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nandini

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Posted: 14 years ago

Movie Review: Rocket Singh -Salesman of The Year (2009)

December 11th, 2009 - 7:24 pm ICT by sampurn -

Rating: 3.5 out of 5*

Starring: Ranbir Kapoor, Gauhar Khan, Manish Choudhary and introducing Shazahn Padamsee

Director: Shimit Amin

Harpreet Singh Bedi (Ranbir Kapoor) passes out his graduation with embarrassing marks. The less ambitious Harpreet unlike his friends doesn't go in for higher education but opts for a Salesman's job. He joins AYS, a computer selling firm which has a very demanding boss, Sunil Puri (Manish Choudhary) and an extremely rude and no-nonsense immediate boss, Nitin Rathore. With his competitive colleagues leaving no opportunity to poke fun of the earnest rookie, Harpreet lands in trouble with his seniors over his first client visit itself. Insulted and demoted, Harpreet then hits upon an idea to start his own parallel business naming his firm Rocket Sales. He gradually ropes in all the key staff members of his own office making them equal profit partners and soon becomes a big business threat to AYS. The rapidly sliding company's sliding sales figures rattle Puri. What happens to Harpreet and his Rocket Sales team after Puri tries to find who his major competitor is, forms the rest of the film.

The Chak De India writer – director team of Jaideep Sahani and Shimit Amin have delivered yet another remarkable film. Taking situations straight out of real life with kind of characters you and me would have encountered in our daily life and added with some terrific performances, Rocket Singh is undoubtedly one of 2009's best films. The Sardar character of Ranbir doesn't appear like gimmick and in fact he hardly speaks a Sardar's lingo. Just like Chak De, the perfect casting of the ensemble cast (mostly unknown actors) is yet another master stroke by writer-director duo. In fact each of the film's principle characters have got their "one moment'. The film gets straight to the point as in the 10th minute itself as Ranbir begins his innings as a Salesman. Day to day office politics and bitching was never captured so perfectly in any Hindi film before. The film is laced with some really well penned dialogues (Customer ke naam mein hi likha hota hai "mar', Risk to Spiderman bhi leta hai…tum to ek Salesman ho) which evoke guffaws as well as applause at places, the conversation between Ranbir and his boss in the climax being the high point. Salim-Suleiman's music is apt for the setting and there are no lip-sync numbers.

With this film, Ranbir has cemented his position as a star actor who has the ability to carry a solo film on his shoulders. Manish Choudhary, often seen in TV ads, playing Ranbir's smirky boss is a great find. The actor with the handle bar moustache playing Nitin Rathore is yet another amazing discovery. His body language and attitude has turned out just perfect. Gauhar Khan playing Ranbir's fiery office telephone operator is very impressive. Shazahn who plays Ranbir's client turned girl friend suits the part. D. Santosh and Mukesh Bhatt as Ranbir's colleagues are excellent too.

Rocket Singh is one film, that Yash Raj Films will definitely be proud to have produced under their banner. Do not miss this film as it actually delivers more than it promises.

Rocket Singh has the ability to inspire millions of our country's youngsters.

-Sampurn Media

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/entertainment/movie-review-rocket-singh-salesman-of-the-year-2009_100287850.html#ixzz0ZOIpwM4a

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nandini

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Posted: 14 years ago

Rocket Singh: Sales Man Of The Year - Uplifting & Well Performed

IndiaGlitz [Friday, December 11, 2009]

YRF last shot at the B.O. 2009 is uplifting and well performed by the 'Chak De' jodi of helmer, Shimit Amin and writer Jaideep Sahni.

Undoubtedly the odd flick out from the YRF stamp this inspiring film about today's competitive times is enthralling story that should win over 'thinking' audiences.

Anyhow the absence of elements to please the fun loving audience who hate to think while watching a film will find it dry.

Surprising as the promo, teasers gives the feel of a comedy and shockingly the promo song is not there in the film.

