Nikhat Kazmi
Top CriticTimes Of India
Nikhat Kazmi, born Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, was a senior correspondent and well-known film critic from India, who had been writing for The Times of India since 1987. She died of breast cancer.
Most Divergent Takes
- 3 Idiots (2009)10.0 vs TRM 6.3+3.7
- Monica (2011)6.0 vs TRM 3.0+3.0
- Shagird (2011)7.0 vs TRM 4.3+2.7
- Chaalis Chauraasi (2012)7.0 vs TRM 4.4+2.6
- Singham (2011)8.0 vs TRM 5.6+2.4
Dhoom 2
2006 · Times Of India · Nov 2015
Story? Do we really need one! Let's say it's just a simple cops and robbers tale that ain't simply done. The thrills, the chills and the testosterone twists will keep you humming: 'Crazy kiya re!' Time to take a back seat, Mr Bond. Because Bollywood's Dhoom is bigger, better and goes beyond...
I Am Kalam
2011 · Times Of India · Jul 2015
A film that may not storm the box office, I Am Kalam will definitely stir your sensibilities.
Saawariya
2007 · Times Of India · Jun 2015
Saawariya is visually overpowering. This is a film meant purely for viewers who find cinema a synonym for aesthete. The allegorical settings and Dostovyskian love fable may not find favour with the aam junta . But for the cineaste, the film is a lyrical odyssey that works at the level of a fable.
Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year
2009 · Times Of India · Jun 2015
The winning duo of Shimit Amin and Jaideep Sahni may not be offering you a Chak De India this time round, but they do sculpt some rare moments on celluloid that end up redefining the pursuit of happiness as something more than mainu chaida, chaida, chaida! (I want, want, want!)
Om Shanti Om
2007 · May 2015
Om Shanti Om is such an unabashed tribute to Karz , it makes you want to run home and dig out the old-is-gold DVD and rewind to the saucy seventies when anything was allowed in Bollywood, including souls that slipped through janams, ghosts that walked, chandeliers that killed, mothers who waited centuries for sons to return and filmy romance was all about haseenas, dewaanas and don't-ask-for-logic attitudes.
Khosla Ka Ghosla
2006 · Times Of India · May 2015
This one is drawn straight from the heartland of middle class India. Maybe that's why it strikes an instant chord with it's familiar tale of an ageing man's dream to invest his savings in a dream house for his family in South Delhi.
Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna
2006 · Times Of India · May 2015
Too long. Too tedious. And strangely plastic. No, this time, Karan Johar seems to have got the formula somewhat skewed. For unlike his earlier successful celluloid soap operas, the audience doesn't get to shed any real tears even though the protagonists keep crying. Nope! When it comes to infidelity, Arth still remains the last word in Bollywood. And Silsila the most silken.
Fashion
2008 · Times Of India · May 2015
Dramatically, it's Priyanka's journey that is the most comprehensive as it tackles her growth from an ambitious, young girl to an arrogant model who fails to handle her success, crumbles and then rises again, like the proverbial Phoenix. The actress delivers a competent performance and yet, has tough competition from the other two girls.
Harishchandrachi Factory
2009 · Times Of India · May 2015
A must-see film, with a delicious sense of humour, Harishchandrachi Factory boasts of some sterling performances by the lead actors (Nandu Madhav and Vibhawari Deshpande) as Mr and Mrs Phalke who end up as the most chilled out couple of the early 20th century. The film works as a period drama too, with an exquisite eye for detail. But most importantly, it lays down the mantra of Indian movie lore. When someone asks Dadasaheb what kind of movies he would like to make, he replies: The one's which are resplendent with our culture and ethos.
Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
2008 · Times Of India · Dec 2014
The only high point of the film is Shah Rukh's interpretation of the geeky-gawky middle class hero, who would have actually been quite lovable if he didn't metamorphose into his gaudy, over-the-top alter ego, Raj. Debutante Anoushka lacks all chutzpah and can barely hold your attention. Watch it, only for Surinder Sahni ji, a refreshing new take on the Bollywood hero.
Band Baaja Baaraat
2010 · Times Of India · Dec 2014
Band Baaja Baaraat works smartly as a sociological study of saddi Dilli, with moods, moments and characters that crisply capture the life on the other side of the neon lights. Like Dibakar Banerjee and Rakeysh Mehra, director Maneesh Sharma chooses to look the other way and talk about the earthy, emotional, rough-edged quintessential Dilliwala who peppers his language with street talk, doesn't believe in minding his Ps and Qs, revels in an in-your-face attitude and cocks a snook at the HS (high-society) people...
