RNBDJ All reviews here. - Page 2

REVIEW : DECENT FARE

Rajiv Vijayakar
December 12, 2008

Are marriages – or in this case, matches – truly made in heaven by God? Can a seemingly mismatched pair be actually made for each other even though it seems completely incongruous at first look? And finally, can true one-sided love overcome all odds and win over the reluctant objet d'amor?

Yash Raj Films' Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi attempts to answer these questions – in the affirmative, that is – by narrating a tale that has just two protagonists and a third main character. The film comes at a crucial stage in the YRF fortunes – with its abysmal track-record for over two years now with just one super-hit, Chak De! India, and the average Bachna Ae Haseeno among multiple flops. Moreover the SRK-YRF record (Darr, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Dil To Pagal Hai, Mohabbatein, Veer-Zaraa and Chak De! Indiaincluding even Saathiya in a cameo) has been unblemished, and its three years since King Khan has had an individual flop.

So will it work at the all-important box-office? Methinks it will, though not on a super-hit scale, and it will be the non-multiplex audience that might accept it more. Yes, there are danger areas that might offend even the conservatives, especially in Punjab, the region that is the story's base, and North India, where they will not take kindly to a married woman's physical proximity to a stranger after marriage even if the relationship is platonic from her side. The script is slow in parts of the first half and there is a lot of flawed confusion in the second half that was completely avoidable: like the hero talking about leaving the heroine when the lady wants to run away with the hero himself!

But to understand this conundrum, you have to know the storyline. Surinder Sahni (Shah Rukh Khan), in his early '40s, we presume, is your average upper-middle-class employee of the local electricity board in Amritsar. He is attending the wedding of his teacher's daughter Taani (Anushka Sharma) and having never been in love, falls for her at first sight.

But when things take a tragic turn, the dying teacher actually wants his favourite one-time student Surinder to marry Taani so that she will not be left alone in the world. But after marriage, Taani, the bubbly girl full of fun and her love for dance, is now a changed person, withdrawn and incapable of rediscovering love for anyone. The understanding Surinder suppresses his love for her, and she remains a dutiful wife, but the couple lives in separate rooms.

Surinder's only wish is to see Taani happy. When Taani expresses a desire to join a dancing group, he agrees, and with the help of his best buddy, hairdresser Bobby (Vinay Pathak) metamorphoses into the cool dude Raj so that he can watch her dance and rehearse from close quarters. But destiny plays a part when he is sucked into the dancing group as Taani's partner. He even masters dancing skills so that they can win the competition. But the double life has to end somewhere, and as Raj makes Taani start loving him he begins to wonder what will happen to Surinder, for Taani in a weak moment confesses to Raj that she wants to run away with him!

The screenplay (Aditya Chopra) could have done with some crispness and the film should have been ideally shorter by a good 20 minutes. Aditya's dialogues are a strong point and along with his directorial nuances etch out an authentic image of modern yet traditional Punjab in a much more wholesome and genuine way than in the recent Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!. Munnish Sappel's sets and production design deserve high marks and Ravi Chandran's mood cinematography helps. But the languid editing is a liability, and the film's biggest minus point are the mediocre songs and the clichd, irritating background score, though Jaideep Sahni writes a couple of decent lyrics.

But for all its flaws, Rab Ne… derives great strength from the two protagonists. Without Shah Rukh Khan, the film would have zero appeal and prospects, and SRK once again delivers with amazing conviction and intensity. As Surinder, he mixes his patent mannerisms with some brilliantly-etched details of a small-town simpleton. And SRK is helped in no small measure by one of the brightest star discoveries in recent times – debutant Anushka Sharma. All that we can say about this girl and her performance is that when you watch her it's like watching an actress who is ten films old. Move over, all you contenders for the best female newbie of the year. Rab Ne… may or may not make it, but Anushka Sharma will.

RAJSHRI.COM RATING: ****

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi Movie Review

December 12, 2008 5:28:12 PM IST
By Martin D'Souza, Bollywood Trade News Network

It's very rare for another actor to steal the thunder right from under Shahrukh Khan's nose. Even though the script is the winner here, newcomer Anushka Sharma walks off with an applause-worthy performance. It's difficult to believe that this is her debut. RAB NE BANA DI JODI will be spoken more for the spunk in her performance than for SRK's dual role. Knowingly or unknowingly, SRK is supporting Anushka!

Right from the first frame, until the last, Anushka captures the screen and keeps her character alive with effortless ease. She portrays a gamut of emotions with the grace of a seasoned pro. Here is a natural beauty with an impish grin and an infectious screen presence. A crazy dancer, too. A star is born.

With her performance, she has thrown her hat in the ring for a plethora of awards. Best Actress, Best Debut, Fresh Face of the Year... This film too, will be a top contender for the Best Film Of The Year Award along with JODHA AKBAR, JAANE TU... and ROCK ON. Of course, GHAJNI is still to hit the cinemas.

For a newcomer, Anushka has handled well the pressures of standing up to one of the biggest stars in Bollywood. She matches SRK scene for scene. So powerful is her presence and performance, that SRK at most times, pales in the shadows. This, in no way means that SRK has under-performed. Keeping his character in mind, he has stayed 'within', playing perfectly to the script and the direction of Aditya Chopra. To his credit, it must be said that it's a brave decision to have played the character he played because the role of Anushka has turned out to be the central point on which the film rotates. And this would not have missed the sharp eyes of SRK at the post-production stage.

The movie plays within itself and the concept that some relationships we choose, while others are ordained by God. This is exactly the story of Surinder Sahni (SRK) and Tanni (Anushka). By a twist of fate, they are married off. While Surinder loves her deeply, Tanni cannot bring herself to love her husband and she also makes this fact clear to him. She marries Surinder because her father asks her to on his deathbed after suffering from a massive heart attack because her husband-to-be and the entire marriage party are killed in an accident.

