The Common Man Speaks

Paan Singh Tomar Review

by Leave a Comment

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!

Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya Box-Office Prediction

by 1 Comment

Star Value: Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D’Souza aren’t big stars. In other words, they don’t have enough star value to attract audiences to a movie. However, the fact that the couple recently got married and the way their marriage was hyped has made them the talk of the town. The timing of their marriage is spot on, which is just before the release of their film.

Hype: As mentioned earlier, the hype for the movie is created due to the wedding of the lead couple in real life. However, one can’t deny the fact that its comical promos have impressed the audience.

Music: Apart from the title track, no other song has managed to gain popularity. The promotional material of the movie is only focusing on this song.

Prediction: Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya will fail to get a very good opening at the box-office. It will at the most have an above average run if it manages to impress at the onset.

(Filed under the category BOLLYWOOD)

Jodi Breakers Box-Office Prediction

by 4 Comments

Star Value: R Madhavan’s star value has increased in Bollywood after the stupendous success of 3 Idiots. But since he is playing the mail lead in Jodi Breakers, it is a question mark whether it will attract audience towards the theaters. Bipasha Basu, who plays the female lead, has lost the star power which she possessed earlier. However, there is Omi Vaidya as well. So, all in all, Jodi Breakers has a decent star value.

Hype: There is not great hype surrounding the movie, although the comic promos have gone down well with the audience. More publicity and promotion is needed.

Music: The song ‘Kunwara’ has become well-known while the track ‘Bipasha’ has just managed to make heads turn.

Prediction: Jodi Breakers won’t attain a very positive opening. The collections would range between average to decent. It has more chances at the metros than the smaller centers. It is vital for the movie to create an extra-ordinary effect in the initial weekend if it wants to succeed.

(Filed under the section BOLLYWOOD)

Ekk Deewana Tha Box-Office Prediction

by 2 Comments

Star Value: There is no such star value in Ekk Deewana Tha. Having said that, Prateik Babbar is becoming quite known these days, while debutant Amy Jackson has started impressing people by her looks.

Hype: Although the promos of the movie haven’t taken the audience by storm, they have certainly made heads turn. But the biggest publicity for the movie is created by its song ‘Hosanna’. However, the film’s promotion is negatively affected by the hype surrounding the 2012 BMC Elections.

Music: As mentioned above, the track ‘Hosanna’ has managed to enchant the audience in no time. Javed Akhtar’s touchy as well as peppy lyrics have worked wonders. The song has single-handedly managed to promote the movie. The rest of the songs are hardly heard.

Prediction: It will be difficult for Ekk Deewana Tha to get a good opening first up. But if it manages to strike a chord with youngsters in the first weekend, it might well turn out to be the surprise of the season.

Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu Box-Office Prediction

by 2 Comments

Star Value: Kareena Kapoor is one of the biggest names in Bollywood. Her performances and choice of films have made sure she is one of the most sought after actresses today. Even the Ra.One debacle has had no effect on her popularity. Imran Khan’s popularity is also well known. He is also fresh from his last release Delhi Belly, which was a blockbuster. Hence, the film is high on star value.

Hype: No doubt the movie Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu is known and the promos are well received. However, there isn’t as much hype as one expects from a Karan Johar movie. It would have been difficult for the head honcho of Dharma Productions since there wasn’t much gap between the release of EMAET and the keenly anticipated Agneepath.

Music: The title song of the movie is slowly becoming famous. Although the rest of the numbers aren’t popular, they have a chance if the film scores big at the box-office.

Prediction: Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu will certainly get a good to descent opening at the ticket window due to Kareena and Imran, who are cast opposite for the first time. The initial response will determine whether it will sustain the collections after the first weekend and attain success at the box-office.

Gali Gali Chor Hai Movie Review

by 3 Comments

Direction: Rumi Jafry

Production: One Up Entertainment

Cast: Akshaye Khanna, Shriya Saran, Satish Kaushik, Mugdha Godse, Annu Kapoor, Aditya Lakhia, Murli Sharma

Music: Anu Malik

Rating: * ½

Plot: Bharat (Akshaye Khanna), plays a Common Man from Bhopal who works in a bank as a cashier and leads a simple life with his wife Nisha (Shriya Saran) and father (Satish Kaushik). Just before elections, politician Manku Tripathi’s (Murli Sharma) men ask Bharat and family to let them occupy a room in their house for election purposes. However, Bharat, at Nisha’s insistence, refuses. In this way, Bharat indirectly invites great trouble in his life.

