The Common Man Speaks

Liberty Cinema: Standing tall against odds!

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Understandably, an unsatisfactory movie makes us feel our money and time got unnecessarily wasted. However, an unsatisfactory movie at Liberty Cinema doesn’t make me feel so. The beauty of the place makes even a bad movie a paisa vasool experience! The simple yet beautifully interiors, comfortable seating, artistic ceiling designs, royal staircase (especially the ones which lead on to the balcony) and a perfect sound system have been more than a treat for cinema lovers since over six decades (see pictures).

But what makes it further special is that the cost has always been pocket-friendly. This allows the middle-class and the lower middle-class to relish the memorable experience unlike those multiplexes charging Rs 300 or more for a single ticket and Rs 60 plus for a tea that doesn’t taste like one! This fact generates tremendous respect for the single screen theatre from my side.

Recently, however, my respect for Liberty grew ten folds further when I read in a newspaper that the owner Mr Nazir Hossein is in no mood to convert the historical theatre into a swanky multiplex, despite the collections not being as high during its heydays.

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(All picture courtesy – Liberty Cinema Facebook page)

Since last decade or so, destruction of old buildings and monuments in the name of so-called development is on the rise in Mumbai. Naturally, some of the famous theatres of Mumbai have been demolished too to make way for multiplexes. In other words, owners of Mumbai’s famous architectural heritages themselves didn’t blink an eye before demolishing it.

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Metro Cinema, a stone-throw away from Liberty, is a classic example of this fact. A theatre which was once thronged by people from all classes of society now caters only to the elite classes. There is no sign of the common middle class public courtesy some abnormal ticket rates.

It would have been very easy to give in to the temptation when almost the whole of Mumbai is marching towards redevelopment. It takes a big heart and a strong will like Hossein to keep the flame alive. In order to survive the reducing numbers, the owner is now thinking of also bringing art shows, music concerts, etc to the theatre. This is an example of how a strong business sense can be applied to keep traditions alive. Of course, this doesn’t guarantee for the cash registers to keep ringing but for few people like Hossein, pride comes first.

Since the theater was built during the time of India’s independence in 1947, it was named Liberty, which means freedom. The name is apt as the place is free… free from the clutches of business-like attitude! All thanks to Hossein sir for retaining the feeling of the old, simple and uncomplicated Bombay!

To be a part of this proud historical figure of Mumbai and to keep yourself informed about various events at this place, join the Facebook page of Liberty Cinema by clicking here – https://www.facebook.com/libertycinema2012

Have a look at some more of the majestic pictures of Liberty Cinema: –

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Cocktail Box-Office Prediction

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Director: Homi Adajania

Producers: Eros International and Illuminati Films

Writer: Imtiaz Ali

Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, Diana Penty, Dimple Kapadia, Boman Irani

Music: Pritam

Release Date: July 13, 2012

Analysis:

Star Value: Although Saif Ali Khan is not one of the biggest crowd-pullers of Bollywood, he is a well-known star. On the other hand, Deepika Padukone stands out as one of the most famous young actresses currently. The debutant Diana Penty has also managed to make heads turn. Due to these factors, the star value of Cocktail is high.

Hype: The hype has been good if not remarkable. The songs and the promos have received thumbs up from youngsters, mostly the college-going crowd.

Songs: ‘Tumhi Ho Bandhu’ has got a tremendous response from the youngsters. Other songs like ‘Daru Desi’ and ‘Second Hand Jawani’ have become well-known too. In short, the music has played the biggest role in creating excitement for the movie.

Prediction:

Cocktail will certainly get a good opening first-up in the metros. Since it is a content-driven film, it is important for it to impress first up if it has to succeed at the box-office. The major hurdle for the film is that its content suits only to the urban multiplex audience. Due to this, the film won’t get a good response at smaller centers. Plus, the fact that last week’s Bol Bachchan is still going very strong might also affect its box-office collections. But the good news is that there are no major Bollywood releases next week.

 

Bol Bachchan Review

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Director: Rohit Shetty

Producers: Ajay Devgn Films, Shree Ashtavinayak Cinevison Ltd.

