Saturday, November 10, 2007
Duelling Epics Get Four Thumbs Up
Bollywood cage fight hits Canada as fans flock to multiplexes, torn between a well-hyped musical and a sombre love story...
A heavyweight battle between two Bollywood films has made the trip from India to Toronto.
In one corner, it's superstar director/actor Shah Rukh Khan's Om Shanti Om. In the other, it's newcomers in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya, for the first time backed by the might of a big Hollywood studio.
It's a battle of song, dance and celluloid that has kept Bollywood fans waiting for months. The worldwide release of the two films last night comes after months of hype, publicity and hot soundtracks.
The stakes have been raised by Sony Pictures throwing its marketing weight behind Saawariya, shaking up the insular Indian movie world by screening it in 85 theatres in 42 cities around the world, including several multiplexes in the GTA, in a competition – unprecedented here – with Om Shanti Om.
The two will go head-to-head in Bollywood hotspots like the Albion Cinemas in Etobicoke, Woodside Cinemas in Scarborough and AMC theatres across the city.
Here's the match-up for two of Bollywood's biggest films of the year.
Om Shanti Om
Plot: The movie starts off in the 1970s with aspiring actor Omprakash Makhija (played by Shah Rukh Khan) struggling to break into the film industry. The young Om is also secretly in love with Shantipriya (Deepika Padukone), the top actress of the period.
In a scuffle with Mukesh, Om is killed – and we are led to believe that this may be the end of our favourite hero. But in pure Bollywood fantastical fashion, Om is given a second chance 30 years later, when he is reincarnated as Bollywood's "it-man." And, as fate would have it, he once again meets a woman who reminds him of his first love, Shanti, and sets out to remind her of the sparks that flew between the two in their past life.
Director: Farah Khan, who has seen previous success with her work in Main Hoon Na, has made a name for herself in Hindi Masala cinema, which successfully mixes the glory of Bollywood past and today's pop culture. She has a special affiliation with '70s cinema and makes it clear in both films.
Stars: Where to begin? The King of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan, is paired with newcomer Deepika Padukone in this star-studded film. Heart throb Arjun Rampal also takes a small lead role as the hard-to-hate villain. As if that weren't enough, the film also has more than 30 cameos by Bollywood who's who.
Buzz: Farah Khan wanted singer Shakira to make a special appearance in this film. Khan befriended her at the 2006 MTV Music Video awards, after choreographing Shakira's performance.
Shah Rukh Khan spent months preparing for the song "Dard-e-Disco," in which the 39-year-old tantalizes fans young and old by revealing a six-pack throughout the song. He apparently took tips from other built actors in the industry on how to get the washboard stomach and stayed on a strict diet days before shooting to ensure that his abs would look more pronounced.
Predictions:
Early numbers for the films have pegged Om Shanti Om as the early winner in box-office sales. But cinemas and production companies weren't the only ones getting in on the action. According to the Times of India, for the first time, bookies were taking bets on two films, with Om Shanti Om a favourite at 75/100.
Fans deliver their reviews
The Star spoke with audience members after the shows at Woodside Cinema at McCowan Rd. and Finch Ave. W.
Om Shanti Om
It was better than I thought it would be. There was so much hype but it lived up to it.
Lisa Kahn, Toronto
This is the only good movie of the year. I've watched every film and this was definitely the best one.
Aduss M., Toronto
The audience went crazy inside.
Seema Goolie, Toronto
Farah Kahn did an outstanding job. I am speechless. The direction was amazing, the music was excellent, the songs were so catchy. It was just well done, overall.
Reshma Goolie, Toronto
TheStar.com
A heavyweight battle between two Bollywood films has made the trip from India to Toronto.
In one corner, it's superstar director/actor Shah Rukh Khan's Om Shanti Om. In the other, it's newcomers in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya, for the first time backed by the might of a big Hollywood studio.
It's a battle of song, dance and celluloid that has kept Bollywood fans waiting for months. The worldwide release of the two films last night comes after months of hype, publicity and hot soundtracks.
The stakes have been raised by Sony Pictures throwing its marketing weight behind Saawariya, shaking up the insular Indian movie world by screening it in 85 theatres in 42 cities around the world, including several multiplexes in the GTA, in a competition – unprecedented here – with Om Shanti Om.
The two will go head-to-head in Bollywood hotspots like the Albion Cinemas in Etobicoke, Woodside Cinemas in Scarborough and AMC theatres across the city.
Here's the match-up for two of Bollywood's biggest films of the year.
Om Shanti Om
Plot: The movie starts off in the 1970s with aspiring actor Omprakash Makhija (played by Shah Rukh Khan) struggling to break into the film industry. The young Om is also secretly in love with Shantipriya (Deepika Padukone), the top actress of the period.
In a scuffle with Mukesh, Om is killed – and we are led to believe that this may be the end of our favourite hero. But in pure Bollywood fantastical fashion, Om is given a second chance 30 years later, when he is reincarnated as Bollywood's "it-man." And, as fate would have it, he once again meets a woman who reminds him of his first love, Shanti, and sets out to remind her of the sparks that flew between the two in their past life.
Director: Farah Khan, who has seen previous success with her work in Main Hoon Na, has made a name for herself in Hindi Masala cinema, which successfully mixes the glory of Bollywood past and today's pop culture. She has a special affiliation with '70s cinema and makes it clear in both films.
Stars: Where to begin? The King of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan, is paired with newcomer Deepika Padukone in this star-studded film. Heart throb Arjun Rampal also takes a small lead role as the hard-to-hate villain. As if that weren't enough, the film also has more than 30 cameos by Bollywood who's who.
Buzz: Farah Khan wanted singer Shakira to make a special appearance in this film. Khan befriended her at the 2006 MTV Music Video awards, after choreographing Shakira's performance.
Shah Rukh Khan spent months preparing for the song "Dard-e-Disco," in which the 39-year-old tantalizes fans young and old by revealing a six-pack throughout the song. He apparently took tips from other built actors in the industry on how to get the washboard stomach and stayed on a strict diet days before shooting to ensure that his abs would look more pronounced.
Predictions:
Early numbers for the films have pegged Om Shanti Om as the early winner in box-office sales. But cinemas and production companies weren't the only ones getting in on the action. According to the Times of India, for the first time, bookies were taking bets on two films, with Om Shanti Om a favourite at 75/100.
Fans deliver their reviews
The Star spoke with audience members after the shows at Woodside Cinema at McCowan Rd. and Finch Ave. W.
Om Shanti Om
It was better than I thought it would be. There was so much hype but it lived up to it.
Lisa Kahn, Toronto
This is the only good movie of the year. I've watched every film and this was definitely the best one.
Aduss M., Toronto
The audience went crazy inside.
Seema Goolie, Toronto
Farah Kahn did an outstanding job. I am speechless. The direction was amazing, the music was excellent, the songs were so catchy. It was just well done, overall.
Reshma Goolie, Toronto
TheStar.com
Labels: Arjun Rampal, Deepika Padukone, Eros International, Farah Khan, Om Shanti Om, Red Chillies Entertainment, Shahrukh Khan, Shreyas Talpade
Posted By Ivan Me ... at 8:14 PM
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