(1996) Released by EROS Entertainment, 140 minutes. Starring Sushmita Sen, Sharad Kapoor, and Mukul Dev. Digital transfer by DOT MEDIA. English subtitles on dialogue and songs (nice), unfortunately the subtitles appear at too fast a rate, making them difficult to follow. Video quality isn't up to DVD standards as the colors bleed in many scenes. The Dolby Digital stereo audio has problems with the level of the volume, which fluctuates annoyingly throughout the movie.
Dastak is a wild, fascinating film about Miss Universe Sushmita Sen, playing herself, who is stalked by an obsessive, mentally unstable fan played by Sharad Kapoor and who seeks protection from Inspector Malhotra (Mukul Dev). Dastak is a never dull, over-the-top action drama, that holds the viewer's interest throughout. Featuring excellent songs by Rajesh Roshan such as "Kal Beeyt Gaya Ye To." The musical highlight of the film is the highly enjoyable picturization of "Piya O Piyo." In which, the scantily-clad Miss Sen is directed with great flair by Mahesh Bhatt in a song which features many fine special effects and inspired choreography. Dastak is not great cinema; it has a cliche filled plot, and caricatured acting that stretches the movie's credibility. Nevertheless, Dastak is such a fun film, that it may be worth buying the DVD even with the sub-standard transfer done by Eros and Dot Media.. Recommended but with strong reservations..
YEH VAADA RAHA
(1982) starring Rishi Kapoor, Sarika, Shammi Kapoor. Released by Baba Traders. Full Screen. 137 minutes. English subtitles. The memorable music is by R.D. Burman. Video has good definition and color, although the print used is not of mint condition, and digital artifacts appear from time to time throughout the film. Audio is clear 2 channel mono. The main menu has a special section of scenes from films by V. Shantaram and rare trailers from some of their DVDS. The trailer from "Don" is fascinating with its clips of Amitabh and his female co-star karate fighting. Reminded me of Austin Powers.
Yeh Vaada Raha is a very entertaining, though highly implausible love story between Vikram (Rishi) and Sunita (Sarika), whose lives are complicated by Vikram's disapproving upper-class parents and by tragedy. The musical score by R.D. Burman is first-rate, especially the title song, which is repeated during the film. Rishi Kapoor gives his usual good performance as the likeable, unlucky Vikram. While Shammi Kapoor steals the movie as the caring plastic surgeon who figures prominently in the future happiness of the young couple. Recommended..
ENGLISH BABU DESI MEM
(1996) EROS/DEI. 160 minutes. English subtitles on dialogue. Starring Shah Rukh Khan and Sonali Bendre. Video quality is superb, probably taken from the original film negative. The digital transfer done by DEI is sharp, colorful and richly textured, and free of digital artifacts. Audio is very clear 2 channel mono. EBDM contains an excellent 8 song soundtrack by Nikhil-Vijay and features some provacative dancing by Sonali in "Abhi Abhi Solah Baras Ki" and "Phir Kya Hau." "Nacho Re Guari" is a nicely picturized tune with a mustachioed Shah Rukh. The excellent latin-influenced "Main Tera Deewan" is the film's best moment. This most interesting tune features an excellent, repeating guitar riff throughout the song and some inspired directing, as SRK and Sonali do some nicely, choreagraphed latin dance steps amid colorful background shots. Unfortunately, the scenes between the musical segments drag the movie down. The plot is a poorly constructed, convoluted mess about a rich English-raised Vikram (Shah Rukh Khan), going back to India to bring back his late brother's child, who was reared by an exotic dancer (Sonali). Still, the dvd is worth having for the fine video quality and the repeat viewing value of the excellent songs. Recommended.
Get your own Free Home
Page
