Lamhaa - Movie Review

Lamhaa shows us, how, despite so many years post-partition, the valley still isn't over the muddled moment and sure if it's actually gotten what it wanted.

Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Bipasha Basu, Anupam Kher, Kunal Kapoor
Director: Rahul Dholakia

Lamhaa- Let go, live free

Lamhaa, as projected by the promos, revolves around Kashmir and the many power hands playing to get the bigger piece of this pie, called 'heaven on earth'.

The story is complicated and swings wildly between Sanjay Dutt (who plays an intelligence officer), Anupam Kher (who is the leader of a political party) and Bipasha Basu ( the adopted daughter of Anupam Kher). Sanjay has been sent to Kashmir to sniff any major trouble, as it's the election period. He does sense trouble, but the problem is he needs to find out the mastermind behind the plans and not just the sacrificial pawns.

The movie is blunt with its approach. You see children getting trained for jihad and their bodies being stuffed with bombs. There are explosives and expletives in plenty. The good thing about the film is its pace…thankfully this is one movie that challenges you to 'keep up'. Even the romantic sequences don't look out of place and are justified.

When Lamhaa's tagline went – 'The untold story of Kashmir', it inevitably pushed many to wonder what new can be told of this disputed, distressed place that hasn't been captured by so many movies and documentaries before. The good news is –there is something new!

The film has captured the 'Kashmir state of mind'. With no one you can really trust you still need to run your life. Who is on your side? Military…really?? – all these questions are definitely etched on a Kashmiri's mind especially in the present situation where a curfew has only recently been lifted from the valley and by the time this article runs may be imposed back again without really surprising many.

The movie establishes the one fact, which we already know but just sort of remain indifferent to. The lives lost in this battle are just the innocent ones'. And not any wise politician or vile master-jihadi's.

A few days ago reputed journalist Barkha Dutt tweeted– 'India-Pakistan relationship of schizophrenic extremes. Either Sentimentalism or Suspicion. Desperately seeking a saner middler ground'. So true!

Let's not wash people over with the sentimental requirement for peace. Let's not even provoke each other with thoughts of suspicion. Let's do the sane thing. Respect each other's boundaries, values and identities and just go on with life without really pissing each other off. That would be so much profitable…both in a humane sense and in the economic sense for India and Pakistan.

Even though a normal citizen can't spring into productive action…the least one can do is say a silent prayer for this hell on heaven to get over with…

The cinematography is not all ooh-la-la. It's shaky and there's a glitch with lip sync at times. Like there's a reporter who keeps saying –I'm from Zee news, but his mouth hardly ever pulls to the shape that happens when you say Zee! Also, some scenes bear a striking resemblance to those from Oscar winning movie The Hurt Locker. Editing is crisp, doesn't make you yawn. Music is good, soothing.

However, coming from the director of Parzania, the movie as a whole was just a bit disappointing.

Sanjay Dutt looks so ruggedly handsome, mashallah! He is a natural actor and easily pulls off his part. Bipasha Basu has come of age in this film. Her acting credentials have gotten spruced up! Anupam Kher is convincing. Kunal Kapoor could have been better. His expressions do it, but his voice doesn't match up to the pain or passion of the situation. Maybe he needs dialogue delivery lessons.

I'm not from Kashmir, have never been to. So can't really vouch for the authenticity when it comes to portrayal of people's emotional state in the valley or the research done for the film. So here's a request. If you are from Kashmir, please do watch this film and post your feedback. Because even as Anupam Kher's character accuses the media saying– Aapki media ko Aishwarya ko chand dikha ya nahi isse khabar banti hai. Hamare yehan kitni beewiyon ne apne khaawind ko saalon se nahi dekha, iski koi parwah nahi – the media really needs a stronger shake from real people to wake up from the apathetic sleep. This, of course applies if and to those who are.

This is not any entertainment movie; this has a cause as the reason for its make. Anyone who takes things seriously about the whole Kashmir (or war) issue should definitely give it a dekko.

