Tag: Force 2

  • ‘Force 2’ piracy: Viacom18 registers FIR; KSS blames it on a theatre

    ‘Force 2’ piracy: Viacom18 registers FIR; KSS blames it on a theatre

    MUMBAI:  The Cyber Crime Investigation Cell, BKC, Mumbai, has registered an FIR against K Sera Sera Digital Cinema Ltd (K Sera Sera) upon a complaint filed by Viacom18 in relation to online piracy of its film ‘Force-2’.

    However, K Sera Sera Digital CEO Rahul Kanani had, on 7 December 2016, filed a police complaint against Prakash Cinema of Dabra, Madhya Pradesh, for the violation via a camcorder under different sections of the IPC and the Copyright Act, at the Amboli (Mumbai) police station, a copy of which has been sent to indiantelevision.com. The same had been intimated to Viacom18 via email as well as hand delivery of a hard copy which had been acknowledged, KSS claimed.

    Starring John Abraham, Sonakshi Sinha and Tahir Raj Bhasin, Force 2 was released on 18 November, 2016 and the pirated print of the film was found online on the same day.

    Viacom18 has alleged in the complaint that the film had been leaked online by K Sera Sera, thereby infringing Viacom18’s copyright on the film along with other offences committed by K Sera Sera under Information Technology Act, Copyright Act and Indian Penal Code.

    K Sera Sera was one of the firms hired by Viacom18 for digital integration of its film ‘Force 2’, wherein the Digital Content Package (DCP) was sent to K Sera Sera before the release of the film. In order to tackle the menace of online piracy and identify the leak at source, Viacom18 had developed a pioneering internal security mechanism, involving the integration of unique identifiers in each copy of the film before the DCPs were distributed to the digital integrators.

    Upon the release of the film, it was found that ‘Force-2’ was available in full length on various websites for both unauthorized download and streaming in a blatant act of movie piracy, the Viacom18 complaint stated.

    Investigations by the Viacom18 team revealed that pirated copies originated from the one that was sent to K Sera Sera for Digital Integration.

    According to Viacom18 spokesperson, “It is really frustrating to suffer a loss due to online piracy as tremendous amount of money is invested in production, promotion and distribution of a film. This mechanism developed by us can trace the source of piracy and further strengthens our commitment to battle movie piracy. I believe that a concerted effort from the Indian film industry and support from the general public will go a long way in eradicating this illegal act. The cyber cell is presently investigating the offences complained of and it is likely to bust the nexus involved in this illegal activity. We hope the culprits are caught and brought to justice.”

    Indiantelevision.com reached out to K Sera Sera on Thursday morning, and it stated: “We would like to clarify that we have not received any intimation from neither Viacom 18 nor from the Cyber Cell department of the Mumbai Police about the said case.”

    K Sera Sera further added, “As a part of this practice we regularly conduct audits of various across cinema chains where our servers are installed to stem any attempt of piracy. In November 2016, we identified one such attempt for piracy of the movie Force 2.

    • On 18 November 2016, as a part of our audit process, we purchased pirated DVDs of Force 2 from the market
    • All the movies distributed by us contain an additional watermark which helps us in our audit process
    • We inspected these DVDs for our hard-coded watermark and found one of our watermarks on a DVD, linking to Prakash Cinema in Dabra, Madhya Pradesh. The piracy seemed to be on account of a camcorder in the cinema hall.
    •         Following this discovery

    o We immediately terminated the contract as well as access to the digital server for Prakash Cinema.
    o We also withdrew the physical server from Prakash Cinema to check for any other attempts of infringement.
    o On 7 December 2016, a complaint was filed in Amboli Police Station, Mumbai against Prakash Cinema.
    o On the same day (7 December 2016) we intimated Viacom 18 about the entire matter with Prakash Cinema via an email, which also included a copy of the Police Complaint.
    o On 8 December 2016, a hard copy of the email to Viacom 18 along with the Police Complaint was hand delivered to Viacom 18. The receipt of the same had been acknowledged,” KSS stated.

    Also Read :    

    Guest Column: English content consumption showed upward trend in 2016

    Govt launches IPR toolkit for enforcement agencies

    Copyright Force finally here to fight online piracy

    Indian players have an edge over global OTT platforms: Akamai’s Sidharth Pisharoti

  • ‘Force 2’ piracy: Viacom18 registers FIR; KSS blames it on a theatre

    ‘Force 2’ piracy: Viacom18 registers FIR; KSS blames it on a theatre

    MUMBAI:  The Cyber Crime Investigation Cell, BKC, Mumbai, has registered an FIR against K Sera Sera Digital Cinema Ltd (K Sera Sera) upon a complaint filed by Viacom18 in relation to online piracy of its film ‘Force-2’.

