ITV

Tag: Rahul Bose

  • Scrum meets screen as Sportz Interactive powers Rugby Premier League

    Scrum meets screen as Sportz Interactive powers Rugby Premier League

    MUMBAI: When it comes to scoring off the field, Sportz Interactive is now the prop powering Indian rugby’s digital game. In a game-changing alliance, Sportz Interactive (SI) has partnered with the newly launched Rugby Premier League (RPL), supported by GMR Sports, to design and drive the league’s entire digital presence from the first whistle to the final try.

    The engagement sees SI developing and managing the official RPL website now the central hub for fixtures, squad updates, and stories as well as launching its social media channels to build a strong, steady fanbase from the get-go. The agency also rolled out a suite of creative launch assets and a phased content strategy to keep rugby conversations buzzing long after match day.

    To mark major moments like franchise unveils, player auctions, and squad reveals, SI created high-impact visuals and behind-the-scenes content, including exclusive interviews with RPL heavyweights like Rugby India president Rahul Bose and GMR Sports CEO, Satyam Trivedi.

    The collaboration also takes the reins on RPL’s flagship fan campaign, #RugRugMeinRugby, weaving it across platforms through custom content buckets, quirky formats, and platform-specific storytelling that’s equal parts entertaining and educational. From strategic sponsor activations to creative brand partnerships, SI is also helping bring the business side of rugby into sharper play.

    “Rugby is stepping into an exciting new era in India,” said Sportz Interactive SVP for Teams Chintan Shah. “This is more than a league, it’s a movement. At SI, we’re excited to blend data, design, and digital storytelling to grow the game and fire up the fans.”

    As the Rugby Premier League sets its sights on making rugby more mainstream in India, SI’s playbook is simple: create buzz, build community, and make every scroll, swipe, and click feel like a try well scored.
     

  • GMR’s ‘Rug rug mein rugby’ campaign brings the scrum to the street

    GMR’s ‘Rug rug mein rugby’ campaign brings the scrum to the street

    MUMBAI: GMR Rugby Premier League (RPL) is charging into the national consciousness with a thumping new campaign — Rug Rug Mein Rugby — an audacious attempt to make the gritty, fast-paced sport of Rugby 7s feel as everyday as chai and traffic jams.

    Launched by GMR Sports and Rugby India, the campaign leads with a high-energy anthem that celebrates the adrenaline, grit and speed of the game, backed by vibrant visuals and a hook designed to stick. But it doesn’t stop at soundtracks. A witty series of digital films reimagines rugby in everyday Indian scenarios — from a fish-market dive that mirrors a try, to a lift-crasher evoking a ruck. The goal? Make the game less foreign, more fun.

    Speaking on the campaign, Rugby India president Rahul Bose said, “With Rug Rug Mein Rugby, we are not just launching a league, we’re launching  an emotive appeal to all Indians – Sabke Rug Rug Mein Rugby, India ke Rug Rug Mein Rugby. The theme song exudes all the exciting characteristics of the sport, while this campaign simplifies the game, celebrates the best athletes, and invites all of India to witness this spectacle.”

    GMR Sports CMO Sujoy Ganguly said, “At GMR Sports, we are committed to building a strong foundation for rugby in India. This campaign captures the heart and excitement of the sport and makes it accessible to new audiences. It’s a dynamic, high energy launchpad for both the Rugby Premier League and a wider rugby movement in the country.”

    The GMR RPL, backed by World Rugby, kicks off its debut season on June 15 at the Mumbai Football Arena with 34 matches lined up. If the campaign’s punchy appeal lands right, rugby might just go from niche to next-big-thing.

  • ‘Berlin’ to premiere soon on ZEE5

    ‘Berlin’ to premiere soon on ZEE5

    Mumbai: ZEE5, India’s video streaming platform has announced its upcoming movie ‘Berlin,’ a groundbreaking spy thriller that has already taken the international film circuit by storm. Set against the backdrop of 1990s New Delhi, this first-of-its-kind espionage drama has garnered critical acclaim at various prestigious film festivals worldwide. Adding to its growing list of accolades, ‘Berlin’ was also screened at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM 2024) on 17 Aug at Hoyts Cinema. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Atul Sabharwal, ‘Berlin’ features a stellar ensemble cast including Aparshakti Khurana, Ishwak Singh, Rahul Bose, Anupriya Goenka, and Kabir Bedi. This high-stakes drama, lauded for its outstanding performances and distinctive storytelling, promises to be an engrossing tale of undercover activities, deceit, and moral ambiguity. Produced by Zee Studios and Yippee Ki Yay Motion Pictures, ‘Berlin’ is now set to captivate a wider audience as it prepares for its exclusive premiere on ZEE5.

