By Taran Adarsh, 1 Jun 2012, 09:02 hrs IST
ROWDY RATHORE, a remake of the Telugu smash hit VIKRAMARKUDU [2006], marks the return of Akshay Kumar in the action genre after a hiatus. Directed by the supremely talented and super-successful S.S. Rajamouli and starring Ravi Teja, the movie was a gigantic victory at the turnstiles. It was later remade in Tamil as SIRUTHAI, in Kannada as VEERA MADAKARI and in Bengali as BIKRAM SINGHA: THE LION IS BACK. The Telugu film, VIKRAMARKUDU, was also dubbed in Hindi as PRATIGHAT - A REVENGE.
So is ROWDY RATHORE a replica of VIKRAMARKUDU? Like WANTED, director Prabhu Dheva scrounges the essence, retains the distinctive design of the quintessence, but alters it slightly. But what doesn't change is the intent of making a full-blown masala entertainer. Yes, ROWDY RATHORE is vintage masala fare that has a larger-than-life hero, who triumphs against all odds.
Final word? Entertainment, entertainment, entertainment thy name is ROWDY RATHORE.
Shiva [Akshay Kumar] is a small-time con man who falls in love with Priya [Sonakshi Sinha]. Into this picture perfect world enters six-year-old Neha, who inexplicably believes Shiva to be her dad. And if this wasn't bad enough, Shiva also becomes the object of a series of life threatening attacks by a gang of deadly criminals who seem to know something he doesn't. While trying desperately to save his life and love, Shiva stumbles upon a deadly secret. A secret that will take him to a small town in Bihar; a town terrorized by a ruthless person [Nassar].
Vivid colors, rustic background and conventional dance routines... ROWDY RATHORE follows the existing trend to create more homespun, home-flavored desi movies rather than pursue the money-spinning NRI souk that has, until recently, been the order of the day. While the central plot is pretty commonplace, the screenplay packs a solid punch, with several clap-trap situations interlaced in the narrative, though it slips into the knowable zone at times. Sure, there are a few limp moments, but a swift narrative outweighs this inadequacy. Besides, stability is maintained in both halves of the film. While the first hour of the film is replete with entertainment, the second half gets into the action mode [the flashback portions are outstanding], but the entertainment values are maintained at the same level. This one is the emblematic formula movie with distinct essentials that Indian masses yearn for.
Prabhu Dheva's spirited execution of the subject forms another USP. His handling of the dramatic sequences deserves brownie points. Also, he proves with ROWDY RATHORE that WANTED was no mere stroke of luck or just a flash in the pan. Santosh Thundiyil's cinematography is first-rate. Music composers Sajid-Wajid deliver yet another charming album. 'Chinta Ta Ta' is the pick of the lot and the presence of leading actors Vijay and Kareena Kapoor and Prabhu Dheva himself gives it an edge, while 'Dhadang Dhang Dhang' and 'Aa Re Pritam Pyaare' are lively, full-of-zest tracks as well. The background [Sandeep Chowta] score is electrifying. Dialogue [Shiraz Ahmed] are excellent. The witty and sober lines are written with equivalent flamboyance. The stunts are, of course, the hallmark of the enterprise. Note the fight at the interval point, during the flashback portions and also towards the climax. The masses are sure to go into raptures!
Akshay is cast in a double role -- one as a cop and the second one as a petty thief -- and both the roles are custom-made for the endearing actor. As Shiva, he entertains the masses, whereas as Vikram Rathod, he aims at serious movie lovers. The movie bestows Akshay with abundant opportunity to flaunt each shade of his skill. Sonakshi plays a lovable, charming yet impish character very well. You will see the voluptuous side of Sonakshi in this film and the character she portrays has tremendous mass appeal. Also, the desi girl image suits her impeccably.
Nassar is superb as the antagonist. Ditto for the actor who essays the part of his brother. He's venomous to the hilt! Mushtaq Khan provides a few laughs. Paresh Ganatra, as Akshay's buddy, is truly funny. Yashpal Sharma is top notch. Gurdeep Kohli is first-rate. Anant Jog and Darshan Jariwala are adequate. The child artist portraying the part of Akshay's daughter is really cute.