Writers: Farhad-Sajid (Story, Screenplay and Dialogues) and Yunus Sajawal (Story and Screenplay)

Cast: Ajay Devgn, Abhishek Bachchcan, Krushna Abhishek, Asin, Prachi Desai, Krushna Abhishek, Archana Puran Singh, Asrani, Neeaj Vora

Music: Himesh Reshammiya and Ajay-Atul

Rating: * * * *

Plot: On the verge of bankruptcy, Abbas Ali (Abhishek Bachchan) and his sister Sania (Asin) have almost reached a dead end in life. They find a ray of hope when their family friend Shastri (Asrani) takes them to Ranakpur in Rajasthan in the hope of finding a job for Abbas at Prithvi’s (Ajay Devgn) place. Prithvi is the rough and tough hunk of Ranakpur who doesn’t think twice before roughing up liars.

At Ranakpur, circumstances force Abbas to reveal his name as Abhishek Bachchan when he comes face-to-face with Prithvi. Impressed by Abhishek’s (Abbas) nature and hardworking attitude, Prithvi hires him. But in order to hide his one lie, Abbas has to use a series of lies. This gives rise to a number of rib-tickling incidents. However, how will Prithvi react after knowing he is conned by the one whom he trusted?

Review: It is believed that great stories can be re-told in any time zone by using characters totally different from the ones in the original. Stories by the great Shakespeare are classic examples of this fact. But Rohit Shetty’s remake of Bollywood’s classic comedy Gol Maal (1979) as Bol Bachchan is (in my opinion) the riskiest remake since, apart from changing the time zone and characters, the filmmaker has replaced innocence and reality with utter craziness.

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Reading this, one might feel Shetty has insulted the original Hrishikesh Mukherjee classic. I felt the same when I heard about this and saw promos, especially after seeing how royally David Dhawan failed in a similar task in Chor Machaye Shor (2002). However, after watching Bol Bachchan, I was pleasantly shocked (not just surprised) to see the film turning out to be one of the most enjoyable comedies in the mindless genre. In this way, Shetty has indirectly proved the versatility of Gol Maal and has, I dare to say, paid a tribute to it.

The writers (Farhad-Sajid and Yunus Sajawal) have delivered just what you expect from a film of this genre: non-stop hilarity in the form of some whacky, crazy punches that make you laugh out loud after, at most occasions, almost every seconds. From these moments, Ajay Devgn’s unthinkably weird English interpretations deserve special mention. Devgn’s manner of delivering those lines and their unexpected timing make it further hilarious. In fact, you continue to giggle recalling those one-liners long after leaving the cinema hall, although there would be some who might wince at such homour.

The major incidents from the original are narrated with the use of some creatively funny incidents. These include Abhishek’s gay act and dance, the scene where Archana Puran Singh appears as Abhishek’s fake mother and the climax, which although totally mindless, is unpredictable which makes it funny. But the one moment which surely deserves appreciation is the manner in which Devgn and his comrades react after knowing Abhishek’s true identity.

Thinking of the flipsides, the first thing that appears is the action, which crosses the level of silliness. Surely, they could have done without these juvenile car stunts and fight scenes. Apart from this, the content of the film, including some part of the humour, will get thumbs down from a section of the audience.

The film is well supported by the music (Naino Se Baan and Nach Le), although the title song is simply poor. Technical departments like cinematography (Dudley), background score (Amar Mohile), art direction (Narendra Rahurikar) and editing (Steven H. Bernard) add to the plus points.

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It was vital for the lead actors to give top-notch performances and that is exactly what is seen here. Ajay Devgn succeeds in showing his macho side but at the same time is hilarious during the comic scenes, especially while mouthing his silly English. Another proof of his versatility. Abhishek Bachchan enacts two diverse characters – a simpleton and a naughty gay – with brilliance. His popularity might have lessened due to the fate of his films in last few years but with this performance, proves once again he is one of the most talented actors currently.