Rating: ***

Reporter and Author: Susan Jose

Atika Ahmad Farooqui

For me, the cinema is not a slice of life, but a piece of cake said Alfred Hitchcock…And for Atika Life is not just Life but a Beautiful Moving Picture. Atika Ahmad Farooqui, a Senior Creative Producer and Anchor with BAG Network is a film lover, film critic and a film buff rolled in one. A popular film journalist who reviews films weekly finds cinema in all its forms extremely alluring and inspiring. Her reviews would let you make the right decision at the box office every week as to live and love cinema each day is her passion. Atika has produced and anchored many film based shows and before joining BAG, she worked as a Producer and a Senior Producer cum Anchor in Star News and IBN7 respectively.

Ab phir milega ummeed se duguna

Amitabh Bachhcan who rings bells in our heart the way Santa Clause has done for a thousand years is coming back with his goodies. Goodies worth rupees 2 crores and counting. The sheer joy of hearing the sentence 'Main Kaun Benega Crorepati se Amitabh Bachchan Bol Raha haoon' will be heard again; over and over and over again. What an exhilarating feeling. Amitabh Bachchan is going to be back with KBC and this year for the 4rth time, the phone lines are going to be jammed and Filmcity, Mumbai's set number 5 is going to be packed with people wanting to catch just one glimpse and hold hands with the Man of the Millineum.

Amitabh Bachhcan's career was down in dumps around the time he accepted KBC. His family advised him strictly against taking it up as they thought it will degrade his position and status as the Megastar of Big Screen. The man was down in a huge debt of many many crores and his ratings as a Megastar as well as his financial status was far from good. Amitabh Bachhcan had himself thought that his career was close to over as his comeback had been unsuccessful and all his efforts to regain his glory were going in vain. Mrityudata had flopped and there was a crop of new actors and severe competition on the horizon. He still gave it a go as he thought he did not have much to loose and any gain was a big relief.

Suddenly the times changed, destiny took a turn and KBC became a rage; KBC became a household name all over India and Amitabh Bachchan bounced back to being a Demigod in the eyes of his fans. Those who had written him off, wrote him back in their hearts and minds. Amitabh's present and future changed too as his films started clicking at the box office. In today's times, producers and directors find it difficult to resist the idea of having him in their films.

Amitabh's comeback in KBC is also good for the TRP business. Shahrukh Khan as the host in third season of KBC was not as good an affar as it was during Bachchan's times. Bachchan's comeback may also proove to be a saving grace for Sony entertainment Television as it is becoming increasingly difficlult for it to sustain competition with Star Plus, Colors and Zee Tv around. And the fact that this time around KBC will also be dubbed in various South Indian languages will give Amitabh as well as Sony Channel unexplored grounds to tread on. As Star Plus earned millions and the man called Ravi who dubbed for Bachchan's voice and became a star down south, this time the show can go places with its new market.

Welcome Amitach Bachchan. you were missed on the scene. We wish you loads of action and memorable one liners which will stay in our memory for a long time to come.

Ab phir milega Ummeed se duguna.

Amitabh Bachhcan who rings bells in our heart the way Santa Clause has done for a thousand years is coming back with his goodies. Goodies worth rupees 2 crores and counting. The sheer joy of hearing the sentence 'Main Kaun Benega Crorepati se Amitabh Bachchan Bol Raha haoon' will be heard again; over and over and over again. What an exhilarating feeling. Amitabh Bachchan is going to be back with KBC and this year for the 4rth time, the phone lines are going to be jammed and Filmcity, Mumbai's set number 5 is going to be packed with people wanting to catch just one glimpse and hold hands with the Man of the Millineum.

Amitabh Bachhcan's career was down in dumps around the time he accepted KBC. His family advised him strictly against taking it up as they thought it will degrade his position and status as the Megastar of Big Screen. The man was down in a huge debt of many many crores and his ratings as a Megastar as well as his financial status was far from good. Amitabh Bachhcan had himself thought that his career was close to over as his comeback had been unsuccessful and all his efforts to regain his glory were going in vain. Mrityudata had flopped and there was a crop of new actors and severe competition on the horizon. He still gave it a go as he thought he did not have much to loose and any gain was a big relief.

Suddenly the times changed, destiny took a turn and KBC became a rage; KBC became a household name all over India and Amitabh Bachchan bounced back to being a Demigod in the eyes of his fans. Those who had written him off, wrote him back in their hearts and minds. Amitabh's present and future changed too as his films started clicking at the box office. In today's times, producers and directors find it difficult to resist the idea of having him in their films.

