Customer Reviews

Namastey London

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For unabashed, expansive love stories which dwell in that exalted state of heartbreak, go no further than a Bollywood film. NAMASTEY LONDON, which came out in 2007, is only the latest example of this Indian cinema's penchant for giddy, achy romance and go-all-out musical numbers. I happen to think that this picture is a Bollywood gem and shouldn't be missed.

Jasmeet (Katerina Kaif), who prefers to be called Jazz, is a bright and beautiful Indian girl who was born and raised in London and, thus, has picked up westernized sensibilities and a modern attitude. Jazz insists that she is British and scoffs at the idea of marrying a nice Indian boy, even going so far as to sabotage her parents' attempts to introduce her to one. Instead, she hooks up with her British boss, the urbane Charlie Brown (yes, Charlie Brown), who boasts Prince Charles for an acquaintance. Finally, Jazz's partying lifestyle becomes too much for her father and he acts. He convinces his daughter to go along on holiday to India, where he has Jazz run a gauntlet of prospective husbands. But the suitors prove to be hopeless and weird. At this time, enter Arjun.

Arjun (Akshay Kumar) happens to be the son of a friend of Jazz's dad, and Arjun fancies Jazz. Soon, a marriage is arranged, to Jazz's vehement objections. But Jazz tricks Arjun into flying to London on their wedding night. Once in London, she refuses to acknowledge the wedding's legitimacy and proclaims herself a single girl, with the intent of marrying her British boyfriend. Arjun is heartbroken but decides to remain in London until Jazz's wedding to Charlie. In the limited time left him, Arjun hopes to win his wife's heart.

Let me say this, I love this movie. It's breezy and delightfully contemporary. At 2 hours 12 minutes, this one is shorter in length than the Bollywood norm and that, perhaps, helped the film as, this time, the script had to be trimmed of fat, leaving no room for non sequitur subplots. Whoever wrote the story knew how best to tug at your heart strings. There are tiny but perfect romantic moments here which provide intoxication for the soul. Attractive leads Akshay Kumar and Katerina Kaif provide sizzling chemistry as they turn in performances which I soon won't forget. True, it took me a while to like Akshay's character as his Arjun seemed to be too much the laughing, rustic Punjabi yokel who guzzles milk straight from the cow. And yet, once in London, he reveals his true mettle. Out of his element, unable to speak English, Arjun remains steadfast and clings to his love for Jazz. This love is the primary driving force which enables him to accomplish all that he does in his stay. Accomplishments which seem ordinary. But, on closer look, the things that Arjun does for Jazz are quite remarkable. This is the best I've seen of Akshay Kumar. As much as Katerina dominated the first half of the movie, Akshay owns the second half. Just watch this man, the ache in him as he gazes at Jazz. The wistful, self-mocking grin he flashes. Arjun is perfectly aware of the situation and its implications (his family in India thinks him still happily married) but what else can he do but try his best to win the unattainable girl? And if he can't win her love, then, at least, be in her company for as long as possible. Yup, this is good acting by Akshay.

Katerina Kaif complements him wonderfully. Katerina is still fairly new to acting. NAMASTEY LONDON is her second film with Akshay Kumar, the first being the 2006 release Humko Deewana Kar Gaye. Born in London in real life, of a British mum and an Indian dad, she was dubbed by other actors as it was felt her skill with the native Indian tongue wasn't nearly proficient enough. Here, for the first time, she gets to dub her lines in Hindi. Acting wise, Katerina hits all the right notes. She integrates personal growth into her character. Initially a spoiled, hip girl who only wanted to have fun and who scorned the Indian lifestyle, Jazz matures in her ways and eventually changes her outlook and her preferences, thanks to Arjun's presence and influence. Yet, even with this maturity, Jazz retains her vibrancy. The camera wonderfully catches the expressions on her face every time she looks at Arjun, expressions which transition from bemusement to confusion to appreciation, and, finally, to tenderness.

NAMASTEY LONDON does engage in unsurprising nationalism here (the film even momentarily becomes a travelogue for India) and portrays several of the Brit characters in less than complimentary light. From Charlie's making fun of Indian dances at a rugby match to old Mr. Pringle's civilized racial slurs to English parents who, before they allow their daughter to marry Imran, Jazz's Pakistani friend, demand that he change his name to Ian or Immanuel, give up his religion, and sign paperwork indicating that he isn't involved in terrorist acts. Now that's cold.

