Hindi

No Problem comes a cropper

Published

15 years ago

December 10, 2010

Producers: Dr B K Modi, Anil Kapoor, Rajat Rawail.
Director: Anees Bazmee.
Cast: Anil Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty, Akshaye Khanna, Sushmita Sen, Kangana Ranaut, Paresh Rawal.

MUMBAI: A comedy is generally woven around a simple theme loaded with gags, punches and funny situations. These gags, punches and rejoinders are then assigned to an assembly of talented actors known to have a funny streak. The theme here is corny enough; for lack of imagination it is the oft tried hunt for stolen diamonds coupled with two petty conmen on the run after looting a local village bank.

The film starts off as an action thriller with Suniel Shetty and his goons robbing a diamond bourse. When it comes to adding gags, repartees and farcical scenes, again it starts off well enough. However, when it comes to casting, the film falters.

Sanjay Dutt and Akshaye Khanna are petty thieves; Akshaye wants to turn a new leaf while Sanjay is always ready with a new criminal plan. As a habit, Sanjay Dutt loots Paresh Rawal’s newly formed bank on its inauguration day and, along with Akshaye Khanna, is on the run with Paresh Rawal on their trail that catches up with them eventually after a few funny encounters.

To repay his bank money, the three decide to steal from a minister with whom the diamonds stolen by Suniel Shetty have landed. The action shifts to a city (Durban in this case), which seems to have only one police inspector, a bumbling, goofing, Anil Kapoor.

So far so good; however, the gags and fun dry up as the film progresses. And, what you see here is nothing that you have not seen before. In fact, you may have seen most of these gags before and enjoyed them but what taper them down in No Problem is its actors.

The cast is a liability to a comedy entertainer where, except Paresh Rawal, though the others may have acted in a comedy film or two, none is known to carry such a film on his own; they just don’t have it in them. And, in this case, where the writing does not support them, they are totally at sea. Less said about the female actors the better; as after first time, Sushmita Sen’s gimmick of split personality wears off and Kangana Ranaut is around too, don’t know why!

Director Anees Bazmee catches up with the law of averages coming up with a sub standard fare this time. Writers give up after a few good scenes. Music is a relief not because it is good but only because it breaks the monotony of humourless comedy! The film is set in South Africa with an all Indian star cast as if South Africa was a satellite town of a metropolis like Navi Mumbai to Mumbai or Noida to Delhi. It just does not jell.

No Problem seems to count on its roaster rather than content; it comes a cropper.

Band Baaja Baaraat: Many things in one film

Producer: Aditya Chopra.
Director: Maneesh Sharma.
Cast: Anushka Sharma, Ranveer Singh.

Band Baaja Baaraat is many things in one film: a love story, rags to riches story and a coming of age story.

The problem is the boy and the girl meet in typical Delhi style. A good for nothing boy, Ranveer Singh, completes his graduation and has no intentions of joining his family’s sugar farming business and has all the bad intentions for this girl, Anushka Sharma; while the girl is a balanced and wise student who aspires to be a wedding planner. There is no wooing of the girl and there are no villains which in turn takes away the very essentials from this love story.

A gatecrasher at a wedding as an assistant to a video cameraman, Ranveer Singh spots a wedding planner’s assistant, Anushka. For him she is just another girl he wants to score with.

On learning that she plans to be an independent wedding planner, he offers to be her partner if only to avoid going back to his farming family. Soon, both graduate from nukkad-gully weddings to high profile ones. After the success of their first such high profile wedding assignment, the celebrations lead to both ending up going beyond the barrier of friendship and partnership. While Anushka does it because she is giving in to love, for Ranveer, she realises, it was just a one off thing, a kaand, as he calls it.

While rags to riches are usually a sure shot formula, here the theme gets lost in the muddle that follows. Both fall apart, but are brought together through a contrived twist. The third angle in the girl’s life is a cell phone number called Chetan. That is when our hero realizes that his life was empty without Anushka. As is the routine, when someone else wants your girl, you want her more than him! All these happenings in the second half are childish in conception and exactly so in execution and the film loses whatever little ground it had gained during pre-interval stage.

The woes for Band Baaja Baaraat start with its ‘no face’ face value; Anushka Sharma is getting better with each film but has yet to register herself as a draw. Ranveer Singh is expressionless. The pair fails to create chemistry. There are no known faces in the supporting cast.

With a thin story line and predictable screenplay, there is little the director can do except execute his job copybook style. Music is purely ring tone variety and all the efforts of the choreographer do little to elevate it. Dialogue in brash Delhi twang is unappealing.

All said, Band Baaja Baaraat is a very mediocre film in all respects with nothing of merit to draw the audience.

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 weeks 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.