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Tag: Sanjay Dutt

  • First Bengali science thriller Jole Jonngole to be remade in Hindi

    First Bengali science thriller Jole Jonngole to be remade in Hindi

    MUMBAI: Mithun Chakraborty will be playing a scientist in Nitish Roy’s upcoming Bengali film Jole Jonngole, the first science thriller in Bengali, will be remade in Hindi as Gehra Paani.

    The Hindi version will have a higher budget than the Bengali make. While Mithun Chakraborthy will have Mithun Chakraborthy in main role, Sanjay Dutt will replace him in the Hindi make.

    “This is the first science thriller in Bengali. The movie will feature a crocodile in a pivotal role. I was inspired by Hollywood movie Jurassic Park and since then I always wanted to make a movie like this,” said Chakraborthy in a statement.

    The film will have Chakraborty portraying a scientist who wants to bring back prehistoric creatures who have perished millions of years ago from the earth. Said Chakraborty, “He is a scientist and is researching on animals. He is trying to expand the brain of crocodiles.”

    For the Hindi version, the cast and location will remain the same except Chakraborty.

    The film also stars Tinu Anand, Ashish Vidyarthi, Biswajit, Dibbeyendu, Mumtaz Sorkar, Riju Biswas, Sayak, Rajdeep, Pamela Bhutoria, Sayantani, Anindya, Titas, Dhruv, Dijana and Chigaru.

  • Agneepath remake fails to impress

    Agneepath remake fails to impress

    MUMBAI: What would justify remaking a commercial flop, Agneepath, earlier made with the reigning star of that era, Amitabh Bachchan? It seems the producers felt disappointed with the audience verdict and eventually decided to remake the film and prove the audience wrong! No business involving crores is worth doing on emotional grounds, least of all filmmaking.

     

     

    Producer: Hiroo Yash Johar, KaranJohar.
    Director: Karan Malhotra.
    Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Sanjay Dutt, Rishi Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Om Puri, Zarina Wahab,

     

    The plot is the same old: set in Mandwa village, off Mumbai‘s coast, with its honest teacher, Dinanath Chavan and the usurper, Kancha Cheena. Sanjay Dutt is Kancha Cheena here, with a devilish getup just so that an impression is made of his sinister character. He frames the noble school teacher in a child molestation case leading to his public lynching from a village tree.

    Having established the villain and his macabre ways, the process to build the angry young hero begins. It is done easily enough as Hrithik Roshan commits his first crime even before reaching teens, that of shooting a cop.

    However, it is the other villain, introduced in the form of Rishi Kapoor, who remains sketchy. Introduced as the one in flesh trade auctioning young girls to shady and filthy-looking buyers, suddenly he is a drug lord and ‘owns‘ Mumbai.

    Hrithik Roshan has a goal which he never discloses but the viewer somehow knows. His ultimate aim is to kill Sanjay Dutt and free the locals of Mandwa from his slavery. Therefore, once introduced, Sanjay Dutt goes invisible till post-interval when he will be needed to close the story he started by killing the village teacher.

    The romantic link sans any romance on screen is provided by Priyanka Chopra who, like all angry young heroes‘ beaus, has to hang around in the background till needed for a song number or an emotional scene, both of which are scant and flat whenever attempted. There is the mandatory honest cop, Om Puri, who knows everything wrong that is happening around him but never gets the go ahead to do anything.

    The story demands that the hero do it, not the police. Rishi Kapoor has refused to do business with Sanjay Dutt and bad blood exists between the two. Hrithik Roshan joins Rishi Kapoor with the aim of playing one against the other, which will lead him to Sanjay Dutt. Hrithik starts his campaign by betraying Rishi Kapoor, killing his son and heir and later Rishi Kapoor when the drug lord finds out about the betrayal. What happens hereafter is that the film, already patchy and dull, goes haywire.

    Eventually, Hrithik invites himself to Mandwa to confront Sanjay Dutt, gets slashed by a sword four times. He is bashed up for most of the last few reels as he is led to the village tree to be lynched like his father when, like a bolt from the blue, he rises again. He fells Sanjay Dutt with a couple of blows and then hangs him from the same tree as his father.

    The close-up expressions of Sanjay Dutt while Hrithik prepares to hang him seem to suggest, “I could have got up 10 times in so much time and bashed you up so better finish fast whatever it is you have to do!”

