MOVIE REVIEW: Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai

Love stories seem to be the fav genre of dream merchants here. I've a hunch, if we ever do a count of romantic films made in Bollywood, it would easily score over other genres. The question is, how innovative can a love story get in today's times? Milap Zaveri provides the answer: Man from Earth, woman from Venus.

Having penned some likable comic capers in the past [MASTI, HEYY BABYY], Milap's directorial debut JAANE KAHAN SE AAYI HAI has liberal doses of light moments dominating the first half of the film and heartache and reunion following soon after, in its post-interval portions.

JAANE KAHAN SE AAYI HAI works for its light moments mainly. It's bizarre to think of a love story between a human and an alien, but Milap garnishes it well with assorted characters, sets the story in the film industry and has several laugh-inducing moments. Resultantly, the first half is paisa vasool in filmi lingo.

But the problem arises when the focus shifts to the prem kahani in its second half. For, the story follows the trodden path [it becomes a love triangle] and embarks on the same old route that all love stories usually embark upon. If Milap had the courage to think out of the box, he should've ensured that the film remained true to its essence. Why didn't he think of an equally wacky second hour?

Notwithstanding its predictable second half, JAANE KAHAN SE AAYI HAI is a decent watch that provides ample laughs.

JAANE KAHAN SE AAYI HAI is the story of Rajesh [Riteish Deshmukh], a simple Gujarati boy who's been looking for love since he was a baby. Thoroughly unsuccessful in his endeavours, he nearly gives up till he meets Natasha [Sonal Sehgal].

Desh [Ruslaan Mumtaz] is the youngest superstar in the country. Mothers want to adopt him and their daughters want to marry him. But when will he find the girl of his dreams? Their worlds turn upside down when Tara [Jacqueline Fernandez], an alien from Venus, lands on Earth in the search of true love.

Milap tickles your funny bone at the very outset. The story of a loser, his search for true love, his 'naughty' father, his 'oversexed' friend and his experiences at his work place [on a film set] bring a constant smile on your face. In fact, one of the key factors why the first half works is because the casting is just right and the actors carry off the assigned roles so well.

But the second half fumbles because the story gets very old-fashioned. If the alien could travel all the way to earth to find love, why couldn't she profess love to the man she loves the most? Why develop human emotions all of a sudden?

This is Milap's directorial debut and he clearly shows a flair for comic entertainers. Sajid-Wajid's music is pleasant, with the title track standing out. Attar Singh Saini's cinematography is perfect.

Riteish enacts his part efficiently. That he's at home in comedy is well-known by now, but the actor is equally at ease in emotional moments and also romantic sequences. Jacqueline is easy on the eyes. In fact, she seems more comfortable this time. Vishal Malhotra is superb and contributes enormously in making the proceedings lively. Ruslaan carries the teen heart-throb look very well. Sonal Sehgal is competent.

Farah Khan is a complete natural. Satish Shah is excellent. Supriya Pilgaonkar does well too. Akshay Kumar, Priyanka Chopra, Sajid Khan and Amrita Rao make special appearances in the film.

On the whole, JAANE KAHAN SE AAYI HAI is a light-hearted entertainer targeted at the youth. It has a thoroughly entertaining first half, but a routine second half. A decent watch!

RATING: 2.5/5

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When will IIFA awards 2009 be aired on TV

We continue to receive many email’s asking when the IIFA awards 2009, held in Macau (China), be aired on Television.

Well, the Star Network has the official rights for the 10th Idea IIFA Awards. The mega event will be aired on Star Plus on Sunday, July 5th 2009.

What to look forward to at the IIFA Awards

• Star performances - Bipasha Basu, Anushkha Sharma, Sonam Kapoor, Jackky Bhagnani, Govinda, Ritesh Deshmukh, Sushmita Sen. Ash and Abhishek too will be performing.
• There is a fun filled antakshari session, as the world gets to watch Hrithik Roshan sing!
• Apart from the main awards, there will also be awards for the Decade.

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Ashutosh Gowariker blasted hosts Riteish and Boman Irani at the IIFA awards

Ashutosh Gowariker has done it again. After a verbal spat with hosts Sajid and Farah Khan at an awards ceremony, he had another run-in with Riteish Deshmukh and Boman Irani, who were hosting an international film award function held over the weekend. READ FULL ARTICLE

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Gay themes no longer in Bollywood closet

Gay themes in Bollywood are well out of the closet, if the many comic acts and sexual innuendos at the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) in Macau on Saturday (June 13) night were anything to go by.

