Utt Pataang

I've often said that 'small' or low cost films, very often, have much more to offer than several biggies that thrive on star value primarily; content is a secondary issue for these films. Ticket paying audiences insist on watching good films and that's where a strong word of mouth plays a vital part these days. Positive feedback can lure viewers even after the crucial opening weekend is over. Films like Tere Bin Laden, Udaan, Do Dooni Chaar, Phas Gaye Re Obama and Band Baaja Baaraat endorse this statement.

I genuinely believe that the audience for hi-content films is multiplying with each passing week. The viewer is willing to give his/her precious time and invest his/her hard-earned money on a film with substance, which only goes to prove yet again that content is the backbone of business, the low cost or absence of top stars notwithstanding. The day of the underdog has finally arrived.

In the 1970s, Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Basu Chatterjee popularized comedy films. The trend was carried forward by Sai Paranjpye. Early 1990s saw the emergence of David Dhawan, Priyadarshan and Anees Bazmee proving their mettle with slapstick. First-time director Srikanth V. Velagaleti merges comedy with thrill elements in his debut outing Utt Pataang and the experiment succeeds to a major extent.