    Agneepath is a huge comedown on its original which itself was no great shakes; a vengeance story without a solid cause does not work, especially if the grudge is worth nursing for 15 years and translates to nearly three hours of screen time. The director seems to emulate many 80‘s directors of mass movies. His prime inspiration seems to be Mukul Anand, the director of the first Agneepath. Here, director Karan Malhotra also seems very fond of filling up the screen with crowds, may it be a fight scene or a song.

    Songs are no help in the film and the choreography is bad; the much touted item number by Katrina Kaif, Chikni Chameli, falls flat. And there is no indication of the relevance of the Ganpati procession sequence and song to the story. The film lacks finesse with everything about it being drab. As for actors, Hrithik Roshan has been grossly misused. He has to look sullen all the time and talk less: the famous Rober Mitchum look which Sunny Deol did convincingly.

    Sanjay Dutt only emerges as a caricature, carrying his one evil look throughout the movie. Rishi Kapoor is the only one who stands out despite the limitations of his role. Priyanka Chopra, Zarina Wahab, Om Puri and others are incidental to the happenings. A massive session of editing could have helped to some extent.

    Agneepath the remake offers nothing worth liking it for and is grossly less watchable over its original.

  • Masti sequel planned

    Masti sequel planned

    MUMBAI: Going by Bollywood’s penchant to churn out franchises of their last hits, producers Indra Kumar and Ashok Thakeria have shown interest to take the Masti series forward.

    The duo have now approached Sanjay Dutt to replace Ajay Devgn‘s character from the original.

    Other than Dutt, the other principal cast seems to remain the same including Aftab Shivdasani, Riteish Deshmkukh and Genelia D‘Souza.

    The producers have been regularly featuring Dutt in the sequels of Dhamaal.

  • New Munnabhai to roll in September

    New Munnabhai to roll in September

    MUMBAI: The third edition of Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s super hit comedy series, Munnabhai, will go on the sets this September.

    Chopra is almost ready with the new script of Munnabhai Chale Amrika. In his pursuit to make the third edition better than the first two, is taking no chances and working out things according to plans.

    Directed by Rajkumar Hirani, the film will have Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi and Boman Irani play pivotal roles.

    The earlier two Munnabhai films were titled Munnabhai MBBS and Lage Raho Munnabhai. Both were hits at the box office.

  • Zilla Ghaziabad stuck in legal muddle

    Zilla Ghaziabad stuck in legal muddle

    MUMBAI: Producer Vinod Bachchan‘s film Zilla Ghaziabad, staring Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi, has run into legal trouble.

    By way of a legal notice sent to Bachchan and his production house Soundarya Films, Krishna Devi, wife of the alleged UP gangster Mahinder Singh Fauji has asked them not to go ahead with the film as it is reportedly based on her husband‘s life.

    Fauji, a UP gangster, was allegedly killed in a gang war in Ghaziabad 15 years ago.

    As his family got to know that a film called Zilla Ghaziabad is being made, which is based on the gang wars of the 90‘s, they decided to take immediate action.

    Krishna Devi has petitioned the Delhi High Court to bring a halt to the film as they are worried it might show Fauji in bad light.

  • Third Munnabhai film in offing

    Third Munnabhai film in offing

    MUMBAI: Munnabhai is all set to return to the silver screen after a six-year hiatus in the third edition of the Munnabhai fanchise, it is understood.

    Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi will reprise their roles of Munna and Circuit respectively and the movie will be titled Munnabhai Ki Aatma Katha.

    Producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra said, “Yes, Sanjay and Arshad are returning to play Munna and Circuit respectively. Right now, we are developing the script. The film should go on the floors in 2012.”

    Some time ago it was being rumoured that Aamir Khan will replace Sanjay Dutt as Munnabhai.

    While the first installment of the series titled Munnabhai MBBS released in 2003, the second Lage Raho Munnabhai was released in 2006.

  • Rascals nets Rs 230 mn at BO

    Rascals nets Rs 230 mn at BO

    MUMBAI: Traditionally considered as a dull period for the box office till Diwali, the number of releases continues unabated.

    Rascals, despite Sanjay Dutt and Ajay Devgn leading the cast and comedy specialist David Dhawan at the helm, fared poorly. Having opened reasonably well on Dussehra day, its slide started the very next day as reports of poor content spread. Even weekend collections were not up to the mark and the film took a steep dive today. The film did a net collection of Rs 230 million in its first four-day run at the box office.

    Love Breakup Zindagi and Sountrack suffered from lack of patronage with many shows being cancelled.

    Force fell far short of other South remakes with John Abraham enjoying very limited following and the movie having precious little to offer except action. The movie netted Rs 245 million in its first week.

    Sahib Biwi Aur Gangster got Rs 61 million in its first week.

