Remembering Sonik Omi.. Music Directors who didn't get their Due

Sonik Omi

Does this ring a bell ?

Oldtimers will remember them as music directors for S.K.Kapur , and later for the action brand movies.

But they were very talented and underestimated. 

Sonik Omi was a team of

Uncle Master Manohar Lal Sonik (who was unfortunately blind) and his nephew Omprakash Verma (later he adopted the surname Sonik).

Today is Master Sonik's 99th Birth Anniversary.

Master Manohar Lal Sonik , also born in Sialkot, had lost his eyesight when he was only two. But he never let that deter him from his musical ambitions. He decided to move to Bombay to try his luck in the film industry. Eleven-year-old Om Prakash ji (Omi ) accompanied him.

They did music for a couple of movies in the 50's but it did not work out.

Characteristically, taking the disappointment in his stride, he started assisting other music directors. He went on to work on a string of musical hits with accomplished composers such as Madan Mohan (Woh Kaun Thi, Haqeeqat, Mera Saaya) and Roshan (Barsaat Ki Ek Raat, Aarti, Taj Mahal), and also newbies like Usha Khanna (Dil Deke Dekho) in which he was credited for the Background score.

Meanwhile, Omi, after several abortive attempts to succeed as a singer, had started assisting his uncle. In the Raj Kapoor-Nutan starrer Dil Hi To Hai, we see Sonik-Omi credited for the first time. Impressed with their work, the producers of the film, the Rawal"s, gave them their first break as a music director duo. The title song of the Dharmendra-Nutan starrer Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya (1966) became a huge hit and is a staple at ‘Tribute to Rafi’ programmes even today.

After Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya, the duo did two more films with the Rawals – Aabroo (1969) and Ladki Pasand Hai (1971). In between, they tasted major commercial success in the shape of Sawan Bhadon, 

"Kaan Men Jhumakaa Chaal Men Thumakaa" is a big hit even today. However, the most remembered Sonik-Omi songs from that period would be an epic Rafi tearjerker from Mahua (1969)...' Dono ne Kiya Tha Pyaar magar, Mujhe yaad raha' was an anthem for the jilted heart broken.

Then came the Epic qawalli "Raaz Ki Baat Keh Doon toh" ( Dharma).

Despite delivering such massive hits it was unfortunate Sonik-Omi never made it to the big league. Through the 1970s and ’80s, the duo composed music for a string of action movies mostly by S.K.Kapur ( Maan Gaye Ustaad, Apna Khoon , Raftaar , Shankar Dada and V.K.Sobti ( Umar Quid, Chowki no 11). Even Joginder used them for Pandit Aur Pathan and Bindiya aur Bandook 

Few will know that they also composed for Manmohan Desai in Bhai ho toh Aisa .

Master Sonik passed in July 1993

I personally feel the duo never got their due.

This is my second article on Music directors who made melody but never were in limelight. The first was Usha Khanna.

Reference:. Tribute to Omprakash Sonik

My Swar

Songs to remember

Remembering Geeta Dutt

Revered remembrance of

Geeta Dutt on her 92nd Birth Anniversary today.

She came in the limelight even with minimal musical training but she compensated that with the melody and emotion she brought into her songs.

To quote Raju Bharatan a music critic who has penned biographies of Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhonsle..

 “Geeta Dutt was thandi hawa and kaali ghata rolled into one. The moment she came, you got the refreshing feeling of aa hi gayi jhoom ke. There was a rare swing in her voice. She hit you like a thunderclap… This made Geeta Dutt the one singer that Lata Mangeshkar really feared”.

Geeta Roy made her debut in 1946 under Dada (S.D.) Burman.

Her arrival was sounded in " Do Bhai' where she sang 6 of the 9 songs of the film for Dada.

One of them is the classic 

"Mera Sunder Sapna Beer Gaya'.

Written by Raja Mehendi Ali Khan( also making his Debut).

After this she was the top singer till Lata Mangeshkar entered with Mahal .