    ‘Berlin’ takes viewers into the icy winters of the 1990’s in Delhi, where a silent storm of espionage is brewing. The story revolves around three main characters whose lives are about to collide in unexpected ways. Ishwak Singh will be seen in an unusual yet challenging role – a deaf-mute young man accused of being a foreign spy. Aparshakti Khurana, stepping out of his comfort zone, will be seen as a sign language expert tasked with unlocking the secrets hidden in silence. Anupriya Goenka adds fuel to the fire as an enigmatic agent, her true loyalties shrouded in mystery. Meanwhile, Rahul Bose races against time as an intelligence officer, fighting not just external threats but also the shadows within his own agency. As layers of deception peel away, alliances shift and questions multiply: In a world where nothing is as it seems. And in this high-stakes game of betrayal, who will make it out alive?

    ZEE5 chief business officer Manish Kalra expressed, “We are excited to introduce ‘Berlin’ to our platform, aligning with our strategy of curating quality content that resonates with diverse audience segments. This movie is an addition to ZEE5’s extensive library, reflecting our ongoing commitment to delivering compelling narratives that push the boundaries of storytelling. ‘Berlin,’ with its stellar cast, complex plot and a first of its kind narrative with the backdrop of 1990s Delhi, has garnered critical acclaim at international film festivals. We are confident it will set a new benchmark in the espionage genre for the Indian streaming market. It will further enhance ZEE5’s appeal to both our existing subscribers and new viewers seeking quality entertainment.”

    Zee Studios CBO Umesh Kr Bansal said, “Berlin’ is a groundbreaking addition to Zee Studios’ diverse slate, capturing a unique era in Indian history through an intense spy thriller. We’re proud to see its global acclaim and excited to bring this compelling story to our ZEE5 audience”

    Yippee Ki Yay Motion Pictures producer Manav Shrivastav said, “We are delighted to join hands with ZEE5 for the launch of ‘Berlin’. This platform offers us the perfect stage to showcase this intricate, high-stakes spy thriller to a vast and diverse audience across India and beyond. ‘Berlin’ is a movie that pushes the boundaries of the espionage genre in Indian content, and we are very happy that it will soon premiere on the platform for audience to watch it. We’re confident that this partnership with ZEE5 will help us reach a far wider audience.

    List of festivals and awards:

    . Mumbai Academy of Moving Images, MAMI | Mumbai, India 

    . Indian Film Festival Los Angeles, IFFLA | Los Angeles, USA

    . Stars Asian International Film Festival, SAIFF, Mr. Ishwak Singh Award for best actor | Los Angeles, USA

    . Asian World Film Festival | Award for Outstanding Cinematic Achievement | Los Angeles, USA

    . Indian Film Festival of South Asia | Toronto, Canada

    . London Indian Film Festival | London, UK

    . Red Lorry Film Festival | Mumbai, India 

    . Indian Habitat Film Festival, New Delhi, India

    Filmmaker Atul Sabharwal mentioned, “With ‘Berlin’, we’ve created a spy thriller that is sure to keep the audiences on the edge of their couches. The on-screen chemistry between Aparshakti and Ishwak is nothing short of electric – it’s a treat that I believe viewers will thoroughly enjoy. Having the opportunity to collaborate with such versatile stars, alongside our visionary producers and the platform giant ZEE5, is any filmmaker’s dream. We’ve poured our hearts and souls into this project, and I’m optimistic it will strike a chord with viewers. The entire team is excited and eagerly looking forward to the premiere. ‘Berlin’ is our labour of love that we can’t wait to share with the world.” 

