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After a long time, here is a <keyword id="1978999" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Comedy-thriller">comedy thriller</keyword> that thrills and entertains. <keyword id="363758" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Suspense">Suspense</keyword> is intricately woven into the storyline; the brilliant acting of veterans Madhuri and <keyword id="734132" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Naseeruddin">Naseeruddin</keyword> enthral you; and there is no lack of sparkling wit – <keyword id="20399" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Arshad-Warsi">Arshad Warsi</keyword> and <keyword id="766698" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Huma-Qureshi">Huma Qureshi</keyword> make sure of that. But in spite of a delectable <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> mix of <keyword id="1723" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="fun">fun</keyword> &amp; <keyword id="52355" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="humour">humour</keyword>, thrill &amp; suspense, romance &amp; deceit, <keyword id="94542" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Abhishek-Chaubey">Abhishek Chaubey</keyword>'s <keyword id="696067" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Dedh-Ishqiya">Dedh Ishqiya</keyword> has failed to recreate the crowd-pulling power of the earlier movie <keyword id="33639" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="ishqiya">Ishqiya</keyword> (2010). Nor can it repeat Ishqiya's stupendous <keyword id="1996041" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Box-office-success">box office success</keyword>. 
 
In contrast, <keyword id="1434830" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Yaariyan">Yaariyan</keyword>, literally a newcomers' movie and made by the <keyword id="202523" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="debutante-director">debutante director</keyword> <keyword id="803235" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Divya-Khosla-Kumar">Divya Khosla Kumar</keyword>, has raced past the critically acclaimed Dedh Ishqiya. Released on January 10, the bubbly tale of adventure and <keyword id="125717" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="college-romance">college romance</keyword> has a <keyword id="2014756" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="First-weekend-collection">first weekend collection</keyword> of around Rs 16.50 crore nett while its four-day total has climbed to Rs 19 crore nett. <keyword id="2014759" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gross-collections">Gross collections</keyword> stand at Rs 22.20 crore at the <keyword id="827271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Domestic-Box-Office">domestic box office</keyword> after Day 4 (January 13). 
 
But more on that later. First, let’s have a close look at Dedh Ishqiya and what all it offers. The sequel of the earlier movie has seen one major change in cast, though. It’s the comeback film of <keyword id="6358652" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Madhuri-Dixit-Nene">Madhuri Dixit-Nene</keyword>, but she can’t match the spunky ruthlessness of Ishqiya’s <keyword id="3844" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Vidya-Balan">Vidya Balan</keyword>. Just like the real Madhuri, <keyword id="241381" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Begum-Para">Begum Para</keyword> is sheer magic throughout the flick because of her ethereal grace. But her on-screen manipulations pale before the earthy Vidya who managed to mesmerise all in her earlier outing. And when those sparks are missing, can the <keyword id="25892" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="box-office">box office</keyword> catch fire? 
 
Obviously not, going by the numbers. Dedh Ishqiya has also opened on January 10 and grossed around Rs 14.25 crore at the domestic box office after Day 4 (January 13), according to industry estimates. The <keyword id="382940" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="opening-weekend">opening weekend</keyword> saw collections of around Rs 11.50 crore nett although the <keyword id="1988011" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Screen-count">screen count</keyword> stood at 1,000-1,200 at home. But then, the <keyword id="2014761" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Occupancy-rate">occupancy rate</keyword> was abysmally low, just 20%, and it faltered even in the state of <keyword id="6357713" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Uttar-Pradesh">Uttar Pradesh</keyword> where a strong support was predicted. Collections in the <keyword id="1235960" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mumbai-circuit">Mumbai circuit</keyword> were low as well. 
 But in spite of a <keyword id="182563" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="BO">BO</keyword> slowdown, the flick has earned some glowing accolades from noted critics. According to Anupama Chopra of the Hindustan Times, “Dedh Ishqiya is worth watching just for Abhishek Chaubey’s ambition. He is not constrained by the demands of the box office.” 
 Termed as genuinely smart and spicy, with many layers of truths and realities, the movie takes you through a semi-realistic <keyword id="2014763" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Poetic-journey">poetic journey</keyword> and a <keyword id="2014764" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Decadent-world">decadent world</keyword> that you don’t encounter every day. The story of <keyword id="2014765" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Love-and-deceit">love and deceit</keyword> intertwines and flows smoothly as <keyword id="2014746" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Khalujaan">Khalujaan</keyword> (Naseeruddin) and his nephew <keyword id="964492" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Babban">Babban</keyword> (Arshad), a thief duo posing as a nawab and his attendant, set their eyes on Begum Para and her assistant <keyword id="2014767" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Muniya">Muniya</keyword> (Huma), respectively. The rest becomes a classic journey of revelation and a rare insight into human nature. 
 
