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Ishaqzaade thrashes Dangerous Ishq at box office
Mumbai: Arjun Kapoor and Parineeti Chopra starrer Ishaqzaade made a box office collection of INR 15 crore on its opening weekend and surprised everyone with their fantabulous on-screen chemistry.
The rustic love story is made at a budget of INR 25 crore and earned INR 15 crore from its satellite rights which proves that it has done a very good business.
Film trade analyst Taran Adarsh said, "The film fared exceptionally well. It showed a healthy growth over the weekend by collecting an estimated INR 4.54 crore (Friday), INR 5.15 crore (Saturday), INR 6.22crore (Sunday) at the box office."
After Agneepath, Housefull 2, Agent Vinod and Jannat 2, Ishaqzaade has become the fifth biggest first day opener.
Talking about Karisma Kapoor starrer Dangerous Ishq, the other weekend release which is based on past life regression, Taran said that it was a disaster. According to him the concept was interesting but the movie’s promos failed to create the sensation.
Made at a budget of INR 17 crore, Dangerous Ishq earned INR 3.35 crore and director Vikram Bhatt is in talks for the sale of its satellite rights.
Movie Review of Dangerous Ishq:
Supermodel Sanjana Saxena (Karisma Kapoor), is a cool kitten, until her wealthy boyfriend, Rohan (Rajneesh Duggal) is kidnapped. But ACP Singh (Jimmy Sheirgill) isn't one to pussyfoot around. He sends his troops out while this modern day woman straps on her stilettos, slips into designer clothes, glows with flawless makeup, and sets out to find clues. How? Without a sane thought she jumps into a therapist's couch, goes through tormenting (for us) sessions of past life regression, and travels across three lifetimes, as Geeta, Salma and Paro (unfortunately not the Devdas-ian one). Stuck in limbo, trying to reunite with her soulmate; poor chap, is always captured or killed in every birth by her other co-traveling, obsessive lover. The restless, lovelorn karmic souls meet in this lifetime (hopefully the last), to rewrite their destiny. For an unfulfilled love story set in bricks, mortar, mansions, swords and forts of centuries; the corny (read: outrageously regressive) lines fit the time zone; there are plenty of shrieks and screams, but none stemming from the passion in the script.
After long, Karisma Kapoor is reincarnated onscreen. Between panic-struck moments and over dramatic emotions, in almost every frame, she seems stuck in the 90s. There are moments of brief intensity where she performs well, but nothing that jumpstarts us back to life.
Rajneish Duggall doesn't have much to do, because his hands are tied, literally, throughout. Jimmy Sheirgill, as a trying-to-be-tough cop, and Divya Dutta as Sanjana's support, are quite wasted in their half-baked characterizations. On the other hand, Ravi Kissen makes his short screen time worthwhile.
In a frantic effort to immortalize Karisma's comeback, director Vikram Bhatt has gone too far back in time. And left us weary with all the time travel. With a weak script, under-sketched characters, and past life incidents presented as casually as a dream sequence, he does little to breathe life in this passionless love story. The actors are not the only waste of resource; it's also the 3D technology that fails to add any dimension to this film. Himesh Reshmammiya's music fails to traverse eras, or even leave us with a 'haunting' melody.
Jannat 2 earns Rs 24 crores in opening weekend
Bhatts' strategy of making moderate-budget films which are strong on drama and content is ensuring them good returns.
The success of Jannat had put Emraan Hashmi in the big league in 2008. After that the actor has seen a consistent spate of success with films like Raaz - The Mystery Continues, Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai, Murder 2 and The Dirty Picture. Jannat 2 only cements his position in the industry with the film taking an unprecedented opening.
Jannat 2 started on a strong note and performed exceptionally well in single screens where it was primarily targeted. The first weekend collection is Rs 24 crores which is a very good figure for this modest-budgeted film from the Bhatt camp. Bhatts' strategy of making moderate-budget films which are strong on drama and content is ensuring them good returns.
The other release of the week, Fatso was lauded for its good story and decent performances but failed to pick up for lack of face value and strong promotions. At best the Ranvir Shorey film will be a hit when it releases on DVD. But theatrical prospects are dull.
Tezz fails at the box-office race
The Ajay Devgn-Anil Kapoor starrer couldn't rake in decent initials. Expectations are now rife from Vishesh Films' 'Jannat 2'.
