Shaandaar

I just don't know why this movie has got such a low rating. Its quite a decent movie with a quirky comedy and bordering on being fantastical.

Its quite refreshing and novel(otherwise I would have rated it just 7). This is one major positive point in support of the movie. Even if you dislike it, I bet you will not find this movie concept a repetition of some movie theme/concept already in the public domain.

One important point to keep in mind is that you can't watch this movie with all the seriousness and take it literally. The movie setting, the ambiance, the starting, begs the audience to take this movie light on logic. Otherwise you will not only NOT enjoy this movie, you will also find it absurd and very illogical. I myself found the fact of a human not sleeping a single time upto his/her adulthood quite absurd, but if you take this within the movie context, the setting, the ambiance, you should not be that much bothered. As I already mentioned earlier, the movie borders on being fantastical.

I have quite a sympathy with Vikas Bahl, and the producers, and myself. For the film makers, its obvious, because they lost a lot of money despite making a decent fresh film. For myself, because I was going to watch it in theatre but didn't and missed, just because it got so poor response/reviews from public!

A Vikas Bahl movie, starring Shahid Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, in the banner of Fox, Dharma and Phantom, has been released. It also features Pankaj Kapoor, Sanjay Kapoor and Sanah Kapoor. A destination wedding movie, which also describes a fairy-tale love-story, the relation between father and daughter, the importance of self esteem and teaches to live free without any pressure or burden. I loved every frame of the film which is offering something refreshing and new. And this also happens because of the superb cinematography by Anil Mehta. Costumes and sets are perfectly suitable to the royal family of the movie. Shahid Kapoor is so cool. We all know that after Haider, he can't do better in this type of film. Alia looks so pretty, beautiful and simply amazing. I fell in love with her as same as Shahid fell in the film! Pankaj Kapoor is as usual good. Chemistry between Alia and him, and even Shahid and him, are too good. Sanah is a good character of the film. Very few people know that she is Shahid's sister in real. Sanjay Kapoor can able to make me laugh at some point. The Grandma is a fun, and also that little boy who always wants to kill her. Two girls, the modern girls, talking in short words, are fun, too. Karan Johar's cameo is good. Others are enjoyable. Music by Amit Trivedi is good. Though I don't find any suitable song in the mood of the movie. But, Gulabo can somehow manage to stay with the flow. Even Senti Wali Mental and Raita Fail Gaya, too. Shaam Shaandaar is cool but isn't suitable with the flow. Background songs like Eena Meena Deeka, Nind Na Mujhko Aaye and Nazdikiyaan are acceptable. The picturization of the song Nazdikiyaan has some wow moments. After Queen, everyone is expecting something better from Vikas. And just because of that, they are finding this boring. Just take my advice and go to the hall without any expectations, simply enjoy the movie, and I'm damn sure that you will come out from the theater with a smiley face. Girls will surely enjoy the conversations of Shahid-Alia, because I've heard some voices like Awww! I can't say about the boys, but they may enjoy this because of Pankaj Kapoor. I loved all, so may be I'm not a boy, I'm a fan-boy! Kudos to the team, this is what I like, an unusual flick!

Generally, like every other member in the cinema audience we all sit through and watch a movie no matter how terrible it is since we paid for it, obviously, but 15 fifteen minutes into this movie, I realized I have wasted my money, but I gave it a fair chance and sat for another hour to get tortured, after which, me and my friends just simply walked out. I didn't want to waste another minute of my time. The movie was basically what its name suggests it is, but not in terms of plot, acting, comedy,romance and character development. The only thing "shandaar", was the set, the clothing and the location. No character was relatable ,specially not the lead characters. It seemed like a stupid, nonsensical amalgamation of superficiality and the love story of the two most unsuited characters I have ever seen on screen. This is the only movie iv'e watched for which I can't really say, *still a better love story than twilight*. No, twilight was certainly better

The comedy, *sighs*, annoying stereotypes which made me want to pull my hair throughout the movie. If someone wants their brain cells to die then please watch this movie and see actors like Alia bhatt who felt that their face and figure is enough to make this movie work, Acting isn't really required. Well, even kathrina kaif needed some kind of plot support for a hit movie :)

Its a shame that 'Shaandaar' fails to deliver. Director Vikas Bahl scored a century with his brilliant Queen, Lead-Actors Shahid Kapoor & Alia Bhatt have seen inspiring success off late, its produced by the so-called numero uno production houses - Dharma & The Phantoms & yet this BIG-BUDGETED Rom-Com lacks the fizz.

