By Sonny Chatrath
Occasional Actor
If you have been noticing, remakes of successful Bollywood movies from the 80s and 90s is on the rise. Some are extremely successful, and some are terrible flops.
If you have watched RGVs Sholay, or the new Umrao Jaan with Aishwarya Rai you know what I am talking about.
Some films are just painful to sit through in part because of the poor script and the rest because the new actors can’t hold a candle to their peers. Don is an exception to the rule.
New Agneepath Debuts
I was looking forward to the new Agneepath with Hrithik Roshan, Sanjay Dutt, Rishi Kapoor, Zareena Wahab, and others.
I was so anxious, that I arrived at the theatre about 10 minutes before showtime to make sure I didn’t miss even a second of the film.
Once inside the 200-seat theater I was relieved to see that I was one of just two souls in the theater. But given that today was a working day, and a rainy, dull, boring one at that, it made sense.
Or it may be that people were expecting someone like me to review this film so that they could save their precious $8.50. 😉
For those who are planning on downloading and watching this, I would recommend just bite the bullet and go watch it in a theater.
Blows You Away
I promise you the experience will blow you away. Not that the producer is paying me to make this statement.
For the benefit of our readers, I won’t draw parallels between the old Agneepath with Amitabh Bacchan.
Let’s treat this film as a whole new film, because most of us were too young back then to remember the original and bias is not always a good thing.
I will be honest, I am a big fan of Hrithik, Priyanka, and Sanjay Dutt because they are fine actors, and bring their own unique qualities to the screen.
Rishi Kapoor did his first negative role as the girl-trafficking, drug-pushing Rauf Lala and he did a phenomenal job.
It is sad that women in Indian cinema always play second fiddle to the male leads.
Without further ado I present my review of Agneepath.
School Master Dina Nath Chauhan lives with his family in Mandwa, a small coastal village where he teaches primary school kids. He is popular with the locals, and about to start his own salt mill.
The Local Zamindar/former ruler of mandwa hates his guts and wants him dead. He calls his son Kancha (Sanjay Dutt) from Mumbai to come and help him get rid of Dina Nath. They frame him for raping and killing a disabled school-girl and hang him immediately.
Vijay, his son, knows his dad is innocent, but can’t save his father. He leaves Mandwa with his mother and lands at Mumbai by boat, where he commits his first crime by killing a cop.
From that point the film picks up speed, and several new characters are introduced into the film.
Rishi Kapoor plays Vijay (Hrithik Roshan’s) mentor.
There are several plots, and sub-plots running simultaneously. Some of them don’t make much sense.
I will let you watch the film instead of giving the whole story away.
I did have several issues with continuity of the film.
In my opinion, they cut Vijay’s childhood part short, and also failed to show the part where his mother disowns him.
Also, the young neighbor Kaali (Priyanka Chopra) is introduced without telling us who she is; it does take a while for people to figure that she is the neighbor’s daughter who has been in love with Vijay right from the start.
Kaali’s outfits look like they came out of one of those premium designer stores, she doesn’t look like she lives in a chawl.
Sanjay Dutt Rocks, Hrithik Intense
Sanjay Dutt shines as a villain.
I think Kancha will go down in history as one of the best villains in a Bollywood film.
He is Scary, Ruthless, and Ugly.
This is the first time I have seen him do a negative role.
Hrithik is one of the best actors in Bollywood, because he is always in character.
It is rumored that he locks himself in a room two days before the shot so that he stays in character.
His intensity is unbeatable.
Priyanka Chopra brings charm to the screen, but for some reason her existence doesn’t make any sense.
I wish they came up with more meaningful roles for women in Indian Cinema.
This film like other Bollywood films is Male Centric.
Zareena Wahab is perfect as Vijay’s mother.
The supporting cast also deserves recognition, especially the kid who plays Vijay as a child is gifted.
Chikni Chameli – Hot
Lately all Bollywood films are promoted with an item song.
This film had “Chikni Chameli” which was a pleasant distraction, and Katrina Kaif looks hot as hell.
I am sure the producers spent a pretty penny on that song.
The whole Agneepath album is very melodious.
Melodious Music
Ajay-Atul have done a good job composing the music.
The director did take some cinematic liberties, like the time when Vijay Picks up Kancha, (I mean all the way over his head) after being stabbed multiple times and throws him on the ground.
