Jackpot Review from Rediff!

Jackpot is a very confused film, feels Paloma Sharma.

Kaizad Gustad is back with Jackpot after his last film, Boom.

Yes, that Boom.

Much like Boom (I shudder every time I say it), Jackpot too stars a creepy old rich man and a young cunning seductress.

Only this time, he does you the courtesy of adding a creepy young-ish guy and his 'lukkha' friends -- just to keep it original, you know?

Doublechin Joshi... I mean, Sachiin Joshi... stars as Francis, the leader of a group of conmen. He and his friends plan to con a casino owner -- who goes by the name of Boss (Naseeruddin Shah) -- with the help of Boss's secretary/girlfriend/casino manager/squeeze Maya (Sunny Leone).

But Boss has bigger plans for them and when things go downhill, loyalties shift.

Or at least I think that's what it was about.

Since Gustad uses extremely complicated storytelling techniques like non-linear narratives and hot girl breasts to distract you when things get too confusing, I decided to look take a man's perspective as well.

18-year-old theatre actor Arnav Thakker shares his views on the film, in a conversation with me:

He says: I don't think that even Kaizad Gustad knew what he was trying to say through the film.

She says: I honestly think he was trying to say, "Money, boobs, money, boobs, money, boobs."

He says: Boobs? Yeah, both male and female.

She says: Well, Joshi really did give Sunny Leone tough competition.

He says: (laughs) I don't know why he was in the film. (pauses) Didn't his wife produce the film?

She says: Forget that, why did Naseeruddin Shah even sign it?

He says: Money, boobs, money, boobs, money, boobs? Or maybe the head-mop he got to wear?

She says: Was that a mop? I thought it was a dead octopus.

He says: No, no. The octopus was Sunny Leone.

She says: (shocked) I honestly thought you liked her. I mean, all the guys are crazy about her.

He says: (blushing) Well... She's okay.

She says: And what about that scene where she strips down to her lingerie?

He says: Been there, done that -- the Internet way.

She says: So what if she's a porn star?

He says: I know people have judged her before she even started. But I have an issue that she doesn't even try.

She says: Fair enough. But the lead pair seemed to be trying too hard in that song, Kabhi Jo Badal Barse. It was such a nice song until the two of them walked into the frame.

He says: People were actually whistling at the end because it finally ended.

She says: It wasn't that bad. At least Makrand Deshpande played an extremely entertaining Goan Inspector Clouseau.

He says: (exclaims) Quarter of a star for Makrand Deshpande!

I was quite surprised to find that the Sunny Leone factor did not work even for the male half of the audience (and I'm secretly glad about it).

But I personally feel that we're coming down to hard on Sunny. It was Sachiin Joshi who was the real star of the film.

He's proved that he doesn't even need acting lessons -- because they won't change a thing.

Only go for Jackpot if you sat right until the end of the titles of Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag and yelled encore.

Rating:1/2

http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/review-jackpot-is-only-about-money-and-cleavage/20131213.htm

Vishudhan Movie Reviews from Times of India!

Story: The film showcases the life of a vicar who gets enmeshed in a series of events due to which he is forced to sacrifice all dear to him.

Working with a narrative that links psalms from the Bible to the deeds of characters, Vysakh dabbles in profound issues of morality, chastity and sin in his new film Vishudhan. A vicar and a nun are defrocked after there are allegations of a blasphemous relationship. A young girl trades her body for money and when questioned, she rebukes the purpose of reading out pastoral letters to the needy. A benign soul is scarred by personal losses and seeks bloody revenge, which then gets washed off in his remorseful tears.

A mist-drenched hamlet receives a new vicar played by Kunchako Boban and he initiates noble endeavours, ably assisted by a nun (Mia). Vavachan (Harish Peradi), the wily, pompous landlord is seldom enthused by the acts of the vicar that hinder his personal motives.

Vysakh makes ample use of biblical subtexts to portray an otherwise direct, simple conflict between the bad and the good. While doing so, his actions are marked by a lack of overemphasis, something that holds good for the whole purpose. Nandu who plays a drunken gravedigger pulls off painful, disturbing moments even as it may be jeered at for their cliched nature.

