 |
KAMBAKKHT ISHQ
Release date: 03.07.2009
What: Bollywood (Akshay-Kareena) met Hollywood (Sylvester Stallone-Denise Richards-Brandon Routh) in this OTT battle of the sexes that was about stylish people and beautiful locales.
Thumbs up: Sylvester Stallone, Kareena in a bikini, the Akki-Bebo chemistry.
Thumbs down: Crass dialogues, an implausible plot
t2 review: Melodramatic yes, masala yes, but you can’t miss the Bolly-meets-Holly magic.
Verdict: HIT
Luck
Release date: 24.07.2009
What: A high-adrenaline heist thriller, but a bad copy of a range of Hollywood action flicks.
Thumbs up: Picturesque locales, Allan Amin’s stunt sequences.
Thumbs down: Lack of a logical script, over-the-top performances.
t2 review: Calling Luck larger than life is blasphemy. It’s way, way over the top, in the league of Tashan and Chandni Chowk to China.
Verdict: FLOP
It’s a Perfect Mismatch
Release date: 24.07.2009
What: Two lovers try to get their families on backslapping terms in this Meet The Fockers rip-off.
Thumbs up: A decent first half, Boman Irani.
Thumbs down: Boring and banal.
t2 review: Perfect Mismatch scores when it comes to the comic scenes, but strikes a low post interval... digressing to an unnecessary emotional track.
Verdict: FLOP
 |
Kaminey
Release date: 14.08.2009
What: A heady tale of twin brothers — one a simpleton, the other a crook — in mad, mad Mumbai. You could either love it or hate it, but you simply couldn’t ignore it.
Thumbs up: The un-Bollywood theme and treatment, the performances — led by Shahid Kapur and Priyanka Chopra, Dhan te nan.
Thumbs down: Self-indulgent in parts, too many unnecessary characters, weak climax.
t2 review: Shahid is just ‘two’ good. And after a long time, a Bollywood actor is asked to do comedy, action, romance, dance and drama in the same film and he excels on all counts.
Verdict: HIT
morning walk
Release date: 10.07.2009
What: A story of relationships, old-world romance and morality, Morning Walk focused on the predicament of parents forsaken by their children.
Thumbs up: A touching storyline, competent performances.
Thumbs down: Slow pace, lack of big names.
t2 review: Most of the scenes give you that sense of deja vu and hark back to the formulae of the 70s, of very-Indian parents scorned by their westernised self-centred offspring.
Verdict: FLOP
 |
Love Aaj Kal
Release date: 31.07.2009
What: Jab We Met man Imitiaz Ali directs Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone in this
romance about kal aur aaj.
Thumbs up: The novel plot, the winner performances.
Thumbs down: Some weak moments, a tad disappointing for those suffering from the Jab We Met hangover.
t2 review: Imtiaz’s obvious strength is the way he manages to strip his films of all the filmi-ness we have been used to over the years.
Verdict: HIT
Life Partner
Release date: 14.08.2009
What: A comic take on marriage and divorce, this Govinda-Fardeen-Tusshar starrer was anything but funny.
Thumbs up: A few fun moments.
Thumbs down: Too many to count.
t2 review: The wafer-thin, illogical story can be pardoned keeping in mind that Life Partner is essentially a comedy, but the slip into serious mode at regular intervals leaves the audience confused and bored.
Verdict: average
SIKANDAR
Release date: 21.08.2009
What: A tale of lost innocence set against the backdrop of terror-stricken Kashmir.
Thumbs up:A script with potential.
Thumbs down: Incoherent plot, weak performances.
t2 review: The army, the police, the politician, the maulvi... all come together to fill the never-ending 110 minutes of running time.
Verdict: flop
 |
short kut — the con is on
Release date: 10.07.2009
What: Yet another film on Bollywood behind-the-scenes, with a comic twist.
Thumbs up: Akshaye Khanna, some fun moments.
Thumbs down: Wafer-thin storyline, not funny enough.
t2 review: There’s nothing wrong with Short Kut. It’s just not interesting enough. It’s what the industry calls thakao, politely, and pakao, in hushed whispers.