With a number of quips about gay relationships by hosts Boman Irani and Riteish Deshmukh the order of the day, Abhishek Bachchan topped it off with his remarks as he won the Best Comic Role award for the film "Dostana" about him and John Abraham pretending to be a gay couple to secure accommodation from Priyanka Chopra's character in the film.

As he called his director onto the stage, Bachchan said: "You're the man!", quickly adding "No, not THAT man!

"And John (who was not at the Awards), I miss him, I was watching Bipasha and she was going like: 'He's mine!'

Addressing his wife Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in the front row, Abhishek said: "Baby, you're the best! This is proof that I'm a heterosexual, but tonight I'm feeling very gay (happy)."

Later in the show, Irani and Deshmukh, playing a gay couple getting married, were shown on screen in a spoof, The item ended with the double entendre comment :" Dost -aana - loved by all MAN-kind" (sic).

Deshmukh also made several "gay" advances towards some of the actors getting onto stage at items.

As for the film "Jodhaa Akbar", which was named best film and also won Ashutosh Gowariker the best director award, Irani remarked that Deshmukh would have made a good Jodhaa, the character played by Aishwarya Rai in the film.

The 15,000-strong audience at the Chinese resort here lapped it all up with huge applause.

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Stars leave for IIFA Awards

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Bollywood to bring on the heat at Macau

IIFA 2009 is just around the corner! With the schedule for the much-awaited event out now, it looks like Bollywood is going to make its mark in Macau, the picturesque place which is host to the 10th year of the IIFA awards.

Amitabh, Abhishek, AishwaryaComedy kings Boman Irani and Riteish Deshmukh would be hosting the event, in co-ordination with the beautiful Lara Dutta. Each of them we know as top class communicators. Lara we know as a great orator, and is witty. And when it comes to witty and humourours, Boman and Riteish have established their ground in this space.

The event organizers are all set to have a lot of drama on the stage. On one hand, they have Aishwarya Rai-Bachchhan - who created waves dancing to the tunes of Kajra Re at IIFA 2005 at Amsterdam. And where Ash is, Abhi would surely follow! Maybe Pa and Ma should join in and create the Kajra Re magic again. And on the other hand, the surprise element comes with someone who is going to make her stage debut at the event… none other than the Delhi 6 gal Sonam Kapoor! We hope all the Cannes catfights will be forgiven and forgotten. The drama that we can forsee cant get better than this - Kareena Kapoor is scheduled to perform a belly dance to a Turkish-Arabian song. And guess who will also be on stage - the very spoken about love birds Priyanka Chopra-Shahid Kapoor are to perform to a song from their upcoming film Kaminey.

The other highlight of the event is a special award that has been added by IIFA to commemorate the completion of a decade – The Videocon IIFA Golden Decade Honours. Five different categories have been made for the same, including Star of the Decade (Male and Female), Movie of the Decade, Music of the Decade and Director of the Decade, so as to honour the best of Bollywood over the past 10 years.

Speaking about the occasion, IIFA Brand Ambassador Amitabh Bachchhan says, “I am delighted to see IIFA celebrate its 10th year. The Indian and international reception to IIFA has grown over the years, cementing its position as a significant larger than life phenomenon. This year at IDEA IIFA Awards, we pay tribute to the greats of Indian cinema through the Lifetime Achievement Awards and the Videocon Golden Decade Honours. We are committed to presenting the talent India has to offer, while giving audiences a chance to experience their film favourites.”

We look forward to a spectacular show of Bollywood at Macau soon, as always!

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Riteish, Boman to host IIFA

Every year IIFA sees a host of Indian celebrities as well as international film personalities attending the IIFA Weekend.

This year also it will be no different; the presence of the Bachchans along with superstar Hrithik Roshan, Shahid Kapoor, Neil Nitin Mukesh, pretty Kangana Ranaut, ravishing Priyanka Chopra and sexy Lara Dutta, renowned director Subash Ghai amongst others will make the Videocon IIFA Weekend 2009 special and a wonderful experience for one and all.

