Countdown begins for OSO and Saawariya

By: Taran Adarsh, IndiaFM
Monday, October 29, 2007

The countdown has begun! On one side is the biggest star of Hindi cinema [SRK]. On the opposite side is the biggest director of Hindi cinema [Sanjay Leela Bhansali]. The battle royale this Diwali is being keenly watched by people from within and outside the industry. Which film will steal the march and garner a big opening? The speculations have begun…

Year after year, most Diwali releases have elicited a tremendous response. Diwali is special. People are in a mood to spend, party, get entertained. The footfalls at movieplexes show a meteoric rise during this festive season. The business escalates if the films are talked-about. And it definitely can't get bigger than Om Shanti Om and Saawariya.

The worldwide distributors of the two films [Eros - O.S.O., Sony - Saawariya] are working at a feverish pace, marketing the products aggressively, besides getting the best deals from movieplexes. The two films are being given an extensive release across the globe. Expectedly, the first week billing will be earth shattering!

Two [or more] good films can easily co-exist during Diwali. Let's hope and pray, both O.S.O. and Saawariya make the film industry richer by several crores this festive season. Let the festival of lights make the scenario brighter this November.

THE LAST KISS?

Everyone's talking about the on-screen chemistry between Shahid and Kareena in Jab We Met. The good-looking couple didn't set the screen ablaze in the first three films they did together [Fida, 36 China Town, Chup Chupke], but this time around, in their fourth film, the chemistry is electrifying.

Unfortunately, Jab We Met seems to be their final film together. That's what everyone feels, after the real-life couple decided to go separate ways for reasons best known to them. I posed this question to Shahid on my TV show and, on camera, he said he'd work with Kareena again.

Meanwhile, the ending of Jab We Met shows Shahid and Kareena indulging in a passionate liplock. Hope it's not the last kiss!

Speed? OR SLOW MOTION?

Vikram Bhatt's film is called Speed, but its journey at the ticket window was not Speedy enough. It started in slow motion and got slower and slower with each passing day. Frankly, Speed is an engrossing fare, well-made with several interesting moments. But the promotion, which started quite some time back, gave the feeling of it being a stale film. Also, the quality of promos wasn't eye-catching, in my opinion.

The worst hit by its failure are Vikram Bhatt and actors Zayed Khan and Aftab Shivdasani. Speed is Vikram's 9th flop in a row. Zayed has had 10 releases so far and barring Main Hoon Na and Dus, the remaining 8 films have proved flops. And Speed is Aftab's 12th consecutive flop. Ouch!