  • Rugby India to launch Rugby Premier League

    Rugby India to launch Rugby Premier League

    Mumbai: Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU in its stated goals of spreading the development of the sport across the country, announced that they will be launching a first-of-its-kind franchise-based league for Rugby to be called the Rugby Premier League (RPL). The league will feature some of the best 7s rugby talent internationally as well as from India.  It was also announced that IRFU has partnered with one of India’s leading sports marketing companies Baseline Ventures India Pvt Ltd for organising & marketing the league. The league to be played in the 7s format of the sport is slated to be held in September this year and will feature six teams in its inaugural season.

    Speaking on the historic announcement, Indian Rugby Football Union president Rahul Bose said, “This is a landmark moment for India and Indian Rugby. Rugby is one of the biggest sports globally and India has been making steady progress in the sport for the last few years. This strengthened our belief that now is the right time for us to take the leap towards starting a professional league in India. We are confident that the RPL will be a game-changer for Indian Rugby by providing our players a platform to rub shoulders with some of the best in the world and showcase their talent. The RPL will be a world-class product.”

    Expressing his enthusiasm at partnering with Indian Rugby Football Union for organising & marketing the Rugby Premier League, Baseline Ventures India Pvt Ltd managing director Tuhin Mishra said, ‘“We at Baseline are extremely delighted to partner with Rugby India & play a part in developing the first franchise-based rugby league. Rugby is a global sport & it has all the elements of being a great TV & on-ground sport with its fast-paced, action-oriented style of play, with points scored every other minute!”

  • Discovery channel India celebrates 25 years

    Discovery channel India celebrates 25 years

    MUMBAI: On 15 August 2020, Discovery channel will commemorate its 25th anniversary in India by hosting celebrations on-air, online, and in the heart of communities around the country. To mark the milestone, Discovery has launched a new campaign #KeepExploring with noted actor Rahul Bose doing the voice-over. The network is also unveiling a slew of blue-chip documentaries and specials across genres such as dventure, survival, mystery, and wilddlife to celebrate the 25th anniversary. The breath-taking line-up for the next few months includes titles including ‘Into The Wild with Bear Grylls’, ‘Expedition Unknown’, ‘Savage Builds’, ‘Mysteries at the Museum’,’ Body Hack S3’ and ‘Walking The Elephants’ among many more.

    “Discovery is dedicated to satisfying curiosity, engaging and entertaining viewers with high-quality content. In these twenty-five years, Discovery has emerged as the foremost, the most trusted broadcaster in real-life entertainment in the country,” said Discovery MD – south Asia Megha Tata. “We are proud to say that Discovery has ignited the passion inside all of us to be curious, explore and be more engaged with the natural world.  We will further accelerate our efforts to showcase never-seen-before Premium Discovery titles, must-watch documentaries, India originals, and exclusive acquisitions.”

    “I have been a passionate Discovery watcher and fed hugely on science, travel, and nature shows when the channel was initially launched in India. Being a part of this campaign took me down memory lane – How The Universe Works, Man vs Wild…I can go on,” said Bose. “I love the thought #KeepExploring – because that’s what Discovery leads you to do – explore new places, new concepts, new ideas for the future that you never dreamt existed. It urges people to go beyond the limits of human imagination.”

    Over the past 25 years, Discovery has launched iconic, all-time favorite shows, such as ‘Morgan Freeman’s Through The Wormhole’, ‘How The Universe Works’, ‘How It’s Made’, ‘How Do They Do It?’, ‘Storm Chasers’, ‘You Have Been Warned’, ‘Man Vs Wild’, ‘MythBusters’, ‘Expedition Unknown’, ‘Walking The Himalayas’, ‘River Monsters’ and ‘Gold Rush’ et al.

    In India, the channel has launched a series of impactful shows on Indian armed forces including ‘India’s Paratroopers – Earning the Badge’, ‘Revealed: LOC’,’ Battle Ops’, ‘Revealed: National Defence Academy’, ‘Revealed Siachen’, and 1965: India’s Battles and Heroes’  and Breaking Point franchise on ‘Air Force Academy’, ‘Indian Submariners’, ‘High Altitude Warfare School’, ‘Women Fighter Pilots’ and ‘Commando School Belgaum’.  Discovery’s ‘Man vs Wild with Prime Minister Modi’ is the highest-rated show in the genre to date followed by ‘Into The Wild with Bear Grylls and Superstar Rajinikanth’.

