LONDON DREAMS MOVIE REVIEW

Banner: Headstart Films UK Limited & Blockbuster Movie Entertainers

Genre: Musical

Cast: Ajay Devgan, Salman Khan & Asin

Music: Shankar - Ehsaan - Loy

Cinematography: Sejal Shah

Editing: Amitabh Shukla

Dialogue: Ritesh Shah

Screenplay: Suresh Nair

Direction: Vipul Shah

Producer: Aashin Shah

Release date: 30 October 2009

Rating:

London Dreams Film Review

London Dreams Story:

Arjun (Ajay Devgan) and Mannu (Salman Khan) are childhood buddies in Punjab. Its Arjun's dream to become the best desi rock singer in London. Mannu is extremely talented with no lofty goals. Arjun goes to London during his teenage and pursues his dreams by starting a rock band called 'London Dreams'. Arjun falls in love with his colleague Priya (Asin). But Arjun wants to give priority to his work and success and delays proposing to her. Meanwhile, Arjun flies Mannu from his village to London and makes him a member in his band. Mannu falls in love with Priya. Mannu is also so much talented that he starts hogging the limelight in the concerts. Arjun gets jealous as Mannu takes away his girl and his dream. The rest of the story is all about how the pangs of jealously in Arjun prompt him to betray Mannu.

Artist Performance:

Ajay Devgan is very good in the role that has grey shades. Salman Khan wins you over with the portrayal of charming innocence. Asin did the role of a madarasi girl settled in London. She is cute and suited the role. Om Puri has a brief role. VJs Rannvijay Singh and Aditya Roy Kapoor are good as pakistani musicians.

Story - screenplay - direction:

The basic story of the movie is inspired by the Hollywood flick Amadeus (1984), which is a fictional subject on the life story of music wizard Mozart. The narrative pattern is also inspired by this movie. In Amadeus, Salieri narrates the story of Mozart to a doctor in a Mental Asylum in flashback mode. In London Dreams, Ajay Devgan narrates the story to the audiences in flashback mode. Both Ajay Devgan and Selieri are passionate and completely dedicated to the music. But they are not naturally gifted with the music talent and they blame the God for it. It is also a story of love and hatred where hatred takes over love. Direction of the film is good. But the screenplay goes little haywire in the second half. The acts/methods of Ajay Devgan to sabotage Salman Khan in the second half makes us feel uncomfortable. The movie gets dull and little boring towards the latter half of the second half. However, a populist yet natural climax makes it up for the boredom in the second half.

Other technical departments:

Music by Shankar - Ehsaan - Loy is excellent. The background music and re-recording for the live shows give us the an authentic feel of a live concert. Cinematography by Sejal Shah is splendid. Dialogues are good. This film is made on huge scale and and it can be observed on the screen.

Analysis:

This film is about friendship, jealousy followed by betrayal. First half of the movie is entertaining. Second half is serious and the tempo goes down in latter part (drug abuse and sabotage). Climax is nice. Plus points of the film are Salman Khan, music and the making standards. London Dreams is a reasonable adaptation of 'Amadeus'. On a whole, London Dreams make a decent watch.

Final View:

In times when most films are turning out to be nightmares, London Dreams is a decent entertainer and has its heart at the right place. For its wonderful performances, rocking music and terrific chemistry between Salman and Ajay Devgn, London Dreams is worth a watch.