Lara Dutta with Mahesh Bhupathi

It’s official now! Mahesh Bhupati and Lara Dutta got engaged last week in New York. Bhupathi has made this announced on Twitter saying, “So Lara and me got engaged in NY last week”.

No sooner did Bhupthai post this online than he was flooded with congratulatory wishes. The couple has been in New York since August for the US Open and Davis cup, and also because Lara had to attend a photoshoot for a magazine.

Bhupathi was claimed to be the apparent reason behind Lara dumping Dino Morea. The lady has been held responsible for the divorce between Bhupathi and Shwetha Jaishankar. The couple has of late given ample indications of their closeness, including hand-in-hand appearances at many award shows. But rumours of them living in were subsequently rubbished. Though the industry has been anxiously waiting for a confirmation on their alleged romantic relationship, both remained coy… but things have clearly changed now! We wish the couple all the best!

Housefull (2010)

There are many reasons to watch a particular movie. The star cast, the direction and the plot are some of them. When none of these antics work, the film is considered a failure. And here`s a rare movie that works on all three fronts.

Housefull has a killer star cast: one look at the movie`s poster will have anyone rushing to the cinemas or their nearest DVD stores. The direction has been well taken care of by a fairly new director, whose previous film Hey Baby (2007) was a huge hit, and considered one of the most entertaining movies of that year. The plot however, is so twisted that one can barely understand what happened when. But then perhaps that is the whole point of the movie.

Housefull is about one `loser`, who is doomed with bad luck no matter where he goes. He feels he will be saved from this horrible curse, once he finds his true love. Therefore, with the help of his best friend, he sets out on a journey, filled with unimaginable lies and deceit, where he sinks himself in a deep intricate web, from where resurfacing with the truth becomes almost impossible.

Now the humour is over the top, almost indigestible at times: There are some really crude jokes, and then there are those jokes that seem to be so forced that you feel like slapping the stars who delivered them. However, some scenes are hilarious, and one needs to give a round of applause to whoever came up with them.

Akshay Kumar is a hugely talented actor, and can easily fit into any kind of role. Throughout the movie, one`s mood fluctuation, from almost crying to laughing hysterically because of his acting.

If Jhoom Barabar Jhoom flopped then with Housefull Lara Dutta proves herself to be the queen of comedy. There aren`t many women in Bollywood who can look hot and be funny at the same time. The expressions on Lara`s face on their own are enough to have you giggling away, even if the scene isn`t really funny.

Deepika Padukone has never looked this gorgeous, and easily takes the award for having the best body in all of Bollywood. She carries herself with such ease and grace, that when she`s present on screen, she overshadows the others. Deepika looks great but its Lara Dutta who steals the show with her comic timing.

Arjun Rampal had the same X effect, as he looks so incredibly handsome, and has acted extremely well for the character he was portraying. Even if one does not like this kind of humour, the movie can be watched solely for the purpose of staring at these two beauties, that is Deepika and Arjun, sing and dance and prance around.

Jiah Khan, too has taken this opportunity to gain her self some recognition. This young star (of Nishabd fame or notoriety rather) has never looked this phenomenal. Her long gorgeous locks and her innocent face in this film will endear her far more to the audience than her Lolita act opposite Amitabh.

Boman Iran, adds another feather to his cap for some of the most hilarious characters everacted, whether it was the crazy college dean in 3 Idiots (2009), or the insensitive doctor in Munnabhai MBBS (2003), this man has left no stone unturned.

The songs aren`t great, you wouldn`t purchase the OST specifically. But even some of the soundtrack is hilarious. One track which keeps playing in the background has a man merrily singing “he is a loser, he is a loser, he`s such a such a such a such a loser”… we all know people we could sing that too. And and there is a song in the beginning where Jiah is trying to seduce the inexperienced Akshay, who doesn`t know how to react, which results in confusion and chaos.

Before anyone decides to watch Housefull, you should keep in mind the kind of humour that is being talked about here. It`s complete slapstick. There is extreme screaming, jumping, and unnecessary vulgarity at times. Also, the fact that it is a Saijd Nadiadwala Production (who has produced countless Govinda-category comedy movies) should be considered.

