Where Bollywood Comes Alive
Fenil's Bollywood Talk
Fenil’s Bollywood Talk # 218
09 months ago
THE TIGER SHALL ROAR LOUDLY TOMORROW!
Very rarely it happens that a film manages to generate a hype that touches dizzying heights. Ek Tha Tiger is one such film and it’s expected to shatter all records when it hits the screens nationwide tomorrow!
Ek Tha Tiger would have anyways taken a huge opening. After all, it features Salman Khan who since the last few years has become the biggest crowd puller of Bollywood. However, the teaser and theatrical trailer took the excitement for the film to another level. Salman-Katrina looks awesome together. The film has been shot in 5 countries and carries a stylish, slick and fresh look and is at par with Hollywood standards. The film is directed by Kabir Khan who has his share of fans thanks to his previous two films – Kabul Express and New York. Music too has been appreciated widely. The movie seems like a clean entertainer and moreover, doesn’t has too much of violence too. Hence, Ek Tha Tiger will attract family audiences and ladies in large numbers as well.
Ek Tha Tiger has the advantage of a rare ‘6-day weekend’ (Wednesday 15 Aug is a Holiday and so is Monday August 20). The advance booking commenced as early as Friday and has been terrific. Most of the shows were full by Sunday itself. Hence, the film is looking forward to a huge opening and might shatter Ra.One’s 25-crore record tomorrow. However, as Kabir Khan recently said, what after that? Will the film sustain from Tuesday? The film should be loved in order to attract a More >
Fenil’s Bollywood Talk # 217
19 months ago
WILL GANGS OF WASSEYPUR 2 SUCCESSFULLY BATTLE ALL OBSTACLES?
It was a known fact that Gangs Of Wasseypur 2 would release in few months after the release of Part 1. However, no one expected it to come during Eid and that too just 7 days before the monstrous Ek Tha Tiger! Will this be a fair decision on the part of the makers?
Gangs Of Wasseypur 2 in many ways is safe too. Gangs Of Wasseypur 1 was incomplete, had too many characters, boasted of a documentary-feel and covered 50 years. Part 2, on the other hand, focuses on the 5 years of the characters and as Anurag Kashyap claimed, is ten times more entertaining than first part! Moreover, all but two characters are introduced. And if part 1, inspite of so many odds, can succeed, then why not Part 2? The trailer of Gangs Of Wasseypur 2 is brilliant to say the least and what is noteworthy is that Nawazuddin Siddiqui is the protagonist and features on the posters, in the promos and everywhere else. People like Nawaz are actors but not stars and rarely get a chance to experience something like this. Hats off to the makers! The ‘permission’ scene of part 1 was legendary and part 2 too consists of several such scenes between Nawazuddin and Huma, which would be a treat to watch. The filmyness of the characters is carried forward in part 2 as well with the new characters – Perpendicular and Definite – too being Bollywood fans! Songs, as expected, are too good with Dil Chi Cha Ledar becoming a theme for the second part! The song is More >
Fenil’s Bollywood Talk # 216
09 months ago
WILL JISM 2 RECREATE THE MAGIC OF JISM 1?
Jism (2003) is unforgettable. Bipasha Basu never looked so hotter and in a way, so did John Abraham! Music is class and we can’t still find them in the ipods/mp3 players/cell phones of people around us! Hence, it’s imperative that Jism 2 to at least be as good as the first part, if not better. In the hotness quotient, it has already scored a sixer thanks to Sunny Leone. There could have been no one better than her!
Jism 2 looks super-hot but at the same time beautiful. Notice the way the scenes have been shot – the way Sunny enters the pool, Randeep playing the instrument and in another scene, giving him the massage, the way Sunny is enjoying on the swing and many more. Very aesthetic! Jism 1 too scored on similar lines and good to say a much better effect in the second part. Randeep Hooda and Arunoday Singh too seem to have done a fine job.
