Maid In Manhattan

Movie: Maid In Manhattan

Director: Wayne Wang

Actors: Jennifer Lopez, Ralph Fiennes

Snap out of it!! Alright. He doesn’t love you and you don’t love him. You have no connections, affiliations or loyalties. You are from two different worlds.

He is Christopher Marshalls (Ralph Fiennes) running for the senate, and she is Marisa Ventura (Jennifer Lopez) running around her odd job as a maid in a hotel to meet ends. Marisa is cleaning a guest’s suite when she stealthily dresses up in a Dolce Gabbana of that guest. That is when Mr. Marshall mistakes her for a wealthy woman and happens to go out on a walk with her. One thing leads to another. She doesn’t reveal her identity and continues to bump into him off and on. They fall in love and spend a night together.

Hell breaks loose as the Hotel finds out due to extremely overbearing and suspicious guest who has more than just a slight crush on our Mr. Politician. Her identity is disclosed in front of Marshalls while the paparazzi happily involve itself.

Mostly people from two different worlds do part ways, never to meet again. The practicality overcomes the magic; the crude image building often becomes the rude replacement for true desires. But this one is a fairy tale story, the modern day prince and peasant. And fairy tales never get out of fashion do they?

Shit happens. Love happens. And then- I love you and you love me too. Our hearts connect. Affiliations dissolve and loyalties are strengthened in the one world that you and I make.

Watch the independent woman get her man, her job and more. Its innocent, cheerful, and....well... a good time pass.

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

Movie: Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara


Director: Zoya Akhtar

Actors: Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Abhay Deol, Kalki Koechlin, & Katrina Kaif

Made by Zoya Akhtar but with the flavour of Farhan Akhtar. Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (ZNMD) seems to be the natural progression after the string of Dil Chahta Hai, Rock On. Its primarily about three best friends since school who go on a bachelor trip to Spain. No don’t get ideas of a Bollywood remake of Hangover. This one’s about living life to the fullest, to let go of your fears. The three men undertake three different sport activities which bring each one of them face to face with their fears and insecurities and overcoming each one is like a milestone achieved in the journey called life.

They come to terms with what they really want, and what they are missing out on by just living for others. Be it Kabir (Abhay Deol) who decides to stop the unwanted marriage, Imraan (Farhan Akhtar) who decides to stop looking for unwanted truths of life, or Arjun (Hrithik Roshan), who realises there’s more to life than financial trading 24*7.

The issues that the actors deal with are not new. However, it makes for an interesting watch because of variety of sports chosen and their different shooting mediums. Be it sky diving, underwater diving or running among the bulls. The Flamenco song ‘ Senorita’ and the beautiful locales of Egypt and Spain add a very fresh flavour to the movie. The slapstick humour of Farhan Akhtar and Abhay Deolness of Abhay Deol were endearing but as far as I am concerned, I looked no further than Hrithik Roshan. The Greek God is there in all his glory.

The Shankar Ehsaan Loy music will take time to get on to my lips, but the Javed Akhtar poetry almost makes up for it, and gives ZNMD its soul.
Watch it for the poetry and inspire yourself to be not proud or guilty but just to be happy and thankful for this one life.

Dilon mein tum apni betabiyan lekar chal rahe ho,
Toh zinda ho tum
Nazar mein khwabon ki bijliyan leke chal rahe ho,
Toh Zinda ho tum
Hawan ke jhonkon ke jaise azaad rehna seekho
Tum Ek Dariyan ke jaise lehron mein behna seekho
Har Ek Lamhe se tum milo khole apni Baahein
Hare k pal ek naya samaa dekhein yeh nigaahein
Jo apni Ankhon mein Hairaniyan leke chal rahe ho
Toh Zinda ho Tum
Dilon mein tum apni betabiyan lekar chal rahe ho
Toh Zinda ho tum

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- Javed Akhtar for ZNMD