Bluffmaster!

From the moment I left the theater up to now, I still haven't been able to figure what feeling this movie left me with. It has several good things to speak about and some..well not so good. AB's baby has come a long way from the refuge of the Big B and has cemented his space as a star in Bolywood. Nana Patekar gives a splendid performance and nothing less could be expected from him either. There is little of Priyanka Chopra that people have not seen and in this movie they see even less of her which is actually a good thing. Boman Irani is a great actor in general but this is a performance which he would do good to forget. The surprise package of this movie, though, is Rietesh D. He carries his part to the T as the stumbling silly and lost protégé. He does seem to have a strange kind of charm about him which is easily noticeable in this movie. What leaves me dumb-found is the movie in itself. It is funny in parts and serious in all the wrong places. You keep getting this feeling being in a warp zone of some kind and you keep leaving your stomach behind. This is not for the excitement but just an uneasy feeling which makes you shift in your seat time and again. Sometimes the story tries too hard and at other times it just seems to not want to try at all. For instance the some of the gags are a bit much and the romance between Simi and Roy just falls flat. You begin to wonder somewhere along weather it would have been OK to just buy the soundtrack (which BTW is awesome) and pass up the movie but just then it pulls itself together and there you have it. Rohan Sippy seems to manage the last bit somehow again going a bit too far but just enough to make sure he rakes in the mullah. Not really a waste of money or time but I would much rather have watched this movie at home on a DVD.

Bluff Master is a fantastic piece of cinema with just the right amount of emotions, drama, comedy, thrill and about Abhishek Bachchan…yeh dil maange more! The star has finally become the actor with this film! When Abhishek started with his career, he seemed to have teething problems because of the mammoth surname attached to his name. Not only did his screen presence improved tremendously with each and every film, he has also let go off any inhibitions he might have suffered from when he began. If Yuva was the film, which brought him the critical acclaim and Bunty Aur Babli and Sarkar had moments where the son outshone the father, Bluff Master is definitely the film, where Abhishek comes of his own! Produced by Ramesh Sippy (Sholay, Seeta Aur Geeta, Shaan, Saagar, Shakti), Bluff Master is a brilliant piece of writing by Shridhar Raghavan, who is also credited with stories of films like Apharan and Khakee. The editing is razor edged by Amitabh Shukla and never loses its pace. Cinematography by Himman Dhamija is gripping and catches the right hues and colors of what is needed of a comic thriller like Bluff Master. Full marks to director Rohan Sippy (Debut-Dhai Akshar Prem Ke) for his dedication, passion and focus to make a product, which is not just good in few areas but excels in totality. Sippy's hard work shows in not letting the structure of the story fall apart like a pack of cards like the film made on a similar subject- Bunty Aur Babli. The plot is interesting and the climax keeps you on the edge of your seat guessing. The audio cd of the film may not be a collector's item but songs go well as audio- visual pieces choreographed with much punch and fervor in the film. The rap song ' Right Here Right Now' sung by Abhishek Bachchan rocks! The background score does justice to the screenplay. The costumes are carefully designed keeping the profile of each character. Talking of characters, the writer seems to have put extra time and efforts in shaping the characters, whether primary or secondary. The film has quite a few interesting con jobs, which do not strike as odd and on the contrary lends realism to the film and an instant identification with its characters. The dialogues are not rhetoric, and carefully mouthed, again to affirm the honesty with which the film is made. Associating people from different classes with different types of fish was refreshing and innovative work in dialogue writing. There is no unnecessary brooding over Roy (Abhishek) who is a professional at bluffing people as to why and what circumstances led him to join this line, neither does he let himself go ballistic over a vainglory accomplishment he achieves as a bluff master. There is a thin line between a con artist and a bluff master. Roy is a cool dude Bluff Master, lives in a swanky apartment and drives a chic car. Actors Ritesh Deshmukh, Boman Irani, Nana Patekar and Priyanka Chopra did full justice with their roles. The film is well crafted, and distinguishes itself from a buffoonery or slapstick, and is rather a sensible comedy that provides a much- needed comic relief, after absolute nonsense and trash films like Shaadi No. 1, Garam Masala and Home Delivery. Story: Roy (Abhishek Bachchan) is a professional conman, who has raised his work to the level of an art. He loves Simmi (Priyanka Chopra) who is unaware of his dark side. When his past catches up with him, she cannot forgive him for the deceit their relationship is built on and dumps him. That's when Dittu (Ritesh Deshmukh) enters his life. Dittu takes Roy as his mentor and wants to learn the tricks of the trade from him. As circumstances take turn, Roy must do one single most important thing in his life, which is to help Dittu get revenge from Chandru (Nana Patekar). What happens when the Bluff Master who wears so many masks is left with no alternative but to take them all off and finally reveal his real self? Watch Bluff Master to find out!

