Nishad Neelambaran (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 16, 2020)

For many, a movie with a plot that revolves around a bag full of money might sound too cliché. However, what the makers do with the plot and how they tell a story with it is what makes the difference. And one such film is Lootcase. Directed by debutant Rajesh Krishnan, the film stars Kunal Kemmu and Rasika Dugal in lead roles. The film also features Gajraj Rao, Ranvir Shorey and Vijay Raaz in pivotal roles.

Speaking about his debut film, which recently released on an OTT platform, Krishnan says, “Lootcase has a certain simplicity to it. When you do ad films for 20 years, you learn to be simple rather than complex.” He further adds, “The whole attempt was to keep things as simple as we could and get into a kind of humour which is accessible but, at the same time, intelligent. I’ve grown up watching Malayalam films, and they are shining example of how movies have to be made.”

Lootcase was compared to a Nepalese film Jatra, which released in 2016. So, did this make Krishnan nervous about taking up this project? “We had written the story some time in 2014. If you search for ‘films with bag full of money’, you will find about 40 movies. Somebody getting a bag full of money is a very middle-class thought. It is as clichéd as you can get,” he shares, adding, “Fundamentally, we saw a photo of a rickshaw driver in a newspaper, who had returned a bag to his passenger. We saw the driver’s face, and it was almost like he was sorry to return it without checking what was inside the bag. That is when we started to think about it, and when it was pitched to Kapil Sawant (co-writer), he said, ‘Aisa idea maine suna hai’. I said let’s push and see. You will fail at the max; let’s fail for free.”

Krishnan, who is also the director at Soda Films, is very particular about his cast. Even if it is for an ad shoot, he has managed to work with the right people for a project. He admits that he knew who they wanted to cast for this movie. “The casting team has done a fantastic job here. They actually did the difficult task. I practically had worked with 90% of this crew in some commercial or the other. In advertising world, the look is far more important than performance. There is literally no time for an actor to go out there and express, and that is where the casting team came into play. We did extensive casting except for Gajraj. Back in 2014, we knew we wanted the role of MLA Patil to be played by him,” the director reveals.

Ask him if he would continue to make ad films despite his commercial break, and he says, “Advertising is like Ranji Trophy, where you keep honing your skills. An ad film set is not any different from a feature film set. I would never give up ad films.” 

Lootcase is a highly entertaining flick and a real surprise of the season. Kapil Sawant and Rajesh Krishnan's story and screenplay is highly effective and the film keeps one hooked from start to finish. Rajesh Krishnan’s direction is also first-rate and all the various tracks and characters are well utilized and thought of. Dialogues are a highpoint and are so witty that they’ll not only make you laugh but even amaze you. The best is however reserved for the finale which is sure to bring the house down. On the flipside, the film drops in the middle of the second half. A 10-minute scene was unwanted and could have been removed from the flick. Talking of performances, Kunal Kemmu is at his best. His comic timing is amazing and he doesn’t go overboard with his act. And there’s something very endearing about the way he enacts that also adds to the impact. Rasika Dugal is charming as always and she plays a great part with élan. Ranvir Shorey is the surprise package of the film. His sarcasm and temper adds to the laughter tremendously. Gajraj Rao and Vijay Raaz are both rocking and their novel and quirky character traits are too good. Aryan Prajapati (Kunal Kemmu’s son) and Nilesh Divekar and Aakash Dabade (Vijay Raaz’s henchemen) are entertaining. All in all, Lootcase shouldn’t be missed at any cost. It’s a clean laugh riot - watch it your entire family!

My rating - **** out of 5!