But Geeta Roy unfazed tried a new genre of Jazz in Baazi ( again S.D.Burman). She sang six of the eight songs in the film – all solos. The song from the film that stood out and  transformed her career was 'Tadbeer Se Bigdi Hui'.Geeta Roy sang with oomph, her voice giving expression to Geeta Bali’s enamoring looks. The song was a roaring success and Geeta Roy was back. 

Baazi also had a turning point in her personal life. It was during the making of this film that she fell in love with the film’s director, Guru Dutt and Vice Versa. They got married in 1953 and Geeta Roy became Geeta Dutt.

Thus were born some of the most achingly romantic melodies of the 50's- those nuggets of love and its various facets which materialized because there was love in the air.

She went on to sing over 1200 songs in the next 20 year's.

Her most famous and celebrated work in Hindi Film songs is of course with the veteran composers Sachin Dev Burman, O. P. Nayyar and Hemant Kumar. 

She passed away 50 years ago in 1972 but not before reminding us of her enormous talent in the 1970-71 film Anubhav, where she glowed brightly once again and sang three lovely melodies 

'Meri jaan mujhe jaan na kaho', 'Koi chupke se aake' and 'Mera dil jo mera hota' which represent some of the finest work that Geeta Dutt had ever done.

composed by Kanu Roy, two of which were written by Gulzar.

Geeta Dutt’s melodious voice enthralled many in the 1940s and 1950s, but a career that began with a meteoric rise to fame ended in tragedy.

42 was no age to go.

But Even Guru Dutt left at 39 and Possibly wanted to make up with her in heaven 🙏

Bibliography

Official Website of Geetadutt

The Best of Geeta Dutt

Collage : Shailendra Mishra

JOHNY MERA NAAM

Today is the 96th Birth Anniversary of Prem Nath ji.

Ideally I should be reviewing Teesri Manzil ..but that was done last month on Shammi Kapoor's Birth anniversary.

More so as today is also Helens Birthday.

So I will review a comeback film of Prem Nath ji

JOHNY MERA NAAM

Today I am remembering a movie which has completed 52 Years on 20th November yesterday 

The story is simple. Dev Anand and Pran, as Sohan and Mohan, are brothers. They are good at boxing; it is while boxing with each other that they reunite. A criminal Ranjit (Premnath) gets their father, a cop, murdered. Mohan kills the contract killer. Fearing consequences, he escapes in the boot of Ranjit’s car, not knowing that Ranjit got him orphaned. Mohan grows up as a criminal, now known as Moti.

Sohan, on the other hand, proves to be a chip off the old block, becoming a CID officer, hunting for an international gang whose important member Moti is. It is headed by one Rai Sahab Bhupinder Singh ( Again Premnath )

Soham is a charismatic character. He assumes the identity of Johny, a petty thief, and wins his way to Rekha (Hema Malini) through Heera (Jeevan), a gangster. The pursuit takes Mohan and Rekha to some exotic locales in Nepal. 

After many adventures, it is revealed that Rekha’s father Bhupinder Singh was actually in the custody of Ranjit who was impersonating as Bhupinder Singh. Ranjit turns out to be the foster-brother of Bhupinder Singh’s. In the end, of course, the villain gets his just deserts and the hero and the heroine get married.

Meanwhile there is a sub plot of Babu and Tara ( Randhawa and Padma Khanna ). Who tries to quit the gang but is caught by Moti at the behest of Johnny. Tara subsequently becomes Bhupinder Singh's keep after a ultra seductive strip tease ( Husn Ke Laakhon Rang)

( Reminds me Some how of this situational  sequence adapted in Don too to a shorter extent where Helen does Yeh Mera Dil ).

Dev Anand and Hema Malini are well balanced and paired ( their first).

Pran and Premnath excel in their roles.

More so Prem Nath who was truly evil and played a role or a lifetime.

How can one forget the triple role trio of I.S. Johar's famous Pehle Ram, Dooje Ram, and Teeje Ram.

Another highlight of the movie are the songs and Song Picturizations.