Most of the filmmakers get their movie censored 10 days before release. Director-producer of Jism 2, Pooja Bhatt, instead got her certificate 30-35 days before release, knowing that our censor board can be very unreasonable at times, resulting in delay. Thankfully, she didn’t face much of a problem and got her certificate soon! And only after that, she started promotions. A rare strategy! Also, she showed the songs first and then came the dialogue promos. The plan worked and audiences loved not only the performers, but also the songs, hotness and the aesthetics! Result – a lot of hopes are More >
Fenil’s Bollywood Talk # 215
010 months ago
KYAA SUPER KOOL HAIN HUM – A WORTHY PART 2 TO K2H2?
The 2003-2005 period precipitated significant changes in Bollywood, especially in the context of adult films. Erotic thrillers like Jism, Murder etc and sex comedies like Masti, Kyaa Kool Hain Hum etc hit screens during this time and were well-received by the audiences. The effect of these films was so profound that the makers had no choice but to plan a part two of these films. Murder 2 released last year, Jism 2 will hit screens next Friday, Masti’s sequel Grand Masti is on the anvil while part 2 of Kyaa Kool Hain Hum, Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum is all set to release tomorrow. And the buzz for the film is significant enough for it to be a commercial success!
Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum stars Tusshar Kapoor, Riteish Deshmukh and Anupam Kher and this time features Neha Sharma, Sarah Jane Dias and Chunky Pandey. As expected, the film has loads of double meaning and adult jokes. However, at least from the trailers, the dialogues seem quite smart and witty and will provide loads of entertainment to its target audience – youth. Songs have been liked, especially Dil Garden Garden and Hum Toh Hai Cappucino, the latter which is a sort of a remix of Shilpa Shetty’s popular item number UP Bihar Lootne. Moreover, Riteish has also sung a Marathi version of the same song. The film has done spoof on popular films like The Dirty Picture, Vicky Donor, Paa etc.
As expected, an adult film of this scale was bound to face censor problems. The More >
Fenil’s Bollywood Talk # 213
010 months ago
BOL BACHCHAN-COCKTAIL A SUCCESS!
What is with July that films manage to find unprecedented success? Last year, history was created when four films released in four consecutive weeks became superhits – Delhi Belly, Murder 2, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Singham! This year, July began with a bang with Bol Bachchan. The comic caper, besides being another feather in Ajay Devgn-Rohit Shetty is also the much needed hit for Abhishek Bachchan. The film has crossed 75 crores in 10 days and is all goes well, it’ll cross 100 crores!
Cocktail, meanwhile, created huge buzz prior to release and it reflected in the mindboggling opening that it got. What is important to note that the film got mixed reviews and response. Yet, viewers gave it a try because the excitement was immense. Certainly not an every-Friday-phenomenon! Also, the film didn’t have an extensive release in single screens and yet the collections are noteworthy. Saif gave out all to promote and market Agent Vinod. But sadly, it failed to click. In Cocktail, meanwhile, the promotions were slightly restrained. And it worked! Cocktail once again reaffirms the fact that the first trailer of the film can make or break the film!
With the month of Ramzan commencing in few days, the flow of biggies would be on hold. However, a number of small and medium-budget films will be making their mark at the box office like Challo Driver, Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum, Jism 2, Gangs Of Wasseypur 2 etc! And of course, there would be Ek Tha Tiger More >
Fenil’s Bollywood Talk # 214
010 months ago
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 More >
Fenil’s Bollywood Talk # 212
010 months ago
WILL BOL BACHCHAN SURPRASS SINGHAM’S COLLECTIONS?
