Raees Movie Review: A typical Bollywood Blockbuster designed for the masses

Kaabil Movie Review : A very simple two-storeyed story told effectively

After the film’s first look came out, there have been speculations that SRK will be playing the character of Abdul Latif, Gujarat’s feared underworld gangster from the 80s. Later, the filmmakers announced that Raees’ character was not an impersonation but just a reflection of Abdul Latif and the other underworld bigwigs of that time

But no matter what the filmmakers say, the story that comes across in the film’s trailer looks pretty similar to the real life-story of Abdul Latif, back in his glory days. 

From a flourishing bootlegging business to land deals, smuggling and a whole lot of illegal activity, Abdul Latif was and still remains one of the most feared Gujarati gangsters.

So, before you watch Raees, here’s the story of Latif that’ll further add on to your excitement.

 

Hailing from a financially backward settlement, Latif learnt about the importance of money at a very young age. He started delivering alcohol for bootleggers as a young boy, while waiting tables in underground bars that had gangsters as regulars. The man soon made contacts in the underworld circuit and next thing you know, he was the undisputed king of the illegal alcohol trade in the dry state of Gujarat, running a business worth millions. 

The man also had his hands full with land deals, drugs, hawala and what not.

Latif’s businesses were blooming and his image was that of a local Robin Hood. He established a huge fan-base by donating large sums of money. The man had solid connections in politics and as the most probable next move, Latif contested for elections.

By the time the election results came out, Latif was in jail and yet, managed to win in five municipal wards. But he was soon disqualified and his political career met with a sudden end. 

But the man’s popularity was so immense, later, many contemporary politicians from his party were found running their respective campaigns in Latif’s name, to cash on his vote banks. 

 

Abdul Latif was not someone who believed in competition, primarily because he was famous for completely wiping out his rival gangs, the Radhika Gymkhana Killings being one of the biggest examples.

All this and his involvement in the 1993 Mumbai blasts with Dawood Ibrahim made Latif become one of the most-wanted gangsters in India. 

By the time Latif was caught, he had over 97 cases in his name, involving murder, terrorism, bootlegging, kidnapping and much more.

The man met his end in 1997 in Sabarmati Jail where he was put after being captured in 1995. He was shot dead by unknown people, while trying to escape. 

 

We don’t know how much of Latif’s life will find place in Raees’ story but check it out yourself and discover.

It’s a box office clash that has been widely spoken about — but there are high chances that “Kaabil” and “Raees”, releasing on Friday, will do exceedingly well as they are both eminently watchable films.

This time, the level of engagingness in both the films is high. Both are love stories. Intense love stories.

In “Kaabil”, Hrithik Roshan loves his wife to death, whose death you will know soon enough, and HE is ready to go to any lengths to avenge the wrong done to her. The last 20 minutes of “Kaabil” are so heart-in-the-mouth, you would be advised to hold your bursting bladders until the last drop of blood is shed and avenged on screen.

“Kaabil” is by far Sanjay Gupta’s best work, more emotional and dramatic than any of the violent sagas he has narrated in the past. Hrithik gives his finest, most searing and passionate performance since “Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai” and “Guzaarish”. His intensity of emotional expression is disturbing, haunting.

“Raees” is also a love story. And it’s got nothing to do with Mahira Khan. Shah Rukh Khan’s character of a man of ill-gotten power and wealth from Gujarat in the 1980s, is in love. With himself. Since I believe Shah Rukh in real life truly loves himself, the merger of the actor and the character is so brutally complete, it’s like watching mirror images of two identical souls — one off camera, the other on it –dressed in very different clothes.

“Raees” is also about how two heterosexual men can be bonded spiritually even while being on separate sides of the firing line. This is perhaps the first time in his entire career as a leading man that Shah Rukh has found a co-star who is compelling in his own right.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui, when pitched against Shah Rukh. truly defines what ‘The Clash Of The Titans’ means. He does with Shah Rukh what a Rishi Kapoor or Vinod Khanna could never do with Amitabh Bachchan.

Tit for tat.

The two actors keep us ruthlessly riveted to the screen. The movement of the plot is almost maniacal, to match the manic energy and mutinous passion of the two men at each other’s throats.

More than anything else, the two films this week prove what Hindi cinema has known all along. Nothing can replace the cult of superstardom. The mysticism, magic and magnetism that Khan and Roshan bring to the screen, have to be seen to be believed.

Don’t pick one between “Raees” and “Kaabil”. Go see both.

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Superstar Shah Rukh Khan says his co-actors in “Raees” come from a “real world of acting” and this helped him deliver a more realistic performance in the upcoming film.

The Rahul Dholakia directed starrer features Pakistani actress Mahira Khan as his leading lady. It also has Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub in vital roles.

Shah Rukh has worked with all three of them for the first time.

Talking about his experience of working with them, he told the media here: “They all come from a real world of acting. They haven’t done cinema as popular as I have done. For me to play Raees, it was important to be surrounded by people who approached the scene very realistically.

