U Me Aur Hum Review

Aamir Khan has raised the bar with Taare Zameen Par. Comparisons between Aamir and Ajay Devgan, who makes his directorial debut with U Me Aur Hum, would be erroneous, but you can't turn a blind eye to the fact that the viewer would expect an encore with U Me Aur Hum. Will U Me Aur Hum live up to the humungous hype and expectations? Does Devgan have the trappings of a fine storyteller? Oh yes, he does!

Let's come to the point right away. Devgan needs to be lauded for choosing a daringly different theme in his debut film and most importantly, doing justice to it, handling it with extreme care. We know him as a powerful actor, now there's yet another designation added to his name -- avant-garde director.

Let's move on to the next query! Is the real-life couple -- Ajay and Kajol -- as dynamic yet again? The answer is, they're electrifying. Both pitch in bravura performances, reaffirming the fact that this jodi is amongst the finest of this generation.

One of the prime reasons why U Me Aur Hum works, and works big time, is because it's aimed at the heart. Anyone who's into relationships, anyone who believes in love, anyone who thinks from the heart, anyone who has watched his/her partner grapple a grave disease, will identify with a film like U Me Aur Hum.

To cut a long story short, U Me Aur Hum marks the birth of a powerhouse of talent. Watch U Me Aur Hum for various reasons, but most importantly, watch it for a new director who respects your 2.30 hours and the hard-earned bucks that you invest on watching his movie. It's time to fall in love with love… again!

Story: The first time Ajay [Ajay Devgan] saw Pia [Kajol], she served him drinks. She affected him more than the alcohol, it was love at first sight. The first time Pia saw Ajay, he had a drink too many. She watched him make a fool of himself and was relieved when he passed out.

Ajay is on a cruise with his friends -- Nikhil [Sumeet Raghavan] and Reena [Divya Dutta], unhappily married, and Vicky [Karan Khanna] and Natasha [Isha Sharwani], happily unmarried. Ajay is having a wonderful time dealing with martial strife, lots of bad language and huge hangovers, when he finds Pia and time stands still.

After a disastrous first meeting, Ajay tries everything to woo her. He wants her, by hook, crook or even her little private notebook. She's not an easy catch at all, but finally, by sheer perseverance, he dances his way into her heart. Ajay and Pia develop a strong and special bond.

Happy marriages begin when we marry the ones we love, and they blossom when we love the ones we marry. And Ajay-Pia love each other dearly, but no marriages can be complete without problems, and Ajay and Pia have also have to face hurdles. Kajol is diagnosed with Alzheimer's. How does the couple face the crisis?

The one thing you must carry when you set out to watch U Me Aur Hum is a kerchief. For, this film makes you shed a tear at times, cry at places and weep in at least two vital sequences. But it's not just rona-dhona that you get to see in U Me Aur Hum.

The first hour, strictly average in terms of writing, has several sunshine moments. It's breezy, funny, at times silly, but interesting. What also catches your eye is the eye-filling cinematography [Aseem Bajaj in top form, yet again] on the cruise. The songs, the glam look, the subtle humor… you don't take to the film instantly, but you know for a fact that a volcano is brewing.

And the volcano does erupt in the second hour! Ajay Devgan, the director, shows his expertise in this hour as the story does an about-turn, exposing the delicate, sensitive and fragile relationships. Devgan reserves the best for the concluding reels and you finally get the answers in the end.

U Me Aur Hum is more of a director's film, than anyone else's. A theme like the one projected in this film could go dangerously haywire if entrusted in inept hands, but Devgan seems to have done his homework well. The only glitch is the length in its second hour. A shorter narrative would've only helped!

