Naqaab
Naqaab is a thriller in which Sophie played by Urvashi Sharma, a young girl from a middle-class family is engaged to a millionaire Karan, Bobby Deol. When she meets Vicky, Akshaye Khanna, she’s attracted to him and problems begin to surface. Akshaye has given another powerful performance in Naqaab. Bobby Deol role is substantial, and there are a couple of moments when he works the audience. For Urvashi Sharma it is a dream debut and she makes full use of this opportunity in her favor. Naqaab holds one’s interest in the first hour the second half drags a little. The film is not too convincing as the story moves further towards its climax. The climax gives quite a handful of shocks to its viewers. The suspense unfolds rapidly and the film looses it points over there. Abbas Mustan, known for their diverse storylines, this time too manages to pull off a well made Naqaab. Editor Hussain Burmawala has done a good job in putting together the best portions of the film. Pritam’s music helps in the narration of the plot. Salim Sulaiman’s background score is haunting. Choreography of ‘Ek Din Teri Raahon Mein’ is neat.

Shootout at Lokhandwala
Director Apporva Lakhia makes a bold attempt at making ‘Shootout at Lokhandwala’ a film on an incident that took place in a bustling locality of Mumbai. With an ensemble cast starring Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty, Abhishek Bachchan, Vivek Oberoi and Tusshar Kapoor among others, the director gives faces to characters that aren’t in public memory anymore. Shootout at Lokhandwala is the story of police commissioner Khan, who busted extremists from a residential locality of Mumbai. The film also tells the story of Maya, Vivek Oberoi, an upcoming underworld gangster and his partner, Dilip, played by Tusshar Kapoor. Drawing the attention of Khan and his newly formed police squad, Khan and Maya were men devoted to their professions. This thriller explores their personal obsessions and sacrifices. Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Sunil Shetty and Arbaaz Khan take the roles of police officers. Abhishek Bachchan has a small appearance. Dia Mirza is seen in a role of Mita, an aggressive reporter while Aarti Chhabria plays Tarannum, a bar dancer. On the whole, Shootout at Lokhandwala is a film which has powerful performances by all the actors. However, it still might give you mixed feelings.

Awarapan
Awarapan, directed by Mohit Suri, is the story of man called Shivam, Emraan Hashmi, whose search for happiness in life leads him to only pain and isolation. It is the journey of a lover who in order to escape from his tragic past dedicates himself to serve his gangster boss Malik who runs a chain of hotels in Hong Kong. Malik asks Shivam to keep an eye on his young mistress Reema while he is away. Reema is a young Pakistani girl who is a victim of human trafficking. Malik had ‘bought’ her in the flesh market in Bangkok. Shivam seeing her innocence and vulnerability is smitten by her. The atheist turns into a believer, as he begins to respond to life. Reema gives Shivam reason to believe that she likes him. Emraan Hashmi has given his best performance, and so is of Ashutosh Rana and Mrinalini. Shriya Saran’s though has a small role, has given a very good performance. Director Mohit Suri continues to grow as a storyteller. Pritam’s musical score is refreshing. The tunes are fresh and so are the voices. Cinematography Raaj Chakravarti is good, although a few sequences could’ve been better lit in some scenes. The background score Raju Singh is excellent. Dialogues of the film are its highlights. On the whole, Awaarapan, is an interesting film, hich will make you glued to your seats till the end.

Cheeni Kum
Balakrishnan makes his directorial debut with Cheeni Kum. The film is based in London is about Buddhadev Gupta, Amitabh Bachchan, who is a 64 year old chef and owner of London’s top Indian restaurant. He lives with his 85 year old mother and his only best friend being his 9 year old neighbour. Mr Gupta is an arrogant, egoistic, pompous man with a singular passion in life - cooking. He has been a bachelor all these years and has never been in love until Nina Verma, Tabu, a 34 years old, walks into his restaurant and into his life. Both of them eventually fall in love and decide to get married!! Now, the situation comes where Mr. Gupta goes to Nina’s father, Om Prakash Verma, Paresh Rawal, to ask her hand for marriage. The problem here for Nina’s father is that his would be son-in-law happens to be 6 years elder to him! Director Balakrishna successfully qualifies as a fine story teller and handles some of the sequences really well. The screenplay could have been better. The editing department lost out on a lot of scenes which drag, to say the least. Music director Illayaraja does well to compose tracks which gel with the theme of the movie. P.C. Sreeram’s cinematography is splendid. On the whole, CHEENI KUM is very neat film.