    However, K Sera Sera Digital CEO Rahul Kanani had, on 7 December 2016, filed a police complaint against Prakash Cinema of Dabra, Madhya Pradesh, for the violation via a camcorder under different sections of the IPC and the Copyright Act, at the Amboli (Mumbai) police station, a copy of which has been sent to indiantelevision.com. The same had been intimated to Viacom18 via email as well as hand delivery of a hard copy which had been acknowledged, KSS claimed.

    Starring John Abraham, Sonakshi Sinha and Tahir Raj Bhasin, Force 2 was released on 18 November, 2016 and the pirated print of the film was found online on the same day.

    Viacom18 has alleged in the complaint that the film had been leaked online by K Sera Sera, thereby infringing Viacom18’s copyright on the film along with other offences committed by K Sera Sera under Information Technology Act, Copyright Act and Indian Penal Code.

    K Sera Sera was one of the firms hired by Viacom18 for digital integration of its film ‘Force 2’, wherein the Digital Content Package (DCP) was sent to K Sera Sera before the release of the film. In order to tackle the menace of online piracy and identify the leak at source, Viacom18 had developed a pioneering internal security mechanism, involving the integration of unique identifiers in each copy of the film before the DCPs were distributed to the digital integrators.

    Upon the release of the film, it was found that ‘Force-2’ was available in full length on various websites for both unauthorized download and streaming in a blatant act of movie piracy, the Viacom18 complaint stated.

    Investigations by the Viacom18 team revealed that pirated copies originated from the one that was sent to K Sera Sera for Digital Integration.

    According to Viacom18 spokesperson, “It is really frustrating to suffer a loss due to online piracy as tremendous amount of money is invested in production, promotion and distribution of a film. This mechanism developed by us can trace the source of piracy and further strengthens our commitment to battle movie piracy. I believe that a concerted effort from the Indian film industry and support from the general public will go a long way in eradicating this illegal act. The cyber cell is presently investigating the offences complained of and it is likely to bust the nexus involved in this illegal activity. We hope the culprits are caught and brought to justice.”

    Indiantelevision.com reached out to K Sera Sera on Thursday morning, and it stated: “We would like to clarify that we have not received any intimation from neither Viacom 18 nor from the Cyber Cell department of the Mumbai Police about the said case.”

    K Sera Sera further added, “As a part of this practice we regularly conduct audits of various across cinema chains where our servers are installed to stem any attempt of piracy. In November 2016, we identified one such attempt for piracy of the movie Force 2.

    • On 18 November 2016, as a part of our audit process, we purchased pirated DVDs of Force 2 from the market
    • All the movies distributed by us contain an additional watermark which helps us in our audit process
    • We inspected these DVDs for our hard-coded watermark and found one of our watermarks on a DVD, linking to Prakash Cinema in Dabra, Madhya Pradesh. The piracy seemed to be on account of a camcorder in the cinema hall.
    •         Following this discovery

    o We immediately terminated the contract as well as access to the digital server for Prakash Cinema.
    o We also withdrew the physical server from Prakash Cinema to check for any other attempts of infringement.
    o On 7 December 2016, a complaint was filed in Amboli Police Station, Mumbai against Prakash Cinema.
    o On the same day (7 December 2016) we intimated Viacom 18 about the entire matter with Prakash Cinema via an email, which also included a copy of the Police Complaint.
    o On 8 December 2016, a hard copy of the email to Viacom 18 along with the Police Complaint was hand delivered to Viacom 18. The receipt of the same had been acknowledged,” KSS stated.

    Also Read :    

    Guest Column: English content consumption showed upward trend in 2016

    Govt launches IPR toolkit for enforcement agencies

    Copyright Force finally here to fight online piracy

    Indian players have an edge over global OTT platforms: Akamai’s Sidharth Pisharoti

  • Star power fades away, collections crumble

    Star power fades away, collections crumble

    *Writer-director Gauri Shinde followed her success of English Vinglish with Dear Zindagi. To her advantage, she had the reigning star, Shah Rukh Khan, along with an emerging star, Alia Bhatt, to boast of in the cast.

