Agencies
Agencies
It's time for a quick round-up. A checklist for what you missed, and didn't, so far this year.
#GenYStory
Dhadak
Released on: July 20
Backstory: The critically acclaimed Marathi blockbuster Sairat found its way into Bollywood with this Shashank Khaitan-directed Romeo-Juliet romance that marked the debut of Sridevi’s daughter Janhvi Kapoor. Dhadak, which starred Shahid Kapoor’s brother Ishaan Khatter opposite Janhvi, met with mixed reviews but scored a neat profit at the box office.
Thumbs up: A confident Ishaan and a decent debut by Janhvi, a strong emotional core, the shock ending, Ajay-Atul’s music led by Zingaat and the title track.
Thumbs down: Trades grit for gloss, neglects themes of caste conflict and societal oppression that made Sairat a winner.
What they told t2: “Parthavi comes from a royal family and she feels she’s representing her family. And I feel like I also went through a similar thing because my family... they are also public figures” — Janhvi Kapoor.
At the BO: A semi-hit; earned close to Rs 95 crore on a Rs 40-crore budget.
Fast forward to Q4
#Howlers
Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster 3
Released on: July 27
Director Tigmanshu Dhulia signed on Sanjay Dutt in his third film in the thriller franchise but sacrificed everything else — plot to intrigue. SBG3 was unwatchable from start to finish.
Agencies
#Flops
Fanney Khan
Released on: August 3
Backstory: This remake of the Belgian film Everybody’s Famous! was about a father who kidnaps a popstar to ensure his daughter becomes a singing sensation. But satire and dark humour fell flat in this
over-melodramatic Bolly drama.
Thumbs up: The message of being body positive and following one’s dreams, applause-worthy performances from Anil Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao.
Thumbs down: Some random moments, confused storytelling in parts.
Agencies
Agencies
Andhadhun
Sriram Raghavan promises yet another deliciously dark thriller with this Friday film that’s piqued curiosity with its edge-of-the-seat trailer. The cast — Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu and Radhika Apte — is a winner already.
Release date: October 5
#BiopicWin
Soorma
Released on: July 13
Backstory: The rise, fall and rise of hockey star Sandeep Singh came alive in this Shaad Ali film that proved to be a surprise winner, powered by a stellar central act from Diljit Dosanjh.
Thumbs up: The Punjabi singer-actor brought both emotional earnestness and sportsman skills to the character of Sandeep. Supported by strong turns from Taapsee Pannu and Angad Bedi, it’s a powerful underdog story well told.
Thumbs down: Predictable in parts, weak music.
What they told t2: “I wasn’t too stressed about the ‘acting’ portions of the film. It was things like getting the right physique to look the part and playing the sport in a believable fashion that were a lot tougher for me” — Diljit Dosanjh.
At the BO: Has fetched Rs 80 crore on a Rs 30-crore budget.
Agencies
Agencies
Vishwaroop ii
Released on: August 10
Kamal Haasan followed up the 2013 film Vishwaroop with a sequel that centred on a terrorist attack that involved World War II bombs, but it turned out to be a plain bore.
Agencies
Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi
Released on: August 24
Backstory: The sequel to the 2016 sleeper hit Happy Bhag Jayegi upped its star value in the form of Sonakshi Sinha but dialled down its humour to give us a film that was watchable only in parts.
Thumbs up: Some ha-ha bits courtesy Jimmy Shergill, the jugalbandi between Happy (Sonakshi) and Happy (Diana Penty).
Thumbs down: Racist jokes, a lacklustre leading man in Jassie Gill.
Helicopter Eela
Kajol is a cool mom — or is she? — in this Pradeep Sarkar film that stars Calcutta boy Riddhi Sen as her son. The other city connect? Tolly star Tota Roy Choudhury plays a pivotal role in the film.
Release date: October 12
Manto
Released on: September 21
Backstory: Nandita Das directed Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the role of controversial writer Saadat Hasan Manto in this moving biopic that effortlessly intertwined Manto’s best-known works with the ups and downs in his life following Partition. However, positive reviews couldn’t stop Manto from exiting theatres within a week.
Thumbs up: A superlative performance from Nawaz as Manto, Nandita’s assured direction, winning acts from the supporting cast led by Rasika Dugal, impactful cameos, Kartik Narayan’s camerawork.
Thumbs down: Repetitive in parts, feels a tad too long.
What they told t2: “Yeh jo Manto ka bebakpan tha woh mujh mein zyada pehle tha. After coming into this profession where you have to build a public image, I have lost quite a bit of the innocence I had. When I did Manto, it helped me go back to the person I once was” — Nawazuddin Siddiqui.
Agencies
Agencies
Paltan
Released on: September 7
Backstory: Border man J.P. Dutta returned with a patriotic tale that turned the spotlight on the real-life story of a band of armymen holding fort against Chinese aggression in Nathu La in the ’70s. But archaic treatment and shoddy production values ensured that Paltan was a non-starter, leaving the theatres within a week.
Thumbs up: A sincere Arjun Rampal.
