New Delhi, Oct. 23 -- Festival season is here and it's time to feast on yummy food and good cinema. Prakash Jha's political thriller which hits the theatres on Dusshera (October 24) will set the mood for the season ahead. Yash Chopra's Jab Tak Hai Jaan will conclude it.
Here's a look at the top 10 movies you can watch during 20 days from Dusshera to Diwali:
CHAKRAVYUH: After Aarakshan and Raajneeti director Prakash Jha is back with another hard-hitting political drama Chakravyuh. The film that deals with the issue of Naxalites is a multi-starrer. While Jha has repeated his favourites Manoj Bajpayee and Arjun Rampal in the film, Esha Gupta is the new addition in the cast. Actress Anjali Patil is debuting with the film.
Release Date: October 24
Plot: Chakravyuh is the story of two best friends: Adil (Arjun Rampal) and Kabir (Abhay Deol). There is a war raging in India. A war that isn't being waged by outsiders. The enemy is our own! The youth of the country are rebelling.. Against injustice, against tyranny, against exploitation. Inequality will not be tolerated forever. There is anger, and there is deep social unrest. Our own countrymen are locked in the bloodiest armed mutiny this country has ever seen. Chakravyuh is the story of six extraordinary characters, each with an all-consuming dream.. A promise.. A promise they will uphold above everything else.
Cast: Arjun Rampal, Abhay Deol, Manoj Bajpai, Om Puri, Anjali Patil and Esha Gupta.
RUSH: Serial kisser Emraan Hashmi is back and this time he will be romancing two girls Sagarika Ghatge and Neha Dhupia. Neha Dhupia who has of late been doing off-beat films and side roles is back to mainstream with this one. The actress will also be seen in a new sizzling avatar.
The film is jointly directed by late Shamin Desai and his wife Priya who completed his dream.
Release Date: October 26
Plot: Sam Grover (Emraan Hashmi) is a struggling news reporter. Even though his talk show is at the pinnacle of success, his personal life has turned upside down due to problems with his wife (Sagarika Ghatge). Seeing no way out, he accepts an assignment offered by a dynamic media tycoon named Lisa (Neha Dhupia), which he believes can make him millions. However, along with Lisa, one of India's richest man, Roger Khanna (Aditya Pancholi), together play a game on Sam, which plunges him into a vortex of violence in a deadly game of cat and mouse. Beneath the veneer of glamour, money, power and the enviable life of media, lays a truth that is at once unbelievable and shocking.
Cast: Emraan Hashmi, Sagarika Ghatge, Aditya Pancholi, Neha Dhupia
AJAB GAZABB LOVE: After F.A.L.T.U, Vashu Bhagnani is producing another project Ajab Gazabb Love for his son Jackky. The film is directed by Sanjay Gadhvi.
Release Date: October 26
Plot: Ajab Gazabb Love movie is a remake of Telugu film Seema Tapakai. The movie revolves around the character Rajveer Grewal, heir to a billion-dollar automobile empire. He has it all - a loving family, riches of the world, and a dream job of designing cars. He falls head-over-heels in love with Madhuri, who is a strong advocate of social justice and equality.
To his dismay, Rajveer learns that she 'hates' all rich people and will have nothing to do with a rich boy like himself. In a sweeping stance of romance, Rajveer decides to give it all up and pretend to be the 'poorest of the poor' in order to win her affection and love.
A comedy of errors ensues as Rajveer and his ultra-rich lavish family attempt to play the parts of poor slum-dwellers and in doing so turn into a dysfunctional bunch of over-the-top actors.
Cast: Jackky Bhagnani, Nidhi Subbaiah, Arjun Rampal, Arshad Warsi, Darshan Jariwala
SKYFALL: The latest 007 instalment Skyfall is set to be the most successful James Bond movie in the 50-year history of the franchise and is predicted to rake in more than 1 billion dollars at the box office.
It has been met with universal praise following its preview and is expected to storm to the top of the box office.