    However, the theme she chose was not quite identifiable with the Indian audience, that of a young girl needing a psychiatrist for various not-so-convincing reasons. But, having a star on your roaster also has its demands. So, instead of a typical shrink, we had Khan playing himself on screen.

    An enjoyable film about three fiercely independent girls living life on their own terms through the length of the film, it turns to Khan analysing Alia which, carries on what feels like indefinitely!

    With a limited screen engagement (850 screens), the film found its initial audience to a limited extent over the weekend but the returning audience did not seem to have much good to say about the film. The film had an opening day of about Rs 8 crore which, considering the face value, showed a skeptical attitude from the moviegoer. The film showed some improvement over Saturday and Sunday to close its opening weekend with about Rs 30 crore.

    *Moh Maya Money got a poor response at the box office.

    * Force 2, a sequel to Force (2011), showed a sign of overconfidence from makers. To make a sequel to a film that did not work in the first place defies logic unless, of course, you think that the title and a muscle-flexing hero can carry the franchise through.

    The film’s performance followed its poor opening day response and collections. The film collected Rs 25.9 crore in its first week.

    *Tum Bin 2, a sequel to 2001 Tum Bin, met with a disastrous outcome with first week collection of Rs 3.15 crore.

    *Rock On 2 managed a bare Rs 40 lakh in its second week to take its two week total to Rs 8.95 crore.

    *Ae Dil Hai Mushkil collected Rs 1.75 crore in its fourth week to take its four week tally to Rs 102.45 crore.

    *Shivaay collected Rs 1.6 crore in its fourth week taking its four week total to Rs 85.7 crore.

  • Star power fades away, collections crumble

    Star power fades away, collections crumble

    *Writer-director Gauri Shinde followed her success of English Vinglish with Dear Zindagi. To her advantage, she had the reigning star, Shah Rukh Khan, along with an emerging star, Alia Bhatt, to boast of in the cast.

    However, the theme she chose was not quite identifiable with the Indian audience, that of a young girl needing a psychiatrist for various not-so-convincing reasons. But, having a star on your roaster also has its demands. So, instead of a typical shrink, we had Khan playing himself on screen.

    An enjoyable film about three fiercely independent girls living life on their own terms through the length of the film, it turns to Khan analysing Alia which, carries on what feels like indefinitely!

    With a limited screen engagement (850 screens), the film found its initial audience to a limited extent over the weekend but the returning audience did not seem to have much good to say about the film. The film had an opening day of about Rs 8 crore which, considering the face value, showed a skeptical attitude from the moviegoer. The film showed some improvement over Saturday and Sunday to close its opening weekend with about Rs 30 crore.

    *Moh Maya Money got a poor response at the box office.

    * Force 2, a sequel to Force (2011), showed a sign of overconfidence from makers. To make a sequel to a film that did not work in the first place defies logic unless, of course, you think that the title and a muscle-flexing hero can carry the franchise through.

    The film’s performance followed its poor opening day response and collections. The film collected Rs 25.9 crore in its first week.

    *Tum Bin 2, a sequel to 2001 Tum Bin, met with a disastrous outcome with first week collection of Rs 3.15 crore.

    *Rock On 2 managed a bare Rs 40 lakh in its second week to take its two week total to Rs 8.95 crore.

    *Ae Dil Hai Mushkil collected Rs 1.75 crore in its fourth week to take its four week tally to Rs 102.45 crore.

    *Shivaay collected Rs 1.6 crore in its fourth week taking its four week total to Rs 85.7 crore.

  • Viacom18 blocks Force 2 across 1250 websites; gets interim order from Madras HC

    Viacom18 blocks Force 2 across 1250 websites; gets interim order from Madras HC

    MUMBAI: Viacom18 has secured a John Doe interim order from Madras High Court restricting more than 1250 identified and all other unidentified websites from making the infringing copies of Viacom18’s latest release i.e ‘Force2’ available for public viewing over internet.

    In the said order, the Court has further directed 40 major Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and also other unidentified ISPs to block all such pirate websites which are illegally making the said film available over internet.

