Movie Review: Yamla Pagla Deewana

The new year has started with a bang. After the phenominal success of a small budget movie last week - No One Killed Jessica, comes a big budget comic ride 'Yamla Pagla Deewana' starring the Deol family. Last time the Deol family came together in 'Apne' - 2007 they managed to make the viewers cry with their emotional saga however with YPD they manage to make the same audience laugh out loud with their antics and comic timing.

After four unsuccessful movies Director Samir Karnik had a huge responsibility to deliver a big hit and he does so with YPD.

YPD is the story of the father-son duo of Dharam Singh and Gajodhar Singh [Dharmendra and Bobby Deol] who are the biggest con-men in Banaras. Their happy-go-lucky existence involves drinking and pulling off hilarious cons on unsuspecting people. The only hitch in their perfect albeit notorious life arrives in the form of Paramveer Singh Dhillon [Sunny Deol].

A brawny and honest NRI from Vancouver, Paramveer lands up in Banaras claiming to be Gajodhar's elder brother separated at childhood. The duo willingly accepts Paramveer into their fold only to exploit his muscle power to serve their con games.

Meanwhile, Gajodhar falls in love with Sahiba [Kulraj Randhawa], a beautiful girl from Punjab. As their romance reaches its peak, her brothers [Anupam Kher and company] arrive and forcibly take her away. Paramveer saves the day with a crazy plan to win the girl back for Gajodhar, which leads them to the rustic heartlands of Punjab.

The writer has been inspired by a many yesteryear movies however he delivers few punches which are in keeping with today's times and audience tastes. It's old wine in new bottle and the movie will appeal to everyone but the only condition is that one should leave his brains at home and come to watch the movie.

All the three Deols are a treat to watch and so is Kulraj Randhawa who had earlier made her debut with Rishi Kapoor starrer 'Chintuji' last year. Even the supporting cast is fantastic and fit their respective roles especially the lady who plays Sunny's wife, Johnny Lever, Anupam Kher, Mukul Dev etc. The music is a dampner except from the remixed yesteryear hit 'Main Jat Yamla Pagla Deewana'. The fight sequences and the cinematography is excellent.

Overall a paisa vasool entertainer which will definitely do well at the box office too. Go for it !!!

Movie Review: No One Killed Jessica

Surprises come in small packets... it is so true in the case of Rajkumar Gupta and his latest offering 'No One Killed Jessica.' In the crowd of big budget movies that fail to register a decent initial at the box-office comes a small and gripping movie starring Bollywood's acting divas Rani and Vidya. 'No One Killed Jessica' is a movie based on the real life incident of 'Jessica Murder Case' that has been hitting the media headlines for quite some years. Making a movie out of a real life incident is a huge challenge as even a small glitch in the story and screenplay can spoil the entire authenticity of the incident and Raj Kumar Gupta manages to do a fantastic job.

Like his earlier movie 'Aamir' Raj Kumar Gupta again tackles a gripping subject with thrilling elements which holds the viewers attention till the end. The final result is awesome and deserves a standing ovation.

Story: New Delhi, 1999. The guns at Kargil are still blazing when another one goes off, this time in the nation's capital. Jessica [Myra], a young attractive model, trying her hand at bartending, is shot dead at a celebrity party. Her crime - refusing to serve a drink after closing hours. The culprit Manish [Mohammed Zeeshan Ayub], son of a prominent politician, inebriated by a deadly cocktail of alcohol and a sense of entitlement, pulls the trigger in a fit of rage.

With 300 of Delhi's swish set present at the party, many of whom are witnesses to the murder, Manish looks all set to go to the gallows. Except that it doesn't quite turn out that way. But two women, Jessica's sister Sabrina [Vidya Balan] and the feisty TV reporter Meera [Rani Mukerji], decide to outwit Manish and his politician-father [Shireesh Sharma] at their game. Over the course of seven years, the case goes through several stages of legal complications. Witnesses turn hostile one after another and the few who don't, became inconsistent with their versions.

Manish is acquitted, leading to a fierce public uproar and a relentless campaign by the media, which eventually leads to a life sentence for Manish.

Vidya Balan gives a very mature and restrained performance which is become synonimous with her after 'Paa' & 'Ishqiya'. Rani is a revelation and after 'Bichchoo' this is one more movie where Rani has mouthed foul language and she doesn't look artificial doing so. The rest of the cast is very good. The cinematography by Anay Goswamy is fantastic as it captures the rugged feel of Delhi. The music by Amit Trivedi is another winner especially 'Dilli Dilli' & 'Ali Re' songs. Rajkumar Gupta does a very good job and deserves all the praises and accolades for the success of the movie.

A gripping thriller and a must watch. At the box office this small budget movie will make a big 'Dhamaka'.