Ensofter Overrated and overhyped

HeadlinesExotic Boring

Aedonerre I gave this film a 9 out of 10, because it was exactly what I expected it to be.

Married Baby Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?

bobbysing EMAET can easily be termed as a foreign dish served with some Indian toppings and masalas, which actually ruin the real taste of the recipe all together. In reality the problem is that at one end our young film- makers are pretty inspired from the western films, their directors and want to try something unique on those similar lines. But on the other, our Indian market, traditions and the concept of love, don't allow them to cross certain boundaries which in turn results in a pretty weak product hanging in between, reaching nowhere. Now let me try to explain what I found deliberate, illogical and unloving in this Love Story.The film starts off with all seen before kind of scenes relating to Imraan's arrogant and classy parents forcing all their wishes on to their child. And the child is now a grown-up architect (of 25+), working in a big foreign company but still so dumb to continue to be the puppet of his ruling parents. Now after he gets fired from his job, Imraan meet this full of life girl Kareena and they spend some good time together in a pub drinking heavily. In their drunken state they even get married unknowingly and become an official couple as per the law. And from here onwards EMAET copies its initial main plot straight from WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS (2008) and the Mexican film RECIEN CAZADO (2009).But in a very amusing way, the first time director Shakun Batra makes an Indian change in the idea and puts some clothes on to the naked people in his script. In both the original films, the couple find themselves naked in a bed together in the morning and scream loudly as they come to know the truth of their shocking marriage. However in EMAET, the couple wakes up in their full clothes on, lying on the same bed and then start screaming. The presentation clearly shows that we still have dualistic minds working behind the projects wherein some film-makers are coming out of the shell with films like "The Dirty Picture" and some still want to make movies as per the old rules.The fact is proved again later in the film, when the couple files for an Annulment in the court (a legal procedure for declaring a marriage null and void, different from divorce) and the Judge asks them a question about their Sex life saying , "Did you have Sex together?". To this Imraan replies 'No' and Kareena says "Yes". Justifying her strange reply, she further adds, "No, not with him, but I thought you were asking with other people". Now this was quite confusing as far as characterization is concerned, because the film nowhere talks about sex in the short life of the married couple ever in its narration (may be because its an Indian film). Strangely it neither happens on the first night of their unplanned wedding, (when they were both madly drunk) nor at any later stage when they both stay in the same home for days. Still, Kareena openly admits having sex with others and not Imraan. Probably she was not fond of boys from the Indian origin and hence was not sexually interested in him for that very reason.Using the borrowed plot of a sudden marriage in its first half, EMAET later moves on to its own path inspired from two other film-makers namely Woody Allen and Richard Linklater (of BEFORE SUNRISE and BEFORE SUNSET fame). But here the inspiration is more related to the treatment of the subject only which revolves around just two people on the screen and their enlightening conversations about love. Shakun Batra takes a brave step in conceiving a project focusing on only two characters in the script and he handles them well too. Yet, in what pressure he still goes on to add many over-used kind of sequences post intermission, remains questionable.Coming to the open climax of the film which I found highly unrealistic, impractical and illogical, I am surprised that many critiques have appreciated it with an open heart. Talking about Cinematography, EMAET has some great foreign visuals but a weak soundtrack with nothing exceptional in its songs except an above average party track called 'Auntyji'. In fact music is regularly coming out be the weakest feature of many new ventures, which indeed is a matter of utmost concern for all producers. The film is largely based on only two characters yet Ram Kapoor shines the most in the supporting cast, with the rest doing their routine acts as seen earlier.In all EK MAIN AUR EK TU is undoubtedly a daring attempt by the debut director, but it's also highly inspired, confused and impractical in its on-screen execution. If only the producer-director could have thought of a novel concept for their love story it could have been a gem. However for now it will surely enjoy the benefits of a Valentine Week release planned perfectly.

Devesh EMAET is another movie in a long line of bollywood rom-coms. At the end of the day it's just like any of the above genre movie with the only difference being that you don't get the ending you were expecting.Kareena Kapoor stars as Riana Braganza, a character which unfortunately reminded me a lot of a similar role she portrayed as Geet Kaur Dhillon in Jab We Met. That's the main problem of EMAET. Over-hyped girl meeting uptight boy, who wants to avoid her, but similarly due to certain situations end up being (married) together. Only this time the setting is Las Vegas.The filmmakers could have done much much better, but this one is a disappointing experience. The only redeeming quality of the movie is Boman Irani and Ratna Pathak as Rahul's parents and to a lesser degree Ram Kapoor as Mr Bulani. They at least made me smile. Unfortunately they have little time screen.