Priyadarshan's action-thriller Tezz opened to a mixed response. Its first weekend collection is around Rs 11 crores which isn't a very good figure for a film of this magnitude. Further, business has dipped and so it would be difficult for the film to recover its costs.
The other release Life Ki Toh Lag Gayi almost went unnoticed, more for its dismal story than its low star-value (Kay Kay Menon, Ranvir Shorey, Manu Rishi).
Trade Comments: This high-budget action thriller failed to set the cash registers ringing. The first weekend collection for a film of this magnitude is around Rs 11 crores which isn't a very good figure. Further, business has dipped and so it would be difficult for the film to recover its costs.
'Vicky Donor' earns Rs.13.40 crore]
" Vicky Donor" is going places. After receiving rave reviews from the critics as well as the audiences, it has earned Rs.13.40 crore in the opening weekend. Director Shoojit Sircar is on cloud nine and says the film's success proves that the moviegoers have matured over the years.
"Vicky Donor" is a light-hearted take on the taboo attached to infertility, sperm donation and artificial insemination.
"I am happy with the kind of response 'Vicky Donor' has got. While writing the script, me and my writers thought we will get a positive response from young boys and girls, but with the film becoming so popular among the masses, it feels great," Sircar told IANS.
"I never thought my film will get a U/A certificate from censors. It came as a shock for me. The success of the film is the biggest example of audience getting mature. I personally feel that the audiences are very clever and they know what they want to see," he added.
Co-produced by Eros International and JA Entertainment, the film was released Friday over 600 screens worldwide. The film, which was made with two newcomers - Ayushmann Khurrana and Yami Gautam - along with seasoned actor Annu Kapoor, has grossed over Rs.11.40 crore in India and Rs.2 crore overseas.
"We are very happy with the audience as well as critics' reactions to 'Vicky Donor'. Sunday's collections showed a 91 percent jump over Friday figures," Nandu Ahuja, senior vice president, distribution, India, Eros International Media Ltd said in a statement.
"The film created a positive buzz right from the launch of its trailer and has delivered on audience expectations. With its unusual subject, characters and dialogues, we are hoping for repeat viewings and a promising run at the box office," he added.
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh says "Vicky Donor" success proves that content is king.
"The success of "Vicky Donor" is the triumph of its story. The script of the film is the real hero. Every character, be it Ayushmann or Kamlesh Gill or Yami, has fitted so beautifully in the film. I give full marks to the script. With a taboo topic, new actors, a small budget, the kind of business the film has done is commendable," Adarsh told IANS.
Fatso movie review
Movie Review: Think of all those uber-cool Mumbai movies you've seen - Dil Chahta Hai, Bluffmaster, Wake Up Sid - put them in an imaginary blender, switch on, and hey presto, you have Fatso, frothing over with shots of surfing sea, rain-soaked skies, stylish bars.
Add a group of friends led by Navin (Kohli), who pops the question to Nandini (Panag) before crashing headlong into a truck and you have Fatso's main course - how to live after death. And what to do if your buddy, thinking you're in the great beyond, makes a move on your girl.
Fatso's a whimsical film with a rhythm somewhere between jazz and an old Bollywood song. Starting on an innovative note, it's brightened by Kohli's sparkly performance, Panag's dimpled smile and every shot of Mumbai that's made prize-winning cliche-level. Its most stunning sequences however occur in the grim sarkari office everyone apparently visits after they're dead - there is no heaven or hell, posits Fatso, just hundreds of peons, files, queues and babus, eternally occupied in 'mittings'. But Navin refuses to rest in peace till returned to earth - as fat friend Sudeep (Shorey). With Shorey literally getting a new lease of life, having visibly restrained himself as the much-mocked 'saand' of his group, you imagine Fatso's second half will rev up.
Alas. Here's where Fatso flops down heavily. Any sense of magic, of life rescued from death, love saved from vanishing, even the funny ironies of a slim guy stuck in a fat form, is totally missing. The 'friends group' is unconvincing. Kala's notable as a chatty clerk escorting souls about while Panag stands out in the silence of someone hit by grief. A cafe sequence, where Navin sees Nandini ordering spaghetti, then crying in the ladies' room, is moving. But otherwise, strangely flat acting and banal lines leave Fatso more heavy than cheerful.
