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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

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

Reality is the most coveted theme in Bollywood right now. From churning out biopics to drawing inspiration from real-life incidents, movies are riding the ‘reality’ wave in a bid to rake in big moolah. Although it is not a box office hit, the recently released Gulaab Gang, starring Madhuri Dixit Nene and Juhi Chawla, is said to be inspired by Sampat Pal Devi and her Gulabi Gang, a group of Indian women vigilantes and activists. Another biopic based on Olympic medallist Mary Kom is coming up soon and promises to make waves. But before that, let us take a look at some of the most popular movies inspired by real life. 
 
1. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag One of the biggest hits of 2013 starring <keyword id="5015" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Farhan-Akhtar">Farhan Akhtar</keyword>, this is a biopic of Milkha Singh, the Flying Sikh of India. The flick goes beyond the obvious and highlights the lesser-known facts of the legendary athlete’s life, thus introducing the Indian sports hero to the Gen Y. Farhan is spectacular in his role while Milkha Singh has sold the rights of the movie for Re 1. However, a share of the profits goes to <keyword id="1937557" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="Milkha-Singh-Charitable-Trust">Milkha Singh Charitable Trust</keyword>. 
 
2. The Attacks of 26/11 
Directed by Ram Gopal Varma, this docudrama is based on the gory Mumbai attacks of 2008. The movie focuses on the series of events that took place on this fateful day. The movie revolves around the terrorist attacks and Ajmal Kasab, the prime radical, who was caught. RGV relies on police statements, eyewitnesses and the court evidence to bring in a pretty close presentation of reality. 
 
3. Once Upon a Time in Mumbai Dobaara 
A sequel to 2010’s Once Upon a Time in Mumbai, the movie is inspired by the animosity between gangsters Dawood Ibrahim and Chota Rajan. Despite a lot of hype, this gangster saga turned out to be a flop. Akshay Kumar, <keyword id="14676" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Imran-Khan">Imran Khan</keyword> and Sonakshi Sinha played lead roles in the film. 
 
4. The Dirty Picture 
Starring Vidya Balan, this one is a biopic of the southern sex siren, Silk Smitha, and offers a heavy dose of entertainment. Vidya has done an admirable job here and played a perfect seductress. She did her best to get into the skin of the character, which also required her to put on oodles of flab. 
 
5. Special 26 Starring Akshay Kumar and Anupam Kher, this film was inspired by a real life incident that took place in Mumbai’s Zaveri Bazaar in 1987. In the movie, a group on conmen posing as CBI officers executes a daylight income tax raid. The film also stars <keyword id="7637" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Manoj-Bajpayee">Manoj Bajpayee</keyword> and Jimmy Shergill, and has won plenty of critical acclaim. 
 
6. Paan Singh Tomar 
Another gem of a movie starring Irrfan Khan. This is a biopic of an athlete, Paan Singh Tomar, who was employed with the Indian Armed Forces. The film weaves the real life incidents that forced Paan Singh to quit the defence services and his dream of becoming an internationally acclaimed athlete, and take to guns instead. 
 
7. Satyagraha – Democracy Under Fire A political thriller starring Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn and Kareena Kapoor, this flick is loosely based on <keyword id="57766" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Anna-Hazare">Anna Hazare</keyword>’s fight against corruption. While Big B plays the role of Anna, Kareena’s character is inspired by the international journalist, Christian Amanpour. 
 
8. No One Killed Jessica This political crime thriller is a screen adaptation of the much publicised <keyword id="14009" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Jessica-Lal">Jessica Lal</keyword> murder case. While Vidya Balan plays Jessica’s elder sister, Rani Mukherjee is the spunky news reporter. The film has been widely appreciated for making the point quite poignantly and has bagged many prestigious awards. 
 
9. Not a Love Story 
This film starring Mahie Gill and Deepak Dobriyal is based on the ghastly murder of Neeraj Grover that led to the arrest of Maria Susairaj and M.L. Jerome. Director Ram Gopal Varma shot the movie in just 20 days at Dheeraj Solitaire building, which is the prime location of the incident. 
 
10. Guru 
It has not been stated officially but Guru, starring Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, takes inspiration from the life and times of India’s celebrated business tycoon, <keyword id="6418409" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Dhirubhai-Ambani">Dhirubhai Ambani</keyword>. It portrays the journey of an ordinary man growing up to become one of the most powerful businessmen, with absolute faith in his dreams. 
 
Image: Indiatimes

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Box Office: Queen Outshines Gulaab Gang; Total Siyapaa Tanks

Sanghamitra Mandal

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

Sanghamitra Mandal

10 Bollywood Movies Inspired By Real-life Stories

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