Category: World Cinema

News, World Cinema

‘Bahubali 2’ Shatters Many Records On Its Opening Day!

New Delhi: SS Rajamouli’s magnificent visual delight ‘Baahubali 2: The Conclusion’ opened in theatres on April 28, 2017, and the fans can’t keep calm. The huge canvas of the film has been one of the major talking points among viewers besides the quintessential question of ‘Why did Kattappa kill Baahubali? (Kattapa Ne Baahubali Ko Kyu Maara).

With trade analysts predicting it’s first day collections eyeing a Rs 100 crore historic collection, the lead hero Prabhas has certainly arrived and how! The epic saga of love, drama and war has clicked with the fans creating a rage across the nation.
The social media platforms are buzzing with the rousing response this film is witnessing pan India. “The advance booking is crazy; there are corporate bookings of 100-200 seats. There is a repeat value for this film. The opening day collections should be at Rs 70 crore in all the languages. It’s all set to create history with the film earning Rs 230-240 crore over the weekend,” a Mumbai- based exhibitor Akshay Rathi told PTI.
“I came at 5 AM. I got a ticket for the second show (night show). I wanted a ticket for a matinee or first show. But I am happy that I got a ticket,” Anusha, a college student, in Hyderabad, said.
Fans of Prabhas, who plays the lead role of Baahubali, put up huge cutouts of the popular star to celebrate the release of the film. Outside cinemas, fans poured milk on the cutouts, copying religious rituals reserved for gods. In fact, filmmaker SS Rajamouli, actress Anushka Shetty and music director MM Keeravani visited a theatre screening of the movie in Hyderabad to gauge the response of the audience, according to PTI.
In Delhi, major cinema chains like PVR and Inox have allocated 80 percent of its total capacity to ‘Baahubali 2’. “PVR has allocated close to 80 per cent of its total capacity to ‘Baahubali 2’ in India as well as in Delhi. The film has taken a phenomenal start, the occupancy is expected to be 85 percent for day one for entire PVR chain,” Kamal Gianchandani, CEO PVR Pictures, told PTI.
The Telangana government has allowed five shows of the film to be screened following a request from the producers. In Karnataka, fans reportedly paid up to Rs 1,600 per ticket to watch the film. As much as 75 per cent of screens available in the state is showing the film.
In Bengaluru alone, 72 of the 94 single screen theatres were screening it, trade experts said. In Mysuru, as many as 40 screens out of 45 are showing ‘Baahubali 2’.
The Kannada film fraternity is pushing for the implementation of a budgetary proposal to peg the ticket prices at Rs 200 in single screen theatres and multiplexes.
In Kerala, producer-distributor Prem Menon of Global United Media, predicted the film will shatter all the existing box office records in the state. “It has released in 310 screens (142 in Malayalam and the rest in Tamil) and we are still counting. Theatres across the state had scheduled close to 60 early morning shows today. We are expecting the film to gross Rs 5 crore in Kerala, which will be a record,” he told PTI.
In Mumbai, the ticket prices started as low as Rs 200 and went up to Rs 1,500.
Trade analyst Komal Nahta says the Hindi version itself is all set to create new benchmarks.
“The opening day looks like 40 crore plus for Hindi version and the weekend will be more than 100 crore. The film is destined to make history and it is going to break every single record – opening day, weekend, first week and so on,” he said.
Nahta says going by the positive word-of-mouth across the board, the film will challenge existing record holders from Bollywood such as ‘Sultan’, ‘PK’ and ‘Dangal’.
Prabhas starrer will surely break the record of Bollywood stalwarts Salman Khan and Aamir Khan.
‘Baahubali 2: The Conclusion’ has an impressive star cast of Prabhas in the lead with Rana Daggubati, Tammaanah Bhatia, Ramya Krishnan, Sathyaraj and Nassar playing pivotal parts.

The first part ‘Baahubali’ had collected Rs 650 crore (gross) at the worldwide box office.