Vishudhan does throw up stereotypes and slight subtlety would have immensely helped the cause. Still the film has an unpretentious, lasting effect that comes out of certain sequences crafted with genuine moments so familiar to mankind. Shahnad Jalal lends fluidity to his frames, gently tracking the characters and capturing their close-ups in an unhurried, casual ease. 
Rating:***
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/malayalam/movie-reviews/Visudhan/movie-review/26301726.cms

Punyalan Agarbaties from Times of India!

A Thrissur based man named Joy Thakkolkaran conceives the idea of making agarbathis from elephant dung and the film tracks down the challenges that await him in his venture. 
Punyalan Agarbathis derives much of its warm humour from the apparently ludicrous concept of the lead character Joy Thakkolkaran. He paints colourful dreams of entrepreneurship with his notion of using elephant dung for making agarbathis. Ranjith Sankar makes sure that he takes off from this cardinal idea and maintains a good flight, notching up light-hearted sequences and at the same time absorbing the dreams, despair and frustration of a man who wants to do something different.
The narrative is nourished with characters sketched with a fancy for the real and for satire. A bald-headed judge would chatter cheerfully with those in the dock and would lour at them in the same breath. A driver with his simpleton looks is invested with loads of childish naivete that he would weep for his mom when caught in police station.

Jayasurya infuses an easeful, sparkling wit into Thakkolkaran and he is enriched with a script that goes for slightly silly, but abundantly playful humor. This is one film where the dim-witted servants need not have to mouth obscenities to amuse themselves. They would rather seriously indulge in playing 'angry-birds', religiously treasuring each point they garner.

Even the woman characters, though a few, command a good-natured authority and presence on screen. Be it Anu, the wife of Joy or the advocate, the script treats them with respect, making them share the shine and glow of the lead character. Perhaps it's this genuine warmth about this film which helps it override certain scenes conjured up solely for the purpose of a meaningful conclusion. The lapses are easily forgotten for the rich presence of moments that make Punyalan Agarbathis a lovable film. Rating:*** http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/malayalam/movie-reviews/Punyalan-Agarbathis/articleshow/26677940.cms  

Bicycle Thieves Review from Times of India

Bicycle Thieves narrates the tale of three youths who steal bicycles for a living. They later take up a contract for theft which changes the course of their lives.

Bicycle Thieves has quite a few scenes that are heavily redolent of some of the most popular hits. In spite of this resemblance, Bicycle Thieves works to a pretty good effect, mostly owing to its cast who remain true to the narrative.

The film tracks the lives of three boys from their childhood when they take the first steps towards turning themselves into bicycle thieves. The boys grow up, their bond thickens and they chance upon a contract to steal a fairly good amount of money. Betrayal, breach of trust and misunderstanding ensue and the trio split.

Jis Joy in his debut film does show promise with his ability to craft seemingly natural sequences even while bringing in complexities which sometimes fit and most often don't. There is a conscious attempt on the part of Asif Ali to add economy and measure to his acting. He doesn't strain himself playing a good-hearted thief with smart cunning. There is restraint to the way he portrays Chacko, something that adds to the appeal of the film.

The narrative appears a bit hurried towards the end with a sudden flow of twists. They are tailored with a fair sense of conviction, still they leave a jarring effect because of their rush. Vijay Babu pulls off a studied, neatly rendered act carrying different shades in an affecting manner. Rating:***  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/malayalam/movie-reviews/Punyalan-Agarbathis/articleshow/26677940.cms

Nenem Chinna Pillana.. Review from Times of India!

Story: Freedom is what she wants. Total freedom. Family ties are a strict no, no. She shocks a suitor by shedding some of her clothes to tell him away. The man is game but she's not fine with him and boots him out. Swapna's definition of freedom lands her in Sweden and she meets her match there.
 
