WILL COCKTAIL ACHIEVE A LOVE AAJ KAL-LIKE SUCCESS?

There was absolutely no hype for Cocktail while it was being filmed. But everything changed the minute its trailer was unveiled. Suddenly, the film became one of the most anticipated films of the year! And why not? The actors look great, the locales are stunning, music is fresh and talented and respected people are a part of the venture!

Believe it or not, Cocktail, which is a romcom, is directed by Homi Adajania who directed a grim, edgy and intense film like Being Cyrus! The film is written by Imtiaz Ali and stars Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone and newbie Diana Penty. This is the third film produced by Saif and Dinesh Vijan after Love Aaj Kal and Agent Vinod. Music is by Pritam and has an urbane feel to it. ‘Tumhi Ho Bandhu’, ‘Yaariyan’ and ‘Daru Desi’ have got tremendous appreciation. The film is about friendship and the strongest point is that all the three characters are distinct and well sketched. And it has come out very nicely in the promos. Saif is in the comfort zone, in the league of Hum Tum and Love Aaj Kal and that’s fine as long as he’s doing great. Deepika looks ravishing while Diana is a surprise. She’s very adorable and looks damn cute in ‘Tumhi Ho Bandhu’! She’s really fortunate to have got this film as her debut vehicle. Besides the trio, the film also stars Boman Irani, Dimple Kapadia and Randeep Hooda.

Few experts have reservations with the title like ‘Cocktail’ and feel that it won’t work in the hinterland. Although the film won’t be huge success in small towns, I disagree that Cocktail as a title won’t work because the term is widely used by all throughout the country. Few moviegoers have already thrashed the film and there’s a ‘joke’ going around on social networking sites which reads ‘The most anticipated movie…the epic we say…movie of the millennium…The Dark Knight Rises is on the verge of release. And fools are waiting for Cocktail..!’ Like, seriously? Does Cocktail seem so bad from the trailers? Besides, The Dark Knight Rises a week after Cocktail. And the ‘fools’ waiting for Cocktail (and I proudly claim that I am one of them) are also waiting for The Dark Knight Rises with bated breath. Anyways, this is the biased attitude of certain moviegoers of India that refuses to die and they feel that ‘Hindi film hai to faltu hi hogi’. This, inspite of Bollywood proving with films this year like P*aan Singh Tomar, Kahaani, Vicky Donor, Shanghai, Gangs Of Wasseypur* etc that we can come up with the best films. Sad!

Cocktail will have an average opening but occupancy will rise if good reports pour in. With Ramzan beginning in a few days, there would no biggie (Hindi film I mean…after all, there’s the movie of the millennium releasing on 20th!) till Aug 15 and that can help the film to an extent. Cocktail in a way reminds of Love Aaj Kal because of similar cast and crew and the London setting. While Love Aaj Kal was a huge success, will Cocktail be able to do the same? Let’s hope for the best!

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE COCKTAIL AND WHY?