5 FILMS TO CLASH ON OTT THIS WEEKEND!

2 weeks back, we had informed you that as many as 4 films are going to release on the internet this week. But now it has emerged that one more film has joined the race! This makes it 5 films to premiere this weekend. My analysis on these films:

1. SHAKUNTALA DEVI (Amazon Prime): It is based on the world famous mathematician Shakuntala Devi and her relationship with her daughter. It stars Vidya Balan, Sanya Malhotra, Amit Sadh and Jisshu Sengupta and is directed by Anu Menon, who co-directed Four More Shots Please. The trailer looks vibrant and entertaining with Vidya in full form. Not many know about Shakuntala Devi’s life story and hence, the film has that advantage. However, it seems an attempt has been made to show the character as quite outgoing and dramatic, which the real Shakuntala was not in real life. Also, the mother-daughter bond seems tricky and if not handled well, the film can fall like a pack of cards.

2. LOOTCASE (Disney+ Hotstar): It is a comic caper starring Kunal Kemmu, Rasika Dugal, Vijay Raaz, Gajraj Rao and Ranvir Shorey. It was to release last year on October 11 in cinemas but then reports came that it’ll arrive on Netflix. The makers a few weeks later clarified that the film will come in cinemas but it won’t make it on October 11. Instead, it’ll arrive on April 10, 2020. This date raised eyebrows as it was the same day when one of the biggest films of the year, ’83, was to release. Lootcase is a small film and would have got crushed in front of a juggernaut like ’83. But when lockdown came in force, the makers still waited and were hoping that Lootcase would be the first film to release in cinemas once cinemas reopen. However, with the lockdown going on and on, the makers then took the decision to once again put it on OTT, this time however on Disney+ Hotstar. The film looks like a nice, clean laugh riot. Kunal suits his part and even the supporting cast seem apt.

3. RAAT AKELI HAI (Netflix): It marks the directorial debut of casting director Honey Trehan and has an ensemble cast comprising of Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Radhika Apte, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Shweta Tripathi, Shivani Raghuvanshi, Nishant Dahiya, Ila Arun, Swanand Kirkire and Aditya Srivastava. It is a story of a cop investigating the mysterious death of a powerful local politician in Uttar Pradesh. The trailer failed to make an impact. But with so many great actors and the setting being interesting as well, Raat Akeli Hai can make for a nice watch, especially if it’s well-made.

4. YAARA (Zee5): This is a long-delayed film, directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia. It stars Vidyut Jammwal, Amit Sadh and Shruti Haasan and is about a group of friends who are criminals. The story focuses on their 20-year-long association. The trailer is decent but the fact that it was delayed for so long makes one wonder if there’s anything wrong with the film. This is the only film out of the 5 films which releases today, that is, July 30, and not on July 31.

5. MY CLIENT'S WIFE (ShemarooMe): It is one of the first or the first original film on the ShemarooMe. It stars Abhimanyu Singh, Anjali Patil and Sharib Hashmi and is about a man convicted of physically assaulting his wife. His lawyer gets shocked as some uncomfortable details tumble out about both the man and wife during the course of his investigation. The trailer is intriguing but the direction seems average. Also, the suspense has to be shocking in such films and if it’s not, it can prove disastrous. The biggest problem however with the film is that it’s coming on a platform which many people have not even heard of. Hence, it’ll get ignored by majority of audiences. If it’s well made, it might find audiences later on when the platform becomes popular.

Lootcase actor Kunal Kemmu glad that numbers can't measure his worth on web platform
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; July 27, 2020)

It is not customary of Kunal Kemmu to fuel a raging fire. But, caught in the midst of a nepotism debate, the actor knew it wasn't the time to brush matters under the carpet.

"It's not a level playing field," he laments of an industry that side-lined him from a promotional campaign, only to lend the podium to Bollywood's top stars instead. Kemmu, whose next, Lootcase, also releases on Disney+ Hotstar alongside other big-budget offerings, says triggering conversations could, in most likelihood, initiate change. "The idea is not to blame anyone. If I talk about it, at least somebody will listen."

While he is certain that the digital platform and cinema chains will co-exist, Kunal Kemmu is glad that the pressure of delivering a box-office success is lifted. "For an actor, it's the box-office [collection] that determines his future in the industry. That's not the case here."

