• Friday, October 30, 2009

• Language:

  Hindi

2009

They were childhood friends. But they had little in common except their family's vague connection with music. While Arjun's life was consumed by a passionate drive to get on stage and realize his grandfather's unfulfilled london dreams, Mannu had little interest in his music tutor father's instruments and was content with remaining a child at heart with no higher ambition than enjoying the good things in life. But little did they expect music to strengthen their friendship and then test it with catastrophic results.

Arjun diligently pursued his London Dreams, at the risk of running away from an uncle who was his only family in an unfamiliar land and roaming the streets of london dreams before taking shelter in a music shop and priming himself until he's ready to make his london dreams into the world of music and showmanship.

As Arjun forges a band with Zoheb and Wasim, two brothers who'd duped their relatives in Pakistan to travel to London Dreams in pursuit of their musical aspirations, and Priya, a music enthusiast from a conservative South Indian family, far away in Punjab, music becomes a survival tool for Mannu, who takes to playing in wedding bands in his village.

But when he gets Mannu to london dreams and makes him a part of the band, Arjun soon realizes he's created the biggest threat and obstacle to his own ambitions.

For, Mannu, with his inherent musical gift and irreverent style of performing, becomes an instant darling of the crowds. What has taken Arjun years to achieve, Mannu does overnight. It causes Arjun to feel betrayed by the God to whom he'd surrendered everything in return for eminence in music.

Arjun's unbearable pangs of jealously and insecurity only worsen when Mannu also unwittingly woos and wins his secret love, Priya. As he battles his inner demons, Arjun slowly devises a sinister plan to destroy his london dreams. Over a three city tour spanning Paris, Rome and Amsterdam, Arjun sends a naive Mannu on a downward hurtling rollercoaster ride of sex and drugs that almost breaks Mannu's spirit and his love life days before a show at Wembley, a venue where Arjun's London Dreams to have his moment of glory. A venue where his grandfather had failed before a crowd of 25,000 people!

But a rude shock awakens Arjun at Wembley at the expense of his band, his friendship and his credibility - a humbling experience that teaches him the true meaning of acceptance in life.

Maxabout Review

Fails in its climax and music!

London Dreams is a complete departure from Vipul Shah's earlier outings Aankhen, Waqt, Namastey London. This film is about relationships and tends to get very real and intense, in the post-interval portions specifically. The scale of London Dreams is gigantic and the execution of concerts (it's about a band) sweeps you off your feet.

Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's music is a downer. London Dreams is about a rock band, about music, about concerts and the music had to be the soul of the film. Unfortunately, it's not! The songs have been filmed in the most energetic fashion, but how one wishes the music was one of the strengths of the film.
The film could've concluded when the two friends re-unite at the station. Adding one more song thereafter only dilutes the impact of the emotionally correct sequence that has just been witnessed.

Asin is admirable and pairs off very well with Salman. She is sure to have a new name after this film - Chennai Express (that's how Salman addresses her affectionately, all through the film). Om Puri has a brief role. Aditya Roy Kapur is very good and registers an impact. Rannvijay Singh doesn't get much to do, except throw nasty looks at Salman. Manoj Pahwa provides some funny moments. Brinda Parekh is okay.

Taglines

• Friendship... trust... passion... ambition... fame...
• When your London Dreams come true for your best friend...
• Two best friends... to fulfill a london dreams, one must sacrifice.

Trivias

• While shooting a song, Ajay Devgan, Asin, Rannvijay Singh and Aditya Roy Kapoor wanted to eat some Haagen-Daaz strawberry cheesecake ice cream. However, there were no Haagen ice cream stores around for nearly ten miles, and production was delayed while someone had to hunt for one to acquire the ice cream. To make up for this, the cast shared two tubs of the cheesecake ice cream with the technicians.
• Cinematographer Sejal Shah filmed the cast and crew dancing while they were on break.
• The first time in 10 years that Ajay Devgan and 'Salman Khan' are acting together as co-leads.
• Director Vipul Shah conceived this project a decade before it finally started production, with Aamir Khan and Shahrukh Khan in mind for the respective roles of Manu and Arjun..
• Liam Neeson paid a visit to the sets.
• Asin, like her character Priya, studied Bharathnatyam dancing from childhood.
• London Dreams is the second love triangle between Ajay Devgan and Salman Khan since Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999).
• London Dreams is the first movie actor Ajay Devgan is being credited as "Ajay Devgn", based on the name change advice he has been given recently.