Robin Bhatt, Sutanu Gupta and Akarsh Khurana's screenplay casts a hypnotic spell in the second hour. Sure, the germ stems from The Notebook [2004; James Garner, Gena Rowlands, Rachel McAdams], but the writers have altered the screenplay keeping Indian sensibilities in mind. It works! Ashwani Dhir's dialogues touch the core of your heart. Every spoken sentence has a meaning. Vishal Bhardwaj's music may not be a chartbuster, but it alternates between soulful and melancholic beautifully. Aseem Bajaj's cinematography is topnotch. Monty Sharma's background score is effective.

Now to the performances! U Me Aur Hum is like a medal that glimmers on Ajay Devgan's body of work. He's exceptional! Kajol, well, what can you say of an actress who has proved herself time and again? That she's undoubtedly the best has been proved yet again. Sumeet Raghavan is first-rate. Divya Dutta gets into the groove in the subsequent portions. Karan Khanna and Isha Sharwani are okay. Sachin Khedekar does a fine job. Aditya Rajput and Hazel get minimal scope.

On the whole, U Me Aur Hum is a well-made, absorbing love story that's high on the emotional quotient. And that holds tremendous appeal for ladies/families mainly. At the box-office, it's the kind of film that will gather more and more speed with each passing show. Its business at multiplexes should be fantastic. Overseas too should be excellent. Very strongly recommended!

Chitrangada says no to item song

She is suddenly doing a lot of things. The one thing that Chitrangada is not doing is ...an item song! "That's completely untrue. I am not doing an item song in Sudhir Mishra's film. I don't know where that came from. Or maybe I do...One day Sudhir Mishra made a vague suggestion jokingly. 'Why don't you do an item song?' Suddenly the next thing I heard in Mauritius, where I was shooting for Onir's Sorry Bhai, is that I'm doing an item song in Sudhir's film Tera Kya Hoga Johnny."

In Mauritius, Chitrangada was working hard to make her comeback look worth it. "And the next thing I read was that I was partying all night and arriving late on location, and also that I was doing an item song for Tera Kya Hoga Johnny. I suppose all this makes my life sound exciting."

Ayesha special b'day gift from beau

While everyone lavishes expensive gifts on birthdays, Ayesha Takia's beau restaurateur Farhan Azmi had a 'cheesy' gift for her birthday. He celebrated Ayesha's 23rd birthday yesterday with a Philadelphia cream New York cheese cake baked by himself! As the actress is allergic to chocolates, he made a strawberry cheesecake.

Farhan brought in Ayesha's birthday at her Versowa home with a surprise birthday party on April 9. Farhan says, "Ayesha didn't want a big party so we celebrated her birthday at home. I baked a a Philadelphia cream New York cheese cake specially for her at my restaurant Cafe Basilico.

Apart from the Philly cheese cake there were doughnuts, munchkins which are like chocolate bomb filled bluberry fillings and sugar and different types of cheesecake which Ayesha loves."

Farhan adds that though Ayesha has been keeping a strict watch on her diet and weight, Sundays, birthdays are binge days. "Ayesha has lost so much weight that I am worried about her," Farhan says.

Says Ayesha, "We don't need an occasion to exchange gifts as we keep splurging on each other all the time. I just gorged myself on the food that was cooked at home as I have been on a strict diet.

It was chill out time with family and Farhan. I have been eating only vegetables, salads and fruits and gymming everyday. I have also been learning the Ramdev Swamy school of yoga and have lost 10 kilos in six months." Ayesha's current list of films include Prabhudeva's Wanted, E Niwas's De Taali, Nagesh Kukunoor's Eight By Ten and Ahmed Khan's Paathshaala.

Anil hasn't returned Jackie's jeans for 10 years

Anil Kapoor is still clinging on to a pair of jeans he had borrowed from Jackie Shroff ages ago! He refuses to return it as 'they are lucky for him.' Anil says he owns two pair of jeans (Polo) which he wears almost 363 days of the year and two pairs of shoes boots and keds which he has worn for years.

