Hindi

Ready: A complete entertainer

Published

15 years ago

June 3, 2011

Producer: Bhushan Kumar, Kishan Kumar, Nitin Manmohan, Rajat Rawail, Sohail Khan.
Director: Anees Bazmee.
Cast: Salman Khan, Asin, Paresh Rawal, Sharat saxena, Mahesh Manjrekar, Manoj Joshi, Manoj Pahwa, Akhilendra Mishra, Nikitin Dheer, Aryan Babbar, Puneet Issar, Sudesh Lehri, Anuradha Patel, Eva Grover, Hemant Pandey.

MUMBAI: After a long time, here comes a film which people want to watch because of its star; the star power is back even if for a while.

Coming as it does in the wake of ‘Wanted‘ and ‘Dabangg‘, the latest release, ‘Ready‘ brings along the brand Salman Khan with its all-Indian mass entertainer tag attached.

Ready, having been remade from the Telugu hit of the same name, has all the ingredients of a complete entertainer: action, romance, drama, comedy, villains and, mainly, songs in lip sync which is what people seem to prefer and which seems to be a fading commodity in Mumbai whiz kid filmmakers‘ movies.

Salman Khan‘s is one happy family, he being the only heir to a prosperous business run by his father, Mahesh Manjrekar, and two uncles, Manoj Joshi and Manoj Pahwa. Needless to say, he is the apple of their eyes with his mother, Anuradha Patel, and aunties doting on him.

This is one exemplary happy and united family where everybody is of the opinion that Salman Khan should marry and settle down. As such, he is asked to go pick up a prospective suitor for him from the airport; instead he comes back with Asin, on the run from her warring uncles. A reluctant Salman Khan is soon won over by Asin and the love story begins; but in true formula film style there are villains to contend with, not one or two but a bunch of them and who better than Salman Khan to do it convincingly?

The villains are two groups of the girl‘s maternal uncles, both wanting Asin to marry their respective wards so as to grab her Rs 2 billion worth of property. While one group wears all black, the other wears white. Both sport long ponytails and try to look as uncouth and sinister as they can manage.

Asin takes refuge with Salman Khan‘s family posing as his suitor from the US, while her passport is processed so she could go back to the US. She wins over his family and, eventually, also Salman Khan‘s love. What is interesting then on is how Salman Khan‘s family joins hands to take up the crude and rough family of Asin‘s uncles; not fighting them hand to hand but outwitting them and eventually turning them into a decent, presentable lot.

The film‘s cast includes a lot many kith and kin on both sides of families and that needed a horde of character artistes. This is one aspect where the film is compromised since not all of them, especially the villains‘ lot, possess the talent or the range and Salman Khan‘s all powerful, dominating character makes them look even more vulnerable. Those who make their presence felt are Paresh Rawal, Manoj Joshi, Manoj Pahwa, Sharat Saxena and Nikitin Dheer. Also on show is the makers‘ goodwill as Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgan, Chunky Pandey and Kangna Ranaut make special appearances.

The film is a one man show and it is Salman Khan all the way, excelling in acting, comic moments, dances (with him around, you don‘t really need an item girl) as well as action, a complete package. His chemistry with Asin does not work and her performance is just passable but, one supposes, she was an obvious choice to play the female lead as she had also acted in the original Telugu version. Paresh Rawal manages to hold his own.

Direction is apt. Music, which has been a great help in the film‘s promotion, caters to the masses with two numbers, ‘Character dheela…‘ and ‘Dhinka Chika…‘ being already very popular. Dialogue is well penned and is full of wit and punch. Action is well choreographed.

Coming as it does on the heels of Wanted and Dabaang, it will benefit Ready in getting bumper opening; the months long cricket jamboree having starved the cine-goer of a fair family entertainer also works to the film‘s advantage. However, the film‘s comparison with Dabangg will be inevitable only to conclude that the Dabangg hangover still lingers.

The opening response to Ready is strong, assuring its safe passage; whatever comes thereafter will be bonus.

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.