HALF A DOZEN RELEASES TOMORROW; BAAZAAR TO DOMINATE!

Like it happens every year, the pre-Diwali period is here and it’ll be riddled with plenty of small releases. Every year, such films flop big time and yet, the makers don’t get the drift. Tomorrow, as many as 6 films would release and only the first one seems to be interesting and carries some buzz. My analysis:

BAAZAAR: It stars Saif Ali Khan, Chitrangda Singh and Radhika Apte and marks the debut of Vinod Mehra’s son Rohan. It is produced by Nikkhil Advani and is the directorial debut of Gauravv K Chawla. The film was ready almost a year back but didn’t get any buyers. Therefore, a perception was generated the film is poor. But after the success of Saif’s web show Sacred Games, the film again generated interest and ultimately, Viacom18 Motion Pictures came on board. When the trailer was unveiled, people were pleasantly surprised as it seemed quite interesting and entertaining. The dialogues were massy and Saif looked in great form. Rohan too seems promising while Chitrangda and Radhika seem to have an important role. Songs didn’t pick up and also, the reach would be limited as it’s about stock exchange which many don’t follow. Still, the opening can be in the range of Rs. 2.50-3.50 crore.

KAASHI - IN SEARCH OF GANGA: It stars Sharman Joshi and Aishwarya Devan and is a massy thriller. The film was unknown when it was made and got noticed a bit when the trailers came out. Sharman looks in form and the film’s trailer is intriguing. However, there’s a fear that the film might get preachy and symbolic in the end which won’t be accepted by the target massy audience. The film has chances only in single screens of hinterland.

5 WEDDINGS: It stars prominent actors like Rajkummar Rao and Nargis Fakhri. Shockingly, the buzz is negligible. Agreed that it was meant to be a festival film but still, a film starring these two actors ideally should have had some awareness. The film is releasing without noise and many don’t even know it’s going to be out. The opening hence can be disastrous.

DASSEHRA: This is a 5-year-old film of Neil Nitin Mukesh that’s releasing now, just like Ishqeria, which came out last month. Also starring Tina Desai, this is a cop drama with a dash of action. The film looks dated but also seems to be a timepass action flick. Few mass centres might accept this film but it’s box office prospects are dim. However, on television, it can work.

THE JOURNEY OF KARMA: It stars Shakti Kapoor and hottie Poonam Pandey. The film looks disastrous from the trailers and it won’t get a lot of audiences despite the skin show. The makers were panned recently when they tried to misuse the #MeToo movement for their film’s promotion. They tried to start a rumour that Shakti Kapoor sexually harassed Poonam Pandey. But even a layman could smell that the makers were lying and hence, it never became big news and rightfully so.

There are two more films releasing tomorrow like Gaon – The Village No More and Chal Jaa Bapu and they’ll all bomb on the first day itself.

WHICH FILM WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE AND WHY? DO LET ME KNOW!

Manish Kishore, Dhiraj Kumar and Sharman Joshi on the sets of the film

MUMBAI MIRROR (October 17, 2018)

“We don’t have a penny between the two of us, but we want to make this film,” director-writer duo Dhiraj Kumar and Manish Kishore had admitted to Sharman Joshi when the actor first inquired about their project, Kaashi in Search of Ganga.

“Who are these two blithering idiots,” Sharman had thought initially. “Who comes and narrates the script without the money to back it up?” However, the two idiots had come with conviction and Joshi realised that this conviction was infectious. The inhibition somewhat lessened when he read the script and liked it from the word go. But filmmaking is not just about a great script and individuals full of conviction and courage, where’s the money? Where’s the fuel to run this obviously promising-looking car?

Sharman says, “I learnt a lesson from my film 3 idiots, ‘Bachcha kaabil bano, kamyabi jhak maarke piche aayegi.’ I connected with the script instantly and was sure that Dhiraj and Manish will make this happen, come what may,” he added in good measure.

“I knew in my heart that if a good actor says yes to the project, I will manage to arrange the sum through my contacts and well-wishers. This was easier said than done. Sleep eluded me, and I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. It was only after Sharman came into this equation that we heaved a sigh of relief,” Dhiraj says.