Yesterday, as everytime, I threw a question to my friends on facebook ‘Would you like to see Bol Bachchan and why?’. To my shock, almost all replied in the negative. The film boasts of the superhit Ajay Devgn-Rohit Shetty combo who last year delivered a monstrous hit in the form of Singham. Although music isn’t exciting, promos do carry the hint that the film will be a laugh a minute riot. Then what could be the reason behind the skepticism of the aam junta? Let’s analyse…
Music has never been the plus point of Shetty’s films (except in Golmaal) and this is something he has openly admitted. And songs can work tremendously in promoting a film. And the mediocre Bol Bachchan songs are one of the reasons for the film’s not-so-huge hype. The title song featuring Amitabh Bachchan didn’t meet expectations and the rest of the songs haven’t been able to pick up (though Chalao Na Naino Se is catchy). That the film is inspired from the classic Gol Maal (*ing Amol Palekar) has also made a lot of people skeptical. Trailers have entertainment written all over it but somehow, it didn’t hit the bullseye. Are the makers doing wrong by showing a little more of Abhishek Bachchan, who’s not that saleable off late?
However, the film has its share of advantages as well. As mentioned in the first para, Ajay-Rohit combo has worked well in the past in entertaining the viewers. From the promos, it seems that Bol Bachchan has lots of comedy and More >
Fenil’s Bollywood Talk # 210
011 months ago
TERI MERI KAHAANI V/S GANGS OF WASSEYPUR!
An exciting weekend awaits us! The two big releases tomorrow have generated considerable hype and excitement. Both the films have a fabulous music score going in their favour, moreover. My take on the releases:
TERI MERI KAHAANI:
The film marks the return of Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra after their super-sizzling chemistry in Kaminey. It’s a unique love story as it traces the journey of two individuals, playing three different characters and who fall in love in three different eras! Hence the tagline ‘Thrice Upon A Love Story’. However, it’s not a reincarnation-based saga as was believed by many. Shahid looks cool as the batameez Javed in the 1910 track and his shayaris will be the icing on the cake. Priyanka meanwhile takes the cake in the 1960s track and looks ravishing in the song Jab Se Mere Dil Ko Uff. However, the 60s Bombay sets look damn tacky! The 2012 track is embellished with 2 fine songs – the now-famous Mukhtasar and That’s All I Really Wanna Do. That the film is based in three different eras makes it stand out from the rest of the romcoms. Sadly, the excitement is just moderate. Opening will be average but the film should get patronage from youngsters and college-going audience.
Aap humein bhool jao humein koi gham nahi! Aap humein bhool jao humein koi gham nahi! Jis din humne aapko bhoola diya… Samaj lijiyega iss duniya mein HUM nahi!!
GANGS OF WASSEYPUR:
The niche audiences were dying for its release. And More >
Fenil’s Bollywood Talk # 209
011 months ago
VIDHU VINOD CHOPRA IS BACK AFTER 3 IDIOTS!
Vidhu Vinod Chopra-produced 3 Idiots is easily one of the best films of all times. The trade and media were very curious to know what would be his next venture. Considering that 3 Idiots was the biggest blockbuster of 2009 and Indian Cinema (till date, no one has managed to break its record), VVC obviously was cautious when okaying the next project. And finally, he opted for Ferrari Ki Sawaari and what’s more, he didn’t cast any A-list actor. Instead, he signed the not-so-saleable-but-highly-talented Sharman Joshi, who did a great job in Chopra’s 3 Idiots.
Ferrari Ki Sawaari deals with cricket and the Ferrari and in a way is the instance of ‘entertaining as well as enlightening’ cinema that caught attention thanks to Rajkumar Hirani’s films (Munnabhai series and 3 Idiots). In fact, Rajkumar Hirani has also contributed the film by penning its dialogues. Sharman’s son is played by Ritwik Sahore while Sharman’s father is Boman Irani. The makers have used the same Ferrari that was gifted to Sachin Tendulkar by Michael Schumacher! Songs haven’t been appreciated much except Mala Jau De, which features superstar Vidya Balan.
Due to lack of big stars and not-so-exciting promos, Ferrari Ki Sawaari hasn’t generated considerable hype. Hence, the opening will be low but the film’s business should zoom from Saturday. Made on a modest budget, Ferrari Ki Sawaari should excel at the box office, provided it’s well made.
READY FOR THE FERRARI RIDE More >