Krazzy 4

The next movie from Bollywood Krazzy 4, is certainly going the new marketing mantra, more is better. Recently Om Shanti Om did it and got success (rightfully or not is your decision) and Krazzy 4 is following the same plan. It started with the regular basic releases about the movie, how it was different and all about the main Krazzy 4 stars and the female lead in Juhi Chawla.

Next came the sweet spots like item numbers. First they got the biggest name in Bollwood - Shah Rukh Khan. Put him in a project and undoubtedly you get a lot of press and TV coverage. That happened and next they got in a mass star like Rakhi Sawant (Raanti appeal we call it), and again it got a fair share of the news bytes. And finally the Krazzy 4 producer Rakesh Roshan ropes in the currently hot Hrithik Roshan, who again being part of the family obliges.

So we have the similar stategy adopted by the Om Shanti Om team where they ensure the movie is always in the news. One story dies down, then throw in another. Smart we say, but what if the movie sucks. Om Shanti Om wasn't a classic but it worked, because of the humungous publicity and the presence of SRK. After hearing about it so much, people just had to go in and see it. And yes, because of Deepika Padukone. She was an important reason for the films success - pretty, pretty sexy, and pretty sexy smile.

Krazzy 4 has managed to do the same on a slightly smaller scale and evoked interest in the movie. My bet? Hit. It looks interesting. 4 Krazzy guys, no romance-shomance. And good actors. Suresh Menon, Arshad Warsi, Irrfan Khan, Rajpal Yadav. So it will do well. And will I rush to see Krazzy 4? Yes, of course!! My very favorite Suresh Menon. He is amazing. And funny as hell.

Hrithik's trance dance in 'Jodhaa Akbar' lauded by one and all

Looks like Hrithik's dedication to his craft is paying him rich divedends. His trance dance in 'Jodhaa Akbar' has been widely appreciated and a person no less than Amitabh Bachchan has said "not since Stanley Kubrick's legendary sci-fi '2001: A Space Odyssey' in 1968 had there been such an apocalyptic moment in a film". Now comparing his scene to Stanley Kubrick's movie is a great achievement and is a great pat on the back for Hrithik. He was told that it was moment when Akbar connects with divinity. So it was critical he portrayed a man connecting with God and obviously it has worked well.

Hrithik Roshan said, "I joined the singers to dance with one hand pointing towards heaven, which was receiving the divine gift, while my other hand pointed to the ground, which meant I was connecting the gift received from divinity to people down below. I was the medium, the recipient of divine communication'. Well, I was going to catch the epic movie as it is as I am a huge fan of Ashutosh Gowariker, but now it looks like I also have a scene of the century to look forward to.

Verdict on Jodhaa Akbar is out - its a landmark movie

I was just going through rediff and read a review of Jodhaa Akbar on it. And I was pleased with what I read. The reviewer must have caught a premiere show of Jodhaa Akbar and has sent in a review. Like I expected (and desperately wanted it to be true) the movie is supposed to be brilliant. Apparently if the director had a tighter script and better editing was done this movie would have been a master piece. But if and buts can change the fate of the movie now.

The words used to describe the two principal characters Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan are "brings his muscular presence and charismatic personality to make the role his own" and "Some of her dramatic scenes are weakly performed but she whips up excellent chemistry with Hrithik" respectively.

A later review in the Times Of India isn't all that generous. It says the movie is a bit long, and the sub-plots weak. It does acknowledge that the main characters have done a great job, the character actors are sincere and the sets and battle scenes are good.

I hope this movie does well as it will be one the the best movies in the careers of both the main leads - Hrithik (Dhoom:2, Krrish, Lakshya, Koi Mil Gaya, ) and Aishwarya (Provoked, Guru, Guru, Umrao Jaan, Bunty Aur Babli, Shabd, Raincoat, Kuch Naa Kaho, Devdas, Albela, Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Aa Ab Laut Chalen).

Want to check out the review?
http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/feb/14jodhaa.htm

I think all this suggests it is much more worth than a movie ticket. If that isn't convincing then the fact that the director is a certain Ashutosh Gowariker should be reason enough.

Will the Jodhaa Akbar Rajput/relation controversy affect the film?

The furore about whether Jodhaa Bai was Emperor Akbar's wife or daughter-in-law hasn't died down like I thought it might. The group making noises are a small fringe group and so lack the political muscle or social base. And add to that it is almost impossible to confirm or deny who Akbar married or didn't. He had 34 wives according to reports in the media! So how is one to know if any of these these women are not Jodhaa Bai and if the Muslim women listed in history are Hindu women with their Muslim names after conversion.

Rediff has a well written article about the story. Click on the link below for more details.

http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/feb/06jodha.htm

It also could be a well orchestrated campaign to rustle up some crucial media coverage of a film which is of epic proportions. Such a big budget will need to draw in people in large numbers to ensure it does earn money for its producers. And Indians are notorius for ignoring good historical movies. Must be the lack of appreciation of our own culture and traditions. The Mughal rule impacted the polity and landscape of India in a major way and hence educated Indians would be more than interested in such a story straddling that era of history.

But we all know this doesn't hold true, as the masses look at cinema for escapist fantasies. I hope and pray Jodhaa Akbar is made well and interestingly so that it succeeds and a talented director like Ashutosh Gowariker is suitably rewarded for making good cinema.

It will also be a landmark film for Hrithik and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as they need to true blue movie like this in their portfolio to justify the confidence of the industry in their talents. Though Hrithik has Koi Mil Gaya, Lakshya and Mission Kashmir in his bag he needs to get the big roles right. Same for Aishwarya who has mostly dominated the media for non-filmy reasons than those related to great roles. She does have Iruvar, The Raincoat, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Provoked and Guru but she is also remembered for Kajra Re and Kambakth Ishq. So they both need to movie like Jodhaa Akbar on their resume.

One more Roshan in Bollywood....

Super star Hrithik's sister Sunaina will be making her debut in films. Not in the acting department, but as a producer. The senior Roshan is co-producing Krazzy 4 with her father Rakesh Roshan. That leaves only Hrithiks mother and wife left to join Bollywood. And if you count Suzanne's fashion designing for Hrithik then even that name can be struck off the list.

Krazzy 4 is a comedy-caper starring Arshad Warsi, Irrfan Khan, Rajpal Yadav and Suresh Menon as the whacko characters and Juhi Chawla plays a psychiatrist. Dia Mirza and Rajat Kapoor who is Juhi's husband in the film make up the rest of the star cast.

Hrithik who is having a relaxed year has the much awaited Jodhaa Akbar coming up and he had Dhoom 2 which was released a long time back.