Manish Kishore is a different cookie. Starting out as a journalist in Delhi, he had seen the grind and deliberately took the plunge into films. “I generally call Dhiraj ji ‘Baba’. He used to be worried most of the time. So was I, but at least I used to mask it better,” Dhiraj points out, adding, “When the going got tough, and finances were particularly tight, I said, ‘Baba’ Trust Mahadev, maybe this is the last hurdle before we break through. And sure enough, we did break through.”

After one and half years of effort on Kaashi in Search of Ganga, the film is releasing on October 26, where Sharman Joshi features in a never-seen-before avatar. “I am very happy with the output of the film, and I am proud to be associated with such an impossible project which became possible with great efforts. I must say, I joined hands with the two idiots and made it three and we proved that we are not idiots in real life,” Sharman adds.

The actor tells mid-day that even though he is eager to do good work, it is the dearth of quality scripts that kept him away from the big screen
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; September 29, 2018)

Having last featured in the erotic crime thriller Wajah Tum Ho two years ago, Sharman Joshi evidently has his hopes pinned on Kaashi In Search Of Ganga. The actor tells mid-day that even though he is eager to do good work, it is the dearth of quality scripts that kept him away from the big screen.

"It's contradictory, I am in a hurry to do good work, but I am willing to wait for suitable scripts to come my way. I don't want to compromise to simply be in the limelight," the actor tells mid-day.

Dheeraj Kumar's suspense thriller sees Joshi in the titular role, as he embarks on a journey to find his missing sister, who, the world refuses to believe even existed. Promising that the film isn't one that merely seemed promising as an idea, Joshi says, "We have been able to successfully make this film as beautifully on reel as it was written on paper. It is in the zone of films that directors like Mani Ratnam and Rajkumar Hirani have made. It's a thriller, so it has many layers."

Joshi, who has explored films, television and theatre, says the platform has never been the driving force for him to give his nod to a script. "I've always maintained that I have to simply be excited about the work that I am doing," he says, yet, he's quick to point out, "Of course, cinema is the mother of all platforms, because of the risk attached to film-making."

BOMBAY TIMES (September 19, 2018)

Actor Sharman Joshi’s next, Kaashi In Search Of Ganga, is set in Varanasi, one of India’s most ancient cities. While it’s known as a centre for spiritual cleansing across the world, the city holds different meanings for different people.

The film, directed by Dhiraj Kumar, is a thriller that revolves around Kaashi (played by Sharman), who earns his livelihood by helping burn pyres at the Manikarnika Ghats. His simple, uneventful life faces a sudden upheaval when his young, college going sister, Ganga, goes missing. Distraught but determined, he joins hands with a journalist (played by Aishwarya Devan) to find her. The search, which takes him from Varanasi to Mumbai and then to Mussoorie, leads him to unexpected findings, revealing many secrets of his own life. The trailer of the movie will be out today.

Sharman, known for impressive performances on stage and in films, including 3 Idiots, Golmaal and Rang De Basanti, is excited about the film. He says, “I met Dhiraj and Manish Kishore (writer) for the story-reading session, and my connect with Kaashi was almost immediate. I thoroughly enjoyed shooting in Varanasi, and I believe that I have put in extra effort to portray my character with conviction. I am really happy with the way the film has turned out.”

Debutant director Dhiraj, adds, “This film has been my dream project, and I am grateful to Sharman for making me realise it. He is a cerebral actor, who adds a fresh perspective to the creative process. His inputs have been extremely helpful. Kaashi will go a long way in proving why Sharman is one of the finest actors in this industry. It has truly been a collaborative project, with everyone giving their best.”

Apart from Sharman and Aishwarya the film, which releases on October 26, also stars Manoj Joshi, Manoj Pahwa, Akhilendra Mishra, Govind Namdev, Priyanka Singh, Mehul Surana, Mugdha Meharia, Kranti Prakash Jha, Paritosh Tripathi and Pushkar Tiwari.