What's your number

"What's your number?"

Watched English movie "What's your number?". This film is directed by Mark Mylod. Screenplay by Gabrielle Allan, Jennifer Crittenden. Produced by  Beau Flynn, Trip Vinson. Music by Aaron Zigman. Cinematography J. Michael Muro. The film stars Anna Faris, Chris Evans,  Chris Pratt, Ari Graynor, Joel McHale, Dave Annabel and Martin Freeman. The film runs for about 2 hours. I watched it on Amazon Prime on 27th Jun 2020 with Aditi.

Ally already had 20 boyfriends. National research shows that girls who have had more than 20 boyfriends remain single. So Ally starts to have a second look at them with the help of her neighbour Colin. It's a bargain. Colin tracks down Ally's boyfriends and Ally helps him out with escaping from his string of one night stands.

Anna plays a girl in search of the right guy with poor judgement and one who listens to others rather than oneself. Chris plays a handsome Casanova who never knew love. Others play supporting roles. 

The movie charts familiar path with little to imagine. No unexpected twists. No surprises. Predictable ending. 

Why is Ally fixated on 'not to exceed' 20 boyfriends when Colin had had more than 300 girlfriends remains a mystery. 

Watch alone. Not suited for Indian family taste due to the concept.  

Choked: Paisa bolta hai ( चोक्ड़ : पैसा बोलता है)

"Choked: Paisa bolta hai ( चोक्ड़ : पैसा बोलता है)"

Watched Hindi movie 'Choked: Paisa bolta hai (चोकड : पैसा बोलता है)'. Directed by Anurag Kashyap. Produced by Kavan Ahalpara, Ajay Rai. Writer Nihit Bhave. Cinematography Sylvester Fonseca. Music Karsh Kale. It stars Saiyami Kher, Roshan Mathew, Amruta Subhash, Upendra Limaye, Tushar Dalvi, Rajashree Deshpande, Uday Nene. I watched this movie with Aditi, on Netflix, on 25th June 2020. The movie is about 1 hour 55 min long.

Sarita, a hard working bank clerk, is fed up with shortage of money and husband who can't hold a job. She discovers continuous supply of money in the choked drainage pipe of her sink. 

How does she use the money? What does she do? Does it change her? How? Are there consequences?

The movie is developed nicely. Almost until 75% the movie is interesting. Then things become a bit irrational and conveniently coincidental. Thus what could have been a very good end, doesn't remain very good. 

Saiyami is grand daughter of legendary actress Usha Kiran. She portrays the character of a Mumbai bank clerk to perfection. She acts well and although she originally looks good, here her beauty aspects are suppressed. Roshan plays good for nothing husband. His character is not likeable but turns likeable in the end. His character draws brownie points due to audience's sympathy for Saiyami. Other actors are all well known Marathi stage and film personalities and they play their roles to perfection. 

Why does the money come through drainage at a designated time? Why Sarita doesn't keep money in locker? Why investigators forget to trace the money from Kolhapur? How a closed shutter in one scene becomes open in next scene? These and such questions are better not asked. 

Watch for Saiyami.

Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil girl (गुन्जन सक्सेना)

"Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil girl (गुन्जन सक्सेना)"

Watched Hindi movie "Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil girl (गुन्जन सक्सेना)". This movie is directed by Sharan Sharma. Writing credits Nikhil Malhotra and Sharan Sharma. Produced by Dharma Productions, Essel Vision Productions. Music John Stewart,  Amit Trivedi. It stars Janhavi Kapoor, Angad Bedi, Pankaj Tripathi, Manav Vij, Vineet Kumar Singh. I watched the movie on Netflix with Aditi on 14th Aug 2020.

Gunjan, daughter of a retired army colonel, dreams of flying and yearns to become a pilot. Against many odds she becomes a pilot, not for commercial airlines but for Indian airforce. 

Was the road to becoming airforce pilot easy? Were there hurdles? Were there pre conceived notions? Was there cooperation? Did she give up? Who was her rock of Gibraltar?