Cinematically 'Rocket Singh' is a commendable work that delights, inspire, educate and enlighten.

Seriously, Bollywood's current flavour of the season Ranbir does a studied and a serious role of a Sardar of values. Hmmmmmmm that's innovative because Bollywood and people in general have never taken them that seriously.

Gals will be disappointed. Because the heartthrob is more about values and he hardly has time to romance.

The movie unfolds with Ranbir (confident & spontaneous) surfs the net for his graduation result; he is just an average student who anyhow manages to pass.

Shares his dream to be a salesman at a party, a job that others don't take seriously and those who do are not taken seriously.

The movie then starts with series of chapters (finely written by Jaideep with dashes of reality) in Ranbir when he lands up as a trainee in an IT office and receives the welcome any sales guy would have experienced while working for a direct sales co.

Our Sardar is a man of principles so one day he lands up in trouble and the whole office makes fun of him. His one-way ticket to register his name in sales paradise gets snatched by his boss.

Then the rejected sales guy proves himself by correctly guessing the problems of the unsatisfied customers of his company and forms a company 'Rocket Sales Corporation' with partners from the same office which include Gauhar Khan in a new avatar. They use the office premise, number and operate from there.

The sequences are weaved with rich tapestry of human values that engages you to watch this absorbing drama.

Later the Boss comes to know about this and then the movie takes on a conflict between values and definition of success. Good for those who want to be reminded of their beliefs and values but for the normal cinegoer all this gives a boring dry feel.

Jaideep is successful in capturing the mind of the thinking auds but fails to win the heart in general the way he did in 'Chak De'.

With nothing much of a comic relief. In this serious setting this tale of triumph over existing system and values fails to come at par with set commercial expectations.

Nevertheless, 'Rocket Singh' comes with a sweet, simple message in this no brainer era of Bollywood where the member of the buffoonery quotient of the world is shown as the man of principles & values.

Its this vibrant, modern allegory that attests to film's power to meld storytelling to its concern auds.

'Rocket Singh – Sales Man of the Year' might not be in the B.O. success list of the year but certainly it's an inspiring chapter in the book of Bollywood and in the books of those who are associated with the film.

The movie gets 3 out of 5

One for the performance

One for the attempt to think away from set norms

One for delivering the message

Recommended: For the thinking audience who want to experience something different.

http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/hindi/review/11865.html

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nandini

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Posted: 14 years ago

These are the first couple of reviews that I found for Rocket Singh last night...they're short and crisp, but good enough as opinions...here you go...

Responses from critics, magazine editors and movie buffs at DIFF 2009, where the movie was premiered :



Leela Alveraz - Copy Writer - "Rocket Singh' rocks. A tad long, and weak in parts. But another good performance by Ranbir."

Manav Tomar - Architect - "Rocket Singh review ~ Wait for it! Wait for it! Legendary!! Excellent casting, acting, direction. Rating ~ ****"



Scott Macaulay - Editor Filmmaker Magazine - New York - "Saw the Bollywood premiere 2nite, "Rocket Singh," intriguingly anxious about modern business ethics beneath its pop-y surface"



Ashraf Ghori - Indie Film Maker - "Rocket Singh world premiere was good, entertaining & funny. No Bollywood song, dance & romance #DIFF09 #Movie"

Sreenivas Kamath - Movie Buff - Rocket Singh---just like chakde is predicatable but less entertaining....just like WUS...u may like if u sit through it....

Edited by nandinidev - 14 years ago

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nandini

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Posted: 14 years ago

Movie Review: Rocket Singh - Salesman of the Year

11 Dec 2009, 2204 hrs IST, Gaurav Malani, ET Bureau

Director: Shimit Amin
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Gauhar Khan, Manish Chaudhary
Rating: ****

Rocket Singh is quite relatable in recent times. Half the day one gets uncalled-for calls from salesmen wanting to sell us products from the world. And in the other half almost every employee in any organization dreams of starting his own company like his workplace. Rocket Singh combines these common-man conflicts to come up with a compelling narrative.

