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Rocket Singh - 32 yays, 6 nays, 8 okays
Wogma Review
A faster pace? A shorter film? Maybe - but I'll take a little more of this than lose the impact it creates.
Oh and kudos to Jaideep Sahni! This man has some writing prowess!!
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46 reviewers have given Rocket Singh an average rating of 3.9/5.0 - 32 thumbs up, 6 thumbs down, and 8 so-so.
Warning: clicking on "full review" will take you to an external website that could contain spoilers.
Thumbs up by Nita, A Wide Angle View of India ...Ranbir Kapoor’s acting as Rocket Singh is alright but more important is that he comes across as a genuine and believable sardar.... full review
Thumbs up by Blogeswari, Blogeswari ...NO KIRRON KHER as the Punjabi mom! Infact, No mom at all. ... full review
Thumbs up by Rajeev Masand, IBN Live ...Meticulously written by Jaideep Sahni, the genius behind such gems as Khosla Ka Ghosla and Chak De India, the script of Rocket Singh is its real star. ... full review
Thumbs down by Taran Adarsh, Bollywood Hungama ...dull and dry ... full review
Thumbs up by Anupama Chopra, NDTV ... The drama here is more restrained. The obstacles seem more ordinary. The characters are wholly believable. ... full review
Thumbs up by Mayank Shekhar, Hindustan Times ...Yet, the director keeps things minimalist and subtle to the point of dulling cinematic appeal sometimes.... full review
So-So by Sonia Chopra, Sify Movies ...Gauhar Khan is fabulous as the fast-talking receptionist angling for a bigger post.... full review
Thumbs down by Tony, Radio Sargam ...But, for a film that has no script, he is unable to put his talents to good effect. We can neither applause nor boo him.... full review
So-So by Ashok Nayak, Now Running.com ... lengthy and slow. ... full review
Thumbs up by Subhash K Jha, Now Running.com ...This film really cares about the environment of indolent debauchery that has crept into the working-class lifestyle. ... full review
Thumbs up by K N Gupta, SmasHits.com ...The USP of the movie is Ranbir Kapoor's changed new looks. ... full review
So-So by Deepa Garimella, fullhyd.com ...Rocket Singh succeeds in some detailed characterization of most of those involved, and the actor deliver on par with it. ... full review
Thumbs up by Naresh Kumar Deoshi, Apun Ka Choice ...Ranbir Kapoor plays his part well but doesn’t modulate his voice much. ... full review
So-So by Lidia Ostepeev, Planet Bollywood ...They were defined by their office behavior and a few quirks but nothing that had me rooting for them - hoping that they would give management the slap in the face it deserved. ... full review
Thumbs up by Priyal Sanghvi, Bolly Spice ...The motley of Hardeep 's friends and colleagues collectively are responsible for the success of Rocket Singh... full review
Thumbs up by Martin D'Souza, Glamsham.com ...Shimit takes a neutral view of the business field and lays bare the employee-boss relationship as well as the 'percentage party' where the customer is the scapegoat... full review
Thumbs down by The Thirdman, Upper Stall ... Ranbir Kapoor re-emphasizes yet again what a fine actor star in the making he is as he single-handedly holds the film together.... full review
Thumbs up Indicine ...The guy who played the character of Nitin, is by far the best of the lot.... full review
Thumbs up by Daliya Ghose, Bollywood Mantra ... Written by Jaideep Sahni, the script is a polished one and purely inspired from real life incident and real people.... full review
Thumbs up Indiaglitz ...Gals will be disappointed. Because the heartthrob is more about values and he hardly has time to romance. ... full review
Thumbs up by Baradwaj Rangan, Blogical Conclusion, The New Sunday Express ...Amin, working from a smart (though somewhat predictable) screenplay by Jaideep Sahni, isn’t one to belabour, for instance, the point that Harpreet is as middle-class as they come.... full review
Thumbs up by Amodini, Amodini's Movie Reviews ...although the film is almost entirely shot in office-space, which means enclosed rooms, Shimit Amin manages to keep up the interest with well-paced events and some great, subtle humor... full review
Thumbs up by Kshitij Mehta, J.A.M ...Ranbir Kapoor is no more the next big thing. He has arrived. ... full review
Thumbs up by Gaurav Malani, indiatimes ... The character-driven story doesn’t let Ranbir overshadow the supporting cast, each of who gets good scope... full review
Thumbs up by Nikhat Kazmi, Times of India ...Be patient and you'll end up realising this could be well be one of the most intelligent films of the year, ... full review
