Movies I Didn’t Enjoy This Year - My Personal ‘Hall Of Shame’
These are movies that either promised more, or had huge budgets and big star-casts. I have purposely left out films like ‘Ek Se Mera Kya Hogaa’ that were doomed to bite the dust!
Rang De Basanti - The biggest disappointment. A patchy, uneven, disjointed, noisy, pretentious and juvenile film. It offered no tangible solution either for humanity (in general) or for India (in particular). In fact, it catered to the base and perverse human urge to kill someone who has wronged you. It’s ok to violently proclaim that ‘i will kill the person’ in a fit of anger, but that doesnt mean one executes the threat. This is not the behaviour what mature human civilized exhibit. The parallel to Indian freedom movement was ill-placed and utter nonsense. Anyways, I will refrain to say anything more here. Enough has been said, argued and counter-argued when I first wrote its review. Read it here. Sigh, another bad entry at the Oscars!
Kabhi Alvida Na Kahna - Karan Johar’s first self confessed attempt at ‘maturity’ was a dull, despondent and disastrous film, which dragged on and on endlessly. It resembled the serials prolifilating on television - bored housewives lusting after other’s husbands under the grand chhatrachhaya of Indian marriage and mangalsutra; wimpish men, who are either too bitter or too sweet;and, bucket ful of copious tears that drown the flimsy script; even the gawdy gloss matched. The music was boring. SRK lent some cheer as a character that could have been real, but was shunted irresponsibly by Karan to the other extreme from SRK’s otherwise screen-persona. The only bright sunshine remained Amitabh Bachhan, who lent grace and fun to this tedious affair.
Aap Ki Khatir - It’s like the rag the dog pulled out from a god-forsaken attic. Stale and tattered, the film was a big yawn evoking fare.
Ankahee - Enough of Bhatt-styled mentally disturbed and manic-depressed characters. Morose and melancholic, it lacks any escape for respite. For the same reason, I avoided Woh Lamhe! Both films have good music, though.
Utthaan - Another example of how to spoil a good story with indifferent direction. The twist could have been earth shattering bang, but is in reality a whimper not even loud enough to wake you up from the nap that you take during the film. Surprise factor? Neha Dhupia doesn’t bare at all, which makes you feel sad since it was better when she bared all!
Apna Sapna Money Money - I missed this on theatres; but didnt want to spoil it by watching only on small screen. So, with help of borrowed projector, I saw it at home deriving full theater benefits. I was expecting another Kya Kool Hai Hum; alas, the film is a gigantic bore - and only Riteish Deshmukh is the bright star that saves the film from total darkness. But still, the disappointment didnt fully dissipate, hence placed in this list.
Bas Ek Pal - I was in two minds about this film. It could have been placed in the ‘theek thaak’ list. But on second view I saw the glaring errors in its script - a loose and haphazard one, that moves from a compelling jail account to a wishy washy tale of love and betrayal, interspersed with notions of wife-bashing. The movie has a rivetting first half. But the second one wastes away the grand build-up. Director Onir (who made the sensitive My Brother Nikhil) doesnt live up to the expectations. As ever, Juhi Chawla and Sanjay Suri delight. Jimmy Shergill is good too. Urmila disappoints.
Chingaari - Umm, err… was this really a film? Crass, coarse and chaotic, the film was a long string of dreadful scenes put together. Sadly, it didnt nothing to alleviate the pain or elevate the stature of prostitutes.
Teesri Aankh - If you can take it as a laughter inducing exercise, enjoy the film. Per se, the movie had nothing going for it. Sunny Deol shouted his lungs hoarse, and only added to the pain. Full review here
Naksha - Another Sunny Deol flick that was outlandishly bizarre and bakwaas! As an actor, he needs to seriously re-think where he is headed.
Chup Chup Ke - Priyadarshan severely lost his touch with this one. The color coordinated costumes were eye pleasing; wish they had coordinated the script as well!
