Cinema news & gossip
Jolly LLB 2: Bollywood’s back to all-out entertainment
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]And, as ever, Saurabh Shukla and Akshay Kumar are jolly good in their roles
By Karan Kaushik
Rarely does a sequel surpass its original in terms of entertainment value or artistic merit of content. Akshay Kumar has grown tremendously as an actor and Jolly LLB 2 provides enough testimony. What a performance and what a movie! It has all the ingredients for a good movie and all mixed in the right proportions.
Jolly LLB 2 moves swiftly, tickles your funny bone, stays on point and even gets intense whenever the script demands it. And Kumar is not the lone ranger on this mission. Director Subhash Kapoor has got some of the finest names in the industry on board though it is veteran Saurabh Shukla who absolutely steals the show. Shukla is the soul of the movie and the main reason why the audience stays glued to the big screen. There’s never a dull moment in the movie, all thanks to a fine screenplay, a crisp storyline and stellar performances.
That the judicial system of the country is in a sorry state with the rich and powerful mounting hurdles for the common man is a popular theme that Hindi movies have depended upon for long. Yet Jolly LLB 2 looks fresh and does not remind you of all those clichés that directors often resort to when it comes to courtroom dramas, barring the judge’s concluding speech. What it does away with is the filmi well-lit courtroom and offers a more realistic picture of courtrooms across the country. Dingy, dark and adorned with piles and piles of pending files!
Jagdishwar Mishra aka Jolly is a lawyer with big dreams who wants to buy his wife Gucci clothes and commute in a Rolls-Royce. His conscience is okay with helping school students cheat in exams and bribing to get his own chamber at someone else’s cost. He is also this modern husband who pours English liquor for his “MA Sanskrit” wife every night and makes hot chappattis for the family. He has spent his entire life enjoying recognition as a top lawyer’s Munshi’s son and now he is busy assisting the same lawyer where his job is to wash cars, assist in household chores and everything in between that has nothing to do with serious legal activity.
But Jolly wants to make it big just like Arshad Warsi’s character in the first part of the franchise. Like Warsi’s Jagdish Tyagi, Mishra too drives a Bajaj scooter to work, this time on the streets of Lucknow instead of Delhi’s impressive Connaught Place Inner Circle, has a speech with a take on the paralysed judiciary at the end, speaks with a typical UP accent, and cares little about maintaining the decorum of the court. That’s it. The rest of it is different and the presence of Kumar definitely adds the star value this time although he has tried his best not to do the larger-than-life Hindi film hero act.
Jolly’s conscience is awakened when a young woman seeking justice for her husband’s death in a fake encounter case has to give up on her life after being tricked by Jolly out of a huge amount of money. His father tells him never to show him his face again, his employer slaps him in public and visions of the dead woman never let him sleep in peace. And thereby enters the typical Hindi film hero who is now ready to take on the system which involves corrupt policemen, doctored narco test tapes and the biggest lawyer of the city who is fighting the case just for the money.
How often do you see an Akshay Kumar film showing a cricket match between Hindu and Muslim women in Varanasi and saying that no matter what the religion, women will always be in trouble? How often do you see his films taking a dig at the plight of Kashmiris? That’s what separates this one from what the star is known for. Some elements stay, though. Like an unnecessary Holi song, a running sequence through the woods and, yes, the comedy.
Now coming to the performances, Shukla’s Judge Tripathi has been written with an eye for minute detail. He is an Alia Bhatt fan with framed pictures of the young heroine in his office, and on his table are juxtaposed jars of dry fruits. He enters the court dancing to Bollywood numbers and working out, takes phone calls from his soon to get married daughter during the court proceedings, spell checks her wedding card while on his seat, reads books on tips for a healthy heart, waters the plant on his table, and hides behind his table when things turn violent in the court. Shukla had won a national award for Jolly LLB and it would not come as a surprise if he bags it this time too. The movie would not have been the same if Shukla wasn’t in it.