“Mahira, Nawaz or Zeeshan approached the scenes very differently than what I used to do. When they performed, their realism got reflected in my performance. This is the reason we wanted to cast new people, who haven’t acted with me before, in the film.”

“Raees” is releasing on January 25. Shah Rukh will also feature in Imtiaz Ali’s film with Anushka Sharma and in a cameo in Salman Khan starrer “Tubelight”.

-IANS

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]]> https://glint.tv/movies/competing-with-myself-not-srk-salman-akshay-aamir-khan/ Thu, 12 Jan 2017 10:52:11 +0000 https://glint.tv/?p=6981

Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan runs his own race. He says he doesn’t compete with anyone in the film industry, however, he feels motivated by his colleagues’ work.

“I’m only competing with myself. I don’t compete with Shah Rukh (Khan), Salman (Khan), Akshay (Kumar) or anyone. However, when my colleagues do great work, it always inspires me,” said Aamir.

The “PK” star spoke to the media here on Thursday through a video conference to discuss the success of his latest release “Dangal”, which has emerged as the highest grossing Hindi film.

As he was asked about his favourite films of other actors, he cited some of Shah Rukh’s films.

“I really liked many of Shah Rukh’s films, especially ‘Chak De! India’, ‘Swades’, ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ and DDLJ (‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’)” Aamir added.

Overwhelmed by the success of “Dangal”, which has crossed the Rs 350-crore mark at the Indian box office, Aamir said: “I am amazed by the reaction that ‘Dangal’ has received. People have loved the film so much. It is very rare to get such kind of a reaction.”

“Dangal” tells the story of real life wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat, who trains his daughters to become champions in the sport.

About his favourite scenes in the film, he said: “The father-daughter wrestling challenge”. He also praised the work of actresses Sanya Malhotra and Fatima Sana Shaikh, who play his on-screen daughters in the movie.

The film is directed by Nitesh Tiwari.

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]]> https://glint.tv/movies/raees-a-pure-work-of-fiction-say-makers/ Tue, 13 Dec 2016 06:17:19 +0000 https://glint.tv/?p=6274

The makers of superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s much-awaited entertainer “Raees” have said the film is not based on any real life story and is a pure work of fiction.

The clarification comes in the wake of reports that Shah Rukh’s character in the film is inspired by about Gujarat-based gangster Abdul Latif.

“We are overwhelmed with the positive and encouraging response showered on the trailer of ‘Raees’ and we certainly hope that the pouring of love shall continue upon the release of the film as well,” read a joint statement issued on behalf of Shah Rukh, Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan Akhtar and director Rahul Dholakia.

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The statement further read: “In view of certain media reports that claim that the film ‘Raees’ is based on a real life story and rumours to that effect being circulated, we take this opportunity to clarify that the story of the film ‘Raees’ is a pure work of fiction, Not based on any person; living or dead.

“All those making such claims, will realise it themselves, once they see the film. It is an imagined crime thriller set against the backdrop of Gujarat.”

Set in 1980s Gujarat, “Raees” tells the story of a bootlegger whose business is thwarted by a tough policeman. The film is produced by Excel Entertainment and Red Chillies Entertainment.

The film also features Nawazuddin Siddiqui and marks the Bollywood debut of Pakistani actress Mahira Khan.

IANS

Bollywood celebrities, including megastar Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and A.R. Rahman, paid tributes to veteran movie star-turned-politician J. Jayalalithaa, who died in Chennai on Monday night after suffering a cardiac arrest.

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Jayalalithaa died at 11.30 p.m. on Monday, triggering immense grief across the state. She was 68.

Here’s what B-Town celebrities said:

Amitabh Bachchan: Deeply grieved at the passing of Jayalalithaa ji… a strong woman…

Shah Rukh Khan: Sad to hear of the passing away of Jayalalithaaji. May her soul rest in peace.

A.R. Rahman: Respect and condolences to the people who love Puratchi Thalaivi Jayalalithaa… We will miss her forever.

Randeep Hooda: An actor who did so many real things that affected so many people. A real woman in the time of feminism… RIP ‘Amma’.

Hema Malini: Tamil Nadu admired and adored her as did people all over India. She was a much respected leader who held her own in a world of men. RIP Jaya!

Prabhudheva: RIP ‘Amma’. You are our inspiration, greatest Chief Minister in many ways. You will always be remembered.

Kunal Kohli: Jayalalithaa, in a man’s world she was a woman of substance. Tougher than a man. Kind like an ‘Amma’. No family yet Amma to millions.

Kailash Kher: Jayalalithaa still lives in millions of hearts. A politician with the soul of an artiste. May your soul rest in peace.

IANS

Rohan Joshi, who is a part of the popular comedy group All India Bakchod (AIB), says it would be “extremely fun” to roast Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, but he is too big for him to imitate.

“I believe SRK would be extremely fun to roast. He is one of those people who will get up and destroy you once you’re done roasting him. SRK is insanely smart and so funny,” Rohan said on the TV show “Yaar Mera Superstar Season 2”, where he was joined by AIB’s co-founder-creator Tanmay Bhat.

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However, Rohan shared that the group might not think about imitating Shah Rukh.