I am sure you will watch that scene and chuckle. Sanjay Dutt is like a mini mountain compared to Hrithik, yet Hrithik whips him like miracle whip.
And then there are the tear jerking moments of the film, which are an integral part of any Bollywood film.
It is moments like these that make Bollywood films family friendly. After all they have to think about all the unclejis, and auntijis who will sob, and sniff.
The cinematography is above-average, and Mandwa village looks beautiful.
Indian Cinema has really come a long way from those over the top films of the 80s and 90s in the sense that level of acting has improved tremendously, and even with the few flaws in continuity, and script the overall product is great.
I highly recommend the new Agneepath. It has the potential of becoming one of the biggest releases of 2012.
Related Posts:
Old Agneepath Review
Agneepath – A Blazing Bollywood Bonanza added by SearchIndia.com on
View all posts by SearchIndia.com →
I have a different take on the film.
In fact, I think it was quite a lousy film and yet again represents the junk that Indian cinema is making today especially so in mainstream filmmaking.
Here’s my review,
http://www.upperstall.com/films/2012/agneepath
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Since SI did not watch this film, we won’t say much except that the old Agneepath was a disgusting piece of shit and completely unworthy of a remake.
Dear Third Man!
A film is not about just the story, and the actors, it is the whole package.
People are not stupid to continue to make films worth millions of dollars so other like you can shoot them down.
A lot of work goes into making a film. The actors poured their heart and soul into their respective characters, and that’s why they continue to get work. Hrithik for instance moves you with his acting in the scene with his sister, and also when his mother asks him to leave her house.
He is a fine fine actor, and I didn’t see anything wrong with the film, but then that is purely my opinion, and not a fact.
If you spend one day on the sets of a movie you will realize how much work goes into making a film, and in 2 seconds you trashed it. Bravo!
@schatrath
“People are not stupid to continue to make films worth millions of dollars so other like you can shoot them down.
A lot of work goes into making a film”
But isn’t that the case in most big budget films? All style and no substance? The all-style-and-no-substance formula was OK some years back but it’s become a tiring trend. If Bollywood releases 100 movies in a year, atleast 90 of them turn out to be duds.
Yes, I agree a lot of work goes into making a film. But when the end result is mediocre, isn’t the movie-goer cheated of his hard-earned money? The work put into making a film becomes irrelevant if the movie turns out to be mediocre.
Btw, I haven’t seen Agneepath, neither the classic nor this one. So my comments are not about the movie which you have reviewed.
Er Sonny, I work in the film line in Mumbai since 1993 and am a direction specialization graduate from FTII (Film and Television Institute of India), Pune.
I have made several documentaries and corporate films and have worked in two feature films as First Assistant Director or Chief Asst Director where I controlled the shoot by breaking down the script, creating the shooting schedule and seeing the shoot went smoothly and according to it. So I know exactly what shooting entails.
I also have been running upperstall.com for almost 12 years now. Even the worst of films have a huge effort going into them so that is no criteria.
However, we just don’t work enough on our content and it shows. Only technical advancements doesn’t mean the films are good.
Our stars are bloody lucky they live in India where audiences are non-demanding and even the most educated ones go – oh when we see a Hindi/Indian film, we want to leave our brains behind and get entertained and so they get away with murdering the acting craft (most of them anyway and they even win awards for these ‘performances’) as do the filmmakers the cinematic process with brainless films.
Today, a world of hype and marketing and fanatic star following helps the Housefulls, Golmaals, Bodyguards and Readys get returns in 100s of crores especially in the first 3 days. Very few big budget A-grade star films flop from day one.
A star film here has nothing to do with quality and this has been our case right from the formation of the star system in the 1930s.
In fact, Guru Dutt always maintained that it was really easy to make a hit film – the challenge was making a good film that is successful as well.
Ek Tha Tiger is already assured of a huge opening for Salman and Katrina when it comes irrespective of how the the film is.
Hitchcock always said the three most important aspects of a film were Script, script and script and here is where we keep faltering and faltering big time. But as long as our audiences are happy with these sort of films, there will be many more such films being made and they will even continue to be hits.
Hit cinema doesn’t necessarily mean good cinema – at least not for me. Nothing will change here so actually there is no point going on and on. Let’s just say we disagree, you are welcome and entitled to your thoughts just as I am to mine.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Good points. A must-read comment.
