SUNDAY : In a straight review it's not what you expect after seeing the promising promos.

It’s a mixture of thriller and comedy sequences. Whereas the comedy sequences are highly enjoyable, there is no thrill in the suspense and murder mystery element of the script. The film is said to be a remake of a HIT Telugu film ANUKOKUNDA OKA ROJU [2005]. The Telugu original must be more enjoyable fare as it was a big hit but the hindi version lacks the right punch needed for a blockbuster.
In fact director Rohit Shetty seems confused in whether to make a comedy film or a fast paced thriller. Many plots and characters are deliberately inserted, which are clearly spotted by a average filmgoer too.
For instance :
1. Ajay Devgan’s character of a ice cream eating cop is the most unimpressive one. He just plays the role and doesn’t seem to be interested in the movie at all.
2. The murder mystery has no surprise element in it as some unknown character just enters the climax as the main culprit.
3. The most disappointing thing is that Irfan Khan, an actor of endless capabilities has got no definite role and he is just included in the movie to add to its project value. He has no involvement in the script and is just wasted as a comedy character. However it is his own brilliance that he again comes up as the best thing in the movie with his excellent comic timing.
4. Even Arshad Warsi, is not given the mileage he needed and he is also just another character in the script.
5. The action sequences on the actual locations of Chandni Chowk, Delhi and the item number of “Esha Deol” are clearly added as the last moment insertions. The director could have easily avoided them.
6. Ayesha Takia working as Cartoon Dubbing artist is given unwanted footage. She just acts in the movie as a routine work.

The script surely has a new concept, but is not handled in a promising manner. Music is also below average.. The only enjoyable moments in the movie are the scenes with Arshad Warsi & Irfan Khan. They both are highly entertaining together and the viewer keeps waiting for them to come on screen again.
In all, Sunday is certainly not a good thriller movie but can only be seen once for the comedy by the talented pair – Arshad Warsi & Irfan Khan.

Ratings : 2.5 / 5

BOMBAY TO BANGKOK – Nagesh Kukunoor’s Weakest movie till date.

In few words, the movie doesn’t seem to be a product of Nagesh. If you are expecting something on the lines of “Dor” or “3 Deewarein”, then you will not only be disappointed big time but would also feel shocked to see such a mediocre product coming from the famous off beat film-maker Nagesh Kukunoor.
He tries his hand on a comic subject for the second time after his first comedy “Bollywood Calling”. But the latest one can be termed as the weakest movie made by him till date which is neither a comedy nor an enjoyable adventure movie.

It seems as Nagesh started the movie with only Shreyas Talpade in mind and with no script at all. The film is about a simple boy running with the money of a gangster to Bangkok disguised as a doctor. There he meets a sex worker and falls in love with her. That’s the main story with many unattended plots which the director just forgets to take care of.
1. Shreyas Talpade, just runs to Bangkok, leaving behind his mother on the mercy of God.
2. Naseeruddin Shah comes in one scene as the Top Gangster and then vanishes off to do some another movie I suppose.
3. A very weird love affair is shown between a rapper gangster and the psychiatrist doctor. This could have been a comedy plot but is not capable of generating any laughter.
Shreyas is just ok in his act and he is also helpless since the script itself has nothing to offer. Lena (The Thai heroine) is more expressive in emotional scenes and does her part well. The best act is there from the Sardarji character ‘Rachinder’. In fact he is the only enjoyable element in the movie with some good scenes.

The songs have some unusual lyrics and they are used only as fillers. The otherwise beautiful city is shown as some dirty sea side village if we talk about the cinematography. The only impact the film can make is that it will be an insight into the flesh trade of Bangkok for the people who have not been there and now they will be more excited to visit.

In all, I just couldn’t figure out what Nagesh Kukunoor was thinking to make out of this movie and what section of the movie lovers he wanted to target this time. He would surely like to forget about his latest attempt and move on to his more promising future projects.

Ratings : 1 Star (you can give it a miss easily)

HALLA BOL - Rajkumar Santoshi's Hard Hitting Social Drama

It is encouraging to know that in the current scenario of rip offs, remakes and comedies, a filmmaker is there who has the courage to make films on social issues which need to be addressed. Halla Bol is Rajkumar Santoshi’s hard hitting movie inspired from a well known real life incident. It has a slow and unimpressive start but gains after the intermission. In the second half you see the good old Rajkumar Santoshi back in form in some well directed scenes. In short some straight conclusions about the movie are :
1. It is inspired from the famous “Jessica Laal” Murder case which questioned our judicial & political system.
2. It can also be seen as a redefined version of Rajkumar Santoshi’s own masterpiece “Damini”. As here Ajay Devgan witnesses a murder and then fights for the justice.
3. There are few firsts in the movie. A hero using the main hall of a minister’s home as his bathroom and Vidya Balan giving some bold statements as the wife of Ajay Devgan to the press reporters.
4. This time Santoshi’s ‘Sunny Deol' is the powerful “Pankaj Kapoor” who is equally power packed and punchy as Sunny was in “Damini”. He is such a great actor that even when he has not got that physical appearance, still he makes you believe when he fights many men single handedly. He gets a author backed meaty role and does full justice with it. The film belongs to him completely.

Ajay Devgan plays the role of Bollywood Star who was there in a party where a girl was shot dead. As he comes from a good social background he stands alone against all oppositions and becomes a witness. He is quite impressive but also seems similar to his act of “Aprahan” and “Gangajal” . Pankaj Kapoor is there for his support who was once a dacoit and had surrendered after a moral transformation. The movie is enjoyable in parts, specially the confrontation scenes between Ajay Devgan and the politician father of the murderer, with some powerful dialogues inviting cheers from the viewers.
But its all the way “Pankaj Kapoor” which you remember coming out of the theater for his gem of a performance. Vidya Balan has nothing to do as Ajay’s wife except one good scene with the press. Whereas music is satisfactory & could have been better, the background music on the other hand enhances the impact of the scenes.
The movie is tense and lacks lighter moments of good humour. Rajkumar Santoshi only manages to impress in the second half. If only the first half had been more entertaining and engrossing, it could have resulted into a better movie. "Halla Bol" lacks the complete ingredients of a blockbuster, still it’s a welcome change to have a movie on social issues after “Rang De Basanti” and the movie should be watched only for one person, that’s Pankaj Kapoor.

Ratings : 3 Stars (with special mention of Pankaj Kapoor)