Promising Bollywood Phillums (?)

Hindi films this year haven’t been too great but on the other hand they haven’t been that bad either – obviously with the exceptions of the Aap Ka Suroor types. However its way too early to write-off the year, with 5 months to go and some of the most promising takes from Bollywood yet to be released, 2007 will continue to be a joyride till the very end.

Here are some of my personal picks, the ones I can’t wait to get eyes on. Yes, I will be there – the first day, the 3rd show and parked butt on the best seats money can buy.

Heyy Babyy

The promos are saucy and peppy with bucket loads of humor thrown in. Sajid Khan’s directorial debut (technically) stars bunch of his close buddies in the industry, plus having Akshay Kumar can only be seen as an bumper lottery ticket. Set in the beautiful Australian city, Sydney (mummy I wanna go back)….the story in more the one way reminds me of an old Hollywood flick, “Three Men and A Baby”.

It would interesting to see whether Farah Khan’s chote bhaiya ends up making a positive impression or not. Personally I think, Sajid though he can be an ass-wipe at times with his sidey (at times insulting) comments on the Industrywallahs but as a director, the dude’s got his heart in the right place.

He’s already got a winner with the title track “Heyy Babyy”, which features tons of Bollywood actresses practically shaking their everything. Though I dislike the bit where the leading lads pour champagne on the ladies’ private assets but it’s only the ‘B’ grade types who allow themselves to be filmed like that – example Celina Jaitley, Sophia, Koena Mitra and company.

Chak De India

Why I want to watch Shah Rukh Khan with a grayish beard – well because the feminist in me asks me to. Supposedly based on the real life story of an ex-Indian Hockey coach and his team of gals though I find the idea more on the lines of Gurindar Chadda’s Bend It Like Beckham.

Didn’t find the promos to be all the attractive but it promises to be a decent watch. The film should work will in the metro cities, so the Chopra Camp must be hoping since they haven’t had a hit in a long time now. Hopefully the film will have more to do with the theme and less with the superstar and his usual antics.

Buddha Mar Gaya

Well no guessing here – the film has apni powerhouse entertainer Rakhi Sawant and so I have to watch it. Those not too fond of the muah-fut lady, well the film also stars some of the best comedians in Bollywood today; Anupam Kher, Om Puri and Ranvir Shorey.

Directed by Rahul Rawail, Buddha Mar Gaya is a black comedy dealing with unending greed, corruption, funerals, ice cubes and a femme fatale. Some time back there were several rumors floating around claiming the film to be based on one of India’s top most Industrialist family – the Ambanis to be more precise. However the people behind this project totally disregard the similarities, if any.

Again, this film too appears to be somewhat inspired by another blockbuster hit, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron. Hit or not doesn’t really matter…as long as Sawant madam is there.