India Masala
Bollywood and culture in an emerging India
London Dreams: Falls short of promise
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One of my favourite films from 2008 was Abhishek Kapoor’s ‘Rock On’, the story of four rock band members who have a bitter fall out only to regroup years later.
It was a coming of age story that managed to stay in my heart for a while.
Vipul Shah’s ‘London Dreams’ has a similar storyline and a much larger scale and tone. Unfortunately, what it has in terms of budget and scale, it lacks in terms of heart.
The story revolves around two friends – Manjeet (Salman Khan) and Arjun (Ajay Devgan) – who grow up in Punjab’s Bhatinda.
Even as a child, Arjun is driven by an all consuming passion to make it big in music.
He dreams of having a concert at the Wembley stadium in London and works with single minded dedication towards that goal.
Manjeet on the other hand, has no ambition in life and prefers idling away time spying on girls to learning music.
After his father’s death, Arjun goes to London with his uncle and tries to make it as a singer.
On a visit to his hometown, Arjun hears Manjeet sing and decides to take him back to London and make him a part of his band.
The inevitable (in films) soon happens, and it is clear that Manjeet is a better singer than Arjun.
Angered by Manjeet’s success, Arjun vows to get his fame back.
The film is replete with sweeping scenes of rock concerts and is shot all over Europe. Shah tries to lend an epic, grand feel to his film, but is not supported either by the script or the performances. The music also doesn’t stay with you.
Ajay Devgn tries hard to make his character work, but doesn’t fit naturally into the role of a rock star as the protagonists of ‘Rock On’ did.
There is a certain charm in Salman Khan’s performance with the occasional humorous scenes thrown in. Unfortunately they are not nearly enough to salvage the film.
Watch it if you are a die hard Salman Khan fan.
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The Wall
Guys, this is a Funda of producers & Directors, make one super hit movie and 3-4 low budget movies to lure money from people.
Patehic Review
dis film iz gonna rock
LONDON DREAMS: MOVIE REVIEW
First things first. London Dreams is no Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, neither its sequel nor it is Rock On. London Dreams
is loosely inpired by Amadeus – the movie on Europe’s great musicians and composers of all time Mozart and
Beethoven and Rajkumar Santoshi were to film on Shahrukh Khan and Aamir Khan once a decade back.
London Dreams is the story of two childhood friends from Punjab, India. It is the story about one friend who dreams
to be a pop star like Michael Jackon by making it big at the Wembley Stadium, London and other friend who considers
his friend to be God and supports his dream in every sense. London Dreams is about the jealousy between gifted
talent and hard earned talent for music and love. It is just coincident that London Dreams also has love factor in
the story alike Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam but no in the pivotal role of the subject. Music is the subject and so goes
on the story. But unfortunately songs are average kind in the movie.
London Dreams is a story of one destined and god-gifted talent, Manjit Khosla a.k.a. Manu (Salman Khan) and hard
working musician with passion for music and dream to make it big especially at Wembley and the Lead Singer of
London Dreams Band – Arjun (Ajay Devgan) and their friendship and the struggle and winning back the lost pride of
the family and the victory at one may say Mecca of Music audience, the Wembley at London.
London Dreams is the first Indian movie or movie by any Indian Filmmaker where in London is depicted so lively and
so beautiful and so picturesque, so is beautifully portrayed the Eiffel Tower of Paris in background when Salman
proposes Asin.
Thank God, London Dreams does not have the Yash Chopra Lobby style of Punjab. It would be outright incorrect to
mention here any thing about the role depiction of Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan intentionally, because London Dreams
is truly the first Blockbuster hit of 2009. About Asin, she reminds of typical South Indian herione casted in a
Hindi movie of 60s and 80s – a typical show piece and nothing do much about than one thumka idhar and other thumka
udhar and in the end go with the hero for an happy ending. But only new thing is Asin looks cute despite of her
small role. And this is the plus point that for the first time any south Indian heroine looking so cute in an Hindi
movie.
Music of the film barring a couple of songs is not quite hummable but easily gels with the theme in the movie. Screenplay
is gripping and does not allow one to move out even during the songs. Cinematography by Sejal Shah is A class.
Editing by Amitabh Shukla is par excellence especially the playing with the screen time and increasing it and
making it gripping.
Overall, London Dreams is the first movie in many months that lures one to go and watch it again and again in
cinema halls for its sheer magnum opus quality maintained by the filmmaker, Vipul A. Shah.
Do not get surprised if London Dreams sweeps away most of the awards in all awards functions.
Ratings 4/5 stars.
- Prasad Satkalmi
best movie of the yaar…..simply gr888
best movie of 2009…………….. rock on was complete bakwas this is the movie to be watch out for
Fine
Does anyone know where I can find the hrs motion pictures concert with london dreams? The andheri one.
For this film, I think it was some promotional stuff. Its the one where salman takes his shirt off and
jumps in to the crowd, called hrs motion pictures salku concert. Any ideas?