“The old ‘K K Kiran’ dialogue and his favourite pose are done to death. I don’t know how to imitate a 25 years of success,” Rohan said.

“So all that we can do is ‘K K Kiran’ only, because that’s all we can achieve. He is too big for us to imitate him, we will have to age really fast to reach there and do some supernatural roles to get that kind of fame and still seem impossible,” he added.

During the chat, Rohan also talks about dating Alia Bhatt’s sister Shaheen Bhatt.

“Yes, I am dating Alia’s sister Shaheen Bhatt but that doesn’t make me the ‘Bollywood’ boy. In fact, I am the least Bollywood out of all of us,” he said.

The episode of “Yaar Mera Superstar Season 2” featuring Rohan and Tanmay will be aired on Zoom on Saturday.

IANS

Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt is stunned by his daughter Alia Bhatt’s work in Gauri Shinde’s directorial “Dear Zindagi”. He also has impressive words to say about superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s performance in the film.

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“I am not aware what kind of responses ‘Dear Zindagi’ is getting. But I watched and I am staggered by Gauri’s work, awestruck by Alia. Also I’ve never seen Shah Rukh onscreen the way he has emerged in this film,” said Bhatt at the launch of Vinod Pande’s book “Saanvri”.

“It is an out of the box and brave film. ‘Dear Zindagi’ makes Indian cinema proud. It is a new turn into a zone, which is going to bring many surprises,” he added.

Written also by Shinde, the film also stars Kunal Roy Kapoor, Ali Zafar and Angad Bedi. It was released on Friday.

IANS

Of course you’d be bogged down if your debut and only film is as successful and critically acclaimed as ‘English Hinglish’. Director Gauri Shinde took four years to come up with her second film. Even by lofty ad film standards that’s awfully slow (a 10 second ad film takes days to shoot). If the audience then expects something spectacular, you can’t blame them can you?

Her latest offering ‘Dear Zindagi’ begins well. Alia Bhatt manages to bite her teeth into her complex character superbly. If you think Alia has already exhausted displaying her range of emotions on screen in her earlier films, she definitely surprises you. Keira (Alia) is a free-spirited cinematographer, who is afraid of long-term relationships with men and goes through a gamut of traumatic emotions and depression.

Alia scores big in these portions of the film – although am waiting to come across a cinematographer who does steady cam him/herself (as Alia shown in the first scene). It’s a specialised job to carry 15-30 kg weight of camera equipment and only the big and sturdy fit into the profession. 

Till this was the premise, the film holds true, rather Alia holds fort and you are waiting in anticipation. You enjoy the shot takings and editing of the setting of an urban milieu – Alia being surrounded by quite well-off friends and getting wooed by hot shot producers (Kunal Kapoor) and restaurateurs (Angad Bedi). And Gauri’s Ad film background helped her making the scenes interesting and somewhat believable. 

But then Kaira plunges into a big bout of depression after being dumped by one of the suitors and the movie travels to her hometown Goa. Here she finally meets DD (Dimag ka Doctor) Shah Rukh Khan. As DD, Shah Rukh Khan virtually plays him. He has all the answers, looks great for a change in different shades of linen pants and shirts and yes does an adequate job of playing himself in most part. But here you lose interest.

There is absolutely no clue who is Shah Rukh Khan (Dr Jehangir Khan) in the movie – a psychiatrist, a psychologist or a psycho analyst? He takes analysis session with patients in the most unconventional ways (outdoor, running around in his room, using chairs and tables as symbolism to prove his point). This is called stretching Bollywood film liberty to the maximum. This is also where Kaira becomes Alia; the character sounds more like the Alia who appears on Koffee with Karan and various promotional events.  

The long verbose exchanges between Kaira and Dimag ka Doctor become more and more simplistic, inexplicable and downright boring.

And there is every chance you wouldn’t agree to the ending. The very little music in the movie of Amit Trivedi may be adequate but fails to inject life.

Amongst the positives the ‘Highway’ girl Alia Bhatt again betters herself – comes up with a five-star performance. And the movie has all the technical sleekness expected when an Ad filmmaker makes a feature film.  

Actors Kamal Haasan and Shah Rukh Khan have been invited to the first look launch of superstar Rajinikanth’s upcoming Tamil science-fiction drama “2.0”, a source said.

“Invitations have been sent to both Kamal sir and Shah Rukhji, and even arrangements have been made for their hospitality. However, they are yet to confirm their presence, and hence, an official announcement is still pending,” a source from the film’s unit told IANS.

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Filmmaker Karan Johar will emcee the event, which will take place at Yash Raj Films studios in the presence of the entire cast of “2.o”, a Rs 350 crore magnum opus being directed by Shankar.

Apart from the first look poster, the lead characters from the film will be unveiled in 3D at the event.

Also starring Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey and Adil Hussain, the film has music by Oscar winner A.R. Rahman.

The first look of “2.o” will be revealed to the public for the first time and will be live streamed on the Lyca Production YouTube channel and in Lyca mobile app on both Android and iOS platforms.

IANS