Namaste NRIs, we''ve made a movie for you. Review on Namastey London

Consumerism is the main driver of this plot that keeps churning out song after song; sequence after sequence for 3700 odd metres or 16 reels or very simply 2 hours 40 minutes. This movie has been made for NRIs and it is going to make huge profits overseas.

Namastey London(1/2)

Genre: Social Drama/ Love story

Released: 23rd Mar 07

Director: Vipul Amrutlal Shah(he also made Aankhen and Waqt - both starring Akshay Kumar)

Star Ensemble: Akshay Kumar, Rishi Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Upen Patel and the rest

(Ratings: Outstanding; Brilliant; Good; Average; * Poor; NA: Doesn't deserve a rating)

There is a degree of pride that NRIs feel when they watch movies tailor made to suit their taste. There is a part of them which feels like a third grade citizen in US of A and Britain every bit of their existence but they woudn't acknowledge. A movie like Namastey London gives them a good time and also a morale boost.

The plot: Jasmeet aka Jazz(Katrina) is a spoilt brat and she ends up marrying Arjun(Akshay) due to parent's(Rishi Kapoor) pressure. They come to london and a nice love story brews. The first scene of the movie gives out the entire plot but then plot is not the movie's strength.

The good: Overall acting performances are good, direction precise and cinematography top notch.

The bad: Plot has no novelty to offer and is not what carries the movie forward. One song too many. Predictable, cliched turning points and manipulation(aimed at entertaining the NRIs)

The ugly: Over the top, obvious product advertisements embedded in the narration(like Western Union, Spykar jeans.)

There is a school of thoughts that believes that a movie is good if it can keep you entertained for about 80% of the screen time. Going by their standards, this movie is a good passtime and worth your hardearned money, precious weekend and loads of popcorn.

Vipul Shah makes an appearance in the second scene(where he tells Ritesh Deshmukh that his phone is ringing). The movie has dull moments initially but Akshay brings to live the proceedings with his immaculate comic timing and wonderful sense of maturity with histrionics.

India Pakistan friendship has been highlighted too though they have been shown majorly as a group that helps each other escape the embarassment of having brown skin the country of whites.

There are moments that every Indian(especially the ones  with a foreign citizenship) can cheer . After the disappointing cricket match between SL and Ind, it was a good weekend break.

Acting Performances: Katrina has sincerely tried her best and I think it was just short of a very good performance. She has the right expressions on her fact all the time but her dialogue delivery leaves a lot to be desired. She has dubbed for herself  in this movie.

Rishi Kapoor is in form as usual. He plays his character with so much conviction that you will start believing that a man is really worried about his daughter but cannot do much. There aren't too many powerful scenese but he makes the most of every scene. The commedable ones are(in this order):

Scene on the dining table, the one where he tries to convince Akshay to show Charles down, the scene where he meets Akshay in a bar.

Upen Patel needs to work hard on his body language. He is stiff and cnnot deliver his dialogues fluently. I guess this is the time to learn and Upen will do himself a world of good if he works hard on his acting from now on.

The supporting cast is just about good.

Akshay steals the show with his mature, controlled and studied emotional shots. He looks sad(without looking constipated unlike many highly rated actors), he is credible with his sense of timing and flair for comedy. Akshay has come of age, take a bow.

For the technically inclined:The cinematography is top class - the night shots are incredibly well done, perfect lenses used for every shot, focus never gonig amiss. The drama looks impressive on screen thanks to the camera.

Background score is done by Saleem Suleiman and not by Himesh. It lacks imagination but still sounds good with the narrative. Music is contemporary and made to the NRI's taste. Many people wouldn't find appeal in half the songs.

Art direction is of international quality - the locations, the sets, the clothes, everything.

Parting note:Good passtime movie that is mushy, comic and dramatic at the same time.