Of all the movies listed on top, I would definitely recommend "Welcome to .....". I watched it last week and found it to be an entertaining film. Based in a small town, yet it showcases all the dreams and aspiration of people living in villages, towns and bigger cities. The craving for steady jobs, money, lust, love and most importantly power. It is a simple yet deeply intricate tale and scores heavily over the other hyped up Drona and Kidnap films in the marquee.
Though I haven't seen Kidnap the reviews are consistent enough to suggest that it is a rehash of the usual mish-mash in Bollywood. It has nothing new to offer. Though Minnisha Lamba does look inviting. All critics unanimously say that Imran Khan is star material and the fact that his last movie was alove story and yet he has convinced audiences with a portrayal of a kidnapper means he is substance and not only style.
Drona has almost disappared from theatres after the bad reviews it has received and most importantly the bad word of mouth - that is always the clinching factor. Any amount of lies, putting out blatant ads claming a hit do not work; it is eventually the audience that will decide if a movie will run ot not.
Next on the anvil is the Heroes film. It would have released today as I write this blog, but I am not sure of the reviews so far. Lets see if Bollywood will continue the trend of having big banner flops and small banner hits (Welcome to Sajjanpur, A Wednesday)
Friday, October 10, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Govinda's next will decide his fate....
Govinda is leading a precarious life. He isn't active in politics and his voters are complaining. He is unsuccesful in films and his producers are compalining. Inspite of having a hit to boost his flagging career he followed it up with a embarassing "Money Hai Toh.....". And now and then he finds himself in some slapping incident or the other. Doesn't look good for an MP and a leading Bollywood star- in fact a senior artiste of the Industry.
His next movie is Chal Chala chal and he better get a better result from it as he has been given a second lease of life with Partner. Before Partner nobody was giving him a second look and he had become an outcaste. But post Partner he has been flooded with offers and also hiked him price in the vicinity of crores - which is scary for the Hindi film Industry to pay to Govinda...hehe hehehe heh.
He is also looking fat, and badly out of shape, hardly like heroes are supposed to look; so inspite of his obvious talent he wasn't getting any offers. At one time he was one of my favorite actors and I really enjoyed his roles as he was a complete actor though he gained more success with comedy. Anyway this will be his last fling with politics especially if he does well in the next few movies. Lets see how he does.
His next movie is Chal Chala chal and he better get a better result from it as he has been given a second lease of life with Partner. Before Partner nobody was giving him a second look and he had become an outcaste. But post Partner he has been flooded with offers and also hiked him price in the vicinity of crores - which is scary for the Hindi film Industry to pay to Govinda...hehe hehehe heh.
He is also looking fat, and badly out of shape, hardly like heroes are supposed to look; so inspite of his obvious talent he wasn't getting any offers. At one time he was one of my favorite actors and I really enjoyed his roles as he was a complete actor though he gained more success with comedy. Anyway this will be his last fling with politics especially if he does well in the next few movies. Lets see how he does.
Dada to finally to quit (after Aus Test series)
I know this is not related to Bollywood - but it is big news. And Bollywood and cricket have been mixed up to make a heady cocktail in recent times to serve for the Indian public. Sourav Ganguly is finally resigning. Realising that time was not on his side, the scores were not coming along and selectors putting pressure on him, he has finally decided to leave. Good decision according to me, he has outlived his utility to the team. He was an average batsman (what ever the stats say), horrible fielder and a scheming politician. When he was removed from captaincy he plotted against Rahul Dravid who was a thorough gentleman and had himself appointed captain again.
With the young brigade putting up good performances it was a matter of time when the older players threw in the towel and decided it was time. I am glad he is finally gone and waiting fir the other so-called big star to retire - Sachin Tendulkar. He has overextended his stay by several years according to me.
With the young brigade putting up good performances it was a matter of time when the older players threw in the towel and decided it was time. I am glad he is finally gone and waiting fir the other so-called big star to retire - Sachin Tendulkar. He has overextended his stay by several years according to me.
Will Bobby be a hero again.....?
Bobby Deol the ladla of the Deol pariwar (yes yesy i know there is Abhay to stake a claim to that title...but...) will be seen soon in Heroes film which is expected to release in October end. So far he has been having a torrid time in Bollywood in the last few years. There was a time after a tepid start he got a few decent hits - good popular hits. Gupt, Soldier and a few semi-hits or B-grade like Bichoo, Humraaz, etc. With the good will of teh Deol family behind him, he looked for a steady career in Bollywood, till he did a few too many B-grade movies.
This proved to be his ondoing as the flops piled up, his other solo (sort of) films crashed at the BO, especially Shaka laka Boom Boom. He got a little bit of appreciation for Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (though I found his mama's boy act exasperating....) but that movie tanked. Add an embarassing Nanhe Jaisalmer and a dismal home production Chamku (where did they get the title from?????????) it completes the sad resume.