Life in a Metro
Afast paced film, Life in Metro, directed by Anurag Basu, tries to show loyalty, romance, lust, love, stress, sex and emotions in lives of those trying to keep at pace with life in Metro! Rahul, Sharman Joshi works as a call centre executive in a BPO in the metro city Mumbai. Rahul is in love with his colleague Neha, played by Kangana Ranaut. Neha has intimate relationship with her boss Ranjeet, which has enabled her to progress in ranks in the office. Ranjeet wants Neha just to fulfill his physical desires as Ranjeet is a married man who has a 6 year old daughter and lives with his wife Shikha, Shilpa Shetty delivers her finest performance in this film. Shikha is an educated urban girl who decides to give up her profession so that she could concentrate on her daughter. Shikha is attracted towards Akash, Shiney Ahuja, whose wife had divorced him. Akash is a rebellion and a loser without a cause. Akash and Shikha’s love blossoms and she almost cross her limits that she has so fervently guarded all these years. Another dimension to the film is provided by the story by the character of Amol, played by Dharmendra,. He is a 70 year old man returns to India after a huge gap of 40 years. He wants to spend the last years of his life with Vaijanti, Nafisa Ali, his first love. Vaijanti is Shikha’s aunt and her pillar of strength. There is another story blossoming up. Shikha’s sister Shruti, Konkana Sen Sharma is an employee at Radiomirchi and is looking for her best man. She gets hooked up with RJ Wishy K, Gautam Kapoor and their affair blossoms. She also meets Debu, Irrfan Khan through a matrimonial website. Debu is ready to marry Shruti but Shruti loves RJ Wishy K. It is a very complex film, which has brilliant performances by all the actors. It has brought to life, the life in Metro in real sense, and I m sure, it will appeal to people from all walks of life.

 AAP KAA SURROOR
AAP KAA SURROOR is a thriller which has romance, suspense and action. Full of songs, soaked with clichéd one-liners Aap Ka Surroor is a fast paced film. It has been produced by Television producer, Music composer, Singer, and now actor, Himesh Reshammiya. The film story begins with a dead body of a TV journo, Nadia Merchant, being found in a remote area, somewhere in Germany. Soon after, Himesh is arrested after a concert for murdering the television journalist. Himesh is put behind bars and the incidents begin to unravel as the movie goes into a flashback. While on a concert in Germany, Himesh meets the event organizer, Darshan Jariwala and his partner Mallika Sherawat. He also meets the event planner Hansika Motwani with whom he falls in love After initial reservations, Hansika’s father Sachin Khedekar approves of the match. Mallika Sherawat looks like her usual self. Her much-hyped song Mehbooba with Himesh has no connection to the entire script. Himesh’s dialogue delivery is poor. Besides, the film bears a stylish and glossy look and the viewer is enamored by the stunning locales of Germany as also the melodious musical score that has been filmed on some striking locations. In the film all other songs are typically-Himesh kinds. The choreography is not good, and the editing is too loose and the cinematography is average. On the whole, AAP KAA SURROOR has tremendous inquisitiveness-value attached to it.

Jhoom Barabar Jhoom
Abhishek is Rikki Thukral, a Punjabi who runs into Alvira Khan (Preity), a British girl with Pakistani roots. Both share a table and their love stories, almost-confessional conversation as they sit at Waterloo Station, waiting for a train. Rikki’s uneaten sandwich cools off, he describes his dreamy Anaida Raza (Lara), a manager at The Ritz in Paris, and Alvira gushes about her millionaire lover, Steve Singh (Bobby). They’re both utterly happy couples, but this two-hour conversation leaves them convinced that they are in love with each other. The two strangers start enjoying each other. Actually, they get attracted to each other! Abhishek has given impressive performance. Preity is lovely! While Bobby is given the backseat, Lara Dutta is confident Amitabh Bachchan short but well worked appearance in a song adds to value to the film. Director Shaad Ali has handled the film well. Writer Habib Faisal’s screenplay is taxing. The director and writer have substituted the script with mind blowing visuals. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy’s music is quite good. ‘Ticket To Hollywood’ is the track which has become very famous. The film is a visual treat. Choreography by Vaibhavi Merchant is different, and Abhishek carries it off very well. Aki Narula’s costumes are stylish. Jhoom Barabar Jhoom is a must see film.