Dream Girl 2 l Not Just A Review

By: Amit KumaR Agarwal

 

Whosoever said 'it's a man's world' ought to see the world through the eyes of Karam (Ayushmann Khurrana). Out on luck, he is unable to fulfill the conditions set by the father (Manoj Joshi) of his girlfriend, Pari (Ananya Panday). Pari's father is adamant that first he finds a respectable job and secure bank-balance. Unable to find a decent job, Karam on the advice of his friend (Manjot Singh) pretends to be a girl, Pooja to work in a dance bar owned by Sona Bhai (Vijay Raaz).

 

Destiny and the insistence of his father (Annu Kapoor) makes him marry Shahrukh (Abhishek Banerjee) son of Abu Salem (Paresh Rawal) for a fee of Rs. 50 lakh. Smiley also wants Karam alias Pooja marry Shahrukh so that he can marry Shahrukh’s sister, Sakina (Anusha Mishra).

 

There are more characters in the narrative.

 

The biggest problem with Dream Girl 2 is that while Dream Girl had a seamless screenplay and taut narrative, here the screenplay relies on gags and as such narrative is uneven. The fault lies in too many characters in the film, instead of working on the characters, writers have worked on the gags. As a result the audience don't carry a single scene with them that they can recall.

 

Ayushmann Khurrana is fine as Karam/Pooja; he was eons better and effortless in the first part. Ananya Panday plays her role with elan though writers could've shaped her role better. Paresh Rawal, Annu Kapoor and Rajpal Yadav are good. Vijay Raaz could have been better. Rest of the cast is fine.

 

On the whole Dream Girl 2 is for the lovers of slapstick-nonsensical comedy. After the first weekend the film will fall. If Dream Girl 2 does the reported business of Dream Girl, INR 130cr. it will be quite an achievement for the film.

Ghoomer l Not Just A Review

 By: Amit KumaR Agarwal

 

 

"Ghoomer" R. Balki's latest feature, is the story of grit, determination and perseverance in the face of huge adversity. Where a failure becomes a winner by nurturing budding talent into a maestro. But first things first, what does Ghoomer mean, since the film is based on cricket Ghoomer is a spinner that bowls with a peculiar dance-action! 

Ani or Anina (Saiyami Kher) is an upcoming cricketer who wants to play for India. She is selected in the team to represent India that is soon to tour England; but a frustrated ex-cricketer from team India Padam Singh Sodhi or Paddy (Abhishek Bachchan) calls her and her team-mates no-good. Ani takes it to her heart and leaves to vent out her pent-up feelings. Unfortunately, she meets with a horrific road accident. She loses her right-arm elbow down. Her dream for playing for India shattered.

 

In comes Paddy, offering to help her groom into a formidable talent. Help her secure her place in the Indian team with in ten months. Why is Paddy helping Ani out, is it his guilt-consciousness or is he in any way related to the accident that changed Ani's life?

 

R. Balki is one of the few filmmakers with an amazing line-up of films, irrespective whether the film makes money or not, his films work with audiences with cinematic sensibilities. Cheeni Kum, Paa, Shamitabh, Ki and Ka, Padman, Chup and now Ghoomer.

Balki has successfully packed the film with emotions and humor. Though since humor is subtle rather than slapstick, it is class appealing. The way Balki connects the remaining dots of the narrative in the finale is just outstanding!

Performances are hallmark of Ghoomer, even in a cameo! Amitabh Bachchan is just endearing as a commentator in the climax, his subtle humor and emotions will surely leave the gentry doubling up with laughter and a tear, here and there!

 

Abhishek Bachchan is outstanding as Paddy. His portrayal as a frustrated ex-cricketer is so natural that for once audiences don't even feel he is acting. Saiyami Kher gets her career-best role in Ghoomer and she hits it out of the stadium, she is simply brilliant and flawless as Anina. In fact, as an audience you root for her. Abhishek. Saiyami and Balki ought to win awards for this one!

 

The supporting cast headed by Shabana Azmi, Angad Bedi and others play their parts very well. R. Balki as always delivers a wonderful film. Two tracks by Amit Trivedi stand out: Dil Dumchalla and Ghoomer; as does the BGM. Vishal Sinha does a commendable job behind the camera.

 

On the whole despite the very strong merits, the film will find the going tough at the box-office in the ongoing Gadar 2 and OMG 2 wave, though it will surely be one of the most watched films on satellite and OTT's.

OMG 2 l Not Just A Review

By: Amit KumaR Agarwal

 

Peer pressure, bullying and the desire to fit in; how many schools in India 'really' take care of your children. Do you, as a parent, take care of your child or children in 'essence'. India is the most populous nation in the world, yet how many parents are 'fit' to parent. These very important questions are juxtaposed in the plot of OMG 2, which at core has the importance of the need of sex-education in schools. Does the film succeed, read on.

