Teen Patti Movie Review
Director: Leena YadavCast: Amitabh Bachchan, R Madhavan, Shraddha Kapoor
The earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed. That's so true! Let's face it, money is the root of all evil. When we have more, it is never enough. This is exactly what Leena Yadav's TEEN PATTI tells you.
TEEN PATTI is not only about gambling on table, but all those gambles that we take in our life. Bearing an uncanny resemblance to the Hollywood film 21, TEEN PATTI is akin to a roller coaster ride; if there are highs, expect the lows too.
Leena Yadav's take on greed and deception has some defining moments, but the fact is that the writing lacks clarity. Let me explain. Probability is a very interesting theory in mathematics. But the problem is, is it easy to comprehend for the average viewer? Frankly, despite Leena's best efforts, only a handful of viewers will be able to comprehend the goings on and the theory of probability.
Besides, the narrative is such that it caters to the intelligentsia mainly. For the average moviegoer, thirsting for entertainment, it has little to offer.
The reclusive genius Venkat [Amitabh Bachchan] has cracked a theory that could redefine the principles of probability and randomness. Venkat is encouraged to test his theory in the real world by professor Shantanu [Madhavan], an ambitious colleague of Venkat.
Although Venkat has no interest in the money that could come from practicing his equation to crack 'Teen Patti', which could rake in all the moolah, he eventually succumbs to Shantanu's charismatic persuasion. Soon, with the help of a few students, they explore the underground gambling dens of Mumbai.
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.
It takes time to get the hang of things in TEEN PATTI. But once the two professors and the students begin their sojourn to the dark alleys, the film comes into its own from thereon.
The story moves back and forth, with Bachchan narrating his side of the story in flashbacks to Sir Ben, which is well integrated in the narrative. The intermission point - when the mystery about the unknown caller deepens - only heightens the expectations from the post-interval portions.
But there're hiccups! The pace gets excruciatingly slow in this hour and also, it tends to get repetitive. Among the cameos - Jackie Shroff, Ajay Devgn, Tinnu Anand and Shakti Kapoor - only the ones featuring Tinnu and Shakti stand out, while Ajay's scene seems forced.
The writing is erratic [Shiv Subramanyam, Leena Yadav], with some portions touching the peak, while a few touching the ebb. The suicide of one of the students and how it puts an end to the game is a master stroke from the writing point of view. Bachchan's speech in the finale, when he's bestowed with the Sir Isaac Newton Award, moves you no end. But between the suicide and the finale, the film tends to get uninteresting.
Leena's direction shows maturity in her second outing. A number of sequences are deftly executed. But how one wished Leena would learn the art of narrating stories within commercial parameters. Aseem Bajaj's cinematography is striking. The visuals are simply incredible. Salim-Sulaiman's music has two catchy tracks - 'Neeyat' [the moves of the dancer are tantalising] and the track towards the end credits. The usage of B&W in this song is truly imaginative. The choreography of both these songs [Ashley Lobo] is superb.
Bachchan plays the role of a mathematician with remarkable ease. One cannot imagine anyone else in this character other than Bachchan. Especially noteworthy are the sequences between Bachchan and Sir Ben. Madhavan is excellent. The actor displays the grey shades most convincingly. The film introduces four new talents and each is confidence personified. Siddharth, Shraddha and Dhruv get maximum footage and they stand out. Vaibhav has tremendous screen presence, but his role lacks meat.
Raima Sen is alright. Barry John is first-rate. Anjan Srivastava is good. Mahesh Manjrekar is effective. Saira Mohan is hardly there. Sir Ben Kingsley is an amazing actor and expectedly, he's brilliant here. It's a treat to watch these two magicians - Sir Ben and Bachchan - perform on screen.
On the whole, TEEN PATTI is a fresh concept for Indian viewers, made well, but limits itself to the intelligentsia and big city audiences mainly.