    Meanwhile, Hum Tum Shabana failed to make a mark at the box office collecting a meagre Rs 19.5 million in its firstweek.

    Mausam rated as a failure, adding just Rs 31 million in its second week. The two-week total of the Shahid Kapur starrer is Rs 304 million.

    Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, with Rs 9 million collection in its fourth week, took its tally to Rs 588 million.

  • Rascals collects Rs 86.3 million on opening day

    Rascals collects Rs 86.3 million on opening day

    MUMBAI: Rascals, produced by Sanjay Dutt Productions and Rupali Aum
    Entertainment, has collected Rs 86.3 million on the first day of its
    release, according to an official statement.

    Rascals had a limited release and low ticket prices compared to the weekends.

    The stars of the film include Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgn and Kangana Raut.
     

  • Rascals: A poor comic film

    Rascals: A poor comic film

    MUMBAI: With most stars turning to film production and also since most are past their romantic role playing age, a comedy film seems to be the only choice.  

    Producer: Sanjay Dutt, Sanjay Ahluwalia, Vinay Choksey.
    Director: David Dhawan.
    Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgn, Kangna Ranaut, Lisa Ray, Chunky Pandey, Arjun Rampal, Satish Kaushik.

    The The film Rascals is actor Sanjay Dutt‘s foray into film production; playing safe, he opts for a comedy film entrusting the helm to David Dhawan who has quite a successful track record with this genre. But the fact that a comedy would need a good writer with some very sharp gags seems to have been overlooked.

    Dutt and Ajay Devgn are two conmen, rather born conmen as the animation depiction in the film‘s titles would suggest. Next the duo pick on Arjun Rampal, a self styled toughie; while Ajay Devgn steals his bag with Rs 3 million in cash, Sanjay Dutt makes away with his Mercedes.

    Soon both are headed for Bangkok sitting next to each other on a flight trying to con each other where Devgn emerges the loser as Dutt makes away with all his cash and belongings. Both check into a ritzy hotel and their con business turns to game of outwitting each other to find favours with Kangna Ranaut who they see splashing her money around.

    The rest of the con game consists of both the lead men contesting for who smooches and necks Kangna Ranaut the most! There are a few distractions in the form of Chunky Pandey, Lisa Ray, Satish Kaushik and Hiten Paintal brought in and out of scene at whim; hence, effectively contributing nothing.

    The script has no coherence and the gags on which the film is built are banal and childish, the laughable ones being about three in all! With no script to go on, David Dhawan manages a farce at best and the only time you are amazed at his confidence is when he lives the film‘s end open to a sequel!

    Dutt and Devgn both lacking a natural comic streak resort to buffoonery and seem to be the only ones enjoying what they are doing instead of letting the audience in on it too. Kangna Ranaut is supposed to contribute in oomph; not burdened with much clothing, she manages that amply. Arjun Rampal is wasted while with Chunky Pandey, Satish Kaushik and Lisa Ray nothing is expected and nothing is forthcoming. Lack of catchy songs is made up by bevy of dancers and crowds. Bangkok locations are pleasant. But, then, they have been so in all the horde of recent films shot there! For a funny film, dialogue writing is sad.

    Rascals is a poor example of a comic film which will start telling on its box office performance within first three days. 

    Love Breakup Zindagi: Just another love story
     
     

    Producer: Sahara Motion Pictures, Born Free Entertainment P Ltd.
    Director: Sahil Sangha.
    Cast: Zayed Khan, Dia Mirza, Cyrus Sahukar, Tisca Chopra, Satyadeep Misra, Vaibhavi Talwar, Pallavi Sharda, Umang Jain, Anurita Ghosh.

    Weddings are still the popular tried and tested situations for a new love to blossom; what is more, they also give you scope to use upample footage of a thin story line in the name of colourful marriage rituals like sangeet, mehendi etc.

    Love Breakup Zindagi is one more in the line up of wedding romances with a bit of contemporary where a boy and girl from different worlds meet and are drawn to each other but don‘t instantly say ‘I love you‘, leaving scope open for other part of the film‘s story to materialise.

    Zayed Khan is a well placed adman in Delhi with his associate and friend Cyrus Sahukar as his soul mate. Zayed Khan has a steady girl friend in career oriented Pallavi Sharda who is not totally convinced she is the girl for him while Cyrus Sahukar is twice divorced and, hence, much experienced in the ways of women‘s matters. Dia Mirza is a Mumbai based creative kind whose banker boy friend, Vaibhav Talwar, is too busy for them to find a suitable date to marry.

