Band Baaja Baaraat

There are times when you like predictability in a film and you actually look forward to it. You know exactly how the story will unfold and that there will be no dramatic twists and turns and distressing suspense. You still manage to enjoy whatever is going on. JAB WE MET (JWM) was a similar movie. The moment hero heroine meet, you know that they will end up falling in love even if they are not romantically interested in each other.

BAND BAAJA BARAT (B3) is also a similar tale of two youngster and it's not surprising to see that it's doing wonderfully well with its target audience. The box office collections only dropped 10% in the second week against the industry average of 65% this year. JWM actually had higher collections in the second week of its release and in some centers B3 has higher collections than first week. Things might change with the release of TEES MAAR KHAN though. Coming back to the movie, the first surprise was a house full theater on the second weekend of release. The only seat I could manage to get was in the first row and I had to watch the entire movie with my neck looking up at 80 degrees angle. Precisely why I won't be able to write much about cinematography because every shot from that seat was a low-angle shot.

B3 is a romantic comedy, which is not a genre which I usually enjoy especially after going through the agonizing experience of watching I HATE LUV STORYS. When I watched the promos of B3, I had a feeling that it will be on the same lines especially when I do not have much respect for Anushka Sharma. I still decided to watch it based on some positive reviews I read.

It was a good experience. It's a refreshing and highly entertaining outing. It's not the award winning effort but it delivers on the promise of keeping you interested till the end. Mainly, it's the directorial treatment of Manesh Sharma which has made a simple story worth watching. Slightly inspired by THE WEDDING PLANNER as far as central idea goes, it's original and genuine. A lot of attention has been paid to detail, from art direction to dialog. Check out the underwear on ropes in the men's hostel. It's funny.

The cause is also backed up by entertaining music by Salim-Sulaiman who are on a better run for the last two years. The background music by is one of the best I have heard this year barring Dabangg. Choreography has Vaibhavi Merchant written all over it and it adds a big plus in the entertainment factor of the film.

The film has a two film old female lead and a new comer. While the slightly senior Anushka has done the best work of her short career, the film belongs to the new-comer, Ranveer Singh. Where Anushka has worked really hard on mastering the tapori style and Delhi lingo, her role is quite similar to the one she had in BADMASH COMPANY earlier this year where she again used similar body language and lingo. Nothing to take away from the decent effort she has put in though.

Ranveer is fantastic. He is a trained actor who has waited for the right film to make debut and will win directors as well as audience with this performance. He is not traditionally good looking but the way he fit in his role was commendable. Neil Nitim Mukesh needs to see him to know what tapori is and not what he was in LAFANGAY PARINDAY. Watch out for Ranveer in coming films. Effortless acting and effortless dancing. If he doesn't make decisions like Vivek Oberoi, he can be a real threat to at least Imran Khan and other less talented actors like Neil Nitin Mukesh. Ranbir Kapoor I believe is safe when it comes to talent. Ranveer will already be challenging Ali Zafar for the best new comer of the year for sure.

The supporting cast is bloody good. Neeraj Sood as Maqsood is effective but my personal favorites were Revant Shergill as Santy and the guy who was Ranveer's room mate in the hostel.

On the whole, I had a lot of fun watching B3. Its one of the better films to come out this year unlike the bigger names like KHATTA MEETHA. I'm glad it also left NO PROBLEM behind. Way to go, Youth!

After having watch a barrage of run-out-the-mill outings from the house of Yashraj, I got myself into a situation which Websters would aptly describe "despise". The promos ensured not to leave any stone unturned - typical! Only after some genuine positive word of mouth started pouring in, I decided to give it a go.

Ranveer Singh: Not only he shows a lot of promise and but manages to deliver the good as well. Shares a good on-screen chemistry with Ms. Sharma. Lets hope the new found success doesn't go over his head. And yes, please do ignore the way he comes across off-screen, totally uncool.

Anushka Sharma: Without a doubt she had my attention in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. To stand opposite SRK and yet manage to hold her own deserves a round of applause. She will no doubt give a run to her contemporaries.