The film seems overwhelmed by its own smart styling - little details like a dress drying on a clothesline, a girl rubbing hand-cream onto her palms, are clever. But there's too much style, not enough substance. No-one but pretty Tanuja (Bakshi), whose boyfriend Yash (Bhoopalam) hits on Nandini, seems to have a job. Life's a round of bar-hops with holidays when the living gets dull. The movie's peppiest number - 'Fatso! Na jaane kab last time sofe se khara hua' - is reserved for its feeble end, pushed wearily by Shorey listing everything he loves - mangoes to mosquitoes - before Panag mercifully plugs his outpourings with a kiss. Willing, yet weak, Fatso joined a good gym - but could have done with a much stricter trainer.
Box Office: 'Ishaqzaade' all set to be a hit
Mumbai: Going by the feedback that Ishaqzaade has received, the industry is quite upbeat about the arrival of the newest romantic pair on the big screen — Arjun Kapoor and Parineeti Chopra. In the meanwhile, Karisma Kapoor's comeback plans were dashed with Vikram Bhatt's Dangerous Ishq performing dismally.
While the makers of the first are said to have recovered their investments and earned over and above that, the trade is unanimous about the latter incurring a big loss to makers and distributors alike. Pegging the first three days of the Arjun-Parineeti starrer at about Rs 16 crore, Komal Nahta says, "The initial is pretty good for a film with new actors. The music and the promotions definitely helped. The producers have earned over Rs 12 crore from satellite rights; they've nothing to worry about." Ishaqzaade is believed to have cost producer Aditya Chopra about Rs 18 crore to make, including prints and advertising.
However, veteran trade analyst Amod Mehra is skeptical about its performance over the rest of the week. "The unconventional end hasn't gone down too well with the audience," he observes. Dubbing the Karisma Kapoor film a disaster, Mehra states, "Everyone associated with the film will lose money." Nahta pegs the losses at Rs 20-22 crore.
Emraan Hashmi's Jannat 2 earned Rs 5 crore in its second weekend. Though the collections dropped from the fourth day onward, it apparently didn't affect the makers much. A Delhi-based distributor, on condition of anonymity said, "The drop wasn't so much that it would be a cause for concern. Jannat 2 will yield an India distributor share of Rs 25 crore. Why worry?"
Among the Hollywood imports, Johnny Depp's Dark Shadows failed to impress even his die-hard fans in India. Even The Raid didn't get any notice. As Girish Wankhede of a national multiplex chain says, "The average occupancy over the weekend was barely 10-12 per cent. Though the reviews were good, the awareness was low due to poor publicity. Comparatively, The Avengers saw sizeable numbers."
'Ishaqzaade' earns Rs. 4.54 crore on opening day
Arjun Kapoor-Parineeti Chopra starrer Ishaqzaade has got mixed response from the movie buffs, but the film by Habib Faisal, has managed to earn Rs 4.54 crore on the very first day, making it the fifth best opening of this year.
Made at a budget of Rs.25 crore, the rustic love story has turned out to be fifth biggest first day opener after Agneepath (Rs.23 crore), Housefull 2 (Rs.14 crore), Agent Vinod (Rs.10 crore) and Jannat 2 (Rs.8.52 crore).
Ishaqzaade is also said to be one of the biggest box office start for a newcomer film.
While the film is the launch pad for Kapoor, it is the second outing for Habib Faisal as a director after Do Dooni Chaar and Parineeti following Ladies v/s Ricky Bahl
Though the film has received mixed reviews, Bollywood celebrities are all praises for the director as well as the lead pair.
Shabana Azmi: "'Ishaqzaade' is fantastic. Arjun and Parineeti stars for sure. Habib Faisal knows small town UP to the minutest detail .Bravo Habib and Aditya (Chopra)."
Satish Kaushik: "Congrats Arjun Kapoor for your explosive debut in 'Ishaqzaade'...you are outstanding..you and Parineeti are fire together..Cheers!!"
Ken Ghosh: "Arjun Kapoor makes a Dabangg debut in 'Ishaqzaade' and @ParineetiChopra is dazzling as usual! 'Parma love joya'"
Raveena Tandon: "Missing my friend @monakapoor3... I know her blessings are with Arjun her son today as he makes his debut with 'Ishaqzaade', he's fabulous. Please all go to watch the film, it's a good film and fantastic work by the lead pair, Arjun and Parineeti."
Shruti Seth: "Watched 'Ishaqzaade'! Parineeti Chopra, Arjun Kapoor and Habib Faisal, thank you for making my two hours so enjoyable. Please go watch it people."
Shahana Goswami: Just watched 'Ishaqzaade'. Had some lovely moments. @ParineetiChopra is electric and Arjun is so charming. Refreshingly nice chemistry!
