Amitabh Bachchan''s still the king of B-Town

The Big B's latest cinematic endeavour, the Puri Jagannadh directed Bbuddah Hoga Terra Baap, releases worldwide today and showcases why over 40 years after being in Hindi cinema, Amitabh Bachchan has still got it.



The script revolves around the Big B and follows the simple good-versus-evil formula set in a pacy format, filled with naach gaana, fights and laughs. And Amitabh fills the screen with his presence as he portrays the role of a sharpshooter and pub owner.

This Viacom 18 Motion Pictures and AB Corp production has him nattily dressed in linen suits, chiffon scarves and outlandish shirts with loud yet stylish spectacles on occasion. The actor reprises some of his old dialogues evoking laughter and nostalgia in equal measure. Hardly surprising then, that Jagannadh says, "Bbuddah is not a film, it's a festival. It's a celebration for all Amitabh fans."

The Big B is very kicked about the film's music by Vishal-Shekhar. Having sung all the songs himself, Amitabh brings a lump to your throat with the melodious Haal-e-Dil and inspires to kick off your shoes and dance with abandon when he goes through his legendary "Bhagwan dada style" dance moves in the Go Meera remix, a medley of some of Bachchan's biggest hits.

One must give credit to the supporting cast, which includes Hema Malini, Raveena Tandon, Sonu Sood, Sonal Chauhan, Charmee, Prakash Raj and Makrand Deshpande who are happy to complement Bachchan's class act by playing their part perfectly. Of course, the entire cast is aware that Bachchan is indeed the baap of the fraternity and they're more than happy to stand by and deliver when the focus shifts to them.

But the film belongs to just one man  Amitabh Bachchan, who still has what it takes to make mainstream Hindi cinema the enjoyable experience it is!

Delhi Belly: You need to have the stomach for it

Abhinay Deo’s “Delhi Belly” isn’t your average Bollywood film. For one, it can hardly be called a Bollywood film, because the primary language isn’t Hindi, it’s English. Like most Bollywood films, this is also not a “family film”.
All those cuss words and toilet humour would be tough to endure with your parents or kids sitting next to you — with friends, it might be funny though.
And there is plenty of toilet humour and cuss words. The story, about three room-mates caught in the middle of a cross-fire thanks to a misunderstanding involving a cache of diamonds and a stool sample, is peppered with plenty of smart one-liners, spoken in the language of the demographic we call new India.
Imran Khan plays Tashi, a journalist who lives with two friends in the most run-down, filthiest room you could imagine with two room-mates — Arup, a cartoonist and Nitin, a freelance photographer, whose desire to eat some tandoori chicken off the street leads to a bad case of the Delhi Belly and sets the chain of events in motion.
As a result, a chunk of the film involves shots of Nitin (Kunaal Roy Kapur) straining himself on a toilet accompanied by all kinds of sounds. I don’t know why this toilet humour should be funny if we find the same kind of toilet humour in an Anees Baazmee film repelling. After a while it gets to you.
That apart, the script is a strong one, and writer Akshat Varma manages to keep you engaged in his story. There is a sub-plot of a romance between Tashi and a spunky journalist played by actress Poorna Jagannathan, which is interesting.
To narrate any more of the story would be unfair to the film. This is more about the journey than the destination. There are several memorable characters in the film, including the trio’s landlord, and Vijay Raaz, who plays the crook hunting down the trio.
Of the performances, Raaz and Jagannathan impress, standing out among the others. Imran Khan is subdued, but effective and Vir Das brings just the right degree of sarcasm to his funny dialogues, making you laugh out loud.
After the disastrous “Game”, director Abhinay Deo redeems himself somewhat. This isn’t a brilliant film, but it is one that will make you laugh and enjoy the ride. If you can get past all the shit, that is.