AAKROSH - great movie but flops -why

OK so DABANGG had created few more records and Robot had captured the imagination of viewers in a big way. Then there are few FAKE MULTIPLEX PICS like Do Dooni Chaar (a poor inspiration from Khosla Ka Ghosla) and Knock Out (it will literally 'knock your head out' with its on face stupidity).

But then comes a movie from a film maker like Priyadarshan, who mastered the art of mindless comic capers. The name of the movie is Aakrosh and WHAT A MOVIE. Everyday story of HONOR KILLINGS is the central issue of the movie with a backdrop of caste-ism. Although it has fair share of violence and a bit objectionable dialogues but these are integral part of narrative NOT ONLY FOR ADDING SPICE LIKE IN DABANGG OR ROBOT.

Performances are awesome plus direction is tremendous. Although couple of unnecessary item songs and over-dramatic chase sequences may be irritating but not as much as was in so called MEGA HITS OF PAST MONTH.

But film did perform badly at box office even after having Ajay Devgan in it who has delivered three back to back hits this year, a rare feat in today's time when superstars (READ KHANS) DO 3 MOVIES IN 5 YEARS. First time a full fledged main stream movie has been made on serious issues of honor killings and Priyadarshan has reminded us that he is the same man who directed movies like Gardish & Virasat in past. Movie fails and that is very disturbing.

First thing first.Media and so many stars keep telling us that our audience is now a mature lot and so face of cinema is changing. PARTIALLY RIGHT BUT MOSTLY WRONG.

Swades was a movie with a pure message without any SO CALLED ENTERTAINMENT, it failed to ring cash registers.

Chak De was a hit as it had a feeling of patriotism and sports at its centre and we all know how much we love both.

Peepli Live works again because its AN ESCAPIST CINEMA AT ITS BEST. It deals with serious issues of FARMER SUICIDE 7 IRRESPONSIBLE MEDIA in such a way that we laugh all the way on miseries of both. PITY!

Raajneti works because of huge starcast including current heartthrobs Ranbir & Katrina and over dramatic presentation of Politics.

But when today's so called 'mature audience' is tested by mature cinema either in the form of Aakrosh or Swades, it seems maturity is quite shallow. Success of Dabangg & Robot is good for health and wealth of Hindi Film Industry but failure of soulful cinema is worrysome not only for cinema but for society.

If Priyadarshan will present another mindless comedy,then most will blame him that he has nothing new to offer(remember what Raj Kapoor did after failure of Mera Naam Joker,He made Bobby!).

Mature audience, come on yaar!

Another Chance to pour my soul on celluloid

So Its been quite a long time since i had chat with myself and so why not today? Again after a gap of almost 10 months i got chance to write & direct one SHORT FILM for National Short Film in Nagpur. Like most of the time in past, i got it because of blessings of HUZUR SAHAB(whom i call BABA), MY guru & friend and ya of course my love was there by my side in Khyati.

It was 6th October when i started writing the script and was 7th evening when i finished it. We shot for next 2days and editing was over by 11th Morning. Then we uploaded the movie same day and entry fee was submitted in Nagpur by one of my cousin as 12th was the last day. So it was a project finished in almost 5 days from inception to end. There was no expectation as everything was done in such a hurry.

12th evening, we got the news that our short film had been selected among top 50 out of total entries of around 250. It was like a pleasant surprise but it had a flip side. Now everybody in team started expecting for something even bigger. Next day we had been told that it would be screened in finals in front of Final jury Mr. Cyrus Dastur as one of the top 10films. Now excitement was high and everyone in our team was satisfied as film had one wonders. Finally it failed to win but came respectable third.

The name of the short film was THE DOUBTFUL MINDS (film can be viewed on www.vimeo.com/15777212) and was made with all conviction by me within all kind of possible constraints like short time,one camera,no light etc.

Moral of the endeavor-Conviction leads to wonder and wonder to self belief.And so again i got achance to pour my soul on celluloid and it happened big time for me.Thanks to all well wishers.