A brilliant double from Radamel Falcao and a bustling performance from the rest of Atletico Madrid undid Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League final.
The Colombian, who scored the only goal in last year's final for Porto, swerved home a superb effort before a smart turn and shot doubled the lead.
Bilbao pressed forward after the break with Markel Susaeta twice going close.
But Madrid looked just as dangerous on the counter and Diego darted through a ragged Bilbao defence to seal victory.
Bilbao's passing patterns mesmorised Manchester United in the last 16 of the competition, but it was they who were made to look dazed in the final by Madrid's high tempo and slick raids forward.
The Basque side's supply lines were cut by the snapping tackles of Gabi and Mario Suarez in the first half and, before they had time to adjust, the excellent Falcao had taken the game almost out of sight.
On seven minutes Fernando Amorebieta was transfixed by the striker's stepover and could only watch as he stroked a sublime left-footed shot into the top corner.
The final had been billed by some as a battle between Falcao and opposite number Fernando Llorente, with metro stations in Bucharest temporarily renamed after the two strikers.
But Llorente was outshone throughout and squandered half-chances to level, heading wide when well placed before shanking a volley wide off his shin.
By contrast, Falcao's brilliance was matched with ruthless efficiency and he ensured Amorebieta paid the heaviest price for needlessly conceding possession on the edge of the box 11 minutes from the break.
Once Diego had whisked the ball back into the centre the 26-year-old controlled, sent a trio of Bilbao defenders skidding out of contention with a deft turn and hammered a finish past Gorka Iraizoz.
Bilbao coach Marcelo Bielsa introduced Inigo Perez and Ibai Gomez at half-time to try and breathe life into his flatlining side and was initially rewarded.
Iker Muniain's low cross was only just cut out by Madrid's defence, before Javi Martinez headed over from the subsequent corner.
But just when Bilbao needed their talismanic striker to deliver, Llorente's out-of-sorts match continued as he failed to snap on to a loose ball in the six-yard box.
Bielsa's side piled forward as the clock ticked down, but they were restricted to snatched efforts and optimistic long-range attempts by an attentive Madrid rearguard.
Susaeta's deflected shot briefly theatened the Madrid goal before slamming into the advertising hoardings and the commanding Thibaut Courtois, on loan from Chelsea, blocked from the midfielder shortly after.
Madrid still looked the more incisive coming forward, though, and Falcao was within a post's width of his 36th goal of the season before Amorebieta was exposed once more as Diego dribbled past him to slot home a third.
Bilbao finally found a way past Courtois late on when Gomez crisp effort beat the keeper, but they were denied any scant consolation by the crossbar.
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone: "Winning is always marvellous, but you enjoy it more as a player, because one is on the pitch, one can scream, run, do a lap of honour."
"When you are a coach you leave that sort of thing to the players
Athletic Bilbao coach Marcelo Bielsa: "I feel tremendously disappointed. I'm responsible for how my team played and we did not accomplish our goal.
"There was a stark difference between the teams. We played how Atletico wanted us to, allowing them to play their way in the process."
Another report claimed the following points:
Marcelo Bielsa paced, he squatted, he sat down, he shouted, he looked on pensively, but whatever he did his Athletic side rarely threatened to make an impression on an Atlético Madrid team coached by one of his former players, Diego Simeone. Whatever Athletic have brought to the Europa League this season – which is a lot – however much the neutral might have wanted another of their displays of relentless attacking, tonight they were well-beaten.
Two first-half goals from the Colombian forward Radamel Falcao won the game, allowing Atlético to spend the final hour or so sitting deep, coiled always for a breakaway. Just as important was the job done by Gabi and Mario Suárez, sitting deep in midfield and protecting the back four, preventing Athletic from ever achieving the fluency of which they are capable.
In the last 20 minutes Athletic began to generate the sort of pressure of which they are capable, but by then it was far too late: the game had begun to slip away from them as early as the seventh minute.
Falcao, who scored the only goal in last season's Europa League final as Porto beat Braga, received the ball halfway between the six- and 18-yard boxes. Fernando Amorebieta seemed to have checked him, but a stepover created a fraction of room that became significant as the defender slipped, giving Falcao just enough space to curl a superb finish into the top corner. He follows Frédi Kanouté, who achieved the feat in 2006 and 2007 for Sevilla, in scoring in consecutive Uefa Cup/Europa League finals.