Many movies are set to release simultaneously, but the flexibility digital platforms offer has makers at ease
Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 23, 2020)

What’s a Bollywood release without the quintessential clash at the box office, where two or more films vie for the audience’s attention? And there were many face-offs lined up for the year, but the Coronavirus pandemic changed the equation as many films opted for the OTT route. Taking the box-office clashes with them.

But it’s no longer a worry for producers and exhibitors, as they don’t have to stress about getting enough screens in theatres. On July 31 for instance, three films are dropping on different OTT platforms — Shakuntala Devi, Raat Akeli Hai and Lootcase.

“It has been a period of disruptive thinking, we had to pull back and take some calls. I feel, in many ways, we need to learn to live in an environment where competition and clutter will exist. The good news here is that the universe of eyeballs is so large and the content offering so diverse, there is enough room for everyone,” says Vikram Malhotra, producer of Shakuntala Devi.

Director Tigmanshu Dhulia, whose film Yaara is releasing on July 30, on another OTT platform, says, “I don’t think clashes are a concern anymore because there are so many platforms. The shelf life of a project on the web is very long. Aisa nahi hai ki pehle din kisne dekha.”

Even with these clashes, it’s a win-win situation for everyone, feels film trade expert Girish Johar. He feels unlike earlier, when ‘smaller’ films would be given bad show timings and theatres, with the OTT platforms they’ve got a level playing field. “It’s been a challenge for smaller films to get screens. Even when they did, they’d be consumed by the big releases. This is a blessing in disguise for all such films. They don’t have to spend anything on promotions and marketing either,” he shares.

Flexibility of OTT platforms is what will make clashes redundant despite films releasing on the same dates, feels producer Anand Pandit, adding that rather than the clash of films, it might be a clash of the OTT platforms.

“If a films ends at 9 pm on one platform, I can go to the other at 9.05 pm and start another film. Clashes aren’t going to be how they used to be. Each film will have its breathing space. If I’ve subscribed to three platforms, I’ll watch all three, there’ll be no ‘either or’, like it used to be in theatres due to the tight budget every family has,” says Pandit, whose production, The Big Bull, is also headed for an OTT release.

So, how are release dates of the films decided on the web? A source from an OTT platform says weekend slots are most popular. “It’s decided mutually by the filmmakers and platforms. The lockdown is still there, but weekends are considered to be relatively free days when people have the time to watch something. Hence, most films are releasing on Fridays, resulting in so-called clashes,” he informs.

With four films up for release on July 31, for first time in Bollywood, mid-day examines if there's such a thing as a box office clash in OTT world
Mohar Basu, Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; July 20, 2020)

After Bollywood began exploring digital premiere of films since June, it was only a matter of time before we would witness a clash of movies. Come July 31, four films will compete for viewers' attention — while Vidya Balan's Shakuntala Devi drops on Amazon Prime Video, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Radhika Apte-starrer Raat Akeli Hai and Kunal Kemmu's Lootcase will stream on Netflix and Disney+ Hotstar respectively. They will have a rival in Vidyut Jammwal's Yaara that will have dropped 24 hours earlier on ZEE5. With factors such as screen count and opening weekend collections no longer coming into play, how will a four-way clash pan out in the digital world?

Honey Trehan, who has helmed the Netflix outing, believes the beauty of the OTT world lies in the freedom it offers from box-office numbers. "There is no concept of a clash on OTT platforms. A viewer no longer needs to buy four tickets for four films; he has the subscription to the platforms."

Aparna Acharekar, programming head, ZEE5 India, notes movies no longer have the pressure of making money within a week before the next release hits the screens. "Also, each service has its loyal audience, which is the digital [equivalent of the] first day, first show viewer. Now, people can watch two to three movies [over one weekend]."

Considering streaming giants do not reveal the viewership figures of their projects, it is difficult to determine if a film bested its rivals. However, Varun Gupta, founder-director, Max Marketing, which handles digital promotion, says there is a method to the madness. "It's a clash of the platforms, with each aiming to widen its subscription base. So, it will boil down to which film got you new subscriptions."

