Hindi

Double Dhamaal alternates between good and mediocre

Published

15 years ago

June 24, 2011

MUMBAI: Double Dhamaal is a sequel to the makers’ earlier film, Dhamaal. Since the star cast is the same as Dhamaal, not much needs to be done to elaborate on the characters.

The theme is an old fashioned one of a caper woven largely around gags, gimmicks and buffoonery by its actors. That is to say, you may enjoy the film while in the cinema but there is nothing to take home, no story to tell anybody.

Continuing from where the earlier version ended, where the four good-for-nothing lads, Riteish Deshmuh, Arshad Warsi, Ashish Chowdhry and Jaaved Jaafery, chase a hidden treasure and end up losing it eventually, here the foursome is on the road again, hunting for another easy way to make money. They are allergic to work and an honest
rupee.

That is when they spot Sanjay Dutt, a corrupt cop-turned-business tycoon or so it seems to them. After all, he rides a chauffer-driven Mercedes, works from a well-appointed, spacious office and lives in a posh villa. While these four smell big money on Sanjay Dutt, he has found in them just the bait to swindle some potential Mr Moneybag.

The man they lure happens to be a local don, Satish Kaushik, who is in the process of changing his vocation from don to a swami delivering sermons.

When Sanjay Dutt shows the four chaps, oil gushing out from a plot for his ‘new office’, they start dreaming of riding camels and cavorting with white women in deserts; Satish Kaushik is soon added to share this camel riding dream after investing Rs 2.5 billion to drill oil wells. However, he quickly realises, there is neither oil nor an office plot and that Sanjay Dutt has vanished with the money and leaving the boys at the mercy of the don.

Escaping from the don’s wrath, the boys reach Macau, again crossing paths with Sanjay Dutt, who now owns a casino there. The latter part is all about the four planning and plotting to get even with Sanjay Dutt. Also part of Sanjay Dutt’s team are the two girls, Kangana Ranaut and Mallika Sherawat, his sister and beau, respectively. They both are too actively involved in his schemes.

Double Dhamaal alternates between some good and some mediocre gags but manages to keep its pace most of the time. Director Indra Kumar’s roots being in Gujarati films, which catered mostly to lower strata of Gujarat audience, the traits still show in him and the content of this film has that flavour all over; it caters to the stalls.

Also on display are his economic ways of working because of this background. The film’s music is functional, nothing worth humming or to set as ring tones. Cinematography by Aseem Bajaj, who has a horde of films behind him as an assistant as well as additional photographer, does a good job here. Writer Tushar Hiranandani is a good addition to the rather thin muster of comedy writers.

While performances are all about buffoonery and get-ups, which includes mimicry of veteran film artistes, all four, Riteish Deshmuh, Arshad Warsi, Ashish Chowdhry and Jaaved Jaafery, get their few minutes of glory. Of the four, Jaaved Jaafery is the most natural. While Kangana Ranaut and Mallika Sherawat are adequate, Sanjay Dutt decides to remain just that, Sanjay Dutt.

Released unopposed with healthy promotion, Double Dhamaal is assured of a decent opening response with better prospects at single screen cinemas; it is just the potion to get over, to some extent, the ‘Ready‘ hangover.

Hindi

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

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

Published

1 month 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

1 month 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

1 month 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.