“Dedh Ishqiya is an absolute delight because all its parts fit beautifully. The <keyword id="42054" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Cinematography">cinematography</keyword>, <keyword id="6363322" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sets">sets</keyword> and <keyword id="571210" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Costumes">costumes</keyword> are exquisite. The editing is sharp. Most importantly, <keyword id="2014744" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Darab-Farooqui">Darab Farooqui</keyword>’s story is plotted wonderfully by <keyword id="33638" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vishal-Bharadwaj">Vishal Bharadwaj</keyword> and Chaubey’s screenplay,” writes <keyword id="122490" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="film-critic">film critic</keyword> Deepanjana Pal. 
 
But at this point, we are not sure whether the average Bollywood fans will give this movie a wide berth or not because of its subtle artistry and multi-layered messages. 
 
 
 
Yaariyan, the other release, features an overused youth-centric theme. But it tries to pose as vibrantly young and refreshingly different in approach. Starring <keyword id="975571" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Himansh-Kohli">Himansh Kohli</keyword> (<keyword id="3898" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Lakshya">Lakshya</keyword>), <keyword id="1923885" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="dev-sharma">Dev Sharma</keyword> (<keyword id="11610" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Neil">Neil</keyword>), <keyword id="1972144" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="serah-singh">Serah Singh</keyword> (<keyword id="25517" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="jenny">Jenny</keyword>), <keyword id="621559" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rakul-Preet-Singh">Rakul Preet Singh</keyword> (<keyword id="29620" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Saloni">Saloni</keyword>) and <keyword id="86267" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Nicole-Faria">Nicole Faria</keyword> (<keyword id="1282028" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Jia">Jia</keyword>), this one unfolds the story of close-knit <keyword id="2014775" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="College-mates">college mates</keyword> on a journey of discovery. But before they can come to terms with different <keyword id="6358061" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="relationships">relationships</keyword> and discover values that will keep them going, you will get tired of the regular dose of Bollywood masala punched into the mixture. 
 Thematically, it has an uncanny resemblance to <keyword id="3778" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Karan-Johar">Karan Johar</keyword>’s Student Of The Year. However, the movie is a potpourri of several other things as well – from national sentiments to international violence and tolerance, from dressing scantily to thinking less like a modern individual and a general avoidance of <keyword id="2014777" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tangible-adult-themes">tangible adult themes</keyword>. But we are eager to accept those as the infallible Indian core values and tend to ignore the under-dressing as part of the modern gear. 
 Although the <keyword id="1308674" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="production-budget">production budget</keyword> of this flick is not too high, some Rs 19 crore according to koimoi.com, the movie has been shot across states and continents – in <keyword id="6358070" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mumbai">Mumbai</keyword>, <keyword id="6355478" type="COUNTRY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Australia">Australia</keyword>, <keyword id="48118" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sikkim">Sikkim</keyword> and <keyword id="6358045" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Darjeeling">Darjeeling</keyword>. And the <keyword id="6354530" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="music">music</keyword> of this movie is simply awesome, which is another reason behind its instant success. 
 
At the end of the day, it will be unfair to compare Dedh Ishqiya and Yaariyan. They belong to <keyword id="2014794" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Different-genres">different genres</keyword> and will attract different kinds of audience, to say the least. But it will be interesting to wait and see who wins the <keyword id="2014796" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Money-game">money game</keyword> at the box office. Films, even good films, are made to churn money and losing at that level does not speak well for a movie. 
 
Images: Indiatimes

Madhuri-starrer Dedh
Ishqiya Stumbles At Box Office; Yaariyan Romps Past

Here is one <keyword id="2045029" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood-rom-com">Bollywood rom-com</keyword> that could have raised some serious questions about recession and its backlash, hollow consumerism and Gen Y lifestyle, without losing its frothiness. But Nupur Asthana-directed <keyword id="2045255" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bewakoofiyaan">Bewakoofiyaan</keyword> (from the house of <keyword id="36603" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Yash-Raj-Films">Yash Raj Films</keyword>) does not go beyond the first layer of the grim reality and tanks at the <keyword id="25892" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="box-office">box office</keyword>. The flick, starring <keyword id="6354535" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ayushmann-Khurrana">Ayushmann Khurrana</keyword>, <keyword id="710" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sonam-Kapoor">Sonam Kapoor</keyword> and <keyword id="6357910" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rishi-Kapoor">Rishi Kapoor</keyword>, was released on Friday the 14th, exactly a month after Valentine’s Day, and turned out to be a damp squib – netting around Rs 6.75 crore at home after the first weekend. That’s quite disappointing as business should have picked up during the <keyword id="2144242" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Holi-weekend">Holi weekend</keyword>. Also, the crucial Day 4 figures are not available yet as movie theatres across Northern India did not open till 3 pm on Monday (March 17) on account of Holi. As per a report by Rentrak, the opening weekend collection stood at $46,888 (Rs 28.64 lakh) in the US where Bewakoofiyaan was released in 51 theatres. 
 
