Monthly Archives: March 2012

Chaar Din Ki Chandni Box-Office Prediction

Star Value: With the star cast being Tusshar Kapoor and Kulraj Randhawa, along with few supporting actors, there isn’t much star value in Chaar Din Ki Chandni.

Hype: Despite no big stars, the promos of the movie have managed to interest the viewers. The humour factor has made sure the film has become somewhat well-known.

Music: ‘Kangana’ track has impressed. It has also been a good publicity material for the movie. The ‘Chandni’ song, originally from the movie Chandni (1989), is also been associated with the movie as it has been hugely used in the promos.

Prediction: Chaar Din Ki Chandni will, at the most, get an average opening at the box-office. The film needs to super impress the viewers and the critics in the initial days if it has to succeed.

Kahaani Box-Office Prediction

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Star Value: Vidya Balan has always been a terrific performer but she lacked the star value required to draw huge number of audiences to theatres singlehandedly. But things have changed for her drastically post the success of The Dirty Picture. Now, her star value has almost doubled. This will help Kahaani get good numbers initially.

Hype: The very first promo of Kahaani, which was wonderfully crafted, struck a great chord with the audience. The promos which followed had a similar effect with the junta. The makers have succeeded in generating good hype for the film as people are very much eager to know the suspense behind Arnab Bagchi (Vidya’s husband in the movie).

Music: ‘Aami Shotti Bolchi’, an unusual fast-paced number has managed to get heads turned. ‘Piya Tu Kahe Rootha Re’ is also well-received. Surprisingly, the makers haven’t used Amitabh Bachchan rendered track ‘Ekla Chalo’ as a promotional material.

Prediction: Kahaani will get a decent to good opening, although not extra-ordinary. It has more chances in multiplexes. Its initial response, and mostly the suspense factor, will determine whether it will be a winner at the box-office.

(Filed under the category BOLLYWOOD.)

Aayna Ka Bayna: Life is a dancing stage!

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Since recent years, Marathi filmmakers have started making films on subjects which were never touched before. One filmmaker who has also tried to do that is Samit Kakkad in Aayna Ka Bayna, a film entirely based on different forms of western dance. The film stars well-renowned Marathi actor Sachin Khedekar along with Amruta Khanvilkar and Raqesh Vashisht.

The makers have claimed that this is the first Marathi film to be based purely on western dance. Director Kakkad, whose last flick being Huppa Huyaa, further explains this by saying, “Aayna Ka Bayna is all about dreaming with your feet and winning.”

As dance is an important ingredient of the story, the makers have tried to make sure that no stone is left unturned when it comes to the quality of dance. They have roped in dancers from Rohan N Group. The group has managed to impress viewers with their moves in dance reality shows like Boogie Woogie and Chak Dhoom Dhoom.

And if there is dance, there has to be music. For this, composers Ajit Parab and Sameer Mhatre are being signed. There are also action sequences imbibed in the script which are handled by Javed-Aezaz.

Now, only the release of the movie will determine whether the makers will ‘dance’ all the way to the bank as well as audiences’ hearts!

Paan Singh Tomar Review

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Direction: Tigmanshu Dhulia

Production: UTV Motion Pictures

Cast: Irrfan Khan, Vipin Sharma, Khan Jehangir Khan, Mahie Gill, Rajendra Gupta, Nawazuddin Siddiqui

Music: Abhishek Ray

Rating: * * * *

Plot: The movie is a biopic on the life of the great Indian athlete Paan Singh Tomar who was later forced to become a dacoit. After enrolling in the Indian army, Tomar gets himself transferred to the sports department. Having the ability to run like a hare, Tomar soon becomes a National Champion in the sport and later leaves his mark at the international level as well.

But the big turning point in his life arrives when he gets into a dispute regarding his farm with his nephew Bhanwar Singh (Khan Jehangir Khan). Singh uses force to snatch away Tomar’s farm. Tomar runs from pillar to post to get justice but in vain. This forces the sportsman to become a dacoit and fight for his rights.

Review: Director Tigmanshu Dhulia has always narrated hard hitting dramas with maturity, right from his debut Haasil (2003) to his last flick Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster (2011). With Paan Singh Tomar, the filmmaker tries to tackle his most difficult subject ever. It is believed that big challenges bring out the best in you. This phrase proves to be true for Dhulia as he comes up with his best effort ever in PST. In fact, personally speaking, it’s one of the most well made films to have come from Bollywood in recent years!

It’s a proven fact that the root of all great films is a powerful or a watertight script. Such is the case with the screenplay of the Irrfan Khan starrer courtesy Dhulia and Sanjay Chauhan. It was a very intelligent idea to have Tomar narrating his life to a journalist.