Review: The promos and the promotional title song of Gali Gali Chor Hai gave a clear indication that the film deals with fighting against corruption. This became more evident when a special screening of the movie was organized for anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare.

However, what is presented is a tiresome saga of the central character’s struggle against the corrupt system which, after a point of time, is difficult to believe or sit through, leave alone creating an impact!

Coming straight to the point, the film is an amalgamation of unconvincing scenes and situations. This starts with a silly misunderstanding between Akshaye and Shriya, straight out of those boring daily soaps. To solve this, a song is forcefully added. Then, the troubles for our protagonist begin where an age old table fan and few corrupt individuals turn his life topsy-turvy.

But due to the dumbness of our common man you finally lose patience at the end of the first half when he gets to know that the table fan has become a big villain of his life. Later we realize the writers have given more importance to the fan than the two actresses.

They also make sure you stop caring for the characters courtesy some more unconvincing events in the second half where the misunderstanding factor also keeps returning! To make matters worse, a raunchy Veena Malik item number ‘Chhanno’ is thrown in. But the way our hero is further submerged in trouble takes the cake (pun intended)! Although some heroism and encouragement is shown in the final scene, it hardly leaves an impact. You really wonder how a bunch of producers agreed to finance a film with such a script!

One shouldn’t blame Rumi Jafry’s direction when he is as a writer, along with Mumukshu Mudgal, has failed.  It’s only plus point is the creation of some interesting characters and few funny moments here and there.

Composer Anu Malik’s return produces a well written title track. The rest of the songs aren’t much to talk about. Dialogues, cinematography and background score aren’t bad.

Akshaye Khanna’s performance is the biggest plus point. The actor excels as a victim of corruption. But one hopes he chooses better films. Shriya Saran isn’t bad as his wife but even she needs a better platform in Bollywood to showcase her talent. Annu Kapoor gives a stellar act. After 7 Khoon Maaf, he once again proves he is one of the best character actors of Hindi cinema.

Aditya Lakhia and Murli Sharma play the bad men well. Mugdha Godse has hardly anything to do while Satish Kaushik is likable.

Overall, Gali Gali Chor Hai makes a mockery of the concept of Common Man versus corruption. It is impossible for the movie to survive at the box-office.

 

Gali Gali Chor Hai Box-Office Prediction

by 2 Comments

Star Value: Akshaye Khanna has proved his mettle as a versatile actor by playing a number of challenging characters with perfection. However, he has ceased to have the power to garner a good box-office opening since it’s only those big stars that attract audiences the most these days. Shriya Saran is a superstar down south but has not been able to add star value in Bollywood. The rest of the cast, including Mugdha Godse, can’t help the opening either.

Hype: The promos of the movie have managed to impress the audience. But such small or medium budget movies lack proper funds required for promotion. And whatever promotion they carry out is overshadowed by the big budget movies with big stars. But the ploy of arranging a special screening for social worker Anna Hazare has helped the film gain attention, especially after the media idiotically misquoted Hazare for his slap remark.

Music: The title song of Gali Gali Chor Hai, a peppy number, has become somewhat popular. Veena Malik’s item number ‘Chhanno’ too has been noticed for reasons best known to everyone!

Prediction: Gali Gali Chor Hai will find it difficult at the box-office despite the film promising to bring to light an important issue with humour. If the initial reaction is positive, it will require a strong word-of-mouth, which is almost like a miracle for such low budget films.

Agneepath Movie Review

by 9 Comments

Direction: Karan Malhotra

Production: Dharma Productions (Karan Johar)

Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Sanjay Dutt, Rishi Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Zarina Wahab

Music: Ajay-Atul

Rating: * * ½

Plot: Kancha Cheena (Sanjay Dutt) dreams of running a drug kingdom, in the guise of salt business, in Mandwa and for that he wants to take the village on lease. However, Master (teacher) Dinanath Chauhan (Sunil Chauhan) urges the villagers against falling in Kancha’s trap. In order to get his way, Kancha mercilessly kills Dinanath. The film follows the story of how Dinanath’s son Vijay (Hrithik Roshan) tries to avenge his father’s death.

Review: Although the original Agneepath (1990) is known for Amitabh Bachchan’s greatness, the film suffered courtesy a weak script which became a reason for its downfall at the ticket window. Karan Malhotra’s remake of the same has a slightly better writing and offers a different take on the same plot. However, this doesn’t ensure a flawless product which is also due to the casting of Hrithik Roshan as Vijay Dinanath Chauhan.

