Latest news with #3Idiots
The Guardian
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
The Indian movie legend on a cut-price mission to save Bollywood
About ten years ago, Aamir Khan became troubled. Despite being one of Bollywood's most bankable superstars for more than three decades, he realised that only tiny numbers of Indians were watching him on the big screen. Indian cinema is widely adored and has an outsized influence on society but just 2-3% of its 1.4 billion people go to the cinema. One longstanding problem is access, in particular in rural areas. Khan, who has starred in, directed and produced celebrated films including Lagaan, 3 Idiots and Taare Zameen Par, spent years trying to develop a plan to build thousands of low-cost cinemas in India's rural hinterland where films could be beamed in via satellite. However, the initiative was stymied by relentless bureaucracy. Cost, too, has become a big obstacle. In the past, going to the cinema was a vibrant, often rowdy communal affair, where families would pack out single-screen cinemas amid cheering, dancing and whistling, with tickets costing just a few rupees. But as multiplexes have come to dominate in India, it has become a luxury experience. Tickets now regularly cost upwards of 500 rupees (£4.30) – unaffordable to most families in India. 'When my first film came out the cinema tickets were 10 rupees and whole families from all classes could afford to come [and] pack out cinema halls,' said Khan, 60. 'But the reality is that theatres are no longer a mass medium, it's become an upper-class medium. And as film-makers, we haven't done enough to change that and reach that other 97% of the population.' Instead, he said people had found other ways to watch films: either waiting for them to come on to satellite television or watching grainy pirated versions on their phones. This week, however, Khan presented what he promised would be the solution – or what he described as the 'future for Indian cinema'. After a traditional cinematic run, his latest release, Sitaare Zameen Par (Stars on Earth), will be made available for audiences exclusively on YouTube for just 100 rupees, the equivalent of less than £1. Other films in his back catalogue and future releases will follow. His choice of YouTube, known more as a place to watch trailers than full movies, was deliberate. Of all entertainment platforms, YouTube's reach in India – with 491 million users – far outstretches other traditional streaming services such as Netflix, which has about 12 million subscribers in India. It was, said Khan, 'an absolute no-brainer when you consider the reach it has'. 'Internet penetration in India is now huge so you don't need physical theatres to reach an audience any more,' Khan said. 'I believe this is the model that will reach out to the maximum number of people and also serve the film industry's creative community. Of course, the first place for our films should always be theatres. But then they should be available to the bulk of the country at an affordable price.' Khan said he would always prefer people to watch his films on the big screen but the reality was that theatres were not catering to the audience he wanted to reach. He said: 'The idea with this is that 100 rupees would be paid by a whole family to watch the film together, maybe with their neighbours as well, so the cost per head would be very low.' Khan's decision to offer an alternative is also a response to the detrimental role he believes streaming has played in the crisis being faced by Indian cinema. Sign up to Film Weekly Take a front seat at the cinema with our weekly email filled with all the latest news and all the movie action that matters after newsletter promotion Rather than boosting audiences, streaming had proved 'counterproductive' and had led to the 'cannibalisation' of Indian cinema, where films barely had a chance to be seen at theatres before they became absorbed on a platform alongside millions of others. 'Right now I feel that cinema is going through a rough time and I'm doing what I can to put back life into it,' said Khan. The industry's turmoil has not been restricted to a flailing box office. Over the past decade, since right-wing Hindu nationalist politics have come to dominate India, film-makers have accused India's film censors of being draconian and blocking anything politically contentious. Bollywood's biggest male stars – Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, often referred to as the 'trinity of Khans' – are all Muslim and have been targeted by nationalists, who have mobilised hate campaigns and boycotts of their films and accused them of being 'anti-India'. Khan continues to be haunted by comments he made a decade ago, stating that he felt unsafe amid 'rising intolerance', which prompted protests. Khan acknowledged that many in the industry felt their creative instincts were being curbed by people in positions of strength who know very little about mass communication. 'They feel they don't have the freedom to say things the way they want to and how they want to,' he said. But Khan said censorship and other pressures faced by Indian cinema were nothing new and dated back to the 1940s. 'Every society has a certain percentage of people who are negative in their outlook and that is not going to disappear.' Despite entertaining thoughts of retirement – as well as a brief period during the pandemic when he 'secretly retired for six months' – Khan said he remained excited by the possibilities of cinema in India. 'I'm really hopeful this new model will work,' he said. 'If it doesn't, we're all in trouble.'