    Viacom18 group general counsel Sujeet Jain said, “I welcome this order from the Hon’ble Madras High Court. It is estimated that India loses $2.5 billion to online movie piracy every year. With increased penetration of technology and internet in India, piracy through online distribution is expected to continue to be a major source of revenue leakage for the movie industry. This order is a significant development for the film industry in its fight against online piracy. As immediate next steps, we’ve also launched an investigation into identifying the source of piracy at the threshold level and we will be soon taking strict action on that front. “

    Viacom18 had earlier successfully secured John Doe orders against infringement of its films Drishyam and ‘Manjhi – The Mountain Man’ as well. In the current scenario the High Court in certain states are directing injunction against URLs only which according to many filmmakers is ineffective as URLs are easily mirrored and new URLs pop up in no time. The John Doe Order for Force 2 blocking access to the entire pirate websites should therefore be a relief and aid to filmmakers across country in their war against piracy.

  • Viacom18 blocks Force 2 across 1250 websites; gets interim order from Madras HC

    Viacom18 blocks Force 2 across 1250 websites; gets interim order from Madras HC

    MUMBAI: Viacom18 has secured a John Doe interim order from Madras High Court restricting more than 1250 identified and all other unidentified websites from making the infringing copies of Viacom18’s latest release i.e ‘Force2’ available for public viewing over internet.

    In the said order, the Court has further directed 40 major Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and also other unidentified ISPs to block all such pirate websites which are illegally making the said film available over internet.

    Viacom18 group general counsel Sujeet Jain said, “I welcome this order from the Hon’ble Madras High Court. It is estimated that India loses $2.5 billion to online movie piracy every year. With increased penetration of technology and internet in India, piracy through online distribution is expected to continue to be a major source of revenue leakage for the movie industry. This order is a significant development for the film industry in its fight against online piracy. As immediate next steps, we’ve also launched an investigation into identifying the source of piracy at the threshold level and we will be soon taking strict action on that front. “

    Viacom18 had earlier successfully secured John Doe orders against infringement of its films Drishyam and ‘Manjhi – The Mountain Man’ as well. In the current scenario the High Court in certain states are directing injunction against URLs only which according to many filmmakers is ineffective as URLs are easily mirrored and new URLs pop up in no time. The John Doe Order for Force 2 blocking access to the entire pirate websites should therefore be a relief and aid to filmmakers across country in their war against piracy.

  • Sequels’ collections fall flat

    Sequels’ collections fall flat

    MUMBAI: The week saw two releases, both sequels. Force 2, a sequel to Force (2011) with John Abraham, a narcotics department cop going on an international assignment, where it was almost as if the action director was in charge. Tum Bin 2, a sequel to Tum Bin (2001) which saw a fair success, thanks to its musical score, was more like a remake of the same film rather than a sequel, albeit with inferior music.

    Both took the audience for granted and paid heavily.

    *Indian films have followed a certain formula when one said the film has ‘something for everybody’ like romance, music, comedy and drama. Action was incidental. In a frenzy to copy fast paced Hollywood films, where much of the enhancement coming from special effects, as in little to do with on the sets filming and more to do with on the table filmmaking, the films emerge one dimensional. Force 2 is an extreme example. It sheds all that is formula and vends only action. Actions sans emotional backing falls flat and that is what seems to have happened to Force 2.

    The film had an average opening of about Rs 5.5 crore with no appreciation as the film has nothing to appreciate, it ended its opening weekend with Rs 18.75 crore.

    *Tum Bin 2, coming as it does after 15 years since its first version, palms off the same story it did earlier. Right, the generation has changed but so have tastes. Also, at 2 hours 21 minute of running time and new faces to carry it through, was asking for too much. While the earlier version had a music to relish, this one lacks in this department.

    The film opened to very poor response as the first day figures at the box office being in lakhs, it failed to show much improvement over the weekend to end its first weekend with Rs 2.4 crore.

    *Rock On 2, a sequel to Rock On (2008) was a muddled film idea. Forgetting to keep up with its title and pack some music to hum, it peddled a convoluted story with multiple threads failing to tie it together in the end. Meeting with poor opening and negative word of mouth, it ended its first week with a disastrous Rs 8.45 crore.

    *Chaar Sahibzaade (3-D: Animation) rates in total loss category.

    *Dongri Ka Raja spelt disaster with about Rs 30 lakh for its opening week.

    *Ae Dil Hai Mushkil added about Rs 4.1 crore in its third week taking its three week total to Rs 100.7 crore.

    *Shivaay has added Rs 2.6 crore in its third week to take its three week tally to Rs 84.1 crore.

