Originally posted on www.passionforcinema.com on September 15, 2009
Wanted may just be THE masala movie, the masses have been waiting for, THE movie which I’ve been waiting for, The movie I’ve been waiting to see with my fellow masses. As a dear friend would have put it, ‘In these times of pretentious mediocrity, Wanted may just bring a whiff of unpretentious kitsch, which could at least be reveled in with a guilty glee.’
‘The TRUE single screen hero’ bit in the title is a direct potshot at Akshay Kumar. As QGM would have put it ‘Enough of the self deprecating buffoonery, I say. Turn on the machismo, I say.’
Single screen cinema is Salman’s territory. I still remember the opening day box office report of Tere Naam. Inspite of the lack of pre release hype, dated looking trailers, Tere Naam managed a 90% occupancy all over. Nobody in their sanity would have predicted this. Salman’s pull over the masses shocked one and all in the industry. Tere Naam went onto become a box office hit, and Himesh Reshammiya rose above obscurity. Till date Himesh doesn’t miss a chance to thank Salman publicly.
Another instance when I encountered the Salman effect, was during the interval of Garv: Pride and Honor. There was a group of wannabes, and I don’t mean the hip low waist wannabes seen at multiplexes. I’m talking about wannabes seen at single screens, with torn boot cut jeans, embroidery laden back pockets, the jeans cap and the salman bracelet in their wrist. Here in Pune, some of us refer to them as ‘Khadki Dapodi public’. These guys were so bloddy impressed by Arjun Ranawat’s histrionics that they discussed how righteous he was and that is how a man should be. I burst out laughing. But then it struck me. It wasn’t Arjun Ranawat who was garnering the rave, it was Salman’s rendition of Arjun Ranawat that was being hailed. People were cheering throughout the film for every cross Arjun Ranawat made on screen.
I was never a fan of Salman, but pretty much saw what the fans loved about him. There still is a HERO-like aura about him. There still is a bundle of snobbish coolth in him. He still isn’t a good dancer, but still dances like a live wire with a joie de vivre ala Govinda. The era of punchlines may have passed but still the ‘commitment’ line featured in Wanted trailer evokes a sense of ‘masala pickchur delight’.
I’m not worried about the plot and narrative of Wanted, as the film on which it is based is a kickass badass telegu formula film with a major twist, Pokiri. But I’m worried about the execution of the plot, the punchlines, the overblown fights. Hindi masses aren’t so much used to the over the top treatment. And I hope Prabhu Deva has shed some of the southie elements and has pulled out the right punches for the hindi remake. Even if we discount the southie action, the punchlines have to work. They have to evoke serious hootings and whistling. Or else I’ll be disappointed.
At least the trailers of Wanted haven’t disappointed yet (except some run of the mill song promos). One trailer in particular displays some very strange kinda Prabhu Deva humor. The voice over in the trailer says ‘He walks casually, he kills casually, he loves casually, but he dances seriously’ and then we see our Sallu mia dancing to glory. Ha Ha Ha. After all it’s a Prabhu Deva film.
I’ll end with a list of my most memorable theatre going experiences.
Bade Miyan Chote Miyan:
Excitement for this one had reached the roof. Finally when the film started and the titles played with the Viju Shah music, One guy literally erupted from his seat, one hand up in the air and whistling with the other. The Madhuri song sent the masses into a frenzy. IMO one of David Dhawan’s best
Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha:
The Remo song was such a hit that people were crooning the title song on their way home after the movie. A great indianized rip-off by Anees Bazmee. Kajol stole the show.
RHTDM:
My first date movie. Confession: I still love this film
Satya:
I was pleasantly surprised when my dad was ready to take me for this A rated film that too in my exam season. It had a hammer strong effect on me. I was just in the ninth grade and I understood why it was rated A. Not just because of the violence and language, but because of the sheer power of the film
Company:
I somehow didn’t like the 2nd half of Company when I saw it the first time. So I thought of giving another chance to the film to affect me. I entered the theatre and the Urmila title song was going on. I was so damn exhilarated by the atmosphere itself.
Judwaa:
Couple of years after the movie’s release i saw it with a houseful crowd in a morning show. I just about managed to get a ticket! Another glowing example of Salman’s pull.
Matrix:
I went alone for this and encountered a houseful board. Somehow I convinced the black-marketeer to sell me the ticket at Rs. 40 as i didn’t have a single penny more than that.
Mission Impossible:
I was in the 8th or the 9th grade. I didn’t understand the plot at all but was just stunned by the slick events happening and the explosive action. I watched it again, but still had no luck with the plot. Was I such a dumb 9th grader?
Independence Day:
This was my first stint with aliens. The pre-climax speech by the president gave me goosebumps and the ‘boys I’m back’ moment makes this my most memorable Hollywood blockbuster.
Vaastav:
In a way this was my first illegal movie. I was in 10th and till then I had never lied at home and gone for a film (which became a die-hard habit in the coming years). The movie was in its 2nd week. And as this was a late box office bloomer, I had to buy the tickets in black, which always makes it more memorable. Right?!
Jungle:
I was not so keen on watchin this one but my friends forced me to come wid them. The show was houseful, but my friends had the tickets booked. 2 of my friends were driven out as the movie was Adults. The muvie blew me away. i can still visualise makrand deshpande running excitedly at the end.