Hindustan Times
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Dhadak 2 movie review: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri's film on caste and love has so much to say, so little clarity
Dhadak 2 movie review Cast: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri Director: Shazia Iqbal Star rating: ★★.5 Dhadak 2 reminded me of 3 Idiots in two instances. I know, totally different genres. But hear me out. First, when Siddhant Chaturvedi's character says the exact same line Aamir Khan's Rancho did after someone gives up on life in 3 Idiots: 'Yeh suicide nahi, murder tha.' The scene is set up in a very similar way here as well. And second, when Rancho's college professor throws up his hands and says, 'Arre kehna kya chahte ho?' That same feeling pops up more than once while watching this film. I'll explain why. Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri give strong performances in Dhadak 2. Dhadak 2, like its predecessor, is an adaptation. The first was based on the 2016 Marathi hit Sairat. This one is a remake of the Tamil film Pariyerum Perumal (2018). Director Shazia Iqbal stays true to the original, rarely straying from its core. The premise Neelesh (Siddhant Chaturvedi) and Viddhi (Triptii Dimri) are students at a law college. She belongs to an upper caste, he to a lower one. She gets attracted, makes the first move, while he hesitates, fully aware of what it could lead to. Her family strongly opposes the relationship and humiliates him. He distances himself; she doesn't. What happens next? Do they reunite, or do they face an ending as grim as the one in the first Dhadak? You'll have to watch to find out. The biggest problem with Dhadak 2 is that it takes too long to figure out what it wants to be. And when it finally does, it struggles to stay consistent. The first half drags, focusing almost entirely on the love story. The writing (by Shazia Iqbal and Rahul Badwelkar) tries hard to convince us of the chemistry between the leads, but it never feels natural. Strangely enough, the original Dhadak, with two newcomers like Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter, felt more believable in capturing the innocence of first love. How much conflict is too much conflict? In contrast, Dhadak 2 has too much going on. There's caste violence, a political subplot, even a psychopathic killer targeting lower-caste young adults who dare to love outside their caste. At one point, you start to wonder: how much conflict is too much conflict? That said, the second half is where the film finally finds its voice. It sheds the forced romance and brings the core issue- caste discrimination- to the forefront. Neelesh hits back. The tension rises. And the film briefly becomes gripping. There's also a thread on women's rights thrown in somewhere. Dhadak 2 has potential, but its lack of editing undercuts it. Omkar Uttam Sakpal and Sangeeth Varghese should have trimmed at least 20 minutes. The preachiness in the climax gets loud, and as a result, the impact fizzles out. And while the ending promises a better world, it doesn't translate into a satisfying conclusion, appearing rushed. Still, the film deserves credit for tackling difficult scenes with honesty. The seriousness of the subject does come through at times, and even earns applause from the audience in some scenes. How are the performances? Siddhant Chaturvedi delivers a good performance, portraying a young man trapped in systemic injustice but still searching for a way out. Triptii Dimri handles a complex role too — a woman caught between her family's rigid beliefs and her love for Neelesh. But it's Siddhant who takes charge in the latter half, carrying the emotional weight as his character is pushed to the brink. Zakir Hussain as the college principal stands out, and so does Saurabh Sachdeva as an antagonist. The music by Rochak Kohli, Tanishk Bagchi, Javed Mohsin and Shreyas Puranik doesn't do a lot of work here within the story, they might make for good listens otherwise. In the end, Dhadak 2 is a film that carries a powerful message but fumbles with its storytelling. It wants to speak about caste, oppression, and systemic injustice- and when it does, it hits the right notes. But it's weighed down by an uneven narrative and an overstretched runtime. This could have been a hard-hitting social drama. Instead, it settles for moments of brilliance buried under a ton of missed opportunities.
News18
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
International Friendship Day 2025: 10 Bollywood Films To Celebrate The Day
1/10 Sholay: A cult classic! The film narrates the story of two friends who fight against a tyrant to bring justice to the village. (Image: IMDb) Dil Chahta Hai: The film explores the lives of three inseparable friends as they navigate love, heartbreak and life changes. (Image: IMDb) Rock On: The drama captures the essence of friendship, dreams and second chances. It is about a band that reunites years after their split, rediscovering their passion for music and friendship. (Image: IMDb) The film narrates the story of a goon who with the help of his loyal friend, tries to fulfill his father's dream of becoming a doctor. (Image: IMDb) Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na: The film follows two best friends who are unaware of their deeper feelings for each other. (Image: IMDb) 6/10 3 Idiots: It follows the lives of three engineering students and their quest for success, happiness and true friendship. (Image: IMDb) Kai Po Che: The film is based on Chetan Bhagat's novel. It shows the lives of three friends who start a cricket academy amid the socio-political turmoil in Gujarat. (Image: IMDb) Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara: The story revolves around three childhood friends who embark on a road trip in Spain, leading to life altering experiences and rekindling their bond. (Image: IMDb) Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani: The film explores themes like love, life, and friendship. It is about four friends from different walks of life as they reunite for a wedding. (Image: IMDb) 10/10
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First Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- First Post
'Saiyaara' music composer Tanishk Bagchi breaks silence on the allegations of the title song being copied: 'The similarities are fine, it can happen, but...'
