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dangermousieYesterday I saw the delightful Bunty aur Babli, about a pair of small town, small time crooks who hook up with each other: pulling off hilarious schemes, falling madly in love, and being chased by a rather amusing cop. It was absolutely wonderful and I highly recommend.
I had a preview of it with tons of pictures here.
If I had to describe this movie in one word, it would be "adorable." That is not a word I would use often with BW movies, not even the ones I love, but there was such a fun sweetness about the whole thing. Should the cons have worked in real life? Probably not. But who cares? They were hilarious, Robin-Hoodish, and showed even more of that insane Abhi-Rani chemistry (they've replaced the lost Kajol-SRK couple for me).
The music was out of this world (except for the last rap number, but about this later). Dhadak, Dhadak was so catchy and infectiously fun, as was the title soundtrack. Naach Baaliye I liked. It was quite high energy and Abhi has stolen one of Hrithik's shirts for it (though his arms being normal looked better in it). Rani was wearing an outfit most likely not seen outside of an S&M club but it made me chuckle rather than go "argh!" s this movie was all spoofy and fun and light (also, I suppose I am corrupted and this doesn't shock me). The Aish item number was amazing (I especially loved the beginning where she tells Big B to love her or slit her throat and he gives Abhi a knife). The rap at the end: Oh. My. God. Horrible. Horrible, horrible, horrible. I dislike rap to start with, but this was utterly age-inappropriate and weird. When I buy this movie (and buy it I will), I will stop after the screen fades to black and skip the credits.
My favorite number was (unsurprisingly) Chup Chupke: it was unbelievably romantic and HOT
. The visuals are lovely but the chemistry is insane. When they are in the car, they are being chased by the mob and he pulls her into that little alley and then tugs at her and you can just tell they are going to have sex against the wall then and there....guuuuuuuuh
Rani and Abhi make this film. It took me time to like both of them, but now they are favorites. The first movie I saw Rani in was KKHH and I was just annoyed she was getting between SRK & Kajol. And for a few movies after that, I still didn't see the fuss. But verrrry slowly she became one of my all time favorites. And while I thought Abhi was OK in KNK and TJCG, he was nothing to write home about, and then I saw Refugee and was hooked.
They have such an amazing chemistry. It fun, it's playful, it's comfortable, and oh yeah...it's scorching hot. All of it together makes a deadly combination. Her quirkiness (that can turn into maturity in a second) and his laid-back, tongue-in-cheek attitude (that can become deadly intense just as quickly) are a perfect match. If Bollywood ever remade "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" these two would be a perfect fit.
What I liked about Abhi's character in this movie was that there was a certain shy sweetness, a bedrock of decency always there underneath the scams (it's shown most clearly in the way he treats Rani, but it's there in other places). Most of his characters have that, and it's always lovely.
He also has great chemistry with Big B. All their scenes together were a joy to watch. Big B's character? In the beginning I felt he interrupted the flow a bit, but around the Taj Mahal scheme he became yet another lovely bit in the plot.
Other things I liked: the equality portrayed in Bunty and Babli's relationship. They really are equal partners in crime and in marriage, with Rani even proposing to him and being the one who makes them give up crime (and it's not only Abhi who wants to escape at the end, Rani is also a failure as a housekeeper. She doesn't love it, and it's viewed as OK).
I also love the ending: it would have beent trite and cliche if they learned the value of hard work and started loving the village. This way they can do what makes them happy and still be honest citizens.
Scene I would have most like to have seen: Bunti and Babli coming home to their respective parents with the spouse and baby in tow.
Favorite scenes:
1. The wedding. It was so sweet and simple and lovely. And they were doing their own vows and clearly in love, such a contrast to the 7th richest man in the world and his bitchy bride.
2. The wedding night. When poor Abhi tries to (a bit bashfully) to get Rani to cooperate but she passes out drunk. And he just makes one wry comment and quietly goes to sleep. If I wasn't in love with him by then, I would have been after that. And then of course the morning after where he is awakened by her saying: "aren't you married, etc etc" and they start that super-sexy kiss (horizontally, no less) and their chemistry spikes through the roof and I find myself thinking this is hotter than most R-rated flicks I've seen. (Also, all the kissing in Chup Chupke: I knew there was a kiss in this, but thought it was a Hum Tum-type: a quick and solitary one. Not like this...yum).
3. The Taj Mahal scheme: Rich dope: "I can't believe anyone is selling Taj Mahal" Abhi: "I can't believe anyone is buying." I loved all his accents but this one was priceless, as were the protesters, Rani as a minister and all the rest.
4. Rani and Abhi cleaning out Q.Q. Qurbani (who has to be the worst dancer in history), who so had it coming as he stole Abhi's idea (poor Abhi in that scene).
5. Abhi and Big B's drunken talk.
6. Rani and Abhi on the train after their arrest. The way he is led out with the bag on his head and Rani screaming. And then when he asks for water not for himself but for Rani and the Baby. And then talking to her, saying that he is going to take the blame for everything so she and the baby won't have to go to jail, and she tells him that he can't even make a cup of tea for himself and where he goes, she goes (echo of her marriage proposal) and he is crying on her shoulder (This movie didn't have much angst, but what was there was good). And of course when he is smoking with Big B and saying that he doesn't want Rani to see him smoking or she'll scream, as it is such a real touch.
