Movies/Entertainment
hindi MOVIE PREVIEWs
“Talvar” Starring Irrfan Khan, Konkona Sen Sharma, Neeraj Kabi, Sohum Shah, Tabu; directed by Meghna Gulzar; music by Vishal Bhardwaj.
Featuring a stellar cast, this film tells a fictionalized account based on true events surrounding the 2008 Aarushi Talvar murder, one of the most publicized double homicides in India. After 14-year-old Shruti Tandon is found dead at home, the family's missing domestic help, Khempal, is suspected. But when his dead body is found on the building’s terrace the next day, the police begin to suspect the parents, Ramesh and Nutan Tandon, played by Neeraj Kabi and Konkona Sen Sharma. Ramesh is arrested for both murders and the case is given to CDI, the country's elite investigating police agency. Irrfan Khan plays CDI detective Ashwin Kumar. He thinks the initial investigation was botched and builds a case exonerating the father. The next month, the CDI changes the investigation team and the parents are again prime suspects. Three years later, a report finds insufficient evidence to prosecute them. But the judge rejects that report; the parents are put on trial and convicted. The makers researched for two years before the screenplay was written by Vishal Bhardwaj. The case captivated the public, leaving most that followed it, in a state of doubt.
“Jazbaa” Starring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Irrfan Khan, Shabana Azmi, Jackie Shroff, Priya Bannerjee, Chandan Roy Sanyal; directed by Sanjay Gupta; music by Sachin-Jigar.
The action drama about a criminal lawyer and single mother whose daughter is kidnapped is reportedly a remake of the 2007 South Korean film “Seven Days.” After a five-year hiatus, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan makes a strong comeback to the big screen as successful advocate Anuradha Varma. One day, she receives a phone call asking her to defend an accused rapist and murderer. She realizes she must ensure that the accused is found innocent or the outcome will be disastrous, beginning with the kidnap of her daughter. Expect a flawless performance from Irrfan Khan, who plays the rugged Inspector Yohan, a suspended cop with authority issues who comes to Anuradha’s aid. How she deals with the circumstances as they unfold is what the film is about. Watch for Shabana Azmi in a special role as a college professor seeking justice.
“Shaandaar” Starring Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Pankaj Kapoor, Sushma Seth; directed by Vikas Bahl; music by Amit Trivedi.
From the director of last year’s hit “Queen,” this romantic comedy produced by Karan Johar is described as the first about an Indian destination wedding. This shaandaar wedding is actually a merger between two of the largest business families of India, taking place at an exotic castle in Europe. Mrs. Kamla Arora, grandmother of the Arora family, is the sole owner of the billion-dollar business and property. She treats everyone as servants, including her three sons, Bipin the eldest, played by Pankaj Kapoor, Vipul and Vinay. She is the orchestrator of this marriage. The groom’s father is Mr. Fandwani, a Sindhi businessman who likes to dress and accessorize in gold. Against the backdrop of the grand wedding is the love story of Aliya and Jagjinder Joginder played by Alia Bhatt and Shahid Kapoor. Coming between them is Bipin, Aliya’s father who believes no guy will be good enough for his dreamer daughter. The zany antics and journey of Aliya, Jagjinder Joginder and Bipin in the midst of the lavish wedding is the story of “Shaandaar.” The peppy soundtrack by Amit Trivedi has been climbing the charts.