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Bollywood Flicks to Watch Out For in 2007
by Priyanka Khanna
New
Delhi, Dec 31 (IANS) It rained hits like "Rang De Basanti", "Krrish"
and "Vivah" in 2006, and the coming year holds as much promise, if
not more, with a slew of interesting movies lined up for release.
2006 has been the best year that Bollywood has had in a long time.
With more than 20 hits and even non-performers breaking even
financially, the Hindi film trade boomed. But will it be able to
meet heightened audience expectations in the year ahead? Will it be
able to keep the momentum going?
On the face of it, 2007 has an interesting and varied menu on offer.
Kickstarting the year is celebrated filmmaker Mani Ratnam's "Guru".
The film stars Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, who have been
the media darlings ever since rumors of their impending marriage
surfaced.
The film is also in news because it is apparently based on the life
of an Indian tycoon, who is worshiped as well as loathed by many.
"Guru" portrays the protagonist as a person who amasses wealth
through dubious means.
The media attention surrounding "Guru" is clearly tremendous and the
film is likely to set the cash registers ringing from the first
month of 2007 itself.
Before the month-end, director Nikhil Advani's "Salaam-E-Ishq",
which is a big budget, mega star cast ode to love, will hit the
marquees.
The film features six couples and traces their lives. The star cast
includes none other than Salman Khan opposite Priyanka Chopra, Anil
Kapoor with Juhi Chawla, John Abraham with Vidya Balan, Akshaye
Khanna opposite Ayesha Takia, Sohail Khan and Isha Koppikar and last
but not the least our own Govinda, romancing foreigner Shannon
Esrechowitz.
A clearer picture of 2007 releases will emerge only when we step
into the New Year, but a few producers have finalized the release
dates of their films.
Some of the other biggies to watch out for include Yash Raj Films' (YRF)
"Tara Rum Pum" starring Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji and directed
by Siddharth Anand of "Salaam Namaste" fame.
YRF, in fact, is planning to release at least six to seven films
next year. Besides "Tara Rum Pum", there will be "Jhoom Barabar
Jhoom", "Chak De India" and "Chudiyan" (working title).
Madhuri Dixit's comeback movie is also likely to be ready in 2007.
News reports say YRF plans to start work on another two movies, also
to be released next year.
While "Jhoom..." is a Shaad Ali film starring Amitabh Bachchan,
Abhishek, Preity Zinta, Bobby Deol and Lara Dutta, "Chak De" will
feature Shah Rukh Khan in a never before seen avatar of a coach of
girls hockey team. YRF have given the responsibility of the film to
Shimnit Amin of the "Ab Tak Chhappan" fame.
Yet another film from that same stable that will keep the newswires
buzzing will be Pradeep Sarkar's tentatively "Churiyan". The film
reportedly brings together Jaya Bachchan, Abhishek, Rani, Konkona
Sen Sharma, Anupam Kher and Kunal Kapoor.
Besides YRF, well-known financer Firoz Nadiadwala will back director
Ahmed Khan in "Fool N Final" that stars Sunny Deol, Shahid Kapur,
Suniel Shetty, Jackie Shroff, Javed Jaffrey, Paresh Rawal, Om Puri,
Rajpal Yadav, Vijay Raaz, Razzak Khan, Viveik Oberoi, Bipasha Basu,
Arbaaz Khan, Ayesha, Sameera Reddy and
Zakir Hussain.
Vidhu Vinod Chopra will return with another magnum opus "Eklavya -
The Royal Guard". The promos of the film have been running in
theatre halls for a while now and have everyone excited.
Amitabh essays the title role and is supported by Sanjay Dutt,
Jackie, Saif Ali Khan, Vidya, Sharmila Tagore, Boman Irani, Jimmy
Shergill and Raima Sen.
Director Anurag Basu will tell a tale about "Life In A Metro" along
with actors Shiney Ahuja, Shilpa Shetty, Kay Kay Menon, Sharman
Joshi, Konkona, Kangana Ranaut and Irrfan Khan in a film produced by
UTV.
UTV is also backing "Hat Trick" by Milan Luthria and will release
Mira Nair's "The Namesake". The later promises to be treat for movie
connoisseurs.
Another small budget but eagerly awaited film will be director
Vishal Bharadwaj's "Blue Umbrella" with Pankaj Kapur and Shreya
Sharma in the lead roles. The film's promos are already out and
garnering interest.
Politically charged director Anurag Kashyap's "Black Friday" may
also finally see the light of the day in the year ahead.
Among the other biggies will be Sanjay Leela Bhansalis's "Saawariya",
a launch pad of Rishi Kapoor's son Ranbir and Anil Kapoor's daughter
Sonam. Apart from that the celebrated director has roped in Rani and
Salman for the film, which is being backed by Sony.
If the lip-lock between Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya in "Dhoom 2"
left audience wanting for more, then the film to watch out for will
be Ashutosh Gowariker's historical "Akbar Jodha".
Munnabhai aka Sanjay Dutta will return to the silver screen in "Mr.
Fraud" next year, which is directed by Abbas and Mustan Burmawall.
The film also stars Ajay Devgan, Bipasha Basu, Tanushree Datta, Anuj
Sawhney and Satish Shah.
The platter already seems overloaded. And as far as what will work
and what will not one only needs to look at the trend this year.
Be it a big budget movie, a multi-starrer, a big banner or a small
time production house - almost every good movie managed to mint
money in 2006.
In 2007 the hottest contested territory will be overseas and
everyone will be in for better quality productions. And last but not
the least, anything entertaining will be a winner.
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