Really Surprised!

Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

'Naach' is among the last positive outcomes of Ram Gopal Verma's experimental phase when he still offered good movies before he delivering one disaster after another. The film is by no means perfect and comparisons to 'Rangeela' and 'Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon' will be made. However, all three movies are treated differently and have their own unique presentation. 'Rangeela' is a musical fantasy about girl's dream of becoming a movie star. 'Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon' is a dramedy about an ordinary girl struggling to become a star. 'Naach' is about two characters: an idealistic Reva, who is deeply passionate about her art and wants to explore that, by her own means, through films; and a practical Abhinav whose ambition is to gain fame and wealth by becoming a superstar. The lead character/s in all three movies have one destination, films. It is the varying journey that makes each film unique.Ram Gopal Verma's direction is quite interesting. He uses washed out colours throughout the film except during the songs. The songs are well executed, colourful and energetic. The choreography is remarkable and the soundtrack is awesome. The pacing of 'Naach' is slow at times. Verma seems to have an Urmila hangover which is evident in how he portrays Antara in some sequences. Instead of allowing Antara to bring out her own sensuality (which is evident in the first songs, in the rehearsal scene and a few more song sequences), he pretty much 'dresses her up' like 'Rangeela's Mili in the song sequences. Verma has a fascination for shooting scenes from different angles and here he uses his cameraman well.A major fault of 'Naach' lies in the casting of Abhishek Bachchan. The actor does not convince at all. His dialogue delivery lacks spontaneity. His facial expressions look forced. He lacks energy which was required in the song sequences. Some fault also lies in the way the character is portrayed. Abhinav is not very likable and one would not expect Reva to take him back so easily after he unceremoniously dumps her (because she refuses to accept his help) when she is most in need of emotional support and now, after she has made a name for herself, he's crawling back in tears. Even Reva's dialogue about 'recognizing the Abhinav she met in the bus' seems stale and nonsensical. I did not want Reva to end up with Abhinav but what bothers me more was how an intelligent, smart and headstrong woman like Reva is portrayed to easily forgive because of a few tears. Ritesh Deshmukh is wooden.The heart of 'Naach' is Antara Mali. This is her film. She immerses herself entirely into Reva and captures her essence, passion, strength, courage and stamina with grace and elan. In addition to being a natural beauty and owning a fascinatingly flexible body, she is a terrific dancer. Perhaps is is her spirited performance that makes Abhishek's acting worse.'Naach' has its disappointments but for me, Antara Mali, the execution of the songs and some notable sequences made it worth watching. I wouldn't mind a revisit.

Naach would have won an Razzie for the Worst Film in 2004 (may be overall too) if it were global. When it comes acting badly (aka showing attitude/yawning/over (not) acting) Halle Berry is no match for Antra Malli. While the catwoman had storeline, supposedly hot actress in microscopic costume, and some action sequences, Naach had nothing at all.One of those movies which makes me wonder why IMDb does allow one to rate a movie as 0/10. Yet again, I think that movie does not even deserve a 0. It has to be something negative or minus infinity.OK what about the plot outline? It is a funda-giving, arrogant, full of attitude choreographer meet an useless, skill-less, loafer who aspires to be an actor tale. The story is so short that if just another sentence, IMDb might ban me for writing a spoiler. About the story-telling? Its like a bunch (sorry 2 people for the most part) of people moving in super slow motion. Don't try this movie if you have bought new DVD-player. You would end up believing that either DVD is in bad shape or DVD-player is struck. Not its fault at all.At the end of it all, you end up giving some credits to the director. At least he realized that both Antra Malli and Abhishek Bachan (at least at that time) can't speak dialogues convincingly, so there are not too many dialogues in this movie. So, you can at least sleep your way through the movie, with some annoying noises from those Antra-malli song sequences.Do watch this movie if you are new to Bollywood Cinema. Once you have tolerated this movie, you would be able to see any Bollywood movie and enjoy it.There can't be worse 3 hour torture than this!

Abhishek Bachchan annoyed me with his turn in this film. Thank God for Antara Mali who plays the other lead, I would have puked or something. I loved the premise of the film because it revolved around dance (hence the title 'Naach' which means "Dance" in Hindi) which I absolutely love and Miss Mali danced her tush off in this one! But, there just has to be a but and it comes by way of ABHISHEK BACHCHAN!!! He just acted like a spoiled-brat-out-to-get-some-action when he spots Mali's sexy (a great dancer who aspires to work and bring something new to the Bollywood dancing scene) character. She is a newbie in town who defied what her family had lined up for her, to come to Mumbai in search of her own dream. He is an out-of-work youth who is also defying his parents by going after his own dreams.While Ram Gopal Varma handles their attraction and love scenes very well, it was impossible to mask Jr. B's pouting and sulking. He falls in love with the girl, she teaches him how to dance and how to get in touch with his inner self, and when he becomes a big star, he expects her to just submit to his charms and forget about her own dreams. Mali's character doesn't mind the ultimatum, in fact, she sticks it to the ultimatum he gives her and she actually walks away. Sooner (than later) she is spotted by a new chassis (played by the charming Ritesh Deshmukh starring a Bollywood director) and a relationship is instantly implied. Once Jr. B sees this in the papers and shoots, his spoilt rich star self (which I'm sure is not very far from the man he is in real life) starts to act crazy, sulk more and ultimately demand that he gets the girl in the end. And ultimately in the end, he does.

In most parts a lethally dull venture, Naach is about this dancer/choreographer (Antara Mali) who regards herself as some kind of auteur, beyond the petty commercial compromises that people around her, including her actor beau (Abhishek Bachchan) build their careers on. Nice idea, only it turns out that she has the most howlariously bad concepts about costumes and dance movements, stuff rotten enough to make even the forces behind those ultra-cheap South Indian potboilers squirm in severe embarrassment.The story follows a yawn-inducing predictable pattern...dancer and beau meet and have an affair (yes, sex included)...beau gets success, but she spurns his attempts to help her...beau throws attitude and they walk out on each other...dancer meets a most unlikely director who wants her 'to do what she wants'...incongruous effort bags even more incongruous popularity...beau's attempts to reach out are rebuffed until a climax where he bursts out about how he can't live without her...D-uh end.Actually I didn't really expect this film to be much good. So why did I watch it? Because I have an Antara Mali fetish. She's an actress with IMO sufficient talent to reach grand heights provided she has the opportunity. Alas, her role in the film looks far better on paper than in actual execution, ironic for a film that's supposed to be about an uncompromising character. To give her credit she puts in a game effort, shining well in the few scenes that actually ask of her as an actress. I just wish the movie had been more worthy of her. Abhishek Bachchan also throws in a few good punches, the last scene salvaged somewhat by a simmering turn which pleasantly reminds you of his father.Only recommended if you can sit through humongous piles of dogcrap for the return of a few grains of good moments courtesy the lead actors.