Harpreet Singh Bedi (Ranbir Kapoor) has always been a below average student and post graduation he desires to be a salesman. He joins as a trainee in a company that sells computers but goofs up in an early deal that invites him abuse by bosses and ridicule by colleagues. Relegated to his desk, Harpreet is restricted from going on field and realizes that his ideologies are not in sync with the so-called professionals of today. Soon he thinks of a way to get even with his boss Puri (Manish Chaudhary) and starts his own secret sales and service agency while continuing to work in his existing company.

Though not designed likewise, Rocket Singh kinda starts where Wake Up Sid ends. The protagonist has just completed his graduation, has gained a sense of responsibility and is all raring to go in life. Ranbir Kapoor graduates both in terms of his character and as an actor.

When the film is in the hands of a smart writer and skilful director, it can never go wrong. Rocket Singh has the correct combo of writer Jaideep Sahni and director Shimit Amin who team again to come up with another winner after Chak De India. Jaideep Sahni works towards sketching every character to real-life precision. And though these characters are extremely ambitious in pulling off clandestine commerce right under the eye of their boss, Sahni doesn't make the screenplay look larger-than-life at any point.

The trademark elements of Sahni's scripting style can be sensed in the writing of Rocket Singh as well. On the lines of the team-building of Chak De India, Harpreet puts together a team for his undercover company. And like the ethical conning in Khosla Ka Ghosla, this team also tricks its competitor company, where interestingly they are employed. The detailing towards establishing the protagonist's changing conflicts comes out convincingly in the screenplay. The dialogues are wonderfully effective with a witty punch in every line and a non-preachy management mantra in another.

While any sales person or an average office executive can effortlessly identify with the setting of the film, director Shimit Amin doesn't restrict the audience till them. He works more towards the human angle giving the film a universal appeal, while retaining its office authenticity. Harpreet's field induction scene is smart and sassy. The pre-interval scene where boss Puri mocks and degrades Harpreet for his mess up is poignant. Like in Chak De India, Shimit thankfully refrains from the regular Bollywood tendency to liberally work out a parallel romance track. There is a love story which is kept short-n-sweet and is briskly defined through a transition song.

Salim-Sulaiman limit the soundtrack to a couple of tracks which are either employed as transition songs or played in background, thereby not interrupting the flow of the film. Vikash Anshum's cinematography and Arindam Ghatak's editing are just perfect. Niharika Khan dresses Ranbir Kapoor in formal pastel clothing and colourful turbans making him look like the coolest Sardar ever on Indian screen.

Rocket Singh offers Ranbir Kapoor immense range, as the character takes lead over the actor. He is perfectly poised in one of his best performances so far. The character-driven story doesn't let Ranbir overshadow the supporting cast, each of who gets good scope. D Santosh is hilarious as the hardware service agent and gets the best repartees. Mukesh Bhatt as the office clerk is funny. Navin Kaushik as Nitin, the senior sales manager reminds of Raghu from Roadies for his cheekiness and is brilliant. Manish Chaudhary in a confident-personified act comes across as one of the most efficient negative leads in recent times. The one item-number-old Gauhar Khan surprises with an amazing natural performance and is a talent to look forward to. Shazahn Padamsee is charming but remains almost parallel to the plot and doesn't get much scope.

A line from the film states, "Risk toh Spiderman ko bhi lena padta hai, main toh phir bhi Salesman hoon" (Even Spiderman has to take risk, I am just a Salesman). The makers have taken as much risk to sell a not-so-regular story to the audiences. And it has paid off pretty well.