If you have liked Bluffmaster for its "different storyline" heme... this movie is based on a Hollywood film called 'The Game.' In fact I feel the reason why the movie is called Bluffmaster is not Abhisheks profession in the film, but bcos of the movie itself. You will know what I mean once you see it for yourself. overall the movie is good. It is entertaining, and the dialougues, script and screenplay is good. The characters too have been developed well. The one thing about the film which struck me is its international look. Not only does it have a different style of editing (like the cuts, the fade-outs or the character introductions) but also the songs are mostly Jay-Z-ish. Unnecessary songs, but good nonetheless. Watch it if you are looking for a movie to pass your time. It will leave you feeling good, mainly because everything turns out just fine...

Roy Kapoor (Bachchan) is a career conman who excels in running the "perfect scam". He's in love with Simmi (Chopra) who he's been dating for 6 months and they're getting engaged. Unfortunately at their lavish engagement party, one of his most recent cons comes back to bite him on the proverbial when the victim turns out to be Simmi's uncle! Simmi had no idea her fiancé was a conman (she thought he was a stockbroker) and BOOM! The engagement is broken off and Simmi tells Roy that she wants nothing more to do with him.

Six months later, a forlorn Roy still wanders around like a lovesick puppy and comes across Dittu (Deshmukh) another conman but rather new to the game who's pulling off a con with a doctor (Irani). Dittu and colleague drop a banger and Dittu grabs the doctor and he falls to the floor thinking he's been shot, Dittu calls an "ambulance" but in reality they're out to steal whatever they can from the doctor. Roy "rescues" the doctor and in return the doctor gives him some well meaning advice, and in the process they discover that Roy has a brain tumour and only has 3 months to live. Simmi gets engaged to another man, Dittu keeps hounding Roy to mentor him as he wants to be as good at conning people as Roy for been for so many years and he wants to avenge his father's downfall at the hands of another conman Chandru (Patekar), who is somewhat of a gangster too.

The cons at the start and climax of the film were pretty brilliant and you really don't see the end one coming, so it is quite a surprise. I think it was very cleverly done but I'm guessing there's a Hollywood film out there with a similar storyline which has been copied because I'm pretty sure Bollywood didn't come up with this idea! If I'm doing Bollywood an injustice in that comment then I'd be the first to hold up my hand and admit I made a mistake.

The film itself is reminiscent of the Michael Douglas starrer The Game but don't be fooled into thinking it's a direct copy... It isn't!

All in all Bluffmaster gets a high 9 out of 10 from me. I'd recommend fans of comedy and/or con capers give this a watch. It's a slick fast-paced film with lots of eye candy for both the male and female audience with some good laughs thrown in along the way.

Bluffmaster is a delightful movie. The dialogues are crisp and far above average from Hindi film sentimentality. Abhishek Bachhan is a natural and I do believe that he is a far better actor than his very popular father. His Hindustani diction is leaps and bounds better than all the Khans combined. Nana Patekar is at his comic best as his sinister character belies the poet at heart. I was able to tolerate Priyanka Chopra in this movie, far better than the Barbie character she plays in Krrish. Boman Irani is funny.

I do believe that much of the film is a mish-mash of lifts from western films of the genre and even some of the dialogues are plagiarized. But the Hindustani play on metaphors and aphorisms is what makes this movie so very fun to watch. The English subtitles do little justice to the rich dialogue in Hindustani.

The songs are a wonderful blend of Hinglish.