Good points ThirdMan. And impressive profile too. And I am guessing the name is a reference to the classic Orson Welles film set in post WW2 Vienna?
Saw Agneepath yesterday. Have to say I was disappointed. While it was essentially a variant of the Bollywood revenge theme, I felt the writers missed an opportunity to make Vijay’s character more complex. They chose the easy way out and made him a gangster with a heart of gold. For example, it was not really clear how Vijay perceived his mentor’s auctioning business until it impacted his own flesh and blood. Did he view it as a necessary evil that he needed to ignore in order to get his revenge? Or did he secretly hate himself for abetting the crime?
The BGM was annoying and bombastic. No subtlety all sledgehammer. Whatever happened to those scenes where there is no BGM and director just lets the acting and lighting contribute to the intensity?
I could go on about it being too long, too many plot holes, the need for Priyanka’s character etc, but I am going to stop here. I think all those points have been well covered in the previous posts. Overall pretty disappointing.
On a separate note SI, any idea why my userID was removed? I had to register again.
AC
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Watched The Third Man a few years back. Will probably see it again.
Regarding deletion of your user registration, SI is attacked relentlessly in several ways every day from different quarters and when we respond sometimes there’s bound to be collateral damage.
ThirdMan,
Speaking of hype and marketing, I came across this article in TOI a few days before Ra.One was released:
It appears that Rajni’s cameo was added as an afterthought a few weeks before release with the South Indian audience in mind. Seems to me it was done so with nary a thought on how it will impact the storyline. That itself should clue anyone in on the role played by said hype and marketing…
AC
is SI not going to watch this!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
No, because the old Agneepath was utter junk. Since the new Agneepath is mostly based on the 1990-film we don’t think we can survive a second viewing.
SI wrote “I will be honest, I am a big fan of Hrithik, Priyanka………”Priyanka Chopra brings charm to the screen…..”
WHHHHAAAAAAATTTTTT????? Are you the same person who normally writes all the movie reviews or are you someone else?
As far as I have known you from your earlier writings is that you ABHOR Priyanka Chopra as an actress and have claimed numerous times that she can’t act.
Even I hate Priyanka…
So what happened today? Why did u write the above sentences for Priyanka? I am appalled!!!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Hear one, Hear All – Notwithstanding rumors to the contrary, SI is not suffering from a brain tumor impairing the cognitive skills. 😉
As you can see from the byline right below the headline, SI did NOT review the new Agneepath. It was reviewed by our friend in New Jersey who is also an actor.
SI reviewed only the Old Agneepath.
Oh, i see..now that makes sense ;-)…u scared me for a moment…
SearchIndia.com Responds:
All Izz Well, as the 3 Idiots sing in that idiotic movie!
Dear Madatbollywood, what did the poor woman ever do to you?
She is making a living just the way you and I are.
She gets paid to portray her character, which she did just fine.
I have acted with some really bad actors in my short career, and for all you know others may think I am a bad actor as well, but it would be unfair to judge her because of your personal likes, and dislikes.
Did you not like the way she acted, or is it something purely personal?
With a display name like Madatbollywood you don’t need to explain much. I already got the picture.
“She is making a living just the way you and I are.
She gets paid to portray her character…”
Precisely. She gets paid out of our(audience) pocket. When she gets paid handsomely for atrocious performances, it’s only natural that the average movie-goer gets angry.. after all, it’s his hard-earned money.
Right now, I can’t comment on her performance in Agneepath but in few other movies I’ve seen, she did a horrible job, atleast in my opinion.
“…but it would be unfair to judge her because of your personal likes, and dislikes.”
In my case, I don’t like or hate her. If she acts fine, I have got absolutely no problem in appreciating her work.
But then, different people have different expectations I guess.
What may seem good to one may seem to be just OK for another.
@schatrath
Mnx542, thanks for the back up, I really appreciate 😉
Sonny Chatrath writes: “Dear Madatbollywood, what did the poor woman ever do to you?
She is making a living just the way you and I are.
She gets paid to portray her character, which she did just fine.”
—- Excuse me??? Priyanka Chopra is a horrendous actress (if I can even call her an actress). She can’t act even if her life depended on it. She can do anything for a living, I personally don’t care, but she just can’t act..This is not just my personal opinion, it’s a fact.