Rocket Singh – Salesman of the Year is one of the most rocking films of the year.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/media/entertainment-/entertainment/Movie-Review-Rocket-Singh--Salesman-of-the-Year/articleshow/5328035.cms

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nandini

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Posted: 14 years ago

Masand's movie review: Rocket Singh, a film with all heart

Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Gauhar Khan, Naveen Kaushik

Direction: Shimit Amin

Like Swades and Lage Raho Munnabhai which came before it, Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year is a film about the importance of basic goodness.

In an industry driven by opening weekends and bumper collections, it's that oddball film that seldom compromises on its intentions for the sake of becoming more box-office friendly. As a result the film feels too long, indulgent even, and ever-so-often it appears uncinematic.

That's hardly surprising, considering much of the film is shot in basic office spaces and features long conversations between its characters. But don't be fooled by its appearance; Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year is a film with all heart.

Ranbir Kapoor plays Harpreet Singh Bedi, an idealistic young graduate who lands a sales job in a computer firm run by a boss who sets unrealistic targets for his team. His rose-tinted glasses come off early in the day as he watches receptionists being wooed for prompt appointments with busy managers, and security guards being bribed for information on rivals. For his own part, he stays strictly upright, going so far as to file a complaint against a client who wants his palm greased. That act of honesty, however, is rewarded with a demotion.

Convinced that a business can be run clean, Harpreet sets up his own company within the one he works for, roping in a handful of fellow colleagues as partners. Operating honestly and diligently, this team discreetly sets up a thriving business that eventually rivals the one they work for.

Meticulously written by Jaideep Sahni, the genius behind such gems as Khosla Ka Ghosla and Chak De India, the script of Rocket Singh is its real star. Seeking inspiration in real life and real people, the film avoids stereotypes and goes for characters and situations that are refreshingly familiar ' the team-leader who fudges conveyance vouchers, the cut-throat competitive co-workers, the po*n-surfing maintenance guy, even the promotion-seeking receptionist.

Taking the cue from Sahni's script, director Shimit Amin bravely resists any temptation to glamorise the world they've set the film in, by rooting the drama in a space that is basic and without frills. An office party scene is filmed with colleagues drinking out of plastic cups, loosening their ties and dancing to songs being played out of a computer. Even the film's opening credits sequence in which the camera lovingly floats over a middle-class home's bric-a-brac is evidence of the makers' commitment to authenticity.

But Rocket Singh touches a chord because it's that rare film that urges us to examine our lives and to question the rules by which we live it. It has a life-affirming quality that will appeal to every one of us who has ever hesitated before taking the easy way over the right way.

The film isn't without hiccups, though. Overly long, especially in its first half, Rocket Singh suffers on account of sluggish pacing, and occasional indulgences like that unduly stretched-out confession monologue by Harpreet's boss in the film's climax.

Remarkable casting has resulted in some fine performances by key players, although even the bit parts are filled out convincingly. D Santosh as the affable maintenance guy, Mukesh Bhatt as the tea-man with computer-repair skills, Naveen Kaushik as the oddly sideburned team head, and Gauhar Khan as the cutting receptionist pitch in commendable performances.

Of course it's topped off by Ranbir Kapoor's compelling, effortless portrayal of Harpreet Singh Bedi. Ranbir adds the little touches that make all the difference: combing the beard, tucking in the turban, lifting the 'kada' further up his arm before dipping his hand into a bucket of wet clothes. He's an actor you can't take your eyes off.

In the end, Rocket Singh is a clean, honest film with noble intentions. It requires patience to appreciate it fully, but deserves a viewing because films like this are hard to find. I'm going with three-and-a-half out of five and a thumbs up for director Shimit Amin's Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year; whatever else you do this weekend, don't miss this film.