Jaane Hoga Kya - Even Bipasha Basu would burn this off with the next available beedi from her resume. The clone-saga provided inadvertant humor, but that’s about it. Original review available here.
Powered by Zoundry
Enjoyed the post? Subscribe to Random Expression's RSS Feed
In case you find this site entertaining and useful please contribute your own bit by making a nominal donation.
A fresh way to contact me - New Contact Form added to the site. We love to hear from you, keep writing in!
December 27th, 2006 at 3:16 pm
So the second list is here
I’ve not seen except the first one!!!!
And as it was know it was in your Don’t like list so not to surprised to see it here.
And only the film I would want to was is Bas Ek Pal and might it will be in my “I liked list”
December 27th, 2006 at 3:46 pm
yup sirji, agree about Rang de basanti quite stupid but then again, music was good and quite a few good looking men so finds favours with me.
KANK didn’t dare see it inspite of Abhi, that says everything. incidently saw a few scenes on CD the other day and thanked God for the good sense not to waste money on it.
I liked bas ek pal, don’t know why but liked the way it was shot the script was like your UP roads, potholes and bambas all over
.
rest haven’t seen so can’t say.
btw now realising that you are watching way too many movies, arre itna time likhne mein use karo na.
December 27th, 2006 at 4:07 pm
I loooove RDB’s Music…& as u’ve mentioned…even Woh Lamhe’s…..Kaafi alag alag type ke movies dheek rahe hai aap toh…
AB Sr..was the BEST in KANK…I am thinking of watching Jaan-e-Maan, Apna Sapna Money Money, Bas Ek Pal…lets see time kab milta hai….& last week saw Being Cyrus..which I quite liked…
December 27th, 2006 at 4:10 pm
Juneli - ‘Except the first one’ - u mean u hv seen Ek Se Mera Kya Hoga - the first movie that finds mention on this post
LOL
Priyangini - RDB - we hv done the max discussion on this, so no more here
About KANK, a good decision there. Wish i had enough sense too - at least PVR pe mahange tickets khareed ke toh na dekhta!!!
About Bas Ek Pal - i think i was more disappointed by the way the story moved ahead…in the first half, i was like - wow! this is gonna be ‘the’ film…and by the time the climax came, i was like - what bullshit is this!
Arre nahin, not too many movies…waise, if i dont watch them, how wud i write about them then
so this is time spent judiciously on research for the blog 
December 27th, 2006 at 4:13 pm
Mehak - Yes, Being Cyrus was good. I just updated my list of ‘Good/Theek Thaak Movies’ with 4 names that i had missed out - Taxi 9211, Kalyug, Being Cyrus and Zinda.
Hmm, from the list i wud suggest to watch them in this order : Jaaneman (for its commercial and visual value), Bas Ek Pal, ASMM.
December 27th, 2006 at 4:20 pm
ok jee..thanks for the advice….will follow what the master says
…keep posting..looking forward to the songs of ‘06 post..
December 27th, 2006 at 4:22 pm
Ah .. we have differed and RDB and Fana, so no more discussions here. Yes, all else you mentioned is junk, just that I wouldn’t have watched them to believe it. You have quite an apetite for such movies which I marvel at
December 27th, 2006 at 4:26 pm
ohh forgot to add Zinda in my to-watch list…
December 27th, 2006 at 4:28 pm
arre wah, sade hue movies dekhna bhi blog research. i don’t know any sensible person who even considered watching Chingari or jaane kya hoga but then again you cannot be really described as sensible na
so this is expected of you.
btw travelogue khatam ho gaya, padha nahi?
December 27th, 2006 at 4:32 pm
Mehak - Ha ha, no master bas aise hi hai… songs 06 will be up on its designated day (though i dont know how, yet to complete it, and i keep changing the list). Zinda is good, but one caution - dont watch it after a meal !