You want to see what real acting is?? Go and see Shabana Azmi, Nandita Das, Ratna Pathak-Shah, Seema Biswas, Konkana Sen, etc. These new generation so-called actresses are in Bollywood either because of their looks or because they are related to somebody in the film fraternity. That’s how Bollywood works.
If this pathetic actress Priyanka goes to any sane movie industry other than Bollywood, she would have a hard time finding a role even in a crowd scene.
Sonny Chatrath writes: “With a display name like Madatbollywood you don’t need to explain much. I already got the picture”
What pot have u been smoking all these years??? I am rightfully mad at Bollywood for copying gazillions of Hollywood (and Korean, Spanish, etc) movies and making all kinds of nonsensical movies that insults viewer’s intelligence.
If you say Priyanka Chopra is a good actress, then u need to go and get your brains checked (that’s of course if you have any)…
I am not going to Dignify your Ranting with a response.
There is no sense preaching to the choir.
You seem to know it all. Lol.
Sonny,
My comments are not merely rants.
Even your friends at SearchIndia have the same feelings as mine. B’wood needs a big shake-up. There are a lot of over-rated, so called stars who can’t act properly.
May be they work very hard and a lot of efforts go in making these movies, but the hard work can’t justify the crappy movies they make.
The very premise of B’wood is “Entertainment”, “time-pass” movies. Under this premise, they can show any kind of crap in their movies, and in the name of entertainment & time-pass, the masses just have to swallow whatever is shoved down our throats.
Nice move – getting Sonny to review.
Bravo Sonny, for being bravely honest!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
“Bravely honest” for a Bollywood review?
No doubt Sonny is brave.
Watching Agneepath may be like taking the Agneepath 😉
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Based on the overwhelming audience response, you can expect more of the same.
Guys Guys! It is a fine movie if you believe me.
I am not getting paid to say this. Others in India have already watched and praised it.
I only reported what I saw.
I am not adding any additional masala to it.
Seems like people have already made up their mind about this film, and that is sad!
Sonny – Looks like you are having a lot of fun with comments 😉
Your review itself is good but when someone does not share the same opinion as you do then it starts getting interesting. The focus shifts from the review to whose opinion wins.
I hope you continue to review from time to time to keep this already exciting blog more colorful.
SI actually allowed this Bollywood loving, “love Priyanka Chopra’s acting” review on this blog!!!!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
It’s in our rare moments of sobriety that we stumble!
Now you know why SI considers insobriety a virtue and sobriety a vice. 😉
Wow! That bad huh?
Anyways, I am not out here to win any popularity contest.
I was required to review the film, and I did just that. I didn’t allow any bias to seep into my review.
The task was to write about the film, and how all the actors acted, and I did that.
I don’t care if they acted badly in the past, or if they have had a list of flops. I only concentrated on Agneepath the new film, and post my review.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Unlike 99.99% of our readers (as well as SI), Sonny Chatrath has the unique advantage of having acted in a few films (both feature films & ads) and knows the difficulties and nuts and bolts of making a movie better than all of us.
Surely that entitles him to a different perspective and perhaps makes him more tolerant than all of us arm-chair ‘critics.’
We thank him once again for reviewing Agneepath.
That said, SI readers have the right to their rants.
I watched the movie, and I have to agree to Sonny that this is by far the best acting that Priyanka as delivered!
My earlier comment was directed at non-SI nature of this review of the movie, that’s all 🙂
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: this is by far the best acting that Priyanka as delivered
We forgive your taste deficiencies and grammatical incoherencies! 😉
“I will be honest, I am a big fan of Hrithik, Priyanka, and Sanjay Dutt because they are fine actors, and bring their own unique qualities to the screen.”
Am I the only one or does anyone else disagree with the above sentence? Hrithik can act but as for the other two, I don’t think they know what ‘acting’ is!!
“This film had “Chikni Chameli” which was a pleasant distraction, and Katrina Kaif looks hot as hell.”
Pleasant distraction? Oh, no! Btw, she didn’t look hot, she looked and danced more like a wh**e.. Maybe it’s what the makers intended!!!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
As we say often, the producers make the films the audience lusts for.
That Indians love trash is obvious from the overwhelming box-office response.
Sanjay Dutt is a hardcore criminal who should have been locked up for life for associating with terrorists.