Interestingly, Kangna Ranaut-starrer <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Box-Office-Queen-OutshinesGulaab-Gang-Total-Siyapaa-Tanks/articleshow/31848837.cms">Queen</a>, released on March 7, continues to rule the <keyword id="827271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Domestic-Box-Office">domestic box office</keyword> in the second week and has netted a little over Rs 31 crore after Day 10, according to trade estimates. The flick has grossed around Rs 5.3 crore overseas during this time span and could be well on its way to become another <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> top-grosser in 2014 after Salman’s Khan’s <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Sunny-Leone-SizzlesIn-Ragini-MMS-2-Jai-Ho-Finally-Enters-100-Crore-Club/articleshow/29870204.cms">Jai Ho</a>. On the other hand, the much-touted <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Box-Office-Queen-OutshinesGulaab-Gang-Total-Siyapaa-Tanks/articleshow/31848837.cms">Gulaab Gang</a>, starring <keyword id="289" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="madhuri-dixit-nene">Madhuri Dixit Nene</keyword> and <keyword id="6371319" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Juhi-Chawla">Juhi Chawla</keyword>, has considerably slowed down at the domestic box office, collecting around Rs 13 crore till date, as per Koimoi. 
 
The other release of the week is <keyword id="329977" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="W">W</keyword>, a <keyword id="2144245" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Musical-thriller">musical thriller</keyword> directed by <keyword id="2077464" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tarun-Madan-Chopra">Tarun Madan Chopra</keyword> and starring <keyword id="2144218" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Leeza-Mangaldas">Leeza Mangaldas</keyword> (Sandy), Leslie Tripathy (Ruhi), Sonal Giani (Manu) and others. This one is a movie with a message and deals with the trauma of three rape victims, seeking justice in a male-dominated society. But don’t try to compare it with the regional but hugely acclaimed Adalat o Ekti Meye, directed by Tapan Sinha. The emotional pain and conflict are <keyword id="6357415" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="missing">missing</keyword> here even though the movie is dealing with a sensitive issue like rape. Instead, we land up in a stereotype <keyword id="1321184" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="revenge-drama">revenge drama</keyword> that works out all too smoothly. The <keyword id="2034852" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Box-office-numbers">box office numbers</keyword> are yet to arrive and we will keep you updated. 
 
Coming back to the storyline of Bewakoofiyaan, it is not difficult to see how ‘grave’ issues like joblessness and the consequent loss of social status have been watered down till everything falls into place as per Bollywood tradition. Here, we have <keyword id="793543" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="mohit-chaddha">Mohit Chaddha</keyword> (Ayushmann Khurrana), an <keyword id="2144224" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="ambitious-airline-executive">ambitious airline executive</keyword> who has landed the infamous pink slip; his girlfriend <keyword id="2144220" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mayera-Sehgal">Mayera Sehgal</keyword> (Sonam Kapoor) – an upper class, brand-worshipping Delhiite, and her highly placed, ‘practical’ father VK Sehgal (Rishi Kapoor). While Ayushmann’s fall from grace, his anger and frustration at losing the top-end lifestyle look convincing enough, Sonam never walks the talk she hands out to cheer up a depressed Ayushmann. For her, there’s no maturing of role and she looks eminently confused – trying to cope with a dictatorial papa and a boyfriend in distress. As for Rishi Kapoor, there is no saving grace either. Once again, he is the quintessential Bollywood father, ruling his daughter’s life. 
 Overall, not an inspiring movie and fails to go beyond the obvious. <keyword id="210839" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Critic">Critic</keyword> Sanjukta Sharma sums it up well when she says the film is flat, monotonous and defying all manner of reason, and it is no better than ‘a soap opera.’ 
 
