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Tag: Kahaani

  • Bittoo Boss fails to take command of the box office

    Bittoo Boss fails to take command of the box office

    MUMBAI: Bittoo Boss gets a poor response at the box office, collecting a meagre Rs 15 million in its opening weekend.

    The second Friday release, Chhodo Kal Ki Baatein, fared worse earning a negligible amount.

    Housefull 2 did very well in its first week to collect Rs 658 million and continued to swell during its second weekend, adding another Rs 197 million to take its 10-day total to Rs 855 million.

    Though the collections are affected to a certain degree due to the IPL, especially at centres where the home team plays, they are compensated on other days. Being the only entertaining fare to watch during the initial stages of the IPL has worked to the film’s advantage.

    Agent Vinod‘s collections fizzled out as the film managed to take home a mere Rs 2 million in its third week, netting Rs 435.5 million so far.

    Kahaani can be termed a super hit, considering its cost and the fact that the film continues to do well even as the star cast films have faded by week two. The film has gone on the collect Rs 13.5 million in its fifth week, totaling Rs 584.5 million.

    Paan Singh Tomar collected Rs 1.5 million in its fifth week, taking its total to Rs 168 million.

  • Kahaani to show on VOD from 20 April via Mela

    Kahaani to show on VOD from 20 April via Mela

    MUMBAI: Video on demand service Mela has acquired the streaming service rights of Sujoy Ghosh‘s Kahaani.

    The film will start airing on the service from 20 April.

    “Mela is thrilled to announce that we have acquired non-exclusive online rights to the hugely successful and highly popular recent Bollywood hit, Kahaani. The film‘s release on Mela comes a month after its theatrical premiere in India. We will provide distribution of the film on the Mela Movies iPad App and Roku channel starting 20 April,” the company said.

    The Sujoy Ghosh-directed film stars Vidya Balan as a 7-month pregnant woman who travels to Kolkata in search of her missing husband only to find that everyone she asks his information from claim that no such person exists. The film received instant public and critical acclaim upon its theatrical release on 9 March collecting praise for its cinematography, originality, screenplay, and performances.

    Kahaani arrives on the heels of last year‘s hit The Dirty Picture that earned Vidya Balan the best actress Filmfare award.

    Mela‘s services are available worldwide.

  • Housefull 2 fills up plexes, nets Rs 455 mn

    Housefull 2 fills up plexes, nets Rs 455 mn

    MUMBAI: Housefull 2 opened handsomely, netting Rs 455 million its its first weekend. The movie ran to near full capacity in multiplexes, peaking on Sunday by adding about 25 per cent more than its opening day collections.

    The multi-starrer film maintained a steady business even on Monday.

    Bumboo, a nondescript film, fared poorly at the box office.

    Meanwhile, Saif Ali Khan‘s Agent Vinod added Rs 67.5 million in its second week, taking its total to Rs 433.5 million. The film stands to lose a major chunk of its investment.

    Kahaani continues to hold its own despite new releases. The film collected Rs 45 million in its fourth week, taking its net collections to Rs 569 million.

    Paan Singh Tomar has impressed at the turnstile, considering none had confidence to release the film for about three years. When it hit the theatres eventually, it released at very limited screens. The film has collected Rs 6 million in its fourth week, taking its net box office collections to Rs 166.5 million.

  • Kahaani maker Sujoy Ghosh rubbishes talks of plagirism

    Kahaani maker Sujoy Ghosh rubbishes talks of plagirism

    MUMBAI: Sujoy Ghosh has trashed stories about his film Kahaani’s climax bearing a striking resemblance with that of the Angelina Jolie-starrer Taking Lives.

    The ending of Taking Lives shows a heavily pregnant Jolie sitting alone in her house when she discovers a serial killer. She tries to escape but is overpowered by him and is punched and thrown to the ground. During the altercation, the serial killer begins to choke her and eventually stabs her in her pregnant belly with a pair of scissors.

    Jolie, seemingly unharmed by the stabbing, shocks him by quickly stabbing him with the same pair of scissors. As the killer lies dying, Jolie removes a prosthetic pregnant belly, and says the past seven months have been a planned trap.

