*TOIJ100808/ /02/K/1* SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, JAIPUR AUGUST 10, 2008
ENTERTAINMENT
2
CINEMA OF THE WEEK NIKHAT KAZMI
Singh is Kinng (comedy) ★★★ Cast: Akshay Kumar, Katrina Om Puri Direction: Anees Bazmee
lame it on the charisma of Akshay Kumar, but Singh is Kinng is going to find its audience despite being a no-brainer. And the audience isn’t going to be just the
them onto the path of goodness, ek baar phir. One by one, the rogues undergo their lifechanging experience — calling for some rowdy fun and games — and end up reformed souls. The magic of Munnabhai, this time in a turban, seems to have worked again. There, in distant Australia, with a short song-dance trek to Egypt, this desi joker wins hearts and
Singhs, spilling across the globe. It’s going to be people like us who are suckers for corny comedy that breezes across the screen in a string of unstoppable gaffes, demanding nothing from you, other than a bunch of goofy grins. Of course, it does take the chutzpah of Akshay Kumar, the box office’s current badshah, to make the bakwas bindaas. Catch him chasing stray chicks in his pind (read village) in Punjab or refusing to change his underwear, despite being in it for three days and you can’t help say c-h-e-e-s-e. Or else, hear him introduce himself as ‘Happy Singh’ to a bunch of firangs, and you’ll end up feeling happy too. Comedy does seem to flow effortlessly from this actor who seems to have taken over where Govinda left off.... Okay, so this one’s truly cheesy with a Munnabhai heart at its core. Happy Singh is the proverbial do-gooder who tries to help any and everyone, even if it means engaging with ruthless killers and mafia kingpins. He leaves his village and sets off for Australia to bring back a bunch of bonny sardarjis to their wailing moms and dads. So what if the Sardar brotherhood has metamorphosed into a mafia gang in distant shores, headed by two chalkand-cheese brothers (Sonu Sood and Jaaved Jaffrey). Happy Singh is here to browbeat
influences people with his rustic charms. The gangsters end up as good guys, the lonely flower seller (Kiron Kher) finds a foster son and the tattoo-flaunting law student (Katrina Kaif) finds a pucca Hindustani husband, a la Namastey London. Easy to understand why Akshay is proving to be King Midas at the box office. His rustic, anti-urbane heroics in film after film instantly raise the underdog on a pedestal and strike a chord with the aam janta, the way Govinda did in the 1990s with his red pants, purple jackets, nonsensical lyrics. (Remember ‘what is mobile number?’) The film has an entertaining first half which sees some great camaraderie between the village boys, Om Puri and Akshay Kumar. The second half does get cluttered, clumsy and loose with loads of wasted talent in the likes of Ranvir Shorey, Javed Jaffrey and a side-lined Om Puri. Even some of the songs get deafening and inarticulate in a bid to celebrate Punjabiyat. But hey, there’s that crackling chemical equation between the missy and the the munda (Katrina and Akshay) to keep the hungama high, as they did in Namastey London and Welcome. Don’t go looking for kingsize entertainment and this King con might just end up as breezy timepass.
Kaif,
B
H
e calls her Little Kat and she calls him Uncle Akshay. The age difference between them is, well, considerable. But there’s no denying Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif are Bollywood’s Jodi No. 1. On screen and in the three films — well four, with a new one, that’s just hit theatres — they’ve done together, Akki and Kat are simply magic. In person, talking exclusively together for the first time and to JT over soup and salad, the two make a rollicking couple. And they give the impression of being great buddies who are oblivious that the lights and camera have been switched off, the action has stopped, and pack-up has been ordered. The vibe between them is electric, but if there is sexual chemistry as well, it was missing at that moment. The c o nve r s a t i o n was as saucy and spicy as the food...