  • Sequels’ collections fall flat

    Sequels’ collections fall flat

    MUMBAI: The week saw two releases, both sequels. Force 2, a sequel to Force (2011) with John Abraham, a narcotics department cop going on an international assignment, where it was almost as if the action director was in charge. Tum Bin 2, a sequel to Tum Bin (2001) which saw a fair success, thanks to its musical score, was more like a remake of the same film rather than a sequel, albeit with inferior music.

    Both took the audience for granted and paid heavily.

    *Indian films have followed a certain formula when one said the film has ‘something for everybody’ like romance, music, comedy and drama. Action was incidental. In a frenzy to copy fast paced Hollywood films, where much of the enhancement coming from special effects, as in little to do with on the sets filming and more to do with on the table filmmaking, the films emerge one dimensional. Force 2 is an extreme example. It sheds all that is formula and vends only action. Actions sans emotional backing falls flat and that is what seems to have happened to Force 2.

    The film had an average opening of about Rs 5.5 crore with no appreciation as the film has nothing to appreciate, it ended its opening weekend with Rs 18.75 crore.

    *Tum Bin 2, coming as it does after 15 years since its first version, palms off the same story it did earlier. Right, the generation has changed but so have tastes. Also, at 2 hours 21 minute of running time and new faces to carry it through, was asking for too much. While the earlier version had a music to relish, this one lacks in this department.

    The film opened to very poor response as the first day figures at the box office being in lakhs, it failed to show much improvement over the weekend to end its first weekend with Rs 2.4 crore.

    *Rock On 2, a sequel to Rock On (2008) was a muddled film idea. Forgetting to keep up with its title and pack some music to hum, it peddled a convoluted story with multiple threads failing to tie it together in the end. Meeting with poor opening and negative word of mouth, it ended its first week with a disastrous Rs 8.45 crore.

    *Chaar Sahibzaade (3-D: Animation) rates in total loss category.

    *Dongri Ka Raja spelt disaster with about Rs 30 lakh for its opening week.

    *Ae Dil Hai Mushkil added about Rs 4.1 crore in its third week taking its three week total to Rs 100.7 crore.

    *Shivaay has added Rs 2.6 crore in its third week to take its three week tally to Rs 84.1 crore.

  • Force 2…..Of forced action…

    Force 2…..Of forced action…

    MUMBAI: Force 2 is the sequel to the 2011 movie, Force, which, in turn, was based on the 2003 Tamil film, Kaakha Kaakha. Force was about John Abraham, an ACP level cop, a loner who refuses to marry because that would hamper his work of chasing dreaded criminals. His department is always at war with the narcotics trade, and his life is always at risk. 

    However, love happens: he falls for Genelia D’Souza and marries her, only to lose her in his battle with the drug mafia. The rest is about how he avenges her death.

    In Force 2, John the narcotics cop goes international. He is deputed to assist a RAW agent, Sonakshi Sinha. John’s childhood friend, Freddy Daruwala, a RAW agent along with two other colleagues has been eliminated by the Chinese while on duty there. John receives a book from his friend and concludes that his friend’s cover was blown by one of his own compatriots. 

    John takes it upon himself to avenge his death.

    It is for John and Sonakshi to identify the traitor from among their own and then to neutralize him. Sonakshi does not think much of John, he being a cop while she represents the elite espionage force. She does not take John’s contribution seriously as she would rather go about singling out the traitor in her copybook style.

    The equation changes once John pinpoints the culprit while Sonakshi is still marking the probable suspects. But, much to John’s discomfort, the hierarchy is established. John is supposed to take orders from her even though her bumbling ways and reputation of failing to pull the trigger when needed makes her look more like the hero’s funny sidekick

    The villain, Tahir Bhasin, is identified but nabbing him is not easy. After all, he is also a trained spy. What follows is a chase which lasts through most of the first half of the film. The traitor is smart, always well-prepared and a step ahead of his pursuers. He has backup help from the Chinese to whom he is leaking the names of Indian agents in their country!

    As John and Sonakshi catch up with Bhasin, he is always saved by his handlers. Whenever that happens, John and Sonakshi are sitting ducks for them but they, it seems, want to chase to go on!

    Why would an Indian and a RAW agent at that be leaking information? He has his reasons on which the whole premise of the film is based. He is seeking revenge from someone high up in the Indian establishment. And, that is where the finale shall take place.