The layer which explores the woman giving in to the matters of heart whilst the boy reluctant to mix business with emotional issues deserves a commendation on the writing front. The narrative slightly loses stream when the partners call it quits and the LOC is drawn. Thankfully the editor senses this lacunae and trims at right place to ensure it does not become overbearing.

Post-success of "Band Bajaa Baraat" I am sure "Ainvayi Ainvayi" became a national anthem. Next comes "Dam Dam" which has some good foot-tapping beats. And yes, choreography for both numbers deserves a good solid adulation. "Aadha Ishq" is soft number is soulfully rendered by Shreya Ghoshal. "Bari Barsi", a folk-song bears slight resemblance to "Main Sasural Nahin Jaaongi" from "Chandni". Salim-Merchant have managed to come up with some fresh compositions.

For a first-timer Maneesh Sharma surely hold the directorial reigns quite well. Habib Faisal does a good job on the screenplay front. Undoubtedly its a life-saver for Yashraj. Here's hoping that they stop churning the usual and take the path lesser travelled.

Finally a YRF movie that is getting good reviews, and made me really curious to watch and check out what is the deal all about. Lead actors are debutant Ranveer Singh and Anushka Sharma , who has already had a box office hit with her debut film with SRK.

The movie is fully set and shot in Delhi, and all characters speak with authentic Delhi-ite accent, it almost becomes difficult understanding after being so used to the Mumbaiya accent in all the other films. Shruti (Anushka) aspires to open her own wedding planner business while Bitto (Ranveer) is finding a way to escape his father's plans to taking him back to village to help in the sugar cane business. They get together and start their wedding planning company, named Shaadi Mubarak, with strict policy of never involving emotions or love in between them. Business goes successfully for them, and predictably, emotions come in between, causing a conflict in running the business together.

The love conflict is not new, but the treatment given on the subject, and the whole execution of the movie is fresh and commendable. Also, the movie has a fairly fast pace where there is no dull moment. However, I wish the ending would have been handled a different way, but I guess the director did not want to opt for clichéd ways.

Anushka is very pleasant to watch, and she is looking very good in her simple girl-next-door getups, some scenes even with minimal makeup. Ranveer does his role well too, but seeing his interview on Koffee With Karan, it almost feels like he acted as himself.

Highly recommended rom-com!

I started this movie with a feeling just like I'm going to watch another regular comedy film. But as the movie progresses, I got stuck to my place and I forget that its just a movie. It feel like its a journey of two ambitious friends who learn every aspect of life with experience and with each other. Undoubtedly its a story of its kind and I'm very pleased to see it. Ranveer's acting is amazing. There are few actors whom you believe that they are not acting but playing real. He is one of that guy. I'm waiting for another movie of his. And Anushka is charming and energetic as always. Overall, its a surprisingly amazing movie!

Happiness and smile was, what spread in the theater during most of the parts of the movie and this is why you go to some multiplex. The BBB earns full marks on this front. It is not a nonsense comedy which is pestering Bollywood from last 2-3 years. Neither is this, some intense, provoking, thoughtful movie. BBB is a very colorful, commercial and typical bollywood style movie which has a cute girl with a Desi Guy. It wonderfully depicts the confused mind of both of them when they have to decide on their career and love. It has romance, love, comedy, emotional drama(Thanks God, it didn't last long) and finally a heavenly pleasant happy ending.

BBB is the movie of a college girl who is utterly ambitious about staring her own Wedding Management company and a guy, who fell for her during a wedding and situations lead both of them to become partners in their newly started venture "Shadi Mubarak". How their relationship go through various Ups and Downs is shown as movie progress.

Talking about the performances, firstly Ranveer Singh deserves huge amount of accolades for his awesome acting. He never seamed like working in his debut project. He was very natural and confident throughout the movie. Anuska Sharma had shown some promise in her last flick "Badmash Company" and this movie certainly raises the bar for her. She did a commendable job in the movie, with her energetic presence and freshness. Wonderful acting by her.

Though the movie overall captivate the mind of the audience, its second half has some lose moments where one can feel bored. First half of the movie is pleasantly wonderful. Music of the movie maintains the speed and carries the freshness of BBB.

Delhi people are anyway loving this movie as Delhi places and other famous things are referenced in various frames. It is a nice movie to watch and surely adding up to a very small list of good movies in 2010.