Haider

Vishal Bhardwaj has always delivered impressive films - Omkara and Maqbool being good examples. The unfortunate bit about Haider is the choice of Shahid Kapoor as the main lead. Schooled in the Shah Rukh Khan school of acting, the film eventually succumbs to junior SK's theatrics. Despite the odds, Tabu, Kay Kay Menon along with some spectacular Srinagar footage keep the interest going. 

Rating: * *

Mumbai Meri Jaan

July 11th, 2006 saw seven bombs explode in the space of 11 minutes on various suburban trains in Mumbai. July 12th saw the common man in Mumbai look at life in his city through different lenses.  It is this chilling aftermath and the ensuing media mongering that this film focuses on.

When the aam junta are played by folk like Irrfan Khan and Madhavan the effect is telling. Irrfan says little in his role of a Tamilian living in Mumbai but like always he doesn't need to. As angry young man, Kay Kay Menon makes a comeback to acting in this film as he grabs the screen like he did in Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi. But the man who dominates the film is a very svelte Paresh Rawal in a soon to retire policeman's guise. The only weak link is Soha Ali Khan trying desperately to cut a sorry pensive figure. Nishikant Kamat is the man holding the threads of the film and for a refreshing change none of the threads meet or interesect. A film that truly reflects life...

Rating: * * * *

Corporate

A Madhur Bhandarkar film that tries to bring the world of corporate politics to the common man. It centers around the tug of war between two companies in the food industry with Nishi (Bipasha Basu) as the central character who uses every trick in the book to help her corporation. But finally karma catches up with her...

The plot could have worked but poor execution causes it to fall flat on its face. The wooden acting all around did not help either. Bipasha looks stunning through out the flick, but all she can manage is a constipated look in place of emotion. The saving grace are the two gossiping peons who appear sporadically through the movie.

Rating: *

Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd

Another pot smoking young director's debut: about some 6 couples - and their different takes on how they got together - take a honeymoon bus to Goa. The director has a Superman fixation which comes across as a ridiculous side story than an outrageously funny one. Ofcourse there is Boman Irani, Shabana Azmi and Kay Kay Menon, but it doesnt really matter.

Rating: * +

Life in a... Metro

Every character in this film is in different stages of relationships. Shruti (Konkona Sen Sharma) is looking for her first love. Monty (Irfan Khan) is a walking advertisement for shaadi.com. Shikha (Shilpa Shetty) is having dangling conversations with her husband (Kay Kay Menon). Amol (Dharmendra) is trying to rekindle the flames of a lost passion. Irfan, KK and Kokana dish out excellent performances. Shilpa is still HOT and Dharmendra still cannot act. A film that burns bright but fizzles out in the end.

Rating: * +