Verdict: FLOP
sankat city
Release date: 10.07.2009
What: A motley group of characters do all they can to lay their hands on a large booty in this hilarious comedy. (We liked it but not enough people watched it.)
Thumbs up: The spot-on performances, the fun plot.
Thumbs down: Loses steam, lack of starry names.
t2 review: The script is tight and moves so fast that it feels like the interval happened 15 minutes into the movie.
Verdict: FLOP
 |
JASHNN
Release date: 17.07.2009
What: Ambition, greed, lust and changing relationships form the core of this musical from the Bhatt stable.
Thumbs up: Toshi-Sharib’s music.
Thumbs down: Too many to count.
t2 review: ...if you unfortunately land up at a screening of Jashnn, you will be too busy either yawning or chucking popcorn at all those empty seats around you or dozing off.
Verdict: FLOP
 |
Agyaat
Release date: 07.08.2009
What: A camping trip in a Sri Lankan forest goes awry for a film crew as they fall prey to an unknown murderous entity in this poor rehash of The Blair Witch Project.
Thumbs up: The cinematography.
Thumbs down:Poor direction, over-the-top performances, lack of suspense.
t2 review: Meaning ‘the unknown’, Agyaat does indeed live up to its name. For the plot of the film remains unknown to you long after you have left the theatre.
Verdict: FLOP
Teree Sang
Release date: 07.08.2009
What: A rare Bollywood film dealing with teenage pregnancy and the responsibilities of parenthood.
Thumbs up: The promising premise.
Thumbs down: Insensitive treatment of a sensitive subject, poor performances.
t2 review: A shoddy script, shoddier acting and a terribly confused message.
Verdict: FLOP
 |
Quick Gun Murugan
Release date: 28.08.2009
What: A desi cowboy fun flick which transports the irrepressible small screen character to celluloid — with hilarious results.
Thumbs up: The trademark QGM one-liners, a few fun moments.
Thumbs down: Not funny enough, tends to drag.
t2 review: Quick Gun Murugan ends up being a collection of those small skits on TV. You love some, you hate some, you don’t mind the others.
Verdict: FLOP
 |
Release date: 28.08.2009
What: Mistaken identities and confusing revelations at a dead man’s funeral turns into a nightmare for his family and friends in this ‘official’ Bolly remake of Death at a Funeral.
Thumbs up: Jaaved Jafferi.
Thumbs down: Too many to count.
t2 review: But even with all the potential to turn into a rip-roaring comedy of errors, Daddy Cool falls horribly flat.
Verdict: flop
Love Khichdi
Release date: 28.08.2009
What: A Casanova chef goes through a host of women before meeting his match in one.
Thumbs up: Some genuinely funny moments.
Thumbs down: Illogical script, wooden performances.
t2 review: It remains a melting pot of lots of characters and lots of accents — but unlike the best khichdi, it never comes together.
Verdict: FLOP
Toss
Release date: 28.08.2009
What: Five carefree friends plan a fun weekend — and then chance upon trunkloads of cash. Popular VJ Rannvijay made his Bolly debut with Toss.
Thumbs up: Nothing.
Thumbs down: Everything.
Verdict: FLOP
Kisaan
Release date: 28.08.2009
What:An attempt at a modern-day Upkaar, Kisaan focuses on the trials and tribulations of the Indian farmer.
Thumbs up: Nothing.
Thumbs down: Everything.
Verdict: FLOP
 |
Aagey Se Right
Release date: 04.09.2009
What: A newbie cop loses his gun on the first day of duty. The rest of the film is spent in looking for it.
Thumbs up: Kay Kay.
Thumbs down: Too many subplots, tends to drag.
t2 review: Watching Mamatadi bellowing against the Left from a traffic-stopper podium is a better idea than going Aagey Se Right.
Verdict: FLOP
 |
Fox
Release date: 04.09.2009
What: A criminal lawyer plagiarises a bestseller and finds himself trapped in a murky murder plot.
Thumbs up: The interesting first half.
Thumbs down: Half-hearted performances, too many loopholes, disappointing climax
t2 review: Even at just two hours, the pace slackens post-interval… a climax that is both contrived and improbable.
