PAPPU CANT DANCE SAALA MOVIE REVIEW

PAPPU CANT DANCE SAALA Movie Review

Rom-coms with middle class setting instantly take you back to the days when Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Basu Chatterjee specialized in such themes. And Saurabh Shukla’s new directorial venture PAPPU CAN’T DANCE SAALA walks the same path. It seems like an extension of what we witnessed in the 70s and 80s. But before you assume that the film is a musical or about a simpleton who *can’t* dance, nope, it’s not.

Saurabh Shukla has the track record of making films that have interesting concepts and the same can be said of PAPPU CAN’T DANCE SAALA. This time, the talented actor/director narrates the story of a small town guy adjusting to the lifestyle in a metropolis. Also, Shukla integrates the odd couple track in the plot to make it more authentic. Before you exclaim, haven’t we seen it all in the past, haven’t we watched the usual nit-picking between a bindaas girl and a shy small town boy, the transition from being mere acquaintances to caring for each other couple, the diametrically opposite couple pining to be soul mates, let me say, yes, it packs all of the above, but Shukla also packs the narrative with subtle humor and slice of life episodes to tell a story.

So does it work? In parts, yes. But, in the end, PAPPU CAN’T DANCE SAALA remains an ordinary watch!

PAPPU CAN’T DANCE SAALA is about two people from different worlds. Vidyadhar [Vinay Pathak] has just shifted from Banaras to Mumbai. A man with old world values who finds it difficult to adjust in the city… Mehak [Neha Dhupia] is a dancer in Bollywood. She has learned the tricks of surviving in this fast-paced city. She is loud and jazzy… They’re neighbors who, due to certain circumstances, somehow get stuck in the same flat… and thus begins their story!

PAPPU CAN’T DANCE SAALA is unlike a Saurabh Shukla film. This time, to quote him, he’s gone ‘commercial’, aiming for the mass audience. PAPPU CAN’T DANCE SAALA shows promise at the start; the character of Vinay Pathak specifically seems straight out of life. Though Vinay has been cast in a similar mould in the past, the actor brings that variation in his character that makes the goings-on watchable. Also, the sequences when Vinay and Neha clash — first, when Neha organizes a party at her flat and next, when they meet the members of the Society to voice their grievances — are truly enjoyable.

But PAPPU CAN’T DANCE SAALA slips in its post-interval portions. The promise that it showed initially dries up in this hour. The goings-on, to put it bluntly, aren’t bland, but get into the been-there-seen-that pattern. And one isn’t too excited to know how the lovers would unite in the end for this reason. More so because the romance is so subtle that you actually wonder if it’s true love or just strong feelings for each other, which could also be construed as unadorned camaraderie or unembellished affection. To cut a long story short, the screenplay could’ve been more engrossing in this hour.

Like I pointed out earlier, Saurabh Shukla has filmed a couple of sequences proficiently, but he’s saddled with a middling script. The music [Malhar] is functional, but the one filmed on Neha [the video track] is bouncy. Fuwad Khan’s cinematography is fair.

Vinay Pathak breathes his character, conferring it the dignity it warrants. Neha Dhupia catches you with complete surprise. She’s the scene stealer actually, who handles the dramatic moments as well as the livewire ones with flourish. Rajat Kapoor has not been used befitting his caliber. Brijendra Kala does well in a succinct part. Sanjay Mishra is serviceable. Naseeruddin Shah sparkles in a cameo.

On the whole, PAPPU CAN’T DANCE SAALA is, at best, a regular fare. It could’ve been far more appealing and engaging had it not fallen prey to mediocrity in its second hour.

MISSING ACTRESS VEENA MALIK FOUND SAFE AND SOUND IN MUMBAI HOTEL

Missing Actress Veena Malik Found Safe and Sound in Mumbai Hotel

Controversial Pakistani actress Veena Malik, who had gone ‘missing’ from Friday morning while shooting for a film in Goregaon here, has been found at a hotel in Juhu in suburban Mumbai. “Veena Malik is in Oakwood hotel. She has registered in the hotel by her real name Zahida and she has all the papers. She was unwell

for a couple of days,” Machendra Bodke of Juhu police station told media persons.

The actor’s manager Prateik Mehta had claimed that she had gone missing since Friday morning when she was shooting for the film. He had said that he had been trying to contact her ever since then but her phone is switched off.

The actress, who has been in and out of India for film and reality shows, was shooting Mumbai 125 kilometres in Goregaon and left the shoot midway, saying she was not well.

However, the police said that there was no missing person’s complaint registered in this connection.

Malik was recently in the news for posing nude with an ISI tattoo for an Indian magazine.

After finishing this movie, Veena is also slated to appear on Imagine TV’s reality show Swayamvar, where she will be searching for ‘Mr Right’.

SISTERS KAREENA AND KARISMA KAPOOR UPCOMING CLASH IN THE SUMMER OF 2012?

Sisters Kareena and Karisma Kapoor Upcoming Clash in the Summer of 2012?

Aah, now how much do we love clash between the biggies when it comes to box office battles! However, this one could well turn out to be a clash of the decade if this indeed happens. Though one has seen two mega stars bringing their biggies opposite each others and sometimes even friends forced to arrive on the same date due to professional reasons, this would be for the first time ever that two siblings would clash with each other. They are none other than Kareena Kapoor and Karisma Kapoor whose Talaash and Dangerous Ishq respectively are aiming for arrival in June next year.