    Discovery Channel was launched in India on 15 August 1995.  The infotainment channel is available in seven languages including Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Bengali. Discovery India, today, offers 14 channels and has recently launched India’s first real-life entertainment streaming application Discovery Plus.

  • Discovery Channel to celebrate Republic Day with ‘India On Film’

    Discovery Channel to celebrate Republic Day with ‘India On Film’

    MUMBAI: Discovery Channel, India’s leading destination for real-life entertainment, will celebrate 70 Republic Day of India with a special documentary ‘India On Film’, a unique two-part documentary film, narrated by versatile actor Rahul Bose. The film explores never seen before archival footage expertly restored and digitized by the British Film Institute (BFI) highlighting India’s rich history, society, culture and the daily life in the 1900s.  Catch ‘India On Film’ on 26 January at 8PM only on the Discovery Channel and Discovery Channel HD.

    ‘India On Film’ will take the viewers back in time, to over a century ago, to meet traditionally dressed women and men from across classes, to walk the busy streets with rickshaw pullers, to ride elephants with hunters, to wash in the Ganges, to pick tea in the hills and to join families for a traditional picnic. Since the earliest days of the movie camera, expatriates and travelers from Europe have filmed across the Indian sub-continent, witnessing extraordinary historic events and momentous change in the first half of the 20th century. At times touching, funny and engaging, ‘India On Film’ offers a ringside view of history in the making and a remarkable glimpse into a past way of life. With an archive of over 160 films, the BFI manages to cover landscapes from the foothills of the Himalayas in the north to the tropical south, cities such as Calcutta, Delhi and Bombay, in their rustic setting.

    Speaking about his experience of narrating the film, actor Rahul Bose, said, “I am always drawn to projects that look at things through a different lens. India On Film, is unique in its thought and manifestation. Being a part of this film was educative and a privilege in equal parts. The film delicately weaves the rich history of the subcontinent and gives the viewer a rare glance into what it looked like in the 1900s.”

    Discovery South Asia content, factual & lifestyle entertainment director Sai Abishek said, “India on Film is a fantastic opportunity for viewers to get a glimpse into an unseen India they have so far only read about in history books or heard about in stories handed down through the generations. It is mesmerizing to visualize such an important piece of our rich past.”

    TVF International Acquisitions Manager for India on Film distributor Julian Chou-Lambert said: “From some of the earliest ever films of India through to remarkable footage of Gandhi, India on Film provides a visual and historical treasure trove. Many of the BFI films have never been seen before, so we are very pleased to be bringing these to India for the first time through Discovery.”

    Along with chronicling the quotidian life of India in the 1900s, India on Film will also provide a peek into Mahatma Gandhi’s Dandi March and also track British game hunter, Jim Corbett, who filmed many of his expeditions tracking man-eating tigers and leopards. Among the many other events that led to creating a new India, this documentary also encapsulates authenticity of India’s rich past with a detailed understanding of what the country looked like in the 1900s.

  • Rajnish Lall: Ad man to OTT content maker

    Rajnish Lall: Ad man to OTT content maker

    MUMBAI: With the explosion of OTT space in the last decade, the content creation folks are having a gala time like never before.  In India alone, there are currently over 30 OTT platforms fighting aggressively for the customer’s wallet-share and screen-time by offering movies, music, sports streaming, satellite channels and original shows.  

    This ever-increasing demand for original content has opened new avenues for young production enthusiasts, for whom  content creation is  more than just minting money.

    Rajnish Lall is one such movie enthusiast who forayed into production with his debut short movie ‘The Fall’ 13-years ago. Having spent more than a decade in corporate life working with advertising agencies (Clarion, Contract & Bates) and as marketing head of B4U Music, Lall had little experience in production before his first project.

     Lall says that he was bored with his life as an ad-film maker and was looking for a new medium to tell stories close to his heart.  

    His very first project, The Fall, a slickly shot love tale was a 10-minute-long silent movie featuring Rahul Bose and Nauheed Cyrusi.

    Recalling his experience, Lall says that the entire movie was shot in a single day with a budget of just over Rs 60,000 including the post-production cost.

