Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara: ***

A tale of 3 friends & a trip which would change their lives forever. Arjun (HR), Imran (Farhan) and Kabir (Abhay Deol) are buddies. During their studies they decide to go on an adventure trip which didn’t materialize & with the time they get busy in their lives. On the day of Kabir’s engagement he decides to revive the long buried trip plan to celebrate his bachelor’s party & the journey of their lifetime begins.

Zoya Akhtar’s 2^nd directorial project after Luck By Chance, ZNMD is a fresh movie which takes us into the lives of their protagonists and a trip that unfolds the facets they never thought otherwise they could have explored. With an unconventional star cast of its three leading men (as each belongs to a different style of cinema) ZNMD scores a perfect 5 for performance. HR plays Arjun, an ambitious financial broker who is busy making the moolah and building up a lifestyle. Style and attitude comes natural to this green eyed Greek god of bollywood. It’s a treat to watch HR on big screen. Though, his gigantic screen presence often overshadows his performance. Frahan does what he does best, playing a cool dude with wacky sense of humor. As Imran, who is a carefree, flamboyant and funny guy Farhan Akhtar connects immediately with the audience. His one liners, madcap jokes and comic timing keeps the movie alive. Abhay Deol is definitely one of the most talented actors of current generation and does full justice to the role of Kabir, a troubled and suffocated guy who is overwhelmed by possessiveness of his fiancée (Kalki) and just wants to chill out with his best buddies Arjun and Imran. Katrina looks sexy as Laila and does her bit in the role. She looks stunning and her onscreen chemistry with HR is superb. Kalki is a suave girl from a billionaire family who is so possessive about her fiancé Kabir. Music is good enough, though it does not reach to the level of Dil Chahta Hai. The movie is stretched a tad too long and could have been shorter by 10-15 mins. The first half is funny, but fails to depict the trip effect as it takes us directly to the place decided by each one of them without showing their journey to the place.(As shown in the movie Eurotrip with a table in form of a map which shows progress of the journey) Though, the road trip in the second half is perfect.

ZNMD with its fine performances, humorous appeal and beautiful landscapes is definitely going to score big on the Box Office (Unless Harry Potter ruins the party)!!!

Delhi Belly: ***

A 440 volt shock from Aamir Khan Production!! Probably the most blasphemous, raunchy & bold movie of hindi cinema which takes us on a fun filled ride with spine jolting  shocks from groping, moaning, and bountiful use of F-word and hindi gaalis. The movie portrays lives of 3 room mates and how it goes for a toss when an unknown parcel of a don gets misplaced by one of them.

Director Abhinay Deo has brought a very realistic substance in the portrayal of young guys sharing a common room. The kind of language they use, their body language as per their characters is so very aptly depicted and credit must be given to the director as well as the artists. Guys staying in a hostel or rented apartment in metros will easily be able to relate with these characters. Kunal Roy Kappor and Vir Das impress us with their immaculate performances. Imran Khan is good in the movie but looks dull in comparison with the other 2 guys for the simple reason that he doesn’t have the comic timing like Ranbir Kapoor. Shenaz Treasury (wala) looks uberchic and adds to the oomph factor. Poorna Jagannathan as a bold, flamboyant and independent girl does full justice in the small role given to her. I am sure many guys will be praying to have a girl friend like her. Vijay Raaz is probably the most underrated actors of his time. His uncanny ability to get into the character is exceptional. From Run to Pran Jaye per Shaan na Jaye to Mumbai Express and in all his projects he has always been impressive. Music is surely not a chart-buster but it’s good and goes well with the movie without interrupting the continuity. AK’s item number in the end is fun to watch. In short Delhi Belly is cult movie for it’s never seen before shock values and some spot on comic sequences. If Hollywood has Hangover, Bollywood has Delhi Belly!!! 

Dhobi Ghat: ***

This highly awaited movie from Aamir Khan Production and Kiran Rao’s directorial debut is not so much a commercial movie. It is an attempt to take a glimpse in the lives of four different people. The film takes us in the lives of four protagonists – Munna, Shai, Arun and Yasmin. Four people from completely different background and social stature, how their lives crisscross and how it changes them is a treat to watch. The movie is not preachy, doesn't give any message, doesn't dwell in silly fantasies and doesn't pass any judgment or conclusion. As it’s a journey of lives of four people, things just happen in their lives and they go through it. Period. The camera remains a silent witness to it.

Munna played by Prateik Babbar is the character we see around us every day. An ambitious boy from some village trying to realize his dreams of Bollywood, a girl friend etc. is shown cleverly. Prateik has played the character to the T. His clothes, body language in various situations, lingo etc. makes him look perfect in that character. His performance never really allows us to believe that he is just a film old boy in the industry.

Monica Dogra who is playing an NRI girl Shai in the movie impresses us too. She looks fabulous on the screen and has the right attitude to carry this character of an independent migrant girl. Shai is in Mumbai to see the life from a different perspective. Her equation with Munna and Arun who are having completely different socio-cultural background is quite interesting. Her accent, gesticulation etc makes her look more authentic and one falls in love with this character that is charming, flamboyant, stylist yet pure and having hidden caring side.

                                   

Arun is a painter who is a hermit and almost a social miss fit type of a character. Beautifully played by Aamir Khan, Arun is a successful artist who has so much of depth with turbulent emotions, bruised past, maverick side of an artist and “some thing is missing” kind of urge in his eyes. His constant fight with his inner self, his emotional connection with the tapes of Yasmin and its reflection on his life are all beautifully presented. Like all his other films, in this film too Aamir looks authentic in the character with the right mannerism and eccentricity required for the role.

Kriti Malhotra in the role of Yasmin is perhaps the most realistic character. A small town girl who is recently married and has come to Mumbai tries to talk to his brother through the camera. Kriti who is a non-actor and has been selected through facebook is a surprise package of the film for her evident acting skills. She impresses us with her soft spoken character that is caring, timid with many suppressed emotions which she captures on camera. Her innocence, vulnerability and helplessness in the end surely gets lump in the throat.

As claimed by the makers of the movie that Mumbai is the fifth character of the film however do not come across as strongly as it should have. The movie’s Mumbai connection is limited only in the areas in which it was shot. There is no exclusive aspect or peculiarity of Mumbai which one can observe in the movie.

In a nutshell Dhobi Ghat is a window which gives us a glimpse into the lives of these four characters. Kiran Rao has also proved with this film that she is not only Mrs. Aamir Khan. It’s true that when Mr. Perfectionist’s name is attached to a project it is bound to create a buzz and anticipation in people’s mind. Dhobi Ghat may not become a block buster but it surely will not disappoint AK’s fans!!