Movie review: 'Krissh 3' - showstopper with heart

'Krissh 3' movie poster. PHOTO: PUBLICITY

Yup, the desi super-hero comes of age. Kicking, dragging, screaming and gamboling down the nearest suburban shopping area, or peering up an airborne flight which develops a wheel problem.

Krissh, masked and magnificent in his missionary pose, is ready to take on the world… The big bad world of the dark power brokers who want to rob our earth of all its beauty.

There is something endearingly sincere about Hrithik Roshan’s super-hero act. The character’s innocence and his own delight at the double life that he leads as the working-class Krishna and his spectacular world-saver of a doppelganger Krissh come through in a series of dexterously executed action sequences that show the power of VFX to create a virtual reality on a par with the ones we have been watching with wide-eyed wonder in Superman, Iron Man, Spiderman…

Man, this super-hero knows his job. His timing as he poses spread-eagled for a take-off is quite awe-inspiring. Hrithik has great fun with all three parts. The scientist father (played with a vocal crutch that could have been avoided), the regular guy and the super-hero all seem real, even as the plot gets progressively mired in the incredible world of virus-infecting mutants who want to… yup you guessed it… destroy the world.

The first 15 minutes of this hurling and hefty homage to heroic hijinks is tame, almost limp. But once Krissh’s cape and mask are in place, the narrative gathers pace. Encircling the emotional quotient, grabbing hold of it and placing it in the centre of the special-effects couldn’t have been an easy job for the director.

Rakesh Roshan orchestrates the emotions in a flamboyant opera of opulence.

There are some effectively executed action sequences whose vivacity is compounded by the shock quotient provided by the villain Kaal, played by a steely-willed grim and menacing Vivek Oberoi.

That Kaal is evil goes without saying. Oberoi, in in his desperately dark den, wheel-chair bound and determined to be the consummate anti-God, doesn’t quite strike the terror in our hearts that Xavier Bardem did the last James Bond film ‘Skyfall’.

But Oberoi is adequately sinister with a touch of wry humour that comes to the surface in unexpected moments.

But after Hrithik it is Kangna Ranaut who plays the most interesting character, most interestingly. Gliding into skin-hugging leotards and leather outfits, she seems to bring an underlayer of pain to her evil part. It’s a tough role, as it has no reference points to fall back on. Also because Kangna has to walk the tightrope between being an automaton and a full-blooded woman. Kangna pulls it off with aplomb.

But Priyanka Chopra is wasted. Wonder what has happened to her lately! She seems to be trying hard to make an impression in under-written parts.

Krissh 3 has its flabby moments and moments that go haywire in pursuit of entertainment. But the narrative holds together. Technical aspects are quite often remarkable, creating visuals that veer towards vitality with a gusto that earlier super-hero films in Hindi missed by a wide margin.

Ra.One, anyone?

S. Thirru’s cinematography is sumptuous yet never over-saturated. The riot of colours and drama is minimised. Krissh’s flight across the skyline and the ravishing rubble of orchestrated destruction are captured in an ethos of reined-in exuberance.

Chandan Arora edits most the kinetic material with an eye on austerity of expression. But some scenes, specially in the beginning, are lazily put together, as though the narrative was clearing its throat before the big on-stage audition.

The music (by Rajesh Roshan) and the songs add nothing to the film’s very high entertainment value.

At last we have India’s first truly global super-hero film. Hrithik Roshan slices through the sky skillfully weaving through the emotions and drama and adventure to create a complete entertainer. There are no concessions to vulgarity in this super-hero saga. Younger viewers would specially enjoy Krissh’s ability to connect with kids.

Rakesh Roshan combines the breathtaking SFX with a high level of emotion and drama. The result is quite often exhilarating and spectacular.

What a Diwali dhamaka this is!

Has Jemima Khan re-united with Hugh Grant?

They may have split over six years ago, but it seems cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan’s ex-wife Jemima Khan is still seeing her ex Hugh Grant.

The 39-year-old editor, who recently ended her short-lived romance with comedian Russell Brand – which was a shocker to say the least – was seen attending the Unicef Halloween Ball at One Mayfair in London on Thursday night alongside Hugh! And we thought it was over…

Jemima dated Hugh from 2005 to 2007, but remained friends following the split, according toDaily Mail. Her Halloween outfit was inspired by Oscar-winning movie Black Swan while Hugh seemed to have left his outfit planning till the last minute – he wore a cat mask.

It was recently revealed that Jemima and Russell, who started dating in June, had split because Jemima felt he wasn’t “boyfriend material”. “They do get along great and have a lot in common, but she doesn’t think he’s mature enough for her to consider a serious relationship,” a source had told the Daily Star.

Get the look: Casual is the word

The talented Sanam Chaudhri never fails to impress on the red carpet with her edgy fashion choices.

Sanam Chaudhri is not just a talented fashion designer, but is also a true style diva. The talented young woman never fails to impress on the red carpet with her edgy fashion choices. She charmed us with a rather casual outfit at The House of Ensemble Bridal Showcase, accessorising it with trendy accessories and her divalicious attitude. Here is how you can get a similar look:

Hair

Sanam left her hair down with loose waves at the ends. We adore this beach-inspired hairdo. Rough dry  your hair, add a bit of anti-frizz and apply a small amount of Tony & Guy’s beach curl spray (Rs800) at the ends. For finishing touches, keep your wild wavy hair to one side.