Krushna Abhishek continues his brilliant act from the television show Comedy Circus to his Bollywood debut. His comic timing is remarkable. Archana Puran Singh too doesn’t lag behind in an unusually funny role and so do Neeraj Vora and Asrani. Asin and Prachi Desai are average. They don’t get much scope. Jeetu Verma, in the role of the baddie, is strictly okay. Amitabh Bachchan’s cameo in the title song is not bad.

Overall, Bol Bachchan is mindlessness at its best if you can put your topmost organ away. Needless to say, the film will take the box-office by storm. And for those who believe 100 crore is a yardstick for measuring success, yes, the film will cross that milestone.

Bol Bachchan Box-Office Prediction

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Director: Rohit Shetty

Producers: Ajay Devgn Films, Shree Ashtavinayak Cinevison Ltd.

Writers: Farhad-Sajid (Story, Screenplay and Dialogues) and Yunus Sajawal (Story and Screenplay)

Cast: Ajay Devgn, Abhishek Bachchcan, Asin, Prachi Desai, Krushna Abhishek, Archana Puran Singh

Music: Himesh Reshammiya and Ajay-Atul

Release Date: July 6, 2012

Analysis:

Star Value: Despite his last two films Tezz and Rascals turning out to be complete duds, Ajay Devgn’s start power is still high. This is largely because his 2011 blockbuster Singham is still fresh in audience’s minds. Abhishek Bachchan’s star value has decreased in the last few years due to a series of flops but he is still a very well known face of Bollywood. Due to these factors coupled with Rohit Shetty’s mind-blowing record at the box-office, one can say the star value for Bol Bachchan is high.

Hype: The response for the promos of the movie has been impressive but not extra-ordinary. As the publicity and the promotions have also been low key, the hype for Bol Bachchan isn’t as high as one would expect from an out and out commercial caper with big stars. Having said this, one can’t deny that the film is becoming well-known slowly.

Music: Rohit Shetty’s films have never been known from their music. The same is the case with Bol Bachchan. The songs haven’t become very popular with the masses, although ‘Chalao Na Naino Se Baan Re’ and the title song are getting known.

Prediction:

As expected, Bol Bachchan will get a good to very good opening at the box-office. But since the hype is not too high, the response won’t be excellent. If it manages to impress initially, it will be one of the biggest hits of the year. If it doesn’t, it will still manage to make some good money.

Maximum Movie Review

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Director: Kabeer Kaushik

Producer(s): Vainteya Films

Writer(s): Kabeer Kaushik

Cast: Sonu Sood, Naseeruddin Shah, Vinay Pathak, Amit Sadh, Mohan Agashe, Neha Dhupia, Swanand Kirkire, Rajendra Gupta

Music: Amjad Nadeem, Devi Shri Prasad

Rating: * * *

Plot: Encounter specialist Pratap Pandit (Sonu Sood) has climbed the ladder of success much quicker than his senior counterpart Arun Inamdar (Naseeruddin Shah). This has ignited a fire of jealousy inside Inamdar who starts using unfair tactics, including the misuse of people in power, to bring Pandit’s successful world crashing down. Who will bite the dust in the end? It is said that the film is based on a true story of encounter cop Pradeep Sharma.

Review: Director Kabeer Kaushik made a successful debut with his well written, engaging cop drama Sehar (2005). Maximum, his second venture also does justice to the same genre. But unlike his debut flick, this one turns out to be only for the admirers of the serious cinema courtesy a slow narrative and a lack of commercial value.

Kaushik has given a lot of onus on realism with respect to the conversation between the characters and live locations. Deliberately the sub plots are kept incomplete on few occasions without proper focus in the narrative. This works well in presenting a real-to-life picture but it will surely put-off the entertainment-hungry crowd. Naseeruddin Shah’s entry surely adds more life to the proceedings.

Thankfully, the rivalry between the two cops isn’t highlighted with this use of those clichéd dialogues where one character tries to rubbish off the other. Instead, it is nicely woven in the narrative. The proceedings are interrupted due to the forced item number ‘Aa Ante Amlapuram’. But the interval point nicely takes the story forward.

