Well to begin with....Bulandi is not the best of T.Rama Rao,Anil Kapoor,Rekha or Raveena but it is not even a bad movie.The Box Office of Bulandi does not have any substantial figures yet it is a movie which can be viewed for it's storytelling,performances and old rural Indian customs,beliefs and traditions. The movie with the backdrop of a village takes you through the lives of the 'Thakur' family.The story is not very unique and looks like more of 1980's or early 1990's(you may even recall other village based stories of Bollywood like Viraasat...).But the storytelling is entertaining and doesn't slow down except a few places.Performance wise Anil Kapoor is as always convincing with a double role of Thakur and his younger brother.Rekha looks beautiful and as always shines with some good scenes like the one where she surprises Raveena by speaking English.Raveena looks beautiful and matures from a rude,arrogant girl to a dedicated wife.Supporting cast is fine with veterans like Aruna Irani and Kulbhushan Kharbanda.The comedy at some places stoops down too much while in some places even is hilarious.In the comedy segment better was expected from the script and with fabulous performers like Paresh Rawal and Late Sadashiv Amrapurkar it was achievable.Shakti Kapoor looks evil as a negative actor.And never to forget....Rajnikant in just a few scenes shows his Starpower!!!His style and larger than life screen presence is really fun to watch.The music is average and definitely a chart-buster was expected from Viju Shah.Yet 'Koi Hungama Ho Jaaye','Teri Meri Ik Jind' and 'Humne Tumko Chun Liya' rise above.Yes a couple of songs could have been edited in the second half.The glamorous avatar of Anil and Raveena in two songs don't leave you disappointed as we are used to it(especially urban audience).But the biggest drawback is the resemblance to old classics in the year 2000.By the new millennium arrived, people(especially metro city and larger urban centres)were rejecting old ideas and drama.The limited performance of 'Sooryavansham'(a rather good film) which released in 1999 is an example.So when the Multiplexes were about to arrive and old faces were going to take a backseat,Bulandi's timing went wrong. But that doesn't mean the film lacks everything.In today's 'Blind Multiplex Formula Era' Bulandi is still a reminder of those stories of Rural India which are completely neglected by the filmmakers who are only bothered about the 100crore club.(How many have dared in the last 15 years to make something like Swades(social) or Malaamaal Weekly(comedy)???) So to sum up-Bulandi if not Great is at least Good if you watch it 'Neutrally' without thinking about Box Office.
