Showing posts with label SRK. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SRK. Show all posts

Monday, June 23, 2008

Aamir, AB Lets blog and bitch SRK

There has been a recent surge in blogging among the Bollywood fraternity. It all started with Aamir Khan's blog. Later Amitabh Bachchan also followed suit. Surprisingly they have chosen to crucify SRK. It makes me wonder at times why would they do so....
Is the Superstar of Bollywood or the most admired actor of Bollywood feeling threatened by the Baadshah of the big screen.
I really find their comments on SRK totally uncalled for.
Well to answer Big B. Yes, we all agree that the first season of KBC was a runaway success. And Paanchvi Paas could not rake up the TRP it hoped for. But before coming with such an amateurish conclusion I hope someone who has spent all his life in media must have some considered basic points.

According to me, the primary reason behind the success of first season of KBC was
  • Who wants to be a Millionaire is a runaway success worldwide, and when it debuted in India it was first of a sorts in many ways. People were getting to see the stature of Big B first time on small screen and instead of waiting for a Friday release they could switch on the channel every night to catch a glimpse of him.
  • The prize money it brought was unheard of. When KBC debuted in 2000 no one had ever expected a prize money of 1 crore. Although only a couple of contestants managed to win the prized sum of 1 cr, there were plenty (almost every other episode) who won 3 lacs and more. A prize money of more than 3 lacs is still a big amount on Indian Television. Even after biking for 15 episodes the MTV Roadies winner won a prize money of Rs. 2.3 lacs.
  • Although a quiz show it transformed quizzing into entertainment and allowed everyone in the family to participate. There were no time limit and you always had 4 options. Thus every one from 6 to 6o could make a guess.
By AB's own admission and statistics 1st season of KBC managed a peak TRP of 26.55 compared to a peak TRP of 19.75 for the second season. The 3rd season of KBC featuring Shahrukh managed a peak TRP of 12.33. It clearly shows people were losing interst in the format. I still consider the 3rd season of KBC more entertaining where Shahrukh would connect with the audience like a friend. He would joke with them, sing song, dance, make fun of himself, do dialogues, everything on request of contestants, unlike AB. Any other actor who have tried to fit into the shoes of AB but SRK successfully managed to carve a niche for himself on KBC. He had his own style...... and people loved it!!!

Then, some game format do not work in Indian culture at all. Remember the fate of Kamzor Kadi Kaun based on the still very popular show on BBC "The Weakest Link". It simply did not work in India. It happened similarly with Paanchvi Paas. An Indian find it extremely shameful to look at the camera and say he is not smarter than the fifth grade. We like to glorify ourselves and our heroes.. Thus to me its a failure of concept rather than failure of Neena Gupta on Kamzor Kadi or SRK on Paanchvi Paas.

Finally, how can anyone forget Paanchvi Paas debuted on small screen when the new poster boy of cricket, the ever successful Indian Premier League was running on Television Screens. Its a cricket crazy nation Mr. AB.

Thus, I guess it would have been great for you to do some homework before coming up with blog.


After reading this blog of Aamir, I have been a even greater fan of SRK.
SRK laughs off dog-blog reference.
I always tell people there is a very thin line between having fun and making fun(Mazaak Karna and Mazaak Udana). Aamir, I hope you still need to learn this lesson.


On a signing note I would like to say when Aamir and Amitabh were busy blogging and bitching SRK he was making moolan with the Kolkata Knight Riders. Although Shahrukh's team may not have done very good in IPL but his team was the most successful one and the only team to make money of IPL. Thanks to the genius of SRK.
And also Shahrukh features all this month on CNN on Revealed. "It's a TV and Web program that gets under the skin of the world's brilliant thinkers, creative champions and inspirational leaders. Revealed offers a glimpse of the private people behind their public profiles in the run up to important moments in their lives." This itself is a testimony of the success and popularity of King Khan.
Watch The Biggest Bollywood Star and more on CNN.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Om Shanti Om : Mother of all Cliche

Om Shanti Om is not your run of the mill Bollywood movie. If you are looking for a movie with a very good screenplay, fantastic dialogues, powerful performances, than this is not the movie for you. Well! the director never intended to make it this way. When I went on to watch the movie, the ghost of "Main Hoon Na" was still ripe in my mind. But it was a refreshing change to watch the new baby from Farha. She has matured a lot as a director. MHN was a typical masala movie, with a mix of all the ingredients to make a commercial success. However OSO shows the vision, a thoughtful Director may have.

The movie is a tribute to the Golden Era of Bollywood, the 70s. A lot of scenes in the movie will make you reminiscent of scenes that you may have watched a 1oo times on the big screen. A lot of dialogues and scenes seems so cliched, still instead of criticizing it brings a smile on your face. The presentation of the movie keeps you glued to the seat till the very end.

OSO is never complete without the mention of SRK. The grandiose and persona of SRK carries throughout the movie. Shahrukh has proved it again, the umpteenth time, he is the greatest star of the industry. The costumes, dialogue, on screen presence, the grin everything is so perfect, that you would remember his 70s personality and not to forget the six pack abs for days to come. Shahrukh scores again with the movie. Deepika Padukone brings a new exuberance and beauty to the movie. What more can a newcomer expect than to star opposite SRK on her debut movie, but she does not let anyone down.

My paisa was vasool even before the movie was over. Watching Akki Bhaiya and his pelvic gun shot thrust was a pleasant pleasant surprise. His nomination as the star of Return of Khiladi was so cool.
The Om Shanti Om title track with 31 stars was also very special. Farha managed to score some points with the choreography as well. All the stars were given the steps that have done sometimes in the past with some variants. So it was a good combination of old wine and fresh soda.
The presentation of Credits for the movie was also thought of out of box. The complete unit of the movie arrives for the premiere of OSO in vehicles of different shapes and size, from cycle to auto to scooter to rickshaw. And the last to arrive was Farha, when the premiere was already over, in an auto-rickshaw. And by the time she realises this, the auto had already gone and it was fun to watch her run after her. Kudos to Farha.
Karan Johar saying "Heere ki kadar to Johari hi janta hai, aur Hero ki kadar to Johar-hi janta Hai"
Shahrukh crooning "Mind it Rascalla"

The movie takes a spoof on a lot of contemporary and old stars.
Like Shabana Azmi arriving at the Filmfare awards and giving the soundbyte "Yeh slum ko hata kar jo award show ho raha hai, main uske khilaf protest karne aayee hoon".
Babyshek getting up to collect the award even before it was announced.
Shahrukh poking fun on his Mohabattein song.
(Can never understand why Manoj Kumar has so much complains from the movie and SRK)

You have to watch this movie to appreciate this.

Picture abhi baki hai mere dost.