Athletic have been showing signs of fatigue domestically and they never quite seemed to reach the same pitch of intensity that had so unsettled Manchester United and Schalke 04 in earlier rounds. For a quarter of an hour they were distinctly second best, almost as though they were inhibited playing opponents four places above them in the league. Gradually, though, they began to find their rhythm and – predictably – it was their two young wingers who looked like offering a way back into the game. First Markel Susaeta played a cross into Fernando Llorent but the striker mis-hit his volley just wide of the near post, then Iker Muniain, buzzing in from the left, forced Thibaut Courtois into an uncomfortable sprawling save low to his left with a 20-yard drive.
But this is not an Athletic that ever looks comfortable at the back – a criticism that has often dogged Marcelo Bielsa's sides. Every break seemed dangerous and Falcao clearly had the beating of Amorebieta. Others, being forced to stretch a foot behind them to control Arda Turan's 34th-minute cross, might simply have lashed a shot on the turn; Falcao, though, twisted back on to his left foot, leaving Amorebieta in a heap, and thumped in an inevitable finish – his 12th goal in 15 European matches this season.
The first match in the magnificent new national stadium was a Euro 2012 qualifier between Romania and France that soon descended into farce as the pitch cut up and players struggled to maintain their footing. Amorebieta at times seemed to be paying homage to that game, but nobody else seemed to have a problem; it was just that Falcao was far better than him.
Although the crowd was predominantly red-and-white, there was also a Romanian flavour, which these days in football terms tends to mean there is at least an undercurrent of discontent. There were chants against the domestic league's president Dumitru Dragomir and also a half-hearted two-man pitch invasion by Universitatea Craiova fans protesting at the expulsion of their club from the league.
On another night perhaps Athletic would have forced something late on. Shots were blocked, crosses flew across the face of goal and Courtois made an excellent block to thwart Susaeta. Athletic's vulnerability was always there, though, and Diego, given space to run, accelerated by Amorebieta to add a third. A few moments earlier only the post denied Falcao his hat-trick. Two years after their first European trophy, Atlético were well worth their second.
took the Europa League title home from Bucharest with a 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday night.
Radamel Falcao's brace got things started on the right foot for Madrid. His two goals came on what were very nearly his only two touches of the opening period.
Bilbao chased the game in the second half as Diego Simeone's team was content to sit back and defend their lead. But despite being gifted the ball, the Basque side were unable to produce any significant danger of a comeback.
Atletico midfielder Diego finished the night's scoring late in the second half to make it two out of the last three for his club in Europe's second-tier championship.
After they tore through Manchester United twice, those unfamiliar with La Liga could be forgiven for assuming that Athletic Bilbao regularly demonstrate the same form domestically that they brought to bear on the Red Devils.
But after watching Wednesday's final, you would be much less surprised to find out they sit a modest ninth in the table having scored the same number of goals as they've conceded this season and lost as many as they've won.
The fact is, Bilbao are a very talented but very young team, and they play like a young team. World beaters one week, not so much the next.
They looked a lot like the finished product in dismissing Sir Alex Ferguson from the competition, but the truth is a much more mixed bag.
Atletico Madrid forward Radamel Falcao is quite simply too good for this competition. He led the tournament in scoring last year with Porto and again this year with Atletico.
It's not enough for you to know that he scored two goals tonight. What's important for you to know is that on each occasion, he was so deft of touch and sure of foot that he left a defender falling to the ground as he finished his chance.
Falcao might not just be too good for the Europa League; he might simply be too good for Atletico Madrid. He belongs in the Champions League. If his current club cannot give him that chance, it's only a matter of time before another club will.
No one knew quite what to expect when Diego Simeone took over the reins at Atletico midway through this season.
The team had won just five times in La Liga, and everyone figured at least it couldn't get worse.
Low expectations to say the least.
But since Simeone began stalking the sidelines at Christmas, the team has lost just five times in any competition. They've shot up the standings in La Liga and have a chance to grab the final Champions League place.
Now Simeone has his first trophy. Is it too early to wonder if he might be Atletico's Pep Guardiola? Probably.
It wouldn't be unfair to criticize Bilbao's defense on all three goals.
Falcao's first was a moment of genius, but the Bilbao defense stood off and gave him the room to get his curler off.
His second came as a result of madness at the back for Marcelo Bielsa's team.
And Diego waltzed virtually unmolested through the center of the green shirts for the third.
For all their slick passing and smooth interchange in possession, Bilbao must drastically improve on the other half of their game.
When you stand almost 6'4", it's hard to go missing on a football pitch.
