Product Details

• Actors: Allu Arjun, Genelia D'Souza
• Language: Telug
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Number of discs: 1
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000UEJ0P2
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #261,988 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Brand New DVD with English Subtitles

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I'm Happy To See This Available on Amazon!, March 2, 2009

By 

Janie Ryan (Eureka, California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Happy (DVD)

The main selling point for me in seeing this movie months ago was the fact that it starred Genelia D'Souza, India's most charming actress in my opinion. I certainly didn't expect to like it so much! If you've ever seen a Telugu/South Indian film, you will know that they are generally not very good in terms of acting and technical value. But Happy is different. I actually liked it a lot more than Bommarillu, because it has a more interesting plot and doesn't insist on being "adorable".

I have but two negative criticisms of this film:

1)The dubbing. In South India they film a scene without sound and then add in the talking later, so sometimes the words don't match the actors' mouths.
2)A scene or two, and maybe the second song, could have been edited out for time purposes.

I'll just list some of the things that make this movie worth watching:

1)The lead actor and actress. Both give performances of a much higher standard than their Telugu contemporaries.

2)The action. Bunny (main guy) gets in four fights in this movie. Four! And they're all actually very entertaining to watch!

3)The climax. Most Indian movie endings are full of overacting and make me cringe. But I actually love the last thirty min. or so of this movie so much that I've watched it multiple times just for that part.

4)The comedy. This is one of the only Indian films that I don't have to force myself to laugh at, because it actually is really funny.

5)The music/dancing: Bunny gives some good dances, and the songs are all great, catchy and modern, especially "Egire Mabulona" and "Ossare!"

And a few great scenes to look out for:

1) Bunny's (first) run in with the DCP. Hilarious!
2) All the fight scenes!
3) The director's attempt to make Bunny ride his motor cycle from the top of one building to the top of another.
4)Bunny and Madhu's confession to each other in the county jail.

I hope this becomes available again soon and that many people have the opportunity to see it, because it's a really good movie!

4.0 out of 5 stars Genelia D'Souza makes the movie audience HAPPY (okay, I guess Allu Arjun does, as well), April 6, 2009

By 

H. Bala "Me Too Can Read" (Just moved to posh Marina Del Rey, CA - where if you drop a quarter, why, you just keep on walking) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Happy (DVD)

It wasn't too long ago when I wasn't aware that Bollywood is only one of several film industries in India. There's also the Tamil industry (nicknamed Kollywood), as well as Telugu (Tollywood). HAPPY, coming out in 2006, happens to be a charming Telugu romantic comedy, and it showcases two fresh young actors on the rise: Allu Arjun and Genelia D'Souza.

The premise of HAPPY hinges on that old cliche of the domineering father, who this time is also a powerful caste-fixated politician. His obedient lovely daughter Madhumathi (Genelia D'Souza) is on her third year studying medicine, which is the same year she runs into the prankish, happy-go-lucky Bunny (Allu Arjun). Each one takes an instant dislike to the other. As per formula with Indian cinema, the first half of the film is pretty much a loopy comedy, focusing on scenes in which Madhu and Bunny engage in hostile oneupmanship.

It all eventually goes too far when Madhu's incensed father suspects Madhu of fooling around and promptly arranges her marriage, to take place in a month's time. This means that Madhu would have to forego her dream of becoming a doctor, as her future husband does not want a career woman for a bride. A rueful Bunny notes how distraught Madhu is and attempts to fix things. But his antics backfire, and somehow Bunny and Madhu end up married. Even though they still pretty much detest each other.

Two subplots come into play. The enmity between Madhu's haughty politician father and a crooked cop washes over into Madhu and Bunny's lives. Also, Madhu begins to slip up on her studies, which then impacts her relationship with Bunny (at this point, of course, these two had already gotten past their mutual antagonism). There are elements which come out of left field. Occasionally Indian cinema likes to endow their lead male character with incredible fighting prowess, even if the film isn't in the action genre. Bunny - and, sorry, but I can't help but cringe at that name - Bunny gets involved in several brawls, in which he more than holds his own. It bugs me a bit that, in the first fight, Bunny states that he's an effective combatant only if music is playing. But in later scraps there's no music, and he's still taking thugs out with his awesome brand of Bolly-fu - excuse me, Telugu-fu. As he later declares: "Music is not necessary to fight. A mood to fight is enough." It's a tiny gripe, yeah, but it feels like a hole in consistency. I must say, though, that the fight scenes look very cool.

Initially I must admit to having a problem with Allu Arjun's mugging and exagerrated swagger. But he settles down as the film progresses, and becomes quite likeable from the moment he falls in love with Madhu (probably because he stops being such an insolent ninny). In the last half hour Allu Arjun delivers an effective dramatic performance. And, certainly, Arjun is athletic and coordinated enough to handle the fight scenes and dancing (yes, there's dancing!) with grace and flair.

Genelia D'Souza, a lovely actress and refreshing as clear skies after a storm, will always be the one onscreen I keep my eyes glued to the most. She excels in playing those bubbly personalities, and, even though her role here is fairly stereotypical, this perky quality still manages to come out in spurts. I can't get enough of her, and have liked her even in her more odorous movies (Masti, Mere Baap Pehle Aap DVD). But, naturally, I love the hell out of her in her better pictures (Jaane Tu... ya jaane na (DVD), Bommarillu, MR. MEDHAVI). Incidentally, Manoj Bajpai has a nice comedic supporting bit as the kind-hearted but vile tempered police officer.

There's a chance, a tiny chance, that you may think the climax way over-the-top. To which my response is: That's Tollywood, baby; that's Indian cinema. I don't know how many times I've mentioned this, in reviews and in trying to convince my friends to watch Indian cinema, you have to come in with a certain mindset, be prepared for the overwrought sentiments and the sheer commitment to lavish idealized romance. And, of course, for the musical numbers, most of which here are pretty catchy and high energy and with excellent picturization. As mentioned already, Allu Arjun does good things on the dance floor. Genelia, meanwhile, isn't quite up there with Aishwarya Rai in the dancing department. But, well, she's very cute - so who cares? Keep an eye and ear out for the songs "Chal Chal Re," "Happy," and "Ossa."

HAPPY has its share of funny but also moments of cheesiness. There are some neat little touches interspersed throughout, like that throwaway "God" sequence after Bunny goes home with Madhu's little dog and then that frozen moment in which the smitten Bunny's inner self jumps out of his body and celebrates when Madhu sits with him on his motorbike. Both scenes reflect Bunny's jubilation as he begins to fall for Madhu. And, watching Bunny so much in love, well, his exuberance rubs off, making you feel... happy.