Hindi

Fugly…Ugly!

Published

12 years ago

June 13, 2014

MUMBAI: If Fugly is based in Delhi, it can only be attributed to Delhi’s reputation of being lawless where anything works. The film’s title warns you of the challenge lying ahead; if you don’t understand the meaning of the title, you will not understand what is going on thereafter.

Mohit Marwah, Vijender Singh, Arfi Lamba and Kiara Advani are childhood friends who have stuck together through thick and thin. For quite a while you see the gang just hang around and have fun and you have no clue what the film is all about. That is when the makers decide to do something about it. Kiara’s mother supplies some edible stuff to local grocery stores and Kiara helps by delivering it. A local storeowner, the thirkee kind, acts fresh with her and gets a slap in return. He tries to defame her instead. Her three friends decide to teach the man a lesson. First they bash him up in his shop and when he threatens them, they kidnap him. He is dumped in the car bonnet and taken for a rough ride.

The fun ride soon ends when they are stopped by Jimmy Shergill, an unscrupulous and dishonest police man. Vijender makes the mistake of dropping the name of his father, a Delhi minister, which riles Shergill. Shergill finds the shopkeeper in the boot of the car and kills him with an iron road, framing Vijender for the murder. From here starts the extortion and blackmail of the four by Shergill. He makes them get into all illegal work like arranging rave parties to even killing. All this while, Shergill’s right hand man, another cop, keeps vigil on the four to check they are doing as instructed.

Producers: Alka Bhatia, Ashvini Virdi.

Director: Kabir Sadanand.

Cast: Jimmy Shergill, Mohit Marwah, Vijender Singh, Arfi Lamba, Kiara Advani.

This goes on and on as the four friends are shown to be totally helpless and there is nothing to stop Shergill; this is rather too much to digest and the film becomes senseless and boring.

The script is bad with direction being poor; don’t know how a murder can be made to look like a suicide with a bullet in the back! Why do all the cops in all Delhi-based Hindi films have to be Haryanvi? Music is no help either. While Mohit, Virender and Arfi are not cut out to become actors, Kiara is better. Shergill goes overboard. The film is described as comedy but there is no humour except for the toilet kind.

Fugly has nothing to offer and is a poor film on all counts.

‘Chal Bhaag’…Warning?

Chal Bhaag is yet another film based in old Delhi, which builds some sort of story around the triumvirate of youth, politicians-cum-underworld, and police. The theme is overused and fatigued. The film brings together three differently tuned young men together. Initially, the trio has two pitted against one but, when trapped and fighting for their lives, they unite for the sake of their survival.

Deepak Dobariyal is Munna Supari, a razor slashing guy whom the mohalla fears. Varun Mehra rides roughshod; his vocation is to chase the woman, Keeya Khanna, who has caught his fancy and bashing up anybody who tries to mess with her. Tarun Bajaj is a typical bike-riding chain snatcher who makes the mistake of snatching the chain of a police station in-charge’s wife (Yashpal Sharma). The trio is not aware or concerned with the fact that a loudmouthed ex-MLA who is expected to win the forthcoming elections is shot dead and, though there are no eyewitnesses or survivors, miraculously the police decide there were three shooters! (The film is filled with such inconsistencies.)

Producers: Mohammad Zaheer Mehdi, Fatima Zaheer Mehdi, Ali Zaheer Mehdi, Tamkanat Ali Mehdi.

Director: Prakash Balwant Saini. Tarun Bajaj, Sanjay Mishra, Yashpal Sharma, Mukesh Tiwari, Keeya Khanna.

Cast: Deepak Dobariyal, Varun Mehra.

Bajaj is taken into custody for chain snatching as are the other two who follow: Mehra for bashing up two roadside Romeos who dare to make a pass at Keeya and Dobariyal because of his bravado in the process of coming into good books of the local don and his brother, Manish Khanna and Kuwar Aziz. When the don’s three shooters are being picked up by the police, Dobariyal decides to get arrested too to show his loyalty to the don.

The don’s three men have shot the ex-MLA and have been arrested. However, Yashpal is on the don’s take and is asked to free the don’s men. Since money speaks louder, a deal is struck and Yashpal decides to free the don’s men and frame and kill the other three petty criminals his people have rounded up. The three boys are taken to a lonely place and told that they are now free and to run. Mehra knows what is in the offing and guides the other two. As for Yashpal, his gun which was jammed, suddenly goes off and it has killed somebody who is neither any of the three boys nor any of his men. Though expected, that is an interesting turning point which could have been cashed in on in the second half. Alas!

The man killed is the don’s brother and Yashpal pushes the blame for shooting him on the three boys. Now, just about everybody is after the boys to kill them without asking any questions. While the boys are on the run, Keeya helps them and the romance grows between her and Mehra. The chase has gone on for long enough and no sure how to close it, so guys from the Intelligence Bureau are brought in!

The film has a decent idea that needed better scripting. This is a rather piggy-bank-budget film and looks crude. While Dobariyal is okay, Mehra is stiff while Bajaj overacts. The supporting cast of veterans Sanjay Mishra, Yashpal Sharma and Mukesh Tiwari make the film somewhat watchable. Direction is average. Musically, Teri maujudgi…. is hummable. Other aspects are okay.

Chal Bhaag has no hope of lasting through the weekend.