Image: Indiatimes

Box Office: Bewakoofiyaan Is Lacklustre, W Verges
On Stereotype

The latest <keyword id="30679" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="horror-flick">horror flick</keyword> from the <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> stable has all the right credentials, but lacks just one thing. In spite of being loaded with scary clichés, it fails to scare the daylights out of you as <keyword id="500381" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ragini-MMS">Ragini MMS</keyword> did two years ago. After all, Jimmy Shergill-starrer <keyword id="1976250" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Darr-The-Mall">Darr @ the Mall</keyword> has been made by Ragini MMS director <keyword id="2076858" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Pavan-Kripalani">Pavan Kripalani</keyword> (the 2011 movie was his directorial debut) and expectations were high on that score. Moreover, a sequel of Ragini MMS (directed by <keyword id="820957" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bhushan-Patel">Bhushan Patel</keyword> this time) will be hitting the theatres next month and we were wondering if the ‘mall horror’ can give it a run for its money. But going by the <keyword id="25892" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="box-office">box office</keyword> response, Darr @ the Mall has plenty to worry about and offers very little to scare competitions. 
 Released on February 21, along with <keyword id="2075818" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Randeep-Hooda-Alia-Bhatt-starrer">Randeep Hooda-Alia Bhatt starrer</keyword> <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/movies/Highway-ExploresShadow-Zones-But-Fails-To-Impress-At-Box-Office/articleshow/31008054.cms">Highway</a>, Bollywood drama Dee Saturday Night and a documentary called <keyword id="6391288" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gulabi-Gang">Gulabi Gang</keyword> (not to be confused with the Madhuri Dixit-Juhi Chawla-starrer, to be released soon), Darr @ the Mall has its task cut out. But the <keyword id="2076867" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Horror-thriller">horror-thriller</keyword>, which tells the story of a mall that unleashes its evil side on the people trapped in it, has been a <keyword id="2076872" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Box-office-bomb">box office bomb</keyword> from the start. Although it has hit more than 1,100 screens, the occupancy rate was really low – around 20% in the first three days and just 15% on the crucial Day 4. According to Box office India, the horror-thriller has netted around Rs 3-3.25 crore in the domestic market after the opening weekend. Day 4 (Monday, February 24) collections were a dismal Rs 25 lakh, as per some insiders, and that sets the tone for the rest of the week. 
 The story is a kind of hotchpotch and that might have been its undoing. Here, we have three distinct fragments that should form the thrilling whole but these are not tightly interwoven and seem to be falling apart at times. First, we have <keyword id="6747" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Manchanda">Manchanda</keyword>, the mall owner, and his board of directors spending the night at the haunted mall (as part of a publicity stunt) before the gala opening; next, we find his daughter <keyword id="510679" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ahana">Ahana</keyword> (<keyword id="647029" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="nushrat-bharucha">Nushrat Bharucha</keyword>) and her junky friends partying inside; and finally, there is <keyword id="4666" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Jimmy-Shergill">Jimmy Shergill</keyword> or the 24-year-old <keyword id="274961" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vishnu-Sharma">Vishnu Sharma</keyword>, the chief of security at the mall, who flashes around his flashlight to track the evil spirits. The pieces of the puzzle lie in unravelling the past that comes alive in the spine-chilling night. But if you ask us, the fear factors are pretty predictable and won’t get you too many goosebumps. 
 
Dee Saturday Night: Repetitive without the grace The other release of the week is directed by <keyword id="513190" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Jay-Prakash">Jay Prakash</keyword> and features the story of Mumbai gone bad as the city’s Richie Riches fervently indulge in drug, sex and crime (in case you can’t guess, Dee stands for <keyword id="2076881" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Dirty-English-Entertainment">Dirty English Entertainment</keyword>, the culture of rich Mumbaikars). Well, if the theme reminds you of Madhur Bhandarkar’s Page 3, let’s tell you about the eye candies and moral candies thrown in generous measures to keep you engaged. 
 To cut a long story short, here you will find too many skimpily clad <keyword id="624" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Women">women</keyword> engaged in all things immoral while a determined <keyword id="1119548" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="ACP-Dhoble">ACP Dhoble</keyword> (<keyword id="177770" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Arif-Zakaria">Arif Zakaria</keyword>) raids the vicious rave parties, catches the miscreants and subjects them to inspiring lectures and moral lessons. Then there is the quintessential small town girl (<keyword id="2054328" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="mahi-khanduri">Mahi Khanduri</keyword>) who is trying to hold on to her traditional values. The movie promotes good causes and teaches you some sound principles at the cost of the art called cinema. And the outcome? It’s a complete washout at the box office, not even touching Rs 10 lakh, as per Box office India. 
 
 
 
Gulabi Gang (documentary) This one has negligible <keyword id="1839596" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="box-office-collections">box office collections</keyword> but the award-winning docu film, co-written and directed by <keyword id="1488228" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Nishtha-Jain">Nishtha Jain</keyword>, is based on the real-life <keyword id="2076888" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gulabi-Gang-of-Bundelkhand">Gulabi Gang of Bundelkhand</keyword> (Uttar Pradesh). The group of lathi-wielding women vigilantes and activists was set up by <keyword id="1408081" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sampat-Pal-Devi">Sampat Pal Devi</keyword> in a bid to fight against domestic abuse and violence against women. Unlike other drab documentaries, Jain has managed to create an insightful human document that pits personal practice against ideology and exposes the shortcoming inherent in us. 
 Mohar Basu of KoiMoi sums it up beautifully when she writes: Jain carries me with her daunting <keyword id="6374782" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="journey">journey</keyword> that I will hold on to for many years probably. The instances were revolting, the tall talks about women’s morality a sham and despite the distressing situations, Gulabi Gang is a ray of hope, brimming with optimism to change the stringent attitudes with galvanising ferociousness. 
 
It could be the journey <keyword id="6354768" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Highway">Highway</keyword> has missed – a journey of revelation, realisation and an ecstatic upliftment of your inner self. 
 
Images: Indiatimes &amp; Wikipedia

Box Office: Darr @ The Mall, Dee Saturday
Night Disappoint; Nishtha Jain’s Gulabi Gang Is Must-watch

<keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> horror flicks are not just about creaking doors, swinging chairs and a filthy, grey-haired witch casting spells. As the erotic horror film, Ragini MMS 2, releases on Friday the 21st, let us take a look at some of the most spine-chilling horror movies Bollywood has churned out over the years. Get ready for the edge-of-the-seat experience. 
 