As for Priyanka Chopra, that thing can’t spell acting if her life depended on it. And to think it gets awards for acting. Only in Incredible India.
Katrina Kaif’s sustained presence in Bollywood reduces the Indian movie business to a mockery.
Hi Mr.Chatrath, first of all, thanks for taking spending your valuable time to review Agneepath (2012). I have not seen the new film and hardly remember the storyline and scenes of the old Agneepath, so I cannot comment on the review.
I just had a few doubts, are you a regular reader of SI? If so, did you happen to read this post of SI on Chikni Chameli, the so-called hot number by Katrina Kaif,
http://www.searchindia.com/2012/01/25/chikni-chameli-ugly-slutty-trashy/
I am asking this because you wrote, ““This film had “Chikni Chameli” which was a pleasant distraction, and Katrina Kaif looks hot as hell.”. I hope SI and you are not playing pranks on us 😉 Did you mean in a sarcastic way 🙂
SI: We would love your two cents on this.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
No, pranks here, Aswin.
We requested Sonny to do the review.
Regarding Chikni Chameli, Sonny & SI have different views. Most likely, Sonny has not even read our Chikni post though he was likely aware that we’d do one.
But we didn’t tell Sonny what to write just like we don’t tell the other occasional writers for SI like Racer, Naveen etc.
Any editing SI does with the external writing is only to fix typos or grammar issues.
Bottom line, Sonny & SI have different views on movies, restaurants, people etc.
No Aswin! I am surely not playing a prank on you.
I thought she performed the number very well.
It is extremely difficult to choreograph a song with that many moving parts.
You guys only see if the actor looks like a whore, or the song sucks, or comment about their wardrobe.
How about when you watch shows like Dance India Dance etc on TV. Do you think the same even then?
In a nut-shell It is difficult.
But our Desi mind set is so full of bias, and old values. We are quick to judge a difficult, and extremely fast paced dance number like Chikni Chameli, but when we have to shake a leg at a party, we come up with a gazillion excuses about why we can’t dance. We are truly unique.
Again to answer your question. I looked at the techincal aspects of the number. You should look at it this way, if this performance was on a TV contest, it would win first prize for sure.
But the difference is, Saroj Khan choreographed it.
I rest my case your honor.
Hey buddy, I am not here to thrash you or your review of “Agneepath”. I was genuinely assuming that SI and you were indeed sarcastic about her performance in Chikni Chameli. 🙂
Btw, it’s nice to see a review from someone who has been in the industry and knows the nitty gritties of film making. Film making is a very risky business and none know it better than those involved in acting, producing, and directing professions. So, don’t take all our comments to your heart. But at the same time, I have to say some comments were valid. While it is true that filmmakers do strive very hard to make a film, their hardwork goes to zilch when the final product becomes nothing more than a “run of the mill” “boring and mundane” “old wine in a recycled color bottle” or other meaningless stuff. Please note that there are some exceptional films in Bollywoood, but very far and few.
“It is extremely difficult to choreograph a song with that many moving parts.
You guys only see if the actor looks like a whore, or the song sucks, or comment about their wardrobe.”
So many moving parts 😉 Lol. Coming to your point, it’s a bloody film for heaven’s sake. It doesn’t matter if Katrina Kaif acted like a whore or was one in reality. All that mattered was that the song was one of the major factors which made the latest Agneepath a hit 🙂
Also, vulgarity purely lies in the eyes of the viewer. What is sexy to me is boring to another person. What is beautiful to me becomes vulgar to another person. So, it doesn’t matter how Katrina danced in Chikni Chameli as long as innocent children and immature teenagers don;t watch the scene :P.
Having said all that, Katrina’s whorish dance would be justified only if the script/context of the scene demanded it. Afterall, how can you portray a whore in a movie without whorish movements 🙂
Indeed the makers intended her to look like a whore.
If she didn’t shake her B@@bs the way she did, most folks in India wouldn’t give a $hit.
In my first film “9 Eleven” the producer insisted on inserting a song called “Chumban Alingan” with Kashmira Shah.
He could have hired any Gori from the U.S, but he went out of his way to get her because she had just done a topless calendar.
But to get back to the topic if you don’t find Kat Hot, you need to visit the Hamdard Dawakhana in Delhi to get checked for impotence.
Lol just kidding!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Sonny writes: If she didn’t shake her B@@bs the way she did, most folks in India wouldn’t give a $hit.
Likely true. More Indians (by an order of magnitude) would love it than find it distasteful.
“If she didn’t shake her B@@bs the way she did, most folks in India wouldn’t give a $hit. ”
Lol, you’re right. No one gives a flying f**k if she doesn’t do the things she did in the video. This is also one technique to pull in more people to the theater.
“But to get back to the topic if you don’t find Kat Hot, you need to visit the Hamdard Dawakhana in Delhi to get checked for impotence.”
I did find her hot in a few movies and songs but definitely NOT in this song.
To me, looking hot and looking like a perfect wh**e are two very different things.
Her movements bordered on vulgarity. Pity she agreed to do it for the sake of money.
Dude! Do you watch those dance contests on TV?
I think some of the performances are much bolder than this one. What you say is purely your opinion, and not the whole world’s.
She was required to portray herself as a Wh@re, and she did.
In my opinion she is a successful actress.
“In my opinion she is a successful actress.”
Successful, yes. I can’t deny that.!!
“What you say is purely your opinion, and not the whole world’s. ”
Of course, there are people to like such trash. The word ‘class’ has no meaning in their dictionary. But that said, everyone has his/her own opinion, like you said.
My problem is not with Katrina but with the shoddy picturization.
SI said: “Likely true. More Indians (by an order of magnitude) would love it than find it distasteful.”
Pray please tell me people from which part of the world find a song with sexy movements distasteful. Agreed Indians are more attracted towards porn and sleaze than any other nation. But the citizens of other nations are not so noble either. They just don’t care much for porny moments in films because they experience more of it in real life. After all, what’s better than the real deal 😉 Get my point, SI? 🙂
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. We think there should be class/grace even in porn/nudity/item numbers.
Dance numbers in Indian movies are a better example. It’s so obvious that 99% of the time there’s just no grace in the steps.
2. You write: But the citizens of other nations are not so noble either.
There’s nothing ignoble in porn or harlotry.
When we describe a dance as slutty we’re not degrading the slut but the lack of grace in their manic thrusts, wild gyrations and senseless movements.
The Japanese realized centuries back that grace and class were equally important in whores and introduced the rigorous system of years of training before a girl could become a Geisha.
We vaguely remember reading in Indian history too that many courtesans in the royal court were cultured women.
But given that much of the Indian movie audience belongs in the crass category, class has taken a back seat.
“As we say often, the producers make the films the audience lusts for.”
They’re left with no option as majority of the audience only want trash!
“Sanjay Dutt is a hardcore criminal who should have been locked up for life for associating with terrorists.”
Not to mention Salman Khan. He killed poor pavement dwellers and yet he is a superstar to a large number of people. Just shows how pathetic the Indian mentality can get. These so called fans don’t even seem to bother about that fateful incident. Who cares about a bunch of homeless people, right?
Pitful.!!!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Is it true that Salman Khan has started a Driving School?
Judging by your link, I guess he has.
Or maybe he’d just seen a Salman Khan movie the day before.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
When we learned that the inhuman scumbag Salman Khan has a charity outfit called Being Human, we laughed for two days non-stop!
BTW, this Salman Chutiya is now selling Rs 19,000.00 watches on the ‘charity’ web site. He promises to use Rs 100 of that purchase for charity.
Ha ha ha. Ha ha ha.
Only a gandu like Salman Khan sells Rs.19,000.00 watches on the official ‘charity’ web site.
Of all the savage beasts preying on other humans in India, Salman Khan must be the worst.
Only in Incredible India does the wolf pretend to love the sheep it slaughters.
No kidding, folks. Check out the Rs.19,000.00 watches on the animal Salman Khan’s ‘Charity’ web site – http://www.beinghumanonline.com/shopping.php
After a record breaking opening day beating Bodyguard, The film witnessed recrd drop on 2nd day.
http://www.boxofficeindia.com/boxnewsdetail.php?page=shownews&articleid=3974&nCat=
The film was made for 65-70 crores (unofficial figures).
They sold satellite rights for 41 crores before the film was even released, meaning 60% of the cost is already recovered. They grossed 25 crores on opening day. You do the math if they will or not recover their cost.
I think they will be able to recover their cost, and then some.
Let’s wait for the final figures to come in.
Drop in numbers on the second day could be because of a variety of reasons. But let’s just say that the fat lady hasn’t sung yet.
Film abhi baaki hai mere dost!
requesting review of ‘On the waterfront’ and ‘a streetcar named desire’ . please.. ..
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Seen both. Lovely films.
The taxi scene between Marlon Brando and Rod Steiger) in On the Waterfront is one of our all-time favorite motion picture moments.
A Streetcar Named Desire is as intense and moving, perhaps more so considering the end. Much of the movie is set in a small house.
Reviews? Parkalam (we’ll see).
We strongly urge all movie buffs to see these two black & white classics.
SI,
Speaking of Taxi scenes, have you seen Taxi Driver? One of my all-time favorites. Even have the 30th Anniversary DVD release.
AC
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Of course.
Once in a while we go to the mirror and imagining that our readers/commenters and Bollywood/Kollywood fans are behind the mirror we start yelling:
Hehehehe…who hasn`t imagined himself to be Travis Bickle and re-enacted the mirror scene in the privacy of his home? It required a lot of guts on the part of de Niro to take on such a role. Watched him in another role yesterday in movie called “Brazil”. You have seen it perhaps?
SearchIndia.com Responds:
No, no see Brazil yet.
Let me making all of you De Niro fans throw up with a mind boggling imitation of “You talkin’ to me?” 😉
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S738tRacNs
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Watched it. Plain awful.
Kamal Haasan – Indian Robert De Zero
Kamal’s good movie intentions are marred by terrible execution.
When you watch horror shows like Dasavatharam it makes you wonder if this is the same guy who made Hey Ram or Anbe Sivam or Virumandi.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
They failed at some basic levels in Dasavatharam – For instance, the makeup was so crude it beggars belief.
Kamal deserves credit for letting Pasupathy hog the show in Virumaandi.
And fortunately, Pasupathy delivered the goods.
Taxi Driver was playing on Pix.
What a coincidence that when I switched to the channel, the ‘You talkin to me’ scene was going on. Loved it. But didn’t watch the movie as some considerable time had passed since the movie began.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
It’s been years since we watched Taxi Driver, the full movie we mean. Perhaps, we should rewatch it.
@ the reviewer:
Sanjay Dutt became quite popular for his negative role in Khalnayak. Was considered one of the best villains in Bollywood at that time. I don’t have any opinion about this movie, but just FYI.
SI:
Please review “Audition”. You said it has been added to the Netflix Queue. When are you reviewing it?
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Audition? Soon, Sweetie!
Have you watched the film ‘Ramana’ released in 2002 ??
Liked it. Fine movie which could have been even better I felt.
It has a wonderful Ilayaraja song too by the name ‘Vaanavilae’ 🙂
What is your opinion about that movie?? 🙂
And planning to watch my suggestion ‘Khosla ka ghosla’ anytime soon ??
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. The song Vaanaville vaanaville is classic. Bet the movie is not even one-millionth as good.
No, we have not seen the movie Ramana.
2. If we’re sober tonight, we’ll watch Khosla Ka Ghosla.
But we went to Trader Joe’s (Princeton, NJ) last night & got lot of Beer and Wine. 😉
Vaanaville is a lovely song. Back in 2003 when I watched Ramana, I remember to have liked the movie very much. The only Vijayakanth movie I seem to have liked apart from Amman Kovil Kizhakkaale(for it’s music).
But over these years, I’ve watched several beautiful Indian and Foreign movies that I doubt if I’ll like Ramana if I watch it now.
Btw, more melodies for SI
1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6bsO0yXiEc
2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAoUgCn7tRY&feature=related
Shreya Ghoshal has a lovely voice. Mamta Mohandas looks beautiful..!!
3) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85uXGUR-tUo
Couldn’t find the original video for this one. Lovely song.!!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
All good ones.
Picturization was decent too in the second one. Perhaps, all Malayalam films should be remade in Hindi and Tamil for connoisseurs of good films. Surely, Kerala’s 100% literacy has something to do with the quality films coming from that tiny state. Prithviraj is very good.
Alas, most Kollywood and Bollywood films are made by semi-literates for illiterates.
The last one (Ninaipathellam Nadanthuvittal), we’ve been listening to for decades.
“Perhaps, all Malayalam films should be remade in Hindi and Tamil for connoisseurs of good films.”
