Monday, October 8, 2007

Om Shanti Om

Language: HINDI
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Director: Farah Khan
Producer: Red Chillies Entertainment
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Arjun Rampal, Kirron Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Bindu
Music: Vishal-Shekhar
Cinematography: V. Manikandan Editing: Shirish Kunder
Story/Writer: Farah Khan, Abbas Tyrewala

This film focuses on Om (Shah Rukh Khan) who grows up in the seventies. This is the time when he meets Shanti (Dipika Padukone ), the love of his life but shortly thereafter suffers an untimely demise.
Om is immediately reincarnated and the story flash forwards to the present day.
Haunted by memories of his past life and his true love, Om attempts to solve the mystery of his death, and also reunite with Shanti, the love of his past life.
Om Shanti Om is said to be inspired by the Hollywood movie, Chances Are, where a man is reincarnated and instantaneously attempts to find the wife from his previous life.
Om Shanti Om has over 30 well known Bollywood stars including Salman Khan, Rani Mukherjee, Kajol, Sanjay Dutt, Priyanka Chopra, Preity Zinta and Saif Ali Khan putting in a guest appearance for a special song and dance sequence in the film, a concept recently used by Farah's brother, Sajid Khan in the opening number of his film, Heyy Babyy.
Farah Khan's husband, Shirish Kunder (director of Jaan E Mann) is in charge of Om Shanti om's editing. He was previously involved in the same department for Farah's debut movie, Main Hoon Na.
Om Shanti Om features Shah Rukh Khan in the lead role and introduces Deepika Padukone as his love interest.
The supporting cast includes Arjun Rampal (recently seen in the film Don) and Shreyas Talpade.

OM Shanti OM Music Review

Singers: Shreya Ghoshal, Shaan, Sonu Nigam, K.K., Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Richa Sharma, Sunidhi Chauhan, Udit Narayan, Sukhwinder, Caralisa, Marianne D'Cruz, Nisha Mascarenhas, Rahul Saxena, AbhijeetMusic Director: Vishal-ShekharRatings: ***
Farah Khan's second directorial venture is ready to hit the theatres. While the movie is a much-anticipated one, the music is getting mixed reviews from all over. Composed by the contemporary duo Vishal-Shekhar, the soundtrack of "Om Shanti Om" is an amalgamation of songs that belong to an earlier age.
Already doing the rounds of the small screen and making hearts go aflutter is "Ajab si" - doused completely in romance, the song by K.K. has this unconventionally youthful tune attached to it. K.K. is as usual flawless while the lyrics are sweet and innovative.
Taking a complete U-turn is the track titled "Dard-e-disco". Rendered by Sukhwinder and assisted by Caralisa, Marianne D'Cruz and Nisha Mascarenhas, the number is very close to being a disaster.
Shaan renders "Dastaan-e-Om-Shanti-Om", which reminds one so much of the evergreen "Ek hasina thi". The musical ensemble seems elaborate and the track has a 50-50 chance of doing well.
"Deewangi deewangi" boasts of a gang of singers including Shaan, Rahul Saxena, Shreya Ghoshal, Sunidhi Chauhan and Udit Narayan, some of the best of the lot. In the song, music from the yesteryears has been fused with contemporary tones. Javed Akhtar's lyrics add to the journey into the past.
"Dhoom Tana" makes it difficult for one to say whether it will be an out and out success or just fade away. Abhijeet and Shreya do a good job of rendering Javed Akhtar's lyrics, and Vishal-Shekhar's music doesn't disappoint either, yet the overall appeal of the track leaves you wanting.
"Jag soona soona lage" boasts of singers like Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Richa Sharma, who with their powerful voices enthral the masses. Javed saab's lyrics contribute to the heart-breaking theme of the song where melody plays a huge role and Rahat Fateh's soulful and passionate voice completes the circle.
Continuing with the theme of creating music belonging to a completely different era, Vishal-Shekhar rope in Sonu Nigam and Shreya for "Main agar kahoon". A mushy and romantic song, it encompasses doses of sweet nothings written by Javed Akhtar. It will find instant fans who may, however, back off after a while.
Fragments of all the tracks in the soundtrack are put together to form "Om Shanti Om", a medley mix. This should be a treat for anyone who has loved each and every song in the album. Who else would download it?
Despite a few problems, "Om Shanti Om" is a sure winner!
If the buzz doing the rounds in the industry is to be believed, Farah Khan's eagerly awaited Om Shanti Om features Shah Rukh Khan in a double role as Om and Om. Unlike his other double role in Duplicate he won't be seen simultaneously on the screen in both the roles.
At first SRK plays a junior artiste from the 1970s who's bumped off by a jealous hero (Arjun Rampal). He's then re-born as Om again…naturally!
While the theme of reincarnation and revenge is a direct tribute to Subhash Ghai's Karz, there are several other passages in Farah's feisty homage/spoof which do tributes or take-offs on Bollywood's stalwarts
It's time for the industry to get seriously apprehensive.
Farah's films will take pungent potshots at the film industry's bright- packers,specially at those who mattered monstrously in the 'golden era' namely the 1970s.
Apparently, none of the stalwarts has been spared from the web of satire.
One of the primary targets of satire is Manoj Kumar, the man who wrote and re-wrote a considerable amount of the grammar and glamour of commercial Hindi cinema.
Apparently Om Shanti Om takes stinging potshots at Manoj Kumar and several other stalwarts from the era.
"But all in good faith," says a source close to the film. "There's no malice intended in the satire. And Shah Rukh and Farah are counting on the belief that people in the film industry have a sense of humour."