Sunday 15 June 2014

HOLIDAY- Movie Review

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Director A.R.Murugadoss's movie- "Holiday: A Soldier is never off duty" is 170 minutes long. It has Akshay Kumar, Sonakshi Sinha, Sumeet Raghavan and newcomer Farhad in key roles. Govinda has a cameo appearance. Holiday is the second Bollywood offering by the Director. It has his first Bollywood film- Ghajini's hangover/glimpses in certain scenes - viz. display of maps, pics and info on the walls. I felt Holiday is a bit too long and needed better editing.

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Our story starts at the Railway Station when the "jawano ki train" (train of soldiers) arrives late on the Mumbai platform. Soldiers have come for their forty-days annual vacation- Holiday. Enter Indian Army's Virat (Akshay Kumar), who lives up to his name. Virat spends his holiday fruitfully & like a superhero helps unravel and avert a virat (big) terrorism attack on Mumbai. How he single-handedly plans & executes it with the help of fellow soldiers is the main crux of the story.

Virat's parents are trying to get him married to Saiba Thapar (Sonakshi Sinha), whom he rejects as she doesn't satisfy what he's looking for- one who has short-hair, and is confident & stylish. Later, when he finds her boxing and playing many sports, he shows interest. But, she doesn't show interest initially and later when she does, he doesn't!
I wish she wasn't shown slapping her own father just to show that she's strong...

Virat smartly stumbles upon a terrorism plot. He reveals his true identity- he belongs to the DIA- Defence Intelligence Agency- "Fauj mein secret agent" (Secret Agent in the Army). 

Virat discovers traitors in the system and tells them- 
"Tum log pariwaarke saath yahan chain se jiyo, is liye humlog roz border pe martey hain"
(We die at the border so that you people can stay peacefully with your families.)

His friend (Sumeet) plays a policeman, who ably supports Virat in his mission. He poses fun questions to Virat like- "Cupboard mein tujhe kitabein and kapde rakhne ki aadat nahi?" (Don't you have the habit of keeping books and clothes in your cupboard?")

Saiba appears off and on as she realizes that "Accha dikhne wala akalmand hota nahi aur akalmand achcha nahi dikhta" (Good-looking guy is not intelligent & intelligent isn't good-looking). Saiba's appearance means that the lead pair gets to sing and dance to Pritam's music!

Virat's Senior Sir (Govinda) provides comic relief. I noticed that the same CCD outlet is there as setting where the recent movie Queen was filmed!

It is amazing how Virat & his men successfully play the dangerous anti-terrorism game. 

I was reminded of the Chinese proverb- "If you must play, decide upon three things at the start: the rules of the game, the stakes, and the quitting time."
The fact is that here the rules are complex and no one knows the quitting time...

Virat and his friends attend a batch-mate's Christian Wedding & then follow, dressed in similar coat-suits, & exterminate the Sleeper-cells. Virat's mind is 24X7 focused on our country, even when he's attending a wedding or about to share his first kiss!

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/thumb/msid-36051044,width-300,resizemode-4/Akshay-Kumar-in-Holiday-A-Soldier-Is-Never-Off-Duty.jpg
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It is equally interesting to find how Farhad and his men intelligently arrive at the whodunnit info - that they are "jumpers, runners, swimmers...trained shooters" and trace our soldiers.
I always wonder why isn't such intelligence tapped for the good of mankind rather than the mindless destruction?
It is chilling to find innocent family-members of soldiers getting killed.

There are smart fights and action sequences. I particularly liked the way Virat gets back in form in the climax on the ship where he's attacked gruesomely. Like a robot, he self-heals all the bone-fractures! Pretty cool! Wish we all had such superhuman skills :P

It is heart-touching to see the war-affected physically-disabled soldiers, who are still ready to help/contribute for India.

Murugadoss has used a lot of real examples. Strategic Affairs & Defense Analyst, Maroof Raza explains us the meaning of the term - "Sleeper Cells" apart from the terrorism operations. The people who have feelings of sadness or revenge are trained by terrorists to carry out acts of terrorism based on their instructions.

Holiday is high on technology- deals with mobile-phones, inserting location-detector chip or planting and blowing off bombs...
I loved the patriotic message given by the movie. Our hero, the solider is ready to sacrifice his sister & himself for the sake of our Motherland. Wish we had such heroes in every city in India.

At the end, when the Holiday is over and the soldiers board their train back to duty, an apt song pays a tribute to the Indian Army.

My takeaway- "When the terrorists, who kill thousands, can take lives, why can't the protectors or civilians lay down their lives for our country?"

Hats off to the Indian Armed Forces.

My Rating: 3.5 / 5

46 comments:

  1. have watched it so can say .. well reviewed :)

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  2. Hey Anita, good to read this review. I was just going to book ticket for holiday....

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    1. Hope I didn't play spoiler, Alok! I watched the movie on the first day and am sharing my review now :)
      Am sure you'll like it if you like action movies.