ilpintl When "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu" rolled out just in time for Valentines' Day, it appeared to be another romantic trifle designed for parting swooning fools from their disposable income. I'm glad the timing of its release and cutesy poster didn't put me off, for it's actually a beast of different stripe.For a start, Imran Khan – heart-throb du jour of young girls—is not cast in heroic vein. He plays Rahul Kapoor, only offspring of an over-achieving architect father and a socialite mother. An amusing opening montage shows various types of kids: goody-two shoes, hell-raisers in angel guise, rebels looking for a cause, and so on. And then we have Rahul. From infancy, he's been told exactly what to do and how to do it. His own aptitudes don't matter for his father wants a miniature high-achieving clone of himself, while Mom is preoccupied with the pursuit of eternal youth. When the tot announces he's won a silver medal for swimming, his father witheringly corrects him, "No, what you did was lose the gold." Unsurprisingly, Rahul grows up into a permanently browbeaten youth with a pathological compulsion for neatness and a passion for ironing his socks. Precisely the kind to sweep girls off their feet…Dispatched to Las Vegas by Dad to intern at a big American firm as a preliminary step to becoming India's next architectural wunderkind, Rahul gets fired and doesn't know how to break it to his parents. That very day, they fly in to spend Christmas with him. Can a young man's life get more excruciatingly wretched? Why, yes, because his folks haul him off to the Christmas party from hell. A horrified Rahul gets unsolicited sex advice from Dad's loudmouthed friend, while the friend's new wife (hello, Mrs. Robinson) gropes his bum. Rahul makes a run for it, knocking over a waiter with an enormous platter, causing everybody to stare. Rahul's parents look pained. More withering looks follow and they depart for India in a gust of disappointment.When Rahul encounters Riana Braganza, a free-spirited hairstylist, similarly unemployed, he feels compelled to prove he is no snore-inducer. Bolstered by copious quantities of alcohol, he loosens up and actually has fun. In a boozy blur, they impulsively get married at a chapel officiated by an Elvis impersonator.This is no unacknowledged rip-off of "What Happens in Vegas"—it turns into something else entirely: a sweet-natured, generous-hearted reflection on human follies. Told they have to wait until the New Year for an annulment, Rahul and Riana return to India for a week. The Las Vegas location seemed arbitrary because the lead pair must get hitched in a hurry for the story to move forward – it's when the action shifts to India that the film hits its stride. In Bombay, Rahul witnesses another type of family: boisterous fun, affectionate, supportive with no secrets or lies. The Braganzas take him into their bosom, and he blossoms into a fairly agreeable young man with sporadic bursts of confidence. Does this mean boy and girl will now fall in love and decide to remain married? It would be wrong to reveal any more, but suffice to say this is a charming antidote to the cloying sugariness of usual Valentines' Day fare.Kareena Kapoor's Riana Braganza has certain shades of Geet, the character she played to perfection in "Jab We Met", but they are sufficiently unalike to hold one's interest. With scarlet streaks in her locks, a well-moisturized complexion, and a junior miss wardrobe, 32-year old Kareena does a pretty persuasive job of projecting youthful spontaneity and her pairing with the boyish Imran Khan doesn't jar. But, honey, it might be more fun to play women as opposed to girls – look at the blast Vidya Balan's having these days. Imran Khan does a sterling job of playing squished—it's genuinely delightful watching him perk up as the film progresses. Ratna Pathak Shah and he reprise their mother-son roles (Ratna was Imran's mom in "Jaane Tu…ya Jaane Naa"), but the relationship they share couldn't be more dissimilar. Here Ratna doesn't have a single nurturing bone in her sleek well-toned bod. She's very funny as the self-absorbed, vain socialite, deliciously glamorous in a number of fashion forward looks. She made me laugh aloud when Imran finally has a cathartic meltdown at a dinner party, venting his rage at constantly being infantilized, a perplexed Ratna asks, "But what's wrong with chopsticks?" How I would love to see Ratna play Amanda Prynne in "Private Lives" opposite—who else?—Naseeruddin Shah as Elyot Chase in a Hindi version of that evergreen Noel Coward drawing-room comedy. Boman Irani is wonderfully off-putting as the severe, perpetually disapproving father whose first instinct is to scowl. In a small cameo, Soniya Mehra (the late Vinod Mehra's daughter?) is a hoot as the extremely amorous date who decides to have her way with the cowering Imran.Riana's large and loving family – all new to me, did fine work, especially her plump fun-loving dad completely devoid of tact. I also loved her toothless granny, tottering at the edge of dementia.If one had to quibble, I would point to the cultural stereotypes the film plays on: Riana's laid-back tolerant family drinks, smokes, doesn't get bent out of shape over premarital sex –they're Christians, you see—maligned in India for their loose morals and tight clothing. But here they're the good guys, so that would just be me being tetchy - pay no heed.Karan Johar has shrewdly mentored a number of fledgling filmmakers, and Shakun Batra,who co-wrote (with Ayesha DeVitre, hairstylist/writer—a truly uncommon hyphenate) and directs this film, proves yet again that Johar has impeccable instincts for choosing producing projects. Shakun's film has an authentic voice and tone and his characters are endearingly flawed, funny, and very human.

Ketan Gupta Ek Main aur Ek Tu was out of box thinking rom-com movie enhanced with matured acting by Imran Khan and Kareena Kapoor along with soothing music by Amit Trivedi that gels well with the mood of the film. Rahul Kapoor (Imran Khan) is an average guy dominated by his nagging filthy rich parents telling him how to wear cloths , how to eat food . Rihana Brigenza (Kareena Kapoor) is a happy-go-lucky gal who enjoys her freedom and lives her to the fullest. However , their fate changes when their paths cross each other and soon they realize they want much more in life than just their daily routine. Directed by the first time director ,Shakun Batra, EMAET is a film which dares to cross the line and the result is fruitful. Hats off to the director for choosing such a different subject which challenges the patience of the audience and yet follows the simplicity of Indian Cinema. The film may start of with a typical boy-meet-girl romance but ends on something which I could never ever thought of.Screenplay is commendable keeping audience's interest alive. Imran Khan is getting better with each film. He has given his best performance till now and is on the verge of becoming a method actor. Kareena Kapoor is always a reliable when it comes to acting and though she shows shades of Jab We Met , she does a great job. Cinematography is outstanding capturing the beautiful location of Las Vegas and Mumbai. Production design is simple yet charming. Music by Amit Trivedi is soulful with the title song being the best among others. Rest of the star cast do justice to their part. So , overall , a perfect rom-com flick coupled with strong presence of Imran Khan and Kareena Kapoor. Good – 3.5/5