1. Mahal (1949) 
Aayega aanewala... does the song give you goosebumps? That’s the magic of this song, crooned in the movie by the spirit of a woman who is waiting for her dead lover. It effectively adds to the eerie setting of this story of reincarnation, starring <keyword id="6363061" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Ashok-kumar">Ashok Kumar</keyword> and Madhubala. Intriguing and haunting, Mahal is a must-watch, especially for Kamal Amrohi’s direction and the fine performance by the lead pair. 
 
2. Bees Saal Baad (1962) Starring Biswajeet and <keyword id="6442163" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Waheeda-Rehman">Waheeda Rehman</keyword>, Bees Saal Baad is still remembered for the spooky song, Kahin deep jale kahin dil. Loosely based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel, The Hound of the Baskervilles, this flick is deliciously spooky in places, with many mind-numbing moments. Here you have a mysterious lady in a flowing white saree, the ghungroos, the haunting voice singing at night and many more incidents to keep you hooked. And the climax is juicy enough to entertain the connoisseurs of suspense thrillers. 
 
3. Gumnaam (1965) 
Gumnaam takes inspiration from <keyword id="162689" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="Agatha">Agatha</keyword> Christie’s novel, And Then There Were None (also known as Ten Little Niggers). The basic plot of the film goes like this – 10 strangers stranded on an island get killed one by one. The film has everything that’s synonymous with edge-of-the-seat experience – suspense, thrill, fear, perfect characterisation and of course, a haunting song, Gumnaam hai koi. 
 
4. Jaani Dushman (1979) 
The story of Jaani Dushman is based in a village, which is notorious for the mysterious killings of brides dressed in red. The bidaai song Chalo re doli uthao kahaar is an indication that another bride is going to be attacked by a mysterious monster. The creature can’t be killed as every time someone tries to kill it, it leaves its own body and possesses the body of the person who tries to kill it. The multi-starrer film was a box-office hit. 
 
5. 100 Days (1991) 
More than a horror film, 100 Days is a spine-chilling entertainer starring <keyword id="6355846" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Madhuri-Dixit">Madhuri Dixit</keyword>, <keyword id="297" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Jackie-Shroff">Jackie Shroff</keyword> and <keyword id="675553" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="Jaaved-Jaffery">Jaaved Jaffery</keyword>. Madhuri is gifted with extrasensory perception and she gets sudden glimpses of future incidents. One day, she sees her sister being murdered and after a few days, her sister gets killed the way Madhuri has envisioned it. Can she find the killer and unravel the mystery? Watch the movie and find out! By the way, it is a remake of the Tamil film Nooravathu Naal. 
 
6. Raat (1992) Produced by <keyword id="6355246" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Ram-Gopal-Varma">Ram Gopal Varma</keyword>, Raat is an epic horror film. Leading lady <keyword id="36561" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="revathi">Revathi</keyword>’s life becomes a roller-coaster ride after a cat is accidentally killed by her father’s car. From spine-chilling encounters to possessed souls and haunted house – every possible bloodcurdling element is packed here. Raat is, indeed, one of the best horror movies ever made in Bollywood. 
 
7. Vaastu Shastra (2004) 
A family including a couple and their son, as well as the wife’s sister, shifts to a new house. Just when they begin to live happily, the boy starts interacting with kids whom no one else can see. Initially, the parents dismiss it as child’s fancy but as things start to take a gory turn, they begin to take notice. But unfortunately, it’s too late by then. 
 
8. 1920 (2008) 
Haunted houses are hot favourites of those who love the horror genre and 1920 is a period film that portrays a haunted haveli (castle). A married couple comes to live in the haveli and experiences mysterious happenings, which are out of human control. If you believe in God and His power to save one from evil spirits, you will enjoy this film. 
 
9. 13 B Although this movie is marred by poor direction, the plot makes it a must-watch. The protagonist, R. <keyword id="4759" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Madhavan">Madhavan</keyword>, shifts to a new house 13-B but under a mysterious scheme of things, his life gets connected to a TV serial. Whatever happens in the TV serial, also happens with his family in real life. What’s more, that serial only comes on their TV. The film hooks you from the first frame till the last. 
 
10. Ragini MMS (2011) 
The movie has been partially inspired by the 2007 Hollywood horror flick, Paranormal Activity. It also takes cues from the real life incident of a Delhi-based girl called Deepika. She reportedly fell prey to a spirit’s wrath at a haunted house where her boyfriend took her and tried to make an MMS without her knowledge. The film was produced by <keyword id="378" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Jeetendra">Jeetendra</keyword> and <keyword id="154993" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Shobha-Kapoor">Shobha Kapoor</keyword> of Balaji Telefilms. 
 
