Om Shanti Om

Genre: Reincarnation

Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Shreyas Talpade, Arjun Rampal, Kirron Kher, Javed Sheikh

Director: Farah Khan

Playing at theatres near you

Krita Raut

Kathmandu

Like her first movie Main Hoon Na, Farah Khan has brought us another Bollywood masala movie in Om Shanti Om. The movie has all that one can think of in a typical Bollywood movie, and some more. The whole movie is about the world of cinema and people involved in

the cinematic world. Farah has touched one of the favourite subjects of Bollywood, which has not been touched upon for quiet sometime — reincarnation.

The story takes place in two eras — the seventies and the present time. Om Prakash Makhija (Shah Rukh Khan) is a junior artiste who dreams of becoming a superstar, and enjoys constant support from his best friend Pappu Master (Shreyas Talpade) and his mother Bela Makhija (Kirron Kher). Om is head over heels in love with the biggest superstar Shantipriya (Deepika Padukone) and also gets noticed by the actress when he saves her from fire. However, due to the sudden death of both Om and Shantipriya, his dream to become a superstar and to get his dream girl remains unfulfilled.

In his second life, Om’s dream comes true as he is a huge star in Bollywood, Om Kapoor. When he reaches the old ruined studio where he used to work as a junior artiste, he starts recalling the incidents in his previous life...

The first half of the movie is a treat as it takes you back to the 70s.The dialogues, music, costume, makeup everything is just like the way it was in that era and one cannot help but enjoy the old charm. It has dialogues that have been used a zillion times in movies of that time. Movie buffs of that era will surely have a treat. The amazing first half builds up so much expectation that one gets a bit disappointed with the second half, where things happen very fast yet seems to be dragging.

SRK is fantastic in the first half, but he looks a bit unfit as a cool, hip superstar in the second part. Talpade has proven he is a complete actor with his brilliant performance. The comic timing between him and Khan is outstanding, which makes the comedy sequence click with the audience. Though the story revolves around her character, Padukone hasn’t been given much screen space. For a debut movie, she has done a commendable job and fits the role of a 70’s heroine like a glove.

With this movie, the Indian film industry has found its own suave villain in Arjun Rampal, who will get noticed not only for his looks but also for his acting skills.

With her second movie, Farah Khan has proven her forte for a perfect commercial movie. However, it is the comedy scenes that save the audience from getting bored.

The background score by Sandeep Chowta adds to the feel of 70s. The title track with 30 stars is a visual treat, especially for the stars of yesteryear.

At a time when directors are experimenting with new concepts Om Shanti Om brings back the memory of what a typical Bollywood movie used to look like.

Enchanting love story in opulently blue settings

Saawariya

Genre: Romantic

Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Salman Khan, Rani Mukherjee and Zohra Sehgal

Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Playing at theatres near you

Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu

This is a movie you will either love or hate. While some may find it beautiful and touching, others may find it a bit tedious. It may not go well with the masses, but it certainly is a movie

that will be appreciated and remembered.

With the hype and publicity the actors had received even before the movie’s release, they had huge expectations to live upto and they have done it successfully. In his very first film, Ranbir Kapoor has proved that he is a promising actor. Though Sonam Kapoor is not of the same calibre, she definitely has potential.

The movie begins with Raj (Ranbir) befriending Gulab (Rani Mukherjee) in a restaurant. She has come for a drink and he to work as a singer there. As the movie proceeds, which is mostly through melodious songs, one comes to know that Raj is a person who is very pure at heart and can bring a smile to anyone’s faces.

One night he sees Sakina (Sonam) and her innocence makes him fall in love with her. Though they come to be really good friends, Sakina does not welcome this

relation due to her past which she hasn’t been able to let go of.

A hope ignites in her for love, but unfortunately it’s not for Raj. However, Raj is not willing to give up so easily and relentlessly pursues her.

The music by Monty Sharma is captivating and it is the dialogues and musical notes between Ranbir and Sonam that covers most of the frames but without being too dominating. There

is a musical flow that moves the movie from one scene to another. Though Rani

appears in a few scenes only, she has performed well and adds colour to the film. Salman Khan has a small but important character to play. It is definitely Zohra Sehgal who adds sparkle to the movie.

The magnanimity of the sets that Bhansali has created is what astounds you. Every minute detail has been take into consideration to create an almost perfect place. But it is so perfect that it seems far removed from reality and at times you can’t relate to it. Almost entirely you feel like you are watching a play in a theatre and the sets and props are lavish.

The colour blue dominates the movie. Initially it is quite soothing but by the end of the movie, one finds it a bit too over bearing. Though you see traces of his previous movies, there is a newness in it — a different approach, a movie that will leave a mark.