    “To be honest, even Rs 60,000 felt like a big amount then. We shot the entire movie on Super 16 camera as there were no HD cameras then. I collected old footage left from earlier shoots. I asked my colleagues to edit it for free. Believe me, no one in our team, right from Rahul Bose, Nauheed Cyrusi, cinematographer Vishal Sinha (who shot Bhoot), composer Sandeep Chowta, was paid. People liked the movie and that gave me the confidence to continue making films,” remembers Lall, who since then has produced over 500 ad-films, one movie and two full seasons of a web-series.

    “The best thing about this experience was that I could tell stories that I wanted, which was not possible in ad-film making.”

    Lall’s next big break was Sooper se Ooper, which he produced in 2013 with Reliance Entertainment. However, he still regrets that the movie did not do as well commercially despite having a good script and some amazing performances.

    “2013 was a terrible year. Most of the movies produced by Reliance had tanked. There was Besharam, Zanjeer 2. At one stage, Reliance was not even upbeat about releasing the movie. When it was released, it got a good response, but since the following week was the release of Krrish 3, it could not reach its full potential,” he says, candidly accepting that its failure set him back.

    Big success came to Lall soon enough with Thinkistan, a story about changing dynamics of advertising in India in the late 1990s, when satellite TV helped advertisers find new reach. Told through the characters of English-speaking Hema and Hindi-speaking Amit, the series, released on MX Player, is like a love letter to the changing world of Indian advertising.

    Lall says that Thinkistan is the story of India in transition in 1990s, told through the contrasting experiences of two advertising professionals, one English-speaking and urban, the other Hindi-speaking and coming from small-town India.

    The show mirrors India’s evolution in the 21st century where more and more talent is coming from small-towns, where the likes of Piyush Pandey and Prasoon Joshi have elbowed-out big, established English copywriters and where Hindi is secure about its place in India and co-exists comfortably with English, adds Lall.

    The immediate success of Thinkistan, however, has not taken Lall of his feet. Any other usual run-of-the-mill producer would have tried to cash-in on its success by making similar shows. Lall, on the contrary, is taking his time to find a truly inspiring idea.

    “We were approached by multiple OTT players following the success of Thinkistan. However, I was clear that I do not want to do any regular, usual thriller, sex-comedy or family soap-opera. I am looking for a unique, big idea. I am in no rush to make just another ordinary show,” says Lall.   

    Talking about the streaming platforms, Lall says it has definitely improved availability of funds for shows.

    “OTT is here to say. However, its success and reach would depend on the quality of content offered,” quips Lall, who believes there is enough space for the more than 30 OTT players to co-exist in the expansive Indian market.

    Lall also has no qualms in accepting that he writes and produces shows for a global audience.

    “I do not belong to Hindustan, but a place called Thinkistan. My stories are based in India, but the emotions my characters deal with are universal, they cannot be limited to one particular time or society. I am making original, premium, web content for a global audience,” says Lall, adding that the coming of OTT platforms will help Indian content reach global audiences.

    To an extent, this has already happened. The international Emmy awards this year definitely has an Indian footprint. Two Indian shows, Sacred Games and Lust Stories, are nominated for Best Drama.

    “Indians have a natural talent for storytelling, even longer form storytelling. We gave the world Mahabarata, the world’s longest poem. If Indian producers are honest to their creative integrity, Indian content can truly reach a global audience.”

    Talking about censorship on OTT, Lall says that while he is principally opposed to the idea of censorship, he is also honest enough to accept that some of the producers have used the freedom offered by OTT platforms irresponsibly by overdoing nudity and cuss words, even when it’s not required by the script.

    “Not all of us are watching shows on mobiles. People are also watching shows on TV with families. And too much nudity is definitely a barrier in providing entertainment to this audience.”

    He underlines that while everyone is cashing-in on nudity and violence, there is still some reluctance on the part of Indian producers to take up politically sensitive issues.

    While Lall did not share specifics of his current projects, he did tell us that he is working on a show which tells the story of a product over 100 years, starting from the non-cooperation movement in the 1920s to 2019.

    Asked about his personal favourite shows, Lall says that he likes the scripting of Family Man and Made in Heaven. In foreign shows, Fauda and Barry.

    Having carved a niche space for himself as a producer of ad-films, web series and TV shows, Lall is currently in a happy space, where he is willing to wait and invest his time and energy in a truly inspiring idea, very much like the tag-line of his show Thinkistan – ‘Idea Jiska, India Uska’.