Thumbs up by Gautam Ghosh, Gautam Ghosh ...I kid you not, at that point I wanted to get up and clap.... full review
So-So by Janhvi Patel, StarBoxOffice ...Gauhar Khan has quite a meaty role as the dolled-up, ‘item girl’ of a receptionist who doesn’t mince her words.... full review
Thumbs down by Anuj, Indian Auteur ...if a director whose staggering caliber was revealed by his debut needs to step aside – he is only wasting his time.... full review
Thumbs up by Kaveree Bamzai, india today ...It's a movie which can be epitomized by its aphorisms. The slogan at the college get together says: "We passed, college failed".... full review
Thumbs up by Mihir Fadnavis, o.main_site.name ...Expect a Force 10 gale of a performance from Ranbir, charismatic, spirited, exasperated and restrained all at once if you can imagine that.... full review
Thumbs up by Bobby Sing, Bobby Talks Cinema.com ...It may not be appreciated by the masses, but for a change it’s a simple and refreshing flick with everything just in the right proportions as required.... full review
Thumbs up by Susan Jose, India-Forums ...Shahzahn Padamsee did not have to strive at all given her character. She is just being herself in the film and that seems to work.... full review
So-So STARDUST ...Gauhar Khan has shown sparks of an aotstanding actress in the making.... full review
Thumbs up by Noyon Jyoti Parasara, AOL INDIA ...Shimit Amin’s technical background ensures that he brings out a very clean looking product – shot and edited well. ... full review
Thumbs up by Raja Sen, Rediff ...And it works, because the film's innate honesty makes us want to believe. That, and the lack of razzle-dazzle... full review
Thumbs up by Aniruddha Guha, DNA ...The film relies on a simple story by Jaideep Sahni and also some really witty writing, by Sahni again, that is really the soul of the film.... full review
So-So desi hits ...The soundtrack is nothing special for "Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year." The songs have some fun lyrics, but no great, chart topping tracks.... full review
So-So by SpiceZee Bureau, ZEENEWS.COM ...watch out the flick to know more about the journey of Rocket Singh! ... full review
Thumbs up by Shubhra Gupta, indian express ...The wet-behind-the-ears Rocket’s blooding in salesman-‘giri’ is both amusing and thought-provoking: is this what the guy who shows up at your doorstep with a water purifier, and whom you said no to, goes through back in his office? ... full review
Thumbs up by Sarita Tanwar, MiD DAY ...It doesn't try to be funny or romantic or even dramatic. ... full review
Thumbs up by Pratim D Gupta, The Telegraph ...Rocket Singh is a fun ride which swings through the world of sales but carries with it a universal thought, one of self-reliance.... full review
Thumbs down by Padmaja Thakore, Passion for Cinema ...Rocket Singh’s narrative unfolds in series of such uneven plots making it somewhat a cock & bull story.... full review
Thumbs up by Kenny, Passion for Cinema ...I’m truly happy that a great writer is being allowed to script such unconventional tales... full review
Thumbs up by Magik, Passion for Cinema ...And then there is Shazahn meri jaan… B E A Utiful & how! ... full review
Thumbs up by Anand, Passion for Cinema ...A big credit to Yash Raj and Aditya Chopra for the restrained hand that they allow the writer-director duo to lay on the movie.... full review
Thumbs down by Khalid Mohamed, Passion for Cinema ...stretches on and on and on for 16 reels, uninterrupted even by entertainment relief points. ... full review
Rocket Singh - Movie Details
- Official Website: Link
- Banner: Yash Raj Films
- Producer: Aditya Chopra
- Director: Shimit Amin
- Lead Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Mukesh Bhatt 1, D Santosh, Gauahar Khan, Naveen Kaushik, Manish Chaudhari
- Supporting Cast: Prem Chopra, Shazahn Padamsee
- Story: Jaideep Sahni
- Screenplay: Jaideep Sahni
- Dialogues: Jaideep Sahni
- Dir. of Photography: Vikash Nowlakha
- Editor: Arindam Ghatak
- Background Score: Salim Merchant, Sulaiman Merchant
- Music Director: Salim Merchant, Sulaiman Merchant
- Lyrics: Jaideep Sahni
- Running time: 160 minutes
- Reviewer: meetu
- Categories: Hindi Movies
- Genres: Social, Comedy
Comments (28)
Great - so the first movie on my "Must Watch" list when I get home is this. :) Feels good.
posted 7 months, 2 weeks agoAwesome review, something tells me I'm definitely gonna love this movie :) That's obvious cause we share the same name :)
posted 7 months, 2 weeks ago@Rahul when is that going to be?