Image: Indiatimes

10
Horror Flicks From Bollywood That You Must Not Miss

When <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> has a mission, you don’t expect it to break the traditional mould and deliver something spectacular. That’s why we were not feeling wildly enthusiastic when two <keyword id="624" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Women">women</keyword>-centric movies hit the screen just a day before the much-coveted International Women’s Day. One is, of course, <keyword id="1523830" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gulaab-Gang">Gulaab Gang</keyword>, the intensely hyped drama flick starring <keyword id="289" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="madhuri-dixit-nene">Madhuri Dixit Nene</keyword> and <keyword id="6371319" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Juhi-Chawla">Juhi Chawla</keyword> as leads. It is <keyword id="132056" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Soumik-Sen">Soumik Sen</keyword>’s directorial debut and going by the storyline – a group of pink-clad women hell-bent on social reform and getting justice for women – loads of fire and spice were expected from this movie. 
 But that was not the case. To begin with, <keyword id="1408081" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sampat-Pal-Devi">Sampat Pal Devi</keyword>, the <keyword id="19496" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="leader">leader</keyword> of the original Gulabi Gang, filed a case against the makers of Gulaab Gang and the <keyword id="6355014" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Delhi-High-Court">Delhi High Court</keyword> passed a stay order against the pan-India release of the movie. However, Delhi HC lifted the ban after another hearing and Gulaab Gang hit around 1,600 screens on March 7 as scheduled. 
 
The pre-launch controversy has, however, taken its toll and in spite of the positive buzz, Gulaab Gang has bombed the <keyword id="827271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Domestic-Box-Office">domestic box office</keyword>. It managed to nett around Rs 2.41 crore at home on the opening Friday, followed by Rs 2.97 crore nett on Saturday and another Rs 3.46 crore nett on Sunday, taking the total weekend collection to Rs 8.84 crore nett. Collections tanked again on the crucial Day 4 (Monday, March 10) and were pegged at a little over Rs 1 crore nett. It means the film is literally struggling to get past the Rs 10 crore nett mark in spite of a huge release. 
 
Just like Gulaab Gang, Kangna Ranaut-starrer <keyword id="6377522" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="queen">Queen</keyword> started on a slow note on the opening day (Rs 1.75 crore nett at the domestic box office, which was lower than Gulaab Gang). But business picked up soon, thanks to excellent reviews and positive word of mouth. The coming-of-age comedy drama hit 800 screens, against Gulaab Gang’s 1,600, but collected around Rs 10 crore nett in the first weekend at home. Surprisingly, Day 4 collections were better than the opening Friday and stood at around Rs 2 crore nett, taking the total to Rs 12 crore nett in four days. 
 
In contrast, <keyword id="1952335" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Total-Siyapaa">Total Siyapaa</keyword>, the third flick released on March 7, tanked at the domestic box office and only managed Rs 4.09 crore nett in the opening weekend. The rom-com, directed by Eeshwar Niwas and starring <keyword id="6451231" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ali-Zafar">Ali Zafar</keyword> and <keyword id="6356250" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Yami-Gautam">Yami Gautam</keyword> (along with veterans <keyword id="6533" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Anupam-Kher">Anupam Kher</keyword> and <keyword id="6738" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kirron-Kher">Kirron Kher</keyword>), has hit around 850 screens. But the lacklustre response at the box office is quite a dampener. The Monday numbers are not out yet but according to industry insiders, the movie has made a little over Rs 1 crore. 
 
What makes or breaks these movies 
Going by the box office response, Total Siyapaa is a washout and Gulaab Gang has failed to draw the audience while Queen is slowly building a solid base. Now let us take a close look at what has or hasn’t work for these <keyword id="569603" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood-flicks">Bollywood flicks</keyword>. 
 
Gulaab Gang – Old wine in new bottle: It’s not difficult to understand why Gulaab Gang has apparently failed. In spite of some good points, writer-director Soumik Sen has essentially portrayed the age-old Bollywood theme – the good versus the bad. Be it Rajjo the revolutionary (<keyword id="6355846" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Madhuri-Dixit">Madhuri Dixit</keyword>) valiantly fighting against gender discrimination, violence, abuse and poverty, or the <keyword id="2122747" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="all-black-politician">all-black politician</keyword> <keyword id="339288" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sumitra-Devi">Sumitra Devi</keyword> (Juhi Chawla) controlling and manipulating every life – they do it all in the archetypal Bollywood style. So you get some high-sounding dialogues and stick-wielding action sans the inner growth of the protagonist. 
 
Most of Madhuri’s socially committed actions are rituously punctuated by dance numbers as if we are in a kind of dream sequence. And the epic grandeur is essentially missing from this make-believe corrupt world, controlled by a failed system and ruled by larger-than-life women. Nothing is too oppressing or overwhelming in this supposedly sombre world; every issue can be dealt with, however trite the solution, and Women’s Lib has been made easy for the masses, without being given the required depth. The original Gulabi Gang founder has not been acknowledged anywhere in the movie as the makers claim that Gulaab Gang is a work of fiction. And that’s exactly what it is. This flick never rises to the classic height of real life but remains dwarfed in a scripted ambience. 
 
