Yuvvraaj

Producer: Subhash Ghai
Director: Subhash Ghai and Mukta Arts Ltd.
Music Director: A.R. Rahman
Lyricist: Gulzar
Cast:
Mithun Chakraborty
Anil Kapoor
Salman Khan
Zayed Khan
Katrina Kaif
Boman Irani
Aushima Sawhaney

Synopsis: Subhash Ghai returns with a star studded cast in his latest family drama Yuvraaj (Crown Price). This is a story about three brothers, a father's fortune, and one man's mission to finally be able to marry the love of his life.
When the film opens we find ourselves in a magnificent concert hall. Ignoring the beauty of the room the camera gazes upon the beautiful Anushka (Katrina Kaif) a talented cello player. As the intense composition, painstakingly assembled by A.R. Rahman, plays on in the background our attention is turned to another person in the room. This character (Aushima Sawhaney) introduces the main character and hero Deven (Salman Khan). She explains how Deven is from a broken family and that his relation with Anushka is a true love. From this character we also learn that because of Deven's immaturity and lack of understanding about the meaning of family he risks losing Anushka forever.
The next character we are introduced to is Anushka's father -a wealthy doctor with a particular disdain for Deven's personality. He refuses to allow the marriage because he does not think that Deven knows what it means to be a true family man. The viewers and all the characters are aware that this fact is true of Deven -even though his lack of knowledge is not his fault. One day Anushka and Deven have a fight and Deven tells her to leave. When confronted about this action he explains while about how he did not leave his home he was kicked out for hitting his brother. Anushka returns to comfort him and Deven's demeanor changes completely back to his childish ways.
Dr. Banton (Anushka's father) calls Deven and invites him to a party saying that he will give Deven one last chance to prove himself. Dr. Banton tells deven specifically how to dress and that he is to arrive at the party ready to impress. Whe Deven arrives at the party he realizes that Banton had tricked him into dressing up like a waiter. Banton further insults Deven by introducing him to “high class” friends as the boy who was disowned by his rich father and now has trouble finding work. To rub even more salt in Deven's wound Banton announces his daughters engagement to another man. At this point Deven is so frustrated that he begins to bet recklessly at the roulette table at the party. After losing all his, he is confronted by Anushka's now soon to be husband who comments on how he is a small person and should learn to act his class level. Deven then throws a drink into the face of this man and is then escorted away by the police.
The next morning Deven is bailed out of jail by his boss. While filling out some paper work Deven is asked his father's name angrily gives it ti the officer. As he walks the officer calls him from behind to tell him that the front page of the newspaper says that his father has just died. Ecstatically happy returns to Banton's home with a deal. If Deven can become a billionaire within forty days, then he will be allowed to marry Anushka. If not then Dr. banton has the right to marry Anushka to any person he wishes.
Deven has now arrived in England where he meets his old family. His mother had died when he was child and so all that was left was a crooked uncle and his two sons and a corrupt daughter in-law. As far as Deven's nuclear family was concerned it was Deven, his older brother Gyanesh, and younger brother Danny.
Gyanesh suffers from Autism and has the mentality of an eight year old stuck in a forty year old body. Danny on the other hand is the epitome of the spoiled rich kid mentality. The day after his father died he chose to go party at a casino. Deven and Danny both believe that they will get at least a third of the estate each; however, when the will is read they find out that they only received 2 crores each out of a 1500 crore bank account. The rest of the money, property, and land belonged to Gyanesh.
At this point Deven and Danny team up to find a way to get Gyanesh to sign over the money.
From this point on the story has several twists and turns to the point where people not even involved in the story become villains and villains become heroes.
Make sure to watch the movie to see the thrilling conclusion. -Nipun Marwaha

Sarkar

While Sarkar may not exactly be a prototypical Bollywood film, do not be put off, because it is in fact one of the most suspenseful and thrilling films to come out of India in recent years. The film begins with a quote from the director, intended to cue the audience into the type of film they are about to watch. It reads, “Like countless directors all over the world, I have been deeply influenced by The Godfather. Sarkar is my tribute to it.” What plays out from there is a modified version of the story from The Godfather, transported seamlessly from the streets of New York to the streets of Mumbai.
The word “sarkar” translated into English means either government or the word to address someone in authority, such as an overlord. This is a perfect description of the character of Sarkar, the “godfather” or Don Corleone character in the film. He is the head of the family, the man who makes the decisions which are carried out by his many followers. His word is tantamount to law, and in a way he stands as a form of government outside the official government. He is the judge, he is the jury, and his supporters are his executioners.
Sarkar, as he is known to his followers, has two sons, the first being the hot-tempered Vishnu. He is the more wild and less virtuous of the two sons, getting himself in trouble due to his lusting after the star of the movie he is producing (He is married). Sarkar’s other son, Shankar, has just returned from the United States where he has just completed his education. He is cultured and fully aware of what his father does but does not disapprove, understanding the complex honor code his father lives by.
When one day a Dubai-based shady businessman proposes a deal with Sarkar on his territory, Sarkar refuses, saying he knows what type of illegal materials the businessman is proposing to ship into his city. While it is left unspoken, presumably Sarkar is referring to drugs, much as in the original The Godfather, Don Corleone refuses to enter into any drug dealing enterprises. Sarkar’s refusal sets off a war with a rival gang, which eventually develops into a war between Sarkar’s two sons. What results from there I will not divulge, but needless to say the two gangs do not come to a peaceful solution.
The film is filled with violence but is never gratuitous, certainly nothing as bad as you commonly see in Hollywood films today. While everyone should be able to enjoy Sarkar, fans of The Godfather in particular will find much to love here, as the film carefully reworks plot elements and characters from the original. As well, while the film is not a musical, it features a terrific soundtrack which helps build the incredible suspense the film relies on. Overall, Sarkar is a truly great film, one that should not be missed by serious Bollywood fans or even just those who like a good mafia film. -Ben Strassfeld

