New Delhi, Aug 24 (IANS) When the original maverick of Hindi film industry gets outmanoeuvred by a newcomer, then one knows that change is here to stay. In a week that was expected to belong solely to a chilling horror tale from Ram Gopal Varma who left no stone unturned to pitch “Phoonk” as the scariest Hindi movie ever, it is Nishikant Kamat’s off-beat “Mumbai Meri Jaan”, a small-budget fresh take on terrorism, that has set people talking. (more…)

Malayalam thespian Mohanlal has yet again given an excellent account of his histrionic talent in “Akashagopuram” (castle in the air) by melting himself into the skin of a character with shades of grey. Albert Samson (Mohanlal), a middle-aged architect scared of young whippersnappers overtaking him, schemes and plots to stay on top. (more…)

This film means to be quirky, cute and comical. It ends up being a crashing bore. And the sound of the crash that you hear could be those plaster-of-paris props that adorn the stage where the cast enacts the worst version of K. Asif’s imperishable romance “Mughal-e-Azam” ever conceived. (more…)

“Kodagaana Koli Nungiththa” are the opening lyrics of Kannada poet saint Shishunala Sharif’s song written in the 19th Century. The song has philosophical overtones that would mean ‘what will happen if a hen eats a monkey?’. But this film by director Vasu is neither philosophical nor is it an attempt to focus on the vagaries of life. Instead what you see is the struggle of an unmarried middle aged man to find an ideal wife. (more…)

MUMBAI MERI JAAN is a sincere attempt to capture the aftermath of the serial bomb blasts in Mumbai’s local trains that ripped apart the city’s lifeline on July 11, 2006, killing 80 innocent commuters and leaving scores injured. By recounting the individual trauma of a few of those affected, director Nishikant Kamat tries to delve into the genesis of communalism through the everyday life of Mumbai’s common people. (more…)

Kuala Lumpur, Aug 23 (IANS) Bollywood entertainer “Sing Is Kinng” is a “fun movie” where Akshay Kumar is surely the “king”, says a noted Indian origin Malaysian film critic. The film, though it has no sensitive elements, “at times reminds you of ‘Munnabai MBBS’ in which a hood (Sanjay Dutt) starts doing good things”, critic K.N. Vijayan wrote in the New Straits Times. (more…)

Director Rumy Jafry’s directorial debut pretends to say something deep and indelible, but ends up being as profound as a bowl of soggy noodles staring at you for edible nirvana. Arguably one of the most botched-up comedies in recent times, “God Tussi Great Ho” takes us into territory that the Khan brothers - Salman and Sohail - have been together in David Dhawan’s “Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya”. (more…)

Let’s get real. Commitment phobia is endemic among 20-something urban yuppies, especially in the metros. Siddharth Anand, a master at depicting urban mores - “Salaam Namaste”, “Tara Rum Pum” - this time pulls out all stops to expose the suave urbane heel who cannot feel above the waist. (more…)

Darshan is one of the top Kannada film stars and he says he prefers doing mass oriented roles rather than films that try to convey some message to the audience. And true to his word, most of his movies boast of a high dose of commercial ingredients and less of logic in the content. (more…)