Thumbs down: Everything else.
Agencies
Badhaai Ho
Ayushmann Khurrana is flying high with his list of hatke films which includes this comedy about an elderly couple (played by Neena Gupta and Gajraj Rao) who reveal they are expecting when their son (played by Ayushmann) is all set to get married! Dangal girl Sanya Malhotra co-stars.
Release date: October 19
#SurpriseScorer
Stree
Released on: August 31
Backstory: Horror combined seamlessly with comedy in this entertaining film that kept the audience hooked from the get-go. Powered by word-of-mouth and positive reviews, Stree is still running in theatres, marking Rajkummar Rao’s first film in the Rs 100-crore club.
Thumbs up: The dark premise treated with a lightness of touch, Rajkummar Rao at the top of his game, winner acts from Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana and Abhishek Banerjee, the fun one-liners.
Thumbs down: Lacks logic in parts, Sachin-Jigar’s tedious tunes.
At the BO: Has made Rs 172 crore — and counting — on an investment of Rs 24 crore.
Agencies
Batti Gul Meter Chalu
Released on: September 21
Backstory: Shree Narayan Singh — the man behind Akshay Kumar’s Toilet: Ek Prem Katha — attempted to tell a story about corruption in the electricity department, but Batti Gul Meter Chalu felt more like a public service announcement stretched into a full-length feature film.
Thumbs up: The relatable theme; had its heart in the right place.
Thumbs down: Lacklustre plot, over-the-top performances, sexist jokes.
Agencies
Agencies
Agencies
Baazaar
Saif Ali Khan plays a Michael Douglas-like character in this Gauravv K. Chawla directorial that seems inspired from the Holly classic Wall Street. The trailer of the film — that also stars Radhika Apte — has been ho-hum, but we are watching out for Rohan Mehra, yesteryear actor Vinod Mehra’s son, who makes his debut.
Release date: October 26
Satyameva Jayate
Released on: August 15
Backstory: Director Milap Milan Zaveri went back to the masala films of the ’80s and ’90s to come up with a film whose somewhat warped message was that violence was the only way to combat corruption. Satyameva Jayate — with leading man John Abraham’s biceps doing all the talking — was a mangled mess of a movie, but that didn’t stop it from scoring Rs 100 crore at the box office.
Thumbs up: Some of the action sequences, Nora Fatehi’s moves in Dilbar dilbar.
Thumbs down: Too much blood and gore, a wooden John, a lacklustre act by debutant leading lady Aisha Sharma, the cringe-worthy dialogues.
At the BO: A smash hit, scoring Rs 107 crore on a Rs 45-crore budget.
Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se
Released on: August 31
Backstory: The Deols — dad Dharmendra and sons Sunny and Bobby — returned for the third film in the franchise, but YPDPS turned out to be one big yawnathon with some headache-inducing jokes.
Thumbs up: Some LOL moments, the recreation of the Dharmendra-Rekha song Rafta rafta featuring Salman Khan, Rekha and Sonakshi Sinha.
Thumbs down: The rest of the film.
Agencies
Agencies
Thugs Of Hindostan
The biggie of the quarter — and possibly of the year — brings Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan together on screen for the first time. The super cast, featuring Katrina Kaif and Dangal actress Fatima Sana Shaikh, and the stunning visuals with a Pirates of the Caribbean look and feel promise a larger-than-life cinematic experience this Diwali.
Release date: November 8
Love Sonia
Released on: September 14
Backstory: A no-holds-barred yet poignant look at girl trafficking, Love Sonia plunged deep into the Mumbai underbelly and scored with its story and performances. Too bad not many people watched the film.
Thumbs up: The gritty premise, an award-worthy act from newcomer Mrunal Thakur, some heart-rending moods and moments, the presence of big Holly names like Demi Moore and Mark Duplass.
Thumbs down: It’s dark in parts.
What they told t2: “Everyone is like, ‘Mujhe lead role karna hai’, but when I saw the script, I found my graph to be the most interesting in the film. I’ve milked it and how! I’ve really had fun with this character”
— Richa Chadha.
Agencies
Agencies
Pataakha
Released on: September 28
Backstory: Two warring sisters — symbolising India and Pakistan — formed the crux of this Vishal Bhardwaj film characterised by his signature humour.
Thumbs up: Gripping acts from leading ladies Sanya Malhotra and Radhika Madan, Sunil Grover in cool form, the familiar Bhardwaj touch in music and dialogue.
Thumbs down: The second half is a bit of a drag.
What they told t2: “Sanya is an introvert but Chutki is an extrovert, very spiteful, aggressive and she is out there; if she’s thinking about something, she’ll say it to your face and I’m not like that at all” — Sanya Malhotra.
At the BO: Has fared below par, but is still running in the theatres.
2.0
A stunning spectacle is set to play out in cinemas with director Shankar’s sequel to his 2010 biggie Robot. Rajinikanth returns in the dual roles of Dr Vaseegaran and Chitti, with an unrecognisable Akshay Kumar playing the antagonist. Amy Jackson also stars in this film touted to be the most expensive Indian film till date (made on a budget of Rs 500-crore-plus).
