Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou in Da Vinci Code

The eagerly-awaited, albeit controversial, Hollywood movie Da Vinci Code is being screened at Urvasi cinema in its dubbed Hindi version. Directed by Ron Howard with Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen, Jean Reno and Paul Bettany in the lead roles, the film is based on the bestselling novel by Dan Brown.

Pragjyoti is showing director Dharmesh Darshan’s new movie Aap Ki Khatir, starring Akshaye Khanna, Priyanka Chopra, Suniel Shetty, Amisha Patel, Dino Morea, Anupam Kher and Lilette Dubey.

Aami Asomiya is still being screened at Vandana. It shares single-show space with Mission Impossible. Directed by Rajiv Bhattacharyya of Seuji Dhoroni Dhunia fame, Aami Asomiya has Rabi Sarma, Angoorlata, Saurab Hazarika, Rimpi Das, Jayanta Bhagawati, Chetana Das and Hiranya Deka in the lead roles.

At Anuradha, Lage Raho Munnabhai entertains for the fourth week. This Raj Kumar Hirani-directed sequel to Munnabhai MBBS stars Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi, Vidya Balan, Dilip Prabhavalkar, Boman Irani, Jimmy Shergill and Dia Mirza.

Meghdoot cinema is showing Dil Diya Hai. Directed by Aditya Datt, the film stars Emraan Hashmi, Ashmit Patel and newcomer Geeta Basra.

Haathi Mera Saathi, the dubbed Hindi version of Thai film Tom-Yun-Goong, is being screened at Apsara.

AT THE BOX OFFICE

Like last week, Aami Asomiya is going great guns. However, the two new releases — Da Vinci Code and Aap Ki Khatir — are giving it a run for its money this week. The story unfolds with a murder inside Louvre museum and picks up clues in Da Vinci paintings, leading to the discovery of a mystery protected by a secret society for 2,000 years. The film comes riding on huge publicity and queues outside the theatre reflect the eager curiosity of cineastes.

Said Kunal Singh (who was hooked to the story after reading the book) after the first day second show: “The director did a good job of adapting the book. Admittedly, not everything in the book in there in the film, but it is the best that could be done with the time he had.”

Agreed Tania Saikia, a Hollywood movie buff, “I have not read the book, but I did not feel that anything was missing. I have already added the film to my list of favourites.”

Aap Ki Khatir’s plot, similar to that of the 2005 Hollywood film The Wedding Date, also appears to have inspired a good opening. The story revolves around Anu (Priyanka Chopra) who tries to make her ex-boyfriend Danny (Dino Morea) jealous by hiring Aman (Akshaye Khanna) to escort her to her stepsister Shirani’s (Amisha Patel) wedding to businessman Kunal (Sunil Shetty).

“The film is a nice blend of emotion, drama and light-hearted banter. The actors are pretty good and it is a good way to pass time,” said Shefali Basu. Lalit Das, a mass communications student, however, predicted that the movie would not attract audiences as the entertaining first-half peters out to a drag in the second.

In second position — after Da Vinci Code, Aami Asomiya and Aap Ki Khatir — are Lage Raho Munnabhai and Dil Diya Hai. In third position is Haathi Mera Saathi.

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