The unfolding of events as Tomar’s life progresses from being an army officer to a champion runner (in the first half) makes sure there isn’t a dull moment ever. It’s an amalgamation of well written and well directed scenes with terrific performances and dialogues.

The same continues in the post-interval section when the athlete starts a new chapter in his life as a dacoit. The way Tomar and his group take revenge and fight for their lives stays etched in your memory.

(Review continued after picture.)

In the end, your heart just goes out for Tomar and numerous other sportsmen (non-cricketers) who are just thrown away by the government and sports authorities as unwanted individuals after they brought glory to the nation. It really paints the sports authorities and system with shame to see such brilliant sportsmen been denied a meaningful life and even simple justice.

There isn’t any flipside as such. The only thing which can be mentioned under this is that the film might not appeal to those who are looking for feel-good or masala entertainers.

There is top quality work seen even in the technical departments like cinematography (Aseem Mishra) and background score (Sandeep Chowta). Those are vital areas in a film like this. The songs, which are only used in the background, suit the subject.

Over the years, Irrfan Khan has proved that he is one of the best actors India has ever produced. He proves this fact yet again in his act as Paan Singh Tomar, which can be rated as one of his finest ever! He skillfully gets into the skin of the character and portrays every emotion with ease!

Vipin Sharma, Khan Jehangir Khan, Mahie Gill, Rajendra Gupta, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and the rest of the supporting cast also delivers quality performances.

Overall, Paan Singh Tomar is a film which can take Indian cinema to greater levels. Sadly, it hasn’t had a good opening at the box-office due to the lack of proper publicity. However, the collections might just increase in the coming days if it receives positive word-of-mouth, which it strongly deserves!

Matter (Marathi Movie) Review

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Direction: Satish Motling

Production: Poonam Shende for Saarthi Entertainment

Cast: Santosh Juvekar, Sushant Shelar, Rajesh Shringarpure, Jitendra Joshi, Usha Nadkarni, Sameer Dharmadhikari, Yogini Chouk, Surekha Kudachi, Minal Ghorpade, Megha Dhade

Music: Abhijeet Rameshrao Kawthalkar

Rating: * * *

Plot: Pakya, Babya and Raja (who are later played by Santosh Juvekar, Jitendra Joshi and Sushant Shelar) are forced to kill a gangster during their childhood. There are sent to the remand home where they join hands with the notorious Rony (later played by Rajesh Shringarpure).

As the stigma of being murderers is attached to their name, the four friends neither find a job nor self-respect from the people around them. Left with no other choice, they are forced to join underworld don Bala’s gang. In the meantime, the commissioner of police appoints officer Vikram (Sameer Dharmadhikari) the task of cleansing Mumbai from the filth of underworld.

Review: Underworld of Mumbai is not a novel concept in Indian cinema. So, when a filmmaker decides to try his hand in the genre, it is vital that he provides the audience with an interesting and a memorable tale. Director Satish Motling touches the genre in his debut flick Matter. Although the end result might not be superlative, the film surely turns out to be a one-time watch due to the realism executed in terms of characters, dialogues, story and situations.

An exhibition of good writing (Atmaram Dharne) is seen at the start as no time is wasted in bringing the twist (murder) in the lives of three children. Things further brighten up when the four friends grow up. Their conversation and the regular addition of realistic yet rib-tickling humour scores well. The further unfolding of the events and an interesting twist at interval point sums up a good first half.

The same, however, cannot be said for the post-interval portion. The main reason for this is that too much of importance is given to Pakya, Babya and Rony’s love stories. In this, Babya’s marriage incident appears stretched. An unusual incident that deserves mention is that three prominent characters are not shown grieving when their loved one passes away. Strange! Fortunately, the twists and the events that follow, including the climax, fare better.

(Review continued after picture.)

In the end, one has to say that the flick indirectly gives an important message that there cannot be any justification for crime, no matter how valid a reason you have.

Performances are another plus point. Santosh Juvekar displays his talent yet again as a hot tempered bhai. Sushant Shelar and Jitendra Joshi provide well-executed performances while Rajesh Shringarpure is likable. Usha Nadkarni is terrific as a ruthless politician.

Sameer Dharmadhikari is apt in the role of a cop. He gets to prove his mettle more in the second half. The actor playing Bala is average. The character needed to be more convincing. Surekha Kudachi shows maturity. Yogini Chouk provides good support while Minal Ghorpade and Megha Dhade are just okay.

Overall, Matter is a one-time watch, especially for those who enjoy such crime thrillers. It has a chance of making a mark at the box-office because of the commercial factors thrown in.