Ta Ra Rum Fun!

It's refreshing to see a Bollywood movie with so much positivity running through its veins. Or maybe I'm still trying to recover from the selfish negativity of Saif Ali Khan's latest release, Race. Director Siddarth Anand's second outing (his first was the life-changing Salaam Namaste) is just overflowing with positive thinking. In Ta Ra Rum Pum, no one laments the difficulties of life, no one weeps melodramatically, no one curses the Gods for punishing them. All hurdles are faced with a solution and a smile. Also starring Rani Mukherji, Javed Jaffrey, Angelina Idnani, Ali Haji, and Victor Banerjee, TRRP is a charming, realistic, funny, inspiring, emotional and unique picture. Oh, yeah... So was Salaam Namaste!

Rajveer Singh (Khan) is a tire changer-turned-star racecar driver working for Harry Patel's (Jaffrey) team Speeding Saddles in NYC. He meets Radhika Shekhar Rai Banerjee (Mukherji) and the the two fall in love and get married. Years later, Rajveer is dubbed RV and is the king of the speedway. He and Radhika have two children Priya aka Princess (Idnani) and Ranveer aka Champ (Haji) and the family is living on cloud nine. Until a rival racer crashes RV's car and RV is hospitalized, forcing him to leace Speeding Saddles for a year. He tries to come back but the crash left him traumatized and he cannot bring himself to go fast enough to win. He loses his contract, his home and most of his possessions (they bought everything on loan or credit). The Singhs move to a studio in Flushing. Radhika and RV tell their kids that they are on a reality TV show called "Don't Worry, Be Happy" and so, they must try to smile through all their troubles. How they face their troubles and find success again forms the second half of this tale of family, love, money, racing and positivity.

At first, I questioned the decision to lie to the kids. However, as the story progressed, I realized that Radhika and RV were actually teaching their kids an important lesson: to not whine and weep about troubles but laugh through it and solve it. Also, there is an amazing unity between the parents when the kids ask the questions that kids ask. They easily catch onto each other's plans and schemes like when Priya/Princess complains about not having her own room: since she can braid her own hair, she deserves her own room! It's also nice to see the family not take the easy way out. Radhika could have easily called her rich father (Victor Banerjee) and ask for money, for example. But the family keeps its integrity.

The performances are strong all around. Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukherji are completely at ease with their characters. Saif Ali Khan can be the fun father, the successful sportsman and the hard-pressed hard-worker. Saif is just so good that all of the emotions and action seem so effortless. Rani Mukherji plays the more sensible and realistic of the two. Rani can display histronics but without going overboard. Javed Jaffrey plays the classier version of his SN character. He is good, though. Victor Banerjee plays the stern father well. The two kids, Angelina Idnani and Haji Ali are surprisingly expressive. They are not over-precocious nor do they try too hard. You might remember Haji Ali from Fanaa.

Technically, the film is flawless. Cinematography is zingy and fun, sets are cool and costumes are terrific. The soundtrack, by Vishal-Shekhar and Javed Akhtar, is actually lacklustre. It is, however, brought to life by one of Bollywood's rapidly rising choreographers Vaibhavi Merchant. Her style of dancing is unique because her steps are to the most obscure beats and not to the strings or to the words. Her dancers feel the rhythm throughout their whole bodies and not just in their feet and hips. The best video is Ab Toh Forever. Well done! Also, the version of the title song at the birthday party is noteworthy for its great animation. Hey Shona and Nachle Ve are cute. Saiyaan Ve and the first version of the title song are poignant.

Ta Ra Rum Pum is an entertaining picture. It's inspiring. In today's cynical world, it is good to see a family succeed by smiling their way through their problems. It's good escapist cinema. There's not a doubt in your mind as to what the ending will be. But who said the most important thing in a movie is the ending? Sometimes it's just fun to see how the characters reach the predictable ending. And in Siddarth Anand's story, the journey is full of laughs and love. Ta Ra Rum Pum rates a 9/10.

"RACE" to see this!

Abbas-Mustaan are a director-duo that refuses to back down. They began in the 90s with hit after hit after hit but somehow in the last few years they stopped making the edge-of-your-seat thrillers that they've been known for and instead made a comedy (36 China Town), lacklustre whodunit (Naqaab), a love story (Chori Chori Chupke Chupke) and a social drama (Aitraaz). I'm saying that these four are just different, not bad in any way (there is one sour spot on the A-M resume - Taarzan: The Wonder Car). With the ever-so-thrilling Race, A-M return to what they know best--and, how!

