack.

The next best track is by Neeti Mohan, ‘Khamakhaan.” Very catchy and a track you will have on replay. I love Neeti’s attitude in this song and it will fit perfectly with Sonam Kapoor. Fun fact about this song: Ayushmann Khurrana sings this song! Yup – this new actor is a singer too. His is also well known for ‘Pani Da Rang,’ his debut song in Vicky Donor.

The title song, ‘Bewakoofiyaan,’ is sung by Raghu Dixit himself. I expected more from this track; quite frankly the only part of this song that’s stuck in my head is the ‘koof‘ syllable that Raghu exaggerates in a goofy way (have a listen and you’ll see what I’m talking about!). This song seems perfect for the ending credits…we’ll see!

‘Rumaani Sa Rumaani Si‘ (Mohit Chauhan-Shreya Ghoshal) is a very ordinary track fit for a rom-com. I can absolutely imagine Sonam Kapoor running through the fields on this one. Not a bad number, but not a favorite either.

The other two songs ‘Aye Jigida’ and ‘O Heeriye‘ are the weakest parts of this soundtrack. ‘O Heeriye‘ was co-composed/co-written by Ayushmann Khurrana.

Best tracks: ‘Gulchharey,’ ‘Khamakhaan’

Overall rating: **1/2 (2.5/5)

Bewakoofiyan Full Soundtrack Jukebox

Bewakoofiyan Official Trailer

Valentine’s Day Bollywood Playlists

Here it is…two wonderful playlists ready for Valentine’s day! Whether you’re into new Bollywood romance or the golden oldies, these playlists are meant for you. I guarantee these hits will complement any romantic evening you share with a loved one this weekend. Happy Valentine’s Day!

New Romance (1990-2013)

Full Video Playlist compiled on YouTube

1. Pehla Nasha – Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992)
2. Koi Ladki Hai – Dil To Pagal Hai (1995)
3. Tujhe Dekha To Ye – Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)
4. Tu Hi Re – Bombay (1995)
5. Suraj Hua Maddham – Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001)
6. Chand Sifarish – Fanaa (2006)
7. Mein Agar Kahoon – Om Shanti Om (2007)
8. Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hai – Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008)
9. Jeene Laga Hoon – Ramaiya Vastavaiya (2013)
10. Tum Hi Ho – Aashiqi 2 (2013)

Old is Gold (1960-1980)

Full Video Playlist compiled on YouTube

1. Pyar Kiya to Darna Kya – Mughal-E-Azam (1960)
2. Saranga Tere Yaad Mein – Saranga (1960)
3. Abhi Na Jao Chhod Kar Ke Dil Abhi Bhara Nahin – Hum Dono (1961)
4. Aap Ki Nazron Ne Samjha – Anpadh (1962)
5. Hum Tere Pyar Mein Sara Alam Kho Baithe – Dil ek Mandir (1963)
6. Honton Mein Aisi Baath – Jewel Thief (1967)
7. Bindiya Chamkegi Chudi Khankegi– Do Raaste (1969)
8. Tere Mere Milan – Abhimaan (1973)
9. Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Mein – Kabhi Kabhi (1976)
10. Angrezi Mein Kehte Hain – Khuddar ¬ (1982)

7-Minute Scientific Workout

If you haven’t discovered this yet – take a look! The 7-minute scientific workout is a high-intensity, short duration circuit training routine provided by the ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine).

There are 12 exercises, each completed within 30 seconds with 10 seconds of break in between. All you need is a wall and a stable bench/chair.

I like this video because it has a timer, a cartoon showing you how to do the exercise, and up-beat pump up music which will get you through the 7 minutes in no time!

Your “intensity” should be around a 8/10 as you complete this to allow an increase in your heart rate!

Do NOT solely use this as your exercise regimen – it should be used in combination with other cardio/strengthening routines for a full fitness benefit.

Challenge: Complete this routine 2x in a row, every day for the next 7 days and see how you feel!! (Beginners, start off by completing this 1x/day and gradually progress to 2x/day).

Disclaimer: if you have a health condition, please consult your healthcare provider before trying this routine.

Movie Review: Dedh Ishqiya

DIRECTOR: Abhishek Chaubey

RELEASE DATE: January 10th, 2014

CAST: Naseeruddin Shah, Madhuri Dixit, Arshad Warsi, Huma Qureshi, Vijay Raaz

A sequel to Ishqiya (2010), Dedh Ishqiya is a mildly entertaining comedy that you can save to watch at home on DVD (unless you’re a die-hard Madhuri Dixit fan like my dad… in which case, he would argue, it would acceptable to see on the big screen).

Dedh Ishqiya is a story about two thieves, Khalujaan (Naseeruddin Shah) and Babban (Arshad Warsi), who discover that the widowed Begum Para (Madhuri Dixit) of Mahmudabad is hosting a poetry competition in her mansion to choose a husband. Khalujaan poses as the Nawab of Chandpur and participates as a poet in the festival. Babban (Arshad Warsi) arrives in Mahmudabad to take Khalujaan back to their old life of thievery, but he soon falls for the Begum’s confidant Muniya (Huma Qureshi). The story soon turns into a thriller-mystery imbedded with farce-like situations.

