Hindi

Chaalis Chaurasi is entertaining in parts

Published

14 years ago

January 13, 2012

MUMBAI: Chalis Chaurasi has that early era Hollywood storyline; one educated, English speaking ex-criminal leading a gang of three other criminals to make a big hit once and call it a day dreaming about a city and suburban homes, limousines and the works. It is a caper movie with four criminals with special talents getting together to make a final killing.

Producer: Anuya Mhaiskar, Sachin Awasthee, Uday Shetty.
Director: Hriday Shetty.
Cast: Naseeruddin Shah, Kay Kay Menon, Ravi Kissen, Atul Kulkarni, Zakir Hussain, Manoj Pahwa.

Naseeruddin Shah is an ex-professor out after doing 10 years in prison for having caused the death of his wife; he is called Sir by everybody and is the planner. Key Kay Menon, a car thief, has a thing for 1956 Fiat car, popularly known as Dukkar Fiat; he destroys any similar car he spots because he wants his own one to be the only car left. Atul Kulkarni is a pimp while Ravi Kissen is a drug peddler and how will the talents of these two be of any particular use in the operation is not bothered with nor are the details about how they came together!

While the other three carry on with their respective enterprise, Naseeruddin Shah works as a chauffeur to Manoj Pahwa who trades Rs 20 million worth of genuine currency for Rs 30 million worth of fake kind. And, it is assigned to Naseeruddin Shah to execute the exchange.

Naseeruddin does a recce of the premises where the exchange takes place and realises that at the end of all the exchanges, the gang, which he is convinced consists of just two persons, will be left with about Rs 200 million of genuine currency. He is tempted and gathers the other three and proposes they steal the money and retire for good with all the worldly comforts. To reach this stage, the film consumes the first half which has no story or purpose; the film takes off on a promising note as the gang of four posing as cops and wielding pistols drop in at a dance bar, kick the besura singer out and take to dancing and singing. There is nothing happening thereafter except some repeated scenes; whatever story the film has, happens only post interval and makes for interesting viewing. In the climax, the assumed two man fake notes gang turns out to be much bigger with some maniacal characters included and the director decides to treat all the action as buffoonery since the four men out to steal are novices.

Chaalis Chaurasi, in most part, remains the one liner it would have started as, there is no cohesive script; gags are sorely lacking in first half while second half makes the film somewhat watchable. Director has not cared for details or finesse; some portions can easily be deleted. Music does not have a part to play in this film though the popular Hasan Jahangir number, Hawwa hawwa…. adds some pep. Dialogue is routine. Of the actors, Naseeruddin Shah tops followed by Ravi Kissen while Kay Kay Menon hams and Atul Kulkarni seems at sea except in one scene of straightening out a client. Zakir Hussain and Rajesh Sharma are good as usual.

Chaalis Chaurasi is entertaining in parts but with its cast lacking a draw the opening is weak; with some hope of doing better over the weekend, it will eventually find better appreciation on video circuits.

Sadda Adda is unlikely to survive the weekend

Producer: Rajiv R Agarwal, Tarun R Agarwal.
Director: Muazzam Beg.
Cast: Karanvir Sharma, Bhaumik Sampat, Rohin Robert, Kunal Pant, Rohitt Kuldeep Arora, Shaurya Chauhan, Kahkkashan Aryan, Maryam Zakaria.

There are two sides to a film like Sadda Adda, the good thing about it is that it brings forth new talent and makes some careers; the other side, the drawback is that, with new faces juxtaposed with high ticket rates, there are few takers for such films on the onset.

Sadda Adda is about six young men from different backgrounds and regions sharing an apartment in Delhi who are in search of careers and yet find time to enjoy life in the company of each other as they share life, food, cigarettes and beers as well as their idea of dream romance.

Karanvir Sharma, Bhaumik Sampat, Rohin Robert, Kunal Pant, Rohitt Kuldeep Arora are a bunch of friends who come to Delhi from other parts of India; one as different from the other as chalk and cheese, each with a goal to pursue. Despite their varied backgrounds and purposes in lives, they bond like childhood friends. They share each other‘s sorrows as well as joys and successes. One is biding time waiting to migrate to the US and has a rich family to back him and, hence, is the backbone of other roomies in need of cash; the other is studying to crack the IAS exams; the third one is a qualified management grad looking for a worthy job to support his family and marry the girl he is engaged to; fourth one wants to be a great actor and already has a Hollywood film assignment in his bag; the fifth one is an architect who is never given his due credit while the last and the youngest of the group is an uneducated lad who seems to have no future but turns out to be the most contented at the end even as others too find their due recognition. It is not all easy going for the boys as there are ups and downs and there is one casualty on the way as the IAS proves too tough for the one aspiring for it and leads to his suicide.

Writer director Muazzam Beg, who has another recent youth centric film, Rock Star, to his credit as writer, adopts simple approach to treat this film, the tell it as it would happen kind; there are good moments as melodrama is avoided. Music blends with the theme though lyric sound uninspiring. Cinematography is good. Performances by the young actors are generally okay. Of the romantic angles, the one between Bhaumik Sampat and Kahkkashan Aryan is more mature kind.

Sadda Adda has had no audience for the opening shows at various places and is unlikely to survive the weekend.

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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 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.