History, World Cinema

It Is The End For Regal Cinemas

By Monica Arora

The majestic colonnades and pillared glory of Lutyen’s Delhi oozes its charisma in Connaught Place, an open market place situated in the heart of central Delhi. Designed by British architects of the bygone Raj, every shop, structure, restaurant and cinema hall narrate a story, convey a tale or whisper an anecdote each time one happens to visit the area.

Amidst the upcoming brands, which are replacing the erstwhile traditional stores, stood the Regal Cinema, whose last show was open to the public on 30 March 2017. The iconic cinema hall, which was established way back in 1932, was flanked by the Shivaji Stadium and the Rajiv Chowk Metro Station, both relatively recent constructions. And therein lay its magic!
The fact that a single screen theatre stood the test of time for decades and kept on lighting up a million dreams of cinegoerswithin its cosy, womb-like interiors is what rakes up all the nostalgia. 
Popularly known for showcasing most of Raj Kapoor’s movies, the original showman of Indian cinema, the shutting down of Regal is perhaps an ode to the end of an era…an era when movie stars were worshipped like gods and goddesses and public frenzy knew no bounds at the premiere of a new Bollywood release, which invariably saw the stars personally attending the first show at landmark theatres. 
Regal being one of those in the capital city of New Delhi thrived and prospered with each new release bringing more and more crowds to watch their favourite movies on the silver screen.
And, who can forget the thrill of watching a new Hindi film amidst the chawwani-throwing crowds and the whistling fans who would even end up performing a jig right at their seats if a superhit song played on the screen. Certainly, that experience can never be replicated or recreated with the closure of most single screen halls giving way to swankier multiplexes with latest digital technology and modern amenities.
With no online booking facilities available till even a few years back, zealous fans would line up right from Connaught Circus where Regal is situated upto the Outer Circle to ensure a First Day First Show ticket of a much-awaited movie. Hell! There were much fewer releases back then and Raj Kapoor comprising one-third of the holy Bollwood trinity of Dev Anand-DilipKumar-Raj Kapoor, was the Charlie Chaplin and messiah of the masses. Therefore, it was indeed a befitting tribute to the great showman that the swansong or the last two shows of Regal were two of his superhits: Mera Naam Joker and Sangam.
It is no secret that over the last decade or so, the cinema hall had started losing much of its former charm owing to lack of upgraded technology and poor maintenance and upkeep. But relatively lower ticket prices as compared to multiplexes kept the proverbial fire burning for its owners. Till it was time to finally call it a day. 
Following in the footsteps of its other neighbours in the vicinity, Odeon, Rivoli and Plaza, all of which have already been transformed into PVR Odeon, PVR Rivoliand PVR Plaza, the final tickets have been printed and sold for the last shows at Regal; the final coffees at the Espresso machine have already been sipped, the last of the popcorns have been savoured…until it reopens in its new multiplex avatar!
For those who have had a chance to witness the delight and excitement of the milling crowds in a single-screen theatre at some point in their lives, they can understand that such an atmosphere can never ever be created within the sanitized precincts of a freezing multiplex theatre with lesser seats, more screens and a perpetually Arctic temperature zone, no matter the weather outside. 

The black and white mosaic flooring, the huge, whirring fans lining the sides of the theatre walls and the old-fashioned Eveready torches which the ushers used to indicate the seat at Regal Cinema will just end up as memories of the good, old days. 
The huge posters adorning the lobby area and the stately marble staircase leading to the rear, upper stalls and balcony will all be a part of this brilliant legacy and tradition that is breathing its last with curtains for most single-screen theatres all around the country. 
But as time and tide stand still for no one, similarly, the old always gives way to the new…jeena isi ka naam hai!

Bollywood, Special Article, World Cinema

Period Films Are Here To Stay


By Monica Arora
It’s been almost two years and we are still wondering as to why did Katappa kill Bahubali?