 
 
Queen – A <keyword id="6374782" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="journey">journey</keyword> worth taking: Recently, <keyword id="6355923" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Aamir-Khan">Aamir Khan</keyword> has taken to <keyword id="6354616" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Twitter">Twitter</keyword> to praise the film, director-writer <keyword id="143066" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vikas-Bahl">Vikas Bahl</keyword> and <keyword id="203866" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="lead-actor">lead actor</keyword> <keyword id="2202" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kangana">Kangana</keyword>. “What a film!!! Guys you have to watch QUEEN!!! Anyone who hasn’t seen it, please go now and see it. Such an important film for every girl, every woman to watch... and in fact every male to watch too! Thank you to Vikas Bahl and his team which made the film. And Kangana... you rock,” he tweeted. 
 Well, that speaks volumes about quality and the flick is worth every word of it. The plot seems pretty familiar, at least in the beginning. Rani (<keyword id="2201" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kangana-Ranaut">Kangana Ranaut</keyword>) is a simple Punjabi girl hailing from Delhi and she gets turned down by the UK-returned fiancé Vijay (Rajkummar Rao) a couple of days before their wedding just because she is not his sort any more. But instead of breaking down, Rani goes on her honeymoon trip alone through <keyword id="106" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Paris">Paris</keyword> and <keyword id="22442" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Amsterdam">Amsterdam</keyword> – trying to cope, having fun and finally breaking free &amp; living life on her own terms. Of course, you will find stereotypes and clichés here but Kangana sparkles in this coming-of-age movie – making <keyword id="343" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="Friends">friends</keyword> and growing inwardly as the journey of discovery continues. A must-watch and we must say that the BO verdict has been quite right this time. 
 
 
 
Total Siyapaa – Not totally doomed: We say that in spite of the poor box office response. Inspired by a Spanish film, Seres Queridos (Only Human), this rom-com features an Indo-Pak pair – Asha (Yami Gautam) and Aman (Ali Zafar) – and their many attempts to iron out the clashing cultures and countries. The backdrop of <keyword id="6354968" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="London">London</keyword> looks both beautiful and homey, but the characters, at times, look lost and confused, as if trying to find their way back to the centre stage. Anupam and Kirron Kher (Aisha’s parents) do their best while <keyword id="16657" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="sara-khan">Sara Khan</keyword>, as Asha’s sister, proves to be tantalising, vivacious and gutsy. You get large dollops of humour as well even as the eccentric and whimsical characters try to make their mark. Overall, an average movie but offers some fun moments. 
 
Images: Indiatimes

Box Office: Queen Outshines
Gulaab Gang; Total Siyapaa Tanks

<ul><li>Kapoor’s performance as the all powerful arms dealer Shelly Rungta is about perfect paradoxes.</li><li>Remakes are generally tough acts to follow, especially if the original’s cast toplines Tom Hiddleston.</li><li>Kapoor was a part of another global series called 24 and played the lead character in its Hindi avatar too. </li></ul>If you are not a 90s kid, then you probably need an introduction to pretty much every icon of that era – be it Sony’s Walkman, the original 007 Sean Connery, the supersonic Concorde aircraft, Mithun Chakraborty’s dance moves and even the item songs before they were called that. But the one 90s icon that needs no formal introduction is Anil – ‘My Name Is Lakhan’ – Kapoor. From serenading Madhuri Dixit in the iconic Dhak Dhak song in Beta in 1992, Kapoor’s joie de vivre makes him the rightful successor of the evergreen Jitendra, who was not only nicknamed the Jumping Jack after his high-octane energy but also endorsed vitality pills called 30 Plus for decades. Kapoor’s performance in the Night Manager as the all powerful arms dealer Shelly Rungta is about perfect paradoxes – in one instant he charms birds or should we say birdies and in the next instant effortlessly kills with his bare hands (and a little help of a writing instrument) and yet there isn’t a spot of blood on his bespoke cream suit. He pulls off the over the top scenes with the same conviction as he played the role of an autistic man in Eeshwar. When it comes to dialogue delivery and style, there is none that even comes close to <keyword id="6354700" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="anil-kapoor" source="Orion">Anil Kapoor</keyword>. A paisa vasool moment in the mini series is when AK, in his laconic drawl, advises Aditya Roy Kapur, who essays the role of a soldier/hotel manager turned reluctant spy, to never know the real man behind the expensive suit. Remakes are generally tough acts to follow, especially if the original’s cast toplines Tom Hiddleston, Olivia Colman, Hugh Laurie, Elizabeth Debicki and is directed by Oscar winner Susanne Bier. Attempting remakes of popular shows or movies is not for the faint hearted, look no further than last year’s epic disaster Lal Singh Chaddha – a remake of the iconic Tom Hanks-starrer Forrest Gump. But Anil Kapoor has managed to duck this trend not once but twice. Kapoor was a part of another global series called 24 and played the lead character in its Hindi avatar too. Both mini series have enthralled audiences primarily because of the 66-year old actor, who still looks convincing as an eight-year old child’s father. Kapoor eases in viewers with his easygoing charm in the first part of the series, where he is mostly seen enjoying the high life with his arm candy Kaveri (Sobhita Dhulipala) in his yacht, private jets and mansions. He is the classic modern-day archetype of Ravan, who also lives in Lanka. As the father of Rhea and Sonam Kapoor, much loved fashion icons, Anil Kapoor does not disappoint. In fact, he has his fashion chops in place alright with his bespoke suits and carefully crushed linen shirts. But there’s more to the concluding part of the mini series than Anil Kapoor’s sartorial style. Kapoor completely dominates the second part of the Hindi remake of the Night Manager with his menacing presence. Kapoor dominates not just the screen. There’s something particularly appealing about the bad boys of spy thrillers, but he upstages Aditya Roy Kapur, who is the undercover agent Shaan Sengupta inside Shelly Rungta’s Golden Lanka. Kapur is the good guy who pretends to go rogue as he works with RAW agent Tillotama Shome to uncover Shelly’s unholy arms business that spreads from West Asia through Myanmar and Bangladesh. The second part of the series circles back to Dhaka, where it all began with the death of Safina, a minor girl trapped in a marriage with an underworld don. The storytelling of the Hindi Night Manager is by and large straight out of the playbook of any spy thriller, barring some underwhelming performances. The tomfoolery by the two RAW agents are cringe-worthy and not binge worthy. The lean and mean avatar of Aditya Roy Kapur is welcome after his movie Gumraah. ARK fails to charm or impress with his revenge but Kapoor does both in equal measure as the villain. Give us bad boys any day.

