London Dreams Movie Review
The highly anticipated musical London Dreams finally hit screens today. Directed by Vipul Shah of Namestey London fame, this rock band saga stars Salman Khan, Ajay Devgan and Asin Thottumkal in the lead. Salman and Ajay come together nearly a decade after Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.
London Dreams draws inspiration from the legendary Mozart-Salieri rivalry and revolves around the theme of friendship, trust, passion, jealousy and sacrifice against the backdrop of music.
London Dreams revolves around two childhood friends – Arjun (Ajay Devgan) and Mannu (Salman Khan), who over the years become thick friends. Arjun is extremely passionate about music and his dream is to make it big and sing at the London’s Wembley Stadium with thousands of fans cheering for him. On the other hand, Mannu is lighthearted and capricious and does not realize his innate musical talent. Despite all the hurdles, Arjun’s dream slowly takes shape and he manages to form a band called London Dreams. Just when his fame starts spreading wider and across the borders, things take a new twist and Mannu begins to steal the show. Slowly jealousy creeps into Arjun’s path to victory and his strong faithful friendship takes an ugly shape. Who wins the musical battle to fame and success? Who does London Dreams belong too? This forms the rest of the story
London Dreams Review
Why London Dreams is a much watch in theater
- London Dreams is one of Vipul Shah’s best works. From the gigantic concerts to romance to the conspiracy, everything is well executed. The script ideally should have been crisper, especially the climax.
- With well-etched characters, Vipul has also managed to extract brilliant performances from both actors. Think ‘Wanted’ was Salman’s best? wait till you watch this. He emotes like never before, effortlessly delivering one of his best performances to date. You easily relate and feel deeply for his character. This performance could well win him some awards this year.
- No other actor in Bollywood can be as intense as Ajay Devgan and he fits into Arjun’s skin with dexterity and precision. Although Ajay’s role takes a gray shade, his competency is unmatched and takes grounds equal as Salman Khan in making a place for himself in the minds of the audience. While he doesn’t really look like a rockstar, its his acting histrionics that does the trick.. although he should have worked harder on his dancing skills.
- Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan share amazing chemistry. Be it their confrontation at Ajay’s home or at the stadium or their happy times of friendship, their off screen comfort-level is clearly visible on screen.
- Salman Khan’s first flight to London is absolutely hilarious. His dialogues are funny and so are his expressions. Must watch!
- Asin looked very pretty and danced well, but in a movie dominated by Salman and Ajay Devgan, she doesn’t really get enough scope to exhibit her acting talent. Chennai Express is a cute name!
- Music by Shankar Ehsaan Loy is in fine tune with the tone of the movie and fits perfectly into the film. The gigantic concerts are shot amazingly well.
What’s not-so-good in London Dreams
- A few scenes do appear over the top and not so very convincing. Like Ajay giving away the most important moment of his life and confronting his friend in front of thousands. Also the on-stage dialogues were weak and lacked intensity.
- A little more drama, more rivalry would have made the movie an even better watch, perhaps more realistic. Forgiveness is allowed in friendship, but being too humble without even a pinch of anger is unacceptable, its too far fetched.
Overall, London Dreams is one of the best films of the year. The stretched climax is a bit of a disappointment but the fantastic performances by both Ajay and Salman more than makes up for it.
Rating: 
3 and a half stars
Seen London Dreams already? Post your very own reviews below
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Comments
nauman: (October 30, 2009 at 7:35 pm)
KARAN: (October 30, 2009 at 8:01 pm)
well not fuuly convinced with indicine team review.
review: musical flim with bit of luv triangle,,,london dreams…has some crushed dreams. a gud flim….has some flaws…which make this movie average,,,,
wht not to watch london dreams.
1. the story of two friends…nd then luv triangle….old story nothing new
2. the main and biigest problem with london dreams is that it is musical flim with a bad music…. lots of songs…no song,,is a hit…and climax song will iritate you…bad compostion by shankar ehsaan loy till date
after coming out of theatre no songs on ur tounge…
3.villion of the movie is its own music….some songs can b cut.
4.the director confuse between luv story and friends rivalry,,,so at the end in climax its slipss in both situation and makes very ordinary ending with climax,,,
5. no gud dialouges,,,
why to watch movie.
1. SALMAN KHAN…..its his again best acting so far…comedy acyting was also awsume
2, AJAY DEVGAN: At his best.
3.Asin luks gud on screen …but her role was wasted.
OVERALL: A musical movie…which music has no dum still go for two gr8 actors with some gr8 acting
My rating 2.5/5
zacky: (October 30, 2009 at 9:25 pm)
4:00 PM IST update – Single screens are poor, business has picked up after a slow start this morning. Advance booking for evening shows are good. Critic reviews and audience reactions are pretty positive.
7:15 PM IST update – Business has doubled for the evening and night shows. Few screens at select multiplexes in Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai are sold out (shows are 9PM). For those curious, Aladin looks almost certain to be a disaster, unless it picks up on Saturday and Sunday.
zacky: (October 30, 2009 at 9:27 pm)
@INCIDINE-HOW MUCH DO U EXPECT LD TO EARN 1ST DAY?????????
