Aashayein (2010)

Genre: Drama

Starring: John Abraham, Farida Jalal, Anaitha Nair, Sonal Sehgal, Ashwin Chitale, Girish Karnad

The story of a chain smoker, Rahul (Abraham) who gets lung cancer due to his smoking habits. He has just 3 months to live and decides to make full use of it. He spends his money left, right and center and believes that since he is a dying man, he is entitled to everything, this attitude and ego get into the way between him and his girlfriend, Nafisa (Sehgal). He learns about a special retreat for dying patients where they can spend the last few days of their life being happy before withering away and decides to relocate there. He meets a whole lot of people at the retreat, including a prostitute, Manju (Jalal) who gained AIDS and is shunned by all the patients, Padma (Nair) a loud-mouthed and rude cancer patient and Govinda (Chitale) a young boy whom people proclaim have super-natural powers. The movie at first sight seems slow, which it is, but give it time and it improves greatly. Each and every performance in the movie is exceptional, big or small, especially John Abraham, Anaitha Nair and Ashwin Chitale, who instead of being overshadowed by the popular image of Abraham, have managed to keep up and support his character throughout. It's a lovely movie and probably many smokers might get an urge to drop the habit right away. The flaw, within the first 10 minutes the rest of the plot becomes predictable but that doesn't make the movie a less enjoyable watch. Is capable of bringing forth a tear even from the cold-hearted.

Thumbs up: Performances of lesser known cast

Thumbs down: First half, predictable plot

Rating: 7.0/10

Saturday Night Fever (1977)

Genre: Drama/Romance/Musical

Starring: John Travolta, Karen Lynn Gorney, Barry Miller, Joseph Cali, Paul Pape, Donna Pescow

The life of a typical American youth. Work and earn money throughout the week and blow it all away on a Saturday night party with women and alcohol. Tony Manero (Travolta) lived the exact same life and was proud of it. He and his bunch of friends went around the city like Casanova's and spent the entire night away at the nightclub. Tony loved to dance and he was the hottest and most dashing young man who burnt the dance floor. Woman craved for him and he loved the attention he got. The club hosts an annual dance competition and Tony along with his partner Annette (Pescow) were last years winner. Annette was head over heals for Tony and would do anything to get his attention and go to bed with him. Tony, however, was eyeing the new girl Stephanie (Gorney) whom he believes is as good a dancer as he is. Most of the movie reflects about the aimless and ambition-less youth for whom sex and money is everything. The movie has some very amazing 70's dance moves and John Travolta fits the role superbly. The movie might appeal to someone who loves music and dance and they might just pick up some really smooth moves too, but apart from that the movie is a now show. Somewhere during the middle the movie gets slow and boring but steadily picks up pace towards the end. Avoidable unless you want to pick up some dance steps or recall your youthful days of the 70's.

Thumbs up: The smashing John Travolta

Thumbs down: May not appeal to all

Rating: 6.8/10