The story proceeds on expected lines and there are no twists or surprises. Director narrates the story simplistically. Not much drama, not much melodrama, no love angle. But while trying to keep the story close to reality, it has become plain. 

Manav Vij is very good. Angad Bedi and Vineet Kumar are good. Janhavi is not bad, but she could not get the bearing of tough girl, she looks vulnerable even when she is not supposed to. She looks silly rather than smart. 

Indian airforce is shown as masochistic, intolerant of females and resenting females. 

Watch it to understand the story of a real life hero, not for quality of movie or value for money. 

Shakuntaladevi (शकुन्तलादेवी)

"Shakuntaladevi (शकुन्तलादेवी)"

Watched Hindi movie "Shakuntaladevi". Direction Anu Menon. Written by Anu Menon, Nayanika Mahatani, Ishita Moitra. Produced by Sony Pictures, Networks India, Vikram Malhotra. Music by Sachin-Jigar. Cinematography Keiko Nakahara. The film features Vidya Balan, Sanya Malhotra, Amit Sadh and Jisshu Sengupta. The movie runs for about 2 hours 7 minutes. I watched it on 31st July 2020 with Aditi.

Shakuntaladevi was a genius. The one and only person who could do ultra complex sums mentally faster than a computer. She was called human computer. In this movie Shakuntaladevi is shown as vein, self centred genius.

However, this movie does not delve into her genius or try to find how she could do it. The first half is about her move to England and rise to fame. Her legendary skills and her stage shows. Second part is about her complex marriage and her tempestuous relationship with her daughter. Shakuntala hates her mother for not intervening when father was being tyrant but over compensates by interfering with her daughters life. A genius, huge publicity, lot of money is a recipe for disastrous personal relationships. 

It appears as if the director could not decide whether to present her life or relationship of mother-daughter. As a result there is a lack of focus on either. Thus the movie appears shallow rather than profound. 

Vidya does well, but doesn't look her beautiful self. Sanya does good, except the horrible wig she wears while portraying her younger self. Amit is very good. Cinematography of old era is eye pleasing. Don't remember any song. 

End of movie doesn't come naturally with the flow. It appears made up. Things happen too conveniently. Shakuntala's visit to ancestral house is very superficial (the light bulb works after so many years, there is just 1 trunk in empty room and it has exactly those important things that movie needs). Sudden realization of Shakuntala and her daughter about their respective mothers, daughter's laughable realization that she had a happy childhood etc..

The movie doesn't capture audience's imagination. Ok, not wow!

Not a must watch. 

Love shuv te chicken Khurana (लव शव ते चिकन खुरना

"Love shuv te chicken Khurana (लव शव ते चिकन खुरना"

Watched Hindi movie "Love shuv te chicken Khurana". This movie is directed by Sameer Sharma. Produced by produced by Ronnie Screwvala, Siddharth Roy-Kapur, Anurag Kashyap. Written by Sameer Sharma and Sumeet Batheja. Music Amit Trivedi, Cinematography Mitesh Mirchandani. It stars Kunal Kapoor, Vicky Koushal, Huma Qureshi, Anangsha Biswas, Rajesh Sharma, Rahul Bagga, Manish Makhija, Nimrat Kaur, Vinod Nagpal. I watched the movie on Netflix with Aditi on 5th Jun 2020.

Omi Khurana, a struggling man in UK owes 50,000 pounds to a gangster. Gangster packs him and sends to India to bring money because his grandpa runs one of the most popular Dhaba in Punjab. The prodigal son returns to his family (grand father, uncle, aunt and cousin) in Punjab.

What will he find in Punjab? Can he get the money from his family? Will he find his sweetheart there? What is Chicken Khurana?

His grandpa was famous for his secret recipe 'Chicken Khurana'. No one knew what he did to make it taste heavenly. On arrival he realizes that Grandpa can't cook anymore. The secret recipe is lost. He wants to sell Dhaba and get away with the cash, but there is a catch. 

Kunal looks handsome and acts well. He looks better in beard. Huma plays Dr. Harman and looks perfect Punjabi kudi. Acts decently. Rahul Bagga impresses. Vicky Koushal has only a guest appearance, as young Kunal. Others play supporting roles. Rajesh Sharma is good as usual. 

