Hindi Movie Reviews

Set in India and England and starring two of the greatest living acting legends of our times - czar of the Indian film industry, Amitabh Bachchan and Academy Award Winner Sir Ben Kingsley - Teen Patti is an emotionally riveting and razor sharp thriller about greed, deception and giant feats of imagination. Relayed against the backdrop of modern India - made internationally beloved following the success of Slumdog Millionaire, Teen Patti is one of the most fascinating new films to emerge from Asia, its theme and narrative are so profoundly particular to India that it is ultimately transcendent and therefore universal in its appeal.

Ben Kingsley, who essays Perci Trachtenberg, widely regarded as the world's greatest living mathematician, meets Venkat, played by Amitabh Bachchan, a reclusive math genius from India, at a high rolling casino in London. Venkat tells Perci about an equation that could not only change the dialogue on mathematics forever, but one that has already left an indelible impression of guilt - for many painful reasons - on Venkat's life.

As it turns out, the reclusive genius Venkat has cracked a theory that could redefine the principles of probability and randomness. However, as with all exceptional knowledge, his equation has its upside - as well as its dark underbelly. Aware that he is on the precipice of an extraordinary discovery, one that could find applications across various sciences, Venkat is encouraged to test his theory in the real world by professor Shantanu essayed by Madhavan (the super star from South India), an ambitious colleague of Venkat. Although Venkat has no interest in the money that could come from practicing his equation to crack Teen Patti, (a poker game) which could rake in all the moolah, he eventually succumbs to Shantanu's charismatic persuasion. Soon, with the help of a few students, each with a complicated and singular fate of their own, they explore the addas (underground gambling dens) of wild Bombay, and a series of edge-of-your-seat escapades keep the film moving faster than a bullet.

But what starts out as an experiment between a charismatic young professor and an eccentric older one soon descends into a game neither of them can control. When their lives sink into maddening chaos, the greed and desperation that had fueled them on can no longer save them.Perci understands that Venkat's theory in essence, questions the idea of what is random - and what is fated. A surprising and deeply moving redemption, initiated by Perci, closes this stupendously modern film that is as much about the private equations of honor and chance, and about knowledge that can change the world. But what if the price of this knowledge is life itself?

Rajeshwari (Tabu) is outspoken to the point of rudeness but somehow manages to stay out of trouble. Her mild husband Surinder (Ayub Khan) and two young children have no option but to accept her benign dictatorship. Because whatever Rajeshwari wants she gets! And what she wants more than anything else in the world is to find the Best husband possible for her younger sister Nisha (Yuvika). And "best" to her means, a Saxena boy with a good job, no vices and no Demands for dowry.

When final year engineering student Rahul Saxena (Sharman Joshi) walks Into her house as a tenant, Rajeshwari decides he is the best and does everything in her power to get Nisha and Rahul together. The inevitable happens: Nisha and Rahul fall in love and announce to the delighted Rajeshwari that they want to get married. The wedding preparations are in full swing when Yuvraj Saxena (Vatsal Seth) walks Into Rajeshwari's house. He too is unmarried, good looking, a junior manager with Godrej with a company car and promise of a company house Soon. And best of all - he is a Saxena! Rajeshwari can't believe her luck! She decides that Yuvraj is the best groom for Nisha.

What follows is one hilarious situation after another as the well meaning but thoughtless Rajeshwari tries to manipulate everybody around her to ensure that Nisha marries Yuvraj and not Rahul. But Rahul is a worthy adversary and gives Rajeshwari a dose of her own medicine. But has he underestimated Rajeshwari who will try every trick in the book to outwit them all?

Rizvan Khan, a Muslim man from India, moves to San Francisco and lives with his brother and sister-in-law. Rizvan, who has Aspergers, falls in love with Mandira. Despite protests from his family they get married and start a small business together. They are happy until September 11, 2001 when attitudes towards Muslims undergo a sea-change. When tragedy strikes, Mandira is devastated and they split. Rizvan is confused and very upset that the love of his life has left him. To win her back, he embarks on a touching and inspiring journey across America. My Name is Khan is the triumphant story of an unconventional hero overcoming obstacles to regain the love of his life.

Set in a Mumbai ghetto in the mid 80's and based on true-life accounts, Striker is a story of triumph of human spirit over indomitable odds. Born into a poor family, Surya grows up with few luxuries. Poor health keeps him away from school often and that is when his elder brother, Chandrakant, introduces him to carrom. Quite similar to pool in its concept, carrom is common among people from middle and lower income groups all over India. Precision and skill are vital to playing the game well; attitude and confidence are crucial to win.

The underground carrom scene has been breeding hustlers and gamblers for many years. Winning the Junior Carrom Championship at 12 is not enough to keep Surya's fire for the sport burning through adolescence. Hopes for a job in Dubai, replaces the passion for carrom as Surya grows into a young man. Duped by a bogus overseas employment agency, Surya loses all his hard earned money he had saved for going to Dubai.

Surya is forced to cross paths with Jaleel.Since the 70's when the settlements in the ghetto began, Jaleel had acquired a strong hold in the area. He had his hands in every illicit activity since then. Feeding on the weaknesses of people, Jaleel was the self-proclaimed king of Malwani. Reintroduced to Carrom by his childhood friend Zaid, this time to the hustling scene, Surya starts playing again. Being gypped of his hard earned money by the same man who had caused misery for many families, Surya decides to take on Jaleel on his turf.

His patience and cool attitude are Surya's biggest strengths. But life has ways of testing even the strong.Striker is not a film about good versus evil. It is the story of a friendship, life in the city of dreams in the 80's, a story of a game that is most common but non-existent. A story of a Carrom player who grows up on the fringes of a criminal existence but does not succumb to it.

Ishqiya is a story of romance between individuals caught in a web of crime, suspense, passion, and deceit. Two thieves, Khalujan (Naseeruddin Shah) and Babban (Arshad Warsi), are on the run from their boss, Mushtaq (Salman Shahid). They seek refuge with an old friend, and instead meet his widow, Krishna (Vidya Balan).

As they plan their escape, their time spent together draws the duo to her, Khalu with his tinted vision of old-fashioned love, and Babban with his lustful eye. The threat of imminent death forces them on a path of violence and betrayal. Set in a rural landscape, Ishqiya explores basic human emotions as influenced by desire, greed and revenge..