He is a simpleton working in a government office while she is, or rather was, just the opposite. She expresses her desire to take part in a dance competition. Surinder encourages her and also hits upon an idea of going in for an image change (for fear of being recognised by her) to take a closer look at her during her dance rehearsals. What was meant to be a one-time makeover goes on until the end. So who wins in the end, Surinder, or Raj, the makeover persona?

This movie is loaded with the right dose of emotions, action, lighter moments and 'masala' scenes. In one song, SRK does an ode to Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Shammi Kapoor, Rajesh Khanna and Rishi Kapoor. He is accompanied by Kajol, Bipasha Basu, Lara Dutta, Preity Zinta and Rani Mukherjee. A clean take on the yesteryear stars, with fear of lawsuits. Remember Manoj Kumar and OSO?

On the flip side, I fail to understand why every film from the Yash Raj banner needs to have references from their past hits... or flops.

Anushka, once again, take a bow. Aditya Chopra, you too. This one is an ordinary love story told in an extraordinary manner. In the current scenario where everyone's emotions have taken a beating, this film is sure to lift up your spirits.

Ratings : 4/5

http://www.glamsham.com/movies/reviews/12-rab-ne-bana-di-jodi-movie-review-120807.asp

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the movie is a total thrash and it's about time srk takes a good look at his career. he chooses the most mundane subjects and thinks it will work, because his fans are so blind, that we will watch any rubbish he throws at us. i am tired of this 40 plus actor trying hard to be a teenager, doing similar roles,his never changing expressions. just putingt designer clothes on, dancing around with little girls, without a care if the movie has story line or not. i being his die hard fan i have had enough of his medicor movies & roles. i didn't think oso was a movie, it might had loads of entertainment, but there was no story to tell, farah khan just picked pieces of all 80's movies together, put khan in it thinking it will click & it did. that's exactly what aditya or many of his regular directors are doing, it's srk no need for story line, just get a young school girl, pair her with srk & make him prance around in designer gear and the movie will click. but one day very soon they will start getting rejected. i feel yash chopra banner has lost it's essence the magic they created with meaningful cinema, in the 70's, 80' and 90's is over, that was the era of yash chopra coming up with the most amazing movies. all we see now is girls wearing next to nothing, lots of vulgarity & lack of story telling, i can't believe it that chopras have been heavily borrowing from the west. where is the unique style of yash c gone, now there movies don't look much better than the visesh movies

FDFS Audience response

Video

http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/broadband/video/First-Day-First-Show/dGpI9v41/3/First-Day-First-Show-Of-Rab-Ne-Bana-Di-Jodi.html

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi Opens Well!

Saturday 13th December 2008 17.00 IST
Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi was slow to take off in the early shows but made rapid progress through out the day and was running to full houses at the end of the day at the major centres. Smaller centres were much slower to improve. At the end of the day the first day business was around 80-85%. The reports are good and the film is likely to be a huge earner (around 40 crore) for Yashraj films. The first weekend business should come in around the 25 crore nett mark.

Dil Kabaddi grossed around 3.50 crore nett in week one which is okay but due to the release of Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi it has very limited shows in week two. FLOP

Maharathi grossed a poor 1.75 crore in week one. FLOP

Oye Lucky Lucky Oye has done fairly well in week two with 1.90 crore business. The film has done Above Average business in Delhi and East Punjab. Overall BELOW AVERAGE

Dostana adds another 2.25 crore to take its four week total to 43.50 crore. AVERAGE

http://www.boxofficeindia.com/boxdetail.php?page=shownews&articleid=624&nCat=box_office_report&PHPSESSID=8735aaf85b1ea65e174168ab42a7250b

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi - Grandeur but lacks finesse

IndiaGlitz [Friday, December 12, 2008]

Well, to start off with, Aditya Chopra spells yet another poignant dimension of pure love as in his previous ventures with SRK; DDLJ and Mohabattein. Yeah! These tales were retentive impressing everyone from 8-80yrs old men and women. Of course, we fell in love getting imbibed with those spellbinding personations in these flicks. So, guess what about Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi – a film that brings back sensational pair SRK-Aditya together after 8yrs? Does the film exceed everyone's expectations on 'Love' n 'Entertainment' factors? Or merely conks out dashing down our hopes?

Hats off to Aditya Chopra! An awesome motif of delineating a touching story of romance...

Have you ever stopped to think if the most ordinary, uninteresting, unobtrusive man you might see on the road or around you might have a love story to tell?

Maybe not! How can an ordinary man have a breathtaking, goose flesh igniting, awe inspiring love story of all things to tell?

But guess what - love does not differentiate between the ordinary and exceptional, the uninteresting and interesting, the unattractive and attractive. Because love knows no distinction. It can happen to anyone and once it does it engulfs us into it completely and gives us those heaven-sent experiences that only love can yield.

Perhaps, everything in fine and good with the one-liner…. But Aditya Chopra fails in crafting a gripping narration all throughout the show. A flimsy screenplay lacking finesse with bits and pieces of discontinuities and these attributes easily scatters audiences' attention. The best illustration goes with SRK's ducky actresses shaking legs with him for 'Phir Milenge Chalte Chalte' on theatre screen. It's completely odd for that situation and possibly, the sequences could've been switched over to latter half as a 'special round in Dance show'. Was it an attempt to deliver a replica of 'Om Shanthi Om' song of film stars dancing together?

The film is about Surinder Sahni (Shahrukh Khan) - a simple, clean hearted, honest man working for Punjab Power, leading a humdrum life, when he meets his total opposite and finds love in the flamboyant, fun-loving, vivacious -Taani (Anushka Sharma) for whom the whole world is her canvas and she paints her own life with the colours of rainbow all until unforeseen circumstances changes it all and brings them together. Sooner, its biggest dance show in Amritsar and Surinder coiffes himself as Raj what he calls 'Macho Chap'… He does it all to impress his girl Taani and what's next?