Malhotra’s version sees lots of changes in the sub-plots and incidents from the 1990 movie. Even the character of Vijay is completely novel in terms of mannerisms, temperament as well as age. Hence, it won’t be proper to compare the remade version with the original one.

After the cruel initial moments, things brighten up after Hrithik and Priyanka Chopra’s entry. Pace does drops down few times, mostly due to the inclusion of songs and some emotional scenes. During the ‘Hun Hun Huna’ number you realize such jazzy birthday celebrations, including the disco effect, can take place in a chawl only in a Karan Johar flick. But the subsequent twists end the first half on an exciting note.

Things continue to be interesting in the second half too. However, brakes are applied again in the proceedings in the form of some over-emotional scenes (very K Jo-ish indeed!). Fuel is added once again with some paisa vasool moments and mostly during the Ganapati Visarjan part (‘Deva Shree Ganesha’ song) only to disappoint in a non-believable and over-filmi climax.

Debutant director Karan Malhotra leaves a mark in a number of sequences. He surely has a future in Bollywood.

‘Deva Shree Ganesha’ is the track of the movie. The rest of Ajay-Atul’s creations are not bad. Ravi K. Chandran and Kiran Deohans deserve brownie points for their camerawork. The same can be said for Abbas Ali Moghul’s action although it gets too violent at times for a UA certificate film.

Hrithik Roshan lacks the manliness needed for the character. This is largely felt by his non-mardana voice. Due to this, he lacks the personality needed for a bhai or dada. But despite these limitations, the actor carries off his act with dedication.

Sanjay Dutt is the one who leaves the biggest impact! He brings a new dimension to the cult character of Kancha Cheena with his outstanding villainous acts. You just love to hate him. Rishi Kapoor is remarkable too as Rauf Lala. Priyanka Chopra is average. She doesn’t appear like a Maharashtrian mulgi although she tries a lot.

Zarina Wahab isn’t bad as Vijay’r mother while the girl playing his sister is likable. Inaamulhaq presents a commendable act as Shiva.

Overall, Agneepath has its share of good as well as bad moments which finally tilt more towards the latter. Its box-office opening has been tremendous which will make sure it breaks quite a few records.

 

Agneepath to create new box-office records?

by Leave a Comment

Aamir Khan’s 3 Idiots is the highest money grosser film ever in Bollywood while Salman Khan’s Bodyguard holds the record for the biggest earner on first day with Rs 20 crore. But looking at the way advance booking of Hrithik Roshan’s Agneepath has gone so far, one shouldn’t be surprised if the film breaks Bodyguard’s record if not 3 Idiots’.

The cash registers for Agneepath started ringing from Monday itself when the advance booking commenced. Such advanced positive response is hardly seen these days. And considering the film’s huge number of shows, we can say Dharma Productions are sure to earn huge bucks from this extraordinary opening!

One noteworthy fact is that the audience hasn’t seen an interesting film since last few weeks after Abbas Mustan’s Players disappointed them.

Hence, there is no doubt that the collections for Agneepath will be one of the highest ever in Bollywood. But more importantly, let’s hope the film also succeeds in satisfying majority of the audience unlike other blockbusters like Bodyguard and Ra.One.

Agneepath Box-Office Prediction

by Leave a Comment

Star Value: Whether Hrithik Roshan will be able to do justice to the character of Vijay Dinanath Chauhan will be known only after Karan Malhotra’s Agneepath releases. But one thing is for sure – having Hrithik as the main lead will surely help the film gain a very positive opening. The presence of other big stars like Priyanka Chopra, Sanjay Dutt and Rishi Kapoor will add more weight.

Music: ‘Chikni Chameli’, which is adapted from the Marathi song ‘Kombadi Palali’, has gained terrific popularity ever since it is released. The Katrina Kaif item number has given mammoth publicity to the movie. Other songs like ‘O Saiyyan’ and ‘Deva Shree Ganesha’ are being liked too.

Hype: The fact that Hrithik will be essaying a character played by the great Amitabh Bachchan has generated enough hype for the movie. Even the first two promos, along with ‘Chikni Chameli’ video, have added to audience’s curiosity to watch Agneepath.

Prediction: There is no stroke of doubt that Agneepath will garner a very good opening. God forbid, even if the film or Hrithik fails to match audience’s expectations, Dharma Productions should be in the safe due to the money collected in the first week. And if both the film and Hrithik receive thumbs up, Agneepath will surely be one of the biggest hits of 2012.