Movie/Music Review's of Madhuri's Films

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Aarzoo
Director: Lawrence D'Souza
Starring: Madhuri Dixit, Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan, Amrish Puri, Reema Lagoo, Paresh Rawal

Overall Rating: 5.5/10

Status: FLOP

Storyline (Courtesy: Rediff): Once there was this cinematographer who decided to turn director, Lawrence D'Souza. And he did well, mind you, making Saajan a film based on Cyrano de Bergerac. The film had some ingredients de rigueur in Indian cinema, like the pure-bred martyr who bites his lip and lets a friend snare a girl he'd had eyes on. And, of course, a friend who is that epitome of self-denial we never see. The audience's collective heart bled for the young men and handkerchief sales rose considerably in the area. And so it was that D'Souza walked away with a superhit. Seeing that triangles earned him more than a square meal, D'Souza made another, Sangram. Now he has been working five years to complete the trilogy, with yet another of his specialities. Called Aarzoo it stars Madhuri Dixit, Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan. The story has Vijay (Akshay) playing a pilot who woos and wins Pooja (Madhuri). Amar (Saif) returns from abroad after finishing his studies. He's always been in love with his childhood pal but as D'souza's heroes are wont to, bites his lip and even coaxes Pooja's dad (Amrish Puri) to agree to the match. Dad gives the all clear and the couple is engaged. Amar and Vijay become pals. One day Amar sends Vijay off on an errand in his plane. And guess what? The plane blows up. Pooja turns out to be pregnant, and so the magnanimous Amar steps in to marry her. They live happily when Vijay returns from the dead. Vijay thinks Amar had tried to get him bumped off and so teams up with the enemy, Amar's foster uncle Kailashnath (Paresh Rawal) and cousins. The villains were also responsible for the death of Amar's direct ancestor. Vijay operates with a moustache and green lenses to avoid recognition. And if you want the rest of it, sorry, but you'll have to pay D'Souza and the theatre guys. D'Souza's cinematography is first rate, and he picked some rather picturesque locales in Switzerland. The editing and art direction, by R Rajendran and R Verman respectively, is third rate. The editing is patchy, all but removing the impact created by the breath-taking visuals; the art director seems to have stuffed everything he could hire to decorate the interiors. By now we've seen many films that have the actors in India the next dancing in the Alps, but Aarzoo go one step further. The actors are in India one minute but when they step out onto the road, voila, they've also stepped outside the country! There are other such gaffes too. The film has been written by Reema Rakeshnath, who may yet earn the title 'Queen of the love triangles', she being also the scriptwriter of Saajan. The story is not new but what really gets your teeth on edge are the dialogues. Outdated and cliched, you can laugh at them in the best places. However good he is as a cinematograper, Lawrence D'Souza is one director who can make a seasoned actor like Amrish Puri -- who usually makes even the most inane dialogues look good -- fail to deliver. Puri looks most unconvincing when he calls the lady who plays his spouse (Reema Lagoo) "my sweet wife and, immediately after, refers to his offspring as "my sweet darling daughter". It is so corny that it brings the house down. Paresh Rawal too seems out of sorts in his role; once or twice you even wonder if you've caught him wondering what is he doing in this film. Akshay and Saif have worked together before in a love triangle, Yeh Dillagi and in action flicks like Main Khiladi Tu Anari and Keemat. They share some vibes that work well on screen. In the earlier films, Akshay played the sober one and Saif, the rakish loudmouth. This time, they exchange roles; Akshay becomes the loudmouth. Saif is lucky; for he plays the quiet one at a time when the clever lines are so hackneyed that you hate the man delivering the lines. So Saif comes out looking most dignified. It's sad to see Akshay being made to go through the bump and grind, and spouting lines that must have him cringing inside. Madhuri's faith in the man who directed her in Saajan seems to have been misplaced this time. Her role calls for little but a dance every 20 minutes. We know love triangles are a favourite but there's no doubt that you need to do something original to hold people's attention. This film changes works with the standard elements, only shifting the backdrop to Switzerland. Even if we make those leaps of faith the film stretches your patience. But Anu Malik has scored two really cool songs, Ab tere bin and Saajan, saajan. The rest are, well, okay. Now that he has finished a set of three, Lawrence D'Souza may even graduate to a love quartet or worse. I mean, it's been done before, as in There's something about Mary. And what we've seen of D'Souza's oeuvre, that should give him some ideas...