Abhinav: (October 30, 2009 at 9:50 pm)
@Karan: Could u name some of your fvr8 movies? Wanna know ur taste…Don’t put ur shit review in a site like his…There is always a similarity in da story line, dats wid every movie..can u suggest a movie which has a complete different story..a movie wid no story can be..
As far as music of the movie is concerned, hats off to Prasoon Joshi for wonderful lyrics..I must say u’r coming closer to Gulzar. SEL has produced a gr8 music album..its nt like usula albums where u’r copyin words of english songs…U talk abt. genuine story which is a complete different..y aint u liking a complete different lovely music album, with wonderful Hindi wordings????
I would rate LD, 4 out of 5…cheers LD team..
Praveen: (October 30, 2009 at 10:00 pm)
SALLU YOU ROCK SALLU YOU ROCK SALLU YOU ROCK SALLU YOU ROCK SALLU YOU ROCK
WHAT a performance ..where were you since tere naam ?
Fantabulous performance ..one of the best in recent times. You deserve best actor award.
Coming to the film ..its a film mixed with friendship and jealousness of a rock band. First half is well paced with good songs .. second half is more on the emotional side. Climax will bring you into tears. I haven’t cried so much since Taare zameen par. People seated 10mins after the film over to clear their tears.
Salman as an actor deserves 5/5
Ajay too was superb but he looses in histrionics 4/5
asin played her part well 3.5 / 5
My Rating 4.5/5 Its a must watch for everyone ..thanks for this vipul shah… you rock!!!!!!!
karan: (October 31, 2009 at 12:03 am)
abhinav@: no need to knw my taste …..ur quesetion of movie with diffrent story…aqnqswer qis taare zameen par, black, swades, koi mil gya rock on nd many mnore…and the lyrics all are shit,,,of movie…agar itne he ache hote thn aaj is k songs chatbusters pe top mein hote…but thts nt the case is in this movie….seems u knw lot about music better cvompose ur own album and listen by ur own….gud luck
Abhinav: (October 31, 2009 at 12:34 am)
@ Karan- U’ve named many movies….out of all da movies hw many r blockbusters????Only one…Koi Mil Gaya…n dat was nt at all a moviewid a new story..in fact it was a copy of an english movie..yeah I appreciate other movies u told..TZP, Swades and Black..dese wr so good..but these movies dint appeal da mass..u noe dat TZP is a super hit..Black is just a hit and Swades is a flop..Dey all dint a damn good kinda business…hmmm dey wr da landmarks of ‘indian cinema…damn good movies..but not commercialy successful.and to mk a movie a success..u’ve to go wid a formula..dats wot all film makers r doin..some don’t compromise wid art.lyk Shyam Benegal..some do…believe me…We can’t understand movies better thandese ‘film waale log’.
As far as music of LD is concerned..listen it properly..u’ll definetely appreciate Prasoon 4 his wonderful lyrics..n u’ll find da music so genuine..so different..dere is a kinda desi feeling in it…
if da music isnt doin so good…den its sad wid bollywood..A good music is no more in demand…evey body fromLata to Alka to Sonu r sayin dis..which is really sad wid bollywood music..
him: (October 31, 2009 at 2:05 am)
huuuuuuu…….some ppls r telling just shit here…..so i m just clearing all the crap…..
first thing this movie LD is the story of ajay devgan…..but he is not in the lead role….he got all the gray shade…in the movie ajay has negative role..n salmaan has positive.. so if u want 2 know who’s HERO in the film…..its salmaan itself….
@nauman…..buddy u hv no idea wat ru writin here…..all the crap..plzz visit all the sites all r sayin salmaan in lead role…..
@karan…..u r sayin “no good dialogs ” in the movie…..ohh cut the crap….movie got all the best dialogs n punches specially by salmaan…..nwazz u like taare zameen par …..may b ur mind is also working lyk darsheel the boy in TZP…..may be ur nt well in hindi…..so go and arrange a english version of LD so u cn undstnd the dialogs….
OVERall ITS A FULL PAISA WASOOL MOVIE…..A MUST WATCH…..BEST COMIC PERFORMANCE BY SALMAAN AND AJAY AT HIS BEST AS ALWAZ.
mansi: (October 31, 2009 at 3:04 am)
hehehe all bakwas its waste movie..i will give rating 1.5 only for ajay and asin action…
climax is very bad..name is somthing movie is differnt…i know if salman is thr sure it willl be a bif crap…:D:D:D so better to watch other movies and enjy ur weekend
PRIYANKA: (October 31, 2009 at 8:51 am)
GREAT MOVIEEE.
