After a long wait (and just short of the Lok Sabha elections,) the trailer of the biopic about PM Narendra Modi was released today. With Vivek Oberoi playing Narendra Modi, the trailer maps out the Prime Minister’s life from before his entrance into politics to being a Prime Minister. With subtle prosthetics and makeup done the right way, Oberoi has pulled off Modi’s character perfectly.

Opening to the days of Modi’s life as a tea seller at a railway station, the trailer moves forward to show how Modi ended up as one of the most important persons in India. With hard hitting slogans, the tri colour fluttering with pride and hints of anti Pakistani sentiments, this movie is a tribute to Modi. Watch the trailer here and now!

#PMNarendraModiTrailer 🙏 pic.twitter.com/cVTqn0ckzN

— Vivek Anand Oberoi (@vivekoberoi) March 20, 2019

Apart from giving us an insight into Modi’s life, the trailer also shows us what to expect from the different characters in the film. Furthermore, it also shows us Modi’s life as a child and about his self imposed exile from family and marriage life. From rescuing Muslims, to saving a burning Gujarat and to the victory of Modi’s party in 2014, this trailer shows Narendra Modi as not just a leader, but a man of action.

While some people argue, this movie is about furthering and promoting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) before the Lok Sabha elections, others say it is a dedication to the Party’s leader. Also starring Boman Irani, Manoj Sinha, Zarina Wahab, Barkha Bisht, Darshan Rawal, Akshat R. Saluja, Anjan Shrivastav, Rajendra Gupta and Yatin Karyekar, this biopic is directed by Omung Kumar.

With most of the film shot in Gujarat, the biopic is co produced by Sandeep Ssingh, Suresh Oberoi and Anand Pandit. Initially scheduled to release on the 12th of April, the release date of PM Narendra Modi was changed. This movie is now slated to hit the screens on the 5th of April this year.

Comments

After keeping us all waiting with bated breath for something other than just a teaser, the makers of Kalank have finally released a brand new song! Titled Ghar More Pardesiya, this new song doesn’t have a conventional pair as the lead but is instead, centered around Alia Bhatt’s and Madhuri Dixit’s characters.

Written by Amitabh Bhattacharya, the voice has been given by Shreya Ghoshal and Vaishali Mhade. The song opens to Alia Bhatt’s and Varun Dhawan’s characters entering a Ramleela performance. While on the one side of the stage, Laxman draws the epic Lakshman Rekha in front of Sita, Madhuri Dixit’s character is seen swinging on the other side. Listen to the song here.

GHAR MORE PARDESIYA 💃 https://t.co/Lerpmqz3sW#Kalank @duttsanjay #AdityaRoyKapur @Varun_dvn @sonakshisinha @MadhuriDixit @abhivarman @ipritamofficial @remodsouza @karanjohar @apoorvamehta18 @foxstarhindi @DharmaMovies @NGEMovies @ZeeMusicCompany #GharMorePardesiya

— Alia Bhatt (@aliaa08) March 18, 2019

What makes this song stand out is the way the attention to detail and the old school charm the song has. From the way the song was picturised, to the way Madhuri and Alia are dressed, the picturisation of this song has been perfectly done.

Days before the song was released, Alia teased everyone with tiny bits and pieces about how the shoot for the song went, “A song that gave me sleepless nights, days & months is coming very very soon.. I think you can safely say that I have never been SO nervous for anything in my life.. *screams frantically and hides under bed* You may have to send a search party to find me. Meanwhile watch this space for more.”

Directed by Abhishek Varman (known for other brilliant movies like 2 States,) this movie is the most awaited film of this year. Also starring Sonakshi Sinha, Sanjay Dutt and Aditya Roy Kapur in key roles, Kalank is all set to hit the screens on the 17th of April this year!

Comments

When Alia Bhatt made her first faux pass on the show Koffee With Karan, many thought this particular star kid wouldn’t last for a long time. However, the then one movie old actress learnt to not only laugh at herself, but made sure people started taking notice of her because of her movies, not because of her blunders on national television. Here is taking a look at some of the truly brilliant performances given by this extremely talented actress!

