Read all reviews and took all points. Thought that I would do a 13th one (unlucky me) with my own list of ’Hum Paanch’. But then decided to review the Barah haath with my do ankhen and condense the reviews of the previous 12 into one.
Most of the reviews brought out the worst guys. Himalay, Kishen Kumar, Armaan, Aftab (this one is popular). But there were some where the views were personal and somewhat prejudiced. But they had a point of defence in giving reasons.
I found Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Rajesh Khanna, Nana Patekar, Manoj Bajpai standing guilty. One thing must be agreed, Not every one is a good actor all along. There have to be some goof ups. These legends had them. Surprise...Amitabh escaped unscathed though son Abhishek took enough eggs. Figures why he is the star of the millennium. Mercifully, Dilip Kumar and Dev Anand had a short run in this vicious campaign.
The other oldies: Pradeep Kumar, Joy Mukherhjee (son Boy and brother Deb must be added), Biswajeet (son Prasenjeet must be added), Jeetendra (!), Manoj Kumar (?)...Yes there were some actors who gave fine movies, but as far as fine performances are concerned...well a few perhaps.
Shah Rukh Khan has quite a following. It was Dilip Kumar first, then there was Amitabh, now SRK...all doing the same thing. SRk, being third, diluted Yusuf Saab’s method to a bad extent. Mukesh Khanna (figured rather funnily in the reviews) made it a complete caricature, other wise he too is from the Dilip Kumar School. (Jusfokix: Imagine Dilip Kumar doing the Shaktimaan stunts and mouthing his words!)
Shah Rukh is bad...evidently from the reviews and the eggs.
Salman! Hate list is evergreen. Shooting a black buck, mowing down pedestrians, injuring India’s own darling Aishwarya...these came later...the eggs thrown on him dried before these things took place. Shame!
The usual suspects: Alok Nath, Laksmi Kant Berde, Johnny Lever (c’mon, he is a bore most of the time!), Kishen Kumar, Himalay something (me too forgot his surname but not his wooden finish), Hemant Birje (good one cuchillo).... the list grows with the aging of Indian cinema. Saeed Jaffery, foreign assignments notwithstanding should be in the list for his exceptional hamming!
The non-heroes: Nana Patekar and Manoj Bajpai (thankfully, only one review for him) also figure. One cannot avoid accepting that these talented people have of late been or had been doing the same stuff repeatedly...steals creativity. So there. Sunil Shetty featured too. Frankly, he is much better than in his Balwaan days.
Young Turks: Abhishek deserves to be here. He is a major disappointment. Hrithik..muscle, dance and Dr. Feelgood. I can never forget his super goofup in Kaho Naa... where the second Hrithik talks to his dad about falling in love with Amisha...ugh! This offspring of hype was rightly declared in one review as a male Helen. (...Now, now Helen had it with her...she deserves better comparisons). Bobby Deol Dead Pan Wild Type...stuck with it. Wonder why brother Sunny did not feature even once? At least Nana Patekar ranks over him in angry outbursts (the sole and single expression on big Sunny’s face...coupled with the words. YOU BASTARD!)
These young Turks ought to evolve in a more sensible way, looking at people’s perceptions in the reviews. Akshaye Khanna featured once. Whoever it is, he got a point. Dil Chahta Hai is a flash in a frying pan. He goofed up Taal with his excessive Dilip Kumarisms. (So did Anil Kapoor with his Devanandisms, s did Subhash Ghai with his nuttisms: Thank u Aish, Rehman and songwriters for saving the day) Aftab, go home son. You are battered beyond recognition.
Ladies: Not many...Esha Deol and Kareena deserve some rethinking...being star daughters aren’t enough.
As for the rest, There were many single appearances.or guest appearances....
Overall, a good exercise. Indian moviegoers aren’t fools. Nor are they die-hard fans. The reviews were prejudiced at places, but the reviewers gave a clear reason of their prejudice. This cannot be ignored. There are fans and anti-fans. Dilip Kumar is good for some bad for others; SRK is a darling and a joker both. As long as both exist, these people have a chance to keep going and improving. Having only fans will make them end up as chief ministers! Then the voters will get them! Having only anti-fans? Ask Kishen Kumar and Armaan Kohli and yes...Himalay!
Keep giving ur opinions. Now how about 5 worst directors