JT: Is there attraction on the sets, is he really as hot and naughty as made out to be, she as sexy and desirable as men wish? AK: This kind of feeling doesn’t come with Little Kat. I don’t know what to say when people write such stuff. It gets embarrassing. But she’s a distraction! All the time asking questions that are really annoying to answer. KK: He’s a married man and as diplomatic as it sounds, I respect the institution of marriage... AK: I look like her father, she showed me his picture! KK: Also it’s not like we share a bond, but Uncle Akshay’s been there from when I started out and didn’t know Hindi, didn’t know dancing, where the lights and camera were supposed to be, what I was meant to do. He takes me through the film. Every newcomer should work with him, he helps in every shot, he
lends support, gives confidence. He’s a senior artiste and you respect a senior artiste. It’s not like I slap him on the back and say, “Hey dude! What’s up, how’s it going?” AK: Now she pretends she knows everything, she’ll tell the cameraman where to put the lights! KK: But once we finish a film, we don’t talk for six months, he just goes off. And to get hold of him is a game, a procedure, last time I had to call Vipul Shah and he contacted Twinkle. AK: That’s because I’m shooting in San Francisco, Chicago, the Bahamas, Toronto... she’s a local star, her scripts are in Mumbai, Panvel, Khandala... Though her big desire is to make a film like Sin City. KK: That was earlier, now I’d like to do a full action kind of film, like Charlie’s Angels. But I think Bruce Willis’s role in Sin City, a poker faced character of romance and action, would suit Akshay. AK: If you get into production, I’ll say no to such a film! But I’m a commercial actor, I like to entertain people, and my kind of film has to have all the ingredients... action, romance, dance, drama...
JT: Is he really the action king, the Khiladi, on the sets? KK: He’s a natural, he does it better than anybody else, he’s also knowledgeable about action techniques and safety measures. I have to be pushed really hard into doing scary stuff. But he’s also good at comedy. Give him an emotional, romantic scene, he turns it into comedy! Comedy more than action is his forte. AK: The hardest part of acting is to make people laugh. For action, you can use a double, but not for comedy. JT: Is it easy working together? KK: It’s fun, he’s so focussed on work, but in between shots, we laugh and have happy, casual conversations. You can’t get good work in an environment where we sit in corners and he looks north while I look south. AK: From our first film to fourth, it’s been kind of brilliant. But I tell her, this is not about tera footage aur mera footage, nothing matters but the film. If it works, Little Kat will ask for more money next time! KK: And Uncle Akshay? You’ll give discounts out of happiness? Like at Christmas time, say 30 per cent or 40 per cent off ?
READER REVIEWERS MY TIMES, MY VOICE RATING SCALE P O O R ★
AV E R A G E ★ ★
GOOD★ ★ ★
V E RY G O O D ★ ★ ★ ★
O U T S TA N D I N G ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
It’s a fantastic movie with good special effects
‘
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
‘I’m shooting in San Francisco, Chicag o, hamas, Toron the Bato... she’s a local star, he r scripts are in Mumbai, Pan vel, Khandala...’ — Akshay Ku mar
CRITIC’S RATING
★★1/2 ★★★
READERS’ RATING
Y
et another sequel from Hollywood and yet another readers’ review. Read on...
’
The special effects are spe cial! The special effects were good in the movie. I think the Batpod and Batmobile in The Dark Knight can still give Mummy a run for its money. I think ‘Bats’ have cast a spell on the Mummy! I ABDUL SUMIE
PICTURE PERFECT: Katrina Kaif and Akshay Kumar pose
I like this Mummy, just as the previous one. I KARTIK PATIL Everyone rocks in the movie. It’s a fantastic movie with all the actions and good special effects combined. I RIJU
But is movie special? I think it is the bats that have cast a spell on the Mummy. Nice movie to watch. I think that this was the second best movie after The Dark Knight. It’s an awesome movie to watch. One can have lots of action in one movie. I
‘Everyone rocks in the movie. It’s a fantastic movie with all the actions and good special effects combined...’
PARVEEN
BEG
It was an okay movie, like the previous one. I didn’t find anything special in the movie.
The special effects are good.