By Taran Adarsh : Bollywoodhungama
Source: Teen Patti Movie Review
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Movie Review : Karthik Calling Karthik
‘Karthik Calling Karthik’ is a paranoia-inducing suspenser about a spit personality in this sort of psycho thriller toned mind–game of a movie.It is the story of a lovable loser Karthik(Farhan), who lives in fear and how his life changes with the help of someone who also claims to be Karthik calls him and makes him a confident human being but things take a ugly turn when he doesn’t listens to one of his advice and loses his job and his pretty girlfriend Shonali (Deepika) and when he overcomes, the viewer gets introduced to an unknown secret.The film makes you sympathise with Karthik. And yes, you get the jitters every time the phone rings. Even though it's pretty clear by the interval what the film is about, the suspense remains till the end. You don't know till the end if it's about something supernatural or not. Watch the film to know the truth.
Writer-director Vijay Lalwani has made KCK with a lot of love and has been able to make a thriller out of a story about the games our mind plays. Its Hollywood style treatment is good and so is the editing. It's an old story in a new format, but the humour in the dialogues makes it watchable.
Farhan Akhtar, jack and master of all trades, is as impressive an actor as he is a filmmaker. He essays his character, that the viewer is at once sympathetic to and wary of, with remarkable
control.Deepika is fab. She enacts her role earnestly making it real and identifiable. The lack of drop-dead gorgeousness is exactly what works; her casual, everyday prettiness is absolutely charming.Complex, fun, bright, this is a pair you absolutely love. It is to advertising professional-turned writer-director Vijay Lalwani's credit for making his character so likeable and real. Lalwani's storytelling is unconventional, fresh, and honest.Ram Kapoor as the Boss and the immensely gifted Shefali Chhaya as the psychiatrist chip in with valuable support.
The film has an accomplished technical crew. Cinematography by Sanu Varghese, Aarti Bajaj's editing, Baylon Fonseca's sound are all superlative. Music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy is melodious with lovely words by Javed Akhtar.
As for the flaws,the movie does overlook some vital aspects in the characterization and takes liberties which are not easy to digest.Like normally a person suffering form Schizophrenia is
not aware of what the other character is doing but here its shown that he is aware and unaware according to the demand of the script.The winding up of the entire plot is hurried and appeared forced that threatens to almost kill the tempo and the mystery tone which was twined around.
Farhan Akhtar, jack and master of all trades, is as impressive an actor as he is a filmmaker. He essays his character, that the viewer is at once sympathetic to and wary of, with remarkable
control.Deepika is fab. She enacts her role earnestly making it real and identifiable. The lack of drop-dead gorgeousness is exactly what works; her casual, everyday prettiness is absolutely charming.Complex, fun, bright, this is a pair you absolutely love. It is to advertising professional-turned writer-director Vijay Lalwani's credit for making his character so likeable and real. Lalwani's storytelling is unconventional, fresh, and honest.Ram Kapoor as the Boss and the immensely gifted Shefali Chhaya as the psychiatrist chip in with valuable support.
The film has an accomplished technical crew. Cinematography by Sanu Varghese, Aarti Bajaj's editing, Baylon Fonseca's sound are all superlative. Music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy is melodious with lovely words by Javed Akhtar.
As for the flaws,the movie does overlook some vital aspects in the characterization and takes liberties which are not easy to digest.Like normally a person suffering form Schizophrenia is
not aware of what the other character is doing but here its shown that he is aware and unaware according to the demand of the script.The winding up of the entire plot is hurried and appeared forced that threatens to almost kill the tempo and the mystery tone which was twined around.
Verdict:The film is worth your time for the gripping storytelling and marvelous performances. Recommended!
Rating: 4/5
Sachin Tendulkar makes history 200 Not Out - Photos
Tags:Sachin Tendulkar score 200 photos,Sachin Tendulkar score 200 pictures,Sachin Tendulkar photos,Sachin Tendulkar 200 pictures,Sachin Tendulkar score 200 one-day internationals pictures,Sachin Tendulkar one-day international 200 pics,Sachin Tendulkar ODI 200 photos
India's Sachin Tendulkar became the first batsman to score 200 runs in one-day internationals on Wednesday in the second ODI against South Africa in Gwalior, India.