Those were the days, I tell you!!!!!
Wanted may just be THE masala movie, the masses have been waiting for, THE movie which I’ve been waiting for, The movie I’ve been waiting to see with my fellow masses. As a dear friend would have put it, ‘In these times of pretentious mediocrity, Wanted may just bring a whiff of unpretentious kitsch, which could at least be reveled in with a guilty glee.’
‘The TRUE single screen hero’ bit in the title is a direct potshot at Akshay Kumar. As QGM would have put it ‘Enough of the self deprecating buffoonery, I say. Turn on the machismo, I say.’
Single screen cinema is Salman’s territory. I still remember the opening day box office report of Tere Naam. Inspite of the lack of pre release hype, dated looking trailers, Tere Naam managed a 90% occupancy all over. Nobody in their sanity would have predicted this. Salman’s pull over the masses shocked one and all in the industry. Tere Naam went onto become a box office hit, and Himesh Reshammiya rose above obscurity. Till date Himesh doesn’t miss a chance to thank Salman publicly.
Another instance when I encountered the Salman effect, was during the interval of Garv: Pride and Honor. There was a group of wannabes, and I don’t mean the hip low waist wannabes seen at multiplexes. I’m talking about wannabes seen at single screens, with torn boot cut jeans, embroidery laden back pockets, the jeans cap and the salman bracelet in their wrist. Here in Pune, some of us refer to them as ‘Khadki Dapodi public’. These guys were so bloddy impressed by Arjun Ranawat’s histrionics that they discussed how righteous he was and that is how a man should be. I burst out laughing. But then it struck me. It wasn’t Arjun Ranawat who was garnering the rave, it was Salman’s rendition of Arjun Ranawat that was being hailed. People were cheering throughout the film for every cross Arjun Ranawat made on screen.
I was never a fan of Salman, but pretty much saw what the fans loved about him. There still is a HERO-like aura about him. There still is a bundle of snobbish coolth in him. He still isn’t a good dancer, but still dances like a live wire with a joie de vivre ala Govinda. The era of punchlines may have passed but still the ‘commitment’ line featured in Wanted trailer evokes a sense of ‘masala pickchur delight’.
I’m not worried about the plot and narrative of Wanted, as the film on which it is based is a kickass badass telegu formula film with a major twist, Pokiri. But I’m worried about the execution of the plot, the punchlines, the overblown fights. Hindi masses aren’t so much used to the over the top treatment. And I hope Prabhu Deva has shed some of the southie elements and has pulled out the right punches for the hindi remake. Even if we discount the southie action, the punchlines have to work. They have to evoke serious hootings and whistling. Or else I’ll be disappointed.
At least the trailers of Wanted haven’t disappointed yet (except some run of the mill song promos). One trailer in particular displays some very strange kinda Prabhu Deva humor. The voice over in the trailer says ‘He walks casually, he kills casually, he loves casually, but he dances seriously’ and then we see our Sallu mia dancing to glory. Ha Ha Ha. After all it’s a Prabhu Deva film.
I’ll end with a list of my most memorable theatre going experiences.
Bade Miyan Chote Miyan:
Excitement for this one had reached the roof. Finally when the film started and the titles played with the Viju Shah music, One guy literally erupted from his seat, one hand up in the air and whistling with the other. The Madhuri song sent the masses into a frenzy. IMO one of David Dhawan’s best
Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha:
The Remo song was such a hit that people were crooning the title song on their way home after the movie. A great indianized rip-off by Anees Bazmee. Kajol stole the show.
RHTDM:
My first date movie. Confession: I still love this film
Satya:
I was pleasantly surprised when my dad was ready to take me for this A rated film that too in my exam season. It had a hammer strong effect on me. I was just in the ninth grade and I understood why it was rated A. Not just because of the violence and language, but because of the sheer power of the film
Company:
I somehow didn’t like the 2nd half of Company when I saw it the first time. So I thought of giving another chance to the film to affect me. I entered the theatre and the Urmila title song was going on. I was so damn exhilarated by the atmosphere itself.
Judwaa:
Couple of years after the movie’s release i saw it with a houseful crowd in a morning show. I just about managed to get a ticket! Another glowing example of Salman’s pull.
Matrix:
I went alone for this and encountered a houseful board. Somehow I convinced the black-marketeer to sell me the ticket at Rs. 40 as i didn’t have a single penny more than that.
Mission Impossible:
I was in the 8th or the 9th grade. I didn’t understand the plot at all but was just stunned by the slick events happening and the explosive action. I watched it again, but still had no luck with the plot. Was I such a dumb 9th grader?
Independence Day:
This was my first stint with aliens. The pre-climax speech by the president gave me goosebumps and the ‘boys I’m back’ moment makes this my most memorable Hollywood blockbuster.
Vaastav:
In a way this was my first illegal movie. I was in 10th and till then I had never lied at home and gone for a film (which became a die-hard habit in the coming years). The movie was in its 2nd week. And as this was a late box office bloomer, I had to buy the tickets in black, which always makes it more memorable. Right?!
Jungle:
I was not so keen on watchin this one but my friends forced me to come wid them. The show was houseful, but my friends had the tickets booked. 2 of my friends were driven out as the movie was Adults. The muvie blew me away. i can still visualise makrand deshpande running excitedly at the end.
Those were the days, I tell you!!!!!
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