Release Date: November 1
Plot: When an operation in Istanbul ends in disaster, James Bond is missing and presumed to be dead, and the identities of every active undercover MI6 agent are leaked onto the internet. In the aftermath, questions are raised over M's ability to run the Secret Service, and she becomes the subject of a government review over her handling of the situation. When the service itself is attacked, Bond's sudden reappearance gives M the pretext she needs to seek out Raoul Silva, a dangerous villain claiming a personal connection to both of them - but as he follows a trail from London to the South China Sea, Bond soon finds his loyalty to M challenged over secrets from her past.
Cast: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Albert Finney, Naomie Harris, Rory Kinnear, Berenice Marlohe, Helen McCrory, Ola Rapace, Ben Whishaw
ISHKQ IN PARIS: Preity Zinta is back after a considerable gap with this one. The actress who plays Ishkq in the film is a bubby girl which quite suits her image. She will be paired opposite television actor Rhehan Malliek, who's debuting in Bollywood with the movie.
Release Date: November 2
Plot: Akash (Rhehan Malliek) and Ishkq (Preity Zinta), two complete strangers, after having met on a train from Rome to Paris, end up spending the evening together in the romantic city.
However, owing to a 'no baggage' pact set by Ishkq, the two part ways the next morning without a proper goodbye. Ishkq, being the strong-headed independent girl, moves on, while Akash ends up falling for the girl he spent the evening with. They cross paths once again in Paris but will there be Ishkq In Paris?
Cast: Preity Zinta, Rhehan Malliek, Isabelle Adjani, Salman Khan, Shekhar Kapur
1920 - EVIL RETURNS: Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt is back to tell another horror tale after the success of his 2008 movie 1920. His experiments with supernatural have not always been successful. Karisma Kapoor's comeback venture Dangerous Ishq was a bummer at the box office. Nevertheless, brand sells. Let's see if this one does.
Release Date: November 2
1920: Evil Returns is a supernatural thriller which revolves around Jaidev Verma (Aftab Shivdasani), a famous poet who lives the life of a loner as he is unable to meet the love of his life. He stays with his sister Karuna (Vidya Malvade) who is his support system until he meets Smruti (Tia Bajpai), whom he finds near the lake under mysterious circumstances.
Jaidev brings her home and takes care of her against the wishes of his sister, who doesn't want Smruti to stay as she senses something wrong with her. During the course of time, Jaidev finds out that Smruti has lost her memory and does not remember anything from her past life except for his poems.
Jaidev decides to take Smruti to Shimla to get her treated in a big hospital. On their way, while resting in a guest house, strange haunting sounds start to emanate. Smruti gets possessed by a spirit (Sagar Saikia) and goes out of control.
The question remains: what is the special bond that Jaidev shares with Smruti which compels him to go to any extent to help her? What made Smruti get possessed by the spirit (Sagar Saikia)? What is the link among Jaidev, Smruti and the evil spirit. Strange questions, stranger answers.
Cast: Aftab Shivdasani, Tia Bajpai and Sagar Saikia
LUV SHUV TEY CHICKEN KHURANA: Produced by Ronnie Screwvala, Siddharth Roy Kapur and Anurag Kashyap, the film is touted to be a Hrishikesh Mukherjee kind of cinema.
Release Date: November 2
Plot: Omi Khurana's London dream has just ended. On the run from a dangerous UK gangster who he owes money to, Omi returns to his native village in Punjab, pretending to be a well-heeled London lawyer. Much has changed since Omi ran away from home a decade back after stealing money from his doting grandfather, Darji. The old man has since become senile and most importantly, forgotten the secret recipe of "Chicken Khurana" a dish that made the Khurana dhaba (restaurant) famous across Punjab. Omi's childhood sweetheart, Harman is soon to be married to his cousin, Jeet, though neither seems too happy about it. Adding to the quirkiness of the Khurana family is a free loader uncle, Titu, who once did a stint at a mental asylum. Will Omi be able to cover his deceit and lies for long, even as he tries to recover the lost recipe of "Chicken Khurana" - the family's only hope to reclaim their pride & wealth. Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana - a delectable comedy served up this 2nd November by the team that gave you Khosla Ka Ghosla & Dev D.
