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The hit Sarkar combination of Amitabh Bachchan and Ram Gopal Varma came together in Nishabd. RGV introduced hottie, Jiah Khan, in his apparent remake of the controversial book and film, Lolita.
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Many filmmakers spaced their films around TRRP, Yash Raj's first release of the year.
No one wanted their film to release on the same day, as everyone expected it to be a hit. Namastey London was released in the midst of the Cricket World Cup, as the makers feared their prospects opposite the Yash Raj film.
TRRP director Siddharth Raj Anand had earlier made the hit, Salaam Namaste. But the film bombed.
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Shahid Kapur may have hoped that his film, Fool N Final was rake in the moolah. But instead, it bombed.
Though the songs were catchy, and the film starred Sunny Deol as well, director Ahmed Khan could not make his film work.
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Madhuri Dixit's comeback was said to be one of the big events of the year.
But sadly, Aaja Nachle had a poor box office opening, and only made news for the wrong reasons.
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All her 2007 releases -- Ta Ra Rum Pum, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, Saawariya and Lagaa Chunari Mein Daag -- bombed.
Laaga looked especially bad for her because she had the central role; there was no male lead, except for a special appearance from Abhishek Bachchan.
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Secondly, its music -- by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy -- was a huge hit, and everyone expected the film to be as good.
And lastly, it was directed by Shaad Ali, who gave us hits like Bunty Aur Babli and Saathiya before Jhoom.
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Ram Gopal Varma took a huge gamble by remaking one of Hindi cinema's best films, Sholay. He even attched his name to the venture. Unfortunately, it did not pay.
RGV's Sholay was called one of the worst films he had ever made.
Amitabh Bachchan, the only star from the original film to be a part of the new one, faced a lot of flak from viewers as well as Bollywood itself, for being part of the debacle.
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This was the first big flop of the year.
Salaam-E-Ishq starred the who's who of Bollywood -- from Salman Khan, Govinda, Priyanka Chopra, John Abraham, Anil Kapoor, Juhi Chawla to Vidya Balan -- and was expected to do well.
It was directed by the man who gave us Kal Ho Naa Ho, produced by Karan Johar, and this was supposed to be his first big film outside the Dharma Productions banner.
Shankar-Loy-Ehsaan's music was a big hit.
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Vidhu Vinod Chopra's film earned great reviews, and was even sent as India's official entry to the Oscars.
But the film was a commercial disaster. Even Amitabh Bachchan and Saif Ali Khan's star power could not save Eklavya.
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Saawariya
Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film was one of the most awaited films of the year. It was supposed to be the big launch of star kids, Sonam Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor.
Besides, the Hollywood studio, Sony Pictures, was making its debut in Bollywood.
The film released during Diwali, along with Om Shanti Om. While the latter went on to become one of the biggest hits of the year, Saawariya was the biggest flop.
 Adnan Sami and Bhushan Kumar, after the success of TERA CHEHRA and his last album KISI DIN, have joined hands once again to come out with a brand new album. The album, titled BEST FRIENDS, released by T-Series on 27th December, promises to show an even slimmer and different look of Adnan's.Choreographer Remo has directed the song 'Assalamwalekum', while Sameer has provided the lyrics. |
They say that great surprises come in small packages. But in this case, great surprises come because of small packages. We are talking about Aamir Khan and his maiden directorial venture Taare Zameen Par, which, even in spite of facing a lot of obstacles (like the ban of the film in Gujarat, the start-up row between the exhibitors and distributors on revenue sharing etc...) has managed to zoom its way up the B-O charts. Welcome being a super-success and Taare Zameen Par showing steady escalation isn't news any more. What is news though is an extended great run at the box office for both the films, which is pretty much on the cards now due to Jodha Akbar being postponed to February. Though the official date being cited is February 15, there are still doubts if this would stick on to be the final date.With coming weeks boasting of mostly small/medium budget productions with a limited market and only a handful of films which could be taken seriously, it greatly helps the prospects of Welcome and Taare Zameen Par to enjoy a longish stay at the