With a terrific star cast of (in alphabetical order) Bipasha Basu, Katrina Kaif, Anil Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna and Sameera Reddy, Race is probably A-M's most glamorous venture yet. Music is by the "original" Pritam and the lyrics are written by the mildly poetic Sameer.

Ranvir (Khan) and Rajiv (Khanna) are two extremely wealthy brothers, who jointly own a horse farm. Their business is owning, breeding and racing the majestic creatures. Ranvir is really the only one who cares about the family business. Racing horses (and winning) is his in blood, he says. Rajiv just likes to drink and have fun. Sohniya (Basu) is a model with whom both Rajiv and Ranvir fall in love but Ranvir steps aside when Rajiv promises to stop drinking if Sohniya marries him. Meanwhile, Sophia (Kaif) is Ranvir's besotted secretary but her boss thinks only of her as a really good employee. When it is revealed that either brother will get 200 million should the other die, a murder takes place. Enter Inspector Robert D'Costa aka RD (Kapoor), an eccentric detective with a beautiful but ditzy assistant named Mini (Reddy). As RD and Mini try to solve the case, the others will do anything to stop them and get their hands on the money

The best thing about Race is the twists. Abbas-Mustan have the characters betray each other like there's no tomorrow, revealing elaborate plans with people you didn't expect. And it's not as though these twists are there just because. They make sense. As the film goes on, everything is made clear and the motivations for the characters are given. Are there plot holes? Yes. But you have to be patient because, like I said, everything is made clear in the end.

This is the kind of movie where no character is the "hero" and no character is the "villain." All the characters are selfish and will do anything to get the reward. Who do you root for? Well, I chose to root for Katrina since she was my favorite in the cast. Others may have different picks.

The second best thing about Race is the music. Each song is picturized well and also placed well. A-M surely know where to put their songs. The first three songs (Dekho Nashe Mein, Pehli Nazar Mein, Zara Zara Touch Me) come quickly allowing more time in the end where a song could do damage to the plot. The two songs in the second half (Khwab Dekhe/Sexy Lady, Race Saanson Ki) come after big reveals allowing the audience to ponder. I would say the best song is the new one Khwab Dekhe/Sexy Lady.

SPOILER ALERT

Too bad it didn't really happen...

END SPOILER ALERT

The song itself is awesome (much better than what it replaced, Mujhpe Toh Jaadu) and the astounding choreography is well performed by Saif and Katrina. Both really worked on their previously mediocre dancing skills. Dekho Nashe Mein and Race Saanson Ki are also an improvement for Bipasha and Akshaye. Zara Zara Touch Me is terrific because it's Katrina's number but her costume is very unflattering. Saying that is like blasphemy since I worship Miss Kaif, but I guess it's not her fault but the costume stylist's. Pehli Nazar Mein is also really well-shot. Luckily for us Sameera and Anil get 0 musical numbers except for the ending credits number Race is on My Mind but that song is so lame you can leave the theater at the point.

The film is extremely well photographed and edited. Background music is fitting. Costumes are exceptional (except for the ZZTM fiasco... poor Katrina!)

Now, onto the performances... I would say Saif Ali Khan gives the best one. He is so restrained and he's great in the action sequences. Bipasha Basu is one actress who is not afraid of anything. She always plays strong women and Sohniya is no exception. This is one of her best, if not the best. Katrina Kaif plays her second toughest role yet. And she is a talented actress. Directors--please take advantage of her potential! Akshaye Khanna proves why he is still on top after all these years. His mannerisms, however, are getting to be the same in his carefree roles. Anil Kapoor is hilarious as the eccentric RD! His habit of eating fruits and speaking fruit vocabulary is so original and awesome! Sameera Reddy is the real suprise as she is also so funny as the ditzt assistant Mini. Do I wish it were Mallika Sherawat, who was in talks for the role? Yes. Am I regretting the final decision? No. Dalip Tahil and Johny Lever are fine in their short and unimportant roles.

A-M really honed their directing skills. This plot must have been really hard to film because the slightest wrong camera angle and everything could be ruined. Their hard work really paid off. Race is one thriller that everyone should "race" to the theaters and catch. Race rates an 8.5/10.