The Bollywood flops of 2009

The Bollywood flops of 2009
What's Your Raashee?
Rocket Singh Salesman Of The Year
8 x 10 Tasveer
Blue
Billu
Chandni Chowk To China
Kurbaan
Main Aurr Mrs Khanna
London Dreams

The year 2009 has not been too good for Bollywood, as some of the most-awaited movies like Chandni Chowk To China and Blue sank at the box office.

Trade analyst Vinod Mirani gives us a list of the top 10 flops of the year. Take a look.

Dil Bole Haddipa

A copy of Hollywood film She Is The Man, Dil Bole Hadippa did not earn a hit status for its heroine Rani Mukerji.

Rani played Veera in the film, who is very passionate about cricket. The only way she can be a part of the local cricket team is if she transforms herself into a Sardar boy. So Veera becomes Veer. Not too long after, she falls in love with the team's captain, played by Shahid Kapoor.

Yash Raj Films' bad phase at the box office continued, and Rani found herself slowly slipping off the ranks.


Image: A scene from Dil Bole Haddipa

'Kurbaan gave a shock to the system'

Authur J Pais in New York

The pre-release excitement over Kurbaan was not sustained despite some good reviews. But writer Rensil D'Silva [inset], who makes his directorial debut with this film, says it will not be written off.

Best known for his screenplay for Rang De Basanti, D'Silva, 41, discusses films and people that have influenced him the most.

When did you fall in love with the movies?

It started with Star Wars over three decades ago. I had begged my family to take me to that movie. I was amazed to see the spectacle unfold, though my mother (a classical piano teacher) complained during the interval that she did not understand a word of it. But for me, everything in the film was magical.

Is there someone else in the family who loves movies as much as you do?

My mother's father (Walter Netto), who is 95. He used to take me to the movies, and, more importantly, discuss them with me. I saw some of the best Indian and Hollywood films because of him. He also kept a thick notebook, and from 1940 he had been entering the names of the films he had seen, with a few lines about them.

Is the notebook still around?

Very much. I began adding some of the films I had seen and wrote a few lines about them. Just to keep the tradition going. The 400-page book is almost full.


Image: A scene from Kurbaan

Saif Kareena Romance Fuels Buzz for 'Kurbaan'

All eyes are now on Rensil D'Silva's 'Kurbaan', which is all set to release soon. The buzz surrounding the movie has mostly to do with its lead pair, Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor, who have been romantically cast opposite each other for the first time. They have done films like 'Tashan' and 'LOC' before this, but have never been cast opposite each other.

'Kurbaan' will be the first film where the real life lovers will also play reel life lovers. But unlike most Hindi films, the romance in this movie is not the frivolous kind but instead is intense and emotional, something which made the actors draw out from within themselves, emotions and feelings, which perhaps lay buried deep within. The film also stars Vivek Oberoi and its promos also manage to convey the intense mood of the movie. 'Kurbaan' has been written by Rensil and is set in the United States, against a backdrop of terrorism. It seems that story is about the protagonists who turn to terrorism after a series of unfortunate incidents that happen to them. But Rensil is very sure that he is not glorifying terrorism and that is what made Saif accept the role. He was bowled over by the script and which is why both he and Kareena agreed to do the movie. The couple will next be seen together in Saif's home production, 'Agent Vinod'. In fact, that is the only film which Saif will be working on for a while. Kareena, on the other hand, will be busy with the shooting of 'Stepmother' as well. She will also be awaiting the release of Raju Hirani's '3 Idiots' which has her starring opposite Aamir Khan for the first time.

First Look: 'Kurbaan'

Avantika (Kareena Kapoor) is a teacher in a university in Delhi. She has come back from New York where she teaches, because her father has suffered a heart attack. During this period, she meets a temporary Professor called Ehsaan Khan (Saif Ali Khan). Soon they begin seeing each other and love blossoms. A few months later, Avantika receives a call from her university in New York, asking her to come back for the Fall Semester. Avantika breaks the news to Ehsaan. He in turn, tells her he doesn't mind coming to the States with her, to find a job. But first they need to get married.

Soon after the marriage, they leave to start a new life in New York. They buy a house in an Indian neighbourhood and move in. Just as they are setting up home, their conservative Muslim neighbours, Hamid and Anjum, invite them over for dinner. The next morning, Salma, one of the women Avantika met the night before at the dinner, visits her under the pretext of gifting her sweets. When Avantika invites her in, Salma tells her that she is in grave danger. Nothing is what it seems. Salma pleads with Avantika to help her. What follows next, is a series of incidents that sucks Avantika into a vortex of danger and intrigue. As her life spirals out of control, Avantika realizes that she is a pawn in a huge game. And no one is to be trusted.

Shooting Kareena 'topless' in Kurbaan

The promos of Saif Ali Khan's film with girlfriend Kareena Kapoor -- Kurbaan -- are out, and it's getting a lot of attention. The music is riding up the charts, and it looks like producer Karan Johar may have a winner on his hands.

The man helming the film is Rensil D'Silva. This may be his first directorial venture but Rensil is not new to the field. An ad man with about 18 years of experience, Rensil has also scripted films like Aks, Rang De Basanti and Mani Ratnam's upcoming film Raavan.

When we asked Rensil why it took him so long to finally direct a film, he said he was 'waiting for the right time.' Well, it looks like the right time has arrived.

Rensil talks to Nithya Ramani about what to expect in Kurbaan and even the much-talked about poster showing a topless Kareena.

You have written the script of Kurbaan as well.

Yes. It is Karan Johar's story. He told me about the film and for the next few months, I couldn't get it off my head. A common friend told Karan that I had loved the story, so he asked me to direct it.


Image: Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan and Rensil D Silva

Kurbaan's music scores

CommentAditya Chopra's Fanaa and New York combined the conflicting themes of romance and terrorism to box office uplifting results. Taking a break from candy floss capers, filmmaker Karan Johar, too, strives to achieve the same with his serious albeit sleek production, Kurbaan.

Directed by Rensil D'Silva, best known for his scriptwriting skills in Rang De Basanti, the tense drama features Bollywood's 'It' couple-Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor.

While the posters and trailer of Kurbaan drew expected attention, the soundtrack by the affable duo of Salim-Sulaiman along with the inventive penmanship of Prasoon Joshi is keenly melodious and instantly appealing.

Kurbaan makes a promising and lilting beginning with the silvery Shukran allah. Fresh and breezy, Shukran allah celebrates the novelty of a young romance and bursting emotions with generous help from Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghosal's delicate delivery. This one's a keeper.

The rustic vocal brilliance of Sukhwinder Singh and Kailash Kher join forces fervently praying for divine intervention in Dua hai, a characteristically Salim-Sulaiman creation. Even as the arrangement and chorus pattern is often reminiscent of Kaal's Tauba Tauba, the collective enthusiasm of the afore-mentioned singers keeps the momentum going.