 

Kantilal Mudgal (Pankaj Tripathi) is a devotee of God Shiv. However, he is to undergo the biggest test of his life when his school-going son Vivek (Aarush Varma) is dismissed from school after a video showing him masturbating in the school toilet goes viral. Rather than understanding his son, Kantilal slaps him.

 

However, God Shiv sends one of his ganas (Akshay Kumar) to help Kantilal out. Gana guides Kantilal to file a case in court against school to initiate sex-education in school. Kantilal drags the school to court for not imparting sex education to students. Reinstatement of his son in the school and for apology. When his lawyer leaves, he argues his case himself against the defending lawyer Kamini (Yami Gautam Dhar) in the court of judge Purushottam Nagar (Pavan Malhotra).

 

Today when there is increasing awareness amongst youth in matters related to sex, isn't there a need for sex-education. Who do teenagers discuss sex with, when sex is widely considered taboo, more so in India. How did the country that wrote the epic Kamasutra and was always open about sex, became closed, was it 1200-years of oppressive rule?

 

The subject touches these very important issues though only in a superficial manner and this fact makes the very important subject, not realize it's full potential.

 

While Amit Rai gets full points as a director, as a writer he ought to have given a closure to the film with the boy who committed wrong against Vivek brought to book. Poetic justice!

 

All the actors have done a great job. Akshay Kumar shines in an extended cameo. Pankaj Tripathi gives his career-best performance. Yami Gautam brings the right amount of shrewdness in her character, just watch the scene where Pankaj praises her beauty in court and she silences her husband. Brijendra Kala brings the house down in the scene as the sexologist. Pavan Malhotra does well as the judge. Rajan Bhise is absolutely fantastic as the stenographer-typist explaining with actions chaste hindi to the judge; but it is Aarush Varma as Vivek, Kantilal’s son, the real find of the movie - the way he enacts a wronged teen, is simply astounding. Many teens undergoing a similar situation would identify with him.

 

Even after few shortcomings, I feel this is a very important film for each and every teen to see, not to succumb to peer pressure and bullying and be confident about self; but then the film is certified as adults. I hope the film is made universal, as this is a very important topic that all ought to see, the parents as well as the teens.

Gadar 2 l Not Just A Review

By: Amit KumaR Agarwal

 

2001, the Indian box-office witnessed a Tsunami called Gadar - Ek Prem Katha, few reviewers called it jaded and jingoistic - clearly these critics had no idea about the taste of the masses. Gadar became an iconic film in the history of Indian cinema.

22 years later Anil Sharma returns with Gadar 2, will it repeat the success of Gadar. Read on!

 

Gadar 2 follows the story of Tara Singh (Sunny Deol) and Sakina (Ameesha Patel) now living with their college going son, Jeetey (Utkarsh Sharma).

 

Sakina's father, Ashraf Ali (Amrish Puri) is branded a traitor by pakistani army led by General Hamid Iqbal (Manish Wadhwa) and hanged to death. 

Hamid covertly tries to infiltrate India, and it is assumed Tara Singh is taken captive. Jeetey decides to sneak in Pakistan and take the help of Tara's childhood friend Gul Khan (Mushtaq Khan).

 

However, Tara was never captured by the army; ironically, Jeetey is captured by the army and Tara goes to get his son back.

 

In this plot there is the sub-plot of Jeetey falling in love with a pakistani girl, Muskaan (Simrat Kaur).

 

The main strength of Gadar was its emotional quotient and the stand-out scenes; Gadar 2 tries to repeat it, though it succeeds but only to an extent.

Anil Sharma has done a good job as a director, but while Shaktimaan Talwar's screenplay was flawless in Gadar, here the tempo loses steam in the first half. The dialogues too are not as powerful as the original Gadar.

 

Sunny Deol breathes life in the role of Tara Singh. His action sequences particularly will bring the house down. The way he uproots electric-poles in the climax made many curious what will he uproot in Gadar 3. Utkarsh Sharma is good as Jeetey. Simrat Kaur does a fine job as Muskaan.
 

On the whole, given the huge craze and legacy of Gadar, Gadar 2 will start with a solid business; it might do 300-crores as well which is quite an achievement in today's scenario but the bottom-line is, it will not match the iconic status of the original - Gadar - Ek Prem Katha.

Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani l Not Just A Review

By: Amit KumaR Agarwal

 

Relationships, love and family form the crux of the plot of RARKPK. Just like Luv Ranjan's Tu Jhoothi Mein Makkar, earlier in the year (we even have heroine's lust-at-first-sight for hero's love-at-first-sight). Budgeted almost in the same bracket with TJMM which had the rival youth icon, Ranbir Kapoor in the lead - the template is also almost the same - two families and complexities of the love-birds settling in.

