Phata Poster Nikla Hero- Review

Directed by: Rajkumar Santoshi and Hamza Anwar
Produced by: Ramesh Taurani, Ronnie Screwvala, Siddharth Roy Kapur
Written by: Rajkumar Santoshi
Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Ileana D'Cruz, Padmini Kholapuri
Music by: Pritam
Release date: 20th September 2013
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Rating: **.5(2.5)
Review: Birjis Adeni Rashed

(The aim and intention of my reviews is to critique and recommend while not revealing the whole story to enjoy the movie when seen. But minor details have been divulged for a proper review!)





This is one of those movies where the trailer is good, picture not.  This movie trailer showed all the highlights of the movie trying to give a peak into a fun movie, unfortunately the movie itself didn’t have more than the highlights.

The story vaguely strung together between one song to the other is about  an aspiring actor  who becomes a real life hero  through journeys of fake cop and real cops, Bollywood dreams and mothers melodramatic desires. The movie’s songs seemed to have given a priority before the script itself because the screenplay just leads us from one song to the other without any depth and detail in story.

The best part of the movie was of course the song- Tu mere Agala Bagal  Hai song and Shahid Kapoors excited charm trying to make things funny in a jaded storyline. But rest all is just silly, clichéd story, theatrical comedy and old jokes.  Occasionally some things are funny, but it’s not enough to hold the story together or entertain enough.


Shahid Kapoor shows a lot of charm and enthusiasm to make things funny and entertaining but the script is so bad, he could only do so much. Illeana was very silly and her acting talents fell from her role in Barfi.

Mika Singh’s  Tu Mere Agal Bagal is very entertaining with Shahid Kapoors doggie moves. Atif Aslam’s Tu Rang Sharbaton Ka is melodious, the item song with Nargis Fakri, Dhating Naach  probably has some moves but nothing spectacular.

Just wait for it to come on Netflix or DVD

Shudd Desi Romance- Review

Directed by: Maneesh Sharma
Produced by :Aditya Chopra
Written by ; Jaideep Sahni
Starring :Sushant Singh Rajput, Parineeti Chopra, Vaani Kapoor,Rishi Kapoor
Music by:Sachin - Jigar
Release date:   September 6, 2013
Genre: Romance,comedy
Content advisory :  kissing, implied sex , smoking,drinking
Rating: **.5(2.5)
Review: Birjis Adeni Rashed


 (The aim and intention of my reviews is to critique and recommend while not revealing the whole story to enjoy the movie when seen. But minor details have been divulged for a proper review!)


I don’t understand in what context they call this a ‘Shudd Desi Romance’ when ‘Shudd’ means ‘pure’ and the movie doesn’t reflect it! Neither does it show pure Desiness/Indianess in its south Asian belief structure of marriage and morals, nor does the romance reflect pure love, more of an attraction and sexual chemistry!  The movie also got released with alternative title ‘Random Desi Romance’ and that seems more appropriate, reflecting the skewed up mindset of some youth in progressive India who prefer commitment-less philosophy to  life, love and sex!


The story set in Jaipur, in the lower middle class strata, revolves around three lead actors, one male and two female. The male lead played by Sushant Singh Rajput is a sheepish, awkward  hypocritical  cold feet groom/ rental barati/ tourist guide who doesn’t know what he wants to do, nor know what he has to say at times.  The main female lead played by Parineti Chopra is an independent, aggressive, feisty, free willed woman who lives life by her own rules, and likes to live it with all risks, smoking, drinking, abortions and all ; while the other female lead by Vani Kapoor is a confident, assertive character/affected bride of a walk away wedding, wanting  revenge, yet getting emotions tangled.


The story involves frivolous wedding parties with  rental barati’s,  multiple commitment phobic wedding escapades,  live in relationships, moving in and moving out of relationship, aimless conversations, characters going in circles, repetitive scenes and  confused understanding of relationships. The flow of the story is pretty casual with slice of life scenes and funny at times, yet the scenes where characters talk into the camera to the audience doesn’t fit in the flow. The story also is slow paced and exhausted at times.


The director Maneesh Sharma, either has seen too many weddings growing up or he and producer  Aditya Chopra  want to use their  wedding research extensively; this is  another movie on weddings after  ‘Band Baja Barat’, and ‘Rab ne Bana di Jodi’ between them, they better move on.

The actors interestingly did an excellent job in their roles. Parineti Chopra lives up the role of this chilled casual character very well and comes out as a natural; Shushant Rajput suits the role of an awkward communication impaired, commitment phobic youth; while the new actress Vani Kapoor handles her role confidently and shows promise; Rishi Kapoor of course is a veteran actor.

The songs in the movie have foot tapping music and good lyrics and its cinematography brings out the architectural and cultural beauty of the pink city Jaipur. 

But will have to say it’s just another random movie.

Bollywood Film Critic in the News;)

Check out the  article below where Bollywood Film Critic is listed along with many other popular blogs online in an article titled "Webbed Feat" in India's widely read newspaper, Hindustan Times.  This article Webbed Feat was on page 6 of Hindustan Times, dated August 30, 2013.
 http://epaper.hindustantimes1.com/PUBLICATIONS/HTEDGE/HTE/2013/08/30/INDEX.SHTML
  You can read this article by  clicking on the above link and scrolling to page 6;)