The sub-title work stumbles in places, never more glaringly than when it butchers the Pussycat Doll's "Don't Cha" lyrics as "Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me?" becomes "Don't you wish to gulp Haywards hot like me?" On the positive side, there's an extensive "Making Of" segment, gratifyingly sub-titled in English for us who are Hindi-challenged. The songs are all fantastic (and how rare is that?), from the hip, disco-trendy "Dilrooba" to "Rafta Rafta," with its explosion of brilliant colors, and to the wistful and hopeful "Yehi Hota Pyaar." There's also the brief, heartachy interlude of "Veeraniya," but the most effective and most fun track is "Chakna Chakna" which showcases a riveting performance by Akshay. The songs in London, by the way, are an even bigger hoot when one factors in that these numbers jarringly utilize British back up dancers.

I've a few favorite moments in this film. The amusing bit with the ridiculous suitor obsessed with Indian soaps is one. Then, following Arjun's quiet declaration of love to Jazz, the song "Yehi Hota Pyaar" shows fleeting scenes of Arjun running into her all over London, which includes a moment I particularly cherish (I dunno why, exactly), of Jazz having a footwear malfunction and Arjun helping her out. I also enjoyed Jazz's discomfort in India (which is presented humorously), the rugby match, Rishi Kapoor's droll supporting turn as Jazz's dad, the dancing in the dark, and Arjun's patriotic speech, with Jazz translating, to the condescending Mr. Pringle. Most of all, I enjoyed the romantic essence of the film. Really, is there anything more elegantly heartbreaking than unrequited love? NAMASTEY LONDON would have you believe: no.

This is a 'will she marry the guy the parents want and return to India or follow her heart' movie.
Akshay does a good job with the gentle romantic part. Katrina Kaif is very good as the sassy Indian cum London girl.
It also has some good songs -some worth downloading.
Even though it is set both in the UK and India it retains its full Bollywood flavour (unlike some of the less satisfactory attempts to blend the cultures). Enjoyable Bollywood fare.

Their first film together--'Humko Deewana Kar Gaye' (2006)--was a disappointment, but Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif sparkled in 'Namastey London'--her first major hit and his first of four hits in 2007, including another with Kaif later that year, 'Welcome.' They co-starred in the blockbuster 'Singh is Kinng' the following year. But 'Namastey London' remains their best outing together--and one of Kaif's best films.

In only her fifth Hindi movie, Kaif's still a little green, but her promise starts to show here. She plays Jasmeet, who goes by the nickname "Jazz," a London-born girl with India-born parents. With her mother's encouragement and to her father's dismay, she's thoroughly British--in the way she thinks, dresses, and socializes. The role was likely not a stretch for Kaif, who is half-British herself and was raised in the West.

Actor Rishi Kapoor as Jasmeet's father, Manmohan, nearly steals the show. He's no stern villain who only sees his daughter as a reflection of his own honor. Rather, he's like most dads--caring, concerned, struggling to let go of his adult child, worried she's making the wrong choices (which she is), and completely at a loss about what to do about it. Sick of dragging his drunk daughter out of clubs and horrified that she's engaged to her thrice-divorced boss, Charlie (Clive Standen), Manmohan tricks Jazz into going on a family vacation to India with the intention of marrying her off to an Indian while they're there. He thinks he's doing what's best for her when he betroths her to a rural rube, Arjun (Akshay Kumar).

Back home, Jasmeet's friend Imran (Upen Patel) is disowned by his Pakistani father, Parvez (Javed Sheikh), for moving in with his girlfriend Susan. When Imran gets a desperate call from Jazz in India, he advises her to go along with the wedding--because God only knows what her brutish fiancé might do to her if she refuses--return to London, and point out to everyone that the marriage isn't legal in the UK, and then no one can force her to do anything. Which is exactly what she does--and then proceeds with her wedding plans to Charlie.

But it turns out that Arjun is a good guy who really loves her and he sets out to win her heart by letting her go and being her friend, with the hope that she'll pick him once she gets to know him. Charlie is such a jerk that even his own father tries to warn her off and Arjun cherishes her so honorably that it's hard to understand what takes her so long to make up her mind.

- The Bollywood Ticket: The American guide to Indian movies (Subscribe: The Bollywood Ticket)

This was a wonderful film all around. Excellent acting and great story. Another fantastic BWood Romance. Certainly a must see.

Great movie and Songs.I bought the music cd as well.I think Akshay Kumar and Katerina Kaif does great movies together. They make a wonderful couple I think. It's a must see movie.

Loved the movie and I identified with the generation gap and the theme of diaspora covered here in this lovely romantic tale of being true to one's roots and loving like you have never loved before.

You'll find LOVE,Betrayal,Emotions,Relations,Comedy,Style,Patriotism etc etc.... Easily the best movie I have seen in two years... Absolutely brilliant. Akshay Kumar is at his BEST... look at the expressions.. Katrina Kaif was sweet too....with a true mindset for the role. The rest of the cast fits in well. Hats off to the Castor's...JUST RIGHT! The Theme was AWESOME.. Practical.... and these days "The Talk " of Every British or American Indian seniors. A full ten for this one.... Its a perfect GLOBAL and Indian Movie.