But it is the perfect movie to watch if you`re in the kind of mood where you feel like laughing loudly, for no reason… and you are the kind who laughs at silliness – Manal Faheem Khan

Cast and Production Credits

Year – 2010, Genre – Comedy, Country – India, Language – Hindi, Producer – Sajid Nadiawala, Director – Sajid Khan, Music Director – Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani, Loy Mendonsa, Sameer, Cast - Deepika Padukone, Riteish Deshmukh, Jiah Khan, Akshay Kumar, Arjun Rampal, Lillete Dubey, Randhir Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez, Lara Dutta, Malaika Arora

Blue (2009)

It would be unfair to watch every movie with the same vision. You watch Yash Raj films for ensemble casts, romance, songs and exotic locales. You watch Vishal Bhardwaj films for their intensity and David Dhawan films for their light hearted humour. Plunging into another genre of Bollywood films, debutante director Anthony D’Souza with his first film Blue, puts himself in the place of an experimentalist who has changed the way Bollywood shoots underwater thrillers. Remember old Indian films in which water scenes were always shot in swimming pools (for example the scene in Namak Halal after the song ‘Raat Baaqi’ when Shashi Kapoor falls into the sea). It goes without saying that Bollywood films have entered a new era where action is concerned but this film with its fabulous under water cinematography takes action to another level altogether.

Unfortunately Blue’s story is as neglected as the cinematography is paid attention to. The weak screenplay prevents it from rising anywhere above surface (or should we say sea) level. What Blue thrives on is the feel good factor. Set in the Bahamas with several shots taken in Bangkok and Bombay, Blue is the story of the filthy rich Aaarav (Akshay Kumar), owner of Blue Fisheries and Shipping, who wants to coerce his employee and friend Saagar (Sanjay Dutt) into taking the plunge into the deep blue ocean to unearth a hidden treasure that only Saagar knows about. However, the guilt Saagar carries with him over his father’s death – which occurred when they were on an underwater excursion around the coveted treasure site – stops him from taking the bait. In fact he is outraged every time the term ‘Lady in Blue’ (referring to a sculpture on the ship wreck) is mentioned. It is only when his brother Sameer (Zayed Khan) returns with a price on his head that Saagar succumbs to Aarav and Sam’s pressure. The treasure must be dug up to pay off Sam’s debt.

The storyline is hardly original but the cinematography makes up for many things, depending upon what you’re looking for. Lara Dutta plays the role of Mona (Saagar’s girlfriend) to perfection and her underwater (read bikini) scenes are more than impressive. Underwater director of photography Pete Zucarini (who also worked on Pirates of the Caribbean) makes sure that the filming is mature. There is beautiful cinematography involving many shark action sequences and though at times it does seem like a replay of the National Geographic channel, it is a first for Bollywood. The reported 100 crore spent on the making of this film is peanuts by Hollywood standards but make Blue the most expensive Bollywood production of the year.

The story does throw in some twists and turns which keep you from finding the deep blue sea monotonous. But on the whole Blue is a stylish film with an equally hip soundtrack by Oscar winner AR Rahman and it makes more for visual impact than storytelling. It should be watched in the same frame of mind – Aamna Haider Isani (Rating – 2 OUT OF 5)

Cast and Production Credits

Year – 2009, Genre – Action, Country – India, Language – Hindi, Producer – Dhilin Mehta, Director – Anthony D’Souza, Music Director – A. R. Rahman, Cast – Akshay Kumar, Sanjay Dutt, Zayed Khan, Suniel Shetty, Lara Dutta, Kylie Minogue, Rahul Dev, Kabir Bedi

Blue trivia

The unbelievable whats!

1. It’s unbelievable that the usually fit and athletic Sanjay Dutt did not lose weight before showing off a paunch in a wetsuit. It’s equally unbelievable that he should be portrayed as the leanest, most competent deep sea diver on the island.

2. It’s unbelievable that the treasure buried underwater for fifty years should have shiny and sparkly jewelry in it.

3. It’s unbelievable that after villains attack Saagar’s home in search of Sam – thus indulging in violent gunfire – Saagar’s girlfriend Mona should ask: “Why can’t you talk to them? Everything can be solved through negotiations!” This after they have blown away half the house.

4. It’s unbelievable that an expedition that it so deadly and dangerous that no one has attempted it for fifty years (despite the treasure) should be put together in less than 24 hours.

The wows!

1. All four main actors – Sanjay, Akshay, Zayed and even Lara – filmed their own stunts. Zayed Khan was the only one who came in with underwater training; the others trained for the film. According to Zayed Khan, there’s only one scene in which Sanju was given a body double because he was having some nitrogen problem and doctors had advised him not to dive.

2. Kylie Minogue joins the Bollywood bandwagon to become the latest celebrity to get lured into the bling. She does the ridiculous ‘Chiggy Wiggy’ with Akshay Kumar but looks good. Kylie was the director’s third choice after Madonna refused and Rihanna was proving too expensive. Kylie reportedly cost the director a little over a million US dollars for her item number.

3. Kylie’s tasseled outfit was designed by Manish Malhotra whereas Lara Dutta’s bohemian look for the film was created by designer Rina Dhaka.

4. There are two Oscar winning people on the crew of the Blue: A.R. Rahman and Resul Pookuty (sound design of Slumdog Millionaire)