 

Rocky Randhawa (Ranveer Singh) is boisterous munda of a well established punjabi family. Rani Chatterjee (Alia Bhatt) is the proverbial Bengali beauty, a top-TV host. Rocky lives with his parents (Aamir Bashir and Kshitee Jog), grandparents (Dharmendra and Jaya Bachchan) and a sister, Gayatri (Anjali Anand), while Rani’s family has her parents (Tota Roy Choudhury and Churni Ganguly) and grandmother, Jamini Chatterjee (Shabana Azmi).

 

Rocky gets to know about his grandfather's love-affair with Rani's grandmother. In his quest to find the grandma, he hooks up with the grand-daughter, Rani. For Rani it is lust-at-first-sight, but for Rocky, it is love-at-first-sight.

 

The cultural and intellectual differences between Rocky and Rani and their respective families, make the two swap places to convince their families about their prem-kahani.

 

The best test for any creative-form is the longevity and recall of the audiences. Ironically, the film's high points are when the love-birds both, Rocky and Rani and their dada-dadi soak in the golden melodies of yesteryears, some more than 60-year old. Still so fresh and soothing to hear.

 

Will the audiences remember RARKPK after 60 weeks?

 

While Ranveer and Alia are first-rate. Dharmendra is wasted in an ill-etched character. The real hero of the film is the antagonist Jaya Bachchan, she breaks her goody image with a bravura performance. She even mouths the famous Big B dialogue from Johar's previous, K3G - Keh Diya toh bas Keh Diya with the signature tune playing.

 

The high-points in the movie are far apart. The best is Ranveer's and Tota's recreation of Dola Re or Ranveer's breakdown, ironically, of how being judgemental about things is also being judgemental.

 

Karan Johar was firmly in saddle in his last film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, but here he falters mostly because of the excessive length of the film and not giving subtle-treatment required for such a sensitive subject.

 

In the end, a grossly average fare that fails to live up to the mammoth expectations that come with the K Jo tag!

Bawaal l Not Just A Review

By: Amit KumaR Agarwal

 

 

Relationships are getting very very complex and the famed happy Indian marriage may soon be a thing of past. What is required for a marriage to work? Compatibility.

 

In this age of I, me, myself; where image is of prime importance - how do you let go off your false, shallow image; and learn to accept your true-self; worthy.

These two thoughts are masterly woven and juxtaposed in the narrative of Bawaal.

 

With Bawaal, Nitesh Tiwari firmly cements his place in the league of master story-tellers we have today, S.S. Rajamouli and Rajkumar Hirani.

Ajay or Ajju bhai (Varun Dhawan) is a self-centred man who is very image-conscious. A history teacher in a school in Lucknow, he would have people believe that he gave up becoming an IAS officer or join NASA or play in the Indian cricket team because of quirky circumstances. He marries Nisha (Janhvi Kapoor) to flaunt her to boost his image, but right at vidaai, Nisha suffers from epilepsy. Ajay  . is shaken such that he is unwilling to even acknowledge his wife, much to the unhappiness of her parents and even his own parents.

One day he slaps the son of MLA (Mukesh Tiwari). He is suspended for a month. To maintain his image he decides to teach students history from World War II locations. He is forced to take Nisha to Europe, so that his father (Manoj Pahwa) takes the tab. 

 

As he visits places of historical significance during World War II, he keeps posting videos explaining what all transpired there during WWII. These videos educate his students about the War; but slowly and firmly brings about a change in Ajju's life. In the end he realises his folly and apologizes to Nisha for the way he was.

 

It is quite an unusual screenplay - as such it requires deft writing skills to sail through. Nitesh is in total command over the written material and makes a compelling film that has that subtle dose of humor hovering all through the film.

 

Varun Dhawan is brilliant. Jahnvi Kapoor, again after Gunjan Saxena, gives a very credible performance. She together with Sara Ali Khan and Ananya Pandey are the best actresses of the younger generation. Rest of the cast is very good. One actor that deserves a special mention is the octogenarian, a holocaust survivor, that recounts time with his wife - I doubt if any eye isn't moist in this scene. Brilliant act.

 

Nitesh Tiwari has raised the bar such with Bawaal that one just can't wait to see his retelling of Ramayan.

Ajmer 92 l Not Just A Review

By: Amit KumaR Agarwal

 

'Ajmer 92' just like '72 Hoorain' is a very important film, again not because of some cinematic genius, but simply because it is a tight and resounding slap across the face of all those that called 'The Kashmir Files' and 'The Kerala Story' propaganda films. 

