Hum Tum Aur Ghost Movie Review

I've often said, interesting ideas don't necessarily translate into enthralling celluloid experiences. That's what I realized, for the umpteenth time, as Hum Tum Aur Ghost concluded. Hollywood has attempted several films wherein the living has been shown interacting with the dead. In fact, two decades ago, there was a mad rush to Indianize Ghost [Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, Whoopi Goldberg]. The fascination with the dead continues to haunt Bollywood to this date.

Arshad Warsi - who has been credited with the story of Hum Tum Aur Ghost - has denied that the film is inspired by Ghost Town. Yet, there're some similarities and that could be coincidental. So far, so good!

Now here's the hitch. The screenplay - the lifeline of any film - is what makes a film stand on its feet and in this case, Hum Tum Aur Ghost suffers due to inept writing. Ideally, the writers and director should've come to the point right away, but the film takes its own sweet time to come to the point and what comes across is also not enticing, barring a couple of attention-grabbing moments. By then, the viewer has already lost interest in the film.

The sole saving grace is the performances by the principal cast. Sadly, that's not enough! For Armaan [Arshad Warsi], life was picture perfect. He has a doting girlfriend Gehna [Dia Mirza] and also a great job. But there's a problem: Armaan hears voices. Voices that torture him. Voices that disturb him. More importantly, voices that nobody else can hear.

Gehna is irritated with his weird behaviour. Add to that her father [Javed Sheikh] constantly berates him for his fondness for the bottle. No one seems to understand his predicament. What puzzles everyone is the fact that he talks to himself… or rather, he talks to people, who no one can see, simply because they don't live.

Soon, Armaan becomes aware of his special ability to connect with the dead. Equipped with a will to fulfil the wishes of these spirits who hound him, Armaan sets out on a mission to help out three souls - a child, an old man and a young woman.

Generally, most Hindi movies come to the point at the very inception. Hum Tum Aur Ghost also opens its cards at the very outset, but loses focus soon after. In fact, the moment you're told that Arshad can see the dead, you expect to embark on a journey you've never embarked upon earlier. But there's hardly any movement in the story after a captivating start.

No doubt, the concept is fascinating and had the writers concentrated on tackling the three stories that Arshad chooses to solve, and without wasting time on romance-n-songs, Hum Tum Aur Ghost would've been one journey you would've never forgotten.

The build-up to the first story - a dead kid asking Arshad to help his father - is simply missing. The second story - involving Boman Irani - could've been tackled far more expertly. The entire sequence in the bank is bizarre and far from funny. In fact, you wonder, did the writers run out of ideas at this point? Of course, the sequence thereafter - between Boman and his wife [Asawari Joshi] - is touching.

The third story - of a woman in search of her son - starts off very well, but midway through this story, the moment Arshad enters his father's house, the mystery never remains a mystery. You can predict what's in store next. The culmination to the film, although well shot, doesn't make the required impact either.

Director Kabeer Kaushik was entrusted with a great idea, but his team of writers blew it up into smithereens. The impact generated by a few worthy of note sequences gets evaporated as the film reaches its culmination, primarily because the writing doesn't hold. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's music is strictly okay. Ashok Mehta's cinematography is of top quality.

Hum Tum Aur Ghost has skilled performances, starting with Arshad, who's likable and believable. A complete natural, this is among his finest works. It's a new Dia you get to watch in this film. Not only does she look ethereal, but is exceptional in the acting department as well. Boman is tremendous, especially in the sequence when he's meeting his wife again. Sandhya Mridul doesn't get much to do. Zehra Naqvi is convincing. Shernaz Patel is wasted. Ditto for Tinnu Anand. Javed Sheikh is as usual. Asawari Joshi is perfect for her part.

On the whole, Hum Tum Aur Ghost is a terrible waste of a terrific idea. Disappointing

Movie: Hum Tum Aur Ghost

Directed by: Kabeer Kaushik

Starring: Arshad Warsi, Dia Mirza, Sandhya Mridul, Boman Irani, Zehra Naqvi, Shernaz Patel, Tinu Anand ..

Arshad Warsi paid Rs. 3 crores for Golmaal 3?

He's in. He's out. He's finally....in! After the producers Ashthavinayak, apparently, agreed to pay him a whopping Rs.3 crores to be part of the third segment of the ongoing Golmaal franchise, Arshad Warsi finally agreed to do the film.

After frantic negotiations the deal was finally cut on Monday. And yes, Arshad has condescended to be part of Golmaal 3. His 3-crore rupee fee should be higher than every member of the cast barring Ajay Devgn. Even higher than Kareena Kapoor who has a 3-film deal with the producers.

Says a source, "Arshad after Ishqiya was adamant on his fee. The producers tried to convince him to take a much smaller fee arguing that his co-stars Shreyas Talpade, Tusshar Kapoor and Kunal Khemu (who replaces Sharman Joshi) were accepting a far smaller fee and if Arshad was paid 3 crores, the other actors would feel short-changed." Arshad stuck to his guns. Stories came out saying the actor, now hot at the box-office after Ishqiya, did not like the script of Golmaal 3.

Says Rohit, "We were really keen to have him in the film. And yes the price has been worked out between Arshad and the producers. So he's on."