It's a journey filled with laughter, tears, joy, pain, music, dance and a lot of love. A journey that makes us believe that there is an extraordinary love story in every ordinary jodi.

The first half dawdles with sluggish narration until earlier minutes to pre-interval where SRK's soliloquy with statue takes on emotional quotients. Well, the latter half comprises of few enjoyable moments like Anushka racing on her bike with 'Dhoom Machale' on BCM and next ultimate shot of Vinay Pathak-SRK at garage.

It's a crme de la crme performance by Shah Rukh Khan as he emotes resplendently on all situations. Be it his make-over sequences adjusting his tight jeans in dance class or the performance in penultimate minutes, King Khan is awe-inspiring. A flawless performance by debutant Anushka Sharma and of course she eclipses Shah Rukh on many parts. What to say about Vinay Pathak? He's over-the-top and more emblazons to the screen. He strides sparkling smiles on our lips with his wiggeries and soaks our eyes as he gets emotional. Don't miss the great dance of SRK-Vinay for the original tune of 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi'. Its emotional outbursts from every characterization that turns entire spotlights on RNBDJ…

Aditya's innovative thought is laudable on certain parts like Shah Rukh laying rose next to food and again placing it vase, pictorial of Anushka's face for the song 'Tuj Mei Rab Diktha Hai' and entire Amritsar being lit up, 'I Love You' deserves grand round of applause. Fine! Young lads and missies would hail with praise worthy comments for Adhi's ideation. Both SRK and Anushka swallowing Pani Purees followed by abrupt sequence where he has to finish of delicious Biriyani are evokes laughter.

Nevertheless, the biggest flaw is that how come a woman fails to recognize her husband with a slight-make over…. The characters of Surindar and Raj differ merely with thin moustache, hair style and costumes. Both the characters have same voice sans any modulations….

What barricaded Aditya's cognizance while dropping these lines on his paper? Indeed, it's a billion dollar question.

Ravi K Chandran's cinematography enhances visual quality and his placement of creative angles deserves special attention. The duo Salim-Sulaiman seems to have not percolated a lot for background scoring. It's again the pieces of existing numbers in album tuned and they sway on all songs.

Possibly, 'Haule Haule' and 'Dance Pe' peaked with high-promos prior to release. For sure, both the versions of 'Tuj Mei Rab Dikta Hai' capture your senses with beauteous visualizing. 'Phir Milenge Chalte Chalte' fails to make it big despites grand set decorations, costumes and top-charting actresses with SRK. Ritesh Soni's editing especially on 'Dancing Jodi' at the climax is mind blowing... Choreography by Vaibhavi and Shiamak are sumptuously ne plus ultra…

On the whole, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi is enjoyable on many parts with fun, frolic, lots of music and dance, pains and emotions. Well, Aditya Chopra gets stuck failing to pen an engrossing screenplay. It's too long, irksome and more predictability when it comes to narration and the auteur could've better avoided these vistas.

Verdict: A Fair to middling Show

Rating : ***


http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/hindi/review/10103.html



Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi

12 Dec, 2008 06:54 pm

Director: Aditya Chopra
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma
Rating: ** 1/2

Let's start with the moral of the story which intends to give the message of accepting people as they are without expecting them to change their real self. So if you can accept the Aditya Chopra brand of surreal romance without expecting him to change (read upgrade) his style since the last time he directed (eight years back), this divine love story is certainly your cup of tea.

The basic theme is about the glorification of an underdog which is symbolized by an average common man. Surinder Sahni (Shah Rukh Khan) is a nerdy personality, the kinds who were pet with professors but ridiculed or rejected by everyone else. In checked full-sleeved shirts, pleated pants, oiled hair and middle-aged moustache, he embodies the bland boring babu working at Punjab Power in Amritsar. Marriage with the attractive Taani (Anushka Sharma) is more of a fortuity but simultaneously dream-come-true for Surinder.

Evidently Taani is not heartily happy in this accidental matrimony but consents to a platonic relationship with Sahni. In anticipation of some amusement, she joins choreography classes and that's when Surinder joins her as a dance-partner.

But before that he opts for an image makeover by snipping his moustache, tousling his hair and replacing spectacles with sunglasses which is adequate enough to give him a new identity of Raj. So much so that even wife Taani doesn't recognize him. Not even by his vocal chords? Well it's no point voicing queries to trademark tricks of Bollywood that has been changing character identities at the drop of a moustache.

Expectedly Taani subsequently falls for Raj but is guilty of cheating on her husband Surinder – though both happen to be the same person. Who does she select is simple to guess from the moral at the start.

The story at the very outset opens interestingly as you relate to Surinder's common man image and the underplayed mannerisms of his character. But as Raj takes over, the pleasant change translates into the conventional clichs of a hyped-hero. You soon lose the silliness of Surinder to the starriness of Shah Rukh Khan that is so suggestive in the character of Raj. With the incorrigible cheap flirting that Raj confesses of indulging into, you can't help but sense the same old SRK and somewhere lose on the individuality of the underdog. Also the diversity in the characters isn't digestible as the introvert Surinder suddenly switches to the flamboyant Raj.

The glamorization of geeky protagonist has been earlier employed to similar effect in Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Pyaar Ka Sapna (1969) where an anglicized Mala Sinha wins Biswajeet, when the illiterate village girl can't. One can also draw faint references with V Shantaram's Navrang (1959) where Mahipal is married to a homely Sandhya but finds his muse in her fantasized avatar.

Essentially the film takes the feel-good path as it tries to simplify the stagy effect by avoiding a rebellious streak to the aggrieved girl. Nevertheless there are moments of sloppy sentimentality by a pouting Shah Rukh, like in the avertable mannequin scene just before the interval. The screenplay has its share of vivacious intensity like in the Dhoom-styled bike sequence or the gol-gappa competition in the second half. But beyond that the graph drops as you hear ksch ksch sighs in the hall and the story stretches and complicates itself. The writing is spewed with banal lines like ' ek ladki kya chahti hai ? Itna pyaar jitna kisi ne kisi se na kiya ho'.