Kalyanji-Anandji’s compositions are spot on and capture the varying moods and tone of the film to perfection, including the background score.Pal bhar ke liye koi hamein pyaar karle is remembered for not just the way its lyrics and singing but also picturization. We also have Oh Mere Raja ..shot in Nalanda and Shanti Stupa and Lata Mangeshkar's pathos in Baabul Pyaare.It needs to be mentioned here that Vijay Anand excelled in song picturizations.

It is through such wonderful songs and lovely picturizations that the magic of Johny Mera Naam continues to charm us through generations and we continue to hum its tune and conjure up the images which have become almost iconic.

Coming three years after Jewel Thief (1967), this film reaffirms the mastery of Vijay Anand as an accomplished craftsman in the annals of popular Hindi cinema and continues many of the elements of the previous film in terms of intricate plotting, themes and style.

Johny Mera Naam regularly appears on cinema channels also streaming on Zee 5. 

An evergreen Classic which brought Prem nath ji to the fore again and how he did varied roles till the mid 80s.( I remember Desh Premee and Hum Dono as his last ).

DRISHYAM 2

DRISHYAM 2

I had seen on OTT the two original versions directed by Jeetu Joseph 

Mohanlal ( Malyalam) Feb- March 2021

Venkatesh ( Telugu) November -Dec 2021

Both were classics in their own right however I had been waiting for the Hindi version.

Part 1 has been directed by Nishikant Kamat who had passed away in Covid Wave and one was thinking who would direct the second part in Hindi.

Ot turned out to be the Producers son Abhishek Pathak.

Now can't say much on the story.. the makers and director have been faithful to the original just modifying the set up (Goa) as was in 2015s first part.

(I had seen the pre release show in Hyderabad)

The second part starts where the first ended.

The Salgaonkars are still going through the trauma of what happened seven years ago. As the cops are employing new ways and planning & plotting to uncover the case, want Vijay Salgaonkars and his family to confess the buried truths behind all these hurdles. The story revolves around, Can Vijay save his family, and himself too from the cops again? How long can the truth remain buried? 

A new IG has been appointed in the town Police Tarun Ahlawat played with panache by Akshaye Khanna to lead the unsolved missing case of Sameer Deshmukh, son of former IG Meera Deshmukh played by Tabu. This time the cops are following the leads without underestimating any clue.  

The suspense of the story has been weaved with multiple threads that actually make your mind blown leading to a spine-chilling climax and unpredictable twists and turns.

When you think of actors remaking Mohanlal’s magic from the original, there is no other perfect option than Ajay Devgn to do. The much-talked ability to act through the eyes is what makes both the stars more similar than different. As the helplessness of his character’s state of mind is on the relaxed side for the majority of the film, we don’t get to see the intense side we witnessed in the prequel.

The prequel was definitely 5 star

This sequel would possibly be 4 stars but nevertheless a must watch film

It was fun watching the film ina multiplex with a House Full sign.

The film gained from the Advance Hype and bookings which were a great ploy.

We have a winner..and the winner takes it all.

Blast From the Past 1975 FARAAR

#blastfromthepast 1975 again..

47 Years of Faraar 

The year with arguably the most hit and epic films.

1975 was a great year for Amitabh Bachchan. Even if his films received a mixed reaction at the box-office (Sholay and Deewar were megahits; Mili and Chupke Chupke did better than average business; Zameer and Faraar were average though they more than recovered their investment.) his roles were completely different in each film

The film opens with a court scene. Tarun Kumar (Rajan Haskar), a rich and notorious playboy is in the docks for having raped and killed his secretary Geeta ( Anupama) but gets away leaving her brother Rajesh ( Amitabh Bachchan ) who is an amateur painter in Revenge mode seeking Justice.

He finally kills him in a Shiva temple but getting injured himself.

As the news breaks Police Inspector Sanjay ( Sanjeev Kumar) who plans an evening out with his wife Mala ( Sharmila Tagore) has to sacrifice that and launches a search for the murderer.

Mala is now alone and Rajesh enters the house .He forces her at gunpoint to take him on a tour of the house so he can reassure himself that they are quite alone. Holding her son hostage, he forces her to remove the bullet from his arm. His first sight of her shocks him. He tries to hide his face from her, but yells out a name in pain.

