Movie Review-Bachna ae Haseeno

Raj. The movie could have easily been called that, as Bachna ae Haseeno is at its core the story of a rich, spoilt brat of a boy called Raj, and his tryst(read trysts) with love. The plot revolves around the various experiences that Raj, played so brilliantly by Ranbir Kapoor, has with two girls at two different stages of his life. It is with as much ease that he so charmingly woos these ladies, that he dumps them. It maybe DDLJ fanatic Mahe, with whom he romps on a scooter in the swiss alps or Radhika, his young live-in partner with stars in her eyes.His charming ways, something that he calls Rajgiri, helps him at the young age of 17 to trap his first big catch in the form of Mahe, played by Minissha Lamba, whom he so unceremoniously dumps by bragging about his 'feat' to his friends at the airport. Next comes Radhika, played by Bipasha Basu, who loves Raj so much that she is ready to sacrifice her career ambitions for him. As expected, he dumps her on their wedding day and flees to Australia, where he eventually finds his true love in the form of a B-school student and taxi driver Deepika Padukone. But alas! Our hero gets a taste of his own medicine when she rejects his proposal and he thus learns how much it hurts. He is enlightened and plans to seek out Mahe and Radhika and beg for their forgiveness, only to find one already married with kids and the other, an attitude-rich star. The second half consists purely of his attempts to seek the divine mercy of the divas whose hearts he'd broken.The movie very beautifully matures with the character of Raj, going from funny and playful to emotional and sentimental, with a dash of comedy. Ranbir Kapoor pitches in an astonishing performance as the flamboyant, playboy Raj, and lives up to the promise he showed in Saawariya. Minissha Lamba and Bipasha Basu too give in brilliant performances as the sizzling hustlers in Raj's life. Sadly, Deepika's track is the weak link in the story as she fails to create any magic with what little screen space she was given. There are two surprise packets in the movie in the form of Kunal Kapoor, who delivers an aesthetic performance as Mahe's husband and Hiten Paintel, as the funny and equally care-free side kick to Raj. Though predictable, its a new concept that encompasses the life-ishtyles of aaj-kal ke chokra-chokri log. The music by Vishal-Shekhar is also a winner, with some really catchy tunes and rocking scores. I'd give it 3 and a half out of 5. Watch the movie with no expectations and you just might love it.

SINGH IS KING

Sad and happy. No matter how contrasting these emotions are, they are the most apt ones to describe the 22nd of July. It may go down in history as one of the most shameful day for Indian democracy due to the robust display of "bribe", showing once again why Vitamin M is the order of the day. However, it will also go down in history as one of the most productive day when the netas of Lok Sabha made a landmark judgement in favour of India and promoted the most stragetic tie of all times with the USA, in the process also ensuring a major energy supply for India.

Rahul Gandhi gave a really good speech with clever one-liners. Sample this: We should stop thinking about how the world will impact us and start thinking about how we will impact the world. Laluji too put up a really good and interesting performance. He knows to use the rubber sword. It allows him to make a point without drawing blood. And of course, our very own harvard graduate Mr.Chidambaram opened the UPA innings very well with a speech that compares to any patriotic movie. It is sad that the BJP interrupted each one of these speakers (save laluji) with shouts and noise. It is the misfortune of every Indian that the PM was not allowed to make a speech that would easily have gone down as one of the most aggressive and pointed speeches ever delivered in the Lok Sabha.

The Prime Minister of India, Dr.Manmohan Singh, often decribed as a bureucrat who had no place in politics, came out of Parliament on the 22nd as the most seasoned politician. Anyone who has read the speech he was so unceremoniously denied to give, wishes that it was not so. He has transformed from a man who has been battered all through his office tenure to one who stands up and says NO MORE! His scathing remarks on the left and the BJP, apart from being surprisingly accurate and to the point, has exposed the politician in him and the people have no qualms about excepting that. His speech almost suggests "you people(read left and BJP) have made me a politician". He is the most daring politicain of India and has shown his bravado on not one but two occasions. In 1991, when he pushed for the economic reforms under the Narsimha Rao government, he was mocked to the point of madness. He dared to present the budget on his vision and India is reaping the benefits today including a high GDP growth and the IT boom. And again, he has dared to think beyond petty politics with the nuclear deal, which is the answer to all of India's energy crises. But Mr.Advani, Mayawati and Prakash Karat made sure that he passed through the muck of politics before going on to higher issues relevant to India's growth. Let's address the left, BJP and BSP.