Outfit

The newly appointed chairperson of Fashion Pakistan Council knows exactly how to walk into an event in style while remaining comfortable. She pairs a simple colour blocked sleeveless blouse with a pair of sandwashed jeans. A similar top can be found at Mango (Rs3,000) or Debenhams (Rs4,500). As for the jeans, fold the ankles of your straight cut jeans and you are good to go.

Make-up

Although we can barely see any make-up on Sanam’s face, she looks fresh. She keeps it subtle with refreshing pink lips and perfectly lined eyes. Use Maybelline’s Colour Elixir lip-gloss in Anethyst shade for your lips (Rs1,500). For the eyes, try out Maybelline’s Line Stiletto ultimate precision liquid eyeliner (Rs1,200).

Accessories and Shoes

We love how Sanam has spruced up her casual outfit with an uber-trendy pink bib necklace. The touch of colour on her black and white outfit is bang on trend. While she sports a simple silver watch, we wish she had chosen something chunkier — maybe a cuff bracelet or bangles. Check out Accessorize for a similar necklace (Rs2,500).  At first glance, not everybody will fall in love with those printed peep-toe wedges, but in case you enjoy adding a bit of funk to your look, visit Nine West (Rs6,000) for a similar pair.

Pernia Qureshi unveils her style guide with Sonam

With advice from the fashion world’s best, the book seems to be a helpful read. PHOTO: TWITTER

Fashion stylist and costume designer Pernia Qureshi recently launched her first bookBe Stylish with Pernia Qureshi  — a perfect style guide for those who want to hone their personality. In what could turn out to be an invaluable style guide for the fashion-obsessed, Pernia shares a series of easy and helpful tips with IANS, to help the fashion conscious reader make the right choices.

The book was launched by Pernia’s close friend and actor Sonam Kapoor on October 30. Sporting a pink sari by Pernia and a beautiful choker set, Sonam unveiled the Luxe Illustrated Edition of the book, according to fashioncirqle.com.

“This book is the perfect next step in Pernia’s career. With her creative experience and deep understanding of the psyche of Indian women and their bodies, there is no better person to offer style advice than her,” said Sonam. Published by Random House India, the book will help readers to create their own signature look as it features dos and don’ts for individual body types and personalities.

“Be Stylish is a fun, easy read to help you be the very best version of your already fabulous self,” said Pernia. A reader, who goes by the name thedelhibride, tweeted a quote from the book that she loved: “What other people think of you in none of your business.”

Pernia became a costume designer in the year 2010, when she styled Sonam for her filmAisha. The entrepreneur, who has a fashion website by the address www.perniaspopupshop.com, also dressed Sonam in her 2011 film Thank You.

Available in paperback format, it is priced at INR299, while the Luxe illustrated edition is for INR999.

Good Morning Karachi: Depicting a young and vibrant Pakistan

With mostly first-time actors, Sumar’s film is a fresh and thought-provoking change. PHOTO: FILE

In a country marred with disillusionment, cinema that rejects the often magnified negative image of Pakistan is always welcome. Through her recent film Good Morning Karachi, Pakistani film-maker Sabiha Sumar does just that – she depicts the vibrant youth, who dare to diverge from societal norms and attempt to harmonise the forces of tradition and modernity in a resilient Pakistan.

Inspired by a novella titled Rafina, written by Shandana Minhas, Sumar adapted the story and placed it in the year 2010 in Karachi. The film is set at a time when the country was experiencing a political transition following the return of politician Benazir Bhutto, reports theIndian Express.

Primarily shot in Karachi’s Akhtar colony, which is mainly a lower middle-class suburb, the story revolves around a woman named Rafina (Aamna Ilyas). Determined and strong, she wants to establish herself as a model in the stigmatised Pakistani fashion industry. “This film is about the youth realising their dreams and it is a very real portrayal of the changes in Pakistani society at present. It’s a coming-of-age-story about the young men and women in the country,” said Sumar. While the female protagonist represents modernity, the other character Arif (Yasir Aqueel), aspires to make a visionary change through political action.

Good Morning Karachi premiered in India at the 15th Mumbai Film Festival. This is Sumar’s second feature film after Khamosh Pani (2003), which bagged a multitude of awards and also had a women-centric theme. “My stories tend to have a lot of women because I have worked with women writers. Moreover, being a woman, these are issues that I can relate to,” the film-maker proclaimed.

With greater funding avenues, Sumar feels that this is a good time for film-makers in Pakistan to produce work. “The country paid a price for putting down the arts. And now, we see the opening up of Pakistani cinema,” said Sumar.

Rahul Khanna feels 24 is a game-changer

Khanna admits he always wanted to play a mysterious character. PHOTOS: FILE

NEW DELHI: The desi version of American thriller TV series 24 has a star-studded cast with names such as Anil Kapoor, Mandira Bedi, Shabana Azmi, Anupam Kher, Rahul Khanna and many more. And for Khanna, the show has been a game changer for television due to its stylised sequences and gripping storyline.