When Sanjay comes home, Mala cannot hide her distress. The murderer is their house, and is holding their son hostage. The inspector is livid, but Mala is terrified. What if he hurts their son?

However the child and Rajesh develop a bond and he sings him a song .. Main Pyaasa Tum Saawan .. (Ho Na)

The song draws Mala inexhorably toward her son’s room. As the song ends in a question, she unconsciously answers…(Hoon Toh).

When the door opens, she sees a face from her past. As Rajesh shuts the door in shock, Mala's remembers how she had been on the verge of committing suicide. Rajesh had saved her and had taken her home to his mother and sister; as days pass, their acquaintance ripens to affection, and then to love.

Sanjay on the other hand is going hammer and tongs to negotiate with Raj 

In the meantime, there has been an order from above to lift the police blockades. Will Inspector Sanjay agree? Where will this end? Will Mala ever know why Rajesh turned to murder? What will happen when Sanjay begins to delve deep into Rajesh’s past? 

As an outlaw on the run from the police, eventually hiding out in the house of the very police officer deputed to hunt him down, ( This theme was used in 36 Ghante earlier ) Amitabh’s stunning (and extremely sympathetic) performance had the audience rooting for him; and there was an audience outcry when he died in the film. This was his third successive death onscreen, in the same year ( after Deewar and Sholay). Unlike Sholay, they actually shot two endings – one where he is shot, but removed to hospital; the other, where he is shot and killed. The latter was a more believable end, and a more apt one. (Even though, personally, I didn’t want ‘believable’ at the time; I just wanted Amitabh to live.).

Four things make “Faraar” a special film 

1. The performances of the three principle characters - Amitabh, Sharmila, and Sanjeev. 

2. The basic story/plot ..an on-the-run refugee accidentally seeking solace in a place where multiple elements of his life converge. 

3. The editing- the film reveals to us just enough information to keep us Intrigued, but reserves portions to keep us curious. 

4. A singular haunting melodious track, “Mein Pyaasa Tum Saawan”..from the great pair of.. Kishore Kumar and Kalyanji Anandji. Also with Lata Kishore and Lata Solo.

A lesser known film from Amitabh Bachchan's repertoire.

Written by Gulzar, Directed by Shankar Mukherjee and financed by Gulshan Rai (Trimurti Films).

Available on You Tube.

Uunchai : A Review

Finally I saw the film

Uunchai

It wasn't a film it was an experience..

One of the most perfectly made films of 2022.

Coming on the back of 

"Good Bye" this is another class act from Amitabh Bachchan.

He joins hands with Rajshri Productions after Saudagar (1973). The film also has Anupam Kher whose claim to fame came with Rajshri Productions "Saaransh" . To add we have Sarika who started her career with Rajshri Productions in 'Geet Gaata Chal'.

As a topping we have Boman Irani, Neena Gupta and Danny. 

Sooraj Barjatya directs this encore of talent commendably.

The film is woven around the song ये जीवन है इस जीवन का यही है यही है रंग रूप ( again from Rajshri's Piya Ka Ghar.)

The film begins with a breath-taking sequence and then goes into flashback mode nicely introducing the principal characters.