  • Rahul Bose’s overpriced bananas feed creativity of brands on Twitter

    Rahul Bose’s overpriced bananas feed creativity of brands on Twitter

    MUMBAI: While the Chandigarh Police and Excise and Taxation department is looking into the “illegal and exorbitant charge of GST” by JW Marriott Hotels as they sold a pair of bananas at a whopping Rs 442.5 to bollywood actor Rahul Bose, the Twitter-verse is jumping on the marketing wagon to make the most of this bizarre incident.

    A user posted a photo of Taj Hotels in Santacruz Mumbai offering fresh season fruits ‘with best compliments’ with a candid caption “Meanwhile, in the land of trolling JW Marriott….”

    A number of brands including the star of ‘moment-marketing’, Zomato, used the opportunity to share some great creatives around it. Here are some of the most creative pieces from the land of Twitter:

    1. Amazon Prime Video India

    2. Arre

    3. Natures Basket

    4. Oyo

    5. PolicyBazaar

    6. Reliance Smart

    7. Star Quick

    8. Zomato

    9. Coco Soul

    10. Anchor by Panasonic

    11. TEZ

  • Tata Elxsi VFX creates Mt. Everest’s vastness for Bose’s ‘Poorna’

    MUMBAI: Tata Elxsi, a leading design company, has collaborated with filmmaker Rahul Bose, to provide world-class VFX for Poorna – a biographical adventure film based on Poorna Malavath, the youngest girl to climb Mount Everest at the age of 13 years 11 months.

    Tata Elxsi worked closely alongwith the Poorna team to bring their creative visualization and expectations to life. Be it capturing the snowflakes moving on screen, depicting the turbulence and enhancement of snow or capturing the vastness and breadth of the Mt. Everest, every detail was captured intricately to make the shots look realistic.

    Dinesh Kumar, VFX Supervisor – Tata Elxsi says, “It was tough to depict the vastness of Mount Everest. By using technology to perfection, Tata Elxsi’s VFX team broke the creative boundaries and recreated the Mount Everest for many scenes in the movie to the director’s satisfaction. We are honoured that a film such as Poorna is part of our VFX portfolio. Tata Elxsi’s team of experts delivered close to 155 shots in a short span of three months and successfully helped to bring the director’s imagination on screen.”

    Rahul Bose – Director and Producer – Poorna said, “The greatest technical challenge in making ‘Poorna’ was the VFX. If the VFX wasn’t world class we knew the film would suffer immeasurably. The team at Tata Elxsi has worked closely with us to deliver every discussed detail with great quality and precision, and I am glad that this collaboration resulted in seeing my imagination translate successfully into film. We look forward to working with Tata Elxsi on future projects.”

  • Dil Dhadakne Do: Alas, not the box office registers

    Dil Dhadakne Do: Alas, not the box office registers

    MUMBAI: Dil Dhadakne Do is a sort of Page 3 of a high end Delhi group of Punjabi families; just about every family having a bunch of not very glorious secrets. It is kind of Nukkad (a very popular, classic TV serial that captivated the Doordarshan audience between 1986-88). This serial brought together characters from a chawl settlement together at the street corner and told their stories. 

     

    Dil Dhadakne Do brings together a group of some upper-class Delhi Punjabi families together on a cruise ship; only here, even as this friendly group demonstrates bonhomie and love, each one is hiding a dagger behind the back. Bitching and backstabbing is the way of life here. Because, just about every participant in the jamboree represents a dysfunctional family.

     

    Anil Kapoor is a self-made man rolling in millions. His favourite pastime is to tell and retell his success story.  His wife, Shefali Shah, like all such rich men’s wives, has little to do except deck up and meet with the wives of other such rich men. These women thrive in bitching about and badmouthing anyone of them who is not around. Anil has pinned all his hopes on his only son, Ranveer Singh, whom he expects to take over as the next boss of his company. He has married his daughter off to Rahul Bose, a Mumbai businessman. 

     

    The group has internal jealousies and enmities, all hidden behind a mask of smile. All the women know whose husband is having an affair with whom but are never willing to accept stories in their own backyard.