 We all have grown up reading larger than life stories of kings and queens, princes and princesses, gods and goddesses and so, on through fairy tales, Amar ChitraKatha comics or purely through word of mouth stories being passed around for generations from our great grandparents to our generation. Why just in India, a good fairy tale or a historical tale set in the golden days gone past evokes an eager audience everywhere in the world as the child in us still seeks a fascinating story of victory of good over evil or about a monarch or queen who hascaught our imagination through their riches, wealth, kingdom and lavish lifestyles. Think Cleopatra or Elizabeth or Braveheart in Hollywood or Mughal-e-Azam, Bahubali, Jodhaa Akbar, Bajirao Mastani or even the recent dud Mohen-jo-daro closer home in Bollywood.

 With the Bahubali II trailer having just being released, audience excitement mounts and the anticipation to discover as to why Katappa killed Bahubali is on full brim. The 2015 release, marketed under Karan Johar’sgrand Dharma banner was made at a budget of Rs 120 crore (1.2 billion), and went on to become the highest grossing Indian film within India, besides earning the title of third highest grossing Indian film globally. Actually, it was the first and only South Indian film directed by S. S. Rajamouli to gross over Rs 650 crore (6.5 billion) worldwide. So much is the frenzy around the sequel that a three-part book, entitled ‘Bahubali: The Untold Story’ has already been released for those curious to read the story in its entirety. Fans have gone on to compare it to the Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter movies and just cannot wait to see part two!

 Of course Bollywood is known for its period dramas right from the K Asif directed Mughal-e-Azam starring Dilip Kumar, Madhubala and Prithviraj Kapoor. Conceievd in 1944, the film took more than 15 years in making and was eventually released only in 1960. Narrating the doomed love story of Mughal Prince Saleem (Dilip Kumar), who falls in love with a courtesan (Madhubala), only to be strongly opposed by Saleem’sfather Emperor Akbar, the lavishly mounted sets in those days, particularly the Sheesh Mahal created for the Pyarkiya to darna kya song, literally drew thunderous applause from audience whenever it was played on screen. 


Recent years have seen a revival of period based movies in Bollywood after a lull. Ashutosh Gawarikar directed Jodhaa Akbar in 2008 was amongst the fairly successful period dramas that depicted the love story and marital life of King Akbar and his Rajput queen Jodhaa. The main protagonists were played by the Adonis-like HritikRoshan and the queen by the stunning Aishwarya Rai Bachchan whose chemistry left cinegoers enthralled, not to forget the grand sets, stupendous war scenes, and aw-inspiring expensive jewels and costumes and plenty of arms and armour that were especially crafted to lend authenticity to the film. Deemed as a moderate hit, the movie had its cult following amongst those who loved its Sufi music and story.


And then came Bajirao Mastaani, Sanjay LeelaBhansali’s magnum opus in 2015 which became one of the highest grossers of all times, with collections touching some Rs 350 crores. What started as a dream project after his Hum Dil de Chuke Sanam became a huge hit in 1999, his original lead pair of Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai fell through owing to personal reasons and the film got stalled. Until 2014, when Bhansali cast Ranveer Singh as Bajirao, the luminous beauty Deepika Padukone as his Mastaani and Priyanka Chopra as Kashiba, Bajirao’s first wife. Ranveer’s killer physique and Deepika’s grace, costumes and mesmerizing beauty, besides her near-perfect portrayal of Mastani made the movie rake up a frenzy. Truly, the period drama had been revived and on a scale that had been unimaginable a few decades ago.

 The same year also saw Bahubali leaving audiences spellbound, not just in India, but all over the world. A good story enacted by actors and actresses with perfectly toned and well-maintained physiques and with so much thought, planning and detailing going into every aspect of filming has made this genre much sought-after.

With Bahubali 2 around the corner and ‘Padmavati’ in the making one thing is almost certain that period films are here to stay.