The positives:

1. It’s funny – definitely gave me a good laugh here and there, though not enough to get me ROFL.

2. The soundtrack is a highlight of this film (see my “Music Review” in the previous blog post)

3. Naseeruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi are brilliant and make great co-stars.

4. It was refreshing to see Madhuri Dixit on screen after so long… although in a very unconventional role.

5. Huma Qureshi does a wonderful job amongst her big costars. Definitely looking forward to seeing her in more films.

The negatives:

1. You may need subtitles as the Urdu can be tough to understand.

2. I expected so much more out of Madhuri’s dancing. They left her “item” song, “Hamari Atariya,” to the very end credits! I give Madhuri tons of credit for continuing dancing – however the choregraphy was full of mudras and nakhre than actual classical dance.

3. First half was better than the second.. ending was disappointing.

4. Vidya Balan would have been a perfect fit for this movie – a part of me wishes they had kept her instead of Madhuri for this.

5. WHY did they have to pick Vijay Raaz as the antagonist?? He is quite the opposite of eye-candy and did not fit amongst all the top-notch co-stars.

On the whole, Dedh Ishqiya is a light-hearted film to watch on a lazy night in.

Acting: 4/5
Story: 3/5
Costumes: 3/5
Choreography: 2.5/5
Sets/Filming Location: 3/5
Songs: 4/5
Eye Candy: 2.5/5
Length of Movie: 2/5
Overall: ** 1/2 (2.5/5) or 5/10

Key:
* = flop, don’t even bother
** = time pass, you’ll live if you don’t see it
*** = worth a watch
**** = A hit, see it in the theater!
***** = Bollywood Blockbuster

Music Review: Gunday, Dedh Ishqiya and Top 10 Tracks of the Week

The year 2014 has already set off with a bang in Bollywood music! Films such as Gunday and Dedh Ishqiya are currently holding the top songs. Let’s not forget, however, Dhoom 3 and Ram Leela – these albums ended 2013 with a handful of memorable tracks that still make up the hottest songs today.

Film: Gunday Director: Ali Abbas Zafar Release Date: February 14^th 2014

Cast: Ranveer Singh, Arjun Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra

The soundtrack of this movie features 10 tracks – a true mix of peppy, romantic, retro and modern to suit your every mood.

“Jashn-e-Ishqa” sung by Javed Ali and Shadab Faridi, is the up-beat, dance-able, “macho” track featuring the two male co-stars Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor. Definitely a catchy tune you might find yourself jamming out to!

The other memorable track is “Tune Maari Entriyaan” sung by Bappi Lahiri, KK, Neeti Mohan, and Vishal Dadlani. This song is a fun mix of the three main characters including the one and only, Priyanka Chopra. Be sure to check out Ranveer’s dancing in the music video – he is quite irresistible and full of energy!

Next top song of the album is “Asalaam-e-Ishqum,” sung by Bappi Lahiri and Neha Bhasin. This tune is a spunky mix of old and new. It is my personal favorite – and definitely the “item song” of Gunday.

Overall, Gunday is a going to be a popular album for 2014. Now we just can’t wait for the movie release on Valentine’s Day!

Rating 3.5/5

Film: Dedh Ishqiya Director: Abhishek Chaubey Release Date: January 10^th 2014

Cast: Naseeruddin Shah, Madhuri Dixit, Arshad Warsi, Huma Qureshi

Dedh Ishqiya, a sequel to the 2010 movie Ishqiya, is undoubtedly going to be one of the classiest albums of 2014. With Vishal Bhardwaj as the music director, we know there will be much to love about the soundtrack.

This album overall has a very romantic, poetic, and classical feel to it. The best time to hear these songs are early morning or late evening when you just want to un-wind and relax. The older generations will especially enjoy the ghazal-style song by the one and only Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, “Zabaan Jale Hai.”

We all know when Madhuri Dixit is in a film, there will be dancing involved. Her main “item” song is my personal favorite, “Hamari Atariya.” This folk song sung beautifully by Rekha Bhardwaj refers to the mujra time period. Madhuri’s dancing is absolutely flawless!

“Horn Ok Please” is probably the most unique track of this album. A mix of rap and Punjabi flare – it’s a very peppy, catchy tune delivered by Sukhwinder Singh and Yo Yo Honey Singh. Yes, I agree the title of the song sounds quite silly – but give this track a few listens and you’ll be hooked.

The title song, “Dil Ka Mizaaj Ishqiya,” is a very romantic number. Rahat’s magic will most definitely keep you mesmerized as you play this song on repeat.

All in all, Dedh Ishqiya’s soundtrack is a success for Bollywood – what a great beginning to 2014!

Rating: 3.5/5

Top 10 Bollywood Songs of the Week:

1. Jashn-E-Ishqa – Gunday

2. Kamli – Dhoom 3

3. Malang – Dhoom 3

4. Asalaam-E-Ishqum – Gunday

5. Gandi Baat – R…Rajkumar

6. Dil Ka Mizaaj Ishqiya – Dedh Ishqiya

7. Tune Maari Entriyaan – Gunday

8. Tu Hi Junoon – Dhoom 3

9. Hamari Atariya – Dedh Ishqiya

10. Lahu Munh Lag Gaya – Ram Leela

Related Links:

Full Gunday soundtrack

Full Dedh Ishqiya soundtrack

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