Uunchai is the story of a life-changing journey of three friends. Amit Shrivastava (Amitabh Bachchan) is a successful author, based in Delhi. He is separated from his wife Abhilasha (Nafisa Ali Sodhi) and the closest people in his life are his three friends – Javed (Boman Irani), Om Sharma (Anupam Kher), and Bhupen (Danny Denzongpa). The quartet meets on Bhupen’s birthday . Bhupen, who is originally from Nepal, expresses the desire to head to Everest Base Camp along with Amit, Javed, and Om. The friends, however, reject the idea, citing their old age and health issues. Bhupen goes home after the party and passes away in his sleep. Even in the case of Bhupen, his friends are his only family and they handle the cremation and other rituals. While going through Bhupen’s study, Amit finds that the former has booked a tour package to the Everest Base Camp for his three friends.  Meanwhile, Om is making plans to immerse Bhupen’s ashes in the river Ganga in Varanasi. Amit informs Om and Javed about Bhupen’s Everest plan. He persuades them to join him so that they can release his ashes at the Base Camp since it was Bhupen’s last wish. Om and Javed agree after a lot of persuasion. But there’s a problem. Javed’s wife Shabana (Neena Gupta) will never allow her hubby to take such a risky trek. Hence, Amit comes up with a plan. He tells Shabana that the trio will go to Kathmandu, Nepal where they’ll immerse his ashes. As per the plan, they’ll go to Kathmandu by road since Om is scared of flights. Amit tells Shabana to join them. He tells her that they’ll drop her at Kanpur at her daughter Heeba (Sheen Dass) and son-in-law Valli (Abhishek Pathania)’s place. Once that’s done, the trio will then head to Gorakhpur where Om will meet his brothers, whom he hasn’t met in 30 years. The three friends and Shabana begin their trip. But sadly, things go haywire. They are joined enroute in a sharing agreement with & by Mala (Sarika).What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Amitabh Bachchan delivers a terrific performance, as expected. It is a challenging role, not just physically but also emotionally and Big B comes out with flying colours as always Especially in the second half, he’s too good .. without makeup unrecognisable at times.

Anupam Kher’s part reminds one of his similar acts in Khosla Ka Ghosla and Baby. But he ensures it stands out and does a fine job. His breakdown scene at the Gorakhpur ghat is testimony to his variations.

Boman Irani is competent and underplays his role to perfection.

Danny is a classic case of Long time no see and is welcome on screen even if it is for a short surjourn. Parneeta Chopra leaves her impression in the second half. Sarika and Neena Gupta have apt and well defined roles which they perform well.

Music is melodious but lacks a blockbuster song (Characteristic in a Rajshri production). Back ground music , photography and other technical aspects are top class.

A trek to Everest Base Camp is indeed very grueling and here somehow that intensity is missing to an extent but we can owe that to cinematic liberty.

I give the film 

4 stars out of Five.

Experience it.

Amjad Khan A Tribute

Amjad Khan 

Today is the 82nd birth Anniversary of Amjad Khan.

Another brilliant actor lost early.

He was not even 52 when he passed in 1992.

Son of actor Jayant ( Zakaria Khan)

Amjad started as a child actor in films like Ab Dilli Door Nahin.

His first adult appearance being as a Pakistani Pilot in Chetan Anands Hindustan Ki Kasam.

However his passport to fame was his immortal role as Gabbar Singh in SHOLAY.

In fact he was almost an unknown face in the caravan of stars when the film started substituting Danny

But he carved a niche for himself and Gabbar remains his most memorable role.

Sholay was followed by Charas 

where he played the Sauve Robert.

Amjad suffered a serious accident in 1976. The drugs administered to him caused a lifelong weight issue for the actor.But he was an actor who was blessed with the kind of talent which could tide over the most threatening circumstances and overcome.

He became so popular in demand that he did ,11 movies in 1977.

Which include three Super hits 

Hum Kisi Se Kam Nahin, Parvarish and Inkaar.

He also acted in Satyajit Ray's 

Shatranj Ke Khiladi written by Munshi Premchand as a Nawab whose kingdom was under siege from the British colonial rulers.

Khan’s incomparable diction, which he meticulously practiced, mannerisms and adaptation got him many roles as the villain. However he did get different roles ( Comic and Emotional both ) which helped him to be versatile.

His comic touch was so evident in films like Qurbani and Love story.

He even played characters which were stronger and more popular than the heroes of films, especially films like Dada, Commander and Pyaara Dushman. 

He had a successful pairing with Amitabh Bachchan with whom he did 18 films almost all of them being hits.

Amjad Khan was one actor who could switch on to play nine different characters in nine different films shot in just one day. 

He was only interested in giving the people the kind of enlightening entertainment of which he was an expert par excellence.

He never went after awards and recognition and won just three Filmfare awards for Dada, Yaarana and Maa kasam where as he had done many better roles earlier.

He briefly ventured into direction too

This first Adhura Aadmi was completed but not released and he produced and directed a couple of movies — Chor Police (1983) and Ameer Aadmi Gareeb Aadmi (1985).

