Title: Ugly Aur PagliYear: 2008
Cast: Ranvir Shorey, Mallika Sherawat
We've all hear this is a remake; the Korean original is also being remade in Hollywood, with the assistance of the original's director and is due out later this month in North America.
Ranvir meets a very very drunk Mallika late one night and chivalrously brings her home. In the process, he falls in love, but she keeps him clueless about her feeling, while putting him through hoops- involving cross dressing, petty thievery and the like for him :) How does it end? Its Bollywood- what do you expect??
Pros:
1- The chemistry between Mallika and Ranvir is surprising, and very very effective! So much so, that it almost overshadows the copied script :B
2- Sushmita Mukherjee is brilliant as Mallika's mom [heart]
Cons:
1- Plagarised script! Uggghh!!!!
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Title: Via DarjeelingYear: 2008
Cast: Vinay Pathak, Kay Kay Menon, Sonali Kulkarni, Rajat Kapoor, Sandhya Mridul, Simone Singh, Prashant Narayanan, Pravin Dabas.
Kay Kay and Sonali are honeymooning in Darjeeling- and on their eve of their departure back to Calcutta, Kay Kay disappears.
Where did Kay Kay go? Vinay is the inspector of police assigned to the job, but as we find out years later when he is recalling the incident to a party of drunk friends (Simone, Sandhya, Rajat, Prashant), Kay Kay was never found.
So what happened to Kay Kay? Each of the 5 at the party contribute their own theory- but you have to wait till the very end to get an idea of what the truth may have been- or what you think it is.
Pros:
1- The "mystery" factor works.
2- Every actor plays their part fully and well- no one is holding back any punches here.
3- The background score is fabulous, as is scenic Darjeeling and the cinematography.
Cons:
1- I like my mysteries properly solved :D
12 comments:
Via Darjeeling sounds very interesting and I like the cast line-up, too. Is it on DVD yet?
"Via Darjeeling" sounds like it would be something I would like...but I really cannot stand mysteries left unsolved, like you said! I have an imagination, but...:&
I would have never given "Ugly Aur Pagli" a second glance, had it not been for your review...will wait for the DVD, though (not like I have a choice...lol...its not even close to playing anywhere around here).
Even Via Darjeeling seems to have been adapted from another movie -- Kurosawa's Rashomon. I Think the diirector acknowledged the reference as well in an interview. Gotta see it.
~r
I just saw 'Ugly Aur Pagli' yesterday. I found it tedious. I don't mind remakes, if at least some effort is made to adapt them properly.
Both Ranvir and Mallika are unbelievable as college students, then why have the college student bit at all? And so on.
Haven't seen 'Via Darjeeling.'
I thought ugly and pagli had some funny scenes but too few and far in between i would say..a little dissapointing i would say...
Baba has seen Ugly Aur Pagli and she thought it was pretty all right. I never watch anything that has Mallika
Sherawat in it :P
Via Darjeeling looks interesting. Something sort of a B grade slasher movie I can't remember, without all the hacking of course :P
BollywoodFan: Vinay has the largest amount of screentime I'd say- Simone shares equal screentime with the rest of the cast. She IS a bit annoying here- but I think her role demanded her to be :)
Bollyviewer: Nope not on DVD yet- just checked. It WAS interesting- just wish they had tied it up properly :D I hate not knowing for SURE :)
Nida: Ditto about "Via." I'm guessing I sounded too optimistic about "Ugly": it isnt brilliant, but is more than I expected it to be.
Celluloidrant: I HAVE seen Rashomon. The concept is definitely the same- recalling a past crime and discussing it years after. But at least the incident and characters are unique [thank God for small mercies] :)
Banno: haha- but if they tried to "adapt,"- they'd have to THINK a little bit, and would end up with a "Via Darjeeling" instead of "Ugly"- :D as for beleivable college students- that I think occurs once in a decade in Bollywood- remember the marvellous 2002 "Jani Dushman- Ek Anokhi Kahani"? :D
Pranay: Yup- it was inconsistent for sure- but I did like the chemistry between the 2 principal characters- they connected, and it gave the movie whatever credibility it had.
Arantxa: You arent missing much by avoiding "Ugly"- "Via" you would like- it makes you think and play detective- I JUST WISH they had shown proper resolutionnnnn :D
I want to see Ugly Aur Pagli because I like the cast. Plus I've seen My Sassy Girl and want to see how Bollywood does it their way. I've seen the other Bollywood versions of Korean films and I prefer the Bollywood ones over the Korean ones. Such as Zinda over Oldboy and Awawarpan over A Bittersweet Life.
I want to see Via Darjeeling because I'm a huge Kay Kay fan.
Nicki: Trust me, "Ugly"'s high pts are the "pros" ive mentioned :D Though I honestly couldnt agree more about Zinda: Oldboy was WAY more violent/scary for me [I'm a complete wuss] :) Awarapan is the only time I've been able to tolerate Hashmi... not seen the Korean version :B
I don't plan to see ugli pugli so not too concerned about that.
Via Darjeeling sounds kind of interesting,normally I like whodunits and mysteries.
This is my first visit to your blog,you have a very nice one,nice "meeting" you :)
Reviewer: Thanks for stopping by! Keep visitng :D
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