Hindi

Loot is past expiry date

Published

14 years ago

November 4, 2011

Producer: Shabbir Boxwala, Anup Gandhi.
Director: Rajnish Raj Thakur.
Cast: Govinda, Suniel Shetty, Jaaved Jaafery, Mahaakshay Chakraborty, Mika, Kim Sharma, Shweta

MUMBAI: There was a trend a few years back of gathering a bunch of actors of varied images, shape and size, sending them abroad with a stunt coordinator and special effects wizards and putting together a film qualifying as ‘thrilling action adventure shot on foreign locations‘; the foreign tag being a novelty.

In case of Loot, locations like Bangkok/Pattaya, the so-called novelty, have featured in more films than Govinda or Suniel Shetty, the lead players of this movie have; so much for location novelty.

Govinda and Jaaved Jaafery are blundering housebreakers who have a track record of never succeeding; whether as a punishment or reward they are despatched to Pattaya to steal some treasure, with Suniel Shetty and Mahaakshay Chakraborty added as other specialists by art dealer Dalip Tahil. What they don‘t know is that they will be pitted against the biggest dons of the subcontinent, who have settled there, and will become sacrificial goats.

Mahesh Manjrekar is a Pakistani don settled in Pattaya who wants to get rid of super don, Prem Chopra, and become the super don instead. The quartet of Suniel Shetty, Govinda, Jaaved Jaafery and Mahaakshay Chakroborty are told they are robbing a treasure but are instead sent to Mahesh Manjrekar‘s house, who they tie up and loot.

Along with cash, they also lay their hands on some tapes of Manjrekar‘s conversations with other sundry dons in which they talk about liquidating Prem Chopra. On the side is a RAW agent, Ravi Kishan, who has his own sinister ideas of getting his hands on these tapes to make millions. At this point, you don‘t care anymore where the story is going since even the writer seems to have no clue.

There are some super human stunts, Pattaya night life, songs, chase sequences and what have you. But these have all been seen in so many films over and over again. By the time it ends, you are more tired than all those performing the antics.

With a hackneyed script, the film‘s direction sticks to routine as well. Instead of performing, the actors have a style or what you may call “idiosyncrasies”: Sunil Shetty keeps running his hands over his crew-cut, Govinda goes on never-ending, unfathomable diatribes in chaste Hindi, Jaaved Jaafery keeps getting mixed up between a Bhindi Bazaar Muslim and a Sindhi, and Mahaakshay Chakraborty looks all at sea.

The girls have only little more to do here than junior artistes in any other film. Mahesh Manjrekar is a caricature don and hams his way through the film. Other hunks picked up to fill the spaces don‘t matter. Mika as a street gangster is a laughable imitation of 1970s Hollywood films. Music is bad except background score.

Loot, coming as it does ages after its due date, is past expiry date.

Bhardwaj, Mahesh Manjrekar, Ravi Kishan, Prem Chopra, Razzak Khan, Dalip Tahil.

Producer: Shanti Varma, Raj Varma, Jay Prakash.
Director: Late Ambrish Sangal.
Cast: Swaraaj Singh, Swati Anand, Sambhavana Seth, Ali Asgar, Dinesh Hingoo, Raza Murad.

Tension ension Doooor is a huge case of misplaced understandings of film business

Every once in a while there comes a man loaded with cash and misguided notions of capturing the film industry in a short cut to attaining stardom. Films like Tension Doooor are the result: it is a huge case of misplaced understandings of film business.

So here is this guy called Swaraaj Singh, who is so pure-at-heart that when lightning strikes the bus he is travelling on, he is the only one to walk out of it alive. The lightning was meant to strike sinners and he was the only clean soul! He goes back to his village but realises he has lost his hearing (total waste of footage since this has nothing to do with things that follow) but has gained an extra sensory power to read people‘s thoughts. Soon he identifies the frauds in his village but this leads to trouble with the village heads and he is banished from his village. He comes to Mumbai where he meets pickpocket Ali Asgar who suggest they cash in on his gift of reading minds; soon Swaraaj Singh is a most sought after psychiatrist-cum-trouble shooter till his path crosses that of Raza Murad, a traitor, leading to an action climax.

The film has 1960s written all over it, from its titles to story and treatment. It is ancient and there is nothing pleasant to watch on screen. The hero has no qualifications to be one – looks, acting or personality – save for his own money put into the making.

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Boney Kapoor acquires remake rights of Tamil political satire Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil

Strong word-of-mouth turns Pongal satire into remake pick

Published

3 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

3 weeks 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.