Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic : Movie Review
« previous 1 of 5 next » Ever since news and publicity about “Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic” has been doing the rounds, the film’s director Kunal Kohli has insisted it’s not a Bollywood take on the Hollywood classic, “Mary Poppins”.
Well, he may actually be right. There is a little bit of “Mary Poppins” in the nanny with the magic twist. But, there’s also a little bit of another Julie Andrews film, “The Sound of Music”, with the God’s messenger bringing a father closer to his children twist. And there’s a little bit of the Nicolas Cage-Meg Ryan film, “City of Angels”, with the angel choosing love over God twist.
So there’s a lot of “thoda” from here and there, but there’s also lots of “magic”, making Kohli’s latest film as director and first film as producer, a good old Disney-style movie.
As the movie’s title credits roll, we’re shown the childhood of a young Ranbeer Talwar, who is orphaned at a young age. In boarding school, he is the star student, winning every prize up for grabs and losing everyone he loves - parent, teacher and childhood sweetheart.
The older Ranbeer (Saif Ali Khan) is a yuppie businessman, sweeping awards and women off their feet, until one fateful night when he rams his car into an SUV. As a stunned and speechless Ranbeer steps out of his car, the wrecked SUV is towed away and the dead bodies of Mr and Mrs Wallia are brought out, resulting in his arrest and the bereavement of the four Wallia children.
A landmark judgment is passed and instead of a prison sentence, Ranbeer is assigned the responsibility - financial and emotional - of the four children for a three-month trial period. Should Ranbeer fail, he would face a non-bailable prison sentence.
Needless to say, the kids - Vasisht, Avantika, Aditi and Iqbal - are out for revenge and agree to move in with Ranbeer. However, it’s not smooth sailing and after an unpleasant evening, Ranbeer and the kids look up to God for help.
God, played by an all-dressed-in-white Rishi Kapoor and surrounded by a group of female angels, listens to their prayers and dispatches his favourite angel, Geeta (Rani Mukerji), to make the orphans and their new guardian learn to love each other.
And so, begins an adventure as Geeta enters their lives as a nanny and stays on as their Didi.
The plot is pretty predictable - even though highly implausible. However, for once, there is no melodrama. There is no ridiculous twist. There are no unexplainable details despite the fictitious storyline.
Kunal Kohli sticks to the basic formula of a family entertainer with elements of fun and fantasy and he gets it right.
Clearly, “Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic” is a film that has to be for kids, but it’s got that wholesome family feel to it and even the item number with the huge hit “Lazy Lamhe” works as an integral element within the plot.
With a safe and steady script, Kohli’s masterstroke has to be in the casting. Saif Ali Khan is a delight as the stone-hearted bachelor who turns soft. His transformation is believable and the actor’s chemistry with the child artistes is as real as it gets.
Rani Mukerji as Geeta the angel is chirpy in a positive way and manages to steer clear of Bollywood’s annoying good girl characterisation of anything divine.
And what about all those rumours that Saif and Rani barely spoke during the film’s shooting? Doesn’t matter. Ranbeer and Geeta work great on screen.
Even Amisha Patel, as Ranbeer’s girlfriend Malaika, is enjoyable as she nails the silly fashionista part.
However, Kohli deserves a huge thank you for his child artiste discoveries. Ranging in the age-groups of 5-11, the kids are a treat to watch. Their chemistry among themselves is magnificent, their acting restrained, their innocence remains without losing sight of the maturity of today’s children, their timing wonderful and their performances sterling.
The characters in “Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic” have all been sketched out well, allowing the entire cast to work separately within their skins and as a team.
Although the music of the film hasn’t received great reviews with the exception of “Lazy Lamhe”, it serves the purpose of fitting into the framework of a good Bollywood musical.
Go watch it. And don’t forget your kids
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Comment by samia on 26 June 2008:
Go watch it. And don’t forget your kids<<<<<<and if u dont have one? lolz
Comment by samia on 26 June 2008:
hopefully this one works for rani…even though i dont think it makes a big chance lolz
Comment by Redhann on 26 June 2008:
I am the big brother of rehann and he really likes rani and he also told his friends over U.S that this movie is the superhit but i don’t think so . But i am sure this movie will not bomb in the box office like laaga chunri mein daag,sawaariya . And hoping this movie will work for rani .
Comment by Rehann on 26 June 2008:
Hi bro and thanks coz you told something about rani for the first time . I just wish this movie becomes the hit and love you rani.
From ranbir kapoor(rehann).
Comment by Redhann on 26 June 2008:
Oh god you started talking about u look like ranbir in the net stop bhai i request you.
Comment by Redhann on 26 June 2008:
If you are ranbir(rehann) bro then u have to bear this . And can i tell you something you look like shahid i am not kidding man you really look like him and now u have cut the hair like him so you exactly look like him . You know when you came in my school then my girl friend not actually just a best friend she told you are you shahid brother. Man you look exactly like him . Once look in the mirror . If you have recognised yourself as shahid then the war begins between shahid and ranbir.I mean redhann and rehann.
Comment by MSivaRanjan on 27 June 2008:
Yashraj Films Pvt Ltd! What is this? Is this a magic show or a film? Will it enough to attract audience as far as only kids are concerned? I think Yashraj is making the movie by keeping the NRI audience in mind. And their movies are bombing left right and center. They are in trouble always if SRK is not there in the movie especially after SRK grabbed the Yashraj banner. Movie will be shot at some ecstatic beautiful foreign locations, some beautiful songs, but no substance as far as script is concerned. Come on Yashraj, get recharged.
First of all remove all the Bachchan Brigade from your camp.
Do not release movies without subtance.
Do not release multiple movies in a year with some known actor without substance.
Do release only one good movie with SRK, he can get back all your expenses by doubling or tripling it.
Comment by fenilseta on 27 June 2008:
MSivaRanjan, TPTM definitely seems to be a gr8 movie. And mark my words, the movie will definitely audiences of all age group!
Comment by samia on 27 June 2008:
fenil its a decent family movie…and the budget is 20 crore??? thats not a big budget film..my guesses it is possible for such a film to become a hit…but still dunno…its not that hyped…and reddif review giving only 2 stars to this movie
Comment by Rajeev on 27 June 2008:
MSivaRanjan,
I agree with you as far as Yashraj is concerned but this movie is better.
This is feel good movie and worth spending your money on it.
Comment by jilly sam on 27 June 2008:
leave raja sen & rediff,
according to him none of
the movies are worthwatching.
agreed this movie is not hyped,, but with a strongly nitted story
& brillient performances by the entire cast,, makes the movie a definite watch.
Comment by Ridhima on 27 June 2008:
so far, i have only heard the songs. The musical trio SEL need a major re-inventing of der music atleast where yashraj films are concerned. While their last album TZP was a splendidly melodious and refreshing, somwhow TPTM gave a feelin of daje vu wen i first heard “Nihaal ho gayi”..and it reminded me of Jhoom barabar jhoom..Lazy lamhe (remix) is the only track that generates some confidence in the movie. i found this interesting site from Radio City people called Planet Radio City (www.planetradiocity.com). Do join in and get all the latest music info. C ya der
Comment by raja on 6 July 2008:
SEL deserves a critics award for the music of TPTM. It does not have any “dhoom dham” songs, or romantic songs, but it does have meledious songs, which has not been heard from bollywood in a long time.