Namastey London

Directed by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, Starring Akshay Kumar (Arjun Singh) and Katrina Kaif (Jasmeet Malhotra)
Jasmeet, or Jazz, as she prefers, has a job at a fancy British magazine, dresses in very stylish clothes, and pines for her British playboys boss, Charles Brown. She openly defies her parents regularly- scaring away Indian Suitors Charles Brown proposes marriage to Jazz while her father is planning a trip to India, which Jazz agrees to go on. While this trip seems innocent, her father a placed an ad for Jazz on a dating website for Indian suitors.
On the trip to India, Jazz meets s series of incorrigible suitors. Then an ill-fated cab ride leaves Jazz and her parents stranded in the Punjab countryside, but also introduced her to the handsome, motorcycle riding stranger that fixes the car. The family makes it to their relatives house, where Jazz is clearly thrown by her intensely traditional relatives. Jazz is shocked when the handsome stranger from earlier in the day drunkenly climbs the terrace to find her. His name is Arjun. Arjun meets Jazz’s father, who immediately decides that he would like the two to marry. Everybody seems thrilled with the union except Jasmeet. The engagement celebrations commence, and the couple agrees to marry in India but leave for London that night.There is a wedding ceremony, but shortly after, the mischievous Jazz announces that since there are no legal documents proving a marriage and it absolutely wont be recognized in London, she is still single. Her parents are understandably furious.
Jazz returns to London and immediately accepts Charles Brown’s proposal- Arjun and Jazz’s parents are completely distraught. Arjun stays in London with Jazz’s family, swearing to fight for her, and creating some awkward tension in the house. Jazz is dismayed upon meeting Charles’ somewhat racist friends, and in her sadness Arjun befriends her and defends Indian culture to these friends—while seemingly simple, it forge a bond between the two and displays Jazz’s pride in her Indian heritage. Charles’ vices come out abruptly in the next several scenes, he is petulant, childish, controlling, and jealous, while Arjun takes dance lessons with her and befriends here male counterpart Irman, fixing his relationships with his girlfriend and father. Jazz is clearly torn, and all this comes to a head on Jazz and Charles’ wedding day. -Laura Gamble

Singh is Kinng

Singh is King, or S.I.K., is a 2008 film directed by Anees Bazmee and stars Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif. It has gone on to gross over Rs.600 million worldwide and it is still grossing more. It has had considerable success in North America, grossing over $1.1 million dollars in its first weekend ("Mega Hit Singh Is Kinng : Record Breaking Box office thread." Naachgaana 16 Aug 2008 4 Dec 2008 ). The music of the film received attention in the States because of rapper Snoop Dogg’s involvement; he as a small cameo and performs the title track. This was a worldwide success because of its enticing plot, comedic aspects, and great song and dance sequences.
Lucky Singh, played by, Sonu Sood, is the king of the Australian underworld. Back in a small village in India, Happy Singh, played by Akshay Kumar promises to bring Lucky back to his village. In his attempt to fly to Australia, his boarding pass gets mixed up with someone else’s and he ends up in Egypt. While he is there he meets Sonia, played by Katrina Kaif, and falls deeply in love with her.
Happy eventually flies to Australia and finds Lucky’s house, but Lucky does not want to go back to India and kicks Happy out on the street. Happy is taken in by an elderly woman, played by Kirron Kher. Although she has very little, this woman provides food and shelter for Happy, and he sees her as a mother figure.
In an attack, Happy risks his life to save Lucky’s. They both survive, but Lucky becomes paralyzed and can no longer be king. So, Happy takes his place and tries to get the underworld gang to change there ways and become good. Soon, elderly women that provided for Happy when he needed it most came back to Happy. She was upset because her daughter was coming back to Australia and as no idea of the poor financial situation that she is in. Happy allowed her to use the gang’s mansion and the gang pretended to be the servants. But, he soon finds out that the elderly women’s daughter is Sonia, the women he fell in love with in Egypt, and that she is engaged to sneaky Puneet, played by Ranvir Shorey!
The plot twists and turns and is incredibly funny. It is a great modern film that keeps the same traditional values and morals of Bollywood. -Allison Connolly