    In Kahaani, the protagonist Vidya Bagchi too is heavily pregnant and in search of a man who looks like her husband Arnab Bagchi. The lady also gets into a similar act by killing the person, not with a pair of scissors, but with her hairpin.

    Said Ghosh, “Since I started making Kahaani, people spoke about so many sources that it has been copied from. In this country, where people don‘t know about Satyajit Ray, Yash Chopra and Manmohan Desai, it‘s amazing to note people are aware of films made in distant land seven years ago in 2004,” adding, “ does this mean two lookalike people from different parts of the world have the same root.”

    According to Ghosh, his portrayal of Vidya Bagchi was to get to the fore the prowess of Maa Durga killing the evil. “Did Jolie also play Maa Durga or was she possessed by the goddess?” Ghosh questions.

    While the Jolie film received mostly poor reviews, Ghosh’s Kahaani has turned out to be a runaway hit.

  • Sujoy Ghosh mulls Kahaani franchise

    Sujoy Ghosh mulls Kahaani franchise

    MUMBAI: Stung by the climax of the film after which Vidya Bagchi dissolves herself among the sindoor and aabir-clad women, returning after their Dashami day rituals, one never had the time to give a thought to the lady. But, the clever director that he is, Sujoy Ghosh kept room for taking the film forward by keeping the lady alive.

    Now after the heartening response that Ghosh‘s Kahaani has been getting, he has decided to make the Kolkata-based mystery-drama and its protagonist Vidya Bagchi a part of an ongoing series.

    Confirmed Ghosh, “Yes, turning Kahaani into a franchise is something that was in my mind from the time I wrote the film. I knew I had stumbled on a unique idea that I didn‘t want to let go of. What Vidya Bagchi does with her life after my Kahaani, haunts me. I want to take the idea forward.”

    According to Ghosh, the idea was with him for a very long, he having written the script of Kahaani four years ago. And, knowing well that the protagonist had the potential to be a part of a series, the director has now begun to seriously consider carrying the story forward.

    Hence, if all goes well, Kahaani 2 would be Ghosh‘s next project. He has already cracked the idea for a sequel.

  • Kahaani nets Rs 247 mn in first week

    Kahaani nets Rs 247 mn in first week

    MUMBAI: The week saw the release of five films, of which only two featured some known faces. However, both Zindagi Tere Naam and Chaurahen found it tough to find takers, while the other three fared worse.

    Meanwhile, Kahaani has maintained good collections throughout its first week and gone on to end the week with Rs 247 million. Affected slightly on Sunday because of the India- Pakistan ODI, the film has still been very strong in its second weekend with collections of around Rs 97 million.

    Chaar Din Ki Chandni failed to make a mark, completing its eight day first week run on a lower side with Rs 52 million.

    Paan Singh Tomar got good word of mouth to sustain well in its second week to add another Rs 44 million. The film, which cost Rs 60 million to make, is recovering its cost from domestic box office alone with collection of Rs 119.5 million.

    Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya collected about Rs 10 million in its third week, coming to the end of its good run to total Rs 173 million.

  • Kahaani nets Rs 141 million at BO

    Kahaani nets Rs 141 million at BO

    MUMBAI: Vidya Balan-starrer Kahaani opened to a poor response but improved on Saturday and Sunday with word of mouth in its favour. The Sunday collections showed double the Friday figures; along with its Thursday paid previews, the film collected Rs 141 million over the weekend, mainly from multiplexes in major cities with little contribution from single screens and interiors.

    Meanwhile, Chaar Din Ki Chandni has not been appreciated; it collected Rs 36 million in its four-day weekend (the film was released on Thursday to take advantage of Holi festival).

    Paan Singh Tomar, which was released with a limited number of prints after about three-years since its making, opened slow but went on to consolidate reasonably to end its first week with Rs 75.5 million for its makers and much acclaim for Irrfan Khan. The film has added another Rs 25 million in its second weekend.

    London Paris New York has failed to work, collecting Rs 58 million in its first week.

    Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya collected Rs 51 million in its second week to take its total to Rs 163 million, proving that Desi content works.

    Jodi Breakers survived for second week and collected Rs 12 million; it has so far netted Rs 96 million.

  • Kahaani: All thrills, no frills

    Kahaani: All thrills, no frills

    MUMBAI: It is not often that a film based on Kolkata background is made and when one is made, Pujo and Rabindra sangeet are mandatory as are visuals of the Victoria Memorial and the Howrah Bridge; however, what is not mandatory is having an all local supporting cast when you plan to appeal to an all India audience. That leaves little option for a viewer, not much used to heroine oriented films in the first place, but to be content with Vidya Balan.

     

    Producers: Kaushal Kantilal Gada, Sujoy Ghosh.
    Director: Sujoy Ghosh.
    Cast: Vidya Balan, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

    A heavily pregnant Vidya Balan ascends on Kolkata in search for her missing husband and makes a police station her first halt and seeks help to trace her husband. Next she checks into a guest house where her husband was supposed to have stayed and used to call her from. She has a young police inspector, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, at all times and takes her around in her search. At the data centre, she is told that though there is no record of her husband having worked there, they did have an ex-employee named Damji resembling the husband‘s picture she carried. Vidya Balan‘s search is not easy for wherever she checks; the traces of her husband as well as his lookalike have been deleted, from files as well as the computers. What is more, whoever helps her or is willing to help her is killed while she herself has some close shaves from the killer.

    It is when she finds the picture and address of Damji from old records from the data centre‘s old, unused office that she stirs things up and soon a senior intelligence office from Delhi, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, joins the action. This results in some twists and turns and thrilling moments as the climax is played out during a Pujo procession and Vidya Balan springs a surprise on all those involved on the wrong as well as the right side of the law.

    Director Sujoy Ghosh chooses the inner, drab and crowded parts of Kolkata which add to the atmosphere and create anxiety. His handling of the subject is deft with ample help from a tight script without distraction in the form of songs except for “Ekla chalo” number in the background in pre-climax.

    The film is an out and out Vidya Balan show in a role that offers her no frills; she is a desperate pregnant woman on a mission and she goes around it credibly. Nawazuddin Siddiqui is impressive balancing his act between negative and positive shades adding to the suspense. Parambrata Chattopadhyay is natural.

    Kahaani a fair thriller and due for much acclaim; however its business will be limited to few metro multiplexes.
     

    An inconsistent film with limited prospects

     

    Producer: Samir Karnik.
    Director: Samir Karnik.
    Cast: Tusshar Kapoor, Kulraj Randhawa, Anupam Kher, Om Puri, Mukul Dev, Johny Lever, Anita Raaj, Sushant Singh, Chandrachur Singh, Rahul Singh, Farida Jalal.

     

    A vibrant, bubbly girl lands up in a stubborn family of erstwhile Rajasthan royals who still live in the same delusions of being royal Rajputs. The family is full of oddballs all taking a fancy to her in their own way. A romantic comedy needs ample gags and characters; Chaar Din Ki Chandni has some of the latter. In an attempt to add a bit of everything from royalty to status barrier and the Indian wedding with romance and comedy, the film is a farce made of a series of situations.

    Tusshar Kapoor arrives in Rajasthan to attend his sister‘s wedding with his girlfriend, Kulraj Randhawa, whom he plans to introduce to his family and obtain their approval to marry her. However Anupam Kher, his father, has these notions of Rajput superiority and none of his children can marry anybody else but a Rajput and he always keeps a gun handy if the case is otherwise. Besides this trait he is a jovial person. Given this situation, Tusshar Kapoor fumbles at the last moment and introduces Kulraj Randhawa as a journalist from UK here to cover an Indian royal wedding. Tusshar Kapoor has four brothers, all with their own peculiarities – one is a drunkard, other is headstrong and violent while yet another is a womaniser; only one of them is sober and okay with Tusshar‘s romance since he himself is heartbroken. Soon, Kulraj Randhawa has won the hearts of all members of the household; while Anupam Kher treats her as a daughter of the house and even promises to get her married to a suitable Punjabi boy, the three wayward brothers each try to score with her in their own clumsy ways while Tusshar Kapoor and Kulraj Randhawa keep romancing on the sly. To add to the tricky situation come Om Puri and Farida Jalal on the scene enthused that their daughter is planning to get engaged; but they are soon passed off as decorator and his chief assistant by Tusshar Kapoor as revealing their true identity would not work with Anupam Kher. With so many characters involved, there is a series of gags, some good some flat. In an old-fashioned way, the climax is a free for all with Johny Lever as one of the parties.