1. Student of the Year 

To talk about Alia Bhatt’s best performances and not have Student of the Year on the list is quite a bold dismissal. Making her debut as the rich brat, Shanaya, Alia made sure she more than made her presence felt. With a confidence not many possess in their first movie, Alia certainly proved she was a great actress in the making with Student of the Year!

2. Highway 

While Highway maybe a couple of years after Student of the Year, this movie proved how much Alia could achieve if she had a great director showing her the ropes. Transforming from a ditsy newbie to a strong individual, Highway was quite definitely her ticket to fame in the world of Bollywood. From the moment this particular movie hit the screens, everyone knew they had a brand new star in their midst and why not? Playing the role of a girl who sympathises with her kidnapper and shows the world just how strong she is on her own, Alia blew the roof with her brilliant acting. Not bad for a mark maker at all!

3. 2 States

When it comes to doing a movie like 2 States, it is hard to picture someone like Alia Bhatt fitting into the lead role. A girl from Chennai, without any over the top glamour, falling for a boy from Punjab. Who would have thought Alia could have done justice to the role? In fact, many would have thought a character reversal was definitely in the works for this particular movie. However, just like with her other movies, Alia proved otherwise. Playing the role of Ananya, a girl who in every way wants to do what she believes is right, Alia made a lasting impression and won over even the coldest of hearts. Furthermore, she proved with 2 States that she was never going to be pigeonholed into playing only a certain role!

4. Udta Punjab 

When Udta Punjab started doing the media rounds, it took people a certain amount of time to come to terms with the fact that the main lead was played by Alia. Completely letting go off her glamorous look, Alia Bhatt dug deep into the Punjabi girl she was playing and boy, did she work her character well! Fierce like never before and paying attention to every detail, Alia Bhatt more than proved her salt as an actress who was here to stay. From playing the victim, to pushing everything away and owning her confidence, Alia rose to show the world she was going to rule the Bollywood roost.

5. Dear Zindagi

Unlike the above mentioned films, Dear Zindagi saw a different side of Alia. Playing the role of a confused and vulnerable daughter, Alia showed everyone that in order to know who you are, you have to start accepting everything about yourself. Playing a part glamorous and a part simple character, Alia was quite a treat to watch in this particular movie.

6. Raazi 

Another movie which brought out the finesse in Alia’s acting skills was Raazi. From the way she proved herself in a new house, to protecting her home from a life threatening war and to coming to terms with the fact that even her life was dispensable, Alia’s role in this movie was commendable. Despite everyone else doing a really great job with their characters, it was Alia who stood tall and strong in this movie.

As the actress turned a year older a couple of days ago, it is fitting to say that not only has she grown in age, she has also grown as an actress. Someone once said, for an actress like Alia to blossom, she needs a good director guiding her forward. If these movies are anything to go by, then that fact is certainly true! What is your favourite Alia Bhatt movie? Comment and let us know!

Comments

How many times have you heard of a Bollywood film inspired by either a Tollywood or a Hollywood film? More number of times than you can count, right? We agree. However, there are some movies which did so well in Bollywood, they inspired some really great Hollywood movies. Here is looking at Bollywood films which not only made a mark on the Indian audience, but on the rest of the world as well!

1. A Wednesday (A Common Man)

Perhaps one of the best movies Neeraj Pandey has made in his career, A Wednesday received so much praise, it was critically acclaimed internationally as well! So loved was it by the world of Hollywood, they thought just one film like this wasn’t enough. Sri Lankan film maker, Chandan Rutnam loved it so much, he officially remade it as A Common Man in the year 2013. With Ben Kingsley playing the role of Naseeruddin Shah, Rutnam recreated the movie with only slight tweaks in the script. A Common Man did so well, it bagged not one, but several titles, such as the Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor awards at the Madrid International Film Festival.