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Anu Kapoor has also done absolute justice to his character of this top-shot Range Rover-driven, golf-playing, diamond rings-wearing shrewd lawyer who is brimming with witty one-liners which gives scope for great Bollywood writing. Yesteryear actor Vinod Nagpal who was last seen in Shoojit Sircar’s Pink is at his honest best in his short role and so are the much talented Sanjay Mishra, Manav Kaul and Kumud Mishra. Women have little to do in the film and Huma Qureshi has been wasted and relegated as the mandatory woman in the hero’s life in a Hindi film.
It is interesting to see that even after all the legal hurdles that came in the way of the movie, including a case by shoe manufacturing company Bata for calling it a “cheap” brand and a lawyer filing a petition for showing the judiciary in a poor light which led to four cuts in the film, Jolly LLB 2 still managed to do what it was supposed to. Entertain!
As far as the music goes, “Baawra Man” is a soothing song but “Go Pagal” is reminiscent of Akshay Kumar movies and the only moment when the audience may feel irritated. There are a few unwanted sequences like the entire court sitting on a dharna but, overall, Jolly LLB 2 is a nice film which brings Bollywood back to being what it is. It reminds us of the times when stars had a compelling script whose only purpose was to entertain viewers. Go and watch it for Saurabh Shukla and a hearty laugh!
And don’t leave the theatre right after the credits roll. There are some good goof-ups from the shooting that will keep you smiling as you exit![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Bollywood news
From Vikram Bhatt to Anurag Kashyap, check out the directors who fell for their heroines
Alt Balaji’s reality show Lock Upp has been up with several content these days. Recently, one of the contestants, Mandhana Karimi revealed that she had a secret affair with an ace director and was pregnant with his child. Sadly, she was abandoned and had to abort the baby.
Alt Balaji’s reality show Lock Upp has been up with several content these days. Recently, one of the contestants, Mandhana Karimi revealed that she had a secret affair with an ace director and was pregnant with his child. Sadly, she was abandoned and had to abort the baby. However, this is not for the first time that a director got involved with his films leading actress. Bollywood has witnessed several incidents where the heroine and director have gotten serious for each other. Unfortunately, most of these relationships have not always ended well.
Here’s a list of directors who fell for their film’s lead:
Ameesha Patel and Vikram Bhatt
Ameesha Patel and Vikram Bhatt both met on the sets of the film ‘Aap Mujhe Acche Lagne Lage’. It is said that both were in a serious relationship. However, neither of them spoke openly about it at that time. But years later, in a candid interview Vikram Bhatt revealed that he later discovered that the two were not in love. There was affection and good friendship but both of them misjudged it for love.
Rohit Shetty and Prachi Desai
Rohit Shetty and Prachi Desi met on the sets of ‘Bol Bachchan’ and since then, closeness between the two started growing. Both were also spotted together at several events. However, this relationship did not last long and both of them went their separate ways.
Vikram Bhatt and Sushmita Sen
Before Ameesha Patel, Vikram Bhatt’s heart fell on Sushmita Sen. Sushmita and Vikram’s relationship was very much discussed. The director once admitted that his love-affair with Sushmita was the reason behind his divorce with his wife Aditi. They met on the sets of ‘Dastak,’ and instantly got attracted to each other. Their relationship didn’t last long because the two parted ways before things could lift off.
Anurag Kashyap and Huma Qureshi
Anurag Kashyap was Huma Qureshi’s best friend and launched her in Bollywood. Both of them were seen together at many occasions. Their relationship started soon after Anurag’s marriage with Kalki was ending. In several interviews, Huma denied about the affair but a close friend of the director revealed that Anurag had found his solace in Huma.
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Cinema news & gossip
Why is actor Dileep’s wife Kavya Madhavan trending again, here are five points you need to know about the case
Based on a disclosure made by director Balachandra Kumar and Dileep’s former friend states that the actor conspired to get away with the police officials who probed the 2017 actress abduction case.
