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Posted on June 29, 2008 by Nita

The most important thing to know about Thoda Pyar Thoda Magic (A little Love, a Little Magic) is that it is a children’s film. It’s got four child characters, and like many children’s films, there is magic and fantasy. There is even a lecture about patriotism, civic sense and world peace!

It’s Amisha Patel’s character which doesn’t fit. Her role is more suited to an adult movie. That dance number of hers is likely to put many a cabaret girl to shame. I wonder what the director (Kunal Kohli) was thinking of…the dance has no class, and is crass and vulgar. Why should any director make a kiddie film with this kind of scene?

In an interview to Rediff, Kohli actually compares TPTM to Mr. India! But not only was Mr. India is a far superior film, it was a superhero film which could be enjoyed equally by adults and children. TPRM isn’t like that. Adults will not find it as entertaining as the kids. But where the kids are concerned, I think Amisha Patel’s vulgar dance number could make them uncomfortable. Kohli also denies that the movie is based on Mary Poppins and to be fair to Kohli, the story-line is different. But the theme, of a magical nanny who charms children, is like Mary Poppins. So while TPTM may not be a copy, nothing in it seems original. In fact it reminded me of so many movies (both English and Hindi) that it was too tiresome to list them all here.

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Though I have huge complaints in most departments, I can’t deny that it’s perfect packaging for kids in the 3-12 age group. With hardly any “sad” moments, the characters are mostly colorful and chirpy. But, given my reservations, should I actually encourage my kids to watch this when not too long ago Taare Zameen Par was around? Oh, why not? There’s enough room for everybody.

Yash Raj Films

Saif Ali Khan, left, and Akshat Chopra in “Thoda Pyaar, Thoda Magic,” a Bollywood family film directed by Kunal Kohli.

An Angel Rides in to Preserve a Family (and India)

What happens when a rich, single-minded businessman is ordered to take care of four children he is responsible for orphaning? God himself (Rishi Kapoor, in a white suit with a Nehru collar) sends help: a mischievous angel, who bikes to earth on a rainbow to save the day, Mary Poppins-style. (And, yes, Virginia, there are dolphins in heaven.)

Read complete review on The New York Times

The stars of Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic join kids in song and dance

Lots of Poetry and lots of Music

There’s a lot expectations from the Music of Yash Raj Films and Kunal Kohli productions’ Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic, and the expectations are not without reason. In the last 3 years the highest selling album has been ‘Fanaa’ - ‘Chand Sifarish’ and ‘Mere Haath Mein’ were blockbuster hits that are still popular even today. Before that in ‘Hum Tum’ too Kunal Kohli gave us super hit music with ‘Ladki Kyon’, ‘Saanson ko Saanson Mein’ and ‘Mere Dil Vich’. Now after the super success of ‘Hum Tum’ and ‘Fanaa’ the hit musical team of Kunal Kohli-Prasoon Joshi, this time teams up with Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy to being to you the music of ‘Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic’.

In the immitable style of Prasoon Joshi are the lyrics of the film that touch your heart, tag at your emotions, bring a smile to your face, and the sheer poetry just brings out a ‘wah’.

Shankar Ehsaan Loy have given a range of different melodies in this album, that has something for every kind of listener. Whether its, love, fun, naach, sexy, entertaining it’s all there in ‘Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic’.

The album opens with Pyaar Ke Liye, sung by Shankar Mahadevan, which sums up the mood and spirit of the film. Evocative lyrics by Prasoon Joshi provide the base for a contemplative yet uplifting romantic song that is given an extra zest by a superb background chorus of voices and a strong guitar line that is weaved in at places throughout the song.

The next track Nihaal Ho Gayi combines eastern and western beats like only perhaps Shankar Ehsaan Loy can. Alternating and combining jazzy guitar chords at the start with qawwali infused vocalization, percussions and handclaps and sometimes carried along mainly by the soulfulness of Shankar’s voice, Nihaal Ho Gayi is a mélange of musical influences that truly works like magic.

Lazy Lamhe, which comes up next, would not be out of place in a night club in New York or Barcelona, not to mention Mumbai, Delhi or Ludhiana. The opening hook is one of the most insanely catchy ones heard in recent times and Anusha Mani does full justice in conveying the lazy sensuousness of the song picturised on Ameesha Patel. The DJ Aqeel remix of the song, which closes the album, adds on some more thumping electronic beats and riffs and draws out the vocals in places, making sure that the already catchy song becomes an irresistible dance floor hit.

Lazy Lamhe is followed on the album by Bulbula, picturised on Rani Mukerji, and voiced by Sunidhi Chauhan and Shankar Mahadevan. It describes Rani’s character in the film, and like her, is fresh and vibrant. One of Shankar Ehsaan Loy’s trademarks – superb harmonies – are used to fantastic effect in this peppy song which, incidentally, is one of the first songs in Hindi film history to be completely shot with eye popping visual effects and graphics.

Shreya Ghosal and Sneha Suresh, helped by a background of children’s voice, proclaims the confident and assertive spirit of the new India even while proclaiming its determination to not forget the lessons of the past. It’s a new spin on the patriotic song, inspirational yet trendy and catchy. Visually too the song is a landmark, as it touches on important moments in India’s history, going back and forth in time. Beetey Kal Se, is more than a patriotic song, its more than an educative song, it’s a social comment on where we are today and where we’re going tomorrow.

The album is brought to a close by the DJ Aqeel remixes of Nihaal Ho Gayi and Lazy Lamhe that are sure to be playing in car stereos and discos throughout the summer this year.

If you want music that both engages the mind and touches the heart, and makes summer a lot more pleasurable, you need to listen to the soundtrack of Thoda Pyaar, Thoda Magic. And when you do, you will know its one album that delivers a lot of Pyaar and a lot of magic!

Thoda Pyaar, Thoda Magic is co-produced by Yash Raj Films and Kunal Kohli, directed by Kunal Kohli, Music by Shankar Ehsaan Loy, Lyrics by Prasoon Joshi and stars Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji and the music has been released on YRF Music.

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