Rating: 3.5 / 5

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/masands-movie-review-rocket-singh-a-film-with-all-heart/106947-8.html

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nandini

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Posted: 14 years ago

Review: Rocket Singh is simple, yet brilliant

Aniruddha Guha / DNA

Friday, December 11, 2009 22:00 IST

Mumbai:

Film: Rocket Singh - Salesman of the Year (U/A)
Director: Shimit Amin
Writer: Jaideep Sahni
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Shahnaz Padamsee, Gauhar Khan and others
Rating: ***

Did you see the initial promos of Rocket Singh - Salesman of the Year? It had a desk and Ranbir sitting on it and talking to you. "Hi, Harpreet Singh Bedi, salesman," he smiled at you. He then said that he would sell the movie to you - the audience - in 60 seconds flat and went on to tell you how the movie would give you complete value for money. He finished it with the statement - a salesman's job never ends.

You may have liked the promo, or thought of it as nothing great. But you have to give it to it for being so honest in its approach. Most movie promos aim to attract maximum viewers with shine and sparkle, or shock.

If they manage to hook you, you watch the film and then find out if the film lives up to your expectations or not. Here was a simple ad campaign asking you to give the movie a chance and then to make up your mind about it. The film, itself, is as simple as the ad campaign. But it's brilliant too.

Harpreet Singh Bedi, as Ranbir told you in the promos, is not as brilliant a student though. He has just graduated with 38.72 per cent in his final year examinations and while his friends look set to study MBA or join their family businesses, Harpreet chooses to be a salesman. Why? Because he believes he has a talent most people don't - the power of persuasion.

So at the first job interview he goes to, for a job at a sales company dealing with computers called AYS - At Your Service, Harpreet's interviewee asks him to mock-sell a pencil to him. "It has multiple uses," says Harpreet. "You can use it to write, if not you can use it to clean your ears, brush it through your hair, convert a three-pin plug in to a two-pin plug and if you have nothing to do at all, you can simply rotate the pencil on your table for time-pass."

Harpreet lands the job but goofs up with his very first assignment. The managing director of a company that's looking to buy a stock of computers from AYS wants a bribe to pass the consignment. Harpreet, offended at the suggestion, complains about the bribe-taking official to the company.

But his boss comes down hard on him in stead, rebuking him for being a fool and not understanding the tricks of the trade. Harpreet also finds out that his company sells computers to clients at inflated prices and doesn't service them once the computers have been sold, even though they promise to do so at the time of sale.

Harpreet is asked by his boss to stay till his training period ends and then quit. Meanwhile, he's barred from going to the field to sell any more products and has to stick to his desk.

But Harpreet won't take things lying down. He's disgusted with the corrupt dealings of the agency and makes up his mind to do things the right way. He devices a plan to start his own company and personally give better service to customers by selling them computers at a reasonable price and maintain good relations after the sale too.

Four others from AYS - an engineer, a customer handler, a senior salesperson and a peon - also harrowed with the inhuman way the company treats its staff and customers, join Harpreet as partners. Working from the AYS office, Harpreet forms Rocket Sales Corp. What follows is better watched than spoken of.

The film relies on a simple story by Jaideep Sahni and also some really witty writing, by Sahni again, that is really the soul of the film. In fact, the film is one more example of Sahni's clear emergence as arguably the best writer in Hindi cinema among the current crop.

The guy, who has penned films like Khosla Ka Ghosla and Chak De India in the past, comes up with some really funny dialogues and wacky characters. Whether it's Harpreet's mentor-turned-partner Nitin or the peon Mishraji or the po*n-loving engineer Giri, Sahni seems to have worked painstakingly on each one of them.

Sahni also sets the mood just right with his lyrics in the only two songs that appear in the film and is ably supported by music directors Salim-Sulaiman. The background score by the duo is apt too. Pocket Main Rocket is sadly missing, even in the end credits.

Director Shimit Amin doesn't go overboard with dramatics and relies on subtlety, but doesn't compromise on storytelling in the process. Yes, the film takes its time to unfold and isn't 'racy' by any standards but that's only because Amin chooses to stay true to Sahni's script.

In the bargain, many may feel that Rocket Singh is a bit long but except a few scenes that could have probably been snipped out to make the film leaner, it holds your attention. The corporate jargon used liberally in the film, though, might limit the film's appeal a great deal.

A special mention has to be made of casting director Abhimanyu Singh. The guy, who was responsible for getting all those wonderful girls in Chak De India, gets it bang on once again. Naveen Kaushik, as Nitin, is very natural and almost takes you by surprise in what is probably his first mainstream film role.

Manish Choudhari, as the boss, is a familiar face on the advertising circuit and performs ably in a decisive role. Gauhar Khan is very good as the sexy and intelligent customer handler Koena and displays decent acting talent.

D Santosh is perfect with his comic timing and one-liners. Prem Chopra is cute as Ranbir's granddad. Shahzahn Padamsee, as Harpreet's girlfriend, comes across as very sweet and likeable in her debut attempt.

The star of the show, once again, is Ranbir Kapoor. In his third author-backed role in as many months, Ranbir is once again the life of the film. In Wake Up Sid, he displayed a charm that endeared him to young audiences and with Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahaani, he wooed the masses.

In Rocket Singh, Ranbir might be considered lucky to have got a role that can be career-defining for many actors. But to his credit, he lives up to the responsibility that comes with being the driving factor of such a beautiful film. His sardar get-up and mannerisms are fresh to watch and the actor must get credit for pulling off Harpreet the way he does.

But the one that deserves kudos the most is the duo of Shimit Amin-Jaideep Sahni. At a time when filmmakers rely on 'big' films and opening weekends, the two continue to stick to simple stories with great thought.

Don't miss this one!

http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_review-rocket-singh-is-simple-yet-brilliant_1322718

Edited by nandinidev - 14 years ago

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nandini

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Posted: 14 years ago

Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year

Nikhat Kazmi, TNN 11 December 2009, 11:20pm IST

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Ranbir Kapoor in Rocket Singh - Salesman Of The Year Check more pics

Film: Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Shazahn Padamsee, Gauhar Khan
Genre: Drama
Director: Shimit Amin
Music Director: Salim and Sulaiman Merchant
Producer: Aditya Chopra
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

Critic's Rating:

Readers' rating :		You have already rated this movie.
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Story: Ranbir Kapoor may have been dubbed a failure in school and college, but he is determined to make a success of his life. He wants to become an ace salesman simply because he has the power of persuasion, negotiation and conversation. It doesn't take long before he realises the corporate world is truly cut-throat, cruel and completely devoid of ethics. Well, almost...

Movie Review: Somewhere down the film, deep in the midst of his downward slide into ignominy and despair, his friends try to console oddball salesman Harpreet Singh Bedi (Ranbir Kapoor) by telling him he's a nice guy, unfit for the unethical corporate jungle out there. But, mice are nice, scoffs HP, hating his own niceness and mousy inconsequence.

Poor HP. Doesn't he know nice guys always do finish first. Specially in a new world which has cried Yes, we can to a post-Lehman world order; and a new India that has embraced a similar mantra of change in both governance and the level of public tolerance. Indeed, Rocket Singh, scripted brilliantly by Jaideep Sahni, documents the new India we are currently seeing emerging before our eyes. One, where the common man is increasingly voicing his condemnation for both political and corporate corruption. Also, one where the consumer (read aam aadmi ) is truly king and vfm (value for money) is the only usp (unique selling proposition).

So, don't be bogged down by the slow pace and the docu-feature feel of the first half of Rocket Singh. Be patient and you'll end up realising this could be well be one of the most intelligent films of the year, showcasing the changing pulse of a nation that is learning to sift the grain from the chaff, the rubble from the concrete, the diamonds from the ashes. The film does take long -- laboriously long -- to introduce its characters and build up the plot which focuses on the travails of an honest-to-god, stars-in-my-eyes salesman who joins a computer firm, only to be taken aback at the first bribe that's demanded of him. Aap mazaq kar rahen hai , (you're joking) he tells the company manager who wants a kickback and files a complaint against him in the suggestions & complaints box. End result? He becomes a mazak in his own company, having been sent to the dog house and given his marching orders at the end of his training period. But there's an important lesson failure Harpreet has learnt from him wily manager, Nitin-with-the-natty-sideburns (excellent act) during is first sales demo. Even Spiderman

has to take a risk, and you're just a puny salesman, his smart alec boss tells him as he pockets a fresh contract by hook or by crook.

Hence, it's Spiderman to the rescue....The second half just sky rockets onto another plane as Harpreet sheds a bit of his honesty for some hard-nosed business. No, his business isn't to make money. All he wants to do is avenge his humiliation and tell his boss he isn't a zero, a failure, a fool, a joker sardar...He teams up with the 'item girl' (the intelligent, yet hot, Gauhar Khan), the peon (super), the po*n king (D Santosh, brilliant) and forms his own company, offering partnerships to all. Naturally, the company rocks, the sales zoom, the rivals fume and the film crackles with a newfound energy. Because, as we said, HP loses just a bit of goodness, not all. At the core, he still remains the god-fearing, good soul, brought up on his dadaji's (Prem Chopra, also excellent) middle class morals and conducts his business on the basis of the current corporate ethics which put people before numbers, laugh lines (customer satisfaction) before bottomlines. So what's the difference between you and me, his defeated and disjointed boss asks him in the climax speech. You see numbers, I see people, Harpreet explains, before walking off with another promise. See you in the field!

Yup! HP is just another one amongst those few good men who we believe will charter a new course for the world in general. He's a brave little fella who doesn't balk before taking on the high and mighty and is just a wee bit wily -- of course, he plans to pay back all dues at an appropriate time. So that doesn't really make him dishonest. More importantly, he doesn't think a moment before making his peon his partner and ends up stealing your heart with his boy-next-door simplicity and non-heroic charms.

The winning duo of Shimit Amin and Jaideep Sahni may not be offering you a Chak De India this time round, but they do sculpt some rare moments on celluloid that end up redefining the pusuit of happiness as something more than mainu chaida, chaida, chaida! (I want, want, want!) After Ajab Prem ki Ghazab Kahani, Ranbir Kapoor once again proves he's amongst the top GenNow contenders for the Bollywood throne. His delineation of Harpreet Singh Bedi is completely the opposite of Prem: low key, restrained and recongnisable, with a slice-of-life realism. But he has a host of other brilliant actors supporting him in this unusual film which might have been India's answer to Wall Street, if it had kept it's editing tighter and more taut. Sadly, debutant Shazahn Padamsee has little to do, but Gauhar Khan more than makes up for the female cast with her power-packed act of a balsy receptionist. But the high point of the film are the punchy dialogues and the handful of scenes which touch your heart with their had-enough-of-dishonesty, let's-be-good-now India, feel.

A word about:

Performances: Watch out for another winsome performance by Ranbir Kapoor. He's definitely getting better with each new film. As Harpreet Singh Bedi, a pesky salesman you might have shoed away several times, he seems to have done his homework well. But he isn't alone in this film which works through its ensemble cast. Everyone seems to have been hell bent on redefining realism in their own modest way. And they do succeed.

Music: Nothing to boast about. An eminently forgettable score by Salim-Suleiman.

Cinematography: Vikash Nowlakha captures the corporate jungle and the cube farms aptly with his camera. Harpreet's decrepit corner, next to the store room is warm despite being an eyesore.

Story: Jaideep Sahni begins his story like a docu-feature on the life of a salesman and then enters a totally different realm, trying to create Bollywood's first contemporary feature on corporate greed.

Dialogues: Jaideep Sahni scores again. His lines are witty and vibrant, often bringing a smile to your face. And his climax scene is a knock-out, without being didactic.

