click for larger view

There was a king who used to be 'singh' of the box office. He delivered some of the best action films of his time and then he switched to comedy to make his profile stronger. He showed he also had versatility apart from his kick fights. His fans loved him. They showered love on him and he claimed to be costliest actor in the filmdom, more than any of the Khans.He had all round support and it did seem this king was here to rule. But then something happened.

People saw him get some new people in his coterie who made him believe that he is above everything in filmmaking. Now, that's where perhaps things went wrong. The King started to fall with the over-hyped film 'Chandni Chowk To China'. 'Kambakht Ishq' made him fall from the crown and then 'Tasveer' slowly got removed from fan rooms. Alas, he cared not a bit.

click for larger view

Come, Diwali and the king assumed he'd burst the biggest crackers of the year. His friends spent One billion Rupees to make his diwali memorable, but little did they realize that it was going to be most forgettable Diwali for them. 'Blue', the latest film of this Akashay 'King' Kumar, has many lessons in store for him. First of all, its got loosely copied scenes from so many latest Hollywood films and a plot lifted from 1992 flick 'Samraat'. 'Blue' shows two friends in search of a treasure live in an abandoned ship - the one line story of 'Samraat'. Isn't it the story of 'Blue'? Samraat too was hyped as the a film shot underwater and it met a fate no different from that expected of 'Blue'.

click for larger view

'Blue' has disappointed as one of the most awaited film of the year and particularly as a Diwali release. Lots more kabooms were expected from it but this belied all hopes. Well, the showcase of marine life is something that now kids are fed up of seeing on National Geographic and Discovery channels. Fans want hardcore entertainment after buying a ticket for more than hundred bucks. And, that too with a good story narration! Ad man-turned-film director Anthony D' Souza tries to hook the audience with his 3- minute snippets of chase, erotica and style, but soon the viewers realize he does not have much to keep them glued. So, he tries in vain to bag attention by introducing Kylie Minouge song. Fair enough, but where is the story?

click for larger view

Anthony D' Souza as a director doesn't do much work as the film is highly laced with action and song sequences. The work of action directors - R P Yadav and James D Bomalick - is the only point of interest in the film. Underwater photography by Laxman Utekar and his team is very good but we wish the film had some thrilling story too. The biggest setback perhaps is from Oscar winner A R Rahman who didn't deliver even a single track other than Chiggy Wiggy that could stay with the audience after the film is over.

click for larger view

Among actors, Akshay should agree he's getting older by wearing that khichdi goatee; his close-ups show his aging muscles. Being without a heroine in a Hindi film tells the story itself. Akshay plays a weak character again and a lot of efforts to put some spark in his role fails. Sanjay Dutt 's belly is more prominent in the film than his acting. Zayed Khan is used like a pro and so is Lara Dutta. Katrina Kaif is hardly there and Rahul Dev plays a role that he has done so many times in the past. On the whole, 'Blue' has a chance bleaker than the ones the producer made it out to have. We'll have to see what the people's verdict it though with stiff competition it's clear that the flick is not a festival entertainer.