    The film starts off on an exciting note in the backdrop of China where three agents’ cover has been blown and the way they are killed. But, no, the fight here is not with the Chinese, they are just incidental. It’s all about the enemy within and that takes away some fun to start with.

    After that the action shifts to Budapest for rest of the film but, besides the change of scene as far as the location is concerned, the chases and the one-upmanship game have been seen before and get repetitive. The concept, as mentioned earlier, is based on a premise that is not familiar. Nowhere is the public privy to life of a RAW agent, let alone it being flashed on media like a local incident.

    While the pace is swift as most of the footage goes to action and chases with none wasted on romance or singing and dancing, it also means the film has no distractions as in variety. The script is on predictable lines. The direction, in such an event, is all about sticking to action with little attention to script. 

    The climax takes the audience for granted. Dialogue, especially the lines penned for Tahir, is good. The action is well executed and John, to his credit, makes them look plausible. John also looks sincere about his role of a cop on a rebound. Sonakshi shows little variation in expressions whether she is talking about her mistake which cost five cops their lives or in any other situation. The background score is effective.

    Force 2 is a below average action thriller.

    Producers: Vipul Amrutlal Shah.
    Director: Abhinay Deo.
    Cast: John Abraham, Sonakshi Sinha, Tahir Bhasin, Adil Hussain, Raj Babbar.

    Tum Bin 2….Old wine gone flat

    Tum Bin 2 is a sequel to 2001 film, Tum Bin, a musical love triangle. The sequel, also directed by Anubhav Sinha, comes rather late as far as sequels go, as the idea seems to be to cash in on the current trend of sequels and also to put to use a successful franchise. Tum Bin 2 follows almost same storyline as the original.

    Ashim Gulati and Neha Sharma are a pair and live an eventful life full of fun. On one of their days out skiing, Ashim meets with an accident. After attempts to trace him, all hopes are given up on his survival. Neha is devastated and withdraws from the world outside.

    This is when Neha meets Aditya Seal through Ashim’s father, Kanwaljeet Singh. Aditya gets busy helping Neha out of her grief. He also gets her involved in her work. Neha gradually starts living a normal life while also getting attracted to Aditya. Just when lives of all connected seem to be hunky-dory, it takes a turn to bring in the ever so popular and old-fashioned twist.

    Ashim is not dead after all. It is now a love triangle and Neha is faced with her past and present loves.

    There is nothing new to the story about the past catching up and the one in a quandary is always the woman. Tum Bin 2 does not vary from its original and retains the same glitches in the script as well. 

    The forte in the original was its soundtrack which worked in the film’s favour. Here, the music falls short of expectation. Retaining an old Jagjit Singh number from the earlier version is not much help.

    Direction is fair. Dialogue is routine. Cinematography makes the viewing pleasant. Performance wise, Neha Sharma and Aditya Seal do well. Ashim Gulati has little to do in the first half; he is okay.

    Tum Bin 2 faces some tough challenges. It comes at a time when demonetisation has affected box office collections all over; the film needed stronger musical score and, the length of 141 minutes (shortened by six minutes from the original censored length of 147) is too lengthy for a love story without any known faces.

    Producers: Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Anubhav Sinha.
    Director: Anubhav Sinha.
    Cast: Aditya Seal, Neha Sharma, Ashim Gulati, Kanwaljeet Singh.

  • Force 2…..Of forced action…

    Force 2…..Of forced action…

    MUMBAI: Force 2 is the sequel to the 2011 movie, Force, which, in turn, was based on the 2003 Tamil film, Kaakha Kaakha. Force was about John Abraham, an ACP level cop, a loner who refuses to marry because that would hamper his work of chasing dreaded criminals. His department is always at war with the narcotics trade, and his life is always at risk. 

    However, love happens: he falls for Genelia D’Souza and marries her, only to lose her in his battle with the drug mafia. The rest is about how he avenges her death.

    In Force 2, John the narcotics cop goes international. He is deputed to assist a RAW agent, Sonakshi Sinha. John’s childhood friend, Freddy Daruwala, a RAW agent along with two other colleagues has been eliminated by the Chinese while on duty there. John receives a book from his friend and concludes that his friend’s cover was blown by one of his own compatriots. 

    John takes it upon himself to avenge his death.

    It is for John and Sonakshi to identify the traitor from among their own and then to neutralize him. Sonakshi does not think much of John, he being a cop while she represents the elite espionage force. She does not take John’s contribution seriously as she would rather go about singling out the traitor in her copybook style.

