Shabd (2005)

Dir. Leena Yadav’s début feature stumbles in the early stages while trying to sit two very different aspects comfortably side by side, but it finds its feet as it progresses, ultimately delivering an experience that’s daring and should be applauded for doing something different with the usual love-triangle.
It’s about successful author Shaukat Vashisht. He takes a critical blow to his ego from critics. When his urge to write returns he tackles the most difficult of subjects, pushing events in his real life to breaking point, hoping to use the conflicts as material for his fictional world, potentially becoming a more tragic character than the one he hopes to give life to.

3½ embraced words out of 5

Main Hoon Na (2004)

Amid a political situation between Pakistan and India, Major Ram Sharma (Shah Rukh Khan) goes back to college for a short academic term, but not before a hilariously entertaining scene that has Dir. Farah Khan become the Bollywood John Woo for a time. In fact, she steals from all over the spectrum—sometimes even shot for shot—but it’s so obvious that it’s surely homage, because there’s no doubt that elsewhere she knows exactly what she’s doing. She crams in a lot of content alongside the action, including comedy (that chase scene!), tragedy, romance and a teacher who looks to be permanently in a Pantene advert, but never once forgets to remind us that the small things in life are some of the most important of all.

3½ sleeveless, knitted pullovers out of 5