But Fernando Llorente managed it for the vast majority of Wednesday's match.
The big striker was presented with a couple of nice chances in the first half but turned down the opportunity to make a game of things.
After those early frustrations, Llorente was hardly involved and could have been withdrawn at any point during the second half without anyone batting an eye.
It wasn't Barcelona vs. Chelsea, but Athletic Bilbao had plenty of the ball Wednesday night. They enjoyed 60-percent possession over more than 90 minutes.
But they made precious little use of it.
Bilbao passed around in their midfield a bit, switched the ball through their defense a bit and generally kept the ball far, far away from any position where it might be practical to score from.
Meanwhile, when Atletico Madrid touched the ball they immediately cut at the heart of the Bilbao defense.
That got Atletico the Europa League trophy. We saw what all that possession got Bilbao.
Breaking News:
Blackburn Rovers' deputy CEO Paul Hunt sacked after leak
According to a leaked letter seen by the Sporting Intelligence website, Hunt told the club's owners in December that it was time for 44-year-old Kean to leave Ewood Park.
However, Sporting Intelligence editor Nick Harris told the BBC the leak did not come from Hunt.
Rovers are yet to comment but Kean says he is at the club "for the long term".
Kean also told a news conference on Wednesday afternoon that he still has control of the dressing room, and that owners Venky's are "100%" right for the club.
He refused to comment on Hunt.
In the leaked letter, Hunt expressed the view that Kean's tenure "isn't working" and "is ready to go".
His departure comes days after the club were relegated from the Premier League following a 1-0 home defeat by Wigan.
Harris said Hunt was not responsible for his website obtaining the letter.
"Normally journalists don't reveal their sources but on this occasion I would like to say, unequivocally, that I didn't receive that letter from Paul Hunt," he said.
"If they sack him for leaking that letter to me, they have got the wrong man."
Kean's reign has been a troubled one, with many Blackburn fans unhappy with the way he has managed the team.
The Scot took over as manager in December 2010 following the sacking of Sam Allardyce.
Venky's, Rovers' Indian owners, have also come in for heavy criticism for their running of the Lancashire club.
Hunt's letter indicates he had serious concerns about the Premier League side's direction before Christmas.
"He [Kean] has lost the crowd and as a result of this evening's game [2-1 loss to Bolton on 20 December] has lost the dressing room as well - the players no longer want to play for him," wrote Hunt.
"It is a shame and disappointing but we must act now to save the club. The board should be asked their opinion on who should be the new manager."
Hunt insisted he had the best interests of the club at heart and also detailed worries about finances.
"I have been your senior officer at the club for six months now and I feel that I must now write to you to ask you to make some significant changes to save the club, perhaps from relegation but also perhaps from administration," said Hunt.
"We are losing fans/customers at an alarming rate. I am very concerned that fans are voting with their feet and not attending, not purchasing and not engaging with the club."
Blackburn play their final league game of the season against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Mumbai: The weekend gone by reaffirmed the draw of the Emraan Hashmi-Bhatt brothers combination. Their newest film 'Jannat 2' not only registered good numbers but also ensured profits in the opening weekend itself, points out trade experts. On the other hand, 'Fatso', ironically, attracted the thinnest audience ever.
Prakhar Joshi, programming head of a national multiplex chain, says that 'Jannat 2' opened on a very good note on Friday. He says, "The music and good pre-release promotion has ensured that the film sustains on Monday-Tuesday also. Besides, the ongoing vacations will also help."
Made at the cost of about Rs 16-17 crore including print and advertising, trade analysts peg 'Jannat 2's first three-day India net collections at about Rs 23 crore. Girish Wankhede of another multiplex chain too believes that the film will hold strong till the second weekend at least. "'Jannat 2' has opened well enough to maintain the required momentum," he states.
Upbeat about 'Jannat 2', Delhi-based distributor Sanjay Ghai stated that the film is a hit and the collections in the coming days will only add to its profit. Sharing a similar viewpoint, Indore-based distributor Aditya Choksi adds, "The intense subject has also caught on with the audience, more so in the single screens."
The Ranvir Shorey-Gul Panag starrer 'Fatso' failed to exert its weight. As a distributor of the film in North India said, on condition of anonymity, "The audience just wasn't interested in seeing 'Fatso'." Of the new Hollywood imports, only 'Hugo' managed to draw any attention, though limited.