    The equation changes once John pinpoints the culprit while Sonakshi is still marking the probable suspects. But, much to John’s discomfort, the hierarchy is established. John is supposed to take orders from her even though her bumbling ways and reputation of failing to pull the trigger when needed makes her look more like the hero’s funny sidekick

    The villain, Tahir Bhasin, is identified but nabbing him is not easy. After all, he is also a trained spy. What follows is a chase which lasts through most of the first half of the film. The traitor is smart, always well-prepared and a step ahead of his pursuers. He has backup help from the Chinese to whom he is leaking the names of Indian agents in their country!

    As John and Sonakshi catch up with Bhasin, he is always saved by his handlers. Whenever that happens, John and Sonakshi are sitting ducks for them but they, it seems, want to chase to go on!

    Why would an Indian and a RAW agent at that be leaking information? He has his reasons on which the whole premise of the film is based. He is seeking revenge from someone high up in the Indian establishment. And, that is where the finale shall take place.

    The film starts off on an exciting note in the backdrop of China where three agents’ cover has been blown and the way they are killed. But, no, the fight here is not with the Chinese, they are just incidental. It’s all about the enemy within and that takes away some fun to start with.

    After that the action shifts to Budapest for rest of the film but, besides the change of scene as far as the location is concerned, the chases and the one-upmanship game have been seen before and get repetitive. The concept, as mentioned earlier, is based on a premise that is not familiar. Nowhere is the public privy to life of a RAW agent, let alone it being flashed on media like a local incident.

    While the pace is swift as most of the footage goes to action and chases with none wasted on romance or singing and dancing, it also means the film has no distractions as in variety. The script is on predictable lines. The direction, in such an event, is all about sticking to action with little attention to script. 

    The climax takes the audience for granted. Dialogue, especially the lines penned for Tahir, is good. The action is well executed and John, to his credit, makes them look plausible. John also looks sincere about his role of a cop on a rebound. Sonakshi shows little variation in expressions whether she is talking about her mistake which cost five cops their lives or in any other situation. The background score is effective.

    Force 2 is a below average action thriller.

    Producers: Vipul Amrutlal Shah.
    Director: Abhinay Deo.
    Cast: John Abraham, Sonakshi Sinha, Tahir Bhasin, Adil Hussain, Raj Babbar.

    Tum Bin 2….Old wine gone flat

    Tum Bin 2 is a sequel to 2001 film, Tum Bin, a musical love triangle. The sequel, also directed by Anubhav Sinha, comes rather late as far as sequels go, as the idea seems to be to cash in on the current trend of sequels and also to put to use a successful franchise. Tum Bin 2 follows almost same storyline as the original.

    Ashim Gulati and Neha Sharma are a pair and live an eventful life full of fun. On one of their days out skiing, Ashim meets with an accident. After attempts to trace him, all hopes are given up on his survival. Neha is devastated and withdraws from the world outside.

    This is when Neha meets Aditya Seal through Ashim’s father, Kanwaljeet Singh. Aditya gets busy helping Neha out of her grief. He also gets her involved in her work. Neha gradually starts living a normal life while also getting attracted to Aditya. Just when lives of all connected seem to be hunky-dory, it takes a turn to bring in the ever so popular and old-fashioned twist.

    Ashim is not dead after all. It is now a love triangle and Neha is faced with her past and present loves.

    There is nothing new to the story about the past catching up and the one in a quandary is always the woman. Tum Bin 2 does not vary from its original and retains the same glitches in the script as well. 

    The forte in the original was its soundtrack which worked in the film’s favour. Here, the music falls short of expectation. Retaining an old Jagjit Singh number from the earlier version is not much help.

    Direction is fair. Dialogue is routine. Cinematography makes the viewing pleasant. Performance wise, Neha Sharma and Aditya Seal do well. Ashim Gulati has little to do in the first half; he is okay.

    Tum Bin 2 faces some tough challenges. It comes at a time when demonetisation has affected box office collections all over; the film needed stronger musical score and, the length of 141 minutes (shortened by six minutes from the original censored length of 147) is too lengthy for a love story without any known faces.

    Producers: Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Anubhav Sinha.
    Director: Anubhav Sinha.
    Cast: Aditya Seal, Neha Sharma, Ashim Gulati, Kanwaljeet Singh.