First Look, Indian Cinema, Movie Trailer, World Cinema

‘Bahubali 2’ Trailer Hits Cinema Screens


Movie trailer for ‘Baahubali: The Conclusion’ is finally out. The trailer gives you goosebumps with its magnificent visuals and splendid VFX. If ‘Baahubali’ left you speechless, it can be easily imagined what might be in store for the viewers in its sequel.

‘Baahubali: The Conclusion’ will feature Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Tamannaah Bhatia, Anushka Shetty, Ramya Krishnan and Sathyaraj, the second part will have a simultaneous release in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam. The movie will hit the screens worldwide on April 28, 2017.

Bollywood, Classics, Living Legends, World Cinema

“Sholay Maker Waited Three Years To Shoot One Sequence”

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who portrayed iconic character ‘Jai’ in Ramesh Sippy’s cult classic “Sholay”, on Thursday recalled the time when the ace director waited 3 years to get the “perfect light” for a particular sequence.

Addressing the audience at the launch event of the Ramesh Sippy Academy of Cinema & Entertainment, he said: “I wonder if you remember a scene in Sholay where Jaya (Bachchan) had to light a lamp in the corridor and I am sitting in the outhouse playing the mouth organ. There was particular kind of lighting that was required for the shot. Our DOP Mr Divecha was keen to take the shot at the time of sunset. You would not believe that Rameshji spent almost three years before we finally got that shot.”
“Every time we would go to enact that sequence, something would not be right with the lighting. And Rameshji said ‘until we get a correct light, we are not going to shoot this’. We waited for three years for one flash of a shot for the film,” the 73-year-old actor added.

The veteran filmmaker of “Sholay” has ventured into education sector with film school, which has also tied up with Mumbai University, where the students will be receiving complete knowledge and graduating with a degree in various aspects of film production and entertainment.
Praising the director producer, Amitabh said: “Rameshji is a great motivator, a wonderful technician, a teacher who takes care of his artists on the set. Before enacting a sequence, he sits and talks with the actor. He discusses and takes the view of an actor. He has the all-wonderful qualities, which are required to make better cinema.” 
“I wish all the very best to him for this initiative. It will be going a long way. The institute is going to be an important element of cinema in our country,” he said. (IANS)

Bollywood, Gossip Corner, World Cinema

Dangal Girl Sana Dropped From Thugs Of Hindostan On Flimsy Ground


By Bhumika Rawat

Dangal Girl Sana Shaikh was believed to be the first choice to play a romantic character against Aamir Khan in ‘Thugs of Hindostan’.  A lot has been speculated about the leading lady in the film. And now, rumours are rife that ‘Dangal’ girl Fatima Sana Shaikh has been dropped from consideration.

The reason for dropping her name is reportedly very flimsy. The script requires the actress to kiss the character to be played by Aamir in the film for a dream sequence. According to a report in MissMalini,com, since the pretty girl played the role of his daughter in ‘Dangal’, Aditya felt that it wouldn’t be a good idea to romantically pair her opposite Aamir. Certainly it is not a valid ground to drop an artist from the film. 
Sana is a professional artist and expected to play all kinds of role. A kiss can not be a reason to drop someone from the film unless she is found lacking in skills. Her performance in Dangal was appreciated by most of the critics and audience.
The report even suggests that Aamir wanted to have Sana on board for the short by significant part but Aditya opined differently.The hunt for an actress for the character in question is still on!Thugs of Hindostan will see two of the biggest names in the world of Hindi Cinema coming together on screen for the first time – Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan

Hollywood, Movie Trailer, World Cinema

Movie Trailer For ‘Geostorm’ Looks Promising

By Bhumika Rawat

Hollywood is gearing up Geostorm this fall. The movie starring Gerard Butler, Abbie Cornish, Alexandra Lara and Andy Garcia imagines a world where the climate is controlled by satellites. In a futuristic world the climate technology goes awry, causing a massive disaster across the globe.

The movie teaser for ‘Geostorm’ is out in March itself. The teaser looks promising and To seems to be VFX-heavy spectacle-driven adventure. Check out the teaser and judge yourself.