"Jackie (Shroff) had given me pair of khaki jeans for Priyan's Virasat (1997) which I still haven't returned as I feel it's my lucky jeans. Jackie maang, maang ke thak gaya. He begs and pleads with me to return them least once a month but I refuse to return it. The other pair of jeans is a black one. The khaki one I wear for all my films (including Tashan) and I almost live in the black one."

His penchant for the old and familiar does not apply only to jeans, "I have a pair of leather boots and a pair of keds which I have worn in every film of film starting from Woh Saat Din to Mashaal and after. I feel comfortable wearing my old stuff, particularly my keds. And my trademark stubble, which most actors sport these days. I was the first star to start this look many years ago and today my stubble is synonymous with me. Recently, Abhishek told me that the stubble proved to be lucky for him as well. It was my suggestion that he grow it for Yuva."

Anil says he started sporting a stubble to look older than his age, "In my first film Woh Saat Din, I was pitted opposite Naseeruddin Shah then stars like Dharmendra, Dilip Kumar and Shatrughan Sinha. I was a kid. I kept wondering how would I look like an adult playing a lawyer, goonda or dada? My six-pack was my stubble."

Anil plays Bhaiyyaji in Tashan. "I found the role in Tashan really exciting. Bhaiyyaji is more than just an underworld don. I get to use a mixture of many languages including Bhojpuri, Hindi and English."

According to Jackie Shroff, "The jeans that I gave Anil were my lucky jeans. He borrowed it from me once promising to return it but never did. They are a beautiful khaki coloured pair with pockets on the side. He said it was the look that he wanted to play the character in Viraasat. Anil has always been after my jeans.

During Mashaal, when he would go to meet his girlfriend (and now his wife, Sunita) at Napean Sea Road, I would hang out with my cool look. I have been begging him to return my jeans. But Anil is my bro. He can keep them if he really wants to.

Riya Sen

Deepika, Upen intimate photos leaked

Bollywood's latest sensation Deepika Padukone is in the news again for all the wrong reasons. The sensational photos of her getting to bed with her ex boyfriend Upen Patel, have leaked and circulating in the media.

It is rumoured that actor Upen had deliberately leaked the pictures to the media, just to grab media attention, as Deepika has turned a hot actress now. The duo had taken the pictures a couple of years ago during a photo shoot for Wendell. Upen Patel however denied that he spread the steamy photos.

Sourse: http://entertainment.oneindia.in

David Dhawan is Back with two films

After an eight-month sabbatical, the irrepressible David Dhawan, who churned out hits like “Mujhse Shaadi Karogi” and “Biwi No. 1″, is back in the swing of things and will direct two films.
“The layoff has done me good. I needed the break from direction, yaar! It’s not as if I was sitting idle at home. I was a judge on a dance show (’Nach Baliye’). That I enjoyed thoroughly. I was finalising the scripts for my next two films and spending time with my family,” Dhawan told IANS.
Dhawan is teaming up with Govinda for producer Vashu Bhagnani’s next film. The duo has given successful films like “Hero No. 1″, “Coolie No.1″ and last year’s hit movie “Partner”, which also starred the director’s another favourite actor, Salman Khan.
“The first would be for my friend Vashu Bhagnani with my dear friend Govinda in the lead. It’ll be an out-and-out David-Govinda dhamaka, the kind that audiences will expect from us,” said Dhawan.
“This would be my sixth film with Vashu - can you believe it? We still continue to believe in each other! We’re looking for an interesting title for the film. But my next ‘Hook Ya Crook’ written by Rensil D’Silva is a complete departure from everything I’ve done so far.”
In Bhagnani’s untitled film, Dhawan is repeating the Govinda-Lara Dutta pair after Ravi Chopra’s “Pappu Pass Ho Gaya”. The film will also star Riteish Deshmukh.
While the Bhagnani project takes him into familiar territory, Dhawan has decided on a completely new team for “Hook Ya Crook”.
“Rensil wrote the full script for me immediately after ‘Rang De Basanti’. He’s an amazing writer. His film for me is unbelievable. I’ve decided on John Abraham for the lead. One more major leading man has to be selected. This is a darkish film with violence in it. But nothing that would make the audiences alarmed, ‘What’s wrong with David Dhawan?’
Dhawan’s son Rohit is also ready to turn director this year.
“In a couple of months, Rohit will be ready with his project. I’ll most probably be producing the film along with a corporate house.”