'Jannat 2' makes Rs 8.5 crore on first day
New Delhi: Emraan Hashmi and Esha Gupta starrer 'Jannat 2' has received a good opening. On the first day 'Jannat 2' made Rs 8.52 crore in India. After 'Agneepath' and 'Housefull 2', this is the third biggest opening of the year so far. The film has been rated average by the critics.
Film critic Taran Adarsh lately posted on twitter, "Jannat 2 earns Rs 8.52 crore net on Friday, excellent. Mumbai multiplexes been strong.”
'Jannat 2', directed by Kunal Deshmukh, also features Randeep Hooda in the role of police officer Pratap Raghuvanshi. Model Esha Gupta made her Bollywood debut as Emraan's love interest. Randeep's performance in the film has been highly appreciated.
Film trade analyst, Komal Nahta also tweeted, "Jannat 2 off to a fantastic start. Poised to be a big hit. Emraan, Randeep, Kunal, Pritam, Bhatt brothers, Fox, Shagufta, Masoom deserve kudos."
Just before the release of the film, Mumbai-based budding writer named Kapil Chopra claimed that Deshmukh copied his story for the sequel of 'Jannat'. Chopra filed a case against the makers of 'Jannat 2' and demanded for credit as the story writer. However, Emraan said that the script of the film is original and Chopra is just trying to gain publicity by doing all this.
Below is a review of two movies, Jannat 2 and Blood Money
Jannat 2
Banner: Vishesh Films, Fox Star Studios
Producer: Mahesh Bhatt, Mukesh Bhatt
Director: Kunal Deshmukh
Cast: Emraan Hashmi, Randeep Hooda, Esha Gupta, Imran Zahid, Manish Chaudhary
Music: Pritam
What do you do when you have an A-Class actor but the role played by the second hero is more powerful? Should you switch the roles? But that would dilute the experience of the film. So, what do you do?
The answer is – writing that blends with powerful dialogue and presentation. Jannat 2 is the perfect example of how a commercial film doesn’t disappoint an actor’s fans while preserving the purity of the script and screenplay.
The film begins with an introduction to Emraan Hashmi’s character and the opening credits with voiceover by Hashmi. This is followed by the introduction of Randeep Hooda and how he nabs Hashmi and extracts the information he needs. The chase sequence that follows gives the impression that Hooda is the hero of the film.
It is here that the jugalbandi between the writer and the director works – the way the script is penned and presented on screen. Although you think “WOW” for Hooda, you also fall in love with the main lead Emraan Hashmi. This is just one example of how, just when you think Hooda is the lead actor, there’s a twist that brings Hashmi back to the fore.
It is obvious that the writer’s team and the director know the pulse of Hashmi’s audience. He has been presented the way people want to see him. And this is precisely where the film scores. Jannat 2 will probably also earn Hashmi a bigger fan following.
There’s nothing really new to the story. There’s this small-time crook played by Hashmi who deals in illegal guns, and a senior police officer played by Randeep Hooda who wants to bust the gun-trafficking trade. Hooda wants to use Hashmi to delve into the underbelly of the arms trade and Hashmi eventually gives in.
Hashmi falls in love with a doctor played by Esha Gupta. He wants to marry her and settle down. Hooda comes up with an offer and Hashmi takes it up in return for life with his beloved. Hashmi becomes Hooda’s mole and infiltrates the gang. There are many twists and turns that follow, which are the crux of the film.
The film has every ingredient a commercial film requires, from melodious songs to comic punches to action to thrills to high-voltage drama. Scenes where Hooda misses his dead wife and calls her from a public booth to hear her voice on the answering machine is beautifully woven into the script and presented on screen.
The first half of the film moves very quickly and includes some major highlights. These include the scene where Hooda nabs Hashmi; the chase between goons and Hooda; the first time Hashmi and Esha Gupta meet; and Hashmi’s ploy to infiltrate the mafia. But what makes the proceedings entertaining is the dialogue (Sanjay Masoomm).
If there is one drawback, it’s the cuss words. The dialogue is so powerful that there was no need for that. If only they had been deleted, the film would have probably received a U/A certification.
The film starts dragging a little in the second half, which also gives the impression that Hashmi is playing second fiddle to Hooda. But, once again, he returns to the fore. The pre-climax, where Hashmi decides to help Hooda and claims he’s not a coward, and then the climax, where he asks Hooda to conceal the truth about him from his wife, brings him back as the leading man.