Cast: Kunal Kapoor, Huma Qureshi and Rajesh Sharma
ITS ROCKING - DARD-E-DISCO: Bappi Lahiri took offence when Ajay Devgn's Toonpur Ka Superhero apparently made fun of him. The film had a character called Guppy who resembled the director. The music director will now feature in Its Rocking - Dard-e-Disco as himself.
Release Date: November 9
Plot: Dard- E- Disco is a comedy story of two fun loving brothers Rambo Singh (Aryaman) and Rocky Singh (Akshay) who dreams of opening their own night club as Cool and trendy as Dard - E - Disco. But their attitude and behaviour always get them in trouble.
They unwillingly work for their dad in his successfully established flower shop. Disco King alias DK (Bappi Lahiri) is no longer merely a hit composer and a singer but with his trusted and loyal manager, Jonny (Asrani) has become a big brand name in business of Discotheque and his latest offerings is Dard - E - Disco. Powder Gang headed by Powderbhai (Shakti Kapoor) and his right hand Musclebhai (Razak Khan) keep struggling to find ways to sell drugs in Dard - E - Disco. DK's (Bappi Lahiri) philosophy: Life/Music itself is so intoxicating that no power or amount of drugs can replace the intoxication of life/music that has to offer. Finally when the powder gang sees no way out, they kidnap DK (Bappi Lahiri). With DK's kidnapping, the brothers dream crashes and they decide to take matter in their hands. With the help of their lady love, Rituparna Sen Gupta (who is a fashion Designer) and Sneha Ullal (who is a Radio Jockey), they risk their lives and save their idol. DK (Bappi Lahiri) is so impressed with their dedication and devotion that he rewards them by making them his business partners. DK (Bappi Lahiri) also believes that being forgiving, loving and compassionate; one can transform evil beings into good human beings. Everyone deserves one chance to reform and with little help from society the wrong doers can be transformed into rightful responsible citizens. So he gives powder Gang one chance and takes them under his wings.
Cast: Bappi Lahiri, Akshay Kapoor, Rituparna Sengupta, Sneha Ullal, Aryeman Ramsay, Sharat Saxena, Asrani, Shakti Kapoor, Razzak Khan, Upasana Singh, Arun Bakshi, Dinesh Hingoo
SON OF SARDAAR: Ajay Devgn who is on a high after the success of Bol Bachchan is set to return with Diwali release Son Of Sardaar. Sonakshi Sinha impressed with Rowdy Rathore this year, but her Joker was a dud.
Distributor Eros has shelled out Rs. 96 crore to buy the rights for Son Of Sardaar, the biggest amount ever spent on a film so far.
Release Date: November 13
Plot: Son Of Sardaar, made with a budget of Rs. 30 crore, is a romantic drama, starring Ajay Devgn, Sonakshi Sinha, Sanjay Dutt and Juhi Chawla. The film, directed by Ashwani Dhir, is a remake of Telugu movie, Maryada Ramanna (directed by SS Rajamouli). The latter itself is a remake of the 1923 American silent movie, Our Hospitality. The storyline revolves around a man (Ajay Devgn) who returns to his parents' village to claim his land. He befriends a charming young woman (Sonakshi Sinha) without knowing that her family has a long-standing feud with his family.
Cast: Ajay Devgn, Sonakshi Sinha, Sanjay Dutt
JAB TAK HAI HAAN: Last but not the least Jab Tak Hai Jaan is Yash Chopra's last film. The director passed away on October 21 before the film's Diwali release. After the demise of the maverick director, the film's buzz would be even more.
Release Date: November 13
The film brings SRK and Katrina Kaif together for the first time. The music is also slowly but steadily making its way to the people's heart.
Plot: Samar Anand (Shah Rukh Khan) is an introvert and is made to leave the love of his life, Khushi (Katrina Kaif). From London, he comes back to Kashmir to run away from his past and meets Akira (Anushka Sharma). Akira is an extrovert and works for a wildlife channel. She starts liking Samar, who is lost in his past. Will Samar find his true love in Khushi or opt for a new beginning with Akira?
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma
Published by HT Syndication with permission from Hindustan Times.