“It’s terribly exciting to be a part of a project like this, of course! I was a huge fan of the original 24, and the Indian version has emerged as a game-changer for TV. I’m so proud to be a part of it,” Khanna said.

He will enter as an investment banker, whose name crops up during investigations by protagonist Jai Singh Rathod, played by Anil Kapoor, who is also co-producing it.

Khanna admitted that he always harboured a desire to play a mysterious character – something close to what he plays in the show.

“I’ve always wanted to play a character with an air of mystery and shades of grey,” he said. “And I must say, although it was a difficult shoot – long shooting of days and a tough action sequence filmed in the middle of Bombay’s monsoon – it was still a lot of fun to do.”

While many value the length of screen time, Khanna attributes more significance to the kind of role he gets to play. If he played important roles in movies like Earth and Hollywood Bollywood, the actor did cameos in commercial movies like Love Aaj Kal and Wake up Sid.

“It’s not so much about the length of the role, but rather, its importance in the narrative and getting to be a part of an exciting project. If the role has the potential to make an impact, the length makes less of a difference,” he said.

The 41-year-old is in pursuit of new genres. “There’s nothing I love more than acting in films. I am always on the lookout for new and exciting projects,” he said.  “For me, part of the joy of being an actor is the opportunity to work in as many different genres as possible. I look forward to being part of more full-blown commercial films as well as more independent ones.”

The actor disagrees with the general opinion that he has not done too many commercial films.

“Most people think I shy away from mainstream Bollywood cinema but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The fact is, I’ve actually worked with some very masala film-makers, including producers Raj Kanwar in Raqeeb and director Vikram Bhatt’s Elaan,” he said.

On the movies front, the actor is looking forward to the release of his film Fireflies, which is said is “a cool, indie film”.

“It’s a simple, poignant story about love, loss and redemption. It’s set between the present scenario in Mumbai and the tea plantations of Ooty in the ‘80s. It centres around two brothers and a tragic incident from their childhood that has coloured their relationship,” he said.

Nescafe Basement brings challenge for Coke Studio with season two

The platform is all geared up, here to stay. PHOTO: PUBLICITY

LAHORE: 

The euphoria surrounding Coke Studio’s season six, which started out with Fariha Pervez’s unimpressive performance, is in no way stopping Nescafe Basementfrom becoming bigger and better. After just one season, the platform has seen significant growth as the number of interested participants grew from 98 last season to 1,300 this season. And with a larger pool of talent aboard, Nescafe Basement season two promises swagger, style and freshness.

Despite having a popular brand name attached to it, Nescafe Basement had a rather low-key release last year. However, this year the team seems confident about leaving a mark. While small-scale projects like Uth Records have previously tried to enter the Coke Studio league, one can safely say that Nescafe Basement is probably the only forum in direct competition with Coke Studio.

“We are very confident,” says Nescafe’s brand manager Maha Khawaja. “This has always been for the youth and by the youth. We believe young people should have the opportunity to express themselves.”

“Last year was sort of a test year but this time around, we have added a lot of new things,” she adds. The team aims to make it more than just another music show by building local networks, and connecting musicians on a local level.

With growth on their mind, Nescafe Basement will have eight weekly episodes, each showcasing two songs with behind-the-scenes documentaries which will highlight the journey of hidden musical prodigies. Apart from television broadcasts, the show will also have a digital component that includes their website, Facebook page and Twitter.

“We are here to stay. I feel that this is just a scratch on the surface considering the potential of our platform. We want artists to be part of a broader support network and continue as mentors and brand ambassadors,” asserts Khawaja.

Considering that an artist like Zulfiqar Jabbar Khan aka Xulfi, who we loved for his heartfelt and soulful voice back from the days of EP, is leading the mentees, it is not too much to expect something substantial from the platform. And it seems that the participants are also enthusiastic about being part of such a team.

“This has brought us all together as one. We are [very] different from Coke Studio, which has established individuals. We are all new, so our sound will also be new,” says Sameen Kazim, 21-year-old marketing major at Lahore School Economics. She has predominantly done Western vocals and is now flexing her vocal chords to cover Nazia Hassan’s famous Boom Boom.

Shahrukh Aslam, a political science major from Lahore University of Management Sciences, who has not played in any real gig or show, feels Nescafe Basement will have a more abrasive and original sound based purely on growth and experimentation.

“It seems that Coke Studio has become comfortable with a particular formula and has more of something that connects with the middle-aged sensibility. This [Nescafe Basement] is slightly more abrasive and tries to push normal musical labels,” says Aslam.

“Really, I was surprised at first when I saw this year’s marketing budget. I think people are starting to believe that we have potential and this should be done on a bigger level,” he adds.

Though the youth element and freshness is something that everyone is taking pride in, majority of the songs will be covers of classics and popular Pakistani songs with only a few originals. It seems that Nescafe Basement clearly distinguishes itself from Coke Studio for being more youth-appropriate, but only the audience can decide whether this is really the case.