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2/5
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I am Kalam
(2010)
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Namrata Joshi
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It's a straight, simple story with no great highs and lows and an easy resolution.
Posted Feb 28, 2020
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2/4
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Angels & Demons
(2009)
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Namrata Joshi
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Angels and Demons is far more accessible than Da Vinci Code and far more pacy too. It doesn't want viewers to pause, and reflect.
Posted Feb 01, 2019
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2/4
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99
(2009)
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Namrata Joshi
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The film sparkles only in a few places, tends to flounder and sag and eventually seems way too long and stretched out for its two odd hours.
Posted Feb 01, 2019
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2/4
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The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
(2008)
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Namrata Joshi
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Plodding, facile and fails to connect.
Posted Jan 31, 2019
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3/4
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The Stoneman Murders
(2009)
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Namrata Joshi
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Even the filming is '80s style-rough and refreshingly devoid of technical flourishes.
Posted Jan 31, 2019
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1/4
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The Pink Panther 2
(2009)
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Namrata Joshi
|
A highly awkward and tepid climax ends things with a whimper.
Posted Jan 31, 2019
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3/4
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Milk
(2008)
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Namrata Joshi
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Penn is so well-tuned that not for a minute does his Milk lapse into a caricature.
Posted Jan 31, 2019
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1/4
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Yuvvraaj
(2008)
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Namrata Joshi
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The plot is a throwback to old ghar-grihasti films and comes with the message that the family must always remain united. What makes it worse is that the film unfolds at a snail's pace.
Posted Jan 31, 2019
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2/4
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Dostana
(2008)
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Namrata Joshi
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The director is obviously confused. The second half dips badly and he resolves the mess with a senseless copout of a climax.
Posted Jan 31, 2019
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2/4
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Dil Kabaddi
(2008)
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Namrata Joshi
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Here's another film with a who's who cast that begins amusingly but ends with a whimper.
Posted Jan 31, 2019
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2/4
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Maharadhi
(2006)
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Namrata Joshi
|
[It's] unable to let go of the staginess. Wish the static energy could have been harnessed into something dynamic.
Posted Jan 31, 2019
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2/4
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A Match Made in Heaven
(1997)
|
Namrata Joshi
|
You have to leave the theatre with a goofy smile.
Posted Jan 31, 2019
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|
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Little Zizou
(2008)
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Namrata Joshi
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It deals with the contentious issues of faith and fundamentalism, hope and tolerance through the boy's perspective...
Posted Jan 31, 2019
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3/4
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Blindness
(2008)
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Namrata Joshi
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The film manages to communicate the sense of deep-rooted paranoia and anxiety to its audience, the moments of claustrophobia on screen reach out and smother viewers.
Posted Jan 31, 2019
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2/4
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Quantum of Solace
(2008)
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Namrata Joshi
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The angsty, truant Bond and his sulky ways get too irritating, the pout notwithstanding.
Posted Jan 31, 2019
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|
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Firaaq
(2008)
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Namrata Joshi
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Nandita Das's thought-provoking first outing Firaaq examines the impact of communal violence on human relationships.
Posted Jan 31, 2019
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3/4
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The President Is Coming
(2009)
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Namrata Joshi
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The narrative flows freely back and forth in time and the humour is biting and irreverent and takes on everyone-from Bush and his speeches to those who believe in America as the land of opportunity.
Posted Jan 31, 2019
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Fashion
(2008)
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Namrata Joshi
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The narrative is overlong and seemingly endless, till things suddenly heat up at the very end.
Posted Jan 31, 2019
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2/4
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Roadside Romeo
(2008)
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Namrata Joshi
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Roadside Romeo might mark a big jump forward for Indian animation, but it has to find its own place in the sun and grow as a distinct genre than remaining content as an adjunct of Bollywood.
Posted Jan 31, 2019
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Karzzzz
(2008)
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Namrata Joshi
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The original entertainer turns into a dull dud in the hands of Satish Kaushik.
Posted Jan 31, 2019
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4/4
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The Lives of Others
(2006)
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Namrata Joshi
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Donnersmarck makes an assured debut, builds the atmosphere of deceit, suspicion and suffocation and also undercuts it with some jokey moments.
Posted Jan 30, 2019
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2/4
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Hancock
(2008)
|
Namrata Joshi
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Some melodrama and a superwoman later, it loses steam.
Posted Jan 30, 2019
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1/4
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Mission Istanbul
(2008)
|
Namrata Joshi
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It makes a mockery of the tragic reality of global terrorism.
Posted Jan 30, 2019
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3/4
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Bachna Ae Haseeno
(2008)
|
Namrata Joshi
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A fun watch because of three reasons-likable characters and relationships, interesting situations and the witty lingo.
Posted Jan 30, 2019
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3/4
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Mumbai Meri Jaan
(2008)
|
Namrata Joshi
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That lump in the throat that the film leaves you with makes it affecting and uplifting. And it's only in the fitness of things that the cynical Ae dil hai mushkil plays in the background.
Posted Jan 30, 2019
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3/4
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Rock On!
(2008)
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Namrata Joshi
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The package gets complete courtesy Jason West who films the concerts brilliantly-the energy does spill over.