The 36-year-old former India captain earlier in the day broke the world record for the highest individual score of 194 by Pakistan's Saeed Anwar and Zimbabwe's Charles Coventry on his way to 200 not out off 147 balls with 25 fours and three sixes.
Source: Reuters Pictures
Breaking News:Sachin Tendulkar Scores first ever Double Century in One Day International
Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar has created history once again by scoring the first ever Double Hundred in One Day International.He achieved this feat against South Africa in the Second One Day currently being played at Gwalior.He achieved the magical figure in 147 balls.The innings was studded with 25 boundaries and 3 sixes.
India v South Africa, 2nd ODI,Gwalior
Sachin Tendulkar hit the first double century in the history of ODI cricket to lead India to a crushing 153-run victory over South Africa in the second One-Day International, in Gwalior, on Wednesday.
Earler,India won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat on a flat wicket in Gwalior.They retained the same combination that won the first ODI.Meanwhile South Africa made three changes to their squad.The in-form Hashim Amla replaced opener Loots Bosman while left-hander JP Duminy replaced all-rounder Albie Morkel and left-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe replaced Johan Botha.
South Africa in reply was all out for 248 in the 43rd over despite a fighting unbeaten 114 by AB De Villers.A rattled Proteas couldn't take up the Indian challenge as half of the side was back in the dressing room for 102 in 14 overs.The only redeeming feature was de Villiers who, even as wickets kept falling at the other end, notched his fifth one-day hundred off 85 deliveries, including 13 boundaries and two sixes.Opener Herschelle Gibbs, disappointed as he attempted to play fine an outside off stump delivery from medium-pacer Parveen Kumar, got an inside edge and was bowled for 7.Hashim Amla, inducted into the side after he scored more than 400 runs in the test series against India, was again on a roll. He hit India pace bowler Ashish Nehra for four boundaries, three of them consecutively, in the fourth over.However, Amla, too, could not build on a good start and his departure triggered a collapse.Nehra had reasons to smile as he caught Amla as the latter pulled a short pitched delivery from pacerSreesanth from outside the off stump. Amla scored 34 off 22 balls, including seven boundaries. Nehra then bowled Kallis for 11 at 83-4.At 103-6 runs in the 15th over, de Villiers and Mark Boucher tried to repair the damage.However, it was India's day and it bowled out the visitors in 42.5 overs. Sreesanth bagged 3-49, Nehra 2-60 and Yusuf Pathan 2-37.
Score Card:
Ind 401/3 (50.0 Ovs)
RSA 248-all out (42.5 Ovs)
Man of the match:
Sachin Tendulkar 200(147)
Bangalore's Carlton Towers fire kills nine - In Pictures
A major fire broke out on Tuesday in one of Bangalore's major business centres, the Carlton Towers. The building which is located on Bangalore's Old Airport Road is said to have caught fire due to a short circuit. Sources confirmed that Nine people died and 60 others were injured, many of them seriously in the incident.
According to sources, 6 people are said to have been killed in the incident after they jumped out of windows in order to escape the blaze.
Fire at Carlton Towers in Bangalore - Exclusive Photos|Stills
Nine persons were killed — three of them jumping to death in panic and 70 hurt — after a major fire broke out in Carlton Towers, a multi-storeyed commercial complex at Old Airport Road in Bangalore,today.More than 150 people have been moved out of the burning building. Local hospitals are treating people for burns and the effects of smoke inhalation.The fire was brought under control and the building evacuated nearly two hours after it broke out at around 4.30 pm.
Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa visited the Manipal Hospital where victims are being treated. Expressing his condolences to the families of the deceased, he said: “This was indeed a very unfortunate accident.” Further, he announced a compensation of Rs. 2 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs. 15,000 to those injured. “The State government will bear all medical expenses of those injured in this accident,” Mr. Yeddyurappa announced.
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