@Harpreet he he, other than that too it is a good film!
posted 7 months, 2 weeks ago@Meetu - 17th (only 6 more days) :). End semester break.
posted 7 months, 2 weeks ago@Rahul and what a warm welcome the cinema-world has for you when you are back to civilization (non-exam world!) Good luck!!
posted 7 months, 2 weeks agoidlebrain.com jeevi saysit runs out of fuel:::This film comes from Jaideep Sahni - the writer of films like Chak De India and Khosla Ka Ghosla. Hence the story is mostly realistic. This story provides a message that people are more important than the numbers (sales targets). Films like these work if the screenplay is interesting and narration is gripping. Shimit Amin who gave two powerful films like Ab Tak Chappan and Chak De India fails to deliver his third success. Rocket Singh fails due to uninteresting screenplay and unrealistic premise. The ragging of Harmeet Singh in his office looks silly and it’s not convincing at all. The concept of operating new outfit from the same office also sounds brainless as it’s easy to get caught. The climax scene in which hero’s ex-boss returns the company should give the audience the feeling of triumph and it doesn’t because the director failed to get audiences emotionally involved with the story by then.
posted 7 months, 2 weeks agoWe have seen films like Chak De India and Khosla Ka Ghosla. These films worked because of the gripping screenplay and engaging emotional content. Rocket Singh also offers a similar story and premise. The only difference between earlier films and Rocket Singh is uninteresting screenplay and flat content. Rocket Singh is also narrated at a snail’s pace. On a whole, Rocket Singh runs out of the fuel midway.
Meetu I have to say you have done an awesome review and after reading this I would take some time out to watch this movie for sure...
posted 7 months, 2 weeks agoHi Meetu,
Your movie reviews are worth reading but can you also make an overall judgement on ratings. Something like total stars, 4/5, etc.
Your reviews are always included on my site.
Thanks,
posted 7 months, 2 weeks agoGill from www.top10bollywood.com
Thanks meetu! :)
posted 7 months, 2 weeks agoMeetu,
It was a pleasant surprise to see someone from India reference Aaron Sorkin. Are reruns on TWW and Sports Night still broadcasted?
I definitely have to see this film now.
posted 7 months, 2 weeks agomeetuji, wish to know why no reivew was given for de dana dan a movie by popular director priyadarshan???!!!!
posted 7 months, 2 weeks agosimilar to "Office space"(1999)
posted 7 months, 2 weeks agoLoved the movie. I didn't find it slow at all. The movie kept my interest throughout. The ragging done by the Coworkers was over the top. The story is implausible, but is well written and nearly convinces u that it could have happened. The background music was awesome as was the acting by the supporting cast as well. Liked the way the romance was not given much focus. Ranbir is extremely lucky with his choice of films.
posted 7 months, 2 weeks ago@Ravish Thank you! Do let us know what you thought of the film.
@Gill 4/5 and 5/5 makes it a %age. Where as a ranking that says "Must Watch" You know what to do. Doesn't matter how many marks the film gets. And I guess this is my way of being "different"
@JJ I used to follow both those series when I lived in the US. West Wing was playing on one of the channels here, but haven't seen Sports Night. I usually grab DVDs from my DVD rental place. He has all the released West Wing seasons.
