The start and the end are two crucial points of a movie. The Start gives you an insight into what the movie will be about, the presentation is most important in order to sustain interest. The End, this is what the audience member will go out remembering, so it has to be effective.
So…what am I going on about here?
Zaahir hai, I’m talking about the opening and closing credits (which I have defined as scenes as there was no other section)! Aha, bet you didn’t see that one coming!
(Not in any order)
Biwi O Biwi – Opening Credits
Director: Rahul Rawail (debut =D)
Starring: Sanjeev Kumar, Randhir Kapoor, Deena Pathik, Poonam Dhillon, Deven Verma, Simi Grewal, Yogita Bali
Now, this is numero uno! This movie’s opening credits consisted of cartoon characters sketched along the lines of the personalities of the characters in the movie.
It had the Army Sanjeev Kumar as a lion, dressed in army attire, along with his footman; Randhir Kapoor was a rabbit; Deena Pathik was the lioness =D; the Thief Sanjeev Kumar was portrayed as a fox; Yogita Bali was the purrring cat…I forget Poonam Dhillon, me thinks she too was a wabbit. =D
Ok, the goings on between these cartoon characters portrays what actually goes on in the movie. The Army Sanjeev chases the Bunny Randhir (with a gun)…Randhir dresses up as an army man…gets caught…hides behind the great lioness wearing a white sari =D (Deena Pathik)…the sly fox is shown to be taking on different personas…the purring cat is seen to be admiring herself…Deven Verma admires her =D…Simi Grewal is the goose who lays the golden egg and the fox tries to steal it…then the great car chase is shown…
Whilst all of this was taking place, we also see the names of the other crew members…such as editing, music, producer, director all acting their parts out…e.g.. Director is the traffic director etc
It’s all really very hilarious, gives the movie a good “feel” and stays true to the incidents in the movie…=D
A lot of old comedies had cartoon style opening credits.
Saathiya –Opening Credits
Director: Shaad Ali (debut also =D)
Starring: Vivek Oberoi, Rani Mukherjee, Tanuja, and Satish Shah
Now this one differs from Biwi O Biwi…in more than one way. There are no cartoons, no funny characters re-telling the incidents of the story and yet, the opening credits of this movie are shown when Vivek just misses seeing Rani being taken by the ambulance…and if he had, then the whole search would never have taken place.
The movie starts with the song “O Jaani”…a MAD song…cool beat/rhythm…whatever.
Vivek is riding his motorbike and bopping along to “O Jaani” on his headphones…we’re shown a frame of him…then, a bit of the credits…a bit more of him…and then the credits. He then comes across a road accident that has blocked his entrance to his place…he doesn’t hear most of what the inspector tells him due to the music…and by wishing well for the victim, he moves along, lost in his own world.
The audience, along with Vivek, also does not recognise the importance of this opening sequence, and when it’s shown later on…it’s like “oh no! He JUST missed her!”
Vivek’s persona is shown to be that of a carefree guy (no surprises there) and the credits also kinda come racing at you…going well with the whole motorbike scene…
Damn effective later, I tell you. Well, it was for me.
Main Hoon Na –Closing Credits
Director: Farah Khan (also debut =D)
Starring: SRK, Sushmita Sen, Suniel Shetty, Zayed Khan, Amrita Rao, Boman Irani, Bindu, Kirron Kher, Satish Shah, Kiran Bedi, Naseerudin Shah
Of course, I was going to include this! Although, I think that this type has been done before, but as I can’t remember that one, I’ll just include this.
Ok, the closing credits…set on the backdrop of “Yeh Fizaaien”…shows the whole (well most of it) out on a day at the Mela. There’s the Ferris wheel, merry-go-round and other Mela related games.
Most of the names shown relate to the character persona in the movie. Sushmita’s name is written on her creative folders, Suniel’s name is on the newspaper, Amrita’s name is on balloons, Zayed Khan has his name imprinted on the cheerleader’s jumper backs =D, Satish Shah has it writ on his cast, Boman Irani on his tie…
Then the other crew…The asst. producer holds a BIG cheque, the hairdresser is shown doing Zayed’s hair, Manish Malhotra’s name is writ on a flowery sari type cloth (for Sush), Anu Malik is composing the music…etc etc.
It’s a feel good song, as are the lyrics, but like, you see the sound department, art department, dancers and you kind of go “wow…all these people”…and you get a good impression of Farah…and also, its nice to know the ‘behind the scenes’.
Others:
Hum Aapke Hain Koun…? – Opening Credits
This started with the title song and both Sallu and Mads sing to each other. Only close-ups are shown. Now, this one is important as it started of the trend with having a song like this for the titles.
Hungama –Opening Credits
It was just nicely done, like, the pictures moved in a number of wacky poses…and the background was really modern and cool.
Andaz Apna Apna –Opening Credits
The opening credits had background music of the rhythm of some of the songs in the movie…but that wasn’t the cool thing. The cool thing was the drawings of the main characters…that was very funny because the illustrations were like those exaggerated newspaper style ones.
Hum Ho Gaye Aapke –Opening Credits
Shows Fardeen smoking, drinking, and moving girls along a BIG chess set. The girls are the chess pieces; showed his playboy personality. You dislike the character before he even says a word.
Kuch Na Kaho –Closing Credits
I liked this because it showed what happened after the movie ended…it rather gave the movie a ‘reality’ touch. Like, the movie didn’t seem like a fake story somehow. It was also quite funny.
Pinjar’s Opening Credits give the film the periodic and artistic feel, K3G’s Opening and Closing Credits are also worthy of a mention, Mohabbatein’s Opening Credits was also satisfactory.
Other closing credits that are also good include those that have bloopers. E.g. Munnabhai MBBS, Judwaa, and the Fardeen starrer where the movie was something about a family feud (what was the name?).
Anyways, if anyone else knows other good ones, feel free to suggest =D. LOL and I know that this is a weird sort of topic, but what can I do, I notice these things. ^-^
