Imagine Ekta Kapoor without all the designer, crystal studded sarees, glittering diamonds and the sindoor bhari maang at her disposal. Kinda weird right…but that’s how OUATIM is made, and the icing on the cake, she actually has not cast Tusshar Kapoor in even one frame!! Nepotism is not her favorite subject I guess. :)
OUATIM is set in the 1970s with the storyline talking about the Mumbai underworld and the world of glamour and politics that is always associated with it. Rags to riches epitome is Sultan Mirza (Ajay Devgn), another good and solid performance from him after Raajneeti. He has very simple principles, he only does things what the Government does not permit (not his conscience), and he also knows that stepping on other smugglers’ toes is not going to help anyone. He divides the entire city of Mumbai among others and keeps the sea as his territory. Smart move I must say!! He only has one distraction in life, actress Rehana (Kangna Ranaut). He is besotted by her and she is impressed by his persistence in wooing her.
Meanwhile, there is a crown prince in the making Shoaib (Emraan Hashmi) who is a chota chor and has a cute girlfriend Mumtaz (Prachi Desai). She has no clue what he does for a living, except for the fact, they both are totally in love with each other. She works in a jewellery showroom and looks grossly out of place convincing customers on their choice. Shoaib’s father is a cop and this helps him get away with his petty thefts.
ACP Agnel Wilson (Randeep Hooda) is hot on the trail of underworld and just needs a toehold into the whole web, but is unable to do so. He then decides to somehow have Shoaib as a guinea pig, with the thought of making him a state witness, should things go wrong in the case.
Sultan is content being the messiah for the poor and underprivileged and raises his empire to great heights. A personal tragedy strikes and he hands over the reins to Suhail, while he sorts out matters. Shoaib starts running things his way and this becomes a bone of contention for the two dons, paving the way for the climax.
What worked:
Crisp storyline… healthy pace and intrigues the viewer.
Controlled performance and nothing OTT
What did not fit:
Prachi Desai showing glimpses of her Bani avatar
One more gaaliful title….after Kaminey and 3 idiots (LOL), this time from Yashraj Films starring Deepika Padukone as Pinky Palkar and Neil Nitin Mukesh as One shot Nandu.
The movie starts with a fight club like scene with Nandu winning with his trademark single shot which has earned him his title. He gets bashed up like no one’s business and is always blindfolded. He then lands the Kayo punch just when his opponent thinks he has won the bout and has let down his guard. Making money out of these fights is Usman Bhai (Piyush Mishra). Pinky meanwhile is seen skate dancing around in an abandoned house with her colleague in a pristine clean Mumbai chawl (how typical Yashraj).
One rainy night, in a freak accident Anna (Kay Kay Menon) is killed after being sent out to kill a business rival and Pinky also loses her eyesight. Surprisingly, the rest of her body is scratchless….Teflon coating tha kya?!?!?! Taking her of her medical expenses is the secret angel Nandu thru her so-called brother Chaddi (Namit Das). Pinky is unperturbed post her loss of eyesight and wants to continue her efforts for a dance reality show which would mean instant fame and passport to a better life. But alas, her partner is not so understanding and eventually backs out. Nandu meanwhile decides to help her improve skills to compensate for her lack in eyesight. How? Since he fights blindfold…Why? Isn’t it obvious…. And also becomes her dance partner, on skates, while teaching her how to judge distances with ringing bells, sacks of fish and hens.
Soon, as predictable as ever, they reach the finals and in the process fall in love as well. On a parallel track, the cops investigate Anna’s death and linked somewhere is Pinky’s accident. The moment of truth is revealed to her just when she is about to perform, but that does not deter her a teeny weensy bit.
And all’s well that ends well!!!
What worked? – Nothing much….maybe some of the dialogues which maybe original
What didn’t: quite a lot
A Mumbai chawl that’s well landscaped and too clean
Neil’s out of place with Marathi;
Deepika still can’t act, dance and use her height to her advantage
Very thin storyline…nothing outstanding; too much Marathi used which looks fitted in for the sake of it.
Music – not worth rememberingMy rating: 2/5 - we can soon find this being telecast on First time on Indian Television category
Legendary Anil Kapoor has finally launched his own production company with “Aisha”, but completely executed by his younger daughter Rhea Kapoor.
Aisha (Sonam Kapoor) is a bubbly, vivacious girl whose sole purpose in life is match-making among her closest set of friends/relatives. Courtesy: She was instrumental in setting up the match between her maasi (Anuradha Patel) and an army guy. Aisha drives around Delhi in a Beetle, shops whenever she feels like it and is always glammed up along with her best friend Pinky Bose(Ira Dubey). Her dad even sweetly admonishes her spending but also pays the bill….. why can’t we all have dads like this?Randhir Gambhir (Cyrus Sahukar) a scion of a successful mithai house, is besotted by Aisha.
Enter Shefali (Amrita Puri), a girl from Bahadurgarh who is a complete behenji, who Aisha thinks will be perfect for Randhir. She gives her a complete make-over, but gets ridiculed by Arjun Burman (Abhay Deol) for being meddlesome. And Aisha cannot stand him, thinks he’s a corporate slave, and is uncomfortable with his firang friend Aarti (Lisa Haydon – Angelina Jolie look alike).
Just to spice up things, Aisha gets together with Dhruv (Arunoday Singh), her maasa’s beta. Dhruv, is a super flirt and has the good looks to support his intentions. Just to get out of Delhi and avoid Arjun, she n Shefali even go with Dhruv to Mumbai, where she tries match-making between Shefali and Dhruv.
In a weird twist of tales, Pinky calls her bitchy. Arjun is protective of Shefali and Aisha is left alone. She then goes to the wrong party t confess her love….and then everyone is happy ever after.
It reminds me of Clueless in most parts, and good ol’ Bollywood masala for the ending.
What I like:
Sonam’s Clothes and looks – she looks wow
Abhay Deol – very natural and effortless acting. He certainly is the best looking Deol. (his dance moves have not been tested though)
Music – very refreshing, but needs some time to get used to. Only Gal Mitthi Mitthi bol is catchy enough.
What I didn’t like: Predictable story
My rating: Just about average – one time watch for all the hype
Imagine Ekta Kapoor without all the designer, crystal studded sarees, glittering diamonds and the sindoor bhari maang at her disposal. Kinda weird right…but that’s how OUATIM is made, and the icing on the cake, she actually has not cast Tusshar Kapoor in even one frame!! Nepotism is not her favorite subject I guess. :)
