One of the pleasures of beginning a new year is to find out, and chat, about the new Bollywood films lined up for release during that calendar year. As film buffs meet one another at parties, one of the questions one invariably tends to ask is, “Sooo, what are the big releases lined up this year?”
Personally, I am not very discriminating about what I see. In fact, my endeavour is to always try to see as many movies as possible. I have a few favourite actors -- that is, apart from Katrina Kaif. Like Amir Khan, Tabu, Irfan Khan, Konkona Sen. At the beginning of most years, I try to find out what they are all up to.
The first major release of this year, Halla Bol, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, and starring Ajay Devgan and Vidya Balan, failed at the box office. When Bombay to Bangkok, directed by the redoubtable Nagesh Kuknoor, bombed too, the industry began to brace itself for a bad year.
2008 is a year when some of the A-list directors like Rakesh Roshan, Karan Johar, Rajkumar Hirani will be starting work on new projects that are likely to be ready for release only in 2009. Besides, Bollywood's numero uno, Shahrukh Khan doesn't have any film slated for release this year, save for Bhootnath, starring Amitabh Bachchan, in which King Khan is making a special appearance.
The sombre outlook of the industry has changed, though, following the release of Sunday, starring Ajay Devgan and Ayesha Takia. Directed by Rohit Shetty, Sunday has hit the bull's eye at the box office, bringing smiles back on the faces of producers as well as distributors. The success of this breezy comedy is being credited to outstanding performances by Arshad Warsi and Irfan Khan.
Ideally I should have posted this piece a month ago, at the beginning of 2008. But somehow things kept getting delayed. For whatever it is worth, here is the list of films I am looking forward to watching in 2008. The films are named in no particular order of preference or by any release date.
JODHA AKBAR
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai
Director: Ashutosh Gowarikar
The Mughals have never looked as dashing or as beautiful as they have in Jodha Akbar. The romantic tale of Emperor Akbar’s marriage to Rajput princess Jodha Bai hits the theatres a day after the Valentine’s Day. Gowarikar’s period drama has opulent sets and extravagant action sequences. Hrithik and Aishwarya looked quite a pair in Dhoom2, it will be interesting to watch their chemistry in Jodha Akbar. For me, Gowarikar is as much a top draw as the film's leads. Once you make Lagaan and Swades, you will have me queuing up for advance tickets, game leg or not.
GHAJINI
Cast : Amir Khan, Jiya Khan
Director: A R Murugadoss
After Taare Zameen Par, Amir is going to be seen in a completely different sort of film, a fast-paced crime thriller. Directed by Murugadoss, the film is loosely based on the Chris Nolan-directed Memento, in which the hero has trouble with a failing memory -- he can only remember the last 15 minutes of his life.
TASHAN
Cast : Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Anil Kapoor
Director: Vijay Krishna Acharya
Writer of the immensely successful Dhoom and Dhoom2, Acharya makes his debut as director with Tashan. The year’s first big release from Yash Raj Films already has the rumour mills on an overdrive. Saif and Bebo both reportedly show serious skin -- by Bollywood standards, that is.
RACE
Cast: Anil Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Bipasha Basu, Katrina Kaif, Sameera Reddy
Director : Abbas Mastan
The director duo of Abbas Mastan are known for making stylish thrillers. Race, I am told, is pretty racey too. Saif and Akshaye, sharing screen space for the first time after Dil Chahta Hai, are half-brothers who own a stud farm. Anil Kapoor plays a cop. The movie has very high babe quotient, with Bipasha Basu, Katrina Kaif and Sameera Reddy. Try stopping me from a first day, first show.
BLACK ‘N’ WHITE
Cast: Anil Kapoor, Anurag Sinha, Aditi SharmaPublish Post
Director: Subhash Ghai
This one is believed to be different than the usual Ghai potboiler. The ace director has come up with a hardhitting political thriller, dealing with the serious issue of terrorism. Anil Kapoor plays an Urdu professor and newcomer Anurag Sinha plays the role of a suicide bomber.