Strangely though, even after Rohit confirmed Arshad's presence in Golmaal 3, Arshad was still in denial. Said the actor, "I am not sure yet. They've been after me for some time now. But I'm not able to make up my mind. I need to give time to my own production Hum Tum Aur Ghost. So I don't know how I'll manage the dates."

However, sources from Golmaal 3 insist that Arshad is in at a staggering fee (for a non-lead actor).

The other actor like Arshad who has started acting pricey after a hit (3 Idiots) is Sharman Joshi who was reportedly asking for Rs 2.5 crores. He turned down the third part of Golmaal through his secretary.

Says Rohit Shetty, "Even before the scripting of Golmaal 3, Sharman sent me a message through his secretary saying he had other plans. I immediately looked for a replacement and am very happy with Kunal Khemu. Any regrets about Sharman? None at all. In fact we met at the airport recently and there wasn't any mention of Golmaal 3."

With Ishqiya and 3 Idiots, Arshad Warsi and Sharman Joshi seem to be determined to move into the big league. Both actors are aiming to play the main lead.

Without naming anyone Rohit Shetty says, "There're lots of very talented actors out here who are fabulous side attractions but can never be the main course."

We can safely assume whom he is talking about.

Ishqiya Movie Review

Get ready for tangy, pungent, sizzling and spicy stuff. Be forewarned, Ishqiya isn't the fluffy, candyfloss, saccharine sweet story of lovers breaking into songs in mustard fields. In Ishqiya, you just don't know what turn the story may take next. Not just the story, even the characters here are so impulsive and unpredictable.

You need to have a strong stomach to absorb Ishqiya. It's high on drama, it's wild, it's real. But it's not dark, it's not sleazy, it's not crass. Frankly, you don't expect debutante director Abhishek Chaubey to make a stereotypical fare thanks to the tutelage by his guru Vishal Bhardwaj, who loves to swim against the tide and undertake risks in film after film.

You could call Ishqiya a distant cousin of Omkara. Set in Gorakhpur in North India, the film has a rustic feel, depicts characters that may make you uncomfortable and is laced with saucy lingo. Yet, it's different than Omkara.

Final word? You can't help but fall in ishq with Ishqiya. Tired of sherbat? Try this spicy jaljeera for a change!

Two thieves, Khalujaan [Naseeruddin Shah] and Babban [Arshad Warsi], are on the run from their boss, Mushtaq. They seek refuge at a friend's house, but instead meet his widow, Krishna [Vidya Balan]. The time spent together draws the duo to her, Khalu with his tinted vision of old-fashioned love and Babban with his lustful eye. But the past catches up with all three!

There's no denying that the promos had prepared me of the journey ahead, yet it took me a good 15-odd minutes to get into the world of Khalujaan, Babban and Krishna. But once you get sucked into their world, the blurred images start getting clearer and clearer and you become an active participant in their journey.

The first hour passes in a jiffy, but the story actually gets dramatic and volatile in its second hour. It's at this stage that things start getting more and more unpredictable. The story does a somersault every 10 minutes and by the time it reaches its finale, you're curious to know how the debutante director would conclude this saga. The end, of course, will have its share of advocates and adversaries, but the fact remains that it's offbeat.

Abhishek Chaubey is a welcome addition to the ranks of avid storytellers. His choice of the subject and also handling of the material is what makes this film so eminently watchable. Not once do you feel that Ishqiya has been helmed by a first-timer. Note the change of events in the song 'Dil To Bachcha Hain Ji' or the kidnap drama and the heated argument that follows thereafter. Even the passionate lovemaking sequence between Arshad and Vidya has been dexterously canned.

However, Chaubey and his team of writers could've kept the writing simplistic towards the finale. It's complex and also lacks clarity. Yet, all said and done, screenplay writers Vishal Bhardwaj, Sabrina Dhawan and Abhishek Chaubey deserve kudos for coming up with a film that keeps you hooked for most parts.

Vishal Bhardwaj's musical score has his unmistakable stamp all over. The film is embellished with two lilting gems - 'Ibne Batuta' and 'Dil To Bachcha Hain Ji' - which are a rage with listeners already and have been juxtaposed beautifully in the plot. Mohana Krishna's cinematography is first-rate. Dialogues [Vishal Bhardwaj] are acidic and a few lines are indeed startling.

Every actor in Ishqiya delivers a sparkling performance! Naseeruddin Shah is superb as a romantic. He is matchless in the sequence when he learns the truth about Vidya and Arshad. Arshad packs in a bravura performance yet again. Post Munnabhai films, Arshad should be liked in this one the maximum. Vidya continues to surprise. It's a dynamic performance undoubtedly. PAA and Ishqiya are two landmarks in her career.

The actors enacting the role of Jijaji, the kidnapped victim and Vidya's husband are all perfect. The child, who interacts with Arshad, is natural. In fact, every performance in Ishqiya is worthy of mention.

On the whole, Ishqiya is definitely worth a watch. The film has a riveting plot, great performances, soulful music, an absorbing story and skilful direction to make the viewer fall in ishq with it. It should appeal to the hardcore masses as also the multiplex junta.