Hindi

Jai Ho ….Not Quite Salman

Published

12 years ago

January 24, 2014

MUMBAI: With an array of blockbusters behind him, the burden of delivering a bigger grosser grows every time a new Salman Khan film hits the screens. Keeping up with these expectations is not an easy task.

Too add more to it, with his latest, Salman, also attempts to promote his personal image that of a charitable pure heart which he is building through Being Human Foundation. That makes Salman’s character too goody-goody; he is all sugar.

Jai Ho has is a remake of Telugu film Stalin which borrowed the idea from Hollywood film Pay It Forward (2000) about creating a chain wherein every person who receives a favour from someone does favours for three other people when given a chance. The idea is to multiply the do-gooders in the society. That is one side of Salman; the other is that of fighting the evil forces which is represented by Danny and his son, daughter and son in law. This is a dampener since people have stopped caring about politicians’ character.

Salman is an ex-army man, discharged for disobeying the orders of his high command. His intentions were noble, though. He ventured into enemy territory and freed some children held captive there. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time for wherever he goes someone or the other is in need of help. For instance, he helps an armless student, Genelia D’Souza, write her exam paper as her writer has not turned up and Salman happens to be around, dropping his nephew to school. Next, Salman spots a car driver rudely pushing and hitting a young beggar girl. He beats up the driver and here onwards starts his enmity with Danny clan. The driver happened to be his man and soon Danny’s goons are looking for him. The fights are the usual South Indian films kind very much in vogue with Hindi films lately: hundreds of swords and sickles wielding goons vs. Salman and how he annihilates them.

But, this pure heart hero’s heart also throbs for other reasons, the romantic kind. He finds his lady love in his sister’s (Tabu) neighbour, Daisy Shah. There is no coochi-cooing. The romance is pure Rajshri film brand with heroine around mainly to sing songs with Salman.

In between song and dance, Salman has to fight off Danny’s dirty tricks. Salman’s mother (Nadira Babbar) is run over by Danny’s men to warn him to back off while on another occasion his nephew is kidnapped and while saving him Salman ebds up killing Danny’s son in law (Mukul Dev). This adds more fuel to the fire. Even as Danny is desperate to kill Salman, his idea of doing three favours to others catches on; and everybody including the chief minister (Mohnish Behl) are curious to know whose noble idea it was.

The CM, unhappy with the war between Salman and Danny, decides to intervene. Having learnt Salman’s background as a decorated army man he does not think it fair to punish Salman nor does he want his party to suffer because of Danny’s antics. The meeting between the three, Salman, Danny and Mohnish ends with a compromise and Salman has been asked to wait till Mohnish gives Danny a piece of his mind behind closed doors. Danny puts his plan in to effect; kill Mohnish, take his place as the CM and frame Salman for the murder.

The original, Stalin was released in 2006 and the concept has become outdated. What is more, like many South films, Jai Ho also tends to get preachy and that is not what fans of Salman’s one-liners want. There is not much to the story and the first half becomes boring. The villain and his goons provide some mass entertainment. Yes, and there are also some mushy moments. Music is weak with just one song worth a mention. The film lacks finesse. As for performances, the film hinges totally on Salman and he is at his usual physical and acrobatic best. Daisy is fair, this being her debut film. Nadira Babbar is stagy. Tabu and the rest are okay. The film has a few known faces doing cameo roles in Suniel Shetty, Aditya Panscholi, Mahesh Manjrekar, Genelia, Mohnish, providing variety.

Jai Ho, despite Salman, has had a tepid opening response even from single screens; having been made to pay high MGs, the single screens stand to lose their earnings from couple of recent money spinners.

Producers: Sunil Lulla, Sohail Khan.

Director: Sohail Khan.

Cast: Salman Khan, Daisy Shah, Tabu, Danny Danzongpa, Nadira Babbar, Mukul Dev, Mahesh Thakur, Resham Tipnis, Ashmit Patel, Yash Tonk, Haroon Qazi, Genelia D’Souza, Suniel Shetty, Aditya Panscholi, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sharad Kapoor.

Related Topics:Ashmit Patel Daisy Shah Danny Danzongpa Jai Ho Mahesh Thakur Mukul Dev Nadira Babbar Resham Tipnis Salman Khan Tabu

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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

6 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.