SARKAR RAJ
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai
Director : Ram Gopal Verrma
This is the first film in which Amitabh Bachchan, son Abhishek and daughter-in-law Aishwarya all star together, after they were seen in Kajra Re in Bunty Aur Babli. His terrible ode to Sholaay notwithstanding, Ram Gopal Verma remains a film maker of substance. Sarkar was most watchable. The buzz is the sequel is even better. It better be, for Ramu’s sake. Sarkar Raj is his chance at redemption.
DRONA
Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra
Director: Goldie Behl
Abhishek plays superhero in this action fantasy with its special effects extravaganza is directed by Abhishek’s pal, Goldie Behl. The sexy Ms Chopra plays Abhishek’s bodyguard.
KISMET KONNECTION
Cast: Shahid Kapur, Vidya Balan
Director: Aziz Mirza
Director Aziz Mirza steps out of his comfort zone and for the first time directs a feature without his favourite star Shahrukh Khan. Shahid Kapur’s stars are on the ascent, despite his breakup with Kareena Kapoor. He would like to follow up the smash hit Jab We Met with another box office success. Before the shoot began, Ms Balan was asked to shed a few kilos to match the youthful Shahid. The effect, it is being said, is stunning -- a svelte Vidya Balan simply sizzles on the screen.
SINGH IS KING
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif
Director: Anees Bazmee
It is the year’s first release for the man with the midas touch in Bollywood. After a stunning 2007 where he gave four successive hits, it remains to be seen if everything he touches in 2008 also turns to gold. Akshay once again plays the macho man from Punjab. Paired opposite him is Katrina Kaif.
DILLI 6
Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, Om Puri, Divya Dutta
Director: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
The story is bit autobiographical, borrowed from director Mehra’s years in the Indian capital. The story also has some connection with the infamous monkey man incident that rocked Delhi a few years ago. Bachchan had a mixed 2007 – he won critical acclaim and tasted box office success with Guru, but the Shaad Ali directed Jhoom Barabar Jhoom sank without a trace at the box office. Dilli 6 offers the talented Abhishek Bachchan an opportunity to showcase his considerable histrionic abilities.
Personally, I am not very discriminating about what I see. In fact, my endeavour is to always try to see as many movies as possible. I have a few favourite actors -- that is, apart from Katrina Kaif. Like Amir Khan, Tabu, Irfan Khan, Konkona Sen. At the beginning of most years, I try to find out what they are all up to.
The first major release of this year, Halla Bol, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, and starring Ajay Devgan and Vidya Balan, failed at the box office. When Bombay to Bangkok, directed by the redoubtable Nagesh Kuknoor, bombed too, the industry began to brace itself for a bad year.
2008 is a year when some of the A-list directors like Rakesh Roshan, Karan Johar, Rajkumar Hirani will be starting work on new projects that are likely to be ready for release only in 2009. Besides, Bollywood's numero uno, Shahrukh Khan doesn't have any film slated for release this year, save for Bhootnath, starring Amitabh Bachchan, in which King Khan is making a special appearance.
The sombre outlook of the industry has changed, though, following the release of Sunday, starring Ajay Devgan and Ayesha Takia. Directed by Rohit Shetty, Sunday has hit the bull's eye at the box office, bringing smiles back on the faces of producers as well as distributors. The success of this breezy comedy is being credited to outstanding performances by Arshad Warsi and Irfan Khan.
Ideally I should have posted this piece a month ago, at the beginning of 2008. But somehow things kept getting delayed. For whatever it is worth, here is the list of films I am looking forward to watching in 2008. The films are named in no particular order of preference or by any release date.
JODHA AKBAR
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai
Director: Ashutosh Gowarikar
The Mughals have never looked as dashing or as beautiful as they have in Jodha Akbar. The romantic tale of Emperor Akbar’s marriage to Rajput princess Jodha Bai hits the theatres a day after the Valentine’s Day. Gowarikar’s period drama has opulent sets and extravagant action sequences. Hrithik and Aishwarya looked quite a pair in Dhoom2, it will be interesting to watch their chemistry in Jodha Akbar. For me, Gowarikar is as much a top draw as the film's leads. Once you make Lagaan and Swades, you will have me queuing up for advance tickets, game leg or not.