@ The Left.
Ideology. The left seem to bank heavily on this word. Why do you oppose the nuclear deal? Ideology. Why did you destabilize the government? Ideology. Why have you always opposed all the reforms proposed by the PM? Ideology. Why did you not accept any ministerial berth and take a high "moral ground" during UPA formation? Ideology.
In fact, this trademark word of theirs has lost all its sheen and foremost, lost all meaning and context. They align with Mayawati, who practically banks on votes based on caste dividends. This is against their ideology. But ideologies change, don't they Mr.Karat? When Mr. Basu came out in open support of the deal earlier, he was led to change his mind by the very people who committed the "historic blunder" of not allowing him to become PM. The left have lost all character and meaning by aligning with the BJP against the UPA. They have shattered their ideology and have forgotten what their party stands for by going with the most communal party against a secular government. They have no credentials and having lost meaning and character are as good as finished. Apart from Cuba, their footprints have long been erased from the sands of time. It is time that the same happens in India. Did you say the UPA is a sinking ship Mr.Karat? Well, its time for you to check the holes in your own.

@ The BJP.
Did they seriously think they would get away with this? Their opposition to the deal has shown how opportunistic and politically motivated they are. It is very simple to understand 'their ideology' . The BJP pushed for the deal during their tenure. Mr. Vajpayee is on record saying it is the best deal for India and we dont need a provision for nuclear testing. The BJP stands by him all this while not making a sound. But the moment the UPA signs the deal with better prospects, the BJP suddenly start having a problem with it. Instead of behaving like a responsible opposition, they take digs at the UPA and go as far as to comment on the PM's personal traits calling him weak, nikkamma and what not. They went hammer and tongs at the PM and brought disgrace to the PM's chair. And who is their leader? It's the PM who has correctly recognised Mr.Advani.(How I wish he was allowed to make that speech). A man who single handedly inspired the demolition of Babri Masjid, a man who slept in the parliament when Gujrat was burning and the hijacking took place. A man who allowed a dreaded terrosist to be release and approved a cabinet minister to accompany him. A man who is so power hungry that he eats his own words and opposes a deal that his party's former PM started. A man who gives his word to the PM that he will support the Nuke deal and later reiterates for purely political reasons. A man who allows his MP's to make a mockery of the parliament session and encourages them to take un-parliamentry steps and create drama and chaos on the floor of the house. This is the man, their leader, L.K Advani. Being the senior leader that he is, he should have advised them to go to the police station and file a complaint there or submit the cash with a note to the speaker during adjournment. But no. What does he do? He says them to do this drama an hour before the trust vote and disrupt the session. This seems to be a very cheap plan to sabotage Mr.Singh's image. There is no record of the transaction and the supposed video showing it is not released. The BJP is as good as gone if these allegations are proved untrue. No one comes out clean, least the BJP for scripting this shameful incident.
P.S: Advani has no problem with the deal. The only problem he has is he is not the one signing the dotted line for the deal.

@ The BSP.
Too bad your dalit status didn't help you achieve the PM's gaddi Behen Kumari Mayawati(that's how her MP's address her). She hasn't even bought a site and is already inviting people to her house warming ceremony! Her strategic press conference all but revealed her ambitions of occupying the PM's chair. Think about this. A chief minister of a state is talking about strategic ties with Iran and the proposed gas pipeline between Iran, Pakistan and India. She is commenting about the possible impact the ties with the US will have on our ties with Iran. Kumari Mayawatiji, a lot of potential candidates are in line for the post of Boss at the PMO. You cannot play your dalit card at the national level. She is trying to muster 50 paisa coins to buy a big television set.
(Read 50 paisa as Left, Deve Gowda's JD(S), Ajit Singh etc. and TV set as the PM's post).
With our colorful Laluji announcing his ambitions of becoming the PM, your chances have dimmed further, if there were any in the first place! She should be content with being the CM of UP, lest that to be taken away by Mulayam Singh Yadav with the congress by his side.
One piece of advice to her:
Stop cribbing that you don't own the moon and concentrate on the earth slipping beneath your feet.