Kurbaan
2009 · Times Of India · Nov 2014
Kurbaan sure does strike a chord and sets you thinking on stuff that needs to be sorted out before the new world order - a more humanitarian, less violent - sets in. Don't miss it.
3 Idiots
2009 · Times Of India · Oct 2014
The high point of the film is the fact that director Rajkumar Hirani says so much, and more, without losing his sense of humour and the sheer lightness of being. The film is a laugh riot, despite being high on fundas.
Kaminey
2009 · Times Of India · Oct 2014
Truly, Kaminey's a heady vodka martini, leaving you both shaken and stirred. And no, don't even ask for the popcorns. You'll leave them untouched coz this one just isn't the regular-run-of-the-mill popcorn flick.
Jab We Met
2007 · Times Of India · Oct 2014
The film's a sparkler, from the word go. From the onset of the adventurous train journey that leaves Mumbai for Bhatinda with its quirky passenger duo of a phataka Kareena and an angry young boy-man Shahid, through the winding mossy ways of the heartland (literally, so), till its final filmy destination, the film's a warm and stylish voyage that gently carries you along.
Ishqiya
2010 · Times Of India · Oct 2014
In Ishqiya lingo, the film is a sutli bomb (firecracker) that tickles and explodes. But for the hurried and harried end. Go, have a blast.
Dabangg
2010 · Times Of India · Sep 2014
...it's not meant to make sense. It's only meant to entertain. And entertain, it does in overdoses. No, this isn't meant for people who are looking for different cinema. Nor is it meant for the viewer who likes movies to appeal to his head. Yet, for those who celebrate and serenade the `silliness' of mainstream masala movie lore and swear by its popcorn quotient, Dabangg is the greatest getaway of the season.
Taare Zameen Par
2007 · Times Of India · Aug 2014
We recommend a mandatory viewing for all schools and all parents.
Lafangey Parindey
2010 · Times Of India · Mar 2014
It's a familiar world of bhais, boxers and bustee wallahs which Mumbai cinema has created and re-created, time and again that stares at you in Lafangey Parindey. And it's this familiarity of character and script that actually works against Pradeep Sarkar's third love story which comes after Parineeta and Laaga Chunari Mein Daag. There is an overriding sense of deja vu that overcomes you as you watch the cliche-ridden script unfold in a predictable fashion, where the rough-edged gangster is involuntarily drawn towards his sweet yet strong victim. And yet, it isn't easy to write off the film completely.
Chaalis Chauraasi
2012 · Times Of India · Mar 2013
Go, enjoy a refreshing new genre of comedy.
Sadda Adda
2012 · Times Of India · Mar 2013
This one begins with a disclaimer: As long as you dare to dream (and as long as you remain focused), nothing can go wrong. Ironically, the script seems to lose focus from the very word go....
Jo Hum Chahein
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
Essentially a non-happening film with mediocre acting.
Not a Love Story
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
Gory, yes but Not A Love Story is an interesting study of the darker and more devious spots of friendly neighbourhood types.
Sahi Dhandhe Galat Bande
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
A serious and sensible debut film by director Parvin Dabas, Sahi Dhande Galat Bande is offbeat and fresh
Yeh Dooriyan
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
A brave attempt, Yeh Dooriyan needed a dash of polish and a healthier dose of story.
Bodyguard
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
The film, a remake of a South Indian hit, may end up as another blockbuster, like most Salman films have been doing in the recent past. Yet, sadly, this one's mostly bluster.
Mummy Punjabi
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
The problem with Mummy Punjabi lies in the fact that it is neither a comedy nor a serious film, just something in-between. Wonder who is the target audience!
That Girl in Yellow Boots
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
Not meant for those who like run-of-the-mill stuff, That Girl in Yellow Boots is quintessential independent cinema.
Mere Brother Ki Dulhan
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
All in all, Mere Brother Ki Dulhan holds out a promise for a pleasant weekend viewing.
Rivaaz
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
A good idea that falls flat due to poor execution, Rivaaz is routine stuff.
Mausam
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
The film tries to strike a balance between art and mainstream cinema and succeeds partially.
Force
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
Go for it, all you Gods of War enthusiasts.
Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
The film may be a finely crafted drama, yet it unfolds with thriller pace, keeping you on the edge of the seat till the very end. Enjoy the experience of a revised and re-mixed story, well told.