Seems like the troubles for actor Dileep are not ending soon. Sai Sankar, a computer expert, was taken into custody by the Crime Branch police team on Friday. According to reports, Sai allegedly helped Dileep and his aides in cleaning up their mobile phones. Actor Dileep is accused in the 2017 abduction and sexual harassment case and it seems like the investigative team has found a new lead on this case.
Based on a disclosure made by director Balachandra Kumar and Dileep’s former friend states that the actor conspired to get away with the police officials who probed the 2017 actress abduction case.
Having done films like Ee Puzhayum Kadannu, Vellaripravinte and Salaapam, Actor Dileep has won several awards like Best Actor in Lead Role for Vellaripravinte, Special Jury Award for Kunijkoonan and Special Mention for Chanthupottu. And once again the actor has made it to the headlines but for the wrong reason. The investigative team of the 2017 abduction and sexual harassment case have built a strong case against actor Dileep and it seems like the testimony given by his former friend Balachandra Kumar has worked against the actor.
Here are the five pointers which will give you a clear insight into this case.
· On 28 June 2017, actor Dileep was interrogated for the first time by Kerala Police in connection with the abduction and sexual assault of a popular Malayalam actress.
· On 10 July 2017, Dileep was arrested by the Kerala Police for alleged conspiracy but was later remanded by the court. Following his arrest, actor Dileep’s membership was revoked and cancelled by various film organizations.
· In June 2018, Dileep filed a petition in the Kerala High Court charging the Kerala Police with deliberately framing him. The actor even requested the case to be handed to the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation). Later actor Dileep filed an additional plea requesting his access to the video footage of the incident. However, the plea was denied by both the Kerala High Court and the Angamaly Magistrate Court.
· In October 2018, actor Dileep was granted bail by the Kerala High Court. And In April 2019, the Government of Kerala froze charges against him until the court gave an independent verdict on the case.
· In December 2021, film director Balachandra Kumar gave an interview to a leading news channel where he alleged that he was witness to discussions among people including Dileep regarding attacking police officers leading the investigation of this case, turning witnesses hostile, and being in illegal possession of the assault video. The director even claimed to have the audio recordings of these conversations. Hence, based on these claims, Kerala police registered a new case against actor Dileep for conspiracy to assault investigating officers.
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Cinema news & gossip
Roadies season 18: Sonu Sood replaces Rannvijay Singha as host, see how people are reacting
While confirming the news, Sood shared the show’s latest poster that featured him on his official Instagram handle. The also wrote a caption in Hindi under the poster, where he said, Roadies ki South Africa ki journey bas ab shuru hi hone wali hai.
One of the controversial reality shows Roadies is all set to start its new 18th season on April 8. But this time, the show will be quite different as it will not have any of the gang leaders, instead, the show only will be hosted by the actor Sonu Sood. The actor will be mentoring the contestants through rout the challenging journey.
While confirming the news, Sood shared the show’s latest poster that featured him on his official Instagram handle. The also wrote a caption in Hindi under the poster, where he said, Roadies ki South Africa ki journey bas ab shuru hi hone wali hai. Rastein naye hai, manzilein nayi hai aur bas ab rukna nahi hai! Yaad rakhna 8th April se weekends Roadies ke naam (Roadies’ journey to South Africa is just about to begin. The roads are new, the destinations are new and can’t stop now).
Seeing the real life hero as a host of the reality show, fans bombarded Sood’s comment section with a lot of positive messages. While some people did not like the latest change in the Show. One of the fans said, Sir app real life ke super hero hai, in fake chakkaro main mat padiye (you superhero in real life, dont fall for fake things). While another fan wrote, Roadies ka asli maza ab ayega (Now, roadies will be real fun).
Taking about the show to the media, when he was asked about which Bollywood celebrity he wish to host the show with, then he immediately took Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Akshay Kumar’s names. He also revealed that he is thrilled to be part of the long-running reality show.
The makers have already dropped the teaser of the reality show on every social media platform and left the fans excited. As per the released teaser, the season is being shot in South Africa, where Sood can be seen starting the Roadie’s journey with ex-contestant Baseer Ali, Ashish Bhatia, Yukti Arora, Kavya Khurana, among others.
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