Both films were mauled by the censor board for flimsy reasons and that affected their continuity and presentation.

Amjad Khan was a very bitter man after both his films flopped at the box -office and was never the same man again. 

To add to his woes a film he planned with Amitabh Bachchan

Lambai Chaudai was shelved due to Amitabh Bachchan's sudden Hiatus.

The last role he played was that of an old Maharaja lying on his death bed in an art film called Rudaali.

(Some delayed films were however released after his death like Soutela Bhai, Aatank and Do Funtoosh where his brother Imtiaz dubbed for him).

He came, He conquered and He left.

Will miss him and his unique mannerisms always..like

'Hello Hello ji "in Chor Police

'Ludka Ludki" in Love Story

' I Like it ' in Qurbani &

Many more

Above all his dialogues from Sholay remain etched in our hearts for ever.

Please do add any anecdotes and Trivia.

Bibliography: Remembering Amjad Khan by Ali Peter

Happy Birthday Tabu

Happy Birthday Tabu

As filmmakers have quoted, Tabu is never selected for a role, more often than not the characters are written for her. That is the charm of Tabu. As she turns 52 today, here are some words appreciating the varied roles she has portrayed over the years to bring magic to the screen. 

Ever since her debut, at the age of 11, with the 1982 Sagar Sarhadi film Bazaar in an uncredited role, and later in Dev Anand’s 1985 Hum Naujawan, she has only shown excellence in portraying her roles.

Her first role as a leading lady was in the Telugu Coolie No 1.

Her Hindi Debut was supposed to be Prem which got delayed and films like Pehla Pehla Pyaar , Vijaypath got released in 1994 a year before Prem released.

( Vijaypath was a hit the other two tanked )

She did a lot of commercial films till the Gulzar directed Maachis in 1996 (set during the 1984 .Sikh unrest and the makings of an extremist). A year later, Tabu co-starred in the family drama "Virasat" (1997), for which she was nominated for the Hindi Filmfare Award for best actress.

Her role in another drama, "Hu Tu Tu" (1999), did finally land her the Filmfare Award, and in 2000 for her role in "Astitva," she walked away with the critics' award for best actress. 

Tabu won a National award for her role in Madhur Bhandarkar’s Chandni Bar (2001) where she goes from being a naive young girl to becoming a bar dancer in Mumbai and making the city her home. 

She later starred opposite actors Irrfan Kahn and Pankaj Kapoor in Maqbool an Indian version of "Macbeth" (2003).

Tabu has always shattered stereotypes with every character in every era of her career. In a career spanning over nearly four decades, Tabu has rarely portrayed a conventional character since 1996 barring an odd Jai Ho .

Not shying away from any genres, Tabu has also excelled in playing fun characters like the 34-year-old woman who falls in love with a 64-year-old man (played by Amitabh Bachchan) in the fun romcom Cheeni Kum. She also leaves a lasting impact with her role in the Netflix series A Suitable Boy where she romances a boy half her age, newcomer Ishaan Khatter.

Her near recent films like Drishyam (2015) Andhadhun (2018) and Bhool Bhulaiya 2 (2022) have been huge successes and her character portrayal is getting accolades.

We now await Drishyam 2

So, here’s to Tabu, wishing her a very happy birthday! May she continue to bring magic to the screen for many more years to come.

Pics : @Tabutiful Instagram & Google.

POST RETIREMENT

POST RETIREMENT 

It's been a week since I returned from my post retirement vacation to be with my daughter at Dubai and it has been over a month since I retired.

Looking back at the last 35 days

one realises how much daily habituality when severed affects.

Even today as I get up it takes me a few minutes to realise.. I don't have to go to office! Then the next hour goes in trying to plan what to do for the day

My colleagues and office associates are obviously busy and are usually in touch in case of some queries ( which I actually look ahead to)even that is rare.

Retirement and relaxation was correlated by many but at times I find it Taxing. All days are same .. Sunday ho Ya Monday 

So my visit abroad to be with my daughter and meet my brother was a refreshing ten days. But even they ended before I realised.