I GAURAV
TELEVISION AND RADIO DD I 2130 Dil Ka Rishta
0800 Let’s Go! 0900 Nivea - Simply Sorted 0930 Let’s Go! 1100 Just Chill 1200 Super Hitz 1300 Chakachak 1400 Garma Garam 1500 Bid To Win 1530 Avalon Academy Presents Rise Up 1600 Let’s Talk 1630 The Rise & Rise Of Shahrukh Khan 1700 Garma Garam 1900 Weekend Popkorn Newz 1930 The Rakhi Sawant Showz 2000 The Rise & Rise Of Shahrukh Khan 2030 Red Hot Countdown 2100 Planet Bollywood 2200 Weekend My Desi Top 20
DD I 0900 Open Frame 0930 Disney Jadoo 1030 Cartoon Network Ki Duniya 1130 Children’s Serial 1159 News Digest 1200 India Imprints 1230 Ignited Mind-II: Science Series 1300 Karan The Detective 1330 Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander 1359 News Digest 1400 Malgudi Days 1430 Atmaja 1500 Raaj 1530 Kitty Party 1600 Health Show 1645 Delhi Line Delhi 1700 Music 1730 Falak 1800 Pet Care 1830 Tele Film 1900 Regional News 1915 Ek Mulaqat 1930 Aap Ki Baithak 2000 The News 2030 Kal Hamara Hai 2100 Kab Kyon Kaise 2130 Film: Dil Ka Rishta
MOVIES ON TV 1000 Taste Of Cherry 1200 Behind The Scenes 1230 Monday 1445 Behind The Scenes 1515 Christmas In August 1730 Behind The Scenes 1800 Subway 2030 The Phantom Lover 2245 Behind The Scenes/Screeming Room 2300 400 Blows
2045 Blade II 2345 Mimic 1
2100 The Crows
STAR ONE 1500 Soldier
STAR MOVIES 0855 Running Free 1045 Fierce People 1255 The Invisible 1500 Material Girls 1700 Scary Movie 4 1845 Shallow Hal 2100 Lonely Hearts 2305 Lucky Number Slevin
9X 1130 Azaad 1700 Yahaan 2100 Kasme Vaade
Watch Bollywood's spiciest show ‘The Rakhi Sawant Showz’, tonight at 1930 Hrs only on Zoom 0900 Raaga 1000 Woh Rehne Waali Mehlon Ki 1230 Mata Ki Chowki 1500 Ghar Ek Sapna 1730 Film: Sandwich 2030 Comedy Champions 2130 Event No 1 2230 Shubh Mangal Savadhan 2300 Second Chance
STAR ONE 0900 Vikraal Aur Gabral 1000 Dil Mill Gayye 1030 Shararat 1100 Hatim 1200 Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai 1300 Dil Mill Gayye 1500 Film: Soldier 1830 Anu Ki Ho Gayi Wah Bhai Wah 1900 Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai 1930 Instant Khichdi 2000 Lucky 2100 The Great Indian Laughter Challenge IV 2200 Ssshhh...Phir Koi Hain 2300 Darna Mana Hai
‘Kya Dill Mein Hai’ at 2000 Hrs on 9X 0600 Bollywood Full N Final 0630 Prerna 0700 Zamana Badal Gaya 0730 Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabhaarat Ki 0930 Jai Maa Vaishao Devi 1130 Film: Azaad 1430 Kaun Jeetega Bollywood Ka Ticket ‘Sandwich’ at 1730 Hrs on 1700 Film: Yahaan Sahara One 2000 Kya Dill Mein Hai 0800 Draupadi 2100 Film: Kasme Vaade
‘Satte Pe Satta’ at 2000 Hrs on SAB
SONY ‘Khoobsurat’ at 2000 Hrs on FILMY 0700 Nastik 1000 Nishabd 1300 Bollywood Ka Boss 1400 Meri Bhains Ko Anda Kyon Maara? 1500 One 2 Ka 4 1900 Meri Bhains Ko Anda Kyon Maara? 2000 Saturday Blockbuster : Khoobsurat 2230 I Still Dream Of Jeannie
2330 Yes Boss
1400 Baghban