“Yes, this is strange, unfortunate, but true”, says an insider, “It would be a precarious situation for Bollywood if this clash indeed happens and that too over the same weekend. Talaash has been confirmed for 1st June release while Dangerous Ishq too has announced its arrival in the same month. Though it is yet to close on a date, it still risks an arrival which would be way too close for comfort. This clash has to be avoided by all means.”

The worry doesn’t come without a strong reason. After all, Rowdy Rathore has already been confirmed for 15th June and neither would the film budge from its spot nor would Dangerous Ishq think of releasing alongside a film that has names like Akshay Kumar, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Prabhu Deva involved. The very next week arrives Teri Meri Kahani and that one is a biggie too with Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra in lead. The week to follow is open and as long as Dangerous Ishq is willing to contend with a one week open run, it should be fine since all eyes would be on Bol Bachchan which arrives next.

“Really, there are too many calculations at play and there has to be good thought given to the arrival ofDangerous Ishq. Kareena won’t have to worry for her film since Talaash being an Aamir Khan starrer won’t change its plans. It would be Karisma who would have to play smart and while it is out of question that she would clash with her younger sister, an arrival on the very next week is ruled out as well. With the kind of packed schedule that June is anyways carrying, it is all the more surprising that the makers even thought of coming in the same month. They would have to wait”, says a trade expert.

While both sisters too would want to stay away from each other by all means as none would wish to jeopardise each other’s plans, there could well be a situation when the makers use this very scenario as a good enough promotional tool that would help their film. As for Kareena, she is pretty much waiting for her sister’s comeback with a bated breath. She says, “I am sure she would recreate the magic she has always been famous for whenever she appears on screen again.”

Hope that happens a few weeks before or after you have weaved your magic Bebo.

TRIPLE ROLE FOR ANUPAM KHER IN THE REMAKE OF CHASHME BUDDOOR

Triple Role for Anupam Kher In the Remake of Chashme Buddoor

It is the season of plenty for the Chashme Buddoorremake in Goa. Ever since David mentioned that he was searching for an alternative title for Chashme Buddoor, suggestions on twitter and other public forums have been pouring in.

Says the director, “The titles being suggested are incredible. From Buree Nazar Waala Tera Mooh Lal toKhatte Angoor to Nazarbattu…I’m very confused.

And now with Sai Paranjpye’s Chashme Buddoor undergoing a complete image revamp, Anupam Kher who was signed to play a key comic role in Dhawan’s film, has a triple role.

Says David, “Anupam’s character is completely new to my Chashme Buddoor. He plays three brothers named Suryakant, Chandrakant and Prabhakant.”

The idea of turning Kher’s role into a triple role apparently materialized when the unit descended on Goa. According to a source, Anupam was meant to be a character who keeps showing up everywhere at the most inopportune time. Everyone in the team thought it would make more sense to have three of Anupam around.

Says David, “See, Anupam has done so much work, so many films and such varied characters. We’ve to find ways of re-inventing him for the audience. We’re having a ball shooting with three Anupams. He plays an army officer, a police officer and a civilian. The three brothers keep fighting all the time, one claiming he’s one minute older than the other, and so forth.”

Adds Anupam, “I always have a ball shooting with David. I’ve just returned from the US after shooting with David Russell for The Silver Lining Playboys. Now I’m shooting with another David in Goa. No two films and directors can be more dissimilar.”

PRIYANKA CHOPRA EXCITED ABOUT HER MUSIC ALBUM

Priyanka Chopra Excited About Her Music Album

Priyanka Chopra had been talking about her debut in the global music scene for a while. And now that her much awaited album is nearing completion, the actress has been meeting her friends and gushing about her first music album whenever she can get the time, reveal industry insiders. Mumbai Mirror has learnt that when Priyanka was shooting for Kunal Kohli’s Teri Meri Kahani in London, she had dropped in on the sets of London Paris New York to discuss ‘music’ with her good friend Goldie Behl. On
the sets of that film, she met Ali Zafar and started chatting with him about music.

When contacted, Ali Zafar confirmed the news and added, “She seemed very excited about her music album.”And Zafar was not the only one who had to discuss the actress’ new love ‘music’ with her. After she returned to India, she played it for Ranbir Kapoor on the sets of Anurag Basu’s Barfee.

Goldie, Zafar and Ranbir were followed by Vishal Bhardwaj.

When contacted, Priyanka, who was busy shooting said, “I’m very fortunate that my friends in the industry have shown such genuine interest in my upcoming foray. It is now part of all the conversations (laughs). There is still a long way to go for the album to be completed. Yes, I have played the demos to friends in the industry.”

Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2012 Ad Campaign | Daria Strokous & Kati Nescher by Steven Meisel

Daria Strokous & Kati Nescher photographed by Steven Meisel for Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2012 Ad Campaign 

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Cinder by Marissa Meyer: An Extract

We all love fairy tales, don't we?  And Marissa Meyer's modern twist on the classic Cinderella is amazing!  Thanks to Penguin, we have a link to an extract from Cinder, the first in the Lunar Chronicles.  To read them, go: here.  Also, you have to check out the Cinder Facebook Page: it's awesome!  I've personally just started to read Cinder, and it is so, so, so good!  I'm hooked!  It comes out January 5th.  There will be three more books in the Lunar Chronicles: one inspired by Little Red Riding Hood, one by Rapunzel, and one by Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.  I'm very excited about all of them! :)

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . .
Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.
In this thrilling debut young adult novel, the first of a quartet, Marissa Meyer introduces readers to an unforgettable heroine and a masterfully crafted new world that’s enthralling.