Release date: November 29
Agencies
Agencies
Total Dhamaal
Even as it retains the original lineup of Riteish Deshmukh, Arshad Warsi and Jaaved Jaaferi, the third film in the comedy franchise ups its star quotient: Ajay Devgn, Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit are the new entrants.
Release date: December 7
#RootedReality
Sui Dhaaga
Released on: September 28
Backstory: A young couple in rural India — Varun Dhawan’s Mauji and Anushka Sharma’s Mamta — strive to make their ‘Mad in India’ dream come true by turning entrepreneurs. This feel-good film directed by Sharat Katariya may not be as entertaining as his Dum Laga Ke Haisha but it has its moments.
Thumbs up: Varun’s confident screen presence, Anushka’s silence doing all the talking, a simple story told effectively, the thread of humour that runs through the film.
Thumbs down: The melodramatic ending.
What they told t2: “It talks about entrepreneurship in India, that’s on the rise, and how, even if you’re from the underprivileged class of this country, you can still make your dreams come true. It talks about how this couple come together and become an unstoppable force” — Varun Dhawan.
At the BO: Has earned Rs 60 crore on a Rs 45-crore budget, and is still running in the theatres.
Agencies
Agencies
#PatrioticPride
Mulk
Released on: August 3
Backstory: Rishi Kapoor was the fulcrum of this hard-hitting Anubhav Sinha film that took Islamophobia head-on. Starting off slow, Mulk — with a social message loud and clear — gained by strong word-of-mouth to become one of the most talked-about films of the quarter.
Thumbs up: Stellar acts from Rishi Kapoor and Taapsee Pannu, the impactful courtroom scenes, the message that ‘mulk’ (country) is above religion.
Thumbs down: Lacked subtlety in parts.
At the BO: Rs 28 crore on a Rs 18-crore budget.
Zero
Shah Rukh Khan returns with this Aanand L. Rai film in which he plays a dwarf. Co-starring Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma, Zero has Salman Khan putting in a cameo. The teaser is a #win.
Release date: December 21
Agencies
Agencies
#QuirkyRide
Karwaan
Released on: August 3
Backstory: Irrfan Khan was the heartbeat of this road film that meshed fun characters and crazy situations to make for a paisa-vasool time at the movies. And yes, welcome to Bollywood, Dulquer Salmaan!
Thumbs up: The slice-of-life look and feel, a worthy debut by Dulquer, the music (especially Arijit Singh’s Chhota sa fasana and Saansein by Prateek Kuhad).
Thumbs down: A one-note performance from debutante Mithila Palkar, boring in parts.
What they told t2: “It was a lot of fun and it takes a while before you stop pinching yourself and saying, ‘Hey, you’re Irrfan Khan’s co-actor’” — Mithila Palkar.
At the BO: Rs 27 crore on a Rs 10-crore budget.
Simmba
Saif Ali Khan’s daughter Sara makes her debut with this Rohit Shetty mad caper that has Ranveer Singh in the role of a flamboyant cop. Should be fun!
Release date: December 28
Agencies
#CoolWatch
Manmarziyaan
Released on: September 14
Backstory: Anurag Kashyap ventured into unfamiliar territory with a love triangle set in the Punjab heartland. Unapologetic and peopled with real and rooted characters, this romance with a Tinder twist struck a chord with both Gen X and Gen Y.
Thumbs up: A refreshing and non-judgemental look at love, Kanika Dhillon’s engaging script, a strong central performance from Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal’s brazen yet vulnerable act, a noteworthy comeback by Abhishek Bachchan, Amit Trivedi’s tunes — Daryaa to Dhyaanchand.
Thumbs down: The self-indulgent last hour.
What they told t2: “Rumi is very convincingly confused. She’s very convinced and clear that she’s confused, while I am very clear about what I want in life. She’s all heart; I am all heart too, but with a little bit of brains as well” — Taapsee Pannu.
At the BO: Has made Rs 40 crore on a Rs 20-crore budget.
Agencies
Gold
Released on: August 15
Backstory: The real-life story of independent India’s first Olympic gold medal was brought alive in this Reema Kagti film that focused less on hockey and the team playing it and more on its protagonist — Akshay Kumar’s Tapan Das.
Thumbs up: A rousing tale of patriotism, an earnest Akshay Kumar, superlative supporting acts — Kunal Kapoor to Vineet Kumar Singh, Amit Sadh to Sunny Kaushal.
Thumbs down: Pays little attention to nuance and narrative, makes hockey take a backseat, Tapan’s romantic interludes with wife Monobina (debutante Mouni Roy), Akshay’s wobbly Bangla-accented Hindi.
What they told t2: “Sport is the most important thing. This film has something great to offer, and it’s about an incident in history, but nobody knows about it” — Akshay Kumar.
At the BO: A semi-hit; earned about Rs 152 crore on a Rs 100-crore budget.