Fantastic describes both the CD and the transaction with the seller. The transaction was quick and smooth. The shipping was fast. Thank you so much.

slow in some parts...was under the impression it was more about the son then the fathers struggle between tridition and wester society

... This is the first movie within my recent Bollywood binge that was a real disappointment. And I wanted to like it as I've loved other films that I've seen with Akshay Kumar, Rishi Kapoor, and (especially) Katrina Kaif. But there's a real problem with Namastey London. Namely its pervasive sexism. It can be seen in the contrasting stories of Jazz (Katrina Kaif) and her best friend, Immy Khan (Upen Patel). Immy's disowned (more or less) by his father for advising Jazz on escaping a marriage that she's outright being forced into, because, apparently, the only thing wrong in the situation was his advice, and not the boorish behaviour of Rishi Kapoor's father character (or even Akshay Kumar's prospective husband for taking advantage of the situation). The elder Mr. Khan even hits his son in the confrontation, outraged over the tragedy that's befallen Arjun (Akshay Kumar). He can't seem to spare a thought for Jazz's tragedy (stranded in a corner of the world where she has no protection and forced into an unwanted marriage), just the husband that exploited the situation. The filmmakers invite the viewer to sympathise with Arjun's plight (which is the mirror image of Jazz's), but not Jazz's. In fact, in the ultimate irony they invite us to be angry with Jazz for her clever escape.

The plot's simple enough, Jazz was born in the UK and her mother has raised her to be as British as she can be. As a result she enjoys her life as a typical twentysomething Londoner. Drinking, partying, carousing, dating Englishmen. We see her doing her level headed best to drive away all the prospective Indian husbands that her parents arrange for to meet. She's dating her wealthy boss and has plans to marry him, a thought that the filmmakers find unacceptable (given the heavy handed commentary inserted into the mouth of Rishi Kapoor's father). The father decides that what Jazz really needs is a good Indian husband, and talks her into accompanying he and his wife on a vacation trip to India. Once they arrive in Punjab, ostensibly to visit relatives, he springs upon her an arranged marriage with a Punjabi farmer (Akshay Kumar). She initially wants to flee the situation, but her best friend instead lays out an escape route for her, namely go through with the ceremony, but insist that the reception be held back home in London, and make certain that the marriage is unconsummated. Once back on English soil, no British court will recognise the marriage. This break (with the usually overly melodramatic music) starts the quest of Akshay Kumar's character to win Jazz's heart in earnest.

So, back to the sexism, Immy is uninterested in Indian women, living instead with an English woman that his father despises. Her parents expect him to assimilate to their way of life, but ultimately Akshay Kumar's character sets him straight. If she's marrying into his family, then she needs to learn to compromise. Immy has his own life, faith, and culture, and the family will need to learn to embrace both traditions. Good advice, marriage is all about making compromises. But it's a one way street in the movie. Because ultimately Akshay Kumar has no interest in making any compromises with British born & raised Jazz. The movie ends with Immy's father embracing his son & daughter-in-law after she agrees to submit to his conditions, and Jazz returning to India to be a Punjabi housewife, which leaves the viewer with the impression that the filmmakers believe that marriage is really about women learning to compromise with and accommodate their men. Or maybe that what every woman needs is a good Indian husband to teach them their place (as marrying a white woman is acceptable for Immy but marrying a white man is unthinkable for Jazz). The entire third act of the movie was a complete betrayal of the character of Jazz as we've come to know her and like her. A strong willed professional woman throws it all away to run off to India to be an obedient wife. I would have had more respect for the film if it ended with Arjun removing to London to make a new life with his wife. But, alas, Indian men don't need to compromise with their wives, apparently.

So while there's a lot to like about this movie, the pervasive sexism is really offputting. Rishi Kapoor's father is outright obnoxious & overbearing throughout most of the movie (which, admittedly, is a stock character for him, but at least in other movies the filmmakers recognise it as a character flaw), and yet the filmmakers see nothing wrong with him as one of the "good guys". Indeed, outside Upen Patel's best friend, the male characters in this movie are a pretty shabby lot. Javed Sheikh (as the elder Mr. Khan) spends the movie stomping about yelling at, and occasionally physically abusing his son. Clive Standen's English fiance is a rich boor (and one wonders what the engaging Jazz sees in him at all). Maybe they should have entitled the film "Men Behaving Badly and the Women that Obey them". What shocked me about this movie was its stone age ideas on male/female relations, and I haven't seen these sorts of reactionary views on women in other Bollywood films that I've watched recently, such as Jab we Met or Hum Tum. However, I will say that I would watch Katrina Kaif fold laundry for two hours, so an actual movie where she spends most of it being charming is a bonus.