GHAJINI
Cast : Amir Khan, Jiya Khan
Director: A R Murugadoss
After Taare Zameen Par, Amir is going to be seen in a completely different sort of film, a fast-paced crime thriller. Directed by Murugadoss, the film is loosely based on the Chris Nolan-directed Memento, in which the hero has trouble with a failing memory -- he can only remember the last 15 minutes of his life.
TASHAN
Cast : Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Anil Kapoor
Director: Vijay Krishna Acharya
Writer of the immensely successful Dhoom and Dhoom2, Acharya makes his debut as director with Tashan. The year’s first big release from Yash Raj Films already has the rumour mills on an overdrive. Saif and Bebo both reportedly show serious skin -- by Bollywood standards, that is.
RACE
Cast: Anil Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Bipasha Basu, Katrina Kaif, Sameera Reddy
Director : Abbas Mastan
The director duo of Abbas Mastan are known for making stylish thrillers. Race, I am told, is pretty racey too. Saif and Akshaye, sharing screen space for the first time after Dil Chahta Hai, are half-brothers who own a stud farm. Anil Kapoor plays a cop. The movie has very high babe quotient, with Bipasha Basu, Katrina Kaif and Sameera Reddy. Try stopping me from a first day, first show.
BLACK ‘N’ WHITE
Cast: Anil Kapoor, Anurag Sinha, Aditi SharmaPublish Post
Director: Subhash Ghai
This one is believed to be different than the usual Ghai potboiler. The ace director has come up with a hardhitting political thriller, dealing with the serious issue of terrorism. Anil Kapoor plays an Urdu professor and newcomer Anurag Sinha plays the role of a suicide bomber.
SARKAR RAJ
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai
Director : Ram Gopal Verrma
This is the first film in which Amitabh Bachchan, son Abhishek and daughter-in-law Aishwarya all star together, after they were seen in Kajra Re in Bunty Aur Babli. His terrible ode to Sholaay notwithstanding, Ram Gopal Verma remains a film maker of substance. Sarkar was most watchable. The buzz is the sequel is even better. It better be, for Ramu’s sake. Sarkar Raj is his chance at redemption.
DRONA
Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra
Director: Goldie Behl
Abhishek plays superhero in this action fantasy with its special effects extravaganza is directed by Abhishek’s pal, Goldie Behl. The sexy Ms Chopra plays Abhishek’s bodyguard.
KISMET KONNECTION
Cast: Shahid Kapur, Vidya Balan
Director: Aziz Mirza
Director Aziz Mirza steps out of his comfort zone and for the first time directs a feature without his favourite star Shahrukh Khan. Shahid Kapur’s stars are on the ascent, despite his breakup with Kareena Kapoor. He would like to follow up the smash hit Jab We Met with another box office success. Before the shoot began, Ms Balan was asked to shed a few kilos to match the youthful Shahid. The effect, it is being said, is stunning -- a svelte Vidya Balan simply sizzles on the screen.
SINGH IS KING
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif
Director: Anees Bazmee
It is the year’s first release for the man with the midas touch in Bollywood. After a stunning 2007 where he gave four successive hits, it remains to be seen if everything he touches in 2008 also turns to gold. Akshay once again plays the macho man from Punjab. Paired opposite him is Katrina Kaif.
DILLI 6
Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, Om Puri, Divya Dutta
Director: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
The story is bit autobiographical, borrowed from director Mehra’s years in the Indian capital. The story also has some connection with the infamous monkey man incident that rocked Delhi a few years ago. Bachchan had a mixed 2007 – he won critical acclaim and tasted box office success with Guru, but the Shaad Ali directed Jhoom Barabar Jhoom sank without a trace at the box office. Dilli 6 offers the talented Abhishek Bachchan an opportunity to showcase his considerable histrionic abilities.
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