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Hindi

Boney Kapoor acquires remake rights of Tamil political satire Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil

Strong word-of-mouth turns Pongal satire into remake pick

Published

2 days ago

February 9, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: A Pongal release, a village satire and a theatre visit in Coimbatore have turned into Boney Kapoor’s latest acquisition. The producer has secured the remake rights to the Tamil political satire Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil (TTT), a film that has been enjoying a strong theatrical run powered by word-of-mouth and praise for its sharp, rooted writing.

Set in a rural milieu, the story follows a panchayat leader thrown into disarray when a wedding and a funeral land on the same day. What unfolds is a swirl of satire and humour that skewers local politics, power games, bruised egos and family tensions, all anchored in the textures of everyday village life.

Kapoor first encountered the film earlier this year while in Coimbatore for the Celebrity Cricket League. With time to spare, he caught a screening at a local theatre. That viewing proved decisive. According to sources, the narrative style, performances and the film’s balance of political commentary and comedy caught his attention.

Interest quickly turned into intent. Kapoor reached out to the producers soon after to explore a remake. Talks gathered pace over the following weeks and came to a head last Friday at the film’s success party in Chennai, where Kapoor joined the celebrations and continued negotiations with the makers.

By the end of the evening, the deal was sealed, with Kapoor formally acquiring the remake rights.

For an industry constantly mining regional cinema for the next crossover story, the move is telling. A small-town satire with local flavour has found a national backer. And if Kapoor’s instincts hold, a tale born in one village may soon echo far beyond it.

Hindi

Fans take centre stage as Zee Cine awards turns the spotlight around

Published

4 days ago

February 7, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: When the applause gets louder than the dialogue, you know the fans have taken over. That was the unmistakable mood as Zee formally announced the Zee Cine Awards 2026, flipping the script to celebrate not just cinema’s stars, but the people who cheer them on the loudest.

The 24th edition of the awards marks a fresh chapter in Zee’s long-standing relationship with Hindi cinema, anchored in its fan-first philosophy, Fantertainment. This year’s theme, ‘Yeh Pal Hai Fans Ka’, reinforces a simple idea: cinema’s most powerful moments are shaped as much by audiences as by actors on screen. Presented by Maruti Suzuki, the awards aim to turn fandom into the main event.

The announcement, held in Mumbai, was anything but a routine press conference. Bollywood stars Akshay Kumar, Tamannaah Bhatia, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonam Bajwa, Aparshakti Khurana, composer Mithoon and singer Palak Muchhal joined fans to kick off the celebrations, turning the launch into a high-voltage, participative spectacle.

Staying true to the theme, fans didn’t just watch the announcement, they drove it. Akshay Kumar took the lead, pulling fellow stars on stage and energising the room, before the unveiling of a live LED Fan Meter. Powered purely by audience cheers, the rising meter culminated in the reveal of the Zee Cine Awards 2026 ground event date, announced in unison with fans, blurring the line between performer and spectator.

The momentum continued as Tamannaah Bhatia, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonam Bajwa and Aparshakti Khurana recreated iconic hook steps, joined by Mithoon and Palak Muchhal for music-led interactions. Games, spontaneous performances and playful banter kept the focus firmly on shared moments, underscoring the evolving bond between cinema and its audience.

Beyond the launch, the awards will roll out as a multi-platform journey across television, digital, print and fan-led experiences. The aim is sustained engagement from the first announcement to awards night cementing fandom as a cultural force rather than a footnote.

Commenting on the milestone edition Zee head of advertisement revenue, broadcast & digital Laxmi Shetty said the 24th Zee Cine Awards continue to draw strength from the network’s omni-channel ecosystem, reflecting how audiences consume content today across TV, digital and social platforms. She noted that long-standing brand associations, including Maruti Suzuki’s three-year partnership and support from brands such as Hell Energy, underline the platform’s scale, trust and cultural relevance.

As Zee Cine Awards 2026 gathers pace, one thing is clear: this year, the loudest cheers won’t just echo in the auditorium, they’ll shape the show itself.

Hindi

Prime Video to stream Don’t Be Shy, produced by Alia Bhatt

Published

2 weeks ago

January 30, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: Prime Video has found its next feel-good original, and it comes with a healthy dose of heart, humour and youthful chaos. The streaming platform has announced Don’t Be Shy, a coming-of-age romantic comedy produced by Alia Bhatt and Shaheen Bhatt under their banner, Eternal Sunshine Productions.

Written and directed by Sreeti Mukerji, the film follows Shyamili ‘Shy’ Das, a 20-year-old who believes her life is neatly mapped out until it suddenly is not. What follows is a relatable tumble through friendship, love and the awkward art of growing up, when plans unravel and certainty gives way to self-discovery.

The project is co-produced by Grishma Shah and Vikesh Bhutani, with music composed by Ram Sampath, adding to the film’s promise of warmth and energy. Prime Video describes the story as light-hearted yet emotionally grounded, with a strong female-led narrative at its core.

Prime Video India director and head of originals Nikhil Madhok, said the platform was delighted to collaborate with Eternal Sunshine on a story that blends sincerity with humour. He noted that the film’s fresh writing, earnest characters and infectious music make it an easy, engaging watch for audiences well beyond its young adult setting.

For Alia Bhatt, Don’t Be Shy reflects the kind of storytelling Eternal Sunshine set out to champion. She said the film stood out for its honesty, its coming-of-age perspective and Mukerji’s passion, which she felt was deeply woven into the narrative. Bhatt also praised Prime Video for supporting distinctive voices and bold creative choices.

With its breezy tone and familiar emotional beats, Don’t Be Shy aims to charm viewers whether they are rom-com regulars or simply in the mood for a warm, unpretentious story about life refusing to stick to the plan.