 

Having said that, just like '72 Hoorain', the film's narrative lacks the punch a film of such importance ought to have; with the entire world including muslim dominated nations, reeling under islamic extremism.

 

The plot is about the much-reported systematic gang-rape and blackmail of more than 250 girls or more in Ajmer that went on from 1987 till the lid blew in 1992. Just like in reality, the film ends with an open-ending.

 

The weakest link of the film is the protagonist Madhav played by Karan Verma, he is no actor. His reactions do not match the actions happening in the film. In such a set-up, if the film holds at all it is because of the grossly inhuman wrong (infamous sex-scandal of Ajmer) that unfortunately didn't get the 'just' justice.

 

The screenplay omits the fact that the serial-rapists belonged to khadim family of a revered dargah, ironically frequented by Hindus or that they were at the top posts of a political party. Even references to love aatankwaad are muted in the film. Reports say that girls that were raped were as young as 14 and as old as 17. This isn't referred to in the film. Why?

 

Sumit Singh does a fine job as Geeta. Brijendra Kala, Rajesh Sharma and the guy playing Mohan, Aakash Dahiya lend adequate support.

 

In the end just like the victims of Ajmer didn't get the justice (recently, the entire nation is outraged by the stripping and rape of two women in the background of riots, here it is 250 women, children in fact, with no background of riots) the film too fails in giving a taut account of the ordeal. 

 

Just like the case needs a re-hearing, it is to be noted that the rapists were no ordinary rapists, they were serial-rapists, hardened criminals; the sex-scandal of Ajmer too needs a re-telling.

Central Cottage Industries Corporation of India on-boarded to ONDC

• Central Cottage Industries Corporation of India on-boarded to ONDC; to expand market presence and make Handicrafts and Handloom products easily accessible to customers

 

On the occasion of the collaboration of Central Cottage Industries Corporation of India Ltd. (CCIC), a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Textiles with Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and opening of ‘Mega Sale’ promotional campaign, CCIC had organised a grand event in its showroom at Jawahar Vyapar Bhawan, Janpath, New Delhi.

Rachna Shah, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles launched the boarding of CCIC on ONDC digital platform and inaugurated the “Mega Sale” in the presence of Ajay Gupta, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Textiles & MD CCIC; T. Koshy, MD & CEO, ONDC; and other Senior Officials.

CCIC’s collaboration with ONDC signifies CCIC's commitment to expanding its market presence and making its exquisite range of Handicrafts and Handloom products easily accessible to customers across various buyer apps within the ONDC network.

CCIC to support artisans and weavers and to contribute towards the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Vocal 4 Local initiatives has organized ‘Mega Sale’ promotional campaign from 08th-23rd July 2023. In this campaign up to 30% discount has been offered on handicraft & handloom products to promote traditional art, craft and craft persons of India. Each product is genuine, exclusive and authentic and with the assurance of authenticity, quality and value for money the promotional sale will be on till 23rd July, 2023. 10:00 AM to 07:00 PM (All Days).

Central Cottage Industries Corporation of India Ltd. (CCIC), a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Textiles is engaged in the promotion and retail marketing of best of authentic Indian Handloom and Handicraft products through its showrooms in New Delhi, and other metropolitan cities.

Press Release

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, Government of India, Piyush Goyal, is scheduled to visit the UK from 10th-12th July 2023. The Minister's visit will not only be focused on the ongoing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between India and the UK but he will also be meeting with ministers from the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member countries to discuss the progress of the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) with EFTA.

The visit comes at a crucial juncture, as both India and the UK are committed to expanding their economic ties and exploring avenues for enhanced bilateral trade. With the FTA negotiations gaining momentum, the visit aims to further propel the discussions and pave the way for a comprehensive and mutually beneficial agreement that would drive economic growth and strengthen ties between the two nations.

During the visit, the Commerce and Industry Minister will engage in high-level meetings with his UK counterparts, including the Secretary of State for International Trade, as well as representatives from various sectors and industries. These meetings will provide an opportunity to discuss the key priorities and objectives of the FTA negotiations, with a focus on addressing trade barriers, promoting investments, and fostering greater cooperation in areas such as technology, innovation, and intellectual property rights.

Furthermore, the Minister will also meet with ministers and officials from the EFTA member countries, (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein), to assess the progress made in the ongoing negotiations of the TEPA with EFTA. The TEPA aims to enhance trade and economic cooperation between India and the EFTA member countries, fostering an environment conducive to increased investments, reduced trade barriers, and greater market access.

The visit of the Commerce and Industry Minister underscores the commitment of the Indian government to actively engage with its international partners and explore opportunities for economic growth and development. It reflects the determination to forge strong and mutually beneficial trade relationships that will not only benefit the economies of both India and the UK but also contribute to the overall prosperity and welfare of their respective citizens.