Wake Up Sid was probably one of the better reviewed films of last year. I’ll admit, it was a bit slow, and a bit predictable, but it’s still an overall great movie. The casting of Ranbir is perfect, and I loved that Konkona was in it and not some regular main-stream actress. Her and Ranbir worked so well as a couple.

Music was nice too, but nothing that I would listen to over and over again. It fit well in the story.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

2000: 2000 didn’t look like a very good year. Kaho Na Pyaar Hai was totally overrated, Mohabbatein was booooring, Hrithik’s other two films weren’t interesting enough. Looks like I’m going to have to go with a comedy here. Hera Pheri it is. Best Hindi comedy I’ve seen.

2001: A much better year. We had Dil Chahta Hai, Gadar (which I liked, but it was quite overrated), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Lagaan (again, decent, but very very overrated IMO), Lajja (totally underrated), One 2 Ka 4 (guilty pleasure), and Tum Bin, a nice sweet love story. But my favorite vote goes to Asoka. I absolutely loved this movie, and I could actually bear Kareena in it. Music was wonderful too.

2002: Lets see…Aankhen was good. As was Deewangee, but it was a rip-off from a Hollywood film. Didn’t see Company, at least not all the way through. Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam was torn between two decades, the less said about Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai, Na Tum Jaano Na Hum, and Mujhse Dosti Karoge the better, Raaz was decent, but would have been better with different actors. I really liked Saathiya. But my vote is going to an unconventional film, Mr. and Mrs. Iyer. I really enjoyed this movie, it made me the Konkona Sen Sharma fan I am today. Really good film.

2003: Quite a few good films this year. Teen Deewarein, Chalte Chalte, Jhankaar Beats, Munnabhai MBBS, Samay, Tehzeeb, Tere Naam. Accompanied with the duds, Koi Mil Gaya, Baghban, Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne, Dil Ka Rishta, and the all time awful movie, Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon. I can’t pick a favorite this year though, so I’m going to have to go with three. Yes, three. I just can’t choose. Kal Ho Naa Ho, Ek Hasina Thi, and Pinjar all get my vote.

2004: The good – Veer Zaara, Deewar, Dil Maange More, Hum Tum, Khakee, Masti, Murder, Tumsa Nahin Dekha, Yuva. The bad – Aetbaar, Dhoom, Fida, Hulchul, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Raincoat. The ugly – Asambhav, Dil Ne Jise Apna Kahaa, Kyun…! Ho Gaya Na, Lakeer, Yeh Lamhe Judaai Ke. And my favorites – Main Hoon Na and Swades. It was a great year for Shah Rukh. Probably his best ever.

2005: I liked Chocolate (even though it’s a copy), Dus, Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara, My Brother Nikhil, No Entry, Parineeta, Sarkar, Black. I hated Deewane Huye Pagal, Elaan, Kisna, Kyaa Kool Hai Hum, Lucky, Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya. Vaada, Yakeen, Salaam Namaste could have been better. Ok, so I have to choose between Bunty Aur Babli, Bluffmaster, and Paheli. Hmm. The easy choice would be the SRK movie. But I really loved the other two as well. I think I’ll go with Bunty Aur Babli. *gasp*

2006: Ah, the ‘overrated’ year. I’d like to give a big fat ‘BLAH’ to four of the top six grossers of 2006. Dhoom 2, Krrish, Fanaa, and Rang De Basanti. All were a colossal waste of my time. Other duds that year include Aksar, Baabul, I See You, Jaan-E-Mann, Phir Hera Pheri, Shaadi Se Pehle, Shikhar, Woh Lamhe. I liked 36 China Town, Ankahee, Apna Sapna Money Money, Bhagam Bhag, Chup Chup Ke, Gangster, Kabul Express, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Malamaal Weekly, Taxi Number 9211 and Vivah. Looks like I’m going to have to go with two films again this time though, so the winners are Don – The Chase Begins Again and Dor.

2007: Lotsa good films this year. Aaja Nachle, Awarapan, Cheeni Kum, Dhamaal, Guru, Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd., Johnny Gaddar, Life in a Metro. The bad include Goal (so so horrible), Ta Ra Rum Pum (what were Rani and Saif thinking?), Saawariya (blah), Partner (go away Salman Khan), Laaga Chunari Mein Daag (Rani, leave YRF now), Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (even Abhi can’t save it), and Fool n Final (watched it in fast forward mode). Having to choose between the SRK films this year and a Shahid film. Sorry Jab We Met and Om Shanti Om, but I’m gonna have to go with Chak De India. Because of the beard.

2008: Not much of a race this year, for me at least. Liked A Wednesday, Aamir, Bachna Ae Haseeno, Bhootnath, Dostana, Kismat Konnection, Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, One Two Three, Rock On!!, Sunday, Welcome to Sajjanpur. Didn’t like De Taali, Race, Sarkar Raj, Tashan, U, Me aur Hum. Didn’t watch many films this year. The clear-cut favorite for me was Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi.

2009: Looking through the list of movies that released this year, I’ve realized that I haven’t watched that many at all. So I don’t have many to choose from. I liked Luck by Chance, Billu Barber, Life Partner and Dil Bole Hadippa. I guess my favorite would have to be New York.