Styling: Visually speaking, Harpreet is both one of the most authentic sardars of Indian cinema as well as being a perfect corporate fuchcha, with his commonplace striped shirts and banal ties.

Inspiration: Pursuit of Happyness, anyone?

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/hindi/Rocket-Singh-Salesman-of-the-Year/moviereview/5326330.cms

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nandini

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Posted: 14 years ago

REVIEW: Rocket Singh...

Exceptionally well written, this Ranbir-starrer is simply superb

By Anand Vaishnav . Buzz18 Dec 11, 2009

Remember that feeling of joy and pride when you held your first visiting card? Rocket Singh Salesman Of The Year is bound to bring back those memories of your first day in office.

Harpreet Singh Bedi (Ranbir Kapoor) just about scrapes through college with no clue of what he is going to do next. Unable to do an MBA due to poor scores and lack of funds, he chooses to be a salesman. A job where he feels he can put his strong persuasion skills to use. After an assuring start he soon discovers the dark side of the big bad corporate world. His integrity and commitment become his greatest undoing. How he takes on these challenges and makes the big bosses sit up and take notice of him, forms the crux of the plot. Revealing anything more would be gross injustice to this neatly weaved screenplay.

From the Chak De India team of Aditya Chopra-Shimit Amin-Jaideep Sahni, here is another positive movie about the triumph of the human spirit. In terms of structure and writing Rocket Singh Salesman Of The Year is a worthy successor to Munnabhai MBBS and Khosla Ka Ghosla. The characters are straight out-of-life, consisting of a bunch of normal people faced with an extraordinary situation. Rocket Singh Salesman Of The Year has a cheerfully identifiable middle class setting. Even the office space is not a colourful, exaggerated party zone – as most Bollywood offices are. This one brings alive the clutter and noise levels of your and my cubicles.

Ranbir Kapoor gets the most complex role of his life and is exceptional as the Sardar. From being an anxious trainee to a confident salesman, Ranbir's character graph progresses smoothly with the film. Few minutes into the film, you totally forget the Ranbir as Prem or Sid. Kapoor's comfort level with the camera is once again his biggest ace.

But this movie is not just about Ranbir. Every actor has been carefully cast. Be it the arrogant MD, bullying VP, wise friend, attractive receptionist, resourceful peon or the slimy technician – all the relatively unknown faces have been presented in an authentic manner. They also react like everyday people, without being overtly nice or negative.

Prem Chopra is credible as the protective grandfather. Shazahn Padamsee oozes freshness in her look and dialogue. Thankfully the makers don't overplay Ranbir-Shahzahn's romantic angle. Without losing focus, the movie sticks to the core story about challenging the mighty corporations.

And finally the dialogues. This film has some of the finest writing you will come across in recent years. Laced with a mix of humour, witty sarcasm and an underlying message about honesty, this is a master script. Which is why you don't mind the somewhat lengthy narrative. Salim-Suleiman's background score makes up for the absence of songs.

Rocket Singh Salesman Of The Year is eventually a feel good watch that talks about ethics, without sounding like a moral science lecture. All that mundane management talk about 'service over sales' and 'people over numbers' never sounded cooler.

Verdict: The most well written and genuinely unique film of the year. This one's a superb product.

Rating: 4/5

http://buzz18.in.com/reviews/movies/review-rocket-singh/174572/0

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-iktaara-

@-iktaara-

IF-Dazzler

Posted: 14 years ago

Ranbir is sure rocking the b-wood...Just four film old, he is simply churning out superb acting and some well made films...Congo Ranbir! 🥳

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nandini

@Riddikulus

IF-Rockerz

+ 4

Posted: 14 years ago

Hmm...the reviews look alot better now, lol...but yeah, some of the common points include a documentary feel, and a slow pace...might work against the movie, or have no effect at all if other factors make up for shortfalls...the supporting cast is garnering alot of appreciation, I see...and of course, Ranbir too...

Hope I can catch the movie myself, in good time...😊

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