BollywoodPrime One-Time Watch Movies – 2015
Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! – Sushant Singh Rajput creates an interesting character as a novice detective with a keen analytical mind. Period setting of Calcutta during WWII is well done. Quite a mix of characters weaving in and out of the story. Unfortunately, the story loses needed tension and action by the end of the film.
Gabbar is Back – Akshay Kumar is a college professor whose wife died in a building collapse. He seeks revenge by finding the responsible official, and hanging him. Akshay’s (Gabbar) whole life becomes about avenging corruption and he teaches his students to do the same. By the end of the movie, the body count mindlessly too high.
Tanu Weds Manu Returns – It is fun to watch Kangana Renault play the selfish, worldly Tanu, and the sweet, innocent but self-aware Kusum, but I was disappointed in other aspects of the story. As doctor Manu, R. Madhaven seems to have the maturity of a teenager, by getting engaged to someone whose main qualification is that she “looks” like his wife.
Dil Dhadakne Do – This glossy movie with a star cast and beautiful locales, shows us that rich people have problems and stress in their lives, too, although mostly having to do with keeping up appearances. Anil Kapoor is excellent as the obnoxious head of the Mehra family, and Shefali Shetty is wonderful as his long-suffering wife.
Masaan – Set in Varanasi, the film follows two separate storylines. Richa Chadda is Devi whose life changes completely when she has a brief sexual encounter which brings shame and financial ruin to her and her father (Sanjay Mishra). Engineering student by day, working with his family burning bodies at night, Deepak (Vicky Kaushal is outstanding) falls in love with upper caste Shaalu (Shweta Tripathi). Can be depressing and dark, but eventually the human spirit finds hope and renewal.
Drishyam – Ajay Devgan is a family man and small business owner with a fourth grade education. When his daughter accidentally kills a blackmailer, Ajay covers up the crime and creates an alibi for his family. Unfortunately, the blackmailer is Tabu’s son and she is in charge of the investigation. Kept me interested but lacks needed tension and got a little drawn out by the end.
Brothers – Two brothers with past daddy issues enter a Mixed Marshall Arts competition and wind up fighting each other for the prize money. Fighting makes up most of the movie, but it kept me interested throughout. Siddharth Malhotra and Akshay Kumar are at their physical best.
Kaun Kitney Paani Mein – Set in rural India, a battle over water between the upper caste and lower caste villagers, leads king Saurabh Shukla to enlist his son, Kunnel Kapoor, in a deception to save their once lavish lifestyle. Good little story.
Welcome Back – Nana Patakur and Anil Kapoor as ex-thugs, now businessmen, who desperately want to get married, but fall for the same girl (Surveen Chawla). Also a romance buds between John Abraham and Shurti Hasaan. Lots of mix-ups, misunderstandings, and confusion but fine if you don’t mind nonsense every once in a while.
Singh is Bliing – Akshay Kumar as a Punjabi man/child who gets a job protecting a mobster’s daughter. Amy Jackson as his capable English speaking love interest, and Lara Dutta is very funny as their goofy translator. Good when you need a laugh. “Singh is Bliing” is kid friendly, except for one scene that will probably go over their heads.
Prem Ratan Dhan Payo – Salman Khan did the same character in ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ but with a better storyline and better results. Beautiful settings and costumes, but the story seems out-dated. No chemistry between Sonam and Salman.
Dilwali – Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol as a warring couple who stay true to each other, though apart, for fifteen years. Kajol is more gorgeous then ever and it’s fun to watch her evil side come out. SRK, who I love, seems to be sleep walking through this one. The dialogues were disappointing, and talented Varun Dhawan was underused. Should have been much more humor in this movie, but SRK and Kajol are like a favorite dessert, hard to resist.
Bajirao Mastani – Some absolutely beautiful sets and costumes but battle scenes, sword fights, horseback riding were poorly done. I found nothing inspiring in the story of a great warrior who lets everything that should be important to him take second place because he has a beautiful groupie.
