amiyshrivastava Reviews

Pathaan (2023)

SRK Shows who's the Boss.

[10/10 · 25 January 2023]

First things first, this isn't a movie with a social message and it isn't meant to be a Classic like DDLJ, Chak de India or Lagaan.

It falls more in the category of unabashed entertainment of the Dabangg, War or Top Gun: Maverick mould.

Having said that, the movie isn't without a soul and neither it is without it's faults, but above all it is a Statement...... The Statement being, I AM SRK And I WON'T BE CONQUERED EASILY BY MY OPPONENTS..... The Last scene of the movie beautifully exemplifies this.

SRK pulls of every trick that can be manifested on the silver screen and does so with elan. The performances in terms of Acting aren't much to speak of, but SRK along with everybody else in the cast (and cameos) beautifully pack a punch.

The movie isn't for people who aren't fans of SRK or those who are averse to action movies or even those who seek meaningful cinema, it is for people who want Entertainment in True SRK Style.

I wouldn't give away too much regarding the story of the movie, but I'll definitely recommend it for people who want to see what SRK is made of and more importantly, Capable of...... Not a Person to be taken lightly by anyone.

Watch Pathaan and get Entertained, As simple as that.........

Yeh Lamhe Judaai Ke (2004)

Writing about the Original Movie "JAADOO"

[6/10 · 6 March 2022]

There is something very Unique about this movie "Yeh Lamhe Judaai ke". Something that has few other examples in Bollywood History.

This film was shelved or more appropriately left incomplete at some point in the mid-1990s because of well documented issues, and in 2004 it was mishmashed and released as "Yeh Lamhe Judaai ke" instead of the Original "Jaadoo". Hence watching it actually makes one feel like watching 2 movies in 1 with both of them actually incomplete. The 2nd used to completely alter the Original Storyline.

Here I must make it clear that I'm actually reviewing "Jaadoo" and not "Yeh Lamhe Judaai ke".

The movie is obviously incomplete and hence it becomes difficult to actually fathom what the original film was exactly like and hence please bear with me as I try to understand what "Jaadoo" was actually about.

I believe the Original Star Cast included SRK, Raveena Tandon, Mohnish Behl, Navneet Nishan, Avtar Gill and Kiran Kumar.

In "Jaadoo" Raveena came from a Rich Family and was friends with Navneet Nishant, Mohnish Behl, Deven Bhojani and SRK.

SRK was poor and had a Special Talent for Singing and was Mentored by Kiran Kumar who probably bagged a Significant Role than what actually transpired.

SRK and Raveena are in Love which creates Jealously and Rifts between the Group of Friends. Things go South for Mohnish Behl and he becomes a beggar, Navneet lusts over SRK and is jealous of Raveena because of their Love Story.

Kiran Kumar, who Genuinely Believes in the talent that SRK has Mentors him and acts like a Father Figure. He thinks SRK doesn't have the required nousto become a talented singer because he is too involved with Raveena Tandon and hence is unable to move ahead in his Career. He communicates so to Raveena and in SRK's interest, Raveena 'leaves' him. This leaves SRK completely heartbroken, depressed and also an alcoholic, although he manages to become a famous Singer in Bombay with his albums recording huge sales on their opening. He also becomes a tremendously Rich Guy.

Taking advantage of the distance between Raveena and SRK, Navneet Nishant and Mohnish Behl try to re-enter SRK's life wanting to dupe him of his money and making sure SRK and Raveena don't live together. They make SRK believe that Raveena has asked for Money which SRK gives them and the money is actually Siphoned off by Mohnish Behl.

But like all movies back in the 1990's, SRK eventually realises his mistake and is able to Re-unite with Raveena Tandon with the help of Kiran Kumar and we believe Navneet Nishant, Mohnish Behl and Avtar Gill are punished for their actions and the Movie has a Happy Ending.

Being an Incomplete Film, a lot of things described above have not been shot and hence it appears as some kind of a Mishmash.

When the movie was supposedly shelved, the Producers went for a Completely Different Star Cast and Re-Aligned the entire Story Making it "Yeh Lamhe Judaai ke" instead of"Jaadoo".

This is where the Entire thing goes wrong and in my Opinion, it should've been left incomplete or released as an Incomplete Film on TV instead of Theatres.

Talking about "Jaadoo", the Storyline was very typical of a 1990's film and TBH it was well shot in whatever we can see of it. The songs were obviously very very good and my personal favourite being 'Tera Naam lene ki Chahat hui hai' by Kumar Sanu and Sadhana Sargam, which also went on to Become 'Tumhare Siva' in Tum Bin.

Acting wise, all Actors seem to have done a decent job and the standout is Obviously SRK.

I have always had a hope that this movie should've been completed as it had originally been Envisaged instead of it becoming what is actually did a decade later.

Watching this movie actually makes me feel it should've been completed in 1994 and released in 1994 as "Jaadoo".

In My Heart, I believe the Original had a Lot more potential than what viewers can see after watching "Yeh Lamhe Judaai ke".

"Yeh Lamhe Judaai ke" isn't amovie at all. It is just a Mishmash of scenes put in to make quick money I believe, "Jaadoo" would've been a Successful Movie in 1994 and would also have acted as a stepping stone for Becoming a Romantic Superstar that he Eventually became.

Aradhana (1969)

Advent of the Superstar - RAJESH KHANNA.

[10/10 · 26 March 2021]

I know many film critics will probably lambast me for calling this a Rajesh Khanna movie, but trust me fellas, RAJESH KHANNA truly steals the show here, inspite of the screenplay being heavily dominated by Sharmila Tagore.

Rajesh Khanna fits in perfectly in the 2 roles he played (both were very similar characters TBH). His looks, His Voice, His Dialogue Delivery and His Performance was something that'll definitely make you fall for him.

He brought in the much needed Charm and Style into this movie which is otherwise pretty serious.

Don't get me wrong, Sharmila Tagore did a wonderful job as Vandana Tripathi, first as a young girl in Love and then as a devoted and sacrificing Mother. She rightly recieved her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress for this Performance.

The Songs are wonderful, especially Mere Sapno ki Rani and Roop tera Mastana. The Storyline is a bit offbeat I'd say, but it keeps you glued to the Screen.

Wonderful Direction, Wonderful Music, Wonderful Locales, Wonderful Performances, And of course, The Unforgettable Charisma of Rajesh Khanna......... Highly Recommended.