    There is boy‘s side and there is girl‘s side in a wedding: Zayed Khan and Cyrus Sahukar are from the boy‘s (Satyadeep Misra) side while Dia Mirza is from the girl‘s. Anurita Ghosh, a friend, lands up at Chandigarh to attend their wedding. Somehow, a Punjabi wedding is a norm for film love stories to flourish! A twin love story starts at the wedding, Zayed and Dia Mirza being ones to be attracted to each other and Cyrus Sahukar finding his third love in Tisca Chopra.

    Wedding over, the four are back on their respective desks only for Zayed Khan to be conveniently sent to Mumbai for office work while, also conveniently, her suitor, Vaibhav Talwar having to go to Singapore. The seeds of romance, sowed in Chandigarh, take roots as Zayed Khan is taken on a Mumbai Darshan tour by Dia Mirza. For things to fall in place in the end, she puts all her daily sojourns down in a diary which can work out a quick understanding on parts of all concerned and bring the film to a happy end!

    The problem with Love Breakup Zindagi is that it is just another love story with an Indian wedding as the backdrop. Things are held out on a platter for the duo to fall in love, later meet and date at fancy and bring in the third angle only for the brevity sake at the end. There are a few pleasant moments but not enough to carry a routine film with nil face value through.

    Music is fairly good. While Zayed Khan and Dia Mirza are passable, Cyrus Sahukar and Tisca Chopra perform more convincingly; Umang Jain and Anurita Ghosh are good, considering this is their debut film. Vaibhav Talwar, Pallavi Sharda and Satyadeep Misra are okay.

    Love Breakup Zindagi has had no takers at most centres on its opening day and nothing much is expected to change over the weekend.

     

    Soundtrack has limited box office aspirations
     

    Producer:Sanjiv Goenka, Apurv Nagpal.
    Director: Neerav Ghosh.
    Cast: Rajeev Khandelwal, Soha Ali Khan, Mrinalini Sharma, Mohan Kapoor.

    Soundtrack is inspired from the English film It‘s All Gone Pete Tong, described as a comedy. Soundtrack, however, shows no traces of a comedy and, if at all it had to be slotted in a genre since it does not fit any regular one, it can be slotted into a new genre — weird film.

     

    The film is about a small town lad, Rajeev Khandelwal, who comes to Mumbai gifted with his zeal for music; soon he is a top sound maker on the disco circuit, almost a genius. The success goes to his head and life is all about wine, women and drugs thereafter. However, the profession of loud noises in nightclubs does take its toll on his life; soon he is losing his hearing, thanks to noise and drug abuse and finally he is stone deaf.

    This all had to happen to him just when he was on the verge of getting a break to score a film soundtrack. While the hero lives his life in fast lane, there is his alter ego, dressed as a clown, one never figures out doing what: is he a good impression on the hero or a bad one? Whatever it may be, the alter ego is surely an irritant for the viewer.

    Now the genius is AWOL since he does not want the world to know about his deafness and all sorts of speculations are made about his act; from RJs to DJs to singers and filmy music composers comment on him and his absence. In-between there are slides quoting the greatest composer in history, Beethovan, who also went deaf but continued to compose, conduct and perform after the handicap.

    Ditched by his woman, Rajeev Khandelwal comes to terms with his plight; he meets Soha Ali Khan, a deaf person, who teaches him to lip read as well as to cope with life after deafness. Rajeev Khandelwal descends back to earth, turns into an obedient momma‘s son and overcomes his shortcoming to prove his genius scoring a number his father taught him as a child to present it in public performance.

    Not much credit can be given to writer/director, the source being a foreign film. Musical score is good, fast paced. Rajeev Khandelwal does a good job carrying almost the entire burden of the film. Soha Ali Khan is okay.

    Sountrack is not the kind of film to nurse any box office aspirations.

  • Sanjay Dutt keen to produce RGV’s Bhhoooo

    Sanjay Dutt keen to produce RGV’s Bhhoooo

    MUMBAI: Sanjay Dutt has evinced interest in producing Ram Gopal Varma‘s sequel to Bhoot.

    Dutt is also interested in playing the lead to the film titled Bhhoooo.

    The film will have Dutt play a character on whom the needle of suspicion falls. This character surfaces at every twist in the tale. He‘s almost like the main character in the film because without him the story cannot begin nor end.

    This is not the first time Sanjay has expressed an interest to produce Varma‘s film. He had offered to back the on-the floor film Department, but then the director refused the offer as he had struck a deal with Viacom18 Motion Pictures.