Movie Reviews: Life Partner

The verdict of this multi-starrer comedy film is out:


LIFE PARTNER also surprises you because Rumy Jaffery incorporates vignettes from real life. Most importantly, LIFE PARTNER entertains, makes you laugh [at even silly jokes] and keeps you hooked for most parts of the film... Govinda is in terrific form this time. After PARTNER, the talented actor gets a role that does complete justice to his abilities...On the whole, LIFE PARTNER may lack the hype, but this one springs a pleasant surprise.

‘Kaminey’ releasing worldwide, barring in swine flu hit Mumbai

Mumbai, Mumbai will have to wait. With Maharashtra in the grip of swine flu and the country’s entertainment capital’s malls and multiplexes shut down for three days, much awaited films such as “Kaminey” and “Life Partner” will give the city a miss as these are released worldwide.

The swine flu scare has also led to a weeklong shutdown in Mumbai.

“We are going ahead with the release of the film (’Kaminey’) this Friday across the country and worldwide. This will not include the markets of Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai following the directive given by the government. We look forward to release the film in these regions as soon as the cinemas are given permission to re-open,” Siddharth Roy Kapur, CEO of UTV Motion Pictures said in a statement released here Wednesday.

“Being a corporate, we are fully insured for the two-day delay we are facing in these markets,” he added.

Aman Gill, director, domestic theatrical distribution of Studio 18, the distributors for “Life Partner”, echoed the view.

“We are going ahead with the worldwide release of ‘Life Partner’ as per schedule, as we can’t stop the release because the prints have already been dispatched. Except Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai, we will release the film wherever we can,” Gill told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, “Kaminey” stars A-listers like Shahid Kapoor in a double role and Priyanka Chopra in the lead. Laugh-riot “Life Partner” has been directed by Rumy Jafry and stars Govinda, Tusshar Kapoor, Prachi Desai, Fardeen Khan and Geneila D’Souza.

While “Kaminey” is releasing with 1,200 prints worldwide, “Life Partner” is following suit with around 700 prints globally.

Trade pundits told IANS that the Maharashtra belt accounts for 30 percent of the all India collections for a movie while Delhi and Uttar Pradesh combine accounts for 30 percent of the total business.

Considering a long weekend with the Janmashtami and Independence Day holidays in tandem, insiders claim it to be a “lucrative” period despite any odds.

“We are expecting a very lucrative weekend. Despite all fears, there will be footfalls no matter what. And with both Janmashtami and Aug 15 holidays back-to-back, it is going to bring in a good business,” said a Mumbai distributor, on condition of anonymity.

Tushar Dhingra, COO, BIG Cinemas, however, shrugged off any news about the multiplex closure.

“We have not received any official information about the shut down of the multiplex for next three days. So I am not in any position to comment on this. But if this happens then we will co-operate because health is a priority and you can’t compromise on that,” he told IANS.

Other leading multiplex chains like INOX and Fame refused to comment.

You’ll see a different me in ‘Kurbaan’: Kareena Kapoor

Mumbai, She has played a prostitute, a bubbly girl-next-door and the ultimate glamour queen in her almost decade-long career, but Kareena Kapoor says “Kurbaan” has given her the opportunity to sink her teeth into one of the best roles in her career.

“I am so confident that in ‘Kurbaan’, audiences will take to my character in a big way,” said Kareena, who looks forward to playing a variety of roles across different genres of films.

“Especially after ‘Kambakkht Ishq’, they would see a different me in the film,” Kareena told IANS.

A Karan Johar production, “Kurbaan” is directed by first time director Rensil D’Silva and has terrorism as its background.

“The girl’s role is very strong in ‘Kurbaan’ and I have worked really hard on my performance. I’m expecting a lot from the film,” said the actress, who has won critical acclaim for her performance in “Dev” and “Omkara”.

Kareena is paired with boyfriend Saif Ali Khan in “Kurbaan”, which also stars Vivek Oberoi, Dia Mirza, Kirron Kher and Om Puri in principal roles.

The actress says she is once again expecting accolades from critics for her performance in the film.

“Well frankly, this is one film where I am expecting both box-office success and huge critical acclaim. The film is extremely well made and, to add to that, quite topical,” she said confidently.

With music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Salim-Sulaiman, “Kurbaan” is aiming for a November release.

For Kareena, 2009 would be an eventful year as it would also see the release of Rajkumar Hirani’s “3 Idiots”, where she is paired opposite Aamir Khan, and debutant director Prem R. Soni’s “Main Aur Mrs. Khanna” with Salman Khan.

After being in the industry for close to a decade, doesn’t she aspire for more awards?

“See, ever since I began my career, I have always maintained that I want to be a star actress. I should give the kind of confidence to filmmakers that I can carry off any role confidently. Whether it is a Geet (’Jab We Met’) or a Dolly (’Omkara’), Simrita (’Kambakkht Ishq’) or the character I play in ‘Kurbaan’ – I am mixing it up all.

“For me, work is like a passion and when I do a film, I don’t really think of commercial gains or awards. What is most important for me is to be engaged in some quality stuff. I sign a film because I like to enact the character that I have been offered. If box office success and awards come then, well, it’s great,” she said.