Manish - Yeah true, dono filmon pe hum discuss kar chuke hain. But i sometimes purposely watch these rotten films, only to get the kick of putting them down on the blog
Waise, i m quite tempted to see ‘Ek Se Mera Kya Hoga’ - the DVD cover, with Payal Rohatgi standing with spread legs, is quite …err…how to put it…err… inviting , lets say! LOL
December 27th, 2006 at 4:33 pm
Priyangini - Lagta hai cross connexion ho gaya - just back from ur blog ! Commented too
LOL, i didnt say i was sensible, ever, did i?
December 27th, 2006 at 4:41 pm
Toh yahan meri taang khicha ja raha hai. gurrrrrr kitkit……
Do you think that I would have watched that film? whereas I’ve not intended to watch even KANK
December 27th, 2006 at 4:54 pm
ha ha ha ha ha ha…’dont watch it after a meal !’…kyun jee??? neend aa jaaegi kya…vaise our fav time to watch a movie is usually after dinner on weekends…
December 27th, 2006 at 5:18 pm
Juneli - LOL….
Mehak - That’s coz if u hv to watch scenes where teeth are taken out with a hammer (like a nail) - then its best there is nothing in the tummy to puke out!
December 27th, 2006 at 6:35 pm
Wow…some of these movies I had never heard of…and here, I consider myself a movie fanatic!
Hats off to you for watching all these movies.
Chalo granted that people differ in opinions when it comes to movies. But again, RDB…atleast it should have been put on theek thaak list…just for the sake that it was a contender to run for an Oscar.
I enjoyed watchin Bas Ek Pal…took 8 hrs to watch it after pausing it several times to run errands in between, but in the end was satisfied with how the movie was made. Although I think some of the ends were left lose for the viewers to ‘go figure’.
BTW….are you going to have the list of favorite songs as well??
December 27th, 2006 at 9:49 pm
hey deepak,
these movies must suck !! havent heard most of them !!
watched kabul express yesterday…definitely a good and different movie !! will write my own review on my blog soon !
December 28th, 2006 at 9:46 am
Hailah so many comments already..did not see this one!
I kinda…just a tad bit agree with your take on RDB but it wasnt THAT bad that you HAD to put it in teh hall of shame yaaar! KANK ke baare main kya kahen…it was a disappointment…the same subject could have been handled really well..!! waise bhi Karan Johar makes movies with the NRI audience in mind which I find really irritating!
I think Shreyas Talpade was the other only talent in Apna Sapna Money Money…
Everything else..I did not see or just saw bits and parts…clearly for a good reason! I started watching Bas Ek Pal…and didn’t do it for me in the first 5 mins..shut it!
BTW you will be happy to know that I saw Khosla Ka Ghosla..kya movie hai !! will write a review soon
December 28th, 2006 at 9:48 am
waise I second Priyangini..yeh movies dekhne main jitna time waste kiya usmain toh sab baithke tumhaare paas se 5-10 stories nikaal lete!
Something to think about in 2007 huh?
December 28th, 2006 at 2:34 pm
Mannat - LOL, i guess i m a bigger fanatic that ways. But the major reason for watching all these movies is that i stay alone. I dont think i wud hv been able to see half this number had i been at home.
RDB comes in this list coz of a personal khunnas that such an average film is getting so much recognition
And yes, a song list is also on the anvil - will come on the last day of this year
Prakash - True, Kabul Express is good. Have updated my Good Movies/Theek Thaak Movies list, and added this there too (in the movies i enjoyed section) . Will await ur review as well. Hv visited ur blog, yet to leave my imprint there though.
Kaush - U r nt too late. Had put this post up y’day evening only
Will await ur Khosla Ka Ghosla review - kaha tha na ke achhi pic hai 
Arre movies toh saath saath chalti rahti hai. No laptop/internet was a major reason for the silence on the blog for long. But writing stories is still impossible. Bahut deemag aur time chahiye, and with this job woh possible ho nahi paata. Easier to watch a film! But haan, ek story jo start kii thii, 2007 mein poorii toh kar hii doonga