Wajood
Director: N. Chandra
Starring: Nana Patekar, Madhuri Dixit, Mukul Dev, Ramiya, Johnny Lever, Javed Aktar

Overall Rating: 6/10

Status: FLOP

Storyline: Let me first give you my general impression of the film... The film on the whole was pretty good, but there was something lacking. I think it was the direction, which could have used some improvement. The storyline was very good, but somehow the film could have been much better had it had better cinematography and direction. I think some will feel this way. Ok now to the story itself. First half hour involves the love story between Madhuri (Apoorva) and Mukul (Nihar). Both fall in love and are to become married soon. However, Madhuri also acts in plays with Nana while they are in college. It is very clear that Nana is in love with Madhuri, but she doesn't know that, nor does she have any feelings for him. Nana seems to have many fantasy type situations where Madhuri is in his life. Basically he is an actor who cannot seem to please his father, whose aspirations for his son are much beyond his present situation. Being an out-of-work actor, his father continually downplays being an actor. Moving back to Madhuri, Nana finds out that she is engaged to Mukul, and by accident Nana pushes Mukul's father and is killed immediately. Then Nana is sentenced to jail for a long term. However, meanwhile, Madhuri and Mukul have their own problems since Madhuri's father feels that Mukul is unworthy without his father's good name. So then the marriage is off. Both decide to become something which they feel that can do well, without the help of their parents. Mukul becomes a cop, while Madhuri becomes a journalist. Both excel at their jobs and meet up on a case which involves Nana. Apparently, Nana manages to escape from prison and begins to steal from various people. And along the way, Nana gains a sidekick, Ramiya. Her role is very minimal and really could have been played by just about anyone. Then it becomes up to Mukul and Madhuri to catch this person, who at the time don't realize that it is Nana all along. Finally during a stage show, where Madhuri does her Ki Toot Gayi number, Madhuri finds out who he is. Allowing Nana's wish for Madhuri to act once more on stage comes the bitter end. Nana forcefully becomes violent because Madhuri refuses to smile, whereas earlier she refused to cry. Well the ending is suffice... but watch it yourself to see what happens. Songs are picturized pretty well, especially Aur Hum Tum, Ki Toot Gayi, and Main Kya Karoon. Overall, this film is Nana's, with his superior acting abilities to play a great variety of characters. And probably is his best work to date. As for Madhuri, well she does her role well too, but somehow wished she had a better role. But there are certainly some memerable scenes. I think it is accurate to say that this film is much more pleasant with Madhuri on screen, because without her the film would have no magic. You will understand once you see it, or can agree with my statement if you have seen it.

Bade Miyan Chote Miyan:
Director: David Dhawan
Starring: Amitabh Bachchan, Govinda, Raveena Tandoon, Ramya, & Madhuri Dixit (guest appearance)

Overall Rating: 8/10

Status: HIT

Storyline:  It begins with two officers by the name of Arjun Singh (Amitabh Bachchan) and Pyare Mohan (Govinda).  Basically they due their jobs and on the side have relationships with Ramya and Raveena respectively.  The first half with these 4 characters are quite amusing with their dances and some very comical situations.  But what complicates the story is when two 'miyans' show up who look exactly like Arjun and Pyare.  And so the 'Bade Miyan' and 'Chote Miyan' are the crooks, who somehow find their way to meet Raveena and Ramya who believe they are the good cops. Anyways, the crooks are always trying to steal various things, and find out about their identical cops, and so take it to their advantage to pretend like they are Arjun and Pyare.  Sound confusing?  Well it does get a big complicated.  Fortunetely it is quite clear who is who.  Now let's get to Madhuri's role in the film.  Approximately, 1 1/2 hours into the film comes Madhuri, who plays nobody than herself.  Bade miyan and Chote miyan decide to go see Madhuri Dixit on a film shooting and by mistake beat up the guys chasing her doing a film shooting.  Madhuri is very flattered and gives them some tea and so forth. What is very funny is that the two start to flirt with her and believe that she likes them.  They both fight amongst themselves about who she likes, when in actuality she was just being hospitable.  All three dance to 'Makhna' which is done quite well in Mauritus. Madhuri looks stunning in every shot.  Madhuri gets upset with the miyans when they hit on her, and when she runs into the Arjun and Pyare, she mistakes them for the crooks and gets mad at them. After that scene she drives off in a car. And so Madhuri's take in the film is about 15-20 minutes.  Not really pivotal in the film, but a nice addition to the film.   And so as can be expected the Miyans finally confront Arjun and Pyare, and the miyans along with the cops, help to catch the main crook played by Paresh Rawal. All ends well, but this time the miyans become the officers because of their heroic deeds and Arjun and Pyare end up as traffic wardens.  Overall a MUST SEE Film.   I think this film will do well at the box office...