He predicts that the OTT world will have its own version of a clash once the honeymoon period is over. "Eventually, direct-to-web releases will move to a pay-per-view model."

Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 20, 2020)

The Badhaai Ho (2018) actor Gajraj Rao feels fortunate to have “the privilege of choice when it comes to zeroing in on a future project”. “I have reached a certain stage in my career wherein I don’t have to take up a project only for the financial reasons, if I’m not satisfied with it,” he says. Staying at home for the last three months were “a bit tough initially”, but he says these are extraordinary circumstances and we are all in this together.

The actor has been discussing a few projects while waiting for the release of Lootcase, a film co-starring Kunal Kemmu and Rasika Duggal. It is a “special project” for him as it has been directed by his colleague from advertising world, Rajesh Krishnan.

There have been conversations about character actors and second leads not getting enough importance in films or during promotions. Ask Rao, about the same and he says, “In any wedding, the spotlight is always on the bride and groom. It is indeed true that sometimes, some actors do not get their due, but I always try and seek inspiration from these stories and work harder in my performances. If your performance has that spark, people will definitely notice and remember you. It doesn’t matter how long it has taken, what matters is the recognition from the audience for my work and the effort that has gone into it. Even if it took long, I am glad that today people recognize me.”

He continues, “The love and appreciation I got for Badhaai Ho was almost surreal, but if I do not keep improving upon my craft and churn out better performances, I’m bound to be forgotten. I won’t have any reasons to complain either. I have to stay grounded and keep toiling everyday, so that my craft becomes better, and there are no two ways about it. Sincerity will always shine through. Tareefon se ghar nahin chalta, mehnat se chalta hai.”

CLASHES MIGHT BECOME PASSÉ AT TICKET WINDOW AND COMMONPLACE ON OTT!

One of the biggest banes of Bollywood in the pre-lockdown era was clashes, that is, two films of the same size releasing together. The problem used to increase manifold especially when two big films used to release on the same day and then try to usurp maximum screens. It used to divide audiences and also give a hard time to the exhibitors who had to suffer blackmail at the hands of distributors. Many experts and even industry people requested that this trend be stopped but no one listened.

In the post-lockdown era, however, this practice will be kept on the backburner, at least for a year. The industry has suffered a loss due to no films releasing. Also, many films have gone on the OTT platform. As a result, there’ll be very few films that will come out once things normalize. In such a scenario, clashes will be out of question as there would be plenty of release dates available.

On the other hand, the web is booming like anything. Just 10 days back, Disney+ Hotstar made a grand announcement of 7 films that they’ll premiere on their platform, including big films like Akshay Kumar’s horror comedy Laxmmi Bomb and Ajay Devgn’s war drama Bhuj: The Pride Of India. Amazon Prime has already released Gulabo Sitabo, acquired Shakuntala Devi and is expected to make an announcement on more films that will come on its platform. Netflix today is expected to make the mother of announcements, comprising of more than 13-14 films/web series. Many of these ventures will start arriving from July end. And amusingly, some of these films will clash.

For instance, Shakuntala Devi, starring Vidya Balan will release on July 31 on Amazon Prime. The same day, Disney+ Hotstar will present the comic caper Lootcase, starring Kunal Kemmu, Rasika Dugal, Vijay Raaz, Rasika Dugal and Ranvir Shorey. That’s not all. Now, Shemaroo has announced that it is also launching a OTT-style platform and the first film on this portal will release on July 31! The name of the movie is My Client’s Wife and stars Sharib Hashmi, Anjali Patil and Abhimanyu Singh. Lastly, Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Yaara starring Vidyut Jammwal and Amit Sadh will premiere on Zee5, but on July 30.