The star-studded dance sequence as a tribute to yesteryear actors seems to be a direct spin-off from the Om Shanti Om track Dhoom Tana but not appealing to that effect for its patchy lyrics and tacky music. Otherwise Salim-Sulaiman's musical score is harmonious and easy on the ears. The Haule Haule number is more imaginatively choreographed to common-man competence with its nave dance steps.

With only two primary protagonists, the movie relies a lot on their performances. Fans would vie for the glamourized Shah Rukh, though he is more adorable as the silly Surinder. Anushka Sharma exudes spirited screen-presence and has the most electrifying smile amongst present actresses. She comes up with a confident and charming performance and matches up to Shah Rukh in every scene. In several frames she bears a striking similarity to Sonam Kapoor.

Aditya Chopra's directorial touch has the ability to emotionally bind you but the identity-change in the story is not cerebrally satisfying in contemporary times. Isn't shaving off the moustache a more practical option, if your wife doesn't like it? Or is that asking for too much of a character change?

http://movies.indiatimes.com/moviereview/3829369.cms

South Is Strong For Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi

Friday 12th December 2008 19.30 IST
Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network

The predominantly North Indian Punjabi flavour has not come in the way of Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi having a very good first day in the South India circuits.

The film started off well right from the first show in Nizam, Mysore, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, this could be because the South consists mainly of A grade centres and hindi films do not go into the interiors of the South much and so the the star power of Shahrukh Khan in big centres came into play.

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi has scored very well in the two big circuits Nizam and Mysore with Nizam first day nett gross set to be second only to Dhoom 2 and Mysore having the highest grossing first day ever.

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi Is Slow In Bihar

Friday 12th December 2008 20.30 IST

Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network

Rab Ne Ban Di Jodi is below the mark in Bihar barring Patna, Ranchi and Dhanbad. The other centres started slow and the improvement was slow compared to the rest of the country. The morning shows were 40-45% and evening shows around 55-60%.

The high grossing centres of Patna, Ranchi and Dhanbad are better and will put up good figures.

The film is also doing average in some centres of Rajasthan, CP Berar and CI but the important big centres like are Jaipur (Excellent), Kota, Nagpur, Raipur, Indore and Bhopal are doing very well.

http://www.boxofficeindia.com/npages.php?page=shownews&articleid=618&nCat=news

Masand's Verdict: Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi is contrived

Rajeev Masand / CNN-IBN

TimePublished on Sat, Dec 13, 2008 at 01:28, Updated on Sat, Dec 13, 2008 at 01:38 in Entertainment section

TagsTags: Masand's Verdict, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi , Starring

Starring: Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma

Director: Aditya Chopra

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi directed by Aditya Chopra, is a film that hangs from a threadbare premise that is hard to swallow.

Shah Rukh Khan plays Surinder Sahni, a working-class simpleton from Amritsar who goes in for an image makeover, and poses as a cooler, trendier fellow so he can woo his young, distracted wife Taani (played by newcomer Anushka Sharma). Picked to be partners in a local dance contest, the lady and her husband-in-disguise, Raj, become fast friends, until she finds herself falling for him.

To be honest, even if you are willing to buy into that bizarre premise - that Taani fails to recognize her own husband because he's shaved his moustache, lost the spectacles and picked a funky hairstyle - Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi is still an exhausting watch because it's such a predictable story, because it recycles the same old clichs, and because the characters are so poorly developed.

It's difficult to get your head around Taani, easily the film's most confusing character, who takes the drastic step of marrying a man she doesn't love on the urging of her deathbed-bound father, when her fianc is killed in a road accident. Never once does she remember or refer to either her fianc or her father in the film. She's progressive enough to think it's cool to be having gol-gappa eating matches with a male friend, but conveniently forgets to tell him she's married.

Going back to the oldest trick in the book to solve all his screenplay problems, director Aditya Chopra drags in Rab, or God to solve the film's decidedly uncomfortable conflict of whether Taani should run away with her lover, who's actually her husband-in-disguise; or whether she should stay with her husband? You see, the message this film delivers repeatedly is that you know it's real love when you see Rab or God in another human being.

Rab, in fact, comes quite handy here and is referred to every few minutes by someone or the other, and very often in long, boring monologues that characters deliver aloud to themselves.

When it's not peddling God and its theories on love, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi is really an antiquated love story that is regressive, chauvinistic and plain stupid in parts. Which is sad if you think about it, because stripped down to its basics there is clearly a sensitive idea there - about facing one's insecurities, and about coming to terms with the fact that it's okay to be yourself.

The emotional core of the film is the Surinder character whom Shah Rukh Khan plays with such genuine affection, you miss him dearly when the focus shifts to the loud buffoonery of Raj. Amidst all those silly gimmicks of a sumo-wrestling match and an Om Shanti Om-inspired item song with Bollywood's top heroines, the moments that stay with you are the ones involving Suri. It's to Shah Rukh Khan's credit that Suri stands out in such a messy film.

Newcomer Anushka Sharma appears confident, and is well cast as the spirited Taani, but saddled with an inconsistent character she fails to leave a lasting impression. The same, thankfully can't be said for Vinay Pathak, who's absolutely delightful as Suri's faithful friend Bobby.

Aditya Chopra's return to direction after eight years is marked by a flawed script, which in turn spawns a disappointing film. Where's the smart dialogue and the spirited characters that defined his debut film, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge? There's no trace of either in this film.

The problem then, at the root of Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, is that much like those artificial sets in the film, the emotions too are contrived.