Tere Mere Phere
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
The altercations are sweet, the comedy subtle and the backdrop (Himachal, untapped) majestic. Enjoy.
Rascals
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
The humour in Rascals is too loud and often unfunny while Kangna Ranaut is too hysterical and dumb-headed to evoke all the trouble and attention. Okay, so dumbness can be excused in Bollywood comedies which ostensibly revel in low IQ gags.
Love Breakups Zindagi
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
Love Breakups Zindagi should be treated as a stepping stone to something more substantial -- and original -- from the threesome.
My Friend Pinto
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
So what is it that actually tickles the funny bone in here? Definitely not Pinto's slow and steady steps.
Ra.One
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
Ra-One is sure to usher in a crackling Diwali at the box office and give the audience paisa vasool entertainment, with fine performances by both Shah Rukh and Kareena. Even young Armaan is efficient. Go have a blast.
Damadamm!
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
Ironically, it's the songs of the film which stand out much more than the script, narrative, drama and performances.
Loot
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
In short, too much chaos... and too many characters.
Miley Naa Miley Hum
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
Don't really go looking for logic or something new in here. And don't even go looking for some high end drama.
Chillar Party
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
Wonder how restless kids will watch Chillar Party? Filmmakers need to realize Indian tweens are extremely smart and fed on a regular diet of Cartoon Network and roller-coaster Hollywood kiddie's flicks. You got to have a story, adventure drama and pace. Or else....
Chala Mussaddi... Office Office
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
The drama has already gained immense popularity through the long-running television series Office Office and Mussaddi Lal's archetypal common man has become a familiar figure in popular culture. In the celluloid version, Pankaj Kapoor once again proves what a fine actor he is as he carries forth the relentless struggle of the aam Indian against India's endemic bribe culture and official apathy.
Bubble Gum
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
Bubble Gum may not score high on the entertainment quotient and is definitely not meant for the popcorn guzzlers. But the film has a piquant charm to it, spilling over with mood, sentiment and message. Add to this, the life-like performances by almost all the actors, including the two teen actors (Delzad and Sohail as the hearing-impaired), and you have a film that offers a satisfying experience.
Singham
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
Singham isn't all retro stuff, since scam-tainted India finds a voice and a vision in this mainstream kitsch.
Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
Director Zoya Akhtar follows up Luck By Chance with another sensitive and entertaining study of people, even as she gives Bollywood it's first full blown contemporary road movie.
Murder 2
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
There may be nothing original about the story, yet Murder 2 has enough to give the masses a mast time.
Chalo Dilli
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
The film has so much soul, specially in the climax, it makes up for any shortcomings in story and vision.
Shor in the City
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
Shor in the City may be another dekko at merry, murky, mad city Mumbai but not once do you get a sense of deja vu. And that's because this one's a completely quirky cameo on a city that continues to hypnotize people with its chameleon hues. The film posits the metropolis as a character in the film.
Zokkomon
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
An interesting watch for kids, Zokkomon may be the beginning of a better branch of tween films.
Luv Ka The End
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
This one is romance in reverse. And that's the only novelty the film can boast about. While most Bollywood love stories reach a fruition, Love Ka The End works feverishly -- and foolishly -- towards love's decimation.
Love U...Mr. Kalakaar!
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
The film does have a sweetness that grows on you and seasoned actors like Ram Kapoor and Madhoo add a dignity to their roles. The love birds Tusshar and Amrita are in sync with each other, but the film is so predictable and so long, it loses impact.
Ragini MMS
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
Watch it for its novelty and for the fact that Ragini MMS makes a heady cocktail of sex and horror that's so very different from run-of-the-mill Bollywood.
Shagird
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
Punctuated with thrilling chases and shoot-outs in the crowded by-lanes of Delhi, Shagird is another interesting film from maverick director Tigmanshu Dhulia who made an impression with Haasil, his very first film.
Stanley Ka Dabba
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
Don't miss this rich and nuanced soul curry for both, the young and adult heart.
404
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
The highpoint of the film lies in the fact that it explores paranormal activity without abandoning science and rationality. And that indeed is a rare achievement. Set against the backdrop of a medical college, the film takes up the usual issues of ragging and student suicides but gives it such a tangy twist, you end up literally KOed.
Kucch Luv Jaisaa
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
Kucch Luv Jaisaa is largely a case of promises unfulfilled.
Ready
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
Go celebrate the cornball comic display by Salman Khan. You won't get bored.
