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Critic Review
Miss Lovely Bombay, 1988. Vicky and Sonu are brothers and partners in crime. They produce “C” grade films in the lower depths of Bollywood — lurid horror films, erotic bandit pictures, sleazy social dramas. From a humid one-hour hotel, amidst spilled whiskey and bouts of womanizing, Vicky churns out illicit titles like “Dolly Darling” and “Lady James Bond” for India’s small-town picture houses. He leaves the donkey-work to Sonu, his withdrawn, dim-witted younger sibling, who often cleans up after him. Returning exhausted from a sales trip peddling erotic reels in the hinterland, Sonu encounters a mysterious girl on the train and is drawn to her fragile beauty. She’s only just arrived in Bombay and her vulnerability soothes his own sense of despair. Her name is Pinky and she appears to be a struggling actress. Vicky dismisses the girl as a gullible piece of flesh but Sonu is desperate, bewitched by Pinky’s silent radiance. He knows that only she can save him; make his emptiness disappear. As the seasons change, Sonu begins to resent his hard-edged brother. He no longer wants to slave for Vicky’s lawless operation and decides to make a film of his own, with Pinky in the lead. A double debut — producer and star. Its a reckless, nihilistic venture with no story and no crew in place. But he has a title — the film will be called ‘Miss Lovely’ and Sonu will do whatever it takes to make it. But nothing is what it seems in this garish underworld of shifting alliances, double dealing, and quivering flesh. Out on the streets three years later, Sonu realizes that his whole world has turned upside down. A baroque tale of betrayal and doomed love, the animal instincts of the struggling actress prove to be the most cutthroat of all. As paranoia and violence spiral out of control, brother turns on brother, and blood spills like water. Sonu, now alone and abandoned, aimlessly wanders the streets, junkyards and film studios, aching for one last glimpse of Pinky. A Hindi feature film set in the lower depths of Bombay’s “C” grade film industry. Miss Lovely follows the devastating story of two brothers who produce sleazy horror films in the mid-1980s. Set in the lower depths of Bombay’s “C” grade film industry, Miss Lovely follows the devastating story of two brothers who produce sex horror films in the mid-1980s. A sordid tale of betrayal and doomed love, the film dives into the lower depths of the Bollywood underground, an audacious cinema with baroque cinemascope compositions, lurid art direction, wild background soundtracks, and gut-wrenching melodrama..
Mid-day.com  (Feb 23, 2014)
Rating:  4/5

Watch this film only if you are brave enough to dive into the ‘dirty’ pool. If you are lucky, you might shed a layer of ‘sophistication’ and feel liberated. -.

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Bollywoodlife.com  (Feb 23, 2014)
Rating:  4.5/5

The exploitation films within the film are handled discreetly, with their titles and taglines more lurid than anything shown onscreen..

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Bollywoodhungama.com  (Feb 23, 2014)
Rating:  3/5

On the whole, MISS LOVELY is worth a watch for its taut screenplay, fine performances and the detailing that has gone into recreating the bygone era. At the same time, it caters more to aficionados of meaningful cinema!.

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Timesofindia.com  (Feb 23, 2014)
Rating:  2/5

The film is stylishly sleazy, that's what works for it. Watch it for a retro-ride into the naked innards of a soft-porn world and its bared bosoms..

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Ndtv.com  (Feb 23, 2014)
Rating:  4/5

The first hour or so of Miss Lovely is marked by camerawork that just is as frenzied as the shifty characters. It then settles down to a steadier tempo even as the drama takes a more intense and dangerous turn. Miss Lovely is like an all-out pincer.

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Hindustantimes.com  (Feb 23, 2014)
Rating:  3/5

All in all, the film is bound to make you uncomfortable, but also brings the contentment of experiencing something new in cinema. -.

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Rated 3.4166666666667 6
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