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Review - London Dreams: through a pleasant though long night
London Dreams
![[Poster for London Dreams]](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2637/4110766403_9f8f05b80f_m.jpg)
Friends are forever or maybe they are not. Or maybe they become best of friends except for that thin line that still keeps them apart. Does being human mean taking care of yourself or does it mean giving yourself to one and all? Can a human be so selfish or so selfless? Both nauseating in their own way? Well, it takes all kinds to make this world. And that I guess makes it an interesting place to live in albeit insane. Yes. A Vipul Amrutlal Shah film made me think beyond what was going on, on screen. And this is, despite having a few of the quintessential Hindi film touches to it.
That's because it ALSO had broader non-standard and pleasantly surprising strokes. Example, there's no one event or line that transforms the good to evil or vice versa, the character is written in such a way that the transition is smooth. Another such stroke, which I thought made this entire film worth its while, was Arjun's (Ajay Devgn's) character. His traits established, the passion that drives him to his goal and maybe even to insanity. Whether or not he achieves his goal and/or insanity is for you to go and watch. And that's the beauty. The film maintains a dark-ish atmosphere where you know anything could happen and it's equally likely that the film won't end on a popular note. And that keeps the interest alive. Ajay, of course, makes and maintains the serious ambience through the film. The twitches and the way the eyes move to disclose what's on Arjun's mind are not to be missed.
But, then again it's a mainstream Hindi film and it keeps reminding you of that. For instance, almost all the other characters are pretty much flat. Including Manu (Salman Khan) and Priya (Asin). And the actors didn't do much with whatever little scope their characters had either. Salman Khan is his usual stuff. His comic timing is best at some of the really funny lines given to him. It's amazing how the man can do the same thing over and over and over and still have his fans cheering and hooting for him all through. Though in this one there are a few dashes of facial muscle movement here and there.
In a script that did so much with the male protagonist, it’s a shame that the lead woman was so etchily sketched. She could have been more involved. She could at the very least have not disappeared from one of the most crucial plot points in the film!
The show-down is a bit too much to swallow. And the climax came way too quickly and was abrupt. Yes, and I'm still complaining about its length. It's sad when a film is long and you still find something amiss.
Whatever the drawbacks of the film are in terms story or dialogues the improvement, in the entertainment-quotient of these two departments (of a Vipul Shah film) came as a pleasant surprise. And so did the aesthetics in terms of cinematography and sound design. Maybe just losing Akshay Kumar might have done the trick. Ok, sorry, couldn't resist that unwarranted dig.
It's a film that makes you want the hero to win and the anti-hero to not lose. You flinch when the latter is punished and want to reach out to him and tell him it's ok. This one also has a strong hard work vs. talent+charisma debate as a backdrop. But the drama goes on a tad too long. Long enough for you to notice the holes in the other departments. And there they lose us.
- meetu, a part of the audience
Parental Guidance:
- Violence: None. One of the characters is a substance abuser.
- Language: A few innuendoes here and there and a little bit of toilet humor.
- Nudity & Sexual content: Skimpily clad women in bars and dance sequences.
- Concept: That of friendship - what makes and breaks it.
- General Look and Feel: Is nice and peppy without being too bright or away from reality.
London Dreams - Movie Details
- Official Sites: Website
- Banner: Headstart Films UK Ltd
- Director: Vipul Shah
- Lead Cast: Salman Khan
![[Has twitter account]](/site_media/images/icons/twitter_small.png)
, Ajay Devgan, Asin Thottumkal - Supporting Cast: Rannvijay Singh, Aditya Roy Kapoor, Manoj Pahwa
- Story: Suresh Nair
- Screenplay: Suresh Nair
- Dialogues: Ritesh Shah
- Cinematography: Sejal Shah
- Editor: Amitabh Shukla
- Background Score: Sulaiman Merchant, Salim Merchant
- Choreography: Remo, Chinni Prakash, Rekha Prakash, Caesar, Bosco, Rajeev Surtiu
- Music Director: Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani, Loy Mendonca
- Lyrics: Prasoon Joshi
- Running time: 150 minutes
- Reviewer: meetu
- Categories: Hindi Movies
- Genres: Relationships
London Dreams - Trailer
London Dreams - All reviews summary
External Reviews
40 reviewers have given London Dreams an average rating of 2.4/5.0. 13 yays, 15 nays, 12 so-so. See all external reviews »
Comments (11)
Sounds promising, but I guess I will just watch Up over the weekend.
Going to see this tomorrow so will comment more then, but in the meantime: "etchily sketched" is a wonderful turn of phrase!
