Opinion | Film Review: Laal Singh Chadha.

By Rayees ibn Mushtaq

Two big films will hit the theaters together:

AkshayKumar’s ‘Raksha Bandhan’ and Aamir Khan’s ‘Lal Singh Chadha’. Of course, this wouldn’t be the first time that two such films would compete with each other or otherwise compete for the lion’s share of the box office.

Earlier, the makers of both the films, though keen on the success of their respective films, did not speak ill of each other or their films when the occasion arose. Enmity was never personal and the Hindi proverb always worked: Sabka bhalla ho but mera jeda ho (Let everyone benefit, but I can do a little better).

There are many examples of two big films competing against each other over the years: ‘Bajirao Mastani’ and ‘Dilwale’, ‘Utraaz’ and ‘Veer Zara’, ‘Taare Zameen Par’ and Examples include ‘Welcome’, ‘Lagaan’ and ‘Gadar: Ek Prem Katha’, ‘Dil’ and ‘Gheel’ etc.

Big stars also flop from time to time like everyone else and the eternal truth is that this movie works because of them both, not because of who is in it.

The greatest examples in the history of Hindi cinema, to my knowledge, are ‘Sholay’ and ‘Jai Santoshi Maa’, which were released on the same day, August 15, 1975. Both became blockbusters. The ‘Jai Santoshi Maa’ producer also became the highest income tax payer on record this financial year.

In cases where you have two top stars, or films from two renowned makers releasing on the same day, sometimes both the films work and at other times, one works better than the other. It is the moviegoer who ultimately decides not to miss the movie in which he is most interested collections of one film over the other, but that is not the ultimate.

The collections of ‘Jai Santoshi Maa’ were initially better than ‘Shaale’ and so was its acceptance. This is how the film business works and this is how people show their preferences. Undoubtedly, this is an unfortunate feature in the film industry and it dominates producers, directors, actors and the bottom line globally. When a film releases on a Friday and flops, the rest of the clan celebrates with silent jubilation.

It is a vicious circle. When their film releases, they celebrate each other’s flops. Still, the rest of the day they’re all friends. It makes no sense, really.

The worst situation is now that two films of big stars are releasing on August 11. Opposing factions have emerged on social media, bots are at work, especially on Twitter, where two camps, one for ‘Raksha Bandhan’ and the other for ‘Lal ‘. Singh Chadha is busy promoting one or the other film. It’s a no-holds-barred slugfest and even personal.

Shouldn’t they be promoting their boss’s film instead? But that’s the name of the game. Make the other guy look smaller so you look better! Both the stars, Aamir Khan and Akshay Kumar, have been in the industry for the past century, releasing films intermittently (though Akshay’s breaks are less frequent) and are still alive. Will badmouthing each other help their films?

There is a campaign going on on social media that people should not watch another actor’s film. In the case of Aamir Khan’s film ‘Lal Singh Chadha’, the appeal (if you can call it that) is to boycott his film as it is anti-national! Aamir Khan’s promoters call Akshay anti-Hindu because one of his films ‘OMG: Oh My God’ suggests that milk should not be wasted for God, but should be used to feed the poor. . And should be used for appetite. In return, Aamir Khan accused of making anti-Hindu film ‘PK’! Ironically, both the films became hits. But social media users should know that Akshay and Aamir play the roles that are assigned to them. He cannot be blamed for the roles and lines written for him by others.

Apart from this, there are other issues, such as Aamir Khan’s popular television serial ‘Satyamyu Jeete’, which played on people’s religious sentiments, most of the topics discussed. Also, Aamir’s visit to Turkey and meeting the country’s ‘anti-India president’ is against him and the claim that his film ‘Dangal’ earned Rs 1100 crore is money laundering. . Netizens are letting their imaginations run wild with the worst possible ideas!

It is an open secret that actors and filmmakers engage people to promote their cause. It basically means lying and spreading negative things about other stars. The problem with such brigades is that they lack guidance on how to do their job. You’ve read one post, you’ve read them all. Same problem, same font and same lack of grammar. And, to add to that, some even use very foul language.

Is this how stars want to be represented on social media?

The film industry as a whole, and the stars in particular, no longer enjoy public support, let alone a fan following. Star idolization is a thing of the past. Sadly, stars have to manipulate weak reporters or pay publications to promote them. You know, we have a generation of reporters who are more likely to cover an event and take a selfie with a star than do their job!