Verdict: FLOP
 |
Chintuji
Release date: 04.09.2009
What: Rishi Kapoor returns as a has-been superstar pulling out all the stops to win a ticket to Parliament.
Thumbs up: Rishi Kapoor, a strong supporting cast, many fun moments.
Thumbs down: Sagging screenplay, lack of (current) big names.
t2 review: Chintuji clocks two hours but too many dull moments spoil what could have been an enjoyable ride.
Verdict: FLOP
Three — love, lies, betrayal
Release date: 04.09.2009
What: A troubled husband-wife relationship goes over the edge when a stranger walks into their home in this Vikram Bhatt thriller
Thumbs up: An intriguing plot.
Thumbs down: Melodrama, lack of stars.
Verdict: FLOP
Aamras
Release date: 11.09.2009
What: A bitter-sweet tale about growing up, it marked the directorial debut of Basu Chatterjee’s daughter Rupali Guha.
Thumbs up: A hatke plot.
Thumbs down: No big names, lack of publicity.
Verdict: FLOP
 |
Dil Bole Hadippa!
Release date: 18.09.2009
What: A young girl dresses up like Bhajji to make her way into a cricket team in this Yash Raj film.
Thumbs up:Rani Mukerji, the Rani-Shahid chemistry.
Thumbs down:Predictable plot, Pritam’s music.
t2 review: If you are in a ‘jokey’ festive mood, your dil can well bole hadippa but beware of the overdose of every emotion in the book.
Verdict: OPENED BIG
 |
Wanted
Release date: 18.09.2009
What: A cop goes undercover as a dreaded criminal in the Mumbai underworld in this no-holds-barred action flick.
Thumbs up: Salman Khan.
Thumbs down: Wafer-thin plot, too much blood and gore.
t2 review:An out-and-out action flick, Wanted pays no heed to a logical storyline and ignores the innumerable loopholes in the plot — and is yet entertaining for the most part.
Verdict: OPENED AVERAGE
FAST FORWARD TO FOURTH QUARTER
 |
WHAT’S YOUR RAASHEE?
Hurman Baweja sets out to match his raashee with 12 Priyanka Chopras in this Ashutosh Gowariker rom com. The biggie this Durga Puja.
 |
WAKE UP SID
The fun promos, the great music and the novel Ranbir Kapoor-Konkona Sensharma pairing make this coming-of- age-film a must-watch.
Release date: October 2.
 |
BLUE
Bollywood’s first ‘underwater film’ has Akshay Kumar and Sanjay Dutt in the lead and A.R. Rahman scoring the music. Chiggy wiggy to that!
Release date: October 16.
 |
LONDON DREAMS
A tale of friendship and love brought to life by Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan, with Asin playing the woman in the middle.
Release date: October 30.
 |
AJAB PREM KI GHAZAB KAHANI
Rajkumar Santoshi rewinds to Andaz Apna Apna mode with this Ranbir Kapoor-Katrina Kaif rom com.
Release date: November 6.
 |
JAIL
Neil Nitin Mukesh’s nude shots have generated a lot of interest already. Watch out for this Madhur Bhandarkar film.
Release date: November 6.
 |
PAA
AB Sr and AB Jr swap father-son roles in this Balki Cheeni Kum film about rapid ageing (with Vidya Balan for company).
Release date: December 4.
 |
TEEN PATTI
Amitabh Bachchan and Ben Kingsley sharing the same frame makes this Leena Yadav film BIG.
Release date: December 4.
 |
MY NAME IS KHAN
Karan Johar brings together Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in this film dealing with Islamophobia in the US. The biggie of the quarter.
Releasing in December.
 |
ISHQIYA
Naseeruddin Shah, Arshad Warsi and Vidya Balan team up in
this Vishal Bhardwaj production,
with the Arshad-Vidya steaming hot kiss grabbing a lot
of interest already.
Releasing in December.
 |
3 IDIOTS
Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor bring Chetan Bhagat’s bestseller
Five Point Someone to life in this
Rajkumar Hirani film.
Release date: December 25.