I'm going with 2 out of 5 and at best an average rating for director Aditya Chopra's Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. If you must, watch it for Suri; he's the only honest thing about this film.

Rating: 2 / 5 (Average)

Rediff says it has opened to average response?!
...
The opening was not good as is normally expected for a Yash Raj/SRK movie. SRK's films last year -- Om Shanti Om [Images] and Chak De! India -- enjoyed huge box office success and won critical acclaim. However, trade sources said the nearly three-hour long film has opened to average response and mixed reviews.

"The all-India opening is expected to be 60-70 percent. Considering that this is a Yash Raj film, a 100 percent opening is expected, but that has not happened," said Kumar Mohan, editor of trade magazine Complete Cinema.

"Audiences, who saw the film today, have liked it and reports are good. We are confident that the movie will pick up during the week," a Cinemax spokesperson said, adding the film had got an opening of 55-60 percent.

http://inhome.rediff.com/movies/2008/dec/12rabne-opens-to-average-response.htm

At last, Rab answers prayers of Bollywood

13 Dec 2008, 0025 hrs IST, Meenakshi Verma Ambwani & Amit Sharma, ET Bureau

NEW DELHI: Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, the actor's first film in over 13 months, seems to have ended the box-office drought, according to occupancy figures of key multiplex players like PVR, Adlabs, Fame and Inox Leisure Cinemas.

Says PVR CEO-cine media Gautam Dutta, "Rab Ne has opened to full houses across most of our theatres. The day's occupancies averaged 80-90%. However, going by the advance bookings, we believe the next two days would also see 100% occupancy." He added that the week could work out to be one of the biggest weekends for the year comparable only to the weekend that saw the release of Akshay Kumar's Singh is Kinng.

In the bid to make the most of the big ticket release, most multiplex players are running shows every 30-45 minutes. Says Inox Leisure COO Alok Tandon; "I guess that is the beauty of a multiplex, if someone wants to watch the movie there is no way they will be disappointed. The movie has opened to several house full shows and we believe it is going to get better in the next two days."

Multiplex players are also of the view that advance and corporate bookings are back on track after a long hiatus. As per a senior executive with Fame Cinemas (formerly known as Shringar Cinemas), there have been large bulk booking and corporate booking order.

SRK's film RNBDJ's success was critical to exhibitors in an otherwise disappointing year that saw their annual revenue growth come down to single digits, compared to over 15% last year. The 1,400-screens multiplex industry in the country has been battling a series of flops this year, primarily because of bad fare dished out by Bollywood.

Depressed consumer sentiments and a runaway success of Indian Premier League too didn't help win back audiences to theatres.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ET_Cetera/At_last_Rab_answers_prayers_of_Bollywood_/articleshow/3830495.cms

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi First Day Business

Saturday 14th November 2008 07.30 IST

Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi collected a very good 7.50 crore nett on its first day in India. Business was good all over with Delhi/NCR, Punjab, Nizam and Mysore doing best while some centres in Bihar, CP Berar, CI and Rajasthan were on the lower side but big centres in these circuits were good which meant healthy overall totals for these circuits.

The business over Saturday and Sunday is expected to be better and the weekend should see the film grossing a healthy 25 crore nett. This would be the second highest weekend total ever after Singh Is Kinng which netted a huge 28 crore nett. The 2007 Shahrukh Khan blockbuster Om Shanti Om had netted 22 crore over its first weekend as had the Abbas Mustan directed Race earlier this year.

http://www.boxofficeindia.com/npages.php?page=shownews&articleid=621&nCat=news&PHPSESSID=d39a4ab376b104f1db36db88aa007043

Punjab Power For Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi

Friday 12th December 2008 23.30 IST
Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi has definitely lightened up the box office in the East Punjab circuit. The first day saw very good business at the multiplexes and good in the single screens.

The total first day business in the circuit was 75 lakhs nett which is the second highest grossing first day ever in the circuit. Only Singh Is Kinng has grossed higher on the first day and that film was an All Time Blockbuster in the circuit.

http://www.boxofficeindia.com/npages.php?page=shownews&articleid=620&nCat=news


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DNA Review

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
Starring: Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma, Vinay Pathak
Directed by: Aditya Chopra
Rating: ***

Last week, I spotted Aditya Chopra at a multiplex. The maverick filmmaker is known to make a trip to cinema halls every week and watch the audience react to all films — romantic, comic, or downright sleazy.

Although I was itching to go and chat with him, I wanted to give the man what he likes — his privacy — something he has been guarding fiercely since the release of his first film, the eternal blockbuster Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (DDLJ). After all, in spite of all his extraordinary achievements, Aditya prefers the life of an ordinary man, in some ways like Surinder Sahni in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (RNBDJ).

Surinder (Shah Rukh Khan, who else?) is a 9-to-5 man: simple, unheroic, and ageing. Circumstances compel him to marry Taani (Anushka Sharma, perfect casting), after she loses her lover in an accident.

Taani surrenders herself to be a duty-bound wife, complying with tradition and being the perfect spouse in every way possible. But she can never love Surinder, she tells him a day after their marriage. Surinder, having fallen head-over-heals for Taani, has no hope of her ever developing feelings for him due to his ordinary looks and nature.

But he has to tell her how much he loves her, and he needs an outlet. Surinder then transforms into Raj, who is everything Surinder isn't. Loud, flamboyant, and sometimes vulgar, Surinder lives the life he always wanted to through Raj. He gets to flirt with Taani, be her partner in a dance competition, and express his love in a way he can never imagine doing as Surinder.

The problem arises when Taani starts falling in love with Raj. Although Raj is really Surinder's alter ego, Taani doesn't know that and her loving Raj reflects the lack of her desire to be with Surinder.

Aditya Chopra keeps it simple. The film is not very high on grandeur, style, and designer clothes and revolves mainly around the two characters, or three if you take into account Shah Rukh's dual roles. Aditya doesn't deviate much from the plot and sticks to a linear form of storytelling. Having said that, the single-track nature of the story also makes it a tad too long at 2 hours 45 minutes. The same story, told in a little over two hours, would have done wonders.