Breaking his silence, Bagchi was quoted saying, 'Whatever I do, people will have something to say because they don't have [anything better to do.' read more A few weeks back, who would have imagined a Bollywood romantic musical drama titled Saiyaara featuring debutants Ahaan Panday & Aneet Padda in the lead would be crossing Rs 400 crore at the global box office. The Mohit Suri directorial has performed way beyond expectations and is now aiming to surpass the business of movies, which are the highest-grossers of big stars globally. Saiyaara currently stands with a global collection of around Rs 395 crore and is now set to surpass the business of Simmba (Rs 400.19 crore), 3 Idiots (Rs 400.61 crore), Brahmastra (Rs 418.8 crore), Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (Rs 423.85 crore) and Chennai Express (Rs 424.54 crore). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But now, music composer of the film Tanishk Bagchi has reacted to the allegations that the title song has been lifted from a song by One Direction and even Jubin Nautiyal's song Humnava. Breaking his silence, Bagchi was quoted saying, 'Whatever I do, people will have something to say because they don't have [anything better to do. They keep on looking for opportunities to put me down.' He added, 'But ultimately, the song will go wherever it's destined to, and that's what's happening with Saiyaara too. As for the comparisons — if you look at the melody, the chords are the same. The A minor scale has just about 3–4 chords, but every melody has a different soul.' Once known as the composer for remixing classic songs of yore, Bagchi also added, 'Even if you can do that, it's really difficult to make it a hit. All said and done, we didn't steal anything. The similarities are fine, it can happen, but it's not like we did it on purpose.' 'Idhar se utha ke udhar nahi kiya (We didn't pick something from there and add it here). We worked on the emotion of the song, and that worked. That's the magic of Saiyaara,' continued the composer.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Hrithik Roshan, Vidya Balan changed after success? Here's what filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra has to say
Vidhu Vinod Chopra, acclaimed for hits like 'Munna Bhai MBBS' and '3 Idiots', values fresh talent for their purity and sincerity. He observes success often changes people's character, citing actors like Hrithik Roshan and Vidya Balan. Chopra's influential films blend storytelling with social themes, leaving a lasting industry impact. Vidhu Vinod Chopra stands out as one of Hindi cinema's most accomplished filmmakers, renowned for hits like 'Munna Bhai MBBS' and '3 Idiots'. Similar to the character from Munna Bhai, the film that significantly boosted his fortune, Chopra is known for his straightforward and candid opinions about Bollywood and its inner workings. Recently, he shared insights about working with many now-famous filmmakers and actors, reflecting on how achieving success can profoundly transform a person's character. Choosing Fresh Talent for Purity During a SCREEN interview, talking to director Jaskunwar Kohli, who created the documentary 'Zero Se Restart' on the making of Chopra's '12th Fail', Vidhu shared his approach to choosing fresh and inexperienced people for his projects. He believes that new talent brings 'more purity' and 'less corruption' to the work environment. Reflecting on those who began their careers assisting him and are now successful filmmakers, Chopra noticed that their early work had a unique sincerity. However, he also pointed out a change that success can bring: 'Unfortunately, if I cast a new face in my film and that one movie does well, it changes them.' Transformation of Actors with Success Chopra remarked on the transformation he has witnessed in actors as their careers advance and they gain fame. While he didn't specify any filmmakers, he mentioned several actors whose early breakthroughs came through his films. He said, 'I've worked with so many people and I've seen them change. Mission Kashmir was Hrithik Roshan 's first film… Vidya Balan 's first film… Boman Irani 's first film… There's a whole list, I don't know how many. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Medical News: NMN and RESVERATROL Change Aging Dogs' Health PAWPRINT LAB Learn More Undo As they become successful, all of them, this isn't an individual thing, they change. That's why I like people who are nobodies, because once you become somebody, you don't remain the same person.' Legacy as a Celebrated Filmmaker Vidhu is a celebrated filmmaker in Hindi cinema, known for producing and directing numerous hit films that have left a lasting impact. His works, including blockbusters like 'Munna Bhai MBBS', '3 Idiots', and 'PK', are praised for their engaging storytelling blended with social themes.