Sourse: http://www.freshnews.in

Ajay didn't charge for U, Me Aur Hum

The latest promos of Ajay Devgan's directorial debut venture, U, Me Aur Hum, have shut up those section of the trade who found the prior ones to be not very happening and 'thanda'. The promos give an indication that the film has comedy, emotions and a lot of drama.
For those who are not aware, Ajay completed U, Me Aur Hum in less than a year and spent around Rs. 25 crores to make it. And that too without him providing for his fees as an actor and now as a director!
Being a matter of fact person, Ajay does not fire the stereotype maker's line about how the table profit is already in (while the truth may be far from it!). He confesses that he will be safe and not in the red, to be precise make money, only if the movie works at the box-office.

Sourse: http://entertainment.oneindia.in

Katrina gives a Slice of her hot look

You will still mistake her for a model. She's got the looks, height, intelligence and luck. Yes, Katrina Kaif was a model but today, she is the number one actress in Bollywood following the success of her films Namastey London, Partner, Apne and Welcome last year. The million dollar question that everyone wants to know is, what makes her look so hot? Here is her recommendation.

The sexy actress recommends Slice to look hot. The irony is that she is the brand ambassador for PepsiCo's mango juice drink brand Slice. She will also be the face for Slice Mangola, the local brand of Slice in Mumbai.

Well, there is no stopping for Katrina. Her latest release Race is on the verge of becoming a big hit. Her other film Singh Is Kinng also promises big. It is also said that she has signed a 6 crore deal with TV 18 for two films. With so much happening in her life, Katrina has every chance to become the undisputed queen of Bollywood!

Sourse: http://entertainment.oneindia.in

"One Two Three can survive with Race" - Tusshar

Race is fetching mind blowing reaction with classes, masses, old and young audience, A, B as well as C centres giving it a Thumbs Up. A universal success, this Abbas Mustan film is having a dream run and given its producers, TIPS, a shot in the arm after not-so-heartening show of Naqaab. However, this isn't quite giving sleepless nights to Tusshar Kapoor, the lead actor of One Two Three which released last Friday.

Doesn't the mass hysteria being evidenced for Race bother him?

"Not really", says Tusshar, "Yes, Race is a good success and no one would negate that. However, One Two Three was always planned to come during this season when school/college exams get over. The film has children and youth as its target audience and I am sure they would be visiting theatres to have some good time."

With Race turning out to be exceptionally good, it is expected that substantial crowds would continue to spill over even in the second week. Would One Two Three be able to survive the onslaught?

Says Tusshar categorically, "It should, I don't see any reason why One Two Three should be overtly worried? At the end of the day, a good film is a good film and it would run if it has substance. Though we are coming solo, I myself understand that if a film doesn't have any substance, then even a solo week or a solo month doesn't matter."

He adds, "See, two films can comfortably survive together in a single week. While Race is doing well, we should be doing well too. The film's buzz is good and the promos have always been appreciated for the laughter quotient the film promises to bring along. In any case, I am superbly confident of One Two Three and I am sure it would click with the audience.

Sourse: http://entertainment.oneindia.in

Katrina On double Hattric

Katrina Kaif is one actress in Bollywood who makes hay when the sun shines. Being the only actress to have given four consecutive hits in Apne, Namaste London, Partner and Welcome, the actress just goes on and on and here she comes, with her 5th hit and one of the most successful films of 2008, Race.

A perfect combination of glamour and talent, Katrina poses a serious threat to the Numero Uno spot and she is surely a damsel to be watched out for!!

Sourse: http://entertainment.oneindia.in