askprincess_askme
01-01-2005, 05:56 AM
(http://www.expressindia.com/about/feedback.html?mailto=samar@expressindia.com)
YEAR 2004 was full of ups and downs for the Hindi film industry, but 2005 will be more promising. The year starts with a bang with Subhash Ghai’s Kisna and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Black. Both the films are huge cinematic departures for their makers. Kisna is a period film, something Subhashji has not attempted before.
On the other hand, Black might just have an international standing. Both Rani Mukerji and Amitabh Bachchan have roles of their lifetime here. The whole world wants to know what Black is all about. I am extremely curious but I have a good feeling about the film. Sanjay is my favourite film-maker in the country. Each frame in his films is made for cinema.
Another much-anticipated film is Ketan Mehta’s Rising. The film marks the return of Aamir Khan after Lagaan. The historical background, music, sets and Aamir’s performance will make it a great watch. Also, Hrithik Roshan will be back on screen, after close to two years, with the sequel to Koi...Mil Gaya. His father, Rakeshji, will be hoping to score a hat-trick after the successes of Kaho Na Pyar Hai and Koi....
Another thing to look forward to is the emergence of Yash Raj Films as one of the most credible banners in the country. It’s coming out with films, every three months. In 2004, it gave us Hum Tum, Dhoom and Veer-Zaara. This year, it has Shaad Ali’s Bunty Aur Babli, Siddharth Anand’s untitled film with Saif Ali Khan and Preity Zinta, and Kunal Kohli’s Aamir Khan and Kajol starrer. All of these are big films and already have hype surrounding them. So, I would like to wish all the makers luck and hope they live up to the audience’s expectations.
As for my banner, Dharma Productions, we’ll be coming up with Soham Shah’s Kaal by the end of April. This film is a departure for us because it’s a scary, dark thriller—something we haven’t attempted before. God willing, I will also come out with my own film by the end of the year. But I am not going to say anything more about that.
As for the trends that we’ll be seeing, I think we tend to generalise too much. If Kisna and Rising are period films, it doesn’t mean that’s the latest trend. Good films are the only trend worth tracking. But I do think that this deluge of sex films, which was unleashed in 2004, will come to an end. Murder started this phase of sex films, but people forget that it also had good music, aesthetics, packaging and storyline. All sex-based films don’t work.
In the coming months, multiplex films will grow more. The market will grow. And it should, because these films are giving a huge platform to Hindi films in the international circuit. And, they are good films. In fact, I recently saw the Juhi Chawla starrer, My Brother, Nikhil. It’s one of the best films I’ve seen in recent times and I am sure it will be well received.
As for the actors, who will make an impact? I think it’ll be Abhishek Bachchan, who has tremendous talent. Even Shahid Kapoor and Vivek Oberoi are good actors but let’s see how they mould themselves. Among the girls, Rani, Preity, Kareena and Aishwarya are all doing good films. Priyanka Chopra has also signed big films and will be someone to watch out for.
YEAR 2004 was full of ups and downs for the Hindi film industry, but 2005 will be more promising. The year starts with a bang with Subhash Ghai’s Kisna and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Black. Both the films are huge cinematic departures for their makers. Kisna is a period film, something Subhashji has not attempted before.
On the other hand, Black might just have an international standing. Both Rani Mukerji and Amitabh Bachchan have roles of their lifetime here. The whole world wants to know what Black is all about. I am extremely curious but I have a good feeling about the film. Sanjay is my favourite film-maker in the country. Each frame in his films is made for cinema.
Another much-anticipated film is Ketan Mehta’s Rising. The film marks the return of Aamir Khan after Lagaan. The historical background, music, sets and Aamir’s performance will make it a great watch. Also, Hrithik Roshan will be back on screen, after close to two years, with the sequel to Koi...Mil Gaya. His father, Rakeshji, will be hoping to score a hat-trick after the successes of Kaho Na Pyar Hai and Koi....
Another thing to look forward to is the emergence of Yash Raj Films as one of the most credible banners in the country. It’s coming out with films, every three months. In 2004, it gave us Hum Tum, Dhoom and Veer-Zaara. This year, it has Shaad Ali’s Bunty Aur Babli, Siddharth Anand’s untitled film with Saif Ali Khan and Preity Zinta, and Kunal Kohli’s Aamir Khan and Kajol starrer. All of these are big films and already have hype surrounding them. So, I would like to wish all the makers luck and hope they live up to the audience’s expectations.
As for my banner, Dharma Productions, we’ll be coming up with Soham Shah’s Kaal by the end of April. This film is a departure for us because it’s a scary, dark thriller—something we haven’t attempted before. God willing, I will also come out with my own film by the end of the year. But I am not going to say anything more about that.
As for the trends that we’ll be seeing, I think we tend to generalise too much. If Kisna and Rising are period films, it doesn’t mean that’s the latest trend. Good films are the only trend worth tracking. But I do think that this deluge of sex films, which was unleashed in 2004, will come to an end. Murder started this phase of sex films, but people forget that it also had good music, aesthetics, packaging and storyline. All sex-based films don’t work.
In the coming months, multiplex films will grow more. The market will grow. And it should, because these films are giving a huge platform to Hindi films in the international circuit. And, they are good films. In fact, I recently saw the Juhi Chawla starrer, My Brother, Nikhil. It’s one of the best films I’ve seen in recent times and I am sure it will be well received.
As for the actors, who will make an impact? I think it’ll be Abhishek Bachchan, who has tremendous talent. Even Shahid Kapoor and Vivek Oberoi are good actors but let’s see how they mould themselves. Among the girls, Rani, Preity, Kareena and Aishwarya are all doing good films. Priyanka Chopra has also signed big films and will be someone to watch out for.