It is hard to believe that the early ‘90s Subhash Ghai protégé who sang ‘ Ilu Ilu’ to Manisha Koirala could look so sober, and finally come across as so much of a cad. His few negative roles in the past (like in Qayamat in 2003), were nowhere close to this feat.

Never really considered an actor, this ‘80s and early ‘90s stars goes beyond his buffoon image of Housefull to portray a loathsome baddie with terrible teeth who is completely amoral and vicious. What’s more, Kausar also wrote the dialogues, inculcating so many punch-lines of substance within them.Īs the old woman who loves to tell inspiring stories from history and mythology to the girls in the brothel, Ila Arun, but for her distinct voice, was so unrecognizable that for a few minutes, we thought that she had dubbed for an(other) artiste playing an old woman! Yes, the composition should be suitable for her status and vocal scale-which this one is. Fact is, it shows how Asha is far from finito as a singer. Reportedly, the veteran 80-plus Diva was ecstatic about ‘ Prem Mein Tohre’ and told Anu that it would be her “comeback” song. The Bhatts had reinvented Anu in the ‘90s with films like Sir and Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Ayee for starters, and the composer had gone on to provide masterpieces like Naajayaz, Tamanna and Saaya in the music department for them. So never mind a passing Dum Laga Ke Haisha in 2015, this is Anu’s freshest and most mature score ever. This whopper talent has been under a cloud for over a decade, thanks to changing trends and music barons and filmmakers sans an iota of aesthetic sense on what appeals to Indians beyond the pub-hopping GenY. With Begum Jaan, if nothing else, they have restored the banner’s (and more importantly their personal) respectability and Mahesh Bhatt’s penchant for substance ( Arth, Saaransh, Naam, Kaash, Daddy, Sir, Zakham). The Bhatt brothers, known for their erotic thrillers and a plethora of franchises ( Raaz, Murder, Jannat and even Aashiqui!) were going through a template-like making of corny movies and could not sink lower than Mr X, Love Games and Hamari Adhuri Kahani. 1 Mukesh and Mahesh Bhatt of Vishesh Films

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