On the whole, ROWDY RATHORE is designed to magnetize the masses in hordes. The accurate blend of action, emotions, drama and humor, besides a superlative performance by Akshay Kumar, makes this motion picture an immensely pleasurable and delightful movie watching experience. If you savor typical masaledaar fares, this one should be on your have-to-watch listing for certain. Dhamaal entertainer!
Rating - * * * *
Dibakar Banerjee has made heads turn with each of his three releases so far, whether it is KHOSLA KA GHOSLA, OYE LUCKY LUCKY OYE or LOVE SEX AUR DHOKHA. Now if insiders, who have had a dekko at his latest film SHANGHAI, are to be believed, the filmmaker has taken good leaps when it comes to bringing on commercial quotient in his film.
Says a source, "Also with Emraan Hashmi on a roll (JANNAT 2, MURDER 2, THE DIRTY PICTURE, ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI) and Abhay Deol promising yet another bravura act almost a year after ZINDAGI NAA MILEGI DOBARA; there are expectations of a good dramatic thriller in the offering."
Moreover the intrigue associated with the very title SHANGHAI is another reason that is creating good excitement amongst junta, trade and industry.
"SHANGHAI is more about consciousness than anything else," says Dibakar, "You would see different kind of intrigue playing around in this small timeframe that the film plays. Right from the highest to the lowest level, you would see layer after layer peeling off these characters. There is a lot happening and each of the characters has his or her personal goals set as well. Eventually there are some of there for whom the quest is that proverbial Indian goal of becoming very modern, rich and slick overnight. That is something that leads to thrilling episode which would unfold in SHANGHAI."
Well, we would certainly want to see that happening on 8th June. With music by Vishal-Shekhar, the film also stars Kalki Koechlin, Pitobash Tripathy, Supriya Pathak and Anant Jog in key roles.
By Glamsham Editorial
Sunny tweeted, "Shot from the set of day 1. This is so much fun!! Living the dream with @jism2 (sic).”
The picture shows the sexy porn star enjoying an amazing shower in her bathtub. Sunny, who is thrilled about Jism 2, is leaving no stone unturned to match the Bhatts' expectations.
Trying to prove herself as Ms Perfectionist, Leone is taking rigorous Hindi lessons and has hit the gym schedules. Sunny had earlier revealed her sensuous and smoky looks for Jism 2 by posting a pic of hers in a black costume.
2. When Leone signed her first contract for working in pornographic films, she maintained that she would only perform with women.
3. She made a guest appearance in the 2004 teen flick ‘The Girl Next Door’.
4. In 2004, she was part of ‘No More Bush Girls’, in which she and several other popular porn actresses including Angel Cassidy, Lisa Boyle shaved off their pubic hair in support of the anti-Bush campaign.
5. She was reportedly enrolled in a Catholic school because her parents thought it would be unsafe for her to go to a public school due to her Sikh upbringing.
6. Her first real job was at a German Bakery, when she was 15 years of age.
7. In 2005, Leone made her first mainstream appearance. She was the red carpet reporter for the MTV Awards on MTV India.
8. Her second movie, titled ‘Virtual Vivid Girl Sunny Leone’, fetched her her first AVN Award, which is considered to be the “Oscars of porn.”
9. In 2010, she was adjudged as one of the 12 top female stars in porn by leading men’s magazine, Maxim.
10. Leone was engaged to Matt Erikson, a vice-president of marketing at the famous Playboy Enterprises. The duo has broken up now, but both are, reportedly, great friends in spite of it.
By Bollywood Hungama News Network
Salman's association with the show resulted in the show becoming a huge success and hence the channel wants the actor to once again return as host. Salman is currently shooting in Thailand with Katrina Kaif for his forthcoming film Ek Tha Tiger but if the buzz is to be believed he has agreed in principal to return as host of Bigg Boss.
The show is likely to go on air only towards the end of the year.
