Showing posts with label Zora. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Zora. Show all posts
The low budget is the hero of Zora-Rajiv Rai
8:05 AM
After 21 years, filmmaker Rajiv Rai returns to Hindi cinema with a thriller and tighter budget. After the Bobby Deol and Kajol-starrer ‘Gupt’, Rajiv Rai came under the radar of the underworld
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; August 8, 2025)
He ruled the late 1980s and 1990s with back-to-back blockbusters. Known for crafting high-octane thrillers that kept audiences on the edge of their seats, Rajiv Rai — the filmmaker, writer, editor, and producer behind big hits like Yudh (1985), Tridev (1989), Vishwatma (1992), Mohra (1994), and Gupt (1997) — suddenly disappeared from the spotlight. Now, 21 years later, he returns with Zora, a suspense actioner featuring a fresh cast, one song, and made on a low budget.
Of course, it is a daunting task — ask any filmmaker. But for Rai, this is an attempt to re-enter the industry doing what he does best. About his film Zora, he says, “It is a whodunit, but different from Gupt.”
The film is made on a shoestring budget of Rs. 2 crore, using Rai’s own equity and four cameras. “The low budget is the hero of the film. In my day, I have directed some lavishly mounted movies, but today it is hard for me as a producer to deal with a big-budget movie loss. So, I have only one song in Zora. The cost of all the actors, including the junior artistes, is Rs 25 lakh,” says the director.
He adds, “The film is a case study like Hollywood films The Blair Witch Project [1999] and Paranormal Activity [2007] [which were made on a small budget].”
Despite his long-standing connection with actors, Rai never considered approaching them to star in his comeback film. “If I asked them, maybe they would have done it, but I would have spoiled my relations. [In fact], actor friends from the industry even offered to work for free. People often criticize them, but the actor community is not so bad,” shares the director, who cast six to seven new actors from various states.
However, it is the exhibition sector — theatre and OTT platform owners — that disheartened him because they couldn’t accept a project with newcomers. “It is very hard to get the exhibition sector to showcase a movie like Zora. Everybody says they want a change, and no one wants a big-budget movie, but nobody is willing to make that change. I cannot sell [the film] on an OTT platform either as they want well-known faces too,” he admonishes.
(Crisp) Movie Review: ZORA by FENIL SETA
4:04 PM
Zora commences with the logo of Trimurti Films, Trimurti Films Music and the distribution company of Trimurti, with songs of Mohra and Gupt being played at this juncture. It sets the mood and also reminds one that the film is made by the same filmmaker who delivered films like Vishwatma, Tridev, Mohra and one of my all-time favourite flicks, Gupt. Sadly, Zora is nowhere close to Rajiv Rai's previous movies. The story and direction are outdated; Mr Rai seems to be stuck in the 90s. Zora doesn't just seem like a 30-year-old film, but it also seems to be in the zone of a crime TV show. The suspense is kind of predictable. Shockingly, there's only one song in the film. The title track is catchy; however, when Rajiv Rai and music legend Viju Shah have come together after so long, one would have expected a melodious album, but that doesn't happen sadly. Viju Shah's background score, however, is outstanding and the best part of the film. Speaking of performances, Ravinder Kaur (Ranjit) looks dashing but hams in scenes where he’s playing to the gallery. Karan Vir (Iqbal) is better as the second hero. Nikhil Dewan (Kamal Nath) plays a difficult role with ease, but he also goes overboard. Dilraj Kaur (Kaur) is okay and she doesn't look 40-50 + years old. Neetu Bhatt (Freida Lobo) and Gajendra Rathi (lawyer Narayan Solanki) overact. Meena Vaibhav (Seema), Leena Sharma (Dr Vandana), Nishant Verma (Gullu Gujjar), Vikram Singh (Khabri), Altaf Husain (Kishori Lal), Sharad Sharma (Dhannu Gujjar), Manish Vashisht (Badru) and Rony Kaula (Luka) are fine. All in all, Zora is completely avoidable.
My rating - * ½ out of 5!
My rating - * ½ out of 5!
Rajiv Rai returns to direction after 18 years with an action thriller titled Zora
8:14 AM
Rai with cast member Sofia Parveen
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; September 11, 2022)
Eighteen years after he directed 'Asambhav', Rajiv Rai — known for films like 'Tridev' (1989), 'Vishwatma' (1992), 'Mohra' (1994), and 'Gupt' (1997) — returns to the set with an action thriller, 'Zora'.
Talking about the film, which rolled on August 11 in Jaipur, Rai says, “At this age, I just want to enjoy the process of filmmaking. Though it is a small film, it is an ambitious venture. The challenge was to make a low-budget film with new talent, and shoot it in a digital format. My last film was shot on celluloid with a 35 mm Arriflex camera. Hence, this film [shot with drones and an iPhone] was experimental in every way. Taking a risk is traumatic, as I am not gutsy like [my] father, Late Shri Gulshan Rai.”
Rai promises that, “Zora is a unique, hard-core, whodunnit suspense murder mystery, which will make you think, and keep you guessing”.
He considers the film’s casting noteworthy. “There are actors from diverse regions of India. There are 40 new actors.”
The film’s executive producer is Raashid Rangrez.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)