The Defiant Ones.... Friday Releases: A Week Of Bitter Reminders

The Defiant Ones.... Friday Releases: A Week Of Bitter Reminders
Thursday, February 28, 2013 12:21 IST
By Santa Banta News Network
By Subhash K Jha

This weekend's releases come with some amount of baggage. Explosive baggage. While Ram Gopal Varma's The Attacks Of 26/11 raises nightmarish memories of the gruesome incident of 2008 that changed the profile of terror attacks forever, this week's other release brings us bitter memories of John Abraham's last rom-com, writer-director Abbas Tyrewala's Jhootha Hi Sahi.

According to a trade expert who wishes to go unnamed, `Seeing John in the rom-com space and RGV (Ram Gopal Varma) in the get-real space is like reliving a nightmare. John's bulky build and athletic image make him more acceptable as an action hero.

He was a hit in Nishikant Kamat's Force and he will be a hit in Sanjay Gupta's Shootout In Wadala. But John in a rom-com?... nah. I don't think it works for the audience. It's an image challenger. `

RGV's The Attacks Of 26/11 carries a very strong pre-release buzz. Those who have seen it including the Big B Amitabh Bachchan say it us the director's comeback to form, his best work since Company in 2002.

However there is a sense of negativity to the film's theme.

A filmmaker who earlier worked under RGV said, `The very idea of re-visiting the events of 26 November 2008 is repugnant to the average Mumbaikar. And why just Mumbai? Who wants to revisit an event that shook the nation?`

Surprisingly there is a great deal of hope within the film trade for Ramu's film.

Says Roshan Singh, a leading distributor of Patna, `The Attacks Of 26/11 may not be a subject that people in Mumbai would relish re-visiting. But it all depends on how the events are treated in the film. Look at Ben Aflleck's Argo! It's so edge-of-the-seat. I am sure the real hostage situation in Iran was not half as exciting. `

Ram Gopal Varma sees the film's prospects with a great deal of clarity and humour. He narrates an experience this week with a chauffeur in Delhi who asked Ramu what his film was about.

Says Ramu, `When I told him it was about the attacks on 26/11 he asked me, 'Hero kaun hai?'. I told him it's Nana Patekar. Then he asked me, 'Heroine kaun hai?' I said there is none. He was shocked, 'Heroine nahin hai? Toh phir picture mein gaana kaun gayega?' I didn't have the heart to tell him my film has no songs. `

The other release this week has plenty of songs, and music. And an untried pair John Abraham-Chitrandga Singh who look smashing together, with the petite Prachi Desai thrown in for added glamour. And the buzz is that the main self-obsessed character is modelled on Shah Rukh Khan.

Also, with last week Kai Po Che doing well, the mood at the boxoffice is upbeat.
Alaya F Gives Big Shoutout To RajKummar Rao, Manushi Chhillar's Maalik!

RajKummar Rao and Manushi Chhillar, who are coming together for the first time, are creating excitement

Thursday, June 12, 2025
Balika Vadhu Star Avika Gor Gets Engaged to Milind Chandwani: Meet the Man Who Won Her Heart!

Avika Gor, who stole hearts as the innocent Anandi in Balika Vadhu, has just stepped into an exciting new

Thursday, June 12, 2025
Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh Streaming On Jiohotstar From This Date!

After a commanding run at the theatres, Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh will

Thursday, June 12, 2025
Kriti Sanon's Not-So-Regular Green Tea Moment Sparks Buzz - Is a Wellness Disruption Brewing?

Kriti Sanon has once again sent her fans into a frenzy — this time, not with a blockbuster film or fashion

Thursday, June 12, 2025
Zee Music Company honoured with YouTube's prestigious Red Diamond Play Button for crossing 100 million subscribers!

Zee Music Company, one of India’s leading music labels, surpassed the extraordinary milestone of

Thursday, June 12, 2025