The post-interval portion has a good number of interesting incidents but after a point of time, the narrative becomes dreary. A number of scenes having some unnecessary dry discussions between few characters are largely responsible for this. But lastly, the way the final twist is presented is deceiving even though it doesn’t appear surprising. This leads on to a climax which, although not impressive, is quite descent. But one has to say that the plot could have used better in creating more thrill and drama.

Due to the nature of the subject, there isn’t any scope for songs. ‘Aa Ante Amlapuram’ is the only track that is actually used from the album. But it would have been better if the original south Indian song had been retained as the lyrics of the Hindi version appear juvenile. Krishna Ramanan’s camerawork suits the nature of the flick. The live location scenes, mostly involving local trains, are well shot. A particular background tune (Daniel B George) which appears throughout the film adds good effect to the narrative. The editing (Lionel Fernandes) is simple.

With this performance, Sonu Sood yet again proves his acting prowess. He lives the character of a tough cop perfectly with proper dialogue delivery and portrayal of different emotions. Naseeruddin Shah gives an honest performance. Although his fans would expect him to be more expressive but the nature of his character was such that he had to speak more through the eyes and expressions. Vinay Pathak gives an earnest performance as a north Indian politician.

Amit Sadh, in the role of a journalist, surprises with a mature act. He deserves more films. Neha Dhupia does well but her character doesn’t have much to do except mouth those age-old lines expected from a middle class Indian housewife. Mohan Agashe leaves a mark while Arya Babbar is strictly okay. Lyricist Swanand Kirkire makes his acting debut and surprisingly does well! The supporting cast including Rajendra Gupta, Murli Sharma, Ujjwal Chopra are likable.

Overall, Maximum is an interesting cop drama but the treatment makes it watchable only for a niche section of the audience. This fact coupled with a very low publicity makes sure it has no chance at the box-office.

Maximum (Hindi Movie) Box-Office Prediction

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Director: Kabeer Kaushik

Producer(s): Vainteya Films

Writer(s): Kabeer Kaushik

Cast: Sonu Sood, Naseeruddin Shah, Vinay Pathak, Amit Sadh, Mohan Agashe, Neha Dhupia, Swanand Kirkire, Rajendra Gupta

Music: Amjad Nadeem, Devi Shri Prasad

Analysis:

Star Value: Maximum is blessed by some quality performers like Naseeruddin Shah, Sonu Sood and Vinay Pathak. However, there is no star value as these actors don’t have the capacity to draw audiences to theatres.

Hype: There is just no hype for the movie as promos have not managed to impress that much. The way they have been crafted might be the reason for it not making heads turn. The makers have failed to promote and market the movie properly.

Music: The scope for music isn’t much in such films. The item number ‘Aa Ante Amlapuram’ is somewhat known but it has not impressed the audience.

Prediction:

Maximum will get a low opening at the box-office. Even if the film manages to impress a lot initially, it won’t have much effect on its performance. With Rohit Shetty’s Bol Bachchan releasing next Friday, it looks like Kabeer Kaushik’s cop drama might be a one-week wonder.

Gangs Of Wasseypur Review

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Director: Anurag Kashyap

Producer(s): Viacom 18 Motion Pictures

Writer(s): Zeishan Quadri, Sachin Ladia and Anurag Kashyap

Cast: Manoj Bajpayee, Piyush Mishra, Richa Chadda, Reema Sen, Jaideep Ahlawat, Piyush Mishra, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Huma Qureshi

Music: Sneha Khanwalkar

Rating: * * ½

Plot: Set in the lawless land of Wasseypur in Dhanbad, the film narrates the tale of Sardar Khan (Manoj Bajpayee) who is hell-bent to avenge his father Shahid Khan’s (Jaideep Ahlawat) death. Shahid was killed by Ramadhir Singh (Tigmanshu Dhulia) in a battle to lead the coal mafia.

Review: Anurag Kashyap started the genre of unconventionally dark films in Bollywood. Irrespective of whether his films score at the box office, he has always been adamant in sticking to the genre. His latest offering Gangs Of Wasseypur follows the legacy of typical Kashyap films. Its promos triggered high expectations. But thanks to the off-track writing and the filmmaker’s desperate attempt to showcase his unusual style, the final product turns out to be an average fair with few wonderfully conceived moments and great performances.

