Peter Young Not much to say about Naach. It is an endearing story of two strangers who meet each other and learn to know each other through the art of dance. The film is beautifully shot, and the making is inspiring and intelligent. Abhishek and Antara give spirited, restrained and realistic portrayals. The film however is very slow and the development of the story is a bit stretched and long. It doesn't make the film uninteresting, but it significantly reduces its level of appeal and creates some disturbing aspect to it. Nonetheless, Naach is a quality film that perfectly gives expression to the talent and the unique style of Ram Gopal Varma, and it should not be missed. Go for it!

Chrysanthepop '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.

Ravenus 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.

Abhishek Bandekar There are movies and there are MOVIES. Similarly, there are Ramgopal Varma creations and then there is NAACH! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, NAACH is Varma's best work till date. Agreed, the story is weak, the proceedings not quite comprehensive and the climax(to put it mildly) unconvincing and rushed. But then, this movie is not about story or characters. It is about Ramgopal Varma and his style of film-making. Varma has always defied the norms of Bollywood with his craft of the cinema. He refuses to crowd his movies with unnecessary song and dance routines, slapstick comedy, logic-defying action and most importantly, excessive melodrama. He doesn't play to the gallery at all! That is the reason why his 'SATYA' is still considered the most hard-hitting portrayal of the dark underbelly of the Mumbai underworld. His characters(SHOOL, AB TAK CHAPPAN) are just as believable and real as the person you cross roads with! His camera-work(KAUN, JUNGLE) is ever inventive and his editing(COMPANY), groundbreaking. And what is perhaps most surprising about this maverick film-maker is the frequency at which he keeps churning out movie after movie. And in doing so, he has created a niche audience for himself that waits for his films with earnestness! NAACH is Varma's tribute to this niche audience of his! Actually, NAACH is Varma's argument against all that is practiced in Bollywood which he would like to overthrow!NAACH is artistic masturbation at its best! And I have always been for artistic masturbation. GAJAGAMINI is one of the most criminally ignored films! The best works of Goddard, Almodovar and Tarkowsky have flowed(no pun intended) from labours of artistic masturbation. NAACH is Varma fantasizing about his vision of cinematic splendor and justifying his style of cinema. Therefore, in this process of presenting an artistic argument, the story and characters become collateral! And hence, inconsequential!NAACH then revolves around the lives of Abhinav(Abhishek Bachchan) and Reva(Antara Mali). Abhinav is a struggling actor and Reva an aspiring choreographer. Both intent on making it in the world of Bollywood. But their ideologies are different. Abhinav has no problems subscribing to the accepted to make his name, inspite of the fact that he resents formula cinema himself. Reva, on the other hand, wants to revolutionize the style of dance and music. Obviously, the idealist takes a long time to climb the ladder while the pragmatic reaches there instantly. But despite the success, Abhinav craves for the company of Reva. What Varma establishes here is the dormant yet inherent desire inside every actor to satisfy his creative and artistic urges that no amount of money and fame can satiate! In telling the stories of Abhinav and Reva, Varma also informs us about the machinery of Bollywood that governs what is produced and what is rebuked! Star-tantrums, artistic differences and egoistic upheavals determine the outcome of the final product. Reva(a play on Ramgopal Varma's initials- RV) is Varma's personification of his idea of beauty and cinema. Just as she defies the conventional style of dance, Varma uses her body to define grace. In fact, in every contour of her body, Varma shows us true beauty. So pure are his metaphorical references, that none of the scenes can be thought perverse. If people find this movie vulgar, then every sculpture at Khajuraho and Elephanta and every painting at Chola temples are vulgar too!There is a scene in the movie when Ritesh Deshmukh tells Antara Mali that her ideas are ahead of her times. Ironically, so is this movie! NAACH is unlike any Varma movie, but it is about Varma movies! Go see it, and devour this large canvas of beauty!Rating- ****** Poor ** Average *** Good **** Very Good ***** Excellent