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  3. Anita, does our timing have a connection?
    My review is in my Drafts right now, and Oh Boy!
    Well reviewed... :)

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    1. Great minds, Poonam :)
      I had composed my review in my head 8 days ago last Friday, when I watched it Poonam :)
      Put it here last night :) Thanks!

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  4. a very nicely written review, an interesting read indeed! Thanks for sharing the awesome Chinese quote!

    :)

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    1. Thanks Ankita for reading & sharing such nice words :)
      Yes, that Chinese quote is relevant while playing games. :)

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  5. You did not say what happened to Sonakshi Sinha's character after soldiers went back to their jobs. Did they live happily thereafter?

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    1. Do watch the movie, Abhijitji :) I haven't shared a lot of info!
      Virat also travels in the same train after the Holiday :)

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  6. Hey thanks for this review :)
    Well written

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    1. Thanks for reading & commenting, Ananya :)

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  7. Well written Anita :) It is a nice movie.. remake of a south Indian movie.. the director has done a great job here like Ghajini.. but Ghajini was a better movie for me...

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    1. Thanks Shruthi :) Glad you liked it!
      Even I liked Ghajini better :)

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  8. I loved the movie. At least there was a story in it unlike so many other movies in Bollywood these days. Didn't like Sonakshi though.
    A well written review for a well scripted movie!!

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    1. Thank you so much for sharing such nice words :)
      There were some comic moments with Sonakshi & Govinda. Perhaps that was to steer the movie from its serious terrorism track :)

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  9. Oh... So, there comes a Bollywood movie which we should watch... I am way too disappointed after watching last few realeses of Bollywood.... This one seems to have got a real story.... Would watch... :)

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    1. Yes Namrata. Do watch if you like the lead actors & action movies :)
      We do feel disappointed if our expectations are not met!
      Pretty challenging for filmmakers to please everyone :)

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  10. I skipped it because I have seen thupakki

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    1. Yes, makes sense, Srinidhi, as this is a remake of Thupakki :)
      But, then the actors are different!

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  11. Holiday is a good movie.. After the disastrous comedies of Akshay, Holiday is a breath of fresh air..

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    1. Yes Anusree. Now, his upcoming movie- 'It's Entertainment' also looks entertaining :)
      We can go for it too!

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  12. I haven't seen it..but after reading your review..I'm thinking that I should visit the plex.... :-D

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    1. Yes Mani. It's a good movie, a smart choice amongst the ones that are now playing in the theaters...

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  13. I watched the tamil version Tuppaki and liked it..Interesting review Anita :)

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  14. Thats wht i call a grt review! Great job there:-)

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    1. Thanks Juhi for such kind words :) Delighted that you liked it :)

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  15. Seriously had not even thought about the movie...now after your review maybe ek Dekho to banta hai shayad...loved that Chinese proverb...made a note of it to use it as and when situation demands...lol...
    Thanks for visiting mine and commenting. Loved it. :)
    You are great...in ur narration and assimilation. :)

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    1. Thanks Shivani for your lovely words :) Great that you loved reading my review.
      You are most welcome to use the proverb. It's really true.

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  16. Watched the original in Tamil. Not really tempted to see Akki do the same ;) But, good job on the review :)

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    1. Thanks Shailaja :) Akki is good in his role :)

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  17. Yu do watch so many movies :D Will try it out someday :)
    BTW I watched How to Train Your Dragoon 2. It was so aweeesoommeee :D

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    1. Cool Anmol :)
      I love Bollywood movies. I love animation ones too. Let me see if I can catch up with HTTYD-2 :)

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  18. Very well written Anita! I had not given a thought on watching the movie, but will surely consider it after reading your review!

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    1. Thanks Ratna :) Watch it if you like action movies :)

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  19. Haven't seen the movie yet. Have heard mixed reviews.

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    1. Yes, Rachna. reviews have been mixed... I give it an ok rating for the reality portion :)

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  20. Seems like a different kind of movie... I am not a great fan of watching movies on theatre. But, thanks for your review, I will remember your words when I need to decide if to watch 'Holiday' when it comes in TV :)

    TC! Keep smiling :)

    Regards,
    Sindhu
    Tantu
    The Arts & Me

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    1. Yes Sindhu, you may watch it on TV, but be prepared for the ads!!! :P
      Keep smiling :)

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  21. It has been given a bad rating by NDTV so I was thinking twice about watching this. I think i will wait for it to come on TV :)

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    1. Haven't watched their review :) Just went on the 1st day & saw it :)
      Go for the TV-Premiere but it's sure to have lots of ads, Seeta :)

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  22. I think I have seen this movie - maybe it is a remake of a South Indian movie

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    1. Yes indeed, Sureshji. You have watched its original- Thupakki :)

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  23. I am definitely looking forward to this one.. the problem I have is time... the show timings and my work dont match up at all.. and then I also dont like going alone so that is another problem :)

    Bikram

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    1. Looks like you like action movies, Bikram. May things work for you & you get to watch this soon :)
      Go on your own, if no one comes. We are never alone in a Movie-hall :)

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