The director and the writer should be lauded though for some creatively intelligent scenes in the first half. The idea of jumping to the flashback after the initial encounter works very well. A good foundation is laid by the way the story and the warring saga between Sardar Khan and Ramadhir Singh are built up. Some historical events are also smartly woven in the tale. Manoj Bajpayee’s entry adds fuel to the proceedings for it gives rise to a good number of thrilling as well as dark humorous moments. Despite some dullness, the first half provides descent satisfaction.

The post-interval portion maintains stability but soon loses focus. A number of sub-plots and too many characters create complication as well as confusion since they have nothing or very little to do with the main story. In addition, Kashyap’s over-indulgence of his unconventional style further hampers the narration. Obviously, this makes the film painfully lengthy. Although the climax creates some excitement for the second part of the movie, it is not entirely convincing.

But it is difficult to understand why a simple revenge saga needs to be told in five hours (this movie plus it’s sequel)? Considering that the second half of GOW Part 1 has hardly any story to tell, it looks like an adamant decision.

It is necessary to mention that the film is not for the fainthearted. The violence and gore presented is rarely seen before in an Indian film. This can be disturbing and depressing for many, especially since it is used unnecessarily at times.

Sneha Khanwalkar’s music fits the nature of the film perfectly although there was no need for these many songs. ‘Keh Ke Loonga’ and ‘Womaniya’ are the tracks that go well with the narration and bring a smile. Cinematography (Rajeev Ravi) is flawless except in few portions where the hand-held camera gives a documentary-like feel. Editing (Shweta Venkat Matthew) should have been tighter. The witty dialogues and the background score deserve special mention for they keep you engrossed when the script is going haywire.

It can be said that Gangs Of Wasseypur is Manoj Bajpayee’s return to the big league. He brilliantly carries the film on his shoulders as he plays an unusual character in an applaud-worthy manner. Easily one of his best acts till date! But it is Tigmanshu Dhulia who turns out to be the surprise element. The filmmaker, who is making his acting debut, gives a thoroughly mature performance as Ramadhir Singh. He should surely continue acting! Richa Chadda’s amazing act will prove to be a turning point in her career.

Piyush Mishra portrays his flawless acting skills. Reemma Sen showcases the oomph that was necessary and provides a descent act. With a realistically mature performance, Nawazuddin Siddiqui once again proves he is one of the finest young character actors currently. Due to his powerful act, Jaideep Ahlawat is remembered despite the small length of his character. The rest of the supporting actors (Mukesh Chhabra, Rajkumar Yadav, Jameel Khan, Vipin Sharma, Zeishan Quadri and many more!) play their parts with perfection.

Overall, despite being high on performance, Gangs Of Wasseypur suffers from over-indulgence. At the box-office, the film has a chance at the urban metros mostly.

Teri Meri Kahaani Box-Office Prediction

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Director: Kunal Kohli

Producer(s): Kunal Kohli Productions, Eros International

Writer(s): Kunal Kohli (Story, Screenplay and Dialogues) and Robin Bhatt (Screenplay)

Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Neha Sharma, Prachi Desai

Music: Sajid-Wajid

Release Date: June 22, 2012

Analysis:

Star Value: Despite acting in some successful films and being a young heartthrob, Shahid Kapoor’s star power has somewhat decreased due to the failure of his last few films. Priyanka Chopra on the other hand is one of the most successful and admired young actresses currently. Since both young actors are cast opposite each other after their alleged real-life break-up, the star value of Teri Meri Kahaani is high.

Hype: The promos of the movie have garnered just an average response. And despite a large number of promotional activities, the hype is not as high as expected. This is very surprising for a Shahid-Priyanka starrer.

Music: Although the film has some decent numbers like ‘Mukhtasar’ and ‘Humse Pyar Kar Le Tu’, the music of the movie hasn’t become that famous.

