PK [2014]

Language - Hindi
Director - Raju Hirani
Run Time - 2 hours, 33 minutes
Genre - Drama/Comedy
Starring - Aamir Khan, Anushka Sharma, Sanjay Dutt, Boman Irani, Saurabh Shukla and Sushant Singh Rajput

Got a little busy over the last couple of weeks, but here we have PK's review. PK's promos and trailers left everyone, including myself, quite intrigued. With Raju Hirani directing, and starring Aamir Khan and a buttload of other A-list actors, it was one of the most awaited movies of the year.

But sadly, I was left dissapointed while walking out of the theater after watching the movie. It seems Raju Hirani has lost its charm. What worked wrong for the movie was the central idea behind the film that had already been conveyed through Akshay Kumar-Paresh Rawal starrer 'OMG-Oh My God' 2 years back. Yes, it worked around the idea through a completely different and unique plot, but at the end of the day it just felt lifted. Also, I felt that the movie was a tad bit stretched and  it got a bit of a drag till the end. Especially the whole scene when PK [Aamir Khan] goes around praying to each and every God in India. The songs dont work in the movie's favor either. The songs in this movie were dull and almost seemed liked filler items to further elongate the movie.

Coming to the positives, the movie is filled with A-list actors, and all of them gave a splendid performance. Aamir Khan as PK, the confused, pan-eating, Bhojpuri speaking, cloth-lifting alien gave an extraordinary performance which is worthy of all accolades that I'm sure he will earn in all the upcoming annual film awards. Aamir Khan's uncanny ability to achieve success in any role that he is given propels him to the status of being among the best actors of Bollywood all time. Anushka Sharma, Boman Irani, Saurabh Shukla, Sanjay Dutt and Sushant Singh also excelled in the various supporting roles. It was the tremondoues acting by all the actors which drove the film, according to me. I really loved Sanjay Dutt's short and entertaining cameo.

The movie starts with PK [Khan] arriving on Earth, somewhere in rural Rajasthan and is immediately robbed of his remote through which he can call back his spaceship. Lost, and confused, the movie tells his journey of his acclimatisation of the planet and the country wherein continuing the search for his remote. He befriends a curious reporter Jaggu [Anushka Sharma] who first does not believe his story, but then offers to help him.

The movie's central theme is a satire on the religious practices of people and the ridiculing of the length of people's beliefs in God and their designated God-men, similar to what OMG had attempted to do.

There is some room for laughter in the movie through some good script-writing, but it is offset by the excessive dramatization of the theme.

Watch this movie only for the marvelous performance of all the actors. I'm quite dissapointed by Raju Hirani after his three brilliant movies earlier.

My Rating - 7/10

Ugly [2014]

Language -Hindi
Director - Anurag Kashyap
Run Time - 2 hours, 8 minutes
Genre - Thriller/Drama
Starring - Ronit Roy

Anurag Kashyap through his film 'Ugly' shows us how people actually are. Yes, they are Ugly. He makes you think this movie is about the case of the missing child, but it is much more than that. It is about how rotten people are. It is so subtly put, most people would not be able to get this underlying theme.

I have been a huge fan of Anurag Kashyap after his amazing films like Dev D, Black Friday, No Smoking and Gangs of Wasseypur, and he does not disappoint. Although I do admit I expected much more from him, a better climax perhaps, after some pondering did I realize what the movie actually tried to convey, and it was much more than just a story.

With such obscure actors (Ronit Roy being the exception), Kashyap has indeed given us a gem of a movie. Thus, indicating his ability to find out the diamonds amongst the mud. Each character is perfect for his role, and don't you just love Ronit Roy's acting with each passing role? He is one greatly underrated actor of our times.

Shalini is a housewife who spends her day in misery and in the company of alcohol. Her husband is the hard ass police cheif, Shaumik Bose (Roy). Shalini has a daughter with her ex-husband Rahul, a struggling actor named Kali. One fine day as usual, Rahul takes Kali for the weekend as allowed by Shalini, and she gets kidnapped in broad daylight. The movie revolves around the kidnapping, and the ensuing rescue operations of innocent Kali. Everyone is seemingly innocent, yet no one is. Do Shomik and Rahul take their mutual hatred aside to find their daughter together? Watch this gripping tale to know the conclusion.

The best part about this movie is the introduction of so many different characters and storylines, as well as going into flashbacks, but ultimately linking everything with everyone. It gives a certain Guy Ritchie-esque feeling. A dark, thrilling and brutal tale, amidst the usual Bollywood masala. Do not miss it.

My Rating - 8/10