Direction is good. Keeps you entertained. Tries to end like a slapstick comedy. Music was ok, couldn't remember any song. Cinematography of rural Punjab is pleasing. 

Good time pass during Corona lock down. 

Life as we know it

"Life as we know it"

Watched English movie "Life as we know it". This movie is directed by Greg Berlanti. Produced by Barry Josephson and Paul Brooks. Written by Ian Deitchman and Kristin Rusk Robinson. Music Blake Neely, Cinematography Andrew Dunn. It stars Catherine Heigl, Josh Duhamel in lead roles, supported by Josh Lucas, Chritina Hendrics, Brooke Calgett. I watched the movie on Netflix with Aditi on 4th Jun 2020.

Friends (a couple) try to set up blind date of Messer and Holly. It's a disaster. They are very different. They hate each other. The couple dies in an accident and appoint Messer and Holly as guardians of Sophie, their toddler daughter. 

Will they accept guardianship? Can they stand each other? What will happen to Sophie?

It's a predictable story. Two persons hate each other. Fight. Compromise. What next? You know what. This movie is how that happens. 

Josh appears stiff while acting. He also wears a bad wig with bad hair style. Would have preferred another actor for the role. Catherine looks bad in the first scene,  beautiful some times and good otherwise. She is good, and acts well. Other characters support well. The Baby is very cute. 

The movie starts well, develops well, continues well but the end comes suddenly. The curve is smooth for most of the time but then suddenly falls. This should have been managed properly. 

Cinematography is good. Especialy the appetizing food items and the beautiful house. 

Watch it if you have time. 

The hundred foot journey

"The hundred foot journey"

Watched English movie "The hundred foot journey". Direction Lasse Halström. Written by Steven Knight. Producers: Juliet Blake, Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey. Music by A. R. Rehman. Cinematography Linus Sandgren. The film features Manish Dayal, Charlotte Le Bon, Helen Mirren, Om Puri. Guest appearance Juhi Chawla. The movie runs for about 2 hours. I watched it on 28th May 2020 with Aditi and Mihika.

Om Puri (Papa Kadam, a Muslim) and his family migrate to France after losing his wife (Juhi) in religious riots and settle in a beautiful French village. Here they acquire a property and open an Indian restaurant, right opposite a French restaurant with 1 Michelin star. A rivalry is inevitable. 

How does the rivalry pan out? Will the Indian restaurant survive? Why is Michelin star so important? What is 100 foot journey?

The story is unique. It's about cuisine. French Vs Indian cuisine and French plus Indian cuisine. Hassan Kadam (Manish Dayal), a cook, becomes friend of Marguerit (Charlotte Le Bon), a wannabe Chef. There is attraction and competition between them at the same time. Madame Mallory (Helen Mirren) hates the Indians but recognizes Hassan's potential. Hassan wants to make a big name but also wants to go where he started in France. Director walks the fine line and avoids to over dramatize, doesn't let it become bland, doesn't make it too spicy. Everything is just right. Like a perfect recipe. 

Helen plays the character of Madame Mallory to the perfection. The jealousy, the sense of fair competition, the recognition of talent, willingness to give a hand, readiness to set free; she shows it all and very convincingly. She is omnipresent in this movie. Manish Dayal looks sweet in the beginning and dashing handsome later. He also plays character of gifted chef very well. Charlotte looks beautiful, she is very delicate and acts well. Om Puri is Om Puri.

Special mention should go to the Cinematography. The village of Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val is picturesque, beautiful and serene. Out door Cinematography is very pleasant. The two restaurants opposite each other on a lonely road, vibrant fruits and vegetable market, the village, woods around the village; all look breathtaking. Indoor Cinematography is also very very good. Be it various appetizing dishes or colourful spices or ultra slow motion shots (like breaking off eggs, sprinkling of spices etc.); everything is perfect. 

This movie is based on a Novel by Richard C. Morris by same name. I haven't read the novel, but movie is very good. You get a sense of satisfaction after watching the movie. 

Recommend watching. Don't miss it.