Recently we have seen the films of big stars flop continuously, the same stars whose films attract people on the first day. Akash Kumar, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan – all have failed to conjure the same magic. Why do stars and producers post false, inflated collection figures when a film doesn’t do well? I think it is because they are no longer in touch with public sentiment. And they fail to stand by their own tribe in times of need. People have seen through it and are losing respect for the stars they loved.

Take the case of Sushant Singh Rajput or Kangana Ranaut? One is now dead and Kangana has not only lost her property but is growing one. Both felt sorry for the people around them. Only his fellow film people, especially the stars, let him down by not standing by him!
You think your movie will drive another movie? If you’re not promoting your movie to attract an audience, you’re wasting time watching someone else’s movie!

Predictions are a risky business when it comes to movies. But that’s what I’ve done all my life. So here, if any of the two films gets a better opening, it will be ‘Lal Singh Chadha’. Boycott or not. (Disclaimer: Stone pelting at miscreants, marches and cinemas is not taken into account.)

A fan never questions his favorite star’s background. He puts it on a pedestal. Sports stars playing on social media are showing their true colors, their background, education and upbringing. This begs the question: What if they hadn’t become stars?

It’s a sad commentary on the divisive times we live in that films are trolled, and the patriotism of their makers questioned, even before their release. There used to be a saying, ‘Don’t let the results get to you’, and nowhere is more apt than the troll army’s response to ‘Lal Singh Chadha’.

It is too early to say how ‘Lal Singh Chadha’ will be harmed or benefited by the negativity surrounding it — according to trade analysts, its advance booking figures are double those of its opposition. Akshay Kumar’s ‘Raksha Bandhan’ is more than others. But, without a doubt, it is a love letter to India. And supporters of the current political system should be happy with the contemporary history opportunities and the imagery chosen in the film. It begins with a celebration of the end of the Emergency, without any realism showing the destruction of the Golden Temple during Operation Blue Star, the tragedy is presented with the heartfelt sincerity that was the riot of a gangster brigade. After the assassination of Indira Gandhi, the Congress lost touch with the common Sikhs.

The intensity of the scene where Mona Singh, who plays Aamir’s on-screen mother, cuts off her hair to avoid being targeted by anti-Sikh rioters, would make even a hardened troll’s eyes water with tears.

Even the return of the film L.K. Advani’s Ram Rath Yatra without rushing into political decision. In fact, there’s a light-hearted moment in the scene where Kareena Kapoor’s character, who later plays a Monica Bedi-type gangster, jokingly tells Aamir’s Lal Singh Chadha, “His name is also Lal (his The name is also red)”. Both of them had gone to see Delhi Yatra from their Madrasa Hindu College.

Aamir also celebrated Swachh Bharat campaign. And in the background of the scene where Lal Singh runs across Varanasi, the image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the holy city’s representative in Parliament, dominates.

As ‘Lal Singh Chadha’ ends, images of India’s beauty — from the splendor of the Ganges to Varanasi to the ‘night sky studded with diamonds’ of Jaisalmer (surely the Beatles didn’t mean it that way!). How much better can a celebration of India be without someone giving a patriotic speech?

Trolls have now grown over the part where, during the Kargil war, Lal Singh Chadha rescues a Pakistani soldier, Mohammad Paji, played by Manoj (last seen as Mohammad Ghori in ‘Samrat Prithviraj’). had gone). seen). How can an Indian soldier save his Pakistani enemy? Trolls obviously don’t care about the rules of the game even on the battlefield.

And then, horror of horrors, the same soldier advises Lal Singh and his war buddy Bala, played by Naga Chaitanya, on how to turn their ‘bird waste’ company into a successful business. But then the same Pakistanis talk and any ‘desh bhakt’ lies to their superiors about how bad the ‘infidels’ were.

On a lighter note, don’t miss the CGI-driven cameo of Shah Rukh Khan learning his trademark dance steps from Lal Singh — a throwback. The scene from Forrest Gump where Elvis Presley masters his famous pelvic thrust while watching Tom Hanks’ character.

There is also a cameo by Dawood Ibrahim (played by Vijay Maurya, now in news for his Lalu Prasad Yadav-inspired on-screen role in ‘Rangbaaz 3’) played by Kareena’s character Roopa. Drinks were ordered at a party. No amount of gangster-loving trolls can erase the memorable words of a movie gone wrong.