London Dreams (2009) Movie Review, Trailer, Film Still and Poster

India, UK 2009
Director: Vipul Amrutlal Shah
Cast: Salman Khan, Ajay Devgan, Om Puri, Asin Thottumkal, Aditya Roy Kapoor, Rannvijay Singh
Rating: -
Language: Hindi
Release Date: 30 October 2009 (India)
Running Time: 2 hours 33 minutes

The Movie Review

London Dreams film still 1


LONDON DREAMS
Storyline:
Cast:
Ending:
Overall:

A little boy in a town called Bathinda, India is dreaming to be a very good musician. His name is Arjun, an aspiring singer and is extremely dedicated to pursue his dream to be big one day and to awe all the people in Wembley Stadium UK. But Arjun is strictly prohibited from playing any kind of musical instrument, let alone be a singer by his father for a certain tragic reason. Arjun befriends Mannu, and unlike Arjun, Mannu is forced by his family to learn music but he always avoids it because Mannu simply loves to play around and never takes anything seriously except for one thing, his friendship with Arjun. But unfortunately, because of a tragedy in Arjun's family, he has to leave his home town to live with his uncle (Om Puri) in London. Though it seems his dreams is starting to come true, but Arjun's uncle also despises music. Will Arjun make it big in London for sure? And how about the playful Mannu?

Ridiculous, totally ridiculous. I even feel embrassed watching a movie like this. The word "Dreams" in the title was apparently translated as integrating something highly-out-of-sense and definitely-impossible situations into the movie. London Dreams is a musical movie mate! Not a fantasy... If the writers wanted to come out with something acceptable though still not-believable, had better make sure to make the audience feel emotionally-attached first, so that we may overlook some irrationalities in the plot. Have you ever seen John Travolta's Grease (1978)? It's a very great musical movie with lotsa and lotsa catchy tunes and lyrics to hum, and the dance scenes are splendid as well. But did you ever notice how suddenly all the teenagers (the high school students) can perform such professional dancing acts? It's ridiculous but it won't matter in the end because it has a good entertainment value and those who perform the dancing in Grease are characters who are closely related (they're from the same class and school) and not some extremely random dudes and babes (Like in London Dreams' scene of Trafalgar Square).

But the early singing/dancing scene of London Dreams just unbearably cheesy. How can the writers expected the audience to believe in seeing a dude (Arjun played by Ajay Devgn) wearing nice clothing carrying guitar suddenly go up on small stage in Trafalgar square (in London) and then singing a song that's both un-catchy and un-English, and then..... Suddenly we see all the people in the square start to sing with Arjun and his friends. His Friends? Yes, because suddenly two young musicians (Aditya Roy Kapoor and Rannvijay Singh) also go upstage and in instantly understand all the chords of Arjun's song. And that's not it, its still acceptable if that's only it.... But suddenly all those random people at the square (and by people I mean hot girls wearing attractive clothes) also begin to dance fluently in rhythm. Then all the people are cheering happily seeing those three strangers singing. Whew.... What a miniscule struggle to gain attention eh? So I guess it's an option for those who have failed the audience of American Idol to do exactly as these guys did. Go to a park and sing the heck out your lung! That fellas... would just be your success.

And that scene is happening in the beginning!

If you want to put something crazy like this dear filmmakers, put it near the end, or at least in the middle of the movie or.... at least make us the audience feel emotionally-attached first to the characters. Interestingly, the scene just before this crazy-public-singing-scene is very lovely, with a young teenager is seen running happily through the streets of London with the weather is also lovely and he's carrying a flute which was given from his friend back in India... There's something fresh and promising about this young man. But then again, to appear in public just relying on your voice, well you voice should've been jaw-dropping. It's still believable if this guys is showing off with his guitar skill that mimic Joe Satriani or Steve Vai or maybe playing a saxophone Dave Koz (besides this guy have been playing flute since teen-age right?), then that would probabbly make people come and gather to see his act.

This is very strange, because Ajay Devgan has also performed in a musical/action/comedy movie previously in All the Best: Fun Begins (2009) and that movie serves as an immediate example of making something "acceptable though not believable". Make us emotionally attached first... Fortunately, there's also musical scene which follows the normal enjoyable formula. Mannu (Salman Khan) is dancing happily with all the female farmers back in his home village. It's a fun scene to behold, even though you don't like/understand the song, but with all the girls wearing Saris are seen playing with Paddy, there's something fun and genuine about the scene.

But sigh... the movie is also ruined by the overly-long running length! Almost 2 hours and a half?! The only redeeming quality of the movie relies on the figure of Mannu, a man who serves as the comic relief and also the most lively character of the movie, but he has no chemistry whatsoever with Priya (Asin Thottumkal)! Their romantic scene fails big time, furthermore... In a scene of dark London Street, does Priya has to be that drop-dead-dumb too behave like a 13-year old girl and acts irrationally?! Asin does need more improvement in her acting department. But to be frankly, Mannu's dancing scene with Asin in front of the Louvre (in France) is artistic and the dance choreography blends in well with the tone. Another flaw of London Dreams is the story which is also just mediocre, a run-of-the-mill type that is already moth eaten. The only interesting point is the conflict between Arjun and Mannu. Without Salman Khan, this Bollywood film would be utter Blah! To the point of unwatchable! Interesting to note, the film seems rather good in the drama department but bad in the musical. Nevertheless, to hold on to see the movie till it ends, it's quite a drudgery.

I don't know how big/huge/gigantic/humongous the London Dreams Band is, but to snap out at your fans and yell at them? Check check reality check... Is it on?