But you have to hand it to Aditya for attempting a love story that is drastically different from the one with which he set a trend more than a decade ago. Coming back after a gap of eight years, Aditya has chosen a subject that may not set the cash registers ringing in the way that, say, an Om Shanti Om did. But he tells the heartwarming love story of a middle-class, middle-aged man in a way that needs to be applauded for its minimalism. It reflects the director's own maturity as a person and in spite of not being as engrossing as DDLJ, the film manages to keep you entertained.

Certain sequences, of course, are outstanding. The build-up to Surinder's character, his transformation into Raj, and moments between the husband and wife at home are brilliant. A surprise 'bike' sequence is among the film's highlights. But the biggest highlight is Shah Rukh gyrating with some of today's top heroines (we won't name anyone, you go and find out yourself) to a medley of songs from Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand to Rajesh Khanna, Shammi, and Rishi Kapoor. That sequence is certain to bring the house down. In fact, the song is a clear indication of Shah Rukh's star power and could do for the movie what Mere Angne Main did for Amitabh Bachchan and Laawaris.

Just like Aditya has taken a road less travelled for his comeback, Shah Rukh has performed a role that must have required tremendous introspection. As Surinder, he plays it down and delivers a performance that is among the best in Hindi cinema. As 'lover boy' Raj though, he is on familiar ground; the earthy accent and walk are what give the role a distinct style. In other words, Shah Rukh surpasses himself in many ways and provides his fans with a paisa vasool performance.

Anushka Sharma seems tailor-made for the role and stands up well to Shah Rukh. She is sweet and vulnerable in the movie, and you wish that her career does not slump like Gracy Singh's did after Lagaan. Vinay Pathak, as Surinder's best friend, is competent as usual.

In the end, RNBDJ is a veritable treat for Shah Rukh fans. Simpler than DDLJ and superior to Mohabbatein, the film re-establishes Aditya Chopra as one of the best in the industry. Give this one a shot!

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1213471&pageid=2

Emirates Business 24|7

By Bindu Rai on Friday, December 12, 2008

After two hit pairings and an eight-year sabbatical, director Aditya Chopra finally comes out of hibernation to wield the director's baton yet again with superstar Shah Rukh Khan.

The result is the highly anticipated Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, a film that could very well return production house Yash Raj Films (YRF) to its former glory after a spate of flops over the last two years, including the much-touted Laaga Chunari Mein Daag and Tashan.

The good news for the YRF camp is Chopra's impeccable box-office record. His directorial debut Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) is the fifth most successful film of all-time in Bollywood, reportedly earning Rs1 billion, and is still running to a packed house in Mumbai's Maratha Mandir cinema.

With that Guinness Book record tucked away on his mantle, his follow-up Mohabbatein (2000) was something of a cult classic in colleges across India.

Prospects seem positive and with Rab Ne..., Chopra plays it safe, returning to the romance genre that once defined YRF – complete with chiffon saris billowing in the breeze to the backdrop of soulful music. A modern take on Beauty and the Beast, post-marriage that is, the film sees SRK play simpleton Surinder Sahni, a nobody whose life revolves around his unexciting job.

His life takes a sudden turn when he spots the fun-loving Taani (newcomer Anushka Sharma) and falls instantly in love. The duo promptly tie the knot but their yawning age gap and their different outlook on life drives a wedge between their search for marital bliss.

Helpless and confused, Surinder overhears his wife's wish to participate in a reality dance contest for couples; Taani is heartbroken because his embarrassing ways won't allow her to fulfill the dream. The solution is a no-brainer and husband dear undergoes a makeover to get them on the show and dance his way into her heart.

Seeped in predictability, the film still manages to shine, thanks to SRK's performance and his chemistry with Sharma. For a newcomer, the latter really knows how to make the camera capture her good side.

How well the film will perform globally is anyone's guess, but even with the Dubai International Film Festival in full swing here, tickets for the film in the Emirate are more or less sold out.

http://www.business24-7.ae/articles/2008/12/pages/12122008_82494f8849644d5ea240d7dfddc16f88.aspx

'RNBDJ': It's SRK, all the way!

Review by Deepa Gahlot

There was a time when audiences were as innocent as cinema technique was primitive. Filmmakers relied on the audience's total suspension of disbelief as they drew them into an emotional web and kept them hooked till the end. When they came out they were all teary-eyed or goofy-grinned—slightly embarrassed at being so easily manipulated.

Aditya Chopra's 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi' is that kind of film. Look for a new plot, fresh idea or zingy style and it's not there. But there is romance, emotion, simplicity and a performance from Shah Rukh Khan that would make any actor dizzy with envy.

As the geeky, introverted minor bureaucrat Surinder Sahni, Khan gives an amazingly astute and well-observed performance (the right accent, even the right nerdy shoes), plus a lack of vanity, so that looking at him, nobody could tell that he is a major star.

Tragic circumstance end up in his marriage to young Taani (Ansukha Sharma), who says right at the start that she will try to be a good wife, but won't be able to love him. The already besotted Surinder humbly accepts crumbs, because he feels he doesn't deserve any better. A dabba packed by her for his lunch is enough to send him into paroxysms of joy.

Taani wants to participate in a dance competition, and with the help of a flamboyant friend Bobby (Vinay Pathak), Surinder gets a makeover and turns himself into the crude, flirty Raj Kapoor, Taani's dance partner. Now comes the suspension of disbelief— with those eyes, that nose, those lips and that Adam's apple, she does not see that Surinder and Raj are the same man.

Surinder gets into the 'Golmaal'-like schizopherenic situation—boring Surinder by day and funky Raj by night.

Even with her resistance Taani falls in love with Raj—there is a cute dream sequence that pays tribute to the old stars and their songs.