2. Jab We Met (Leap Year)

When Jab We Met released in the year 2007, it quite literally redefined love and all the expectations people have from relationships. For years after, this movie became a gospel of sorts for when it came to love stories. This is why, when Leap Year was announced, it came as no surprise to people all over the world. Leap Year had Amy Adams and Matthew Goode in pivotal roles! While Jab We Met had everything you could want from a romantic, feel good Bollywood movie, Leap Year made you want to think about the choices you make. With an equally great premise, both the movies stay embedded in your memories because of their great storytelling.

3. Vicky Donor (Delivery Man)

When Vicky Donor released in India, it made quite a splash at the box office and with the critics because of its unique concept. While the Bollywood world and its audience really appreciated this concept, Hollywood loved it to no end as well. Taking inspiration from the story of Vicky Donor, Hollywood produced a brand new movie with the same concept, called Delivery Man! The only major difference between the two films was, while Vicky in Vicky Donor helps give birth to more than 500 children, the lead in Delivery Man helps give birth to around 100 kids!

4. Darr (Fear)

Remember the Yash Chopra directorial, Darr? The psychological thriller starred Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla and Sunil Dutt in the lead roles. It did so well, it received appreciation from fans and critics alike. Still remembered as one of the most iconic characters played by Shah Rukh Khan, Darr was the inspiration for the Hollywood thriller, Fear. From the characters, to the story line and to the direction style, Fear was quite literally copied from Darr. When Fear released, the movie did so amazingly well, it was one of the biggest hits of 1996.

5. Sangam (Pearl Harbour)

Directed by Raj Kapoor and starring Vyjayanthimala, Raj Kapoor and Rajendra Kumar in the lead roles, Sangam was a sensational success when it hit the screens. A love triangle set during a war, this movie was not just famous for being an iconic one, but for Raj Kapoor’s character as well. Kapoor’s character in Sangam is deemed as the best one ever played by him! So well done was this film, it became loved across the borders as well. It inspired the 2001 super hit Hollywood film, Pearl Harbour. With the script and everything else being the same, the only thing which was perhaps drastically different was the fact, Pearl Harbour was set against the backdrop of the Pearl Harbour attack!

When you see your favourite Bollywood films acting as inspiration for Hollywood movies, you know things are right in the world! If you think we missed out on any other Hollywood movies inspired by Bollywood movies, comment and let us know!

Comments

Director: Ritesh Batra

Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sanya Malhotra

Story

Rafiq (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) is a street photographer who walks the streets of Mumbai trying to create special memories through polaroids. Into his frame walks Miloni (a CA, played by Sanya Malhotra.) However, while Rafi seems to think Miloni should definitely get a picture clicked, the latter is reluctant. Miloni finally succumbs to Rafi’s charms and persuasion skills and gets a picture clicked. The moment Rafi takes the picture, a conversation strikes up between Miloni and Rafi. The rest of the movie maps out to a family meeting on pretense and a slow romance in the works! With Miloni pretending to be Rafi’s fiancé Noor, the movie shows how the leads start getting closer even though they are playing a facade.

Review

Despite being part of a world which is constantly obsessed with social media and staying connected, Ritesh Batra has created a setting similar to old school romance. As always, Ritesh Batra has breathed magic into every scene. Something as simple as a photograph (not a selfie, mind you,) is so powerful, it draws two strangers together. Who would have thought?

Photograph works for one basic reason. It pulls at the nostalgia strings of your heart! Miloni and Rafi realise they really do have a lot of things in common and these similar tastes and similar dislikes form the basis of a beautiful friendship between them, with hints of something more in the offing.

Like always, Nawazuddin’s acting skills are par excellence. With every line delivered perfectly and a perfect characterization of Rafiq, Nawazuddin delivers his dialogues with skills only a seasoned actor has. On her part, Sanya Malhotra also plays the role of Miloni really well. While in the beginning, she plays a reserved and slightly aloof character, Sanya seems to grow in a manner which shows her acceptance of the character she’s playing.

With some lines of resemblance drawn from Basu Chatterjee’s Chhoti Si Baat, Ritesh Batra has made quite a masterpiece with Photograph. All in all, with the cinematography and music adding a really fine feeling to the entire movie, this Ritesh Batra directorial is a delight. Watch it for the subtle nuances and the simplicity of the entire tale!

Comments