He has been following Sunny Bhaiya's policy - if you get a hit - replicate the formula. That won't get you far in a creative field where one has to keep doing varied roles as audiences will tire of you and start rejecting you. Even some one as limited an actor as Akki Kumar (well he was to start off with) did tons of action films, before dabbling in romance and finally did a string of comedies that got him to the top. He has is again going for an all our action movie - Chandni Chowk to China. The smart thing is he is mixing up and dishing out a mixed fare to his fans. And it is successful. Bobby has to emulate him and cut down on projects and roll out a more complete film product.
This proved to be his ondoing as the flops piled up, his other solo (sort of) films crashed at the BO, especially Shaka laka Boom Boom. He got a little bit of appreciation for Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (though I found his mama's boy act exasperating....) but that movie tanked. Add an embarassing Nanhe Jaisalmer and a dismal home production Chamku (where did they get the title from?????????) it completes the sad resume.
He has been following Sunny Bhaiya's policy - if you get a hit - replicate the formula. That won't get you far in a creative field where one has to keep doing varied roles as audiences will tire of you and start rejecting you. Even some one as limited an actor as Akki Kumar (well he was to start off with) did tons of action films, before dabbling in romance and finally did a string of comedies that got him to the top. He has is again going for an all our action movie - Chandni Chowk to China. The smart thing is he is mixing up and dishing out a mixed fare to his fans. And it is successful. Bobby has to emulate him and cut down on projects and roll out a more complete film product.
Monday, October 6, 2008
The verdict on Drona is out
Abhi's super hero flick has finally been released and the verdict is out. It is a dismal movie. The story had a lot of possibilities but it has been directed and edited horribly. I haven't seen Bunty Behl's first effort, but if this is what he can dow ith a second movie, he better find another vocation. The flow of the movie was horrible, the editing was amateurish, abd the acting forgettable.
I can't belive in this day and age, after delivering such decent movies, Bollywood is dishing out such tripe. And Abhishek !!!!! What did he think he was doing? This is after Guru? His career will end if he continues to inflict such punishment to his fans.
This movie is bad news for Bollywood. It might still do the impossible and draw in the younger audinces- but I think it is unlikely. I see the current ads in the newspapers are trying to interest that section of the audiences. Thets their only hope i guess now.
I can't belive in this day and age, after delivering such decent movies, Bollywood is dishing out such tripe. And Abhishek !!!!! What did he think he was doing? This is after Guru? His career will end if he continues to inflict such punishment to his fans.
This movie is bad news for Bollywood. It might still do the impossible and draw in the younger audinces- but I think it is unlikely. I see the current ads in the newspapers are trying to interest that section of the audiences. Thets their only hope i guess now.
Will Sardar Salman out-score Sardar Akshay
The next Sallu starrer (at least he is visible prominently in the promos) is due for release and is looking like a bloated film cast. But it might still do well, I feel as Salman has a steady and loyal fan following. The other stars are not doing all too well - especially the two Deols - Sunny and Bobby. Add a failure of an actor Sohail Khan and it looks shaky. BUt there is Preity to lend her strong screen presence to the film and that should help it do well.
The story seems a bit unusual and since it has a heavy dosage of patriostism it may do well as films on thuis topic usually do well if made well.
Another interesting by-story to the film Heroes is that Salman is playing a Sardarji in the movie. This comes closely on the heel sof Akki the new King of Bollywood doing so in Singg is Kingg. And he had a nice juicy hit to his name. Also he seemed to fit the part of a jabroo Sardar so well one may have been fooled that he was a genuine sardar. It remains to be seen who triumphs in this hairy tale of the Turbanned studs.
The story seems a bit unusual and since it has a heavy dosage of patriostism it may do well as films on thuis topic usually do well if made well.
Another interesting by-story to the film Heroes is that Salman is playing a Sardarji in the movie. This comes closely on the heel sof Akki the new King of Bollywood doing so in Singg is Kingg. And he had a nice juicy hit to his name. Also he seemed to fit the part of a jabroo Sardar so well one may have been fooled that he was a genuine sardar. It remains to be seen who triumphs in this hairy tale of the Turbanned studs.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Bollywood junior artists and workers on strike
A strike has been called by Bollywood's junior artists and workers on Wednesday morning. They are better wages and settlement of dues. Apparently salaries are delayed up tp the extent of 90 days and some time 120 days (thats 4 months), at least in the case of TV serial actors.
I was watching a new report about the same and saw their leader, a guy called Tiwari who was being interviewed by the TV studio. I completely agreed with one point he said about foreign artistes (especialy women and that that too white) being brought in for almost all the dance numbers nowadays. I mean I understand for some songs if foreigh women are used - like a movie shor totally abroad, like say Heyy Babyy, where the principal characters are in Australia. But hard core movies based in India should stick to Indian workers/artistes. Could the film Heroes have a bunch of blonder women jiving along with Salman Khan? It would look weird wouldn't it? He said our producers and directors prefer gori chamdi to our Indian performers and we are not sure if they have valid work permits. They get much much higher salaries and also hotel accomodtion and other perks. In a way this is racism by our own people, isn't it?