Adhideb Ghosh: (October 31, 2009 at 9:10 am)
It’s a complete blockbluster!!!!!! & wortha a watch!!!!!!
specially for salman’s brilliant acting and his superb chemistry with asin!!!!!
the muvie deserves atleast 4/5 (truly it deserves)…
sudeep: (October 31, 2009 at 9:45 am)
Guys check out new song from De Dana Dan – Rishte Naate….very cool song!!!!!good location+good voice of Rahat ali khan….music is not quite upto voice of singer but still rocksssss
Naveed: (October 31, 2009 at 11:59 am)
Guyz ive just come back from watchin LD.
it waz absolutely amazing, 1 ov da best films ive ever seen.
Everything waz perfect, maybe da last song was not neccessary but da film certainly makes up for it.
Salman, Ajay and Asin were fantastic especially Salman.
he waz so funny and da scenes which required emotion wre also very good.
da chemistry between him and Ajay was rocking way better dan HDDCS.
he also looked very good wid da beautiful Asin.
guyz watch it and ull know wat am on about.
i dont wanna keep goin on bout da film but wat i do wanna say iz dat all da chracters complement each other extremely well and r beautifully directed by Vipul Shah.
i realised by watching da promos dat Salman meant business in dis film like in WANTED after watchin da film my thoughts wre proved correct 100%.
As a Salman fan i hope he haz dis same attitude in all hiz projects. Coz he really waz dat good.
da plain scenes r a delight. people were in splits and the ending brought tears to my eyes, had to hide em from me friends got a reputation to protect. lol
JUST WATCH DA FILM YOU WONT REGERT IT.
dis film and da actors r suerly gonna win awards. and any1 who is curious or worried bout salman being da main lead. him and Ajay have da same screen time but Salman shines IMO.
Fathiya: (October 31, 2009 at 12:32 pm)
Indicine team: agree with yr review, I loved the movie and I’m going to cinema today again, to watch it for second time with my niece, as she wants me to accompany her for this movie.. the reason for me to watch it again and in a very short time – I watched it on Thrusday – because I’d love to see Salman Khan’s performance again specially in the flight scene, while he’s on board.. a very funny scene.
What I loved in the last 5 minutes of the movie is the following: all the audience couldn’t predict what would be Salman Khan’s reaction.. we used to say: he might be so sad.. he might refuse to meet his friend.. he might.. he might.. but what happens! that’s what the audience could never predict!
Anyways.. a word to all the readers: don’t hesitate to go and watch it.. you’ll enjoy it and Salman Khan is the “soul” of this movie and he made it interesting.
Abhinav: (October 31, 2009 at 1:56 pm)
@ Faathiya- Hey! I agree u completely…….
Rick Patel: (October 31, 2009 at 2:35 pm)
Too bad no real actors were available for this shopworn farce. Salman & Ajay are boring, no-talent old fossils, and Asin just another wide-bottom airhead. Give it a miss.
khan: (October 31, 2009 at 2:49 pm)
yes ajay in the lead role of london dreams……. i give 3 star only for ajay devgan………..
ajay u rock in the movie
nauman: (October 31, 2009 at 3:16 pm)
karan:
i think now u dont need to watch any movie . the story line was 100 % diffrent then other movies i ll tell u again that wht was the story :
ajay has a dream to be a great musician since his childhood. when he got the chance then he called his best friend to help him but unfortunatly people like his friend more then him n he feeld jalousy for his frnd that his friend grab his position his dream his music his name even his lover.
tell me wht is old in this story line it is totally diffrent. LD is not a love story its abt dream of a man but love is a part of story like other action movies .
n u said songs are not good. i wana tell u mostly songs are stage live performances like ajay’s first song when he met asin n other boys , 2nd audition , 3rd stage performance with salman , fourth again stage performance in wmbley , 6th the climax song . tell me one thing did u ever listen any english band songs ??? i think never coz all english songs are like this . they were singing songs for british people not for indian punjabi or gujrati or tamil poeple so according to scripts songs were good but it could be better but still avg . and climax song was best song of the movie and climax sceen the last sceen when they both jump on crowd it was fantastic . it said so many things but u idiot guys n critics never understand that wht was the meaning of that sceen .
n u said dialogue were not good . so its challange for u could u plz writer a single dialogue ??? ever yesterday i said same thing to indicin n they didnt write a single sentence so far wht will u write???
it is very easy to say but very difficult to do.
guys LOndon dreams is a best movie of this year and ajay n salman’s performances are best performance of this yr n it will get more then 40 cr i m hopeful
PRIYANKA: (October 31, 2009 at 4:07 pm)
MINDBLOWING MOVIE.WEN SALMAN SANG HANUMAN CHALISA EVRY1 WAS GOIN MAD,RITICS R SAYIN IT 2 B MOMENT OF BOLLYWOOD DIS YR.DREAM ENDING,ROCKIN MUSIC,WAT MORE U ASK FOR.ALL ACTORS WERE BRILLIANT.AWESOME MOVIE.GIVE IT A GO ,I ASSURE U WONT REGRET AFTR U WATCH IT
abhinav
it is up to u that wht u think but there is fact that salman is supporting in LD.