The Kollywood bozos have done already done this many times in the past..!! Majority of the Tamil films of the 80s, 90s and even some in 2000s were remakes of Malayalam movies..!!
1) Thenmavin Kombathu – Muthu (I haven’t seen Thenmavin Kombathu but my mom said they truly messed up the remake by portraying Rajni as a larger-than-life character while in the original Mohanlal was just an ordinary servant)
2) In Harihar Nagar – MGR Nagaril (again, a sloppy remake)
3) Manichitrathazhu – Chandramukhi (Liked the remake but no where near the original)
4) Classmates – Ninaithale Inikkum (Again, NI was above average but still no where close to Classmates)
5) Gandhinagar 2nd street – Anna Nagar 2nd street (not sure of the names)
6) Friends – Friends (Remade by the same director)
7) Vietnam Colony – Remade with the same title(Both were equally good.. Mohanlal and Prabhu in the original and remake respectively did a wonderful job)… But, I have a a doubt that the Malayalam original itself was inspired or copied from Ernest goes to Camp.. Not sure of it.!!
8) Ramji Rao Speaking – Remade in Hindi as Hera Pheri and in Tamil as Arangetra Velai..!!
9) Bodyguard – Kaavalan. The Malayalam original itself wasn’t that good. Wonder why the hell they remade it..!!
The list is endless… 95% of the remakes were no patch on the original.
But that said, the quality of Malayalam films has steadily declined over the years (Pokkiri Raja starring Mammooty and Prithiviraj is a good example. The movie was downright ridiculous). Previously, all the movies gave a lot of importance to the story, screenplay, direction and acting. Having a big star as the lead in no way decided the outcome of the movie. If it didn’t have a good story, the film flopped, irrespective of the star who acted in it… Nowadays, it’s mostly the “all-style-and-no-substance” formula. Also relying on star power to pull the audience to the theater.
The sheer number of Tamil movies releasing in Kerala must have had something to do with this.!!
But some good movie does hit the screens now and then..!!
“The last one (Ninaipathellam Nadanthuvittal), we’ve been listening to for decades.”
The lyrics are wonderful too.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
If there’s a deterioration in quality of Malayalam movies, it must have something to do with Ajith and Allu Arjun. Both jokers are reported to be popular in Kerala!
I heard Agneepath” (1990) was inspired (“rippedoff”) by “Scarface” (1983).
Could you verify it pls,because i have not watched AGENEEPATH and btw dont ever plan on watching it anyway even if it was for free.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Old Agneepath (1990) is not a rip-off in the absolute sense of God Tussi Great Ho (Bruce Almighty), Ghajini (Memento), Heyy Baby (Three Men and a Baby), Bitchoo (Leon a.k.a The Professional), Ek Ajnabee (Man on Fire), Partners (Hitch), Hum Kisise Kum Nahin (Analyze This) etc.
We watched both Scarface & Agneepath a few years back. Based on our fading memories, we’d say the old Agneepath is more of an inspiration than an absolute ripoff. Only, if we watch both back-to-back will we have a better idea.
Here’s the old Agneepath Review:
http://www.searchindia.com/2009/08/01/watching-agneepath/
Yes that is a great song definitely an Ilayaraaja classic.
That man is a gift from God to Tamil industry I believe.
And Ramana is a good movie and the only movie of Murugadoss, in my opinion, which is a nice movie and that too original.
I would suggest you to watch it but your opinion may differ.
It’s climax is very good and it does not belong to the ‘happy ending’ genre of movies.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
No, Netflix doesn’t carry Ramana. They only have Bharatan, Devan, Engal Anna and Neranja Manasu.
Does Netflix carry it ?? 🙂
You may think Vijayakanth’s presence as the hero would affect the movie but he has done a very good a very good job as the social crusader who fights against corruption.
The climax has a touch of class, seldom seen in Tamil cinema 😀
I saw Ramana many years ago… not a bad movie by Vijayakanth’s usual standards. The plot is very simlar to Shankar’s anti-corruption movies like Gentleman, Indian etc.
It started out in a promising way but like most movies I felt it lost steam and became over-dramatic beyond a point. I doubt if I would like Ramana if I watch it now.
By the way, the reason for which I remember this movie is the first scene where Vijayakanth is show typing on a laptop. After a few shots you realize that he using only F1-F12 keys and Windows Media Player is his database of people to hunt :-))