screens. Coming Friday sees Return of Hanuman and Showbiz. While Anurag Kashyap has been quoted as saying that "Return of Hanuman could be as big a blockbuster as Om Shanti Om,” Mukesh Bhatt has maintained that "Showbiz would work with word of mouth going in it's favor". The fact still remains that none of the two films are expected to embark on an earth-shattering opening, hence allowing Akshay and Aamir to stay strong even in the second week. A film like Manthan Ek Kashmakash that may release on January 4 (deadly first weekend of a year), spells Z grade from miles away and the only thing it guarantees is an inauspicious beginning to 2008. A week later things turn better but still not in a way which could announce Halla Bol at the box office. Bombay To Bangkok is a small film by Iqbal team of Subhash Ghai, Nagesh Kukunoor and Shreyas Talpade and would see a limited release. Raj Kumar Santoshi, who would be desperate for a box office, has announced, "Halla Bol is a wake-up call for our collective conscience" while also clarifying that this Ajay Devgan (who plays a superstar) starrer is not set in the film industry. The film again belongs to ‘wait and watch’ category, as is the case with the third release of the January 11-My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves, which marks the debut of Nikhil Dwivedi.  Earlier this month, producer Surendra Bhatia had postponed his Rajpal Yadav, Ashish Chaudhary, Neha Dhupia starrer Rama Rama Kya Hai Dramaaa stating, "There are number of biggies slated for a release in December, and we would be forced to vacate theatres/multiplexes once these films release." The situation definitely has improved as January 18 currently stands as an open weekend for this comedy. Still, it is more or less a negligible competition for Welcome and Taare Zameen Par.The first major competition, which comes, the way of Akshay and Aamir is Sunday which hits the screens on January 25, 2008. "The film unabashedly promises to be a mix of action, comedy, romance, and thrills. Director Rohit Shetty appears to have a winner in hands," says a trade insider. A solo release, it is followed by small/medium budget films like Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na and Superstar, promotion for which is still to begin. What this means for both Welcome and Taare Zameen Par is that both the films would now have more or less an uninterrupted run for an almost 8 weeks! Astonishing, since in the times when there is competition arriving every Friday, Akshay and Aamir would have as many as two open months for their films. | |
For rising star Rohan Arya [Tushar Jalota], the paparazzi are at first an annoyance, then an ever-disturbing presence. He becomes a target of a team of four paparazzi, who are bent on making him fodder for the news channels. And when they stumble upon a sensitive nerve, all hell breaks loose. 
e some impression. Cinematography is just about okay. The film begins with a disclaimer, stating that RETURN OF HANUMAN is not a sequel to any film made before. But is it really possible to watch the new experience forgetting all about the first part?
As someone who thoroughly enjoyed HANUMAN, you expect an encore with RETURN OF HANUMAN, although the makers, for reasons best known to them, have decided to alienate the new film with the first animation film on Lord Hanuman. The makers may have their reasons, but for the viewer, the comparisons are inevitable.
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Honestly speaking, one shouldn't compare the two films for a very valid reason. While HANUMAN was a pure mythological film, RETURN OF HANUMAN merges mythology with the present-day kalyug ki duniya. In this film, there's Gabbar Singh, plus voice-over clones of, hold your breath, Shah Rukh Khan, Sanjeev Kumar and Raaj Kumar. What's more, Baby Hanuman handles a volley of bullets like Keanu Reeves handled them in the MATRIX series.
RETURN OF HANUMAN begins with the battle between the gods and rakshas. The focus shifts to a small kid, Minku, in a small village in present-day India, who's ridiculed by his friends. Lord Hanuman requests Narad Muni to convince Lord Brahma to send him to earth. Lord Brahma agrees, but Lord Hanuman is made to sign a contract, which has several do's and don'ts.
It's innovative to merge mythology with the contemporary and a number of sequences do make an impression, especially in the first hour. But the film drags in the post-interval portions and a long-drawn climax only dilutes the impact of several interesting sequences.
One of the prime reasons why HANUMAN worked was because Baby Hanuman was very cute, very lovable. The Baby Hanuman in RETURN OF HANUMAN is equally adorable. Sequences depicting his voracious appetite as also with his timid friend Minku are quite enjoyable.
Technically, the animation quality is okay. But it's still not at par with the animation movies made in the West. At best, RETURN OF HANUMAN is enjoyable in parts. If you're a kid or have a kid hidden in you, this one's for you!
