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Bachchan reigns over Bollywood with two big hits
Two new Bollywood films starring Amitabh Bachchan, released simultaneously last month, have become big hits, proving once again that even at the age of 64 he remains the darling of the box office.
The two hits are contrasting stories. One is a romantic comedy in which Bachchan woos a woman young enough to be his daughter, the other a gangster flick where he plays a lawyer who saves trigger-happy policemen from the law.
The two films opened on May 25 to rave reviews and an impressive box office response, once again proving Bachchan's versatility and reaffirming his status as an industry legend, critics said.
"Cheeni Kum", the romantic comedy, succeeded because of humour, whereas a similar, bold Lolita-like story also starring Bachchan and released this year, failed because conservative Indians rejected its sexual undertone.
"A film like 'Cheeni Kum' signifies the winds of change in Bollywood," said film critic Taran Adarsh. "Amitabh Bachchan proves his supremacy yet again. Playing an arrogant chef, the actor is natural all through."
Not only is "Cheeni Kum" doing very well with urban audiences, as expected, but it is also slowly picking up in small towns.
Bachchan has had a powerful hold over audiences for over three decades, and even now, roles are written exclusively to suit his age.
He has had four releases so far this year and three more are due to open around the end of the year.
COOK VS LAWYER
Bachchan's popularity is not limited to the big screen though. He is also among the most sought-after celebrities by the advertising industry and endorses an array of products from cars to chocolates.
In "Cheeni Kum", Bachchan is a confirmed bachelor living with his 85-year-old mother and his only friend and confidante is a nine-year-old girl with cancer.
An arrogant, egoistic and pompous man with a singular passion in life -- cooking -- Bachchan's first encounters with the 34-year-old heroine are fraught with tension.
But against all odds they fall in love and go to the girl's father -- who is six years younger than the prospective groom -- for consent to marry.
The gangster story, "Shootout at Lokhandwala", is inspired by a real-life gun battle between police and criminals on the streets of Mumbai in 1991.
The shootout was highly controversial because of allegations that it was stage-managed by police who took money from the mob to eliminate a rival gang.
Though Bachchan plays a small role, he shines as the lawyer fighting for the policemen.
Indu Mirani, a film critic with the DNA newspaper, described the lawyer played by Bachchan as a "cynical, headmaster-type of dictatorial figure".
"He thinks nothing of insulting his clients, telling them to shut up and passing judgement on all they tell him."
Two new Bollywood films starring Amitabh Bachchan, released simultaneously last month, have become big hits, proving once again that even at the age of 64 he remains the darling of the box office.
The two hits are contrasting stories. One is a romantic comedy in which Bachchