Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic

Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic
(translation: A Little Love, A Little Magic)
2008
4/5 stars

Ranbeer (Saif Ali Khan), a recalcitrant workaholic, kills a couple in a car accident.  The judge gives the unusual ruling that the four children left orphaned by the accident are to live with him.  All five are miserable and pray for help.  God (Rishi Kapoor) hears their pleas and sends his favorite angel, Geeta (Rani Mukerji), to help them become a family.

This is a sweet movie that, with the exception of one song, is oriented to family viewers, and gives uplifting messages about loss, prayer, and God.  Khan is perfect for the role, gradually going from gruff and brooding to open and loving.  He and Mukerji have good chemistry.  She is her usual perky, cheerful self, and makes a delightful angel.  Kapoor is excellent in his minor role.  The children play their parts well.  The music is average, with very little choreography.  Overall, this film, while not perfect, is certainly a pleasure.   

Mukerji and Kapoor

Hum Tum

Hum Tum
(translation: "Me and You")
2004
4/5 stars

Steady and responsible Rhea (Rani Mukerji) and happy-go-lucky ladies' man Karan (Saif Ali Khan) meet as college students, and end up not liking each other.  A few years later, they meet again at Rhea's wedding preparation, and find each other a bit more tolerable.  In another few years, they meet after Rhea is widowed, and become fast friends.  Karan wants to find a husband for Rhea, but instaed falls in love with her himself, knowing she couldn't be happy with a man like him.

Loosely based on Hollywood's When Harry Met Sally, the plot is enjoyable and fun.  Khan and Mukerji have nice chemistry and act well together.  Both were believable in their roles, and aged and matured their characters nicely.  Rishi Kapoor has a minor role as Karan's father, and is fantastic.  The music is average, as is the choreography.  Overall, though, the film is an enjoyable romantic comedy with just enough drama to make it interesting.

Cast includes Kirron Kher, Rati Agnihotri, and a cameo by Abhishek Bachchan.

This film is available on Amazon Prime.

Socha Na Tha

Socha Na Tha
2005
4/5 stars


Viren (Abhay Deol) and Aditi (Ayesha Takia) are introduced as a potential match, but privately decide together that he will refuse her quickly because he has a secret girlfriend, Karen (Apoorva Jha). His refusal causes a serious problem between the two families, leading to hostilities. Viren and Aditi meet by coincidence later, and clandestinely become friends. When Viren finally gets approval to marry Karen, though, he discovers he is actually in love with Aditi.

This is a charming movie, with an entertaining plot and mostly good music. Deol, in his debut role, was natural and believable; Takia was graceful and credible, as well. Their on-screen chemistry was good. The location shots were lovely. While not a classic, it's certainly enjoyable and even rewatchable.

This movie is available with Amazon Prime.

Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute to Love

Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute to Love
2007
4/5 stars

This is an anthology of six love stories:
Ashutosh (John Abraham) and Tehzeeb (Vidya Balan) are very much in love, living happily until an accident robs her of her memory and of any knowledge of him.

 Raju (Govinda), a taxi driver, falls in instant love with the non-Hindustani woman Stephanie (Shannon Esra) who has come to India to stop her boyfriend's wedding.

 Vinay (Anil Kapoor) has been married to Seema (Juhi Chawla) for fifteen years, but finds himself tempted to stray with the much younger Anjali (Anjana Sukhani).

Shiven (Akshaye Khanna) is engaged to Gia (Ayesha Takia) in a love match, but suddenly finds that he cannot go through with the marriage.

Conman Rahul (Salman Khan), pretends to be the invented boyfriend of Item Girl Kamini (Priyanka Chopra), in order to help improve her image in the press.

 Finally, for comic relief, Ramdayal (Sohail Khan) is newly wedded to Phoolwati (Isha Koppikar), but disaster after disaster prevents them from consummating their marriage.

This is an ambitious film, but works surprisingly well.  The music is excellent, and the choreography quite good.  The variety of stories, and the way they weave in and out of each other, is nicely done and keeps the viewer's interest.  All the cast gave good performances; there were no weak links.  The critics generally disliked this movie, but I found it most enjoyable.  I will point out, though, that at 224 minutes long, one will need to make a commitment to watching the movie or break it into several nights, as I did.

