Notebook

Notebook
2019
4/5 stars

Kabir (Zaheer Iqbal ), at loose ends since he quit the Army, agrees to become the teacher of an isolated Wular Public School with an enrollment of seven students.  He is failing dismally when he finds the diary of the previous teacher, Firdaus (Pranutan Bah).  At first, reading her diary gives him confidence to teach the children.  Later, however, he falls in love with her as he learns to know her inner self through the diary.  He leaves the school at the end of the year, still thinking of Firdaus.

In the meantime, Firdaus is teaching in a large city school, trying to conform to traditional ways of teaching while she waits for her marriage.  The unexpected happens, and Firdaus' wedding is cancelled; she returns to Wular Public School, and finds messages to her from Kabir.

This is a charming movie. Iqbal and Bah, both debut actors, are natural and believable.  The energetic and jubilant children are a pleasure to watch.  The music is only average and below, unfortunately, and does effect the whole.  The ending was particularly good.   With it's uncommon plot, engaging cast, focus on the importance of education, and beautiful cinematography it is an overall enjoyable experience.

Bharat

Bharat
2019
4/5 stars

This movie follows the life of Bharat (Salman Khan), from his childhood in the midst of the 1947 Partition of India, to age 70, as he and his best friend (Vilyati, played by Sunil Grover) mature, take jobs, and experience life-changing events.  Bharat proves himself as a hero throughout, without great feats of daring, simply as the average working man.

Katrina Kaif also stars, with Jackie Shroff, Disha Patani and Tabu in lesser roles.

The plot is made up of six slices of Bharat's life during pivotal moments in his history.  As a result of covering so much time, the story isn't profound or particularly emotional, but it is still engaging and engrossing throughout the 155 minute film.  Khan was convincing in all avatars, as was Grover.  Khan and Kaif have good chemistry, and she, too, gave a solid performance.  The child actors portraying young Bharat (Kabir Sajid) and young Vilyati (I couldn't find his name), were also believable. The music isn't exceptional, but is good, with the incidental music being effective.  Overall, it's an enjoyable, if not deep, movie that thoroughly entertains.

Khan and Kaif

Vivah

Vivah
(translation: "marriage")
2006
4/5 stars

Prem (Shahid Kapoor) and Poonam (Amrita Rao) are introduced as a possible match for each other, and find an instant connection.  A happy and emotionally charged engagement follows, but a tragedy strikes that could prevent their marrying.

(Anupam Kher, Alok Nath, and Seema Biswa also star.)

This movie about love, traditional values, and respect for women is so sweet that it should be repellent, and yet it has enough charm to still be enjoyable.  Veteran actors Kher, Nath, and Biswa give solid performances.  While Kapoor and Rao have good chemistry, their acting is mainly reduced to boyish charm from him and demure dignity from her.  The saris are stunning throughout the entire film, and there is some lovely scenery.  While the songs aren't extraordinary, they are still good; there is a lack of dancing, however.  Vivah is so full of innocence and goodness, that's it's almost a guilty pleasure to watch, but I will admit to being entertained by it.

Fanaa

Fanaa
(translates as "love destroys")
2006
4/5 stars

Zooni  (Kajol) travels for the first time to New Delhi with friends to perform in a ceremony for Republic Day.  While there, she meets and falls in reciprocated love with a tour guide, Rehan (Aamir Khan).  Her friends are over-protective of Zooni, as she is blind, but eventually help the two spend time together.  It seems that Zooni's romance will have a happy ending, but tragedy happens.

Seven years later,  Susheel Rawat (Sharat Saxena) of the Anti Terrorist Special Force and special agent Malini Tyagi (Tabu) are trying to track down the leader of a Kashmiri terrorist organization before he can get possession of the final piece needed to make a nuclear weapon.  Zooni becomes unwittingly involved when a wounded stranger appears on her doorstep.

The first half of this romantic thriller was good, but not great -- it played out like a mostly typical Bollywood romance.  The second half, however, kept me riveted.  The suspense and uncertainty were both written and portrayed well.  Khan and Kajol were average in the romantic beginning, but were excelled during the thriller portion.  Zooni's parents were played by veteran actors Rishi Kapoor and Kirron Kher, who were excellent. Child actor Ali Haji gave a convincing performance as well. The songs were a mixed bag, some just okay but some memorable; the incidental music, however, was quite effective.  Overall, Fanaa delivers near perfect entertainment. 

Chalte Chalte

Chalte Chalte
2003
3/5 stars

Raj (Shah Rukh Khan), owner of a small trucking business, is involved in a minor accident with Priya (Rani Mukerji). She is wealthy, and they have nothing in common, but he falls in love with her, wooing, and eventually winning, her.  After they marry, they find their differences to be nearly irreconcilable, and the film follows them as they try to make their marriage a success.

(Cast also includes Johnny Lever, Lilette Dubey, and Satish Shah, among others.)

This is a mostly enjoyable, but highly improbable, romantic comedy/drama with lovely scenery, average music, and a good cast.  Khan and Mukerji have good chemistry and work well together; their romantic and comedic scenes were quite good. However, the plot is predictable, with a weak and not fully believable conclusion, making it overall an average film.

Dilwale

Khan and Kajol

Dilwale
(translates as "the big-hearted)
2015
4/5 stars

Raj (Shah Rukh Khan) is devoted to his younger brother Veer (Varun Dhawan), but has kept family secrets from him. When Veer falls in love with Ishita (Kriti Sanon), Raj's past romance with Meera (Kajol) comes to light, affecting both couples.

This is an engaging masala film, with generally well-written comedy and drama, and nicely choreographed action sequences.  As always, Khan and Kajol have near perfect chemistry, and their acting is excellent.  Dhawan was natural and a good comedian, but Sanon was stiff and not fully convincing at times.  The songs are mostly good, with one song memorably so, and the incidental music was particularly effective.  The locations were beautiful, and the movie looked superb overall.  Dilwale is thoroughly enjoyable, just barely missing five stars, and one worth rewatching.

(Cast also includes Johnny Lever and Vinod Khanna.)

Wanted

Wanted
2009
4/5 stars

Radhe (Salman Khan), a killer for hire, is recruited by an international don to dispose of the rival gang.  Radhe works up through the ranks as he successfully murders one foe after another.  He meets Jhanvi (Ayesha Takia) and falls in love with her.  She reciprocates his feelings, but tries to change him into a better man.

This masala is a good mix of romance, comedy, action, and drama.  The plot is engaging, and has a nice twist to it.  The music and choreography leave much to be desired, but the action looks great.  There is little chemistry between Khan and Takia, unfortunately, but each give an above average performance.  Overall, this is a typical Bollywood film, fun and exciting, though violent, which is thoroughly enjoyable.

Khan and Takia