Prediction:

Teri Meri Kahaani will get an average opening, which is surely below expectations. It is very important for the movie to get a very positive initial response if it has to be a winner at the box-office. If it doesn’t, no need to mention its fate. It will also face a firm opposition from Gangs Of Wasseypur, which has managed some pre-release excitement.

Gangs Of Wasseypur Box-Office Prediction

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Director: Anurag Kashyap

Producer(s): Viacom 18 Motion Pictures

Writer(s): Zeishan Quadri, Sachin Ladia and Anurag Kashyap

Cast: Manoj Bajpayee, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Piyush Mishra, Reema Sen, Jaideep Ahlawat, Richa Chadda

Music: Sneha Khanwalkar

Release Date: June 22, 2012

Analysis:

Star Value: Although Manoj Bajpayee is remarkable performer, he isn’t the kind of a star who could pull audience to theatrse. Considering the rest of the cast, we can say the star value for Gangs Of Wasseypur is low.

Hype: The quirky promo with witty humour has been appreciated by the audience. The makers have done well in promotions and marketing. This has created good hype for the movie.

Music: Unusually rebellious songs like ‘Jiya Tu’, ‘Womaniya’ and ‘Hunter’ have managed to impress and have helped in publicizing the film.

Prediction:

Gangs Of Wasseypur will surely get a descent to good opening. If the film manages to impress initially, it will once again bring Manoj Bajpayee in the big league. It has a chance at metros as well as small centers. It will face some opposition from Teri Meri Kahaani but that won’t bother the producers much as there is not much hype for the Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra starrer.

Ferrari Ki Sawaari Box-Office Prediction & Review

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(The prediction of this movie was written before its release. But since this website was down for some days, it wasn’t possible to publish it then. Thank you.)

Director: Rajesh Mapuskar

Producer(s): Vidhu Vinod Chopra Productions

Writer(s): Vidhu Vinod Chopra-Rajesh Mapuskar (Screenplay) and Rajkumar Hirani (Dialogues)

Cast: Sharman Joshi, Ritwik Sahore, Boman Irani, Seema Pahwa, Satyadeep Misra

Music: Pritam

Analysis:

Star Value: Sharman Joshi is a famous name, especially after his act in 3 Idiots. But since this is his first solo hero film, the producers can’t rely on him to get a very good opening. Apart from him, Boman Irani is the only known name. Hence, the star value for Ferrari Ki Sawaari is low.

Hype: The hype for the film has been descent. Although there isn’t too much of pre-release excitement, there is surely some eagerness among the masses to watch the film.

Music: Since Ferrari Ki Sawaari doesn’t have much scope for songs, its music hasn’t been famous. Vidya Balan’s item number ‘Mala Jau De’, the title song and ‘Mara Re Sixer’ are somewhat known.

Prediction:

Ferrari Ki Sawari will get an average opening. It will be the kind of film which, if appreciated initially, will slowly climb the ladder at the box-office. Made at a budget of Rs 20 crore, it should make the producers happy if that happens.

Movie Review:

Rating: * * *

Over the last few years, Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s banner has been highly successful in churning out heartwarming films with good humour. Their latest offering Ferrari Ki Sawari, which, although not as superior as their two mega hits Munna Bhai films and 3 Idiots, is surely another heart-warmer from the banner that surely deserves a watch for its simplicity, both in the story and treatment.

The film has a number of scenes that move as well as delight. Watch out for the scene where Sharman pays a fine for crossing red signal. The brisk pace of the narration is another plus point. But what stops Rajesh Mapuskar’s debut from being an outstanding effort is the way the story gets complicated when it nears the climax.

First time as a solo hero, Sharman Joshi gives an outstanding performance. Debutant child actor Ritwik Sahore amazes with a mature act while Boman Irani is brilliant. The film is wonderfully supported by the rest of the supporting cast.

Overall, Ferrari Ki Sawaari proves that if a meaningful story is narrated in an honest and simple manner, you don’t need the so-called big stars.

(As I reviewed Ferrari Ki Sawaari for a magazine, I can’t post the same on my blog. Hence, I came up with this shortened review.)