So, there’s the final list.
2000: Hera Pheri
2001: Asoka
2002: Mr. and Mrs. Iyer
2003: Kal Ho Naa Ho/Ek Hasina Thi/Pinjar
2004: Main Hoon Na/Swades
2005: Bunty Aur Babli
2006: Don – The Chase Begins Again/Dor
2007: Chak De India
2008: Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
2009: New York

LUCK BY CHANCE

I liked this one, but not as much as other people have. It’s a good story, but it moves a bit too slow for me. Found myself getting bored halfway through, wishing things would hurry up a bit. Farhan and Koko were great, they make a cute couple. Loved the ending as well, perfect ending for it, and not a cop-out. Hope to see more of Zoya’s movies in the future.

Songs were ok, I liked Baawre the most. I wish they showed more of Farhan’s version though.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

WELCOME TO SAJJANPUR

Took me a while to get around to this one, glad I finally did. Shreyas does a wonderful job, and the movie belongs to him. I wish Amrita had more screentime and more to do, but she was really good as well. I like how all the stories of the village tie in together. The only thing I didn’t like was the end, when Shreyas tells us what happened to the couple that got married. I felt it was unnecessary, they could have just left that out and nobody would have known the difference.

I skipped all the songs except Sita Ram, so nothing to say about those.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

As soon as this movie came out, I kept saying “I’ll see it soon, I’ll see it soon”. I’m glad I finally did.

I LOVED IT.

It’s not groundbreaking cinema, there’s tons of plot holes, lots I would change, but it’s just so much FUN. Watching Madz dance like that after so many years was just such a joy. I was happy throughout the movie, just seeing her light up my screen again.

Madhuri is just a treat to watch. She’s a great actress, has amazing screen presence. She’s like a female SRK. When you’re watching her, you can’t take your eyes off of her. I really hope that the fact that Aaja Nachle flopped won’t discourage her on making another movie. Just imagine a love story with her and SRK. OMG.

But yes, there are other stars in Aaja Nachle, and what makes it better is the other three main people are favorites of mine as well. Konkona is my newly-minted favorite actress, and Kunal Kapoor is just hot. They have such a great chemistry between them. It was cute how once Kunal became interested in Koko, and she turns the other way.Akshaye Khanna was wonderful and cute in a small role. I really like his line about not being the bad guy. I thought that was how he would turn out, but he gave Madz a fair chance.

The other characters were good as well. It was nice seeing Vinay Pathak in a role like this after just seeing Johnny Gaddar. Divya Dutta’s role was too tiny. Ranvir Shorey was so adorable. Poor guy, he still loved her even after what happened. And Irfan Khan, I didn’t even know he was in the movie, I was surprised to see him.

Things I didn’t like:

- Irfan’s sudden change of heart. And I mean sudden. A little more conflict there would have been better.
- The whole Steve plot. It could have been totally done away with, and I wish it had been. Made Madz’s character look like just another one of those stupid girls who runs off thinking she’s in love.

There are big plotholes, like how a few of the characters learned the steps in the play so fast, and how Madz would finance everything. But I didn’t care. Didn’t even think about those things.

And, on to the dancing. I didn’t know Vaibhavi Merchant was so awesome. The choreography in the title song was just too good. And every other song as well. She even got non-dancers like Vinay Pathak, Koko, and Kunal to dance, and dance well. I’m impressed.

The songs are much better after seeing the movie as well. The title song has always been great, but Ishq Hua is beautiful, Show Me Your Jalwa is fun, O Re Piya and Is Pal are also really good.

Overall, it’s not a perfect movie, but it entertained me, and that’s all I’m looking for. Madz, pleaseee make another movie.

And, just because:

She’s just so gorgeous. Even at 40+. I’m so jealous.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

We all know the story by now. So I’ll just do a ‘good points vs. bad points’ type of review.

Good points:
- Rani and Konkona are fabulous actors, and they don’t disappoint here at all, even with a weak script. They shine throughout the movie, especially Konkona. She’s just such a joy to watch on screen.

- Kunal and Konkona’s chemistry. They’re very cute and comfortable with each other. Their scenes were the highlight of the movie (except for Kunal’s scene eating a burger. A big turnoff.)

- Jaya’s performance. She’s great as always. All the women in this one dominated.

Bad points:
- Abhishek. He was completely unnecessary. Thrown in just as a love angle for Rani, which wasn’t needed at all. You don’t understand how he falls in love so quickly, how he immediately accepts what Badki does for a living, etc.

- Badki’s friends in Mumbai. At least the lady. She pushes Badki towards the profession, rather than helping her get a good job. What kind of a friend is that?

- The songs. Each and every one of them was boring, and half of them were unnecessary. Especially the Kunal/Konkona and Abhishek/Rani songs. The last one at the party was a big enjoyable, but then ruined by the English.

- Rohan being Vivaan’s brother. Really, if Chutki and Vivaan are ready to get married, wouldn’t she have met his brother by now? It’s too convenient.

- Anupam’s reaction to Badki’s profession is too calm. An outburst would be the norm, which is what should have happened, even if he did understand why she did it.

- The evil brother and nephew. How does the cousin find out so quickly what Badki does, how much she charges, etc. Also, their backstory is resolved too quickly, with Rohan and Vivaan threatening them. They back down too quickly.

- The manager at the hotel Badki is at. He so willingly gives information to Chutki.

- The ending is too clichéd. Rohan accepting Badki so quickly, both couples getting married together.

The movie could have been much better. Badki’s new profession is just skimmed over, and barely shown. The bright spots in an otherwise dull movie are Konkona, Rani, and Jaya’s performances. We’ve come to expect more from Yash Raj. I wonder what’s happening. Maybe churning out movie after movie isn’t working for them anymore.

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars