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Why we should pray for Himesh's Movie
It's not about aesthetics, or critical preference. It's not about
liking one film over the other. It's about how Jhoom Barabar Jhoom's
failure is fantastic news for the Hindi film industry, in general.
And about how we should all pray that Himesh Reshammiya's film is a
super-success.
Assuming you're not nodding in agreement just yet, allow me to make
my case. Read on.I have nothing personal against Yash Raj Films.
They've made some fine movies over the years, Yash Chopra [Images]
and son Adi have contributed immeasurably to Indian cinema, and it's
commendable. It's also just turned into a big, flashy bar of soap.
The last watchable Yash Raj movie was Saathiya, Shaad Ali's warm,
loyal remake of Mani Ratnam's Alaipaayuthe. This was back in 2002.
Over the last five years, Bollywood's biggest banner has started
taking the audience for granted, churning out stars, locales, cliche
and camp. It's all merely packaging.
Save for Sanjay Gadhvi's unashamed Dhoom testosterone, the roster's
been dismal. Hum Tum, Veer-Zaara, Neal N Nikki, Salaam Namaste,
Fanaa. Films without plots or soul. Then there are the fatally
flawed Kabul Express and Bunty Aur Babli. What's the point of it
all?
Money, of course.
Their camp has gotten stronger (and, appropriately, campier) and way
richer. They are the guys who reportedly twist multiplex arms to
extract higher ticket prices and allegedly force smaller filmmakers
to shuffle release dates. And if rumours are to be believed, they
don't pay their stars -- it's all about visibility, the stars gladly
making a bundle hiking their stage and endorsement fees.
They are an influential media presence, and there are few
film critics who will dare totally trash a Yash Raj film. The
otherwise outspoken Mumbai film journalist circle, at a Yash Raj
press screening, clears their throats with some discretion. No
matter how the films do, they are labeled superhits -- yes, even
Neal N Nikki [Images]. Please.
Upto a decade ago, crassness and melodrama used to be justified
condescendingly as stuff that would work 'in the interiors.' Today,
an SRK [Images]/Amitabh item song, a London [Images] backdrop, and
crores spent on fashion over script, are justified as stuff that
would work 'in the multiplexes.' Or worse yet, 'overseas.'YR Films
believe packaging is what our educated metropolitan youth and Indian
Diaspora demand. So they shove the repetitive silliness down our
throats, packing enough first-weekend shows to ensure some sort of
profit.
Thankfully, the audience isn't biting. They've had enough. This
year, Ta Ra Rum Pum [Images] and Jhoom Barabar Jhoom have been
declared monstrosities. Too awful to watch, audiences have given the
films a thumbs-down. Even the more 'diplomatic' critics haven't been
able to find anything to praise.Mr and Mr Chopra, sit up and take
notice. You made Silsila, you made DDLJ. Work harder.
Reshammiya wears a burkha!
Fans will love Himesh's Aap Kaa
Surroor
Now Reshammiya can take on Shah
Rukh
'I accept that I'm a nasal
singer'
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