Director Kunal Deshmukh knows his job, and proves, yet again, that he knows his audience well and believes in making a complete commercial entertainer. His shot taking and ability to bring out the best in his actors is superb. The writers too have done a fantastic job. Pritam’s music may remind you of his earlier compositions but he’s in his element, and, as always, his songs are among the highlights of the film. Background score by Raju Singh is good though the tune Ting ding ding reminds you of the background score in RA.One. Bobby Singh’s camera work definitely helps the film. Action is superlative.
Performance-wise, there’s no doubt this is an Emraan Hashmi film. And he delivers a bravura performance. Whether action scenes, romantic scenes, light scenes or dramatic scenes, he is first-rate.
As for Randeep Hooda, this has got to be his best performance ever, one that will most likely earn him a nomination for best supporting actor. Debutante Esha Gupta is just about okay and her look is inconsistent in the film. Manish Chaudhary is exceptional. Sumit Nijhawan is superb. Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub is lovable. Brijendra Kala is commendable.
Verdict: Hit
Blood Money
Banner: Vishesh Films, Viacom 18 Motion Pictures
Producer: Mukesh Bhatt
Director: Vishal S Mahadkar
Cast: Kunal Khemu, Amrita Puri, Mia Uyeda, Manish Choudhari, Shekher Shukla
Music: Jeet Ganguly
This movie has the Bhatt stamp all over it. The idea is very clear: Pick up a simple story, blend it with romance and emotion, add a little thrill, and, of course betrayal by the leading man, the trauma the actress goes through – and there you have it!
And another smart move, a habit with the Bhatts, keep it short and sweet. This time, they kept it short and sweet – but forget their signature ingredients! That’s where the Bhatts have failed with Blood Money.
A Bhatt film always lacks novelty in the story. But they usually manage to make it look different by adding enough masala to the screenplay and dialogue to make it worthwhile. But this film fails at the level of the screenplay itself. Sum and substance: The story is not unique; neither is the way it is presented.
As the title suggests, this film is about money and greed and achieving it at any cost. There’s this aspiring middle-class guy who believes in making it big but is held back by his wife, who is grounded and bound by her roots. This causes major differences between the two.
Kunal Khemu and his wife Amrita Puri move to Cape Town. Khemu, armed with an MBA, lands a big job in a diamond firm owned by Manish Chaudhuri. But there’s something fishy about Manish, his firm and most of his employees. Khemu is happy with the villa he’s been assigned to live in but the luxurious lifestyle gets to him. He starts neglecting his wife because all he’s interested in is chasing money. He is soon trapped. How he manages to emerge a winner forms the crux of the film.
As mentioned earlier, there’s no novelty to the story. A middle-class young man going overseas and facing the consequences of his dream is a theme that’s been attempted time and again. Even the way the story unfolds is not new. In fact, the way the film is written makes it look like an average fare. The screenplay has been written in a simplistic and very predictable manner.
The biggest drawback is the lack of chemistry between the two protagonists. Thus, when Khemu cheats on his wife and blatantly disregards his wife’s expectations of him, you feel no empathy for her. As a result, interest levels plummet.
Second, the way Khemu rises professionally, clinching one deal after another, is amateurish as is the way he strikes these deals. Even a TV soap offers more detailing than this film. Another loophole: Khemu’s boss is a multi-millionaire but he has barely any staff in his office. And the way the characters deal in diamonds reminds you of a jewellery shop owner and not a multi-millionaire.
The only good thing about the film is that it moves at blink-or-miss pace. But when the credits roll, not a single scene stays with you. Soulful music, no doubt, but some are in background while others are dream sequences. The songs per se make for pleasant listening but you cannot enjoy them on the big screen.
Another drawback is the climax. Khemu plays a game and teaches his boss a lesson. If it really was that easy, why didn’t anyone before Khemu do the same?
Vishal Mahadkar makes his debut as a director with this film. His treatment is decent but not impressive. There’s no style and it’s filmed without much thought or effort. Next time, he should work doubly hard on the screenplay. Cinematography is good.
Performance-wise, Kunal Khemu is remarkable. He looks good and tries to carry the film on his shoulders. Amrita Puri looks weird. She should have concentrated on her make-up. She also looks disinterested. She’s not heroine material but performs well. Manish Chaudhuri is first-rate. One wonders why he wasn’t given more footage. Sandiip Sikcand is good.
Verdict: Despite being made on a stipulated budget and backed by names like the Bhatts and Viacom 18, lack of awareness and face value will dampen this film’s prospects at the ticket counter
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