Woodstock Villa

Director: Hansal Mehta
Producer: Sanjay Dutt, Sanjay Gupta

Starring: Sikander Kher, Neha Uberoi
Lyrics: Virag Mishra
Story Writer: Rajiv Gopalakrishnan, S. Farhan

Naming a film after an address has always generated a fair amount of curiosity in the minds of viewers. If the trend started with an offbeat film like '36 Chowringee Lane' long back, the trend continued with the thriller genre films like '99 Antop Hill', '36 China Town', 'Krishna Cottage' and now 'Woodstock Villa'.

While the other landmarks may have been fictional, a certain Woodstock society does exist in Mumbai near the Versowa beach. So, what's so real about this latest flick from Hansal Mehta, who made films like 'Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar', 'Chhal' and 'Yeh Kya Ho Raha Hai'? And, his last work was appreciated in a story of Sanjay Gupta's experimental venture 'Dus Kahaniyaan'.

Hansal has a knack for making film in the western style. Though, he is not part of DVD gang of Bollywood directors, but his films do borrow a lot from Hollywood cinema. 'Woodstock Villa' is a crucial film for him, its failure and success means a lot in his career.

And, equally important is that this flick has Sikandar Kher (son of Kiron Kher before her second marriage to Anupam Kher) and Neha Uberoi. Sikandar got blessings and wishes from the Bachchan family at the film's premiere last night, and looked more confident than any new comer.

'Woodstock Villa' invites you to be its guest, but enter into it at your risk. The film is for that niche audience who like single stream cinema and follow just one-track story. There aren't many characters in this format of cinema and it has always been a tough task to make a film on a story that has minimal characters to play with.

The film seems to be shot on 16 MM and blown for cinema screen as has been done by producer Sanjay Gupta in the past as well. The grainy appearances on screen do create a kind of ambience in some scenes, but once past, it does not generate a good visual appeal for at least a Hindi film.

'Woodstock Villa' tries to compete with western flicks in its making and director Hansal Mehta uses his hand held camera most of the time. For his artistic appetite, the treatment may have worked as good meal, but for a common viewer these experiments are not always welcome.

A short film of 12 Reel has few songs also, but they are never welcome in between the story. Saif Ali Khan and Sanjay Dutt have been added in songs to add some glamour to it, but the villa still relies high on its occupants.

Not an ideal situation to make debut for a new comer that too from a filmi background. But, 'Woodstock Villa' is not an out and out trash, though. It does have its sheer moment of entertainment and for that credit goes to its writers - Sanjay Gupta, S Farhan and Rajiv Gopal.

'Woodstock Villa' is a film that one can cherish about, if he or she gets it to see without any break. The story on its face does have a novelty and the deception, deceit and demon all combined to give the film a perfect Hitchcock kind of film.

The who did it formula works in its favor, but what comes, as a speed breaker is its conception at par with a Bollywood Masala flick. The songs break the ambience and mood of the story and a smooth ride suddenly turns into a bumpy path. The story is not much novel, but the concept is. A beautiful wife (Neha Uberoi) of a rich business tycoon (Arbaaz Khan) suddenly goes missing and that too without any clue.

The apparent kidnapper (Sikandar) asks for huge sum in return, but the case isn't like that of chalk and cheese, as it appears to be. The sizzling wife has some plans in her heart, the bubbling captor boy has some hidden ambition and even the hunky husband is not as clean as it seems to be.

So where does lay the actual plot? Yes, that is the crux of 'Woodstock Villa'. Producer Sanjay Gupta provides a big opportunity to director Hansal Mehta to prove his mettle at the box office, and Hansal does try very hard. However, it isn't clear as to how much true be the rumor about Sanjay re-shooting a major chunk of the film on the insistence of Kiron Kher. But, on the whole the film doesn't make you bore.

Given a chance of selection, Sikandar Kher would not have liked 'Woodstock Villa' to be his debut film. But, then even his other film 'Summer 2007' doesn't have a good report in trade circles. The brighter side of his choice is that even Neil Nitin Mukesh started his career with a film like 'Johny Gaddar' and leaped into the big league of actors overnight. So, it's not necessary in Bollywood nowadays to start your career with a mega hit; even if the product is average and your job is noticed, half the battle is over.


And that way Sikandar is not a loser. Even Neha Uberoi comes out a winner in 'Woodstock Villa'. She releases a lot of oomph on screen, and whenever required emotes and acts well, too. Other actors from Arbaaz Khan to Gulshan Grover to Shakti Kapoor didn't have much to do, as the whole episode is divided between Neha and Sikandar. Whatever may be the fate of 'Woodstock Villa' at the box office, the movie being average will surely fetch good offers to both the new comers. Welcome on board!