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Reviews
Full Frontal (2002)
You'll need a release alright!
Question 1: *What* was this movie all about? Question 2: What or who prompted its selection as IMDb movie of the day?? (Which in turn has prompted this review.) This has got to be one of the most pretentious and pseudo-high brow movies I've ever seen. Soderbergh has made a movie that so labors on being arty, that you end up witnessing a massive exercise in an aimless and fruitless(one follows the other, I guess)story(?) telling.
When I began watching this movie, I was all excited about it - what with such a massive star cast and Soderbergh's reputation. At the end of the movie, I felt cheated of my time and effort that this movie demanded.
You're better off watching a re-run of "Traffic".
Chhote Nawab (1961)
The beginning of R.D. Burman's genius!
For me, as for most of Rahul Dev Burman's fans, "Chote Nawab" is notable for the fact that it marked the arrival of RD into the Indian film industry as an independent composer. Prior to this, Pancham (as he is known to fans and friends alike) was an assistant to his illustrious father, S.D. Burman and was responsible for a lot of the sparkling orchestration and tuning that we saw in Dada Burman's movies.
If the brilliant but whimsical Guru Dutt had stuck to his promise, a movie called "Raaz" would have been RD's first movie. Pancham even composed a few songs for this movie, but Dutt shelved the movie. Hearing this, Pancham's good friend, Mehmood approached him with "Chote Nawab".
The movie maybe nothing much to write about a man falling in love with a courtesan but what a brilliant debut by R.D. Burman! Each song is a sparkler, right from the first song he recorded for this movie the haunting and soulful, "Ghar aaja ghir aaye", to the peppy "Matwali aankhon waale", or the full of life "Aaj hua mera dil matwala", it is RD's movie all the way, and my vote for the movie is only for his super music.
Heeralal Pannalal (1978)
Total entertainment - RD Burman scores foot tapping score!
Heeralal Pannalal is an out-and-out entertainer. And when you have the charming Shashi Kapoor and the goofy Randhir Kapoor for company, you can be assured that it'll be pure fun.
The story's nothing much to talk about, but the movie is racy and an unabashed entertainer. The heroes have the charming Neetu Singh and Zeenat Aman for company. And then, there are the usual suspects of villains for the screwball pair to bash up.
Rahul Dev Burman comes up with a snappy, foot tapping score. Just for songs like "O padosan ki ladki", "Aaja mere pyaar aaja", "Kahiye kahan se aana hua", this movie is worth a dekko.
Parichay (1972)
The R.D. Burman - Gulzar combo strikes gold...again!
Loosely based on "The Sound of Music" (though Gulzar insists it was inspired by "The Turkish Family"), this movie is a must-see for the performances - especially Jaya Bhaduri and the children. Jeetendra is good too, in his odd wooden way. Pran is good as usual.
Once more, for the umpteenth time, music composer Rahul Dev Burman spins out memorable gems. Listen to "Musafir hoon yaaron", "Beeti na bitaye raina", "Saare ke saare", and "Mitwa", and you feel a sense of loss. How Pancham was underrated in his time, and what more he could achieved, if he was around with us. What beats is me is how all the so-called judges missed awarding R.D. for such out of this world music scores.
Kinara (1977)
Sensitive movie with super music score by R.D. Burman
Just one of those of many '70's movies from the Hindi film industry that makes one wonder, "Why don't they make movies like this anymore?" Sensitively directed by Gulzar and a superlative performance by Hema Malini makes this touching movie a must-see. Incidentally, "Kinara" exploits Hema's classical dancing talent to the hilt. Jeetendra is just lucky he got such movies to act in (also "Khushboo" and "Parichay").
The ultimate scene stealer though, is music composer Rahul Dev Burman. Each song is a gem. Every song touches you deep within, leaving you wanting more. With soulful nuggets such as "Meri awaaz hi", "Ab ke na saawan barse", "Jaane kya sochkar", "Koi nahi hai kahin", you wonder why the musical genius (as usual) didn't win an award for his superb work.