Language: Hindi

Genre: Drama, Family

Cast: Anupam Kher, Rohini Hattangadi, Soni Razdan, Madan Jain, Suhas Bhalekar, Nilu Phule

Direction: Mahesh Bhatt

Reasons to watch: Mahesh Bhatt, Anupam Kher, A movie which does justice to all emotions alike.

Reasons not to: If you are against simplicity and realism, and dislike being aroused from a socially-indifferent slumber.

Story: B.V. Pradhan and Parvati are struggling to come to terms with life after the death of their only son who has been killed in New York in a mugging incident. A retired school teacher Pradhan has lost all his faith in life while Parvati takes refuge in religion. Her new-found guru has assured her that her son will be re-born very close to her. In order to overcome their loneliness as well as to supplement Pradhan’s meagre pension, they take in a young aspiring actress Sujata as paying guest. Sujata, an aspiring actress, hopes to marry her lover Vilas, son of the local small-time politician Gajanan Chitre who is against the union.

And when the menacing thoughts of suicide come calling, Pradhan and Parvati are interrupted by a quarrel between Vilas and Sujata, who wants to give birth to his baby irrespective of the threat it poses to his father’s political ambitions. Parvati can see her son returning to her from Sujata’s womb and the Pradhan, now has a reason to live and to fight.

Climax Handling: Intense. “Tumhare chehre ki jhurriyon mein mere jeevan ka saaransh hai – in the wrinkles of your face lies the essence of my life”

Points: A 27 year old guy playing the role of a 60-something man in his first movie, superb art direction, revolting storyline – Saaransh has all ingredients of a classic.

Rating: 9/10

Comment: Corruption, superstition, suicide, the ordeals of age, crime, the silent sufferings of parents of immigrants, re-incarnation, a society sans morals, riots – Saaransh knocks at the innermost confines of your conscience. And liberates it.

Language: Hindi

Genre: Drama, Romance, College

Cast: Imran Khan, Genelia D’Souza

Direction: Abbas Tyrewala

Reasons to watch: MUSIC! JAZZ by A R Rehman. Just mind blowing! Well written dialogues. Meticulous direction and art direction. Aamir Khan Productions, Cute cute cute cute Imran Khan, very cute Genelia.

Reasons not to: Story is quite predictable. And the climax disappoints a lot.

Story: College group. Parents. Meeting up all the time. Hanging out all the time. Not worrying about what to do and how to do it. Two friends in the group who can’t do without each other. Jai and Aditi. And everybody else who thinks that they are in love. And their violent denial of the fact, even disgust at it. The way the group sticks together, and has fun. Jai and Aditi’s respective searches for people they think would suit them enough to be involved with them. Then the big R. Realization. Jai and Aditi are really meant to be together. Then their failed efforts to see that the other person… yawn

Climax Handling: Bad. But Funny… That is all I’m saying! Laugh it off!

Points: I don’t know… It’s alright…

Rating: 6/10

Comment: Watch as a pass. A lot out of here is going to be quoted, and revised and reworked and reshown and reheard!

Language: English

Genre: Drama, Romance, Fantasy

Cast: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy

Direction: Richard Linklater

Reasons to watch: This movie is a sequel to Before Sunrise. The guy on that train, and that french girl in Vienna meet up again. 9 years have passed since that one night. The events are in real time.

Reasons not to: If you didn’t like Before Sunrise.

Story: Jesse and Celine meet. 9 years have passed. He is a successful author of a book. The book is going to be released in Paris. The book is the story of Celine and Jesse 9 years ago. This one night in Vienna. Jesse goes to Paris for his book. Enter Celine. Jesse is now married with kids. Celine has a boyfriend who is a photographer. Jesse has to go back by evening. Only if he would. You don’t want him to go back. They haven’t been able to get over that one night in Vienna. They would never be able to grow out of it. You have never been able to grow out of it. Because 9 years have actually passed, even for the actors, the script this time is far more mature, far more real, far more painful than the last. They talk, through boatrides, through parks, and finally at Celine’s home. She sings him a song. You don’t want him to get back to his flight at all.

Climax Handling: Let me sing you a waltz - Out of nowhere, out of my thoughts - Let me sing you a waltz - About this one night stand - You were, for me, that night - Everything I always dreamt of in life - But now you’re gone - You are far gone - All the way to your island of rain - It was for you just a one night thing - But you were much more to me, just so you know - I don’t care what they say - I know what you meant for me that day - I just want another try, I just want another night - Even if it doesn’t seem quite right - You meant for me much more than anyone I’ve met before - One single night with you, little Jesse, is worth a thousand with anybody - I have no bitterness, my sweet - I’ll never forget this one night thing - Even tomorrow in other arms, my heart will stay yours until I die - Let me sing you a waltz - Out of nowhere, out of my blues - Let me sing you a waltz - About this lovely one night stand

Points: In none of these movies has anybody told the other that they loved them. I envy all the travelers of the world who, at any point in their life would have had anything even remotely similar to this amazing encounter.

Rating: 9.5/10

Comment: You must watch it. Oh My God.

Language: English

Genre: Drama, Romance, Fantasy

Cast: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy

Direction: Richard Linklater

Reasons to watch: Better dialogues have never been written. The characters don’t act. They just are. Incredible direction, and marvelous script. It brings out your little mushy corner. Ever so subtly.

Reasons not to: Could be monotony if you don’t identify with the concept of the movie.

Story: Jesse and Celine are two strangers on a European train going from Budapest to Vienna. Their meeting follows a conversation that is free flowing - about the television, about european trains, travel and such other things. She is a French student, and he is an American on vacation. Soon then, it is time for him to get down the train in Vienna. He will change trains there so he can get back to America after. He asks her to get down with him. Just for this night. His argument is so elaborately humorous, but so honest, that she is somehow convinced. Their journey through Vienna is one huge enticing conversation. There are games, and questions, and lies, and honest accounts of their lives. She is an intelligent, passionate, beautiful young lady, but she is proud to be with this guy who talks really really well. He knows just what to say and just when to say it. More than anything else, he understands what she really means. He is as weary as she is about relationships, and people. The movie is a gigantic dialogue, and they have made it very engaging throughout.

Can you really fall in love when you know somebody only so much? Can you still walk away from that person?

Jesse goes away in the morning. They plan to meet right at the same station exactly a year later. You will never forget this movie.

Climax Handling: The climax is almost the ending of the movie. While you are watching, you don’t want Jesse to go away either. You don’t want there to be any morning. You don’t want them to go ahead and go to their own lives miles and miles away. But you know. That is exactly what must happen.

Points: There has never been a more intriguing dialogue line-up. Richard Linklater has Everything.

Celine: Well, who says relationships have to last forever?

Rating: 9.5/10

Comment: You must watch it. I don’t care about where and in what mood. There is a sequel to the movie. Oh My God.

P.S. Check out the review of the sequel - Before Sunset