    The story idea for Chaar Din Ki Chandni is the second half of the director‘s earlier film, Yamla Pagla Deewana which had a huge Punjabi family and false identities; with many characters to share the screen, Samir Karnik keeps the pace moving. Using old film songs is a good ploy. Dialogue is not much help. Tusshar Kapoor is okay. Kulraj Randhawa is fairly good. Anupam Kher‘s versatility is obvious. Om Puri Plays his loud Punjabi guy very well. Mukul Dev, Sushant Singh, Chandrachur Singh and Harrish as brothers along with Rahul Singh, Farida Jalal and Anita Raj are good in support. Johny Lever is wasted.

    Chaar Din Ki Chandni is a passable entertainer with limited prospects.

  • Relief for Ghosh as Metro officials clear scene of Kahaani

    Relief for Ghosh as Metro officials clear scene of Kahaani

    MUMBAI: The makers of the Vidya Balan-starrer Kahaani have heaved a sigh of relief with the Kolkata Metro Railway authorities clearing the scene where the actress is shown being pushed before a speeding metro train.

    “They have promised us that there is nothing in the film that will tarnish the image of the metro railway or prompt people to commit suicide on the tracks. We are happy with their explanation and have removed objections,” Kolkata Metro‘s general manager P B Murti said.

    Glad to have been able to convince the railway officials, director Sujoy Ghosh said, “I have spent my childhood in Kolkata and will never do anything that will harm the city. The film is meant to increase the curiosity about the wonderful city that Kolkata is.”

    The trailer of Kahaani shows a pregnant Vidya waiting on the platform to board a metro train at the Kalighat station. As soon as the train arrives, she is pushed onto the tracks by a man standing behind her.

    Worried that the scene would remind people of the frequent acts of suicides on the tracks that has been tarnishing the image of India‘s first tube railway, the Metro officials had written to Ghosh asking him to remove the scene from the trailers as well as the film theatres this Friday.

  • Kahaani runs into controversy as Kolkata Metro wants sensitive scene removed

    Kahaani runs into controversy as Kolkata Metro wants sensitive scene removed

    MUMBAI: With the Kolkata Metro railway authorities objecting to a scene in Sujoy Ghosh‘s Vidya Balan-starrer Kahaani where the actress is shown as being pushed perilously before a speeding train, the film has run into a controversy.

    The Metro authorities have asked producers of the film to remove the particular clip from their trailers as well as from the film. The film‘s trailer shows a pregnant Vidya Bagchi waiting on the platform to board a train at the Kalighat station. As soon as the train arrives, she is dangerously pushed onto the tracks by a man standing close to her.

    “We are opposed to the scene as we are very concerned about the rate of suicides on the Metro tracks. We know how people get ideas for committing suicide and for other criminal activities,” said Kolkata Metro‘s General Manager P B Murti.

    The Railway authorities wrote to the film‘s producer claiming that the scene would not only harm the image of the Metro but also leave a negative impact on the audience.

    Rubbishing the same, Ghosh said: “The scene in the film is not meant to remind people of suicides. Anyways, if anybody has to commit suicide, he will not do it because of my film. As a filmmaker I need to show all sides of a city, including the darker aspects.”

    A source close to the film said the shot was part of a dream sequence and had been shot using CGI (computer-generated imagery) technique.

    It may be noted that the Metro authorities had allowed the film unit to shoot for four days last year at the busy Tollygunje and Kalighat metro stations.

    Kahaani releases on 9 March.