Most of the new films or series often arrive in the weekends on OTT so that viewers will be free then and can catch it up immediately. However, many films take time to grow. And the web allows that to happen. There’s no pressure on this platform for a strong weekend to sustain. Yet, it is strange that these platforms are not planning among themselves and going for clashes. Moreover, they let many Fridays go waste and now they are trying to arrive in the same weekend. For instance, tomorrow, July 17, is also a Friday but no film is releasing tomorrow. Hence, one of the films could have come on the 17th.

Nevertheless, such web clashes are not expected to cause problems is what many are assuring. Only time will tell if such decisions prove detrimental for these streaming giants.

As Lootcase eyes July 31 release on Disney+ Hotstar, maker Rajesh Krishnan on how he had no idea of movie's marketing strategy, including virtual presser
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 14, 2020)

Disney+ Hotstar announced that Kunal Kemmu-starrer Lootcase, one of the seven films that have been picked up by the streaming giant for digital premiere, will drop online on July 31. With this, ad filmmaker-turned-director Rajesh Krishnan's journey with his debut film reaches its culmination point. Ask him why the black comedy — which has been ready for the past two years — took so long to reach the audience, and Krishnan says, "A director makes the film, but he is not in charge of the advertising and promotions. I credit the studio for giving us 100 per cent freedom to make the film we wanted to. I would like to believe that the movie is as important to them as to me. We were shopping for a producer for long; the studio coming on board was a shot in the arm. Kunal had spoken to Vijay Singh [former CEO, Fox Star Studios] and made the film happen."

Fronted by Kemmu and Rasika Dugal, the film has a talented ensemble cast comprising Vijay Raaz, Ranvir Shorey and Gajraj Rao. Surprisingly, the lead actors were not invited to join Ajay Devgn, Alia Bhatt and Abhishek Bachchan, among others, as they announced the OTT platform's new slate during a virtual press conference last month. Kemmu had then expressed his disappointment on Twitter, noting that Bollywood is not a level-playing field. "This is a homegrown Fox film. Why our film wasn't represented at the virtual press conference is beyond me. They did not even ask us. Kunal and Rasika should have been part of the panel. It was upsetting, but, I don't understand the business of promotions. Kunal, Gajraj, Vijay and Rasika always believe the project is bigger than them. Kunal is the kind of guy who will say, 'This is Rasika's scene, so reduce my dialogues here'. So, I can understand why he wasn't upset," says the director.

Krishnan believes Lootcase will be a departure from the slapstick comedies that the industry churns out. "[As an adman] I knew how to entertain in 30 seconds, but to do it for two hours was not easy."

After Vidyut Jammwal highlights how he was sidelined from Disney+Hotstar presser in favour of Alia, Ajay, Akshay despite Khuda Hafiz being part of the line-up, co-star Aahana says disappointing to see OTT kowtow to toxic star system
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; June 30, 2020)

On Monday, Disney+ Hotstar announced its slate of seven films in a virtual press conference attended by Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan and Abhishek Bachchan. Surprisingly, the cast of Vidyut Jammwal-led Khuda Hafiz and Kunal Kemmu's Lootcase were not invited to the session despite the films being part of the OTT platform's line-up. Jammwal expressed his disappointment as he tweeted, "Seven films scheduled for release but only five are deemed worthy of representation. Two films receive no invitation or intimation. The cycle continues. (sic)"

Even as Sushant Singh Rajput's demise has sparked a dialogue about the industry's toxic star system, the press conference shows how Bollywood is far from being a level playing field. Aahana Kumra, Jammwal's co-star in Khuda Hafiz, says, "I found out about the press conference after seeing Vidyut's tweet. I have not bothered asking why I wasn't informed. I know it won't lead to an answer."

With Marzi and Betaal behind her, Kumra is not new to the web world. She is stunned at the discriminatory behaviour of the streaming giant. "The OTT platforms I have worked with have been warm, professional and democratic in how they present you. They pride themselves in equal representation. This is the first time I have seen such behaviour."