Amitabh's comeback in KBC is also good for the TRP business. Shahrukh Khan as the host in third season of KBC was not as good an affar as it was during Bachchan's times. Bachchan's comeback may also proove to be a saving grace for Sony entertainment Television as it is becoming increasingly difficlult for it to sustain competition with Star Plus, Colors and Zee Tv around. And the fact that this time around KBC will also be dubbed in various South Indian languages will give Amitabh as well as Sony Channel unexplored grounds to tread on. As Star Plus earned millions and the man called Ravi who dubbed for Bachchan's voice and became a star down south, this time the show can go places with its new market.

Welcome Amitach Bachchan. You were missed on the scene. We wish you loads of action and memorable one liners which will stay in our memory for a long time to come.

SAB Ka Bheja Fry - Entertainment at its Best!

With the laughter therapy becoming more and more popular, every channel on the Indian television aims to make sure that their viewers get a stomach aching laughter, heart throbbing jokes, mind blowing performances and an out of the world experience. SAB launches its newest show - SAB KA BHEJA FRY, a perfect prescription of laughter dose before bed time. With 3 mini sitcoms and 3 gags, all jammed packed in a 30min episode, SAB makes sure that they leave no stone unturned in turning the face of television.

The three sitcoms, of 4 minute each will be interspersed with three gags. The sitcoms will consist of - SAB KA BOSS - the story of an office loser, OUDHVASTA- the third epic of India which was never told, USTAD AND JANAB- the story of two self obsessed, dim witted policemen. The gags will consist of amusing characters such as - Muft ka Chandan - the world’s biggest miser, Feroze Faltu - the don, but not exactly like one, Tension Tambi - a guy who always has a reason to worry,Laila Majnu - A hot and happening girl, left single and ofcourse - Rakhi Savant, no no, not ‘The’ Rakhi Savant, but Rakhi - Savant. A man (named Savant) who is the biggest flirt in the world, who every girl ends up making her brother by tieing Rakhi. The characters will be played by none other than: Suresh Menon, Kunal Kumar, Kiku Sarda, Sonia Rakkar, Ali Asgar, Manini Mishra and many more.

The IF team landed on the press release of SAB KA BHEJA FRY and got an insight to the show. Anooj Kapoor, the business head of SAB declared, “An unadulterated and original dose of laughter is the best medicine and our show is packed with the right ingredients. SAB ka Bheja Fry is a brain child of creative team at SAB and has been produced after an extensive consumer research and a viewer mind mapping; hence you will see the programming a lot different from the existing sitcoms on air. We at SAB are proud of the fact that SAB ka Bheja Fry is not just another comedy show.”

SAB aims towards the new India and wishes to target the younger generation, bringing them back to Indian television, away from the soaps era.

Tune into SAB to catch the versatile comedy show fromAugust 13^th, from Monday to Thursday at 10:00pm.

Reporter: Hiral Anju Bhatt, Rishi Vyas
Author: Hiral Anju Bhatt

Comedy Aur Music Ka SABse Bada Dose – ‘Mastiii’

E RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) – Jul 07, 2010 – Mumbai, July 6, 2010: A song for every season and laughs without a reason… India now has a new fun destination called Mastiii - a new entertainment channel from the house of Sri Adhikari Brothers. Mastiii is a 24-hour free-to-air channel for everyone, no matter how old one is or what mood one is in… it aptly suggests ‘Mastiii Chaalu Rakho’. When viewers on Mastiii are not swaying to thumping beats and heart rending melodies, they are sure to be in splits with the series of gags, spoofs, pranks and other comic acts put on by some of India’s most loved comedians.

“We conceptualized Mastiii as an ‘electronic radio’, where people can tune in any time of the day for their dose of unadulterated fun. It offers 24-hours of non-stop music and comedy. It is targeted at the youth and at anyone who has a sense of humour. We are confident that Mastiii will soon become the choice of many because we have taken care to pack it with something for everyone. For us, every sound of laughter and every cheerful smile that Mastiii brings about will be a mark of our success”, said, Markand Adhikari, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, SAB Group.

