26th July at Barista

Cast : Kabir Sawhney, Simran Vaid, Rohini Hattangadi, Ashish Duggal, Rita Joshi, Seema Pandey, Anil Mhatrey Director : Producer : Genre : Release Date : 14-3-2008

Synopsis 26TH JULY AT BARISTA takes the trend further with the only difference being that while the aforementioned films were centered on underworld, this one picks up it's story from a natural disaster that had struck Mumbai exactly 2 years back. Year 2006. Date - 26th July. The day when rains lashed Mumbai like never before and took away many a lives. The day when it was hard to imagine how something as cruel as this could happen to a city that was always vibrant The day when the spirit of Mumbai was revealed for an umpteenth time as young and old, men and women, rich and poor - everyone came together to help each other. The day which even today is remembered by all and makes one salute the spirit of togetherness and spirit of Mumbai! The film is set in the coffee shot Barista where people were having just yet another round of coffee while chatting up with friends and generally having good times. The film's lead pair met there as well, though as complete strangers. Little did they know that the incidents that would occur on this day would change their lives forever. The rain never stopped and soon it was loud and clear that nothing could stop a calamity from taking place. There was apprehension, fear and sorrow all around. No one knew what could be the course of action but then when has ever been the case when Mumbaikars have just sat down with their hands all tied? The people in Barista rose up to the challenge and started taking measures to save not just themselves but even the people on the street. They had to overcome this challenge. By any means. But how? Sheer spirit followed by determination and will-power make them all come together and change the path that destiny had designed for them. Did they succeed? Starring Kabir Sawhney and Simran Vaid, 26TH JULY AT BARISTA has lyrics and music by Sandarbh with Mohan Sharma at the helm of direction। The film is planned for 3rd August release. Reviews 26th July at Barista: Cheeni Kum Paani Jyaada! The fateful day of 26th July 2005 when Mumbai came to a standstill as the unexpected heavy torrential rains made Mumbaikars vulnerable to many horrific situations. They were blocked in their schools, job location and traffic apart from railways stations and cafeterias. This film is set in a coffee house where a section of people from varied walks of life are stranded. This assorted group consists of a techie dude, a marketing executive girl, a Sardar couple, a script writer, a wannabe starlet, a teenager trio apart from various other people dropping in searching for their near and dear ones at the coffee shop at regular intervals. What they all go through till the sunshine arises on dawn forms the film. StarBoxOffice.com Review Amateurish from its first frame to the last where the voice-over coupled with stock visuals of the real life footage makes it appear more of a Muncipal Corporation documentary rather than a compassionate film or tribute which the makers claim it is. What keeps you entertained to some extent are the unintentional laughs you derive watching the nameless actors hamming to the hilt, the unimaginative scripting which is full of cliché characters and situations. Imagine a cop barging in the middle of night when there is no power in the coffee shop and heavy flood outside and wasting 20 minutes of footage in silly interrogating of those present. Once he realizes his mistake he doesn't stop at that and goes on to bore the hell out of you by sermonizing for another few minutes about how all this is a part of their job! Then if you thought it was the end of your torture, comes in a gang raped woman who goes on and on about how her being an AIDS victim will now affect those who raped her! The makers have ensured that none of the characters evoke any empathy or even a pinch of sorrow from the audience. With almost the entire film shot in dark, just when you tend to doze off you are immediately awakened by the loud background score of stock lightning noises! Avoid in all circumstances even if you have free time on hand and if you still insist then make a trip to a real Barista instead!