     

    Imagine what can happen when a horde of such couples come together on a cruise for a fortnight with nowhere to escape. 

     

    Despite his ego and posturing, Anil is on the verge of bankruptcy. He can’t repay loans to banks, his products have become substandard. He urgently needs to infuse funds to save his enterprise and, more so, his face in the ‘society.’ However, this does not stop Anil from putting on a show. Though he or Shefali are never seen communicating without rancour, if at all, he decides to celebrate his wedding anniversary on a cruise ship, all expenses paid by him for all his friends.

     

    Anil’s two friends, Parmeet Sethi and Manoj Pahwa, are sworn enemies and the initially discarded Parmeet needs to be added to the list of invitees, feels Shefali. For Parmeet is loaded. His only daughter, Ridhima Sud, has been humiliated when her prospective fiancé failed to attend their engagement ceremony. It was headline news in Delhi Times, it is said (a Times of India subsidiary, Junglee Pictures happens to be the partner in this film venture with Excel Entertainment). Hence, it is tough to find another suitor for her despite Parmeet’s riches. After all, marriage market is not OLX. 

     

    But, Anil has a plan. He counts on a barter with Parmeet: Ranveer as a dulha for Ridhima against 49% stake by Parmeet in to Anil’s sinking company to salvage it. But, in matters of heart, business deals don’t figure. While Ranveer has already fallen in ‘love at first sight’ with Anushka Sharma, a contracted singer/dancer on the cruise ship, Ridhima has found her mate in Parmeet’s sworn enemy, Pahwa’s son, Vikrant Massey.

     

    More skeletons come out of the closet as Priyanka declares she could never come to love her husband, Bose. In fact, she still has the hots for Farhan Khan whom her father sent to US to study to keep him away from her. Anil’s business tours were all about his womanising. Farhan is the son of Anil’s manager and not quite a match for Priyanka in Anil’s society. But, to add to the drama, he arrives on the cruise too to grace the occasion and add some life to it.

     

    The young ones prove to be smarter than their elders as they make a pact. Ridhima spends her nights in Vikrant’s cabin while Ranveer spends his with Anushka but Ridhima and Ranveer agree to pretend to be in love. The deal almost materialises as Ranveer’s engagement will be announced with Ridhima against Parmeet’s buying of 49% stake in Anil’s company. To use the social media phrase, ‘it’s complicated’!

     

    Come out of the mess they all do, I mean writers and director with an easy solution that all such films adopt: everybody sees sense suddenly and it is QED!

     

    Dil Dhadakne Do risks filling the screen with numerous characters but you never figure out who is what, especially to Anil and his family or in the story; in a while you stop caring. Except for a concerned few of them, none of the character is defined or explained. The script is loose and the director takes a 1970s art film approach like filming inconsequential scenes endlessly. Also, in an unsuccessful attempt to justify the horde of characters, limelight jumps from one character to another abruptly. 

     

    What kind of script have you worked on where a lot of the story is in verbal narration and, not funnily, told by Anil’s family dog (voice of Aamir Khan)! The first half looks warped in a balloon; even if the film moves a bit in the second half, it is partly and haphazardly towards the end. Dialogue is mundane.The editing needs a second go. Music as in songs are no help. Background fails to pace up the proceedings. Visually, the film is good. 

     

    Nobody really has a role to make an impact. However, Ranveer and Priyanka emerge the best triers. Anushka’s romantic pairing with Ranveer is a miscast and against public perception. Anil Kapoor’s character is sketched as an illogical one… with his throwing a lavish cruise party while facing bankruptcy to his shouting spree at his grown up children don’t make sense. Shefali is convincing. Farhan is good and so is Vikrant. Rest fill the bill.

     

    Dil Dhadakne Do is an expensive project by all standards with a cast not known to justify such a cost besides being limited in content. Its theatrical take home will be limited to a great extent.

     

    Producers: Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan Akhtar with Junglee Pictures

     

    Director: Zoya Akhtar

     

    Cast: Anil  Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Ranveer Singh, Anushka Sharma, Shefali Shah, Farhan Akhtar, Rahul Bose, Ridhima Sud, Parmeet Sethi,Zarina Wahab, Vikrant Massey, Mohan Pahwa, Aamir Khan (as Pluto’s voice)