Posted Jan 30, 2019
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2/4
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The Last Lear
(2008)
|
Namrata Joshi
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Worst aspect, perhaps, is the weak voice of the narrator. Who wants to hear a story in such a weedy voice?
Posted Jan 30, 2019
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3/4
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A Wednesday!
(2008)
|
Namrata Joshi
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In a way, the film moves a step forward from where Rang De Basanti left. In a similar vein, it articulates the frustration and violence that has become deep-seated in the urban, middle-class psyche.
Posted Jan 30, 2019
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3/4
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Ramchand Pakistani
(2008)
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Namrata Joshi
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Ramchand Pakistani provides yet another glimpse into the freshly energised, new wave cinema of our neighbour.
Posted Jan 30, 2019
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3/4
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Mahadev Ka Sajjanpur
(2008)
|
Namrata Joshi
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The film never gets dull or downbeat. It never loses out on its rustic humour, courtesy some fine dialogue.
Posted Jan 30, 2019
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1/4
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27 Dresses
(2008)
|
Namrata Joshi
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The film is yawningly predictable...
Posted Jan 29, 2019
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3/4
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Juno
(2007)
|
Namrata Joshi
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A smart yet sensitive film, more a coming-of-age drama with believable American youngsters rather than TV-perfect Beverly Hills types...
Posted Jan 29, 2019
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1/4
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One Two Three
(2008)
|
Namrata Joshi
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...such a mess.
Posted Jan 29, 2019
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2/4
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U, Me Aur Hum
(2008)
|
Namrata Joshi
|
Irritating rather than affecting...
Posted Jan 29, 2019
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2/4
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Shaurya
(2008)
|
Namrata Joshi
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A blatant copy with a contemporary Indian spin: it raises the contentious issue of army atrocities. But it's a highly facile critique, a lost chance.
Posted Jan 29, 2019
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2/4
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Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic
(2008)
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Namrata Joshi
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A reasonably nice kiddie flick, but fails to reach out to adults. Essentially like a cartoon film, utterly simplistic in every aspect-characters, plot or narration.
Posted Jan 29, 2019
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1/4
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Love Story 2050
(2008)
|
Namrata Joshi
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In this mayhem, even an over the top Punjabi mother like Archana Puran Singh seems like a little relief.
Posted Jan 29, 2019
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1/4
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National Treasure: Book of Secrets
(2007)
|
Namrata Joshi
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The plot is illogical to the core, which one would have accepted had the film been a sheer roller-coaster ride, leaving you little time to notice the holes in the plot.
Posted Jan 29, 2019
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3/4
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There Will Be Blood
(2007)
|
Namrata Joshi
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The sprawling, dark epic hinges on atmospherics and the moody air. It's heightened further by the ominous music, especially in the long, wordless opening sequence set in the mines with man pitted against nature.
Posted Jan 29, 2019
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2/4
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Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
(2007)
|
Namrata Joshi
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It keeps getting bloodier by the scene, yet remains curiously engaging.
Posted Jan 29, 2019
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3/4
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Jodhaa Akbar
(2008)
|
Namrata Joshi
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Gowariker builds the film on progressive, even if simplistic, politics that may not be palateable to all, but shows his own civility as a filmmaker. Needless to say, Ash and Hrithik work rather well as a pair...
Posted Jan 29, 2019
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2/4
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Strangers
(2007)
|
Namrata Joshi
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The only thing that makes the film worth a watch is the interesting cinematography: the meticulous lighting, the painstakingly done close-ups redeem a failed attempt at story-telling.
Posted Jan 29, 2019
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3/4
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Mithya
(2008)
|
Namrata Joshi
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It's one of those rare Hindi films where eating is an integral part any character's doings. Truly inspired edginess.
Posted Jan 29, 2019
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3/4
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Come, Dance With Me
(2007)
|
Namrata Joshi
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Aaja is genteel and winsome and directed with restraint. Some of the best dialogue in recent times, resting on a core of quietude.
Posted Jan 29, 2019
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3/4
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Khoya Khoya Chand
(2007)
|
Namrata Joshi
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It engages and involves you, but intermittently.
Posted Jan 29, 2019
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3/4
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Curse of the Golden Flower
(2006)
|
Namrata Joshi
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Yi Mou does show his undeniable expertise in the spectacularly mounted warfare sequences that can rival anything you saw in the Lord of the Ring movies. The wonderfully choreographed martial arts sequences are heartstopping...
Posted Jan 25, 2019
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3/4
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Manorama Six Feet Under
(2007)
|
Namrata Joshi
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Navdeep scores big in building the small-town ethos and atmosphere.
Posted Jan 25, 2019
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3/4
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Dhamaal
(2007)
|
Namrata Joshi
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The film is essentially nothing more than a series of gags most of which leave you giggling silly.
Posted Jan 25, 2019
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2/4
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Apna Asmaan
(2007)
|
Namrata Joshi
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Apna Asmaan has its heart in the right place, yet it fails to move. It's to do with the film's odd mix of reality, metaphor and medical mumbo-jumbo.
Posted Jan 25, 2019
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1/4
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Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag
(2007)
|
Namrata Joshi
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Sholay set new benchmarks in entertainment; Aag is content at remaining just another bad film.
Posted Jan 25, 2019
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