‘Namastey London’ at 2000 Hrs on Max 0830 Dulaara ‘Border Hindustan Ka’ at 1200 Shaadi Karke Phas Gaya 2030 Hrs on UTV Movies Yaar 1600 Badal 0745 The Flying Sneaker 2000 Namastey London 1015 Jodi Kya Banai - Wah Wah STAR PLUS Ramji 1330 Iqraar by Chance 1530 Suhaag 1645 Qurbani 2030 Border Hindustan Ka HBO 2345 Joggers Park 0815 Madeline 1000 Second In Command 1145 Firewall 1400 She Creature 1530 True Lies 1815 Superman 2100 Dark Storm 2245 Hush
COLORS 1630 Lakshya
1300 Hunters 1400 Discovery’s Biggest Shows 1600 Wild Africa 1700 Bone Detectives 1800 Dirty Jobs 1900 Wild Africa 2000 Discover India 2100 Best Of India 2200 Dirty Jobs 2300 The Ultimate Olympics
CARTOON NETWORK 0800 Shrek 1000 Tom & Jerry Show 1100 Samsher Sikander Chuddie Buddie 1130 Time Squad 1200 Daffy Duck Quackbusters 1400 Courage The Cowardly Dog 1430 Richie Rich 1500 Tom & Jerry Show 1600 Ben 10 1630 Courage The Cowardly Dog 1700 Tom & Jerry Tales 1730 Ben 10 1800 Transformers Animated 1830 Tom and Jerry: Cat & Mouse Full House 1930 Courage The Cowardly Dog 2000 Ben 10 2100 Tom & Jerry Show 2200 The All New Popeye Show 2230 Johnny Bravo 2300 The Jetsons 2330 Tom & Jerry Show
‘Don’ at 1200 Hrs on 9XM
SAB ‘10 Ka Dum’ at 2100 Hrs on Sony Entertainment Television 0900 Arslaan 1000 Boogie Woogie 1200 Waar Parriwar 1400 Film: Baghban 1800 Khushi Ki Duniya 1830 Comedy Circus 2000 Boogie Woogie 2100 10 Ka Dum 2200 Comedy Circus 2330 Hi Life Dubai - 3
0830 Teleshopping 0930 FIR 1000 America’s Funniest Home Videos 1100 Film: Ram Balram 1430 Krazy Kiya Re 1530 Home Improvements 1600 My Wife And Kids 1630 Comedy Ka Tadka 1700 FIR 1730 America’s Funniest Home Videos 1800 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashma 1900 Lo Ho Gayi Pooja Iss Ghar Ki 2000 Film: Satte Pe Satta
1100 Ram Balram 2000 Satte Pe Satta
SAHARA ONE 1730 Sandwich
‘Idea Unforgettable Tour Diaries’ at 2300 Hrs on NDTV Imagine 0800 Mahasangram Mahabharat Part 4 1000 Mahasangram Mahabharat Part 5 1200 Meter Down 1230 Nachle Ve With Saroj Khan 1430 Betaal Pachisi - Part 2 1630 Junoon Kuchh Kar Dikhaane Ka 1800 Meter Down 1830 Yaara Dhol Bajaa Kay 1930 Dharam Veer 2000 Mahima Shani Dev Ki 2030 Junoon Kuchh Kar Dikhaane Ka 2230 Nach Shastra...Sitaron Ki Jung 2300 Idea Unforgettable Tour Diaries 2310 Junoon Kuchh Kar Dikhaane Ka
‘Blade II’ at 2045 Hrs on Bindass Movies ‘The Phantom Lover’ at 2030 Hrs on World Movies 0745 The Spanish Woman 0930 Behind The Scenes
1000 TNA Wrestling 1100 Are U Smarter Than 5th Grade 1200 Blood Ties 1300 The Unit 1400 The Apprentice 1530 Last Comic Standing 1700 TNA Xplosion 1800 TNA Wrestling 1900 Smallville 2000 Prison Break 2100 Bones 2200 Criminal Minds 2300 TNA Xplosion
1045 Heavyweights 1245 Mimic 1 1445 28 Days Later 1645 Heavyweights 1845 Mimic 2
1200 Mortal Kombat 1700 The X Files 1930 Prophecy 3
FIRANGI 1300 Suing Dad
Suing Dad 1500 Flashback Second Chance 2000 Firangi Minis: Dolmen
‘Sajid’s Superstars’ at 2200 Hrs on COLORS 1930 Jai Shri Krishna 2200 Sajid’s Superstars
1630 Film: Lakshya
0800 Flashback America 1300 Firangi 70mm World Hits:
*TOIJ100808/ /02/K/1*
‘So Close’ at 2000 Hrs on Pix 0700 ITAS - Russell Crowe 0800 The Babysitters Club 1030 Hollywood One On One 1100 Robin Hood: Men In Tights 1300 Trauma 1500 Carrie 1730 Circus 1930 Hollywood One On One 2000 So Close 2200 Wasabi