After a fortnight of discussions on the privileges afforded to stars, Kumra admits it is disappointing to see little change in the industry. "Vidyut is an outsider who has made it on merit. We must support such talent considering it's difficult to crack the industry in today's times. Self-made people too deserved to be on this panel. We all should have been part of it."

mid-day reached out to Jammwal and Kemmu, who refused to comment.

Bollywood Comes Home
Two months after mid-day reported that Akshay Kumar's Laxmmi Bomb will have a direct-to-web release on Disney +Hotstar, the streaming giant confirmed the news in a virtual press conference moderated by Varun Dhawan. The OTT platform announced its slate of films that will premiere between July and October, kickstarting with the late Sushant Singh Rajput's Dil Bechara. Its roster includes Ajay Devgn-starrer Bhuj: The Pride of India, Alia Bhatt's Sadak 2, Abhishek Bachchan's The Big Bull, Kunal Kemmu's Lootcase and Vidyut Jammwal-starrer Khuda Hafiz.

THESE ARE THE BOLLYWOOD FILMS AFFECTED BY CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK – PART 1

If all was well, Sooryavanshi, starring Akshay Kumar, and directed by Rohit Shetty, would have released by now and would have been breaking records. Sadly, the Coronavirus outbreak occurred, prompting a shutdown of all services which are non-essential. Cinema sadly comes in that category. As a result, by March 18 or 19, all cinema halls were shut in the country, prompting filmmakers of upcoming films to indefinitely postpone their releases.

Here’s a list of all the films that were to release in March-end and April if all was well:

1. SANDEEP AUR PINKY FARAAR: This was to finally release on March 20. It’s a long-delayed film, allegedly due to not-so-great content. Starring Arjun Kapoor and Parineeti Chopra, the producers Yash Raj Films suddenly announced its release just 3-4 weeks before, after keeping its destiny in limbo for almost 1 ½ years. Many questioned the release strategy since Sooryavanshi was to release from March 24 evening and Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar would not even have got 5 full days to earn. Some speculated that this was intentionally done as the producers were sure that the film anyway could not have earned much even if it had released on a good date. It is believed that this might be the first release once theatres open.

2. SOORYAVANSHI: People had already guessed this won’t make it on March 24 when the makers cancelled all promotions and also didn’t release any songs. It’s release was keenly awaited as no film had worked this year big time except Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior. Everyone was sure that even in a worst case scenario, this could have earned at least Rs. 150 crore at the box office. If all goes well, this might release within 2-3 weeks of cinema halls starting. However, the commencement of Ramzan period might lead to the film’s further postponement.

3. ’83: It is based on the 1983 World Cup and has a lot of buzz going around. It stars Ranveer Singh as Kapil Dev, with Deepika Padukone playing his wife. Kabir Khan is directing this film whose pore-trailer promotions had also lead to considerable excitement. Its trailer launch was to happen on March 11 in the sprawling MMRDA Grounds in Mumbai in the presence of real-life cricket players, complete cast, producers and fans. But the Coronavirus scare had already began then and thus it was cancelled. Around 10 days later, they officially announced that the film has been pushed forward. It will see a release only after Sooryavanshi.

4. LOOTCASE: This is a slightly delayed film, starring Kunal Kemmu, Rasika Dugal, Vijay Raaz, Ranvir Shorey and Gajraj Rao. It was to release on October 11, 2019 but then the makers decided to release it online directly. Then came the news that it’ll release in cinemas, but on April 10. Many found this decision shocking as releasing on April 10 means clashing with the biggie ’83. Lootcase would have got crushed in such a scenario. It is expected that just like Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar, this might also be one of the first release once normalcy returns.

5. GUNJAN SAXENA: It will be the second film of Janhvi Kapoor post Dhadak and is based on a real-life pilot who served during the Kargil War. Produced by Dharma Productions, this film is completely ready, including the trailer and poster. 2-3 weeks of promotion is enough for it and can take advantage if there’s no other biggie releasing in a week.