Keeping the last year’s trend alive this year too Ritiesh and Boman are all set to take the main stage as hosts to the Idea IIFA Awards and tickle the funny bones with their antics that was loved by the industry and the audience as well. The 10th Idea IIFA Awards promises electrifying stage performances with Sonam Kapoor making her debut and Kareena Kapoor. Internationally renowned actor John Terry and Frank Lamberti will also grace the occasion.

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99 - Movie Review

99's credits have been shot slickly, and watching them you settle back into your seat. You expect the movie to be aimed at you, and it is.

Kunal Khemu and Cyrus Broacha are friends who make fake simcards. The movie is set in 1999 when mobile phones were expensive and incoming wasn't free.

They overplay their hand and one of their customers leads the police to them.

As they flee, they steal a Mercedes-Benz, but cannot steer it and crash. The car belongs to Mahesh Manjrekar, a thug and a bookmaker. He tells the boys they must work for him to pay off their debt.

Boman Irani is a gambler in Delhi who thinks luck communicates with him through worldly signals.

His character reveals itself at a conference table in Bombay, when a cricket match is on in the next room. Irani's itching to bet but needs fortune to tell him she's on his side.

He asks her if he should punt.

If, he tells himself, that marker that's rolling across the table doesn't fall, the waiter unmindful of the wire drawn across from the wall doesn't trip, and the colleague who's unconsciously unwrapping the label from a used mineral water bottle does so without the label tearing in two, if all these three things happen, it's an unambiguous 'yes' from fortune.

They do: the marker's caught as it slides off the edge; the waiter steps over the wire; the wrapper comes off clean.
Boman goes to a bookmaker's shop and runs into Mahesh Manjrekar.

He wants to put Rs 4 lakh, on India (in 1999!), but is told that's not a big enough bet. It's Rs 20 lakh or nothing. He gambles, he loses.
Irani is one of Bollywood's two best actors. He's convincing in all he does and has been well cast in 99. He plays the man who must convince the world he has life under control when he's holding on by his fingernails.

Like some gamblers, he believes he can turn it around with his next punt.

That gives him hope, and the courage to take on the disappointment of his wife, who's left him, and the wrath of his creditors. You can see his desperation behind his mask. That makes him a terrific actor.

99's writing has an easy pace and it is lucid. The dialogue is urbane and keeps you focussed on the action.

Vinod Khanna (also a punter) and Boman are talking, when a cricket match about to be played later that day comes up. Does he have a tip, asks Boman. Tips are for waiters, says Khanna, not punters.

Manjrekar sends Khemu and Broacha to Delhi to recover from Irani. Staying in a five-star hotel, on Manjrekar's credit card, Khemu falls in love with the hotel's duty manager, Soha Ali Khan.

Boman works in a currency exchange firm and a client drops off $50,000 to be changed.

Boman is tempted to gamble with the money and hides it in his briefcase. The boys find it on a visit to his office, and take it from him. But it's stolen from them as well and the movie then spins into its long climax. Will the boys get the money back? Will Boman pull his life back together? Will Manjrekar let the boys go? Will Khemu bag Soha?

That's what you should watch the movie for: how all of this falls into place.

99 has some excellent performances.

There's a lovely role by Boman's rather short moneylender, who, having come to collect, takes Boman's phone and has a conversation with Boman's wife.

Mahesh Manjrekar is first rate. It's a wonder his presence in Slumdog wasn't noticed as much as, say, Anil Kapoor's was, because certainly he was better in the movie.

In 99, he tramples underfoot all the actors about him, especially in the first half, when he's up against only Khemu and Broacha.

His scenes as the slightly off-centre and short-tempered thug are delightful.

Vinod Khanna in his short role is effortless. He's put on a lot of weight and his once-rocklike face is now uncle-y soft. His eyes have become slits because of the fat on his cheeks. But he shows us the experience of his 35 years in acting.

If there is a problem with the movie, it is that a star is missing.

Kunal Kemu is lean and muscled, but he doesn't fill the screen. In the scenes he has to himself, there is a space that's vacant.

Soha Ali Khan is not as luminous as she was in Rang De Basanti. She's pleasant as she always is, because of her understated acting, but physically she looks wan.

Go watch 99. It's a good reason to get back into multiplexes again.

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In Pics: 99 cast at Priya Chintan fashion preview

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