Bheja Fry 2
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
You do end up a few shades disappointed with the sequel, specially since the first part was such a scintillating act. The humour is laid back, the laughs are too few and far between and the tango between Vinay Pathak and Kay Kay Menon lacks the chemistry that crackled between Pathak and Rajat Kapoor in part one.
Always Kabhi Kabhi
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
It's all foregone and predictable apart from being inordinately long. School is agony; school is ecstasy. Always Kabhi Kabhi captures neither and treads the staid middle ground.
Double Dhamaal
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
This one's definitely not for the fastidious, choosy viewer but for those who don't mind losing it for a bit, Double Dhamaal works like an average Bollywood comedy. Performance-wise, it's one big circus with the guys hogging most of the limelight. The girls -- Mallika and Kangana -- are mere confetti.
Bbuddah Hoga Terra Baap
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
Way to go Mr Bachchan. We always maintained you were the best. Of course, the film has its loose and superfluous moments, but those are easily ignored.
Delhi Belly
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
All in all, Delhi Belly is a fine example of how the brightest and the boldest, when they pool in their talent, can create a film that is guaranteed to give you your money's worth, even as it re-writes all the moth-balled rules of an ageing industry.
Thank You
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
High production values -- glitzy locales, jazzy styling -- and Pritam's pop numbers and you have a film that can be an average weekend getaway. Nothing more, not even Mallika Sherawat's item number.
Teen Thay Bhai
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
The film however lacks consistency and some of the comic situations fail to evoke any humour. While the brothers try to co-exist peacefully in the ramschackled bungalow and almost end up killing each other, the drama holds your interest. But as it moves out into the wilderness, with blondes, dogs, drugs and cops, it loses track.
Dum Maaro Dum
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
This one's complete paisa vasool fare.
Game
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
The film predominantly suffers from a lack-lustre script (Althea Delmas Kaushal) which often borders on the corny.
Monica
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
Don't be mislead by the title (no, it isn't a morning show film) and don't be foxed by the low key publicity. This one's truly a surprise. Check it out.
Yeh Faasley
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
The film does show flashes of substance and form, but there's a whole lot of flab that renders it formless.
Satrangee Parachute
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
The storyline may be interesting and hold potential as a drama about a bunch of kids trying to blow up a terrorist plot. But its delineation is so serious, so tedious and so unfunny, it makes us adults fidgety. Can't imagine what it would do to an audi full of restless kids!
Tanu Weds Manu
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
Fun while it lasts, Tanu Weds Manu throws up Bollywood's newest obsession -- small town girls and their gunas (values) -- once again. A meatier storyline and a less messed up climax would have worked wonders for the film.
No One Killed Jessica
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
The film has an impeccable first half and could do with some editing in the second half. But the high drama, the arresting performances and the spunky audio track (Amit Trivedi) make NOKJ a memorable viewing.
7 Khoon Maaf
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
Serious, sensitive and stirring, 7 Khoon Maaf is a whole new cinematic experience. Watch how Indian cinema is metamorphosing into something more substantial and glocal.
Patiala House
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
Patiala House may not match up to his debut film, Kal Ho Na Ho, but director Nikhil Advani does make amends for the disastrous Chandni Chowk to China. Watch this family drama for its redefinition of patriotism in a going-global age, dominated by the growing Indian diaspora.
Utt Pataang
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
Intermittently interesting, Utt Pataang has a problem of plenty. You've seen this so many times in experimental gangster noir.
United Six
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
You can't go cackling like a bunch of geese with fake accents, faux oomph and freakishly bad performances.
Yeh Saali Zindagi
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
Dark, devious and different, Yeh Saali Zindagi is brain-and-brawn drama. Wish the Censor hadn't beeped so much.
Hostel
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
The film does make you sit up and raise a fist against the most prevalent malady of our education system.
Impatient Vivek
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
This one's got neither sum nor substance and is sure to make you impatient.
F.A.L.T.U
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
The problem with F.A.L.T.U lies in its tone. It doesn't know whether to unfold as a full blown comedy or take itself seriously by providing some gyan on the education system.
Yamla Pagla Deewana
2011 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
Watch it for its unbridled goofiness, the attempt to laugh at the Punjabi stereotypes and for the Deol chemistry that makes you chuckle, now and then.
Dhobi Ghat
2010 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
A lyrical ode to the modern malady -- metro-eccentricity -- Dhobi Ghat is intelligent and artistic cinema.
Memories in March
2010 · Times Of India · Nov 2012
Memories in March is both a sensible and sensitive watch.