Hi Meetu, The Plot Summary looks eerily similar to Amadeus. Does the film take inspiration from there?
I have to pick one to watch, I think I'll go for Aladin.
Re:Asin's make-up and her overall look - I wonder how much of the blame for it goes to the film. She tends to ply on the paint too generously even at social dos (so I gather from photos/TV).
I have been listening to the soundtrack of London Dreams and I must say that I have fallen in love. After a long time (Gulaal and Dev D) do we have a very different soundtrack. Really good.
First things first. London Dreams is no Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, neither its sequel nor it is Rock On. London Dreams is loosely inpired by Amadeus - the movie on Europe’s great musicians and composers of all time Mozart and Beethoven and Rajkumar Santoshi were to film on Shahrukh Khan and Aamir Khan once a decade back.
London Dreams is the story of two childhood friends from Punjab, India. It is the story about one friend who dreams to be a pop star like Micheal Jackon by making it to Wembley Stadium, London and other friend who considers his friend to be God and supports his dream in every sense. London Dreams is about jealousy between gifted talent and hard earned talent for music and love. It is just coincidently has the love factor in common that of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam but no in the pivotal role of the subject. Music is the subject and so goes on the story.
London Dreams is a story of one destined and god-gifted talent, Manjit Khosla a.ka. Manu (Salman Khan) and hard working musician with passion for music and dream to make it big especially at Wembley and the Lead Singer of London Dreams Band. Arjun (Ajay Devgan) and their friendship and struggle and the lost pride of the family and victory to make it to the most respected arena of Music or we can say Mecca of Music audience, the Wembley at London.
London Dreams is the first Indian movie or movie by any Indian Filmmaker where in London is depicted so lively and so beautiful and so picturesque, so is piqturised Eiffel Tower of Paris in background when Salman proposes Asin.
Thank God, London Dreams does not have the Yash Chopra Lobby style of Punjab. It would be outright incorrect to mention here any thing about the role depiction of Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan intentionally, because London Dreams is truly the first Blockbuster hit of 2009. About Asin, she reminds of typical south indian herione casted in a Hindi movie of 60s and 80s - a typical show piece and nothing do much about one thumka idhar and other thumka udhar and in the end go with the hero for an happy ending. But only new thing is Asin looks cute despite of her small
role. But the plus point this is for the first time any south Indian heroine looking so cute in an Hindi movie.
Music of the film barring a couple of songs is not hummable but easily gels with the theme in the movie. Screenplay is gripping and does not allow one to move out even during the songs. Cinematography by Sejal Shah is A class. Editing by Amitabh Shukla is par excellence especially the playing with the screen time and increasing it and making it gripping.
Overall, London Dreams is the first movie in many months that lures one to go and watch it again and again in cinema halls for its sheer magnum opus quality maintained by the filmmaker, Vipul A. Shah.
Do not get surprised if London Dreams sweeps away all awards in all awards functions.
Ratings 4/5 stars.
as said by suchi this is inspired by amadeus of hollywood 1984. pl read this
http://www.idlebrain.com/mumbai/reviews/londondreams.html
@ Harsh
"But the plus point this is for the first time any south Indian heroine looking so cute in an Hindi movie."
what the hell does it mean?...not only it is meaningless but also somewhat racist...
@Rahul so how did it go?
@Beth what did you think?
@Shuchi About Asin - oh really? didn't know that. but its really annoying.
@Shuchi @Raaj Amadues - well yeah. but then any professional jealousy plot will be like Amadeus. And am willing to place a bet not even close as a good film :)
@Rahul Really? I liked them while playing in the theater, but couldn't remember one after getting out.
@harsh wow...you really liked it that much, ha? and it would be great if you could reply to @Ramen 's question.
salmann khan done another best perfomance this year 2009 and honestly he will got the award this time.
@remo
Look Man i am just point out that in rtecent time i dont know any south indian girl in bollywood is looking so qute as asin i am not tring to say that thare is no any beautiful girls in South indian. but in recent time if u know ant Actress from south who looking extreemly Gorgious like Asin so plz Comment on me Byyyyyyyyyyyy..
Meetu, I check your review mainly for the Parental Guidance and your reviews are pretty good. But I must say that either you are too modern or have no family values at all!!For PAA, Your parental Guidance says none in Language except the word Bastard. Did you go out when there was talk about Sperm donation, Condom Use etc. and sexual content, you say NONE when there is a real brief love making scene in the song Muddi Muddi. What nonsense!! I will never ever read your reviews and post this on all your reviews so that everyone is aware. I took my 10 and 7 yr old daughters to see Paa based on your Parental Guidance and I m still shocked and embarassed to show them a film about Sex education!!
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