Music on Mastiii ranges from the latest chartbusters to evergreen favourites. One of the bigger differentiating factors about the channel is that viewers will not be left craving for their favourite part of any song because Mastiii will play full songs, un-abridged.

“Music is an element of universal joy, as is humour; at ‘Mastiii’, as the name suggests, we promise to offer non-stop fun by combining both these elements”, said, Anita Varma, Associate Vice President - Programming, Mastiii. “75% of our content is music and 25% is dedicated to comedy, our USP. Breaking away from the half-hour format shows, we have one-minute fillers, gags and jokes by some of the best known comedians. We are confident that viewers will enjoy this maha dose of music and comedy making Mastiii, the nation’s fun-box”, she added.

There is no character they can’t imitate, nor a Bollywood film they can’t make a spoof of; they can Pak Pak Pakaau the audiences and tickle them till their days are resounding with the sound of laughter! The comedians roped in to make ‘Mastiii’ for viewers are some of India’s best artistes - Raju Srivastav, Suresh Menon, Sunil Pal, Shailesh Lodha, Raj Vyas, Kiku Sharda, Howard Rosemeyer and Sugandha Mishra amongst others.

“I am really excited about Mastiii because that word is what my life is all about and that’s what we are offering through this new entertainment destination”, said Raju Srivastav, the king of comedy and the face of the channel. “Humour is God’s gift to mankind and Mastiii is a platform for us messengers - Suresh, Shailesh, Raj, Kiku, Sunil, Howard, Sugandha and I - to do what was intended for us to do, make people laugh and keep them happy. So, Mastiii Chaalu Rakho”, he added.

From relevant to irreverent, fun never stops on Mastiii… whether it’s a common man facing the challenges of the Indian hinterland from flood waters to death beckoning government hospitals; the wise man at the village ‘chaupal’ who rhymes the world’s joys and miseries into soulful couplets, from Yuvraj Singh’s form to Mallika’s hemline; parodies of famous Bollywood scenes highlighting current issues like recession affecting the cash reward on Gabbar Singh. From eccentric celebrities to god men to the media and the common man, Mastiii promises to poke fun at one and all.

For more Mastiii, log on to www.mastiii.com
Follow Mastiii on Facebook & Twitter
Watch more Mastiii videos on Youtube

Yuweri Museveni “Alshabaab waan ka cirib jaraynaa Soomaaliya..”.

Madaxweynaha Dalka Ugandha ayaa shaaca ka qaaday in ay sii balaarinayaan howlgalada lagula dagaalamayo Alshabaab.

Madaxweyne Yuweri Museveni oo saxaafada kula hadlay gudaha Madaxtooyada Ugandha ee Magaalada Kampala ayaa sheegay in ay sii wadayaan dagaalka ka dhanka ah Alshabaab.

Museveni waxa uu xusay in dalka soomaaliya ay Ciidankiisa u joogaan sidii ay amniga wadanka u soo celin lahaayeen balse haatan ay sii balaarinayaan dagaalka ka dhanka ah Kooxdaasi.

“Alshabaab waan ka cirib jaraynaa Soomaaliya… Ciidankeena sidaasi ugala bixi mayno dalkaasi illaa aan dalkaasi ka sifayno Kooxdaasi Argagaxisada ah…” ayuu yiri Madaxweyne Yuweri Museveni.

Daawo video-ga:

Madaxweynaha ayaa hadalkan jeediyay ka dib Alshabaab markii ay sheegteen qaraxyadii ka dhacay Magaalada Kampala isagoo balan ku qaaday in ay kooxdaasi ka tirtirayaan dalkaasi Soomaaliya.

Ugandha ayaa waxa ay soomaaliya u soo dirtay Ciidan xoogan si ay u caawiyaan dowlada KMG ah Ee Soomaaliya oo dagaal kula jirta Kooxdaasi.

Inta badan Ciidanka dowladaasi waxa ay la kulmaan dagaal ka dhan ahoo mararka qaar qasaara uu ka soo gaaro xiliyada ay dagalaamayaan iyadoo dhawaan qaraxyo is xigxgiay lagu qaaday magaalada ay ka soo tageen ee Kampala taasi oo dhaawac ku noqotay joogitaankooda Soomaaliya.

Xafiiska Bartamaha.Com

Nairobi –Kenya.