LOOTERA V/S POLICEGIRI
Lootera was launched more than 1 ½ years back. It was a landmark film as it gave birth to Phantom Films – an initiative of Anurag Kashyap, Vikas Bahl, and Madhu Mantena. Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji Motion Pictures too collaborated with these ‘phantoms’ for the romantic saga. The film regularly remained in news and it was interesting to know that the film has been shot in the picturesque locations of rural Bengal and Dalhousie. Technically, the film looks brilliant and the locales captured most beautifully. Songs are melodious and might not have become chartbusters but can gradually pick up, especially after film releases. The 50s era, showcased in the film, should make for a great watch, as evident from the promos. The outgoing Ranveer Singh plays a soft-spoken and suave guy in the film. Performance-wise, he seems great but he's not looking his best in my opinion. Sonakshi Sinha, meanwhile, looks stunning and is just perfect for roles that require the 'desiness'.
The buzz for the film, sadly, isn’t huge. The film is reportedly made on a substantial cost and one wonders whether it’s a wise decision to do so for a film that doesn’t boast of superstars. The makers however seem pretty confident about the film and it’s evident by the fact that they are organizing multiple screenings of the movie, starting from as early as previous Sunday, i.e. 5 days before the film’s release. Opening definitely would not be huge but good word of mouth can help the film pick speed at the ticket window. The previous week’s Ghanchakkar won’t have much of a chance in Week 2 while Policegiri that also releases with Lootera tomorrow won’t be of much of a competition.
And this brings us to Policegiri. It’s common knowledge by now that it stars Sanjay Dutt. A significant portion of the film was in fact shot after his jail verdict came out. The ever dependable Prakash Raj plays the villain while Prachi Desai, Manoj Joshi, Om Puri, Rajpal Yadav and many others too are a part of the film’s cast. It’s a remake of the superhit Tamil film Saamy that also has been remade in Telegu and Bengali. It is directed by K S Ravikumar, a prominent name down South and who’s also directing the upcoming Rajinikanth flick Kochadaiyaan. Promos indicate that it’s a full-on good v/s bad masala flick, replete with clap worthy dialogues and action scenes. However, at the same time, it reminds one a lot of Wanted, Dabangg, Singham and other recent cop dramas-cum-South remakes. Moreover, Sanjay Dutt doesn’t have the same pull as Salman or Ajay Devgn or Akshay Kumar. In fact, a 50+ Dutt romancing a Prachi Desai, who’s in her 20s, has turned out to be a put off for many viewers. That this is the first major film of Dutt after his jail sentence hasn’t contributed much in enhancing the buzz. Hence, a huge opening is ruled out. Critics are definitely not going to like the film but if the masses, the target audience, like give it thumbs up, then it can surely earn well at the box office.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE LOOTERA OR POLICEGIRI AND WHY? DO LET ME KNOW!