6. GULABO SITABO: This film stars Ayushmann Khurrana and Amitabh Bachchan and is directed by the master director Shoojit Sircar. Ayushmann is a force to reckon with now and hence, this film with 3 or 4 weeks of promotions, can arrive and draw audiences. The film will create tremendous buzz thanks to Ayushmann and Big B’s casting

7. LUDO: It is directed by Anurag Basu and consists of multiple stories. Star cast comprises of Abhishek Bachchan, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Rajkummar Rao, Aditya Roy Kapur and Sanya Malhotra. It is a urban multiplex film and can take advantage of a not-so-crowded week, sans any biggie.

WILL THE SKY IS PINK SUCCEED DESPITE CHALLENGES?

Last week saw the release of 3 significant films that took away almost all the screens in most parts of the country. This week, 2 films were scheduled to release and one of them, Lootcase, has been indefinitely postponed. In between, the makers toyed with the idea of having a digital release but then they changed their mind. Hence, The Sky Is Pink is the solo release of the week. Funnily, next week, as many as 9 films are going to hit screens! Most of them are too small and they should have ideally made it to cinemas tomorrow, especially after Lootcase got out of the rat race.

Coming back to The Sky Is Pink, the film looks niche but has potential to excel in metros. It stars Priyanka Chopra and hence this is her first Hindi film in 3 ½ years, after Jai Gangaajal. The other actors in the film are Farhan Akhtar, Zaira Wasim and Rohit Saraf. It’s directed by Shonali Bose, whose previous films, Amu and Margarita With A Straw, have been critically acclaimed. The film is based on the true story of Aisha Chaudhary, a motivational speaker who was diagnosed with a Pulmonary fibrosis, and who died in 2015 at the age of 19. The various interviews of Shonali and Priyanka have added to the buzz among its target audience. In Priyanka’s words, “The whole thought behind the story is, why not celebrate the life that a person lived, instead of living through the sorrow attached to him or her not being there.” Moreover, it also came to light that Shonali Bose too have faced a similar tragedy as Chaudharys since she lost her son Ishan in a freak accident in 2010. With such a beautiful story and terrific star cast, The Sky Is Pink can work big time if handled well.

Sadly, the film is facing many challenges. It was premiered at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival and the reviews have been mixed. A section of viewers and critics raved about the film’s plot and the work of the actors while the rest have slammed the film heavily. On IMDb, it has a rating of 5.1 out of 10. The music of the film is composed by Pritam Chakraborty, and he has collaborated with lyricist Gulzar. Sadly, the songs haven’t worked at all. Moreover, as aforementioned, the subject is too niche and as a result, the film has a chance in urban multiplexes.

Due to these factors, a huge opening is not possible for The Sky Is Pink. The opening will be around Rs. 3 crore and might be a little higher if word of mouth is very positive. A weekend of Rs. 14-15 crore will be ideal and it can have a lifetime of Rs. 40 crore since the next week’s release don’t seem exciting due to which it can have a clean run till Diwali. However, if public reports are bad, the film is bound to have a very tough time at the box office.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE SKY IS PINK AND WHY? DO LET ME KNOW!

Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; September 27, 2019)

Even as the debate over reboots of classic numbers continues, the makers of Lootcase have revisited the yesteryear chartbuster, Aaj Kal Tere Mere Pyar Ke Charche, from the Shammi Kapoor-starrer Brahmachari (1968). However, director Rajesh Krishnan explains at the outset that they have not tampered with the Shankar Jaikishen composition. "We have incorporated the entire track, as it is, in the film," he clarifies.

The recently dropped teaser of the Kunal Kemmu-starrer sees the protagonist's adventures after he discovers a suitcase filled with hard cash. As his obsession with the suitcase piques the curiosity of those around him, the Mohammed Rafi ditty plays in the background. "Aaj Kal Tere Mere has quirk written all over it, especially when you use it in today's context. In the case of Lootcase, it helped us amplify the madness of the plot," explains the director.