Sixty is the New Sexy: Anil Kapoor steals the show in the second coming of Night Manager

Mumbai, Jun 23 () Veteran choreographer Saroj Khan has been admitted to a hospital here after she complained of breathing problems. According to a source close to her family, the 71-year old choreographer was rushed to Guru Nanak Hospital in Bandra on Saturday. Following her hospitalisation, a mandatory COVID-19 test was done, which turned out to be negative. "She is fine now and recovering. She had breathing issues and was taken to hospital for that. Her COVID test was done which turned out negative. She doesn't have any symptoms. She is likely to be discharged in a day or two," the source told . In a career spanning over four decades, Khan is credited with choreographing more than 2000 songs. The three-time National Award winner has choreographed for some of the most memorable tracks, including "Dola Re Dola" from Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Devdas", "Ek Do Teen" from Madhuri Dixit-starrer "Tezaab" and "Ye Ishq Haaye" from "Jab We Met" in 2007. She last choreographed for "Tabaah Hogaye", featuring Madhuri from filmmaker Karan Johar's production "Kalank" in 2019. JUR RB RB RB

Choreographer Saroj Khan hospitalised due to breathing issue, tests negative for COVID-19

<ul><li>The film was earlier scheduled to release in June this year, but has been delayed owing to the Covid-19 pandemic that led to closure of cinema halls. </li><li>The film will now premiere on the pay-per-view service ZeePlex.</li></ul> The <keyword id="4069231" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="ishaan-khatter">Ishaan Khatter</keyword> and Ananya Panday-starrer, <keyword id="8032589" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Khaali-Peeli">Khaali Peeli</keyword>, will release digitally on October 2. The two young stars confirmed the news on social media on Monday. The film was earlier scheduled to release in June this year, but has been delayed owing to the Covid-19 pandemic that led to closure of cinema halls. The film will now premiere on the pay-per-view service ZeePlex. "Mad ride ki sawari karni hai, toh ready rehneka 2nd October ko! Aareli hai #KhaaliPeeli, exclusively on @zeeplexofficial,"Ananya wrote on Instagram. Along with the release announcement, the cast also unveiled a new song from the film, "Beyonce Sharma Jayegi". Directed by Maqbool Khan, the romantic action drama "Khaali Peeli" is being touted as a roller coaster ride that kicks off when a boy meets a girl one night. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/personalities/news/us-magazine-fortune-released-its-annual-40-under-40-list-of-most-influential-people-under-the-age-of-40/slidelist/77906566.cms">Isha and Akash Ambani, Adar Poonawalla, Byju Raveendran — meet the Indians who made it to Fortune's ‘40 under 40’ list this year</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/interview-madhuri-dixit-and-dr-shriram-nene-are-looking-to-raise-funds-for-their-online-dance-school-and-a-new-healthtech-venture/articleshow/77930270.cms">This Indian scientist-turned drugmaker doubled his wealth to $6 billion during coronavirus pandemic</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/interview-madhuri-dixit-and-dr-shriram-nene-are-looking-to-raise-funds-for-their-online-dance-school-and-a-new-healthtech-venture/articleshow/77930270.cms">Madhuri Dixit and Dr Shriram Nene are looking to raise funds for their online dance school and a new healthtech venture</a>

You Searched For "Madhuri starrer" and got 8 results

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