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Those who somewhere nursed a grudge that the camera follows Aamir in all his films, will chew their words once they watch TAARE ZAMEEN PAR. Yes, Aamir has a key role to portray as an actor, but the camera captures the child's emotions like never before in a Hindi film. Also, let's also clear the myth about TAARE ZAMEEN PAR being a kiddie film. It's not! It's about children. Note the difference! 
On face-value, TAARE ZAMEEN PAR looks like a kiddie film, but as the story unfolds, you realize that the story peeps into the mind and heart of a kid, his interests, his hobbies, his strengths and weaknesses. The director opens the cards at the very outset, when you realize that the kid is just not interested in books/studies. And his interaction with his stern father, doting mother and lovable brother is straight out of life. 
The second hour is equally challenging and most importantly, motivating. The introduction of Aamir's character, Aamir spotting the indolent Ishaan, Aamir traveling to Mumbai to meet Ishaan's parents and then citing examples of extra-ordinary men who were ridiculed by their contemporaries/peers -- these moments linger in your memory even after the show has concluded. 
Aamir is excellent. Note his scenes with the father of the kid. First, when he visits their home. Next time, when he cites the example of Solomon Islands. Splendid! Tisca Chopra is outstanding. Here's an actress who needs to be lapped up in a big way by film-makers. 
Taare Zameen Par is a story of a kid suffering from dyslexia. To create awareness about this disorder an example of Abhishek Bachchan is used in the film, who also suffered from this disorder. Aamir Khan took prior permission from the Bachchans to make this reference and use Abhishek’s name and picture as an example of success in spite of suffering from dyslexia at a young age.
Bollywood made its presence felt at the Annual night of the Mumbai Police in the metro recently. See Urmila's Marathi mulgi act, Rock star Himesh doing the Shakalaka Boom Boom, the Om Shanti Om cast doing the Dard-e-Disco and last but not the least Kareena Kapoor showing off her love. A Must Watch. Take a look! Read More ...
Sometimes, a short story of 10 minutes or a music video of 4 minutes has a better story to tell than most 2.30 hour movies.It would be unfair to club DUS KAHANIYAAN in the same category as DARNA MANA HAI, DARNA ZAROORI HAI and SALAAM-E-ISHQ. Not only because the genres are as diverse as chalk and cheese, but because each 10-minute story in DUS KAHANIYAAN has something to say. At times, the message is loud and clear. At times, feeble. But there's no denying that DUS KAHANIYAAN is refreshingly different from the episodic films we've witnessed in the past.
]At the end of the day, it's all about narrating interesting stories effectively. Sanjay Gupta and his team of directors have chosen 10 different stories that are not linked with each another and also don't have a sutradhaar to bind them in one thread. Nor is the finale of each story the same. So let's minutely look at each story and the impact they create. 'Rice Plate'Cast: Shabana Azmi and Naseeruddin Shah. A Hindu woman and a Muslim man's journey over a rice plate. It is about the challenge that the woman faces when a man claims her plate of rice. Will she place her hunger before her beliefs? Maturely handled by debutante director Rohit Roy. Plus, watching Shabana and Naseer after a hiatus is a treat. Shabana is outstanding! 'Sex On The Beach'Cast: Dino Morea and Tareena Patel. Dino picks a worn out book on the beach and its character comes alive into a breathtaking woman. They have a great time together, but suddenly everything changes. The mystery woman has some surprises in store for Dino. Director Apoorva Lakhia succeeds in giving you some chills down your spine. The culmination to the story is eerie. Dino is alright, while Tareena flaunts her assets without inhibitions. 'Love Dale'Cast: Anupam Kher, Anooradha Singh, Aftab Shivdasani and Neha Uberoi. Neha meets a woman in the train who is wearing only one earring. She finds that strange and that chance meeting strikes the change in her life. A story about fate, destiny at play and the notion that one moment can change your entire life. Very identifiable, very true to life. Beautifully handled by debutante director Jasmeet Dhodi. Aftab and Neha are natural. 