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salgaonker
Reviews
Maharathi (2008)
A murder mystery without a murder
Apparently based on a gujarati play that featured Paresh Rawal himself, this is a very interesting movie with some good twists and turns.
A very interesting plot that seems original and well thought out. The movie starts off average, builds very well. Unlike most movies that seem to miss the bus at the end, this one does well at the end.
The first half belongs to Naseeruddin Shah, the old eccentric one time successful film producer, who is now in debt and has a drinking problem. He is helped by Paresh Rawal in a car accident and subsequently, gives Rawal the job of a driver.
His wife, Neha Dhupia is a gold-digger who constantly fights and wants him dead to then lay her hands on the hefty insurance policy.
The story picks up when Naseer shoots himself and challenges her to prove that it was not suicide. If a suicide is proved, she doesn't receive any insurance. While the movie says that it will be because he has written that clause in the benefactor agreement, I believe most insurance companies offer no compensation in the case of a proved suicide.
This is where Paresh Rawal enters the center stage and its brilliant to watch him transition from a demure master-worshiping driver to a scheming thug.
Boman Irani, Neha Dhupia and Tara Sharma perform their parts well and are thoughtfully cast. While I wonder what Dhupia and Sharma were doing in the movie at first, I believe there has been some good thought put into their casting.
The background score was non existent {didnt realize that there was one} and could have complemented the actors well. The director thankfully resists the temptation of item numbers.
An interesting twist in the ending and a screenplay that makes a lot of sense.
All in all, a great watch.
Maan Gaye Mughall-E-Azam (2008)
mindless comedy with a few moments
This is a mindless slapstick comedy. I cannot believe that Paresh Rawal and Rahul Bose chose to act in the movie. Plot: Decent, but very sketchy for the most part. moments: The entire stage act in the first part is great, though not brilliant. It seems there is an obvious attempt to play up the wonderful scenes in 'Jaane Bhi do Yaaron'. Decent in the whole context of things. The 'Jab Jab...' dialogue sequence is pretty funny. Actors: The only two people who seem to have been cast right are the person playing Dawood Ibrahim {seems like the original} and Mallika Sherawat. I say Mallika because all she does in the movie is act dumb and demonstrate her cleavage. Nothing else really from her. Its shocking to see Rawal and Bose in the movie. Rawal is nevertheless the only saving grace. He has some funny moments. His volte-face in the last act where he exhorts the others is uncharacteristic of mujumdar. The screenplay doesn't explain what happens after he is shot in the end.
Interesting inspired by a lot of real life incidents and other movies.
Lots of factual errors. Shot in Pondicherry, not in Goa. Goa doesn't have an airport in Panjim. Bose cannot be shot from close range as he runs away.
In short, worth a watch if you have nothing else to do.