Without really underlining it, Aditya Chopra (in the tradition of films like Love in Simla and Chhotisi Baat), makes a comment on the superficiality of judging people by their looks. But the film—with some excellent lines—keeps it simple, the story is just about these two very ordinary people and it takes some doing to convince an audience that Shah Rukh Khan is ordinary. The casting of a non-glamorous, pudgy-faced Anushka Sharma as Taani helps emphasize Chopra's point that even homely and plain people are deserving of great love—if God wills it.

link: http://entertainment.in.msn.com/bollywood/reviews/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1736893

one hilarious review 😆

Rab Ne Paka Di Thodi….

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi Movie Review

….thodi ? Its only to rhyme with the title of the film. Actually its bahut zayada pakau.

Was reading this post of Roger Ebert last nite. His list of best films of the year and how it was difficult for him to pick up only ten films and so he has come out with a list of twenty films. I was discusing the same with my freinds and we had a tough time picking five good films this year… twenty ?? …hehehe….woh subah kabhi to aayegi. And so the BIG KING Khan is here before the year ends and this one is his single release of the year. And what a disppointment!! When will our big starts learn to look beyond the scripts of their good freinds ? Till then, lets suffer!

So, the dude is back. Aditya Chopra's third film in thirteen years. Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi - after spending three hours and scratching my bald head some three hundred times, i fail to understand what was so compulsive about this one that forced him out of hibernation.

The story is the same thats circulating in blogsphere for quite some time. Boring SRK gets married to a young girl and to make her fall in love with him, he becomes a new guy and then…u know, if its hindi film and if its yashraj films, what to expect.

But wait, Shahrukh Khan is not in double role….he is actually in triple role. One is boring Suriji, other is the irritating hero ji and there is a third one….yes yes…one who knows everything…the voice of sanity…he knows why Taani partner will like Heroji and why Suriji is a boring guy. He also knows that Suriji is funny because he lights up others lives. But still he remains Suriji. Confused ? Was this Aditya Chopra's voice ? Or Who was it ? I didn't get it. The way SRK switches from one character to other without making much of a difference is a failure on actor's part. He seriously needs to watch Amol Palekar's Golmaal to know the difference between playing a cool dude and pretending to be one when you are actually a dull one.

The way it starts, its interesting as the concept of love for the leads are so different. But few mins into the film and its all about LOVING YOUR RAB!! Its Raba-raba-rab!! Rubbing all the way, in almost every other scene….ghar me, office me, saloon me…you look around and you will find Rabji….he is omnipresent….you can't argue with that!! So Rabji decides what should happen and what shouldn't. Rabji is the third lead in the film! There is nothing intelligent about the story as its a liner straightforward story. The challenge was to hold the interest. But songs are unnecesarily forced in between, second half is packed with one after other gag and is stretched to three hours!!

There is a song featuing Kajol, Bipasha Basu, Preity Zinta and Rani Mukherjee…first of all, there is no need for this one. And the novelty of star cameos is now overdone….last time it got me excited for Kal Ho Na Ho. And then Farah delivered the biggest punch with Om Shanti Om and all with a reason. Here, its just a waste. And there are numerous references to various Yashraj Films. Have been trying hard to figure out an alternative but the way we consume cinema, dont think there is a way out.

We are asked to see the films and not the filmmaker. But i have never been able to do it as i find it impossible to separte the two. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Mohabaateein and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi….Aditya Chopra's heroes have remained the same. He will face a romantic challege and he will defeat the villain/situation by being the nice guy, delivering new philosophy of love and finally convincing everyone that he is the winner. And i dont have any romantic bone left in my body after having the same recipe for ages….the love monologues are f**kall and the characters deliver it equally f**kall way. Check out the first big one of Taani (Anoushka Sharma) when she tells Suriji what she thinks about love and why she would never be able to love him. Its hilarious! For a moment, i felt was watching some 80's film. whenever there is any confusion…trust the rab. Before the finale, why Taani decides to go for the boring Suriji is also not clear….bus usme Rab dikhta hai! Aditya Chopra really endorses this view ? Or he thinks he has got new branding of love ? would really like to know.

Liked the way Heroji proposes to Taani partner…atleast there is a reason there. Its a lot similar to Dostana….when Abhishek (or was it John) proposes to Priyanka but that was just dumb!

If you don't want to waste three hours then do check out Vinay Pathak's track in Aaja Nachale. That was much more intersting and enjoyable. And somehow i have a feeling that the germ of this story is the same track. Vinay is also here as Suriji's best freind but doesn't have much to do. Now waiting for Ghajini…..as KK said….Nolan got a new tatoo on his chest…Murgadoss killed Memento!! Waiting to know if its revenge time or not.

Moral of the story….

Subhash Ghai - Bhole aadmiyoon ki shaadi nahi hoti….
Aditya Chopra - Agar shaadi ho bhi gayee to usme sex nahi hota hai. Use bus Rab dikhta hai
Phoenixnu - aur mujhe rab-o-phobia ho gaya hai!!

http://passionforcinema.com/rab-ne-paka-di-thodi/

lol cant stop laughing 😆

@bold:exactly my thoughts!😆

"13 years from now, I will watch RNBDJ again" - Audience speaks

By Joginder Tuteja, December 13, 2008 - 14:04 IST

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi has got a Thumbs Up from the audience. The paying 'junta' has lapped up the films with both hands and the opening has been better than expected. Though it had earlier seemed that terror attack and relatively lesser hype for this Yash Raj production would be a deterrent towards the collections, the film's showing as the first day came to an end has been more or less positive. The film took a much better start than Chak De India [which had seen around 50% collections on the opening day] though it was below ~100% opening of Om Shanti Om [as expected, since it was a Diwali release and came with a much bigger hype]. However, there are two factors that should result in Aditya Chopra, Shah Rukh Khan and Co. grinning from ear to ear:

a) The film saw house full sign all over towards the evening and night shows on Friday

b) 'Junta Janardhan', the ultimate power, has been unanimously gung-ho about the film. Of course, for some patrons, the film isn't as huge as they thought, but then it has been mainly because of the 'YRF-Adi-SRK coming together' expectations factor which has proven to be the stumbling block.

