Hindi

…bites the bullet

Published

12 years ago

November 29, 2013

MUMBAI: The tendency of filmmakers from the North and other Hindi speaking regions is to opt for a subject with a local flavour typical to their home turf. Tigmanshu Dhulia does just that. In Bullett Raja he creates an oft-seen UP drama about guns and goons and politician puppeteers. This is the region where either the other person is your enemy or he is a prospective backstabber. Like in all such films, the educated youth is unable to find jobs so they take to guns and join the underworld. Not long ago, such films fitted in a slot described as B Grade films, and also enjoyed the patronage of masses; the gentry were usually oblivious of such fare. What worked for such films was that their budgets were sensible. Now when big bucks are spent, the cast and promotion had better guarantee an initial to secure the investment and guard a lot of reputations.

Saif is Raja Mishra, a Brahmin from Lucknow looking for a decent job when he gets into trouble with a bunch of goons. He fights his way through while on the run. He spots a baraat and blends in with the crowd, landing up at Sharat Saxena’s house where he meets and befriends Jimmy Shergill. The occasion is Saxena’s daughter’s wedding, an excuse for the performance of something like a mujra performed by Mahie Gill, through which Shergill and Saif clink glasses of alcohol and strengthening their friendship further.

Producer: Rahul Mittra, Nitin Tej Ahuja, Tigmanshu Dhulia.
Director: Tagmanshu Dhulia.
Cast: : Saif Ali Khan, SonakshiSinha, Vidyut Jamwal,

Jimmy Sheirgill, Gulshan Grover, Raj Babbar, Mahie

Gill (sp App), Chunky Pandey, Ravi Kissen, Vishwajeet Pradhan,

Sharat Saxena, Vipin Sharma.

Mahie Gill notices Saif ogling her and is game for a fling. As the pair move towards the woods for some privacy, Saif eavesdrops on a conspiracy to raid the Saxena house by surprise and kill everybody present. The conspirer is Chunky Pandey, who has been brought up by Saxena as one of his own. He has now joined Saxena’s rival, Vishwajeet Pradhan.

Saif feels he owes allegiance to the Saxena household and to Shergill for the shelter he got there. He rushes to alert them. The Saxena clan is ready for the gunfight; Saif and Shergill form a formidable team as they shoot one raider after the other while also covering each other. The fight gets over and Saxena is impressed by the duo’s heroics and Saif’s in particular since he had nothing to do with the family. Saxena asks them to join his gang where he will be rewarded well as against a job outside. Their desires to stay within law and find a job notwithstanding, both finally give in and take to guns for Saxena. They take refuge in jail while things blow over, where they meet a very influential prisoner, Vipin Sharma, who is always on one of his multiple cell phones.He is a fixer and wheeler-dealer for local politicians, Raj Babbar being a prime one.

Babbar is the most powerful politician in the region and on Vipin’s suggestion he takes Saif and Shergill under his wing. Now they shoot for him. Babbar asks them to attend a fundraising pre-election conference headed by Gulshan Grover, who is described as Kuber, the Lord of Wealth. The duo rubs Grover the wrong way and he in turn insults and humiliates them. The pair decide to take revenge. They barge into a hotel room where Grover has planned a casting couch session for a film he is financing. The aspirant is Sonakshi Sinha who is offering to kiss Grover on the cheek because that is as far as she will go when the duo arrive. They kidnap Grover and later release him for five crore rupees.

A bit late in the film but it is time for some romantic light moments between Saif and Sonakshi. Luckily, both take no time to say ‘I Love You’ to each other with Gill as a bystander. In celebration, they fly to Mumbai, sing a song and return to base and back to business. A very angry Grover is waiting for them as he wants revenge for what they did to him. Grover has also sought the services of Ravi Kissen, a sharpshooter who can shoot somebody dead from 100 yards. They catch Shergill alone with Sonakshi in the house. It is time for Shergill to die so that Saif can justify the title Bullett Raja as well as find the motive to wipe out all enemies. The second half is left to Saif to carry on his shoulders.

But Saif can’t carry on a film that has no story, only people planning and plotting against others. To liven up things, Vidyut Jamwal is introduced in the story. Jamwal has already proved his prowess in martial arts with his earlier outing on the big screen and here, in measured doses, it is fun to watch him in action. He and Saif also plan and plot but only for the sake of creating an opening for the sequel!

UP-Bihar background with totally local issues and flavour don’t appeal. Even an interesting film like Sehar had not worked. They offer nothing novel in their local bahubalis and gun wielding goons. Bullett Raja lacks romance, emotion, music and drama. It becomes monotonous as somebody or the other is trigger happy at all times. If this was Dhulia’s idea of a full-fledged commercial film, he is about half a century behind. The trick now is to cater to a mixed audience of multiplexes, single screen, overseas and satellite. If first two are drawn, a film is safe and rest is assured. Dhulia’s creative touch is missing here. Music fails to prop up the film. Photography is good. The film can be trimmed a little. Despite so many enmities, the dialogue is uninspiring; real fights are provoked by cutting edge dialogue and keep the audience along. The film was somewhat interesting till Saif and Shergill operate as a pair but loses steam thereafter except when Jamwal makes an entry.

Saif looks very un-UP like but he does okay. Shergill brightens up the goings on while he is around. Jamwal is good in a brief role. While Babbar, Grover, Saxena, Pradhan and Ravi Kisan stay true to their respective images, Pandey is a misfit. Vipin Sharma is sincere as ever. Sonakshi Sinha is ready to burst at seams and contributes nothing to the film.

Bullet Raja has had a weak opening, failing to manage a draw even at single screens. It faces poor prospects at the box office.

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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

4 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

5 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.