STAR PLUS 0900 Shararat-Thodi Jadu Thodi Nazaakat 0930 Prithviraj Chouhan 1000 Hatim 1300 Ab Tak Ka Safar - Santaan 1330 Sapna Baabul Ka..Bidaai 1530 Film: Suhaag 1900 Jai Maa Durga 2000 Aaja Mahi Vey 2100 Prithviraj Chouhan 2130 Baa, Bahoo Aur Baby 2200 Amul Star Voice Of India-2 2330 Ab Tak Ka Safar - Santaan
DISCOVERY ‘The Crows’ at 2100 Hrs on Firangi
STAR WORLD 0930 Its Always Sunny In Philadelphi
BINDASS
2100 Firangi 70mm World Hits: The Crows 2300 Mini Series: Kidnapped 1
Welcome to the Singhdom! Catch all the action behind scenes of the movie ‘Singh is Kinng’ at 1430 Hrs & 2030 Hrs only on TIMES NOW
0800 Wild Africa 0900 Discovery Spotlight 1000 Platinum Discovery 1100 Man Vs Wild 1200 The Ultimate Olympics
‘Bindass Champ’ at 2130 Hrs on Bindass 1200 Film: Mortal Kombat 1400 Dadagiri 1600 Sun Yaar Chill Maar 1700 Film: The X Files 1930 Film: Prophecy 3 2130 Bindass Champ 2200 Ugesh Sarcar's 3rd Degree 2230 Dadagiri 2300 Bindass Champ 2330 The Benny Hill Show
MUSIC
0600 Bakwas Shuru Kar 0700 Chote Ke Funde 0800 Rock n Roll Billi 0900 King Khan Superstar 1000 100% Discount 1100 Zara Dheere Bol Na 1200 Don 1300 Phata Poster 1400 Nikla Hero 1500 Meaning Paan
1600 Bade Ke Hit 1700 Hit Me Chote 1800 Billi Ka Badla 1900 Pagal Gane 2000 Kutte Ki Meaow 2100 Bakwas-e-Ishq 2200 Gana Hit Hai 2300 Who Wants To Know
0600 Just Jaago 0700 Hello Jaipur 1100 Khoobsurat 1400 Total Filmy 1700 Bumper to Bumper 1900 Mirchi Top 20 (B2B) 2100 Club Mirchi 0100 Back to Back
SPORTS ESPN 0730 Major League Baseball 2008, New York Yankees Vs Los Angeles Angels, Live 1030 Hitz 1100 Sportscenter Week In Review
1130 Football Asia 2008/09 1200 Soccer, AFC Challenge Cup 2008, DPR Korea Vs Sri Lanka 1400 Asia Cup 2008 Highlights, 6th ODI , Pakistan Vs India 1600 ESPN Original Entertainment, 2008 Espys 1800 2007 India Tour Of England - 5th ODI, England Vs India 2055 Sportscenter Weekend 2100 2008 US Figure Skating Championships, Skating Spectacular 2300 2007 West Indies Tour Of England, T20 H/L (Best Of T20)
NEWS STAR NEWS 0900 Star Savera 0930 Daily Specials 1000 Star Savera 1030 Sansani 1100 Khabar Din Bhar 1130 Saas Bahu Aur Saazish 1200 Khabar Din Bhar 1330 Khabar Filmi Hai 1400 Khabar Din Bhar 1430 Saas Bahu Aur Saazish 1500 Khabar Din Bhar 1630 Sansani 1700 Desh Videsh 1830 Yeh Bharat Desh Hai Mera 1900 Aaj Ki Baat 1930 Wah Cricket 2000 National Reporter 2030 Khabar Filmi Hai 2100 Satyameva Jayate 2130 Daily Specials 2200 24 Ghante, 24 Reporter 2230 City 60 2300 Sansani 2330 Khabar Din Bhar
TOIJ100808/UR1/02/K/1 CMYK
0600 News Now 0730 Goldfest 0800 The Morning Show 0900 News Now 1330 The Foodie 1400 News Now 1430 Making Of Singh Is Kinng 1500 News Now 1730 The Foodie 1800 News Now 1830 Total Recall: Common Man’s Cinema 1900 News Now 1930 No Full Stops Episode 4 2000 News Now 2030 Making Of Singh Is Kinng 2100 9 PM 2130 ENow Weekend 2200 News Now 2230 Goldfest Saturday 2300 News Now Overnight 0030 ENow Weekend
To get TIMES NOW, SMS CABLE to 58888 and win exciting prizes