Peter Young I love Bollywood films. Ravishing, well-invested musicals, song and dance, dialogues which are larger than life, wonderful actors, strong characters. The song numbers have been an artistic tradition Hindi films, and what particularly amazes me about all these films is the complete irrelevance of the song numbers to the film's story itself (unless it's a film like Dil To Pagal Hai, where the music is part of the script).I think Jhoom Barabar Jhoom is a brave attempt to make a film with the songs being part of the screenplay. But even then, it just doesn't work. Why? Because there is NO screenplay. The entire film is a big dance show. And it shouldn't be like this. When there are no songs, the film consists of silly jokes and plastic "acting". Some sequences are so ridiculous that you start hating anyone who's been ever involved with this film. It is intended to be funny and crazy, which is a good purpose, but this film manages to be neither this nor that and instead, it sadly ends up being a big silly show. I do admit that the songs are well danced and catchy, but they become tiresome at some point, mainly because most of them are actually the same song in different versions.The acting (not that it can be called acting in this case) is bad. Abhishek is annoying and miscast. Pretentious performance. Preity, an actress I like immensely, is her usual bubbly and vivacious self, but here, somehow lifeless. The fact that a great actress like Preity could even think of appearing in this film makes me want to slap her. Bobby and Lara are terrible. They ham, overact, and even in the dance numbers get overshadowed by the leading stars (at least here they make some sense). Lara is particularly horrible as a prostitute with her fake French accent. All in all, I do recommend to watch it if you intend to go and dance through the entire film. Quite a special watch buhaaaa...

punzelle Jhoom Barabar Jhoom is a wonderful, eye-candy treat -- beautifully staged and filmed, full of snappy dialogue, an intriguing round-about plot with unexpected twists and turns, and tongue-in-cheek humor (such as a spoken reference to the London wax museum images of Amitji and Ashji --his real-life father and wife -- by Abhishek). Lots of action, but no guns, no slaps, no fights, no gore -- finally!! - Amitabh has a great recurring performance in this film, beautifully and memorably decked out as a composite Willie Nelson/vagabond/gypsy/hippie guitar player in his fringy coat-of-many-colors, complete with jewelry and feathers, entertaining the travelers at the train station while making musical observations on the romantic plot evolving between Abhishek and Preity, in two of their best performances to date. Lara and Bobby were also great in their supporting roles, playing polar opposite characters from the first to last half of the film. The musical numbers and dancing were also superb. If you love Indian cinema, you don't want to miss this one; it's worthy of many viewings! A+++!

Afzal Shaikh I saw Jhoom Barabar Jhoom while travelling in Rajasthan, in the Raj Mundir in Jaipur, which is, with some justification, described as the best cinema in Asia (and it certainly beats watching a film in a 'Multiplex' on a screen the size of a large TV in London).As the film ended and the huge audience of all ages rose, making its way into the grand, pretty foyer, I turned to an Indian man in his thirties next to me and asked him in Hindi if he liked it. He said he loved the songs, particularly the song of the title, which he thought would get even the most unlikely person in the cinema dancing in the aisles. Then he added,'But the the rest of the film is nonsense'.I certainly agree with him about the infectious song of the title, having badly hummed it often. However, I don't think the rest of the film is nonsense. What I believe many people mistake for nonsense is actually a playful, kitsch, knowingly referential film revolving around the desires and problems of self-mythology, and the power of Bollywood fantasy. The film is set in Waterloo station where a young Indian man and woman of Pakistani origin bump into each other and form an acquaintance while waiting for infamously late English trains. But their talk about themselves, we come to see, may not quite be so credible and ingenuous. Not only this but there is something magical in the air at Waterloo Station, for a wondering busker, Amitabh Bachan, looking like a sixties drop out, is somehow mysteriously involved in the lively plot.The two leads, Bachan's son Abishek, and Preity Zinta, make engaging leads and, alongside the wonderfully outrageous Laura Dutta and Bobby Deol handle the film's sense of fun and comedy vigorously (though perhaps the nods to the famous Bachan/Deol partnership in Sholay goes too far).Another thing about Jhoon Barabar Jhoon is its sure sense of place, something few Indian films set in Britain can claim. Preity Zinta's Alvira is an NRI and the film makes a playful but genuine attempt to engage with the London Indian diaspora.

Amrit Singh What generally works as the weakness of a film is the strength of this one. The film has a week storyline, virtually non-existent script and no logic. But that's where the fun lies.Abhishek Bachchan and Preity Zinta are introduced in very beginning of the film who from there carry forward a total mindless and fun filled sequence of events. Events that are funny (sometimes very funny), romantic, sometimes emotional but never real. The narration is unique and keeps you interested for most of the time. The strongest part of the film is its music. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy have created sheer magic with their instruments. Each song is masterpiece. And with modern day sound technology (watch it in a Doolby Digital theater) you would actually want to dance especially on the 3rd version of the title track.Actors have performed well. Everyone has pulled the comic timing very well. Amitabh Bachchan keeps appearing in between with fabulous attire and equally good song to keep the zing intact.The punch line of the film says it all... Jump, Dance, Shout... But don't expect anything more. Entertainment is only thing that this has to offer. No matter with what mood you enter the theater, more likely than not chance are you'll come out smiling. And isn't that smile worth all the money you spent on that ticket. It certainly is.