Hindi

Aashiqui 2: No love lost

Published

13 years ago

April 26, 2013

MUMBAI: Aashiqui the original became a legend thanks to it musical score. Aashiqui 2 has nothing to do with the original except to cash in on its title, logo and poster design. While doing this needs little extra imagination, the rest, such as putting a script together and executing the film needs quite a lot. In the original Aashiqui, the hero was a go-getter who faced all the challenges to get his girl. Aashiqui 2 is about a guy who is a loser on all counts.

Aditya Roy Kapoor is a famous singer on the wane; he is in a self destruction mode. He guzzles alcohol non-stop and generally indulges in self pity. He has a dad in the form of a telephonic voice from the US who always promises to stand by him but never comes to the scene. Actually, the writer/director doesn‘t bother to tell you why he is such a loser. He even drops a concert halfway through in Goa. So just when he has almost destroyed his career, he sees a bar singer, Shraddha Kapoor, singing one of his own compositions! Our hero takes instant fancy to her and her voice. He knows he has stumbled across the next Lata Mangeshkar. He decides to promote her career, finding love in the process.

Producers: Mukesh Bhatt, Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar.
Director: Mohit Suri.
Cast: Aditya Roy Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor.

Having found romance, one would think that the hero would now have a reason to give up alcohol and live a decent life. In fact after making Shraddha a successful singer, he sinks deeper into alcohol. Now he is a total failure while she is on top. The hero becomes the butt of all jokes and taunts. You can‘t make out whether he is angry or happy with the people‘s behaviour. After all, his expressions never change!

The couple is deeply in love but never happy because Aditya‘s first love-or weakness-is alcohol. Sharaddha can‘t enjoy her stardom because she spends her time keeping him away from the bottle. There comes a stage when Aditya runs out of money and has nothing left. At one point he steals Shraddha‘s purse to buy alcohol. Finally realising that he is a hurdle in Shraddha‘s career, the very career he helped build, the hero gives in and jumps into Vasai Creek! That is the end of a man who made a life out of inflicting pain on himself and those around him.

Aashiqui 2 is a total script of convenience with no care for logic or purpose. It is a forced tragedy where one can‘t empathise with the boy or the girl because there is no real plight in their lives. As the film progresses, it meanders and the scenes get repetitive. The direction is patchy. Music, mostly background songs, has a couple of good numbers. Performance wise, Aditya lacks in expressions while Shraddha is suitably vulnerable as per her character.

With excellent promotion by T Series, Aashiqui 2 has managed to get very good opening collections which will be enough for this low priced film, lack of appreciation not withstanding.

Shree: Badly scripted sci-fi fiasco

Producer: Vikram M Shah.
Director: Rajesh Bachchani.
Cast: Hussain Kuwajerwala, Anjali Patil, Paresh Ganatra, Shivani Tanksale, Rio Kapadia, K C Shankar.

One often sees money being poured into films by people with various intents but no creative sense. Finally, such money goes down the drain. Shree is one such film. The film is bankrolled by a diamond merchant firm and deals with some sort of sci-fi.

A call centre employee, Hussain Kuwajerwala, is in the 12th day of his new job when he is asked to meet the owner of the company, Rio Kapadia. The boss is surrounded by his secretary, Shivani Tanksale, a scientist and the local police commissioner. Kuwajerwala is presented with Rs 10 lakh to be available for 12 hours two days later with a promise of 10 lakh more at the end of those 12 hours. The offer also includes a car and a four BHK apartment at a posh Mumbai location.

For Kuwajerwala, who has been courting Anjali Patil for eight years and faces her mother‘s taunts on daily basis for not having managed to settle down and marry her daughter, the offer seems to have come just in time. The initially sceptical and reluctant Kuwajerwala accepts it.

On the appointed day, Kuwajerwala lands up at an abandoned bungalow at a secluded sea side. He is needed to give his boss 12 hours starting at 7 am. But, five minutes into the 12 hour period and he is scared, loses confidence and tries to run only to be stopped and drugged by boss‘ henchman, KC Shankar. When Kuwajerwala emerges from his drug-induced trance, he is a fugitive. The police are looking for him for the murder of the police commissioner. There is a chase and there are two Kuwajerwala‘s and multiple conspiracies.

It turns out that Kuwajerwala has been born under circumstances whereby he is gifted with the power to travel in future. The police commissioner thinks this will help to solve crimes which are yet to happen. Others want to use it to wield power. But, having once travelled into the future and seen the conspiracy, the hero manages to foil the dirty designs of the villain.

The story is not at all convincing and narrated without conviction. While Kuwajerwala acts well, Patil is hysteric most of the time. Rest support well.

Shree will go down as an also ran.

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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

5 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.