Salman Khan and Priyanka Chopra

The Merchant of Venice

The Merchant of Venice
(TV Movie)

Bob Peck as Shylock

1996
4/5 stars


Antonio (Benjamin Whitrow) takes out a loan from money-lender Shylock (Bob Peck) for his friend Bassanio (Paul McGann), promising a pound of flesh if he can't repay. When disaster strikes and Antonio looses everything, Shylock is determined to make him pay in full. Bassanio's new wife, Portia (Haydn Gwynne), dons male garb and takes on the role as lawyer, to teach Shylock mercy.

Peck played Shylock well, and with much emotion, though his best speech was somewhat rushed.
McGann was an earnest Bassanio, but his unattractive costumes and terrible hair style were quite distracting.  Gwynne played Portia with grace, giving her famous speech in fine style.  The rest of the cast also acted naturally and elegantly.  The costumes and sets are those of Shakespeare's intended era of Venice, and for the most part, looked lovely.  Overall, though it left out some less important scenes, it was a fine performance and worth watching.

Chandni

Chandni
(translation: "moonlight")
1989
4/5 stars

Rohit (Rishi Kapoor) meets Chandni (Sridevi) at a wedding and is instantly smitten.  He woos and wins her, but before they can be married he suffers an accident that leaves him paralyzed. Rohit pushes Chandni away, not wanting her to be tied to him.  Grief-stricken, she moves to Bombay, where she takes a job as secretary to Lalit (Vinod Khanna).  Lalit falls in love with her, and she agrees to marry him.  Before they are married, though, a recovered Rohit comes to find her, and Chandni must choose between him and Lalit.

This drama has a good plot that, while predictable, keeps the viewer's interest.  It not only spotlights Sridevi's stunning beauty, but her dancing as well.  In addition, she matures her character in a believable way.  Kapoor and Khanna both give good, often emotional, performances.  The music was quite good, as was the choreography.  Sridevi's costumes, especially the traditional ones, were gorgeous.  Overall, it's an engrossing film, and quite enjoyable.

Cast also includes Anupam Kher, Waheeda Rehman, and a cameo by Juhi Chawla.

This movie is available with Amazon Prime.

Kiss Me Kate

Kiss Me Kate
1953
4/5 stars


Divorced theater actors Fred (Howard Keel) and Lilli (Kathryn Grayson) team up again to play a musical version of Shakespeare's the Taming of the Shrew, igniting a full range of emotions between the two. The situation is not helped by Fred's flirtation with another actress, Lois (Ann Miller), and finally Lilli quits in mid play. In the meantime, Lois's boyfriend Bill (Tommy Rall) runs up a debt with gangsters, but signs Fred's name. Things grow more complicated when the gangsters (played by James Whitmore and Keenan Wynn) arrive to collect the money, and refuse to let Lilli leave. All the while, the play within a play is on-going as well, adding a further dimension to plot.

It may sound complicated, but the beauty of Dorothy Kingsley's screenplay (which was nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award) is how well it flows, weaving all the subplots in and out, and finally tying them together.  Keel and Grayson are excellently matched, with both having superb singing voices.  Miller, as always, steals the spotlight with her vivacity and dancing skill--helped, of course, by Hermes Pan's excellent choreography.  Costumes and sets are cheerful and colorful and look great all around.  The star of the show, however, is Cole Porter: his clever lyrics and lovely music are the groundwork that the builds this fine film.

Ann Miller

What I dislike about this movie is that it highlights the Taming of the Shrew (a horrible play) in a positive, even idolizing, light.  The modern part of the plot follows the Taming some, showing male dominance and female subservience as the expected outcome between a man and a woman.  I realize the movie is only showing the societal norm for the 1950s, and as such can enjoy the rest of the film without being affected.

The bottom line is that Kiss Me Kate is a fun, lively movie, with a few flaws, but still good enough for a universal recommendation.

Grayson, Keel