And all this in a time when star salaries are at a peak. Akshay, SRK and company are demanding and getting salaries like 40 crores, 60 crores and more and getting it. But if the industry is doing well then why isn't the moolah being distributed among the lower work force without who the cameras would never roll? All greed and hyped up stars behind this mess I say.
I was watching a new report about the same and saw their leader, a guy called Tiwari who was being interviewed by the TV studio. I completely agreed with one point he said about foreign artistes (especialy women and that that too white) being brought in for almost all the dance numbers nowadays. I mean I understand for some songs if foreigh women are used - like a movie shor totally abroad, like say Heyy Babyy, where the principal characters are in Australia. But hard core movies based in India should stick to Indian workers/artistes. Could the film Heroes have a bunch of blonder women jiving along with Salman Khan? It would look weird wouldn't it? He said our producers and directors prefer gori chamdi to our Indian performers and we are not sure if they have valid work permits. They get much much higher salaries and also hotel accomodtion and other perks. In a way this is racism by our own people, isn't it?
And all this in a time when star salaries are at a peak. Akshay, SRK and company are demanding and getting salaries like 40 crores, 60 crores and more and getting it. But if the industry is doing well then why isn't the moolah being distributed among the lower work force without who the cameras would never roll? All greed and hyped up stars behind this mess I say.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Abhishek’s a saviour!
Abhishek Bachchan will have many unforgettable moments to remember from his world tour. But the moment he’s probably going to remember the most is when he played saviour in real life. When the Bachchan’s arrived along with the other stars in Toronto, there was a huge stampede and chaos, so much so that a small child was caught in the middle of it all. Abhishek immediately rushed to the rescue of the tiny tot, who was separated from her parents. He picked her child’s parents.
The entire incident delayed the show, but helping the child get to where she belonged was of utmost priority to Abhishek. “This makes him a real-life Drona,” says director Goldie Behl. “Dro-na mean ‘the saviour’. On hearing of the incident, I felt as though the character from my film actually came to life!” And the teary-eyed parents of the child insisted that they were eternally grateful to him.
The entire incident delayed the show, but helping the child get to where she belonged was of utmost priority to Abhishek. “This makes him a real-life Drona,” says director Goldie Behl. “Dro-na mean ‘the saviour’. On hearing of the incident, I felt as though the character from my film actually came to life!” And the teary-eyed parents of the child insisted that they were eternally grateful to him.
Abhishek's Super hero movie creates curiosity
The pre-release promos of Goldie Behl’s film Drona are creating so much curiosity that the maker Eros International is planning to unveil the film part by part with its characters on screen. The first look focused completely on Abhishek Bachchan with superb special effects. The second look of the film is all set to showcase the look of Kay Kay Menon and Priyanka Chopra on August 15 in theatres all over. Drona is a fantasy adventure, a first of its kind in India. With Abhishek and Priyanka in a never before seen avatar, a full-length theatrical trailer of Dro-na will be released with God Tussi Great Ho across all theatres. Eros is highly focused on this movie, one if its blockbuster releases this year, an exciting and first time visual treat for audiences, which will release across screens on the long holiday weekend of Eid and Gandhi Jayanti. As real world meets fantasy; the action adventure film is sure to thrill audiences – youngsters and adults alike.
Heroes’ movie to release on October 24th
The next big movie on the block is Heroes – which is somehow shaping up to seem like a Rang De Basanti. The comparing of a new generations aspiration with patriotic flavor. Only in “Rang De..” the patriots were based during the 1920’s while here it is contemporary. But the general thrust is the same, modern young men out on a voyage to discover themselves.
In Heroes the two main protagonists are Sohail Khan and Vatsal Sheth. The idea seems novel- two students of a film institute go to the border to deliver three letters. And during this assignment they come across the real heroes of the country – that is the soldiers who man our borders. Here the list gets a bit bigger with some erstwhile big stars – Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Mithun Chakraborty, Preity Zinta, Dino Morea, and starlet Riya Sen.
The promos look very fresh and clean. A lot of Ladakh and Leh – these places can never look jaded. The concept seems different. And the cast is a bit tricky. But all said and done eventually it has to be a good movie to click. Best of luck to this new set of heroes.
In Heroes the two main protagonists are Sohail Khan and Vatsal Sheth. The idea seems novel- two students of a film institute go to the border to deliver three letters. And during this assignment they come across the real heroes of the country – that is the soldiers who man our borders. Here the list gets a bit bigger with some erstwhile big stars – Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Mithun Chakraborty, Preity Zinta, Dino Morea, and starlet Riya Sen.
The promos look very fresh and clean. A lot of Ladakh and Leh – these places can never look jaded. The concept seems different. And the cast is a bit tricky. But all said and done eventually it has to be a good movie to click. Best of luck to this new set of heroes.
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