Yes I have been writing .. reading a bit, bingeing  and movies to whale off the time.

And yes this includes the social media too.

Discussions are on for future prospects but such things take time.

So yes Iam optimestic and hope this also shall pass soon..

Just felt Iike penning my feelings ..

Don't know why but just wish to end with this line ..

वक्त ने किया क्या हसीन सितम ..

AKSHAY KUMAR

Akshay Kumar has had five releases this year.

Bachchan Pandey 

Prithviraj Chauhan 

Both didn't do well.

Now in last 3 months he had

Raksha Bandhan

Cuttputlli 

And Ram Setu

Somehow got to see the final three them Back to Back ..this week

Two on OTT and RamSetu as a Diwali theatre release.

1)RAKSHA BANDHAN :

Akshay Kumar and Aanand L Rai have come up with their next collaboration together after 'Atrangi Re' called 'Raksha Bandhan'.

I found Raksha Bandhan as an initially regressive film that compresses a potentially most interesting plot point of dowry (with unsubtle humour in the first half) into a melodrama turning progressive in the second.

(I could anticipate the interval even while watching it on the small screen).

It was released with Laal Singh Chadda (another flop) and whatnwas common?

Golgappe.

While It’s a life philosophy for Aamir Khan in Laal Singh Chaddha and a business gimmick for Akshay Kumar’s Lala Kedarnath. In a snack stall in Chandni Chowk, Delhi, run by generations before him, Kedarnath continues to feed golgappa's to "expecting" women, perpetuating a myth that they will ensure she has a boy child.

Lala is in Love with Sapna ( Bhumi Pednekar) whose  father wants them to marry.. but...

Akshay Kumar is competent as always..the sisters do well as also Bhumi Pednekar and the other actors do justice to their roles 

The film is just 108 mins but with the songs pitching in the fast forward botton made it smaller.

I don't regret missing this on the big screen.

2)CUTTPUTLLI

A thriller that is a remake of a Tamil hit Ratsasan (2018). it chases a serial killer who brutally targets teenaged schoolgirls in the scenic town of Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh and leaves the brutalised face of Cinderella dolls as his signature. He is pursued by Arjan Sethi (Akshay Kumar), a sub inspector who was once an aspiring filmmaker, specialising in stories of serial killers. 

It's an Akshay Kumar show all the way. The star deserves praise for trying out different variations of the same template, but he is playing them with the intensity of a well-oiled machine that is more efficient than exciting. He is ably supported by Chandrachur Singh. The talented Rakul Preet Singh seems to be using small parts with big stars as an investment for the future.

This film is a link to the chain of films on serial killers.

Raveena Tandon's Aranyak and Vikrant Massey's Forensic, to name a few.

On the whole, CUTTPUTLLI has its share of thrilling moments but turns out to be average fare thanks to its weak climax.

But a good watch.

3) RAM SETU

Ram Setu stars Akshay as an archaeologist, Dr Aryan Kulshrestha, who proudly tomtoms his atheism to the press. The year is 2007. Around this time, the evil shipping magnate Indrakanth (Nasser) finds a project stalled by religious devotees. Indrakanth needs a portion to be shaved off the Ram Setu a.k.a. Adam’s Bridge a.k.a. Ram’s Bridge – a natural formation running between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka – so as to shorten the route to be taken by one of his fuel-guzzling ships.

Dr Aryan is roped in for his expert analysis on a waterborne work station with Gadgets which would fit in to any 007 Bond film. He is assisted by other experts of which one is Jacqueline Fernandez and in an emergency by a surprise element. 

How he goes about his job in an Indiana Jones adventure scenario is to be seen on the big screen.

Altogether, Akshay Kumar's Ram Setu has an interesting premise but the script is weak as also the characterisations.

The special effects VFX are not upto the mark.

RAM SETU is a songless film. The theme track is played in the end credits. Daniel B George's background score is exciting and in sync with the film’s mood.

Director Abhishek Sharma’s thought of making a film based on Ram Setu is fine and his search work is visible on screen. Though Abhishek Sharma’s on-paper ideas are good, the execution part lacks emotional connectivity.