Movie Reviews: Just one year of staying abroad is what Swapna (Tanvi Vyas) craves for. Her doting father, played by Suman, allows her to go, much against the wishes of the joint family. In Sweden, Swapna has an encounter with Krish (Rahul Ravindran) who is so money minded that she wishes him off. Krish is the kind of guy who would do anything to earn five euros by running any kind of errand. It takes a long while for her to understand what the guy is up to and why he does what he does. He's not the type who would sacrifice his freedom and do a job that deprives him of his liberty. She so much hates his nature but there's something about him that draws her to him.
When Swapna returns to India for her father's Shashtipoorthi, the family has problems accepting her friend Krish. Swapna's parents almost finalise an alliance for her when the 'would have been' father- -in- law drops a bomb saying that he saw Swapna buy a pregnancy testing kit once on a trip to Sweden. Swapan's family is shaken by the revelation. In a turn of events, Krish literally gets kicked out of Swapna's house.
It's not the end of life for Krish. He starts life afresh - not by getting involved with another girl but finding a family that he can call his own in Vizag. The villain in Swapna comes out when she hands over Rs 50 lakh hard cash to that family so that they can free Krish from their 'stranglehold'. The cash is accepted and it is the beginning of a tale of woes for Krish, a youngster who values family ties.
No fights, no heroism, no double meaning dialogues, and no indecency except for a five-euro challenge that makes Swapna detest Krish's attitude. The movie inculcates and underscores the importance of family ties and values and gets the message across without going overboard by making some character mouth boring dialogues. There's some sentimental stuff but you don't get put off with it. This is a movie for families - to stay together, to stick together and understand the value of relationships. Rahul Ravindran deserves appreciation for portraying his role in just the right manner. It is the kind of movie that doesn't draw the masses into the theatres but is worth a watch

Rating:***1/2
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/movie-review/25519327.cms 

Venkatadri Express review from Times of India!

Story: A train simple journey to Tirupathi goes horribly awry for Sundeep (Sundeep) and Prarthana (Rakul) after they miss boarding the Venkatadri Express.

Movie Review: The movie begins with Allari Naresh's voice over, introducing characters in Sundeep's home one by one, setting the context for what's to follow - how the black sheep of the family atones himself. The patriarch of the family is a retired school headmaster, Ram Murthy (Nagineedu), whose blood group we are told is K for Kramasikshana which translates into discipline. He has a rule book of do's and don'ts for the family and every slip-up a family member makes is duly recorded.

The rule of the house is simple. Anyone who makes more than 100 mistakes will be disowned. Anything Ram Murthy disapproves will earn a red mark - his infant grandson urinating on him also goes on record as a mistake. Then the protagonist is introduced bang in the middle of what turns out to be his 99th blunder.
 
It's a very painstakingly conceived introductory scene with Sundeep being chased by a bunch of goons amidst a riot of colours (ala the holi scene in Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani) exploding in slow motion. Only after he gets back home do we realize that the guy had gone out to get garlands for his brother's engagement only to return much after the ceremony is completed without the garlands!
When Sundeep rushes back home to fetch the magalasutram his mother forgets at home minutes before the family is due to board the Tirupathi bound Venkatadri Express, you expect him to miss the train. But Sundeep inadvertently drags Prarthana into the conundrum leading to long chain of mishaps as the duo tries desperately to catch the train.

The filmmaker has packed the movie with enough gags though. We have characters like Thagubothu Ramesh playing a drunk auto rickshaw driver, Sapthagiri playing a nerdy PhD scholar who's blackmailed to act like a railway hawker, MS Narayana playing an old man looking for thrills...that keep the entertainment quotient running.

We also have a handful of tastefully picturised song sequences and fight sequences as well. The acting is well goofy at best but it works largely. The stand out element is the cinematography albeit seeming a little too inspired in places. It's a kind of comedy that isn't entirely original but works nevertheless, largely at least. To sum it up, it's one of those movies that do more things right than wrong and ends up somewhere in between "not a bad film" to a "good film."

Note: The movie has got some gags, though mostly cliched but funny nevertheless. Carry a humorous disposition to make the most of it.

Rating:***
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/movie-review/26632060.cms