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.

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!)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

We recommend a mandatory viewing for all schools and all parents.

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.

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.