'Matrimony'Cast: Mandira Bedi, Arbaaz Khan and Sudhanshu Pandey. Mr. & Mrs. Sarin is a happily married couple. The devoted wife meets her ailing aunt every Thursday. But is she really meeting her aunt? A story of betrayal and faith. The twist in the tale, towards the end, comes as a bolt from the blue. Mandira is efficient, Arbaaz is able, Sudhanshu is perfect. Sanjay Gupta shows his expertise as a storyteller. 'Gubbare'Cast: Nana Patekar, Anita and Rohit Roy. After an argument with her husband in the bus, Anita sits next to an intriguing man holding 11 red balloons. This story unfolds a journey within a journey into this man's past, uncovering the key to one of the most important lessons in life. Fantastic performance by Nana. Anita is effective. Sanjay Gupta is in form yet again! 'Pooranmashi'Cast: Amrita Singh, Minisha Lamba, Parmeet Sethi and Vishwajeet Pradhan. It's about the mother-daughter bond. A mother's only daughter is about to get married and she would do anything to make her daughter happy. But an incident changes their lives forever. A brilliant story beautifully handled by Meghna Gulzar. Amrita is topnotch, Minisha is okay. The end moves you! 'Strangers In The Night'Cast: Neha Dhupia and Mahesh Manjrekar. Every anniversary, they narrate the other a secret; this year it's the wife's turn. She begins narrating an interesting encounter with a stranger at the railway station waiting room. What you perceive and what you eventually witness is a sharp contrast. Again, an outstanding story. Neha is first-rate, Mahesh okay. But what you carry home is the culmination. Sanjay Gupta handles the story with élan! 'High On The Highway'Cast: Jimmy Sheirgill and Masumeh. The highway symbolised their companionship and their unspoken love. Its unpredictable and volatile turns define this story of two people, who discover the boundaries of freedom and the recklessness of life. Though interestingly handled by director Hansal Mehta, the story lacks meat. Jimmy and Masumeh are competent. Too dark, content-wise as also visually. Overall, mazaa nahin aaya. 'Zahir'Cast: Manoj Bajpai and Dia Mirza. After discovering something startling about his neighbour, a writer is driven to madness. The one step he takes gives this story its required twist. Hits you like a ton of bricks. Manoj is superb, Dia is excellent. Sanjay Gupta shows that he can handle emotional moments with remarkable ease. 'Rise & Fall'Cast: Sanjay Dutt and Suniel Shetty. Two parallel stories run together to meet one end. It is a story about two gangsters, their friendship and subsequent betrayal. Very confusing, looks very theatrical and the action and the subsequent scene only add to the chaos. Gupta and Hansal concentrate more on technique instead of simplifying things. Both Sanju and Suniel are strictly okay. On the whole, the number of interesting kahaniyaan in DUS KAHANIYAAN outnumber the not-too-interesting ones and that's what goes in its favor. At the box-office, the film may not set the box-office afire, but would definitely keep its investors safe given the fact that the film has been sold for more than reasonable prices and also due to the fact that it has the merits to keep you hooked. A novel experience!
Anil Kapoor and Feroz Khan were first seen onscreen together 21 years back in the hugely controversial hit, Jaanbaaz.
This December, they will reunite on the silver screen in the comedy film, Welcome, also featuring Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Nana Patekar, Mallika Sherawat and Paresh Rawal.
For cine buffs who loved the veteran duo in Jaanbaaz, it will be nostalgic to see them essaying serio-comic dons in Welcome. Smiles Anil Kapoor, "It was fantastic working with Feroz Saab after so long. He played my elder brother in Jaanbaaz and he is playing my elder brother in Welcome as well. I hope we create magic again!"
Remarks director Anees Bazmee, "I'm glad we managed to cast them together. It was completely coincidental and unplanned. I had worked with Anil in No Entry earlier. I had worked with Fardeen in No Entry as well and that's how his father came into the picture to play the senior part in Welcome."
Welcome releases worldwide on December 20. Read More ...
Everything about Jodhaa Akbar is ‘Big’. The film not only has the biggest star cast but also the best, namely Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in lead roles. And with Ashutosh Gowarikar in the director’s seat, Jodhaa Akbar is one of the biggest films of Bollywood to release next year. Adding to that is BIG Music, which has now got associated with the film. According to reliable sources, it is learnt that BIG Music has acquired the music rights for UTV’s Jodhaa Akbar.
Jodhaa Akbar is based on the life of Emperor Akbar and his wife Jodhaa. The film is all set to release on January 25, 2008.
