Movie: Dil Dhadakne Do

Director: Zoya Akhtar

Release Date: June 5th 2015

Cast: Ranveer Singh, Priyanka Chopra, Anushka Sharma, Anil Kapoor, Farhan Akhtar, Shefali Shetty, Rahul Bose

Now here’s a fun-filled family comedy that you shouldn’t miss! The dysfunctional Mehra family invite their friends and relatives to join them on a cruise to celebrate their 30th anniversary. Their shenanigans throughout the 10-day journey to Turkey & Greece will keep you laughing and engaged the whole ride!

Positives: 

1. Priyanka Chopra was stunning! Everything from her outfits, hair-dos, to her sculpted body (check out her biceps!) and even her acting – top-notch. She has built this athletic body for her upcoming ABC TV Show “Quantico,” in which she stars as a FBI-trainee.

2. The comedy was mostly right on – not the typical cringe-worthy stuff you would expect in Bollywood. Ranveer was absolutely hilarious and very natural.

3. Anushka Sharma was the hottest she has ever been. She plays a dancer on the cruise and Ranveer’s lover. Anushka and Ranveer make a great on-screen couple – remember them in Band Baaja Baraat? Check out Anushka’s “swing dancing” in this film.

4. One of the songs, “Gallan Goodiyan” was shot in one take!! It’s fabulously choreographed and makes the audience feel like they are at the party!

Negatives:

1. There was no hit “item-song” which I think this movie was lacking, however the focus was not on the songs in general which may have been a positive.

2. The movie was 2.5 hours long…but to be honest it goes by pretty fast because you’re laughing through most of it.

3. Yes, Anil Kapoor is graying. Let’s not forget he is 58 years old! He suits his role very well in this film as a manipulative patriarchal figure.

Fun-Fact: This film is narrated by Pluto, the family dog, whose voice is played by Aamir Khan.

On the whole, Dil Dhadakne Do is a hit and a must-see Bollywood film for the entire family. You can’t go wrong with this stellar cast and talented director Zoya Akhtar!

Acting: 4/5
Story: 4/5
Costumes: 3/5
Choreography: 3/5
Sets/Filming Location: 4/5
Songs: 3/5
Eye Candy: 4/5
Length of Movie: 2/5
Overall: 3.5/5 or 7/10

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

In honor of Diwali weekend.. here is your Top 10 List of Popular Diwali Songs in Bollywood…through the decades! If you notice, between the 1940’s and 1970’s, Bollywood loved celebrating this holiday and even included the actual word “Diwali” in the song titles.  As the years passed, however, there were fewer song/dance numbers dedicated to the celebration of the Indian New Year. Filmmakers instead focused energies into portraying other colorful Indian festivals such Holi and Navratri.  Nonetheless – let’s take a listen to the songs that remind us of the festival of lights, Diwali. Sal Mubarak!

Here is the youtube playlist link of the songs below – perfect for your Diwali party!

In honor of Diwali weekend.. here is your Top 10 List of Popular Diwali Songs in Bollywood…through the decades! If you notice, between the 1940’s and 1970’s, Bollywood loved celebrating this holiday and even included the actual word “Diwali” in the song titles.  As the years passed, however, there were fewer song/dance numbers dedicated to the celebration of the Indian New Year. Filmmakers instead focused energies into portraying other colorful Indian festivals such Holi and Navratri.  Nonetheless – let’s take a listen to the songs that remind us of the festival of lights, Diwali. Sal Mubarak!

Here is the youtube playlist link of the songs below – perfect for your Diwali party!

In honor of Diwali weekend.. here is your Top 10 List of Popular Diwali Songs in Bollywood…through the decades! If you notice, between the 1940’s and 1970’s, Bollywood loved celebrating this holiday and even included the actual word “Diwali” in the song titles.  As the years passed, however, there were fewer song/dance numbers dedicated to the celebration of the Indian New Year. Filmmakers instead focused energies into portraying other colorful Indian festivals such Holi and Navratri.  Nonetheless – let’s take a listen to the songs that remind us of the festival of lights, Diwali. Sal Mubarak!

Here is the youtube playlist link of the songs below – perfect for your Diwali party!