I had a preview of it with tons of pictures here.
If I had to describe this movie in one word, it would be "adorable." That is not a word I would use often with BW movies, not even the ones I love, but there was such a fun sweetness about the whole thing. Should the cons have worked in real life? Probably not. But who cares? They were hilarious, Robin-Hoodish, and showed even more of that insane Abhi-Rani chemistry (they've replaced the lost Kajol-SRK couple for me).
The music was out of this world (except for the last rap number, but about this later). Dhadak, Dhadak was so catchy and infectiously fun, as was the title soundtrack. Naach Baaliye I liked. It was quite high energy and Abhi has stolen one of Hrithik's shirts for it (though his arms being normal looked better in it). Rani was wearing an outfit most likely not seen outside of an S&M club but it made me chuckle rather than go "argh!" s this movie was all spoofy and fun and light (also, I suppose I am corrupted and this doesn't shock me). The Aish item number was amazing (I especially loved the beginning where she tells Big B to love her or slit her throat and he gives Abhi a knife). The rap at the end: Oh. My. God. Horrible. Horrible, horrible, horrible. I dislike rap to start with, but this was utterly age-inappropriate and weird. When I buy this movie (and buy it I will), I will stop after the screen fades to black and skip the credits.
My favorite number was (unsurprisingly) Chup Chupke: it was unbelievably romantic and HOT
. The visuals are lovely but the chemistry is insane. When they are in the car, they are being chased by the mob and he pulls her into that little alley and then tugs at her and you can just tell they are going to have sex against the wall then and there....guuuuuuuuh
Rani and Abhi make this film. It took me time to like both of them, but now they are favorites. The first movie I saw Rani in was KKHH and I was just annoyed she was getting between SRK & Kajol. And for a few movies after that, I still didn't see the fuss. But verrrry slowly she became one of my all time favorites. And while I thought Abhi was OK in KNK and TJCG, he was nothing to write home about, and then I saw Refugee and was hooked.
They have such an amazing chemistry. It fun, it's playful, it's comfortable, and oh yeah...it's scorching hot. All of it together makes a deadly combination. Her quirkiness (that can turn into maturity in a second) and his laid-back, tongue-in-cheek attitude (that can become deadly intense just as quickly) are a perfect match. If Bollywood ever remade "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" these two would be a perfect fit.
What I liked about Abhi's character in this movie was that there was a certain shy sweetness, a bedrock of decency always there underneath the scams (it's shown most clearly in the way he treats Rani, but it's there in other places). Most of his characters have that, and it's always lovely.
He also has great chemistry with Big B. All their scenes together were a joy to watch. Big B's character? In the beginning I felt he interrupted the flow a bit, but around the Taj Mahal scheme he became yet another lovely bit in the plot.
Other things I liked: the equality portrayed in Bunty and Babli's relationship. They really are equal partners in crime and in marriage, with Rani even proposing to him and being the one who makes them give up crime (and it's not only Abhi who wants to escape at the end, Rani is also a failure as a housekeeper. She doesn't love it, and it's viewed as OK).
I also love the ending: it would have beent trite and cliche if they learned the value of hard work and started loving the village. This way they can do what makes them happy and still be honest citizens.
Scene I would have most like to have seen: Bunti and Babli coming home to their respective parents with the spouse and baby in tow.
Favorite scenes:
1. The wedding. It was so sweet and simple and lovely. And they were doing their own vows and clearly in love, such a contrast to the 7th richest man in the world and his bitchy bride.
2. The wedding night. When poor Abhi tries to (a bit bashfully) to get Rani to cooperate but she passes out drunk. And he just makes one wry comment and quietly goes to sleep. If I wasn't in love with him by then, I would have been after that. And then of course the morning after where he is awakened by her saying: "aren't you married, etc etc" and they start that super-sexy kiss (horizontally, no less) and their chemistry spikes through the roof and I find myself thinking this is hotter than most R-rated flicks I've seen. (Also, all the kissing in Chup Chupke: I knew there was a kiss in this, but thought it was a Hum Tum-type: a quick and solitary one. Not like this...yum).
3. The Taj Mahal scheme: Rich dope: "I can't believe anyone is selling Taj Mahal" Abhi: "I can't believe anyone is buying." I loved all his accents but this one was priceless, as were the protesters, Rani as a minister and all the rest.
4. Rani and Abhi cleaning out Q.Q. Qurbani (who has to be the worst dancer in history), who so had it coming as he stole Abhi's idea (poor Abhi in that scene).
5. Abhi and Big B's drunken talk.
6. Rani and Abhi on the train after their arrest. The way he is led out with the bag on his head and Rani screaming. And then when he asks for water not for himself but for Rani and the Baby. And then talking to her, saying that he is going to take the blame for everything so she and the baby won't have to go to jail, and she tells him that he can't even make a cup of tea for himself and where he goes, she goes (echo of her marriage proposal) and he is crying on her shoulder (This movie didn't have much angst, but what was there was good). And of course when he is smoking with Big B and saying that he doesn't want Rani to see him smoking or she'll scream, as it is such a real touch.