Bollywood Hungama met up some people coming out of theaters on Friday and this is what they had to say about the film:

Anupa Abraham (29, Software professional)

Really, it didn't quite matter to me if Rab Ne Bana De Jodi was directed by Aditya Chopra or Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Watching a film which has Shah Rukh Khan in the lead is a good enough reason and I am glad that I saw the film on the first day itself. Yes, there were apprehensions since I didn't have much clue about what the film was all about, though I did have a hint around Shah Rukh's character going through a makeover. In the end, I came home smiling because of the heartwarming feel of the film. Anushka is nice but well, I am a Shah Rukh Khan fan and it was his presence that mattered.

Vibha Jindal (36, Housewife)

My friends dragged me for this. I was saving money for Ghajini but they all insisted that I join them for Rab Ne.... I am now troubled. Why? Because I really loved the film and now would be bringing my husband and two kids as well to watch the film over the weekend. It would turn out to be expensive now but never mind. Ghajini will certainly happen but it's good that I watched Rab Ne... as well. I had a disastrous experience with Yash Raj Films since I had to suffer Aaja Nachle and Laaga Chunari Mein Daag but this was a different ballgame altogether.

Shivani Burman (28, Call Center Manager)

I had to fight off two restrictions for watching Rab Ne.... I had to take a day off from office and moreover I am due for delivery in a fortnight. My husband ensured that I get the most comfortable sitting for the film. As it is the film is near 3 hours in duration if one includes the interval as well. Thank goodness for the couch facility in my neighborhood multiplex. I felt like a very pregnant Preity Zinta from Salaam Namaste as I demanded nothing but the best throughout my movie watching. My husband may have been doing all the errands for me but I had a gala time with Rab Ne.... Anushka is good but Shah Rukh is sooooo cute, especially in his 'geek' avtar.

Bimal Sharma (29, Real Estate Broker)

I wonder what prompted Yash Raj Films to release Rab Ne... in December. This one is a core Diwali film. If they would have released it in the festive season, the hype and response to this would have been unprecedented. It is a very good film, if not excellent. Also, it is way ahead of the likes of Golmaal Returns or for that matter even Fashion. As a movie buff, I watched both the films then but I know that if only Rab Ne... would have released then, I would seen this one first. I have freaked out earlier on DDLJ and though I wasn't too fond of Mohabbatein, this one is leagues ahead.

Gaurav Middha (26, Investment Banker)

Puhleeze, stop giving me 'gyaan' about this 'ordinary' v/s 'extraordinary' sh%^ that is being thrust by the film's PR machinery. At the end of the day, it is yet another regular feel good entertainer. I didn't quite feast on the entire concept of the film. I mean at the end of the day, all this entire make over thing and all is truly filmy. Real life mein aisa kuch possible nahi hota! And this is where the basic pretext of the film, i.e. it being about a common man, goes for a toss. I saw it a time pass flick with no expectations and on those grounds, I was okay about the entire affair.

Sahil Sabharwal (32, Travel Consultant)

After all the terror attack depression, I HAD to watch something on the big screen. I am a movie buff and was waiting to catch Rab Ne... Last few weeks have been particularly bad since there wasn't anything good to watch at multiplexes. Rab Ne.... has been quite an entertaining watch and the experience was enhanced since I went out with a bunch of 9 odd colleagues. There were a couple of them who aren't really the film buffs but we coaxed them into watching the film. Overall we had a great experience since there were number of 'taali-maar' moments, the kind that kept us all making most of the noise in the auditorium.

Kavya Joglekar (42, Boutique owner)

Anushka is such a nice pretty looking girl. I guess her girl next door persona is what added to the strength of Rab Ne... Moreover, I like the way she dances. Honestly, even though I don't really miss any Shah Rukh Khan movies, I couldn't resist myself from admiring this new girl for her talent. She will certainly go quite some distance. She is wonderful.

Yachna Yadav (23, Engineering student)

I had gone with HUGE expectations and though I knew that the film wasn't set on as huge scale as majority of biggies starring Shah Rukh Khan are, I still did expect a grand affair. In a way I am not too pleased with the film's outcome. It was nice but I didn't really get back my expectations worth. I hadn't liked the songs even earlier but had believed that on big screen they would make an impact. The entire parody song had good visuals but overall, it turned out to be just another film, though not THE film I was looking for. Ghajini, where are you?

Balasubramaniam Parmeshwaran (33, Businessman)

There is no reason why I am not going to watch Rab Ne... again! The combination of Yash Raj Films, Aditya Chopra and Shah Rukh Khan was long due and Rab Ne... is a film which is just the right comeback for the trio after Mohabbatein. At the least the three of them have genuinely tried to be different here. Often we have accused this team to have beaten around the same formula and it takes guts to take your movie to a small time setting when all this while they have found reasons to set their feet in Europe. 'Haule Haule' is pretty much the single most reason that I dragged my feet to theaters.

Shubhradeep Guha (38, Sales Director)

I have only one thing to say - 'Adi, please make more films'. No, I refuse to compare Rab Ne... with his earlier two films, why should I? I would rather watch it as a stand alone film. DDLJ didn't have a predecessor when it released. I have seen Rab Ne... and am sure that it would be counted as one of the better films coming from Yash Raj Films in the current century. Who know, just like DDLJ, 13 years from now I could be venturing into this multiplex again to watch the film? Ok, so it's a far fetched thought in today's '10-shows-a-day' scenario but well, I can still have a dream, right?