@Sudhir Yeah its unrealistic but you want to believe it can happen int he "Lage Raho Munnabhai" sort of a way. I loved the fact that the romance was just a very-very side thing. Awesome decisions these were! Good to see you here again!
posted 7 months, 2 weeks agoHi Meetu, Just saw the Indibloggies 2008 results. Congrats for winning the award for Best Entertainment Indiblog!
posted 7 months, 2 weeks agoLet us be very clear, this movie would never have got made if it was not for the team that wrote and directed it. It is a feel good movie and for a feel good movie, it has surprisingly very few emotional resonances. It is also in that sense not realistic, since it does not show the sweat and grime of a salesman in Mumbai. The office is too sanitised, the colleagues all trying too hard to be bad, and the hero is ever fresh and only has to run around on a scooty. The screen play is weak primarily because it tries to deliver a simplistic message, and the business world is definitely not simplistic. There are really no great conflicts happening here, in the characters' minds, since everything is laid out so simplistically and in a stereotypical fashion, the cynical predatory boss, the honest but corrupted manager, the idealistic young man etc. The writer does not seem to have grasped the complexities of a corporate office, or otherwise he is not interested in them. The performances are decent, nothing to go ga ga over.
posted 7 months, 2 weeks agoThe music tries to compensate for the lack of emotional depth and that irritates at times. The dialogues barring a few lines have absolutely no wit or sparkle and most of the dialogues sound artificial since they seem to have been written to get the message across very clearly.
All in all a completely bland film, another bit of fluff.
Hey Shuchi. Thanks!!!
Hel-lo cinefreak, long time-no see! Good to have you back. All you say is right. But while walking out of the theater, I felt I've watched a GOOD film. It made me use my brain because of its witty dialogue mainly. And that's all that counts.
RE: 'this movie would never have got made if it was not for the team that wrote and directed it'
uhhh...isn't that true of any film, irrespective of quality?
posted 7 months, 2 weeks agoHi
posted 7 months, 2 weeks agoThis is my first visit to your blog. Outstanding work. Im here because I spotted this as a winner on indiblogger. I a quite skeptical about movie review blogs...one because they are too many of them. And also they tend to use it as a medium to vent out their frustrations...over cynical and stuff like that. You have managed to keep it personal and at the same time neutral. But this was refreshingly different. And I agree with everything you've written about rocket....it was a brilliant watch.
keep it up...you are not just another member in the audience for sure.
Thank you Rajesh! Am I glad that you dropped in here!?
Yeah, I try to watch out for what's good in the films I don't like. And the films I like, I acknowledge the flaws.
I am a member of the audience, and my opinion counts. So, yes, I'm not 'just another' member of the audience. Thank you!!
posted 7 months, 2 weeks agoA good film is very difficult to work with. In my opinion a good film is one that either reasonates emotionally with the audience or makes the audience think or both. This film does not have any of that. It is just an average joe film, there is nothing that you feel connected about either to the characters or to the film as a whole. Eg Chak De with its patriotism, was a completely different ball game, not that I subscribe to it, but yes, it did make for some great emotional moments.
posted 7 months, 2 weeks agoAnd what I meant was that since it was the team of Sahni and Amin, a major studio funded it, otherwise the script would have been thrown out on its butt. Possibly the script was grittier and the studio house being what it is eliminated that grittiness. One never knows.
@cine freak yep possible. Very possible. Yet they got away with a lot. No lead lady and no songs, for example.
posted 7 months, 2 weeks agoCongratulations on ur win at indibloggies..
posted 7 months, 1 week agoThanks, dude! Thank you very much!!
posted 7 months, 1 week agoYep, just watched it today. Sadly, the theater was almost empty. :(
posted 7 months, 1 week agoI thoroughly enjoyed the movie though. Would definitely love more movies like this - one story, no digressions. A simple story told in a simple yet effective manner.
Have you seen Avatar yet? The movie of the millennium. Mind blowing..
posted 7 months, 1 week agoGood to know that Yashraj Films is actually awake, and not sleeping as it appears to be.
The movie completely took me by surprise, and was not any thing at all that I expected it to be. It is a clean, neat, direct approach, and its good to see..
I some how missed Konkana Sen Sharma in this movie. Dont know which role she would have played, there isnt one, I can think of. But suddenly I realise that she has reached that kind of stature...
Turban was so authentic. Good to see. Ranbir sure gives promise.
Good movie... surely...
posted 6 months, 1 week agowatched Rocket Singh yesterday on Television.....missed it out in the theaters but did not regret it much...
I agree to what is written above that the movie is slow and sluggish....but when you sit alone and watch it with nothing else to do......its a nice watch......also because you know that there is a looser who is going to come out as a winner....
cheers!!
posted 2 months agoi liked the movie for it's being light and natural.
posted 2 months agoLeave a new comment