Note: There are no spoiler alerts in this review.

Genre: Comedy

Cast: Deepika Padukone, Arjun Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia, with Ranveer Singh in cameo role.

Director: Homi Adajania

Production: Maddock Films/Fox Star Studios

Released: September 12^th, 2014

This was an off-beat light-hearted comedy story about five oddballs who set out to Goa to find Stefanie Fernandes (Fanny). Throughout their journey, they discover love and friendship in one another. This movie is in English, no subtitles needed here. If you’re a Deepika Padukone or Naseeruddin Shah fan – this one is for you. If you want to gawk at Arjun Kapoor, go right ahead. Enjoy it while it lasts though, this movie runs just 105 minutes. It is a very simple film of low expectations with a slow, but soulful plot.

The positives:

1. Deepika is in it.
2. Not your typical hindi movie with song and dance numbers every five minutes.
3. It’s a comedy, yet can be dark/satirical at times which is rare in Bollywood.
4. All of Deepika’s outfits consist of a few simple, floral dresses which, no doubt, look stunning on her.
5. It’s a “feel good” short-film that will leave you feeling light afterwards.

The negatives:

1. The plot is slow, especially in the beginning – I’d say be patient and go with the flow.
2. Although the title of the movie is catchy… Finding Fanny?
3. I wish they had expanded on Arjun Kapoor’s role in this movie and made Ranveer Singh’s cameo longer…he was hilarious!

* Fun Fact * The film was initially offered to Imran Khan and Sonam Kapoor, but they both rejected the offer.

On the whole, save the trip to the movie theater and see this movie on a lazy Sunday afternoon or a cozy night in.

Acting: 4/5
Story: 3/5
Costumes: 2.5/5
Sets/Filming Location: 4/5
Songs: 3/5
Eye Candy: 3/5
Length of Movie: 5/5

Rated: PG-13
Overall: *** (3/5) or 6.5/10

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

Star Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Rajkummar Rao, Lisa Haydon

Director: Vikas Bahl

Note: There are no spoiler alerts in this review.

Yes, even for a die-hard Bollywood fan like myself, I admit I went too long without watching this movie. Even though it released a few months ago, if you STILL have not seen it – please don’t wait another day to watch this comedy-drama hit!

Bollywood finally gives us a meaningful and realistic film in which we all can relate to in someway or another. This is a story about how the small-town Punjabi girl, Rani (Kangana Ranaut), travels solo to Europe on her honeymoon after her fiancé calls it quits just a day before their wedding. Throughout this journey of self-discovery, you will meet several entertaining characters who uniquely shape Rani’s experiences abroad. A little less on the masala, but a bit more comedy, Queen is the perfect mix for a heart-warming flick.

The positives:

1. The “London Thumakda” song is an all-time hit! Spend time actually listening to the Punjabi lyrics for a good laugh!
2. Kangana’s acting is superb – she perfectly captures Rani’s personality
3. No significant song and dance numbers to keep you distracted from the storyline
4. Lisa Heydon, half-Australian, half-Indian actress – one word: hot.
5. The storyline – very simple and to the point!

The negatives:

1. I understand Rani is not supposed to have the best fashion sense – but WHY does she have to wear sweaters to night clubs??
2. Borderline “overacting” may have been exhibited by some of the actors…but hey, it’s an Indian movie right?
3. There was definitely some stereotyping of ethnic groups… Taka!
4. Movie length could definitely have been shorter
5. Flashbacks of Rani and Vijay, her fiancé, were odd and unnecessary. Instead, perhaps more character development of Vijay would have been helpful.

* Fun Fact * Queen was made for just under $2 million, it earned the equivalent of $8 million in its first two weeks. It released March 7^th, sweeping the much-awaited Madhuri film, “Gulaab Gang” which released the same day. 

On the whole, Queen is a must-watch film that will bring happiness to the soul. Great watch with family, friends, girls-night, date-night.

Acting: 4/5
Story: 5/5
Costumes: 2.5/5
Sets/Filming Location: 5/5
Songs: 4.5/5
Eye Candy: 3.5/5
Length of Movie: 3/5

Overall: **** (4/5) or 8/10

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