Reason? 'Shaandaar' stands on a faulty script & no film can rise above that. What is eventually served here, is a few moments that provide humour & the cast, who manage to keep you hooked, even when the script fails them.

'Shaandaar' Synopsis: Two loud, money-minded, big families come together for a wedding, that would turn them into in-laws. During this chaos, the wedding planner & the bride-to-be's stepsister, fall in love.

'Shaandaar' has a boring first-hour. The film begins tepidly & the interactions between the "families" is bland. The love-struck protagonists (Shahid & Alia) appear in the watchable bits, but then again, its just watchable, not entertaining. The second-hour picks up some momentum & even the climax is weirdly funny. Another glitch are the songs, which pop-up very frequently, but add nothing to the narrative.

Anvita Dutt Guptan's Screenplay is a letdown. Despite some funny moments & its lighthearted approach, this story, overall, has no soul. Vikas Bahl's Direction is listless. Seriously, Vikas? Cinematography is quite good. Editing is, at times loose & at times, crisp. Amit Trivedi's Soundtrack is good, but it doesn't add to the goings-on & hence it bores. We can hear the songs on our I-Pods instead! Art & Costume Design are overdone. Graphics are average.

'Shaandaar' is saved by its credible cast, who deliver admirably. Pankaj Kapur is simply FANTASTIC as Alia's father, who's constant Nok-Jhok with real-life beta Shahid, are among the better moments of the film. Shahid is decent, but is underused at most parts. Alia is effortlessly natural & immensely likable. Sanah Kapoor makes a fine debut, delivering a commendable performance as the overweight bride-to-be. Sushma Seth is perfectly wicked as the evil grandmother & Sanjay Kapoor enacts the unbearable Sindhi millionaire, with the correct amount of madness. However, Karan Johar's cameo is annoying & Naseeruddin Shah's voice-over is pathetic.

On the whole, 'Shaandaar' is anything but Fabulous! A Disappointment!

There is nothing in the name of story. Idea to make love story of insomniacs, with some quirky characters sounds bright but outcome is very dull. Screenplay is in bits and pieces. Dialogues by Anwita Dutt is only good thing of this film. It make you laugh. Characterization is very bad. One person can't speak 'Insomniac' word properly but speaks fluent English after few scenes in Police Station. Person is afraid of dark and night but decides to go out in night for bike ride because makers have thought an interesting scene ahead. Yes of course, this love scene near water fall is good one. Very convenient plots like marriage for the sake of business. Adopted girl, over the top grand mother, who rules the family but do not mind to flirt with a wedding organizer of her grand son age. Literally, makers have preferred budget over brain. They go for bikini scene, which even they show repeatedly in end credit. How can I believe that director of Queen can think that a bikini scene can sail his movie!? Ridiculous. Unnecessary expensive animations. Caterpillar crawling on collar, butterfly flying on dress and lots of. Even for voice over they don't mind animations but what about creativity!? They have conceived cheesy scenes like 'Menhdi with Karan' because they could have afforded him. I was so irritated when they show the burning wheel chair cum sofa in end. What the F... was that? First half is slow, second half is very slow with a weird uninteresting climax. Performance wise Shahid Kapoor is balanced and acts good. Alia Bhatt is very good. She is too good in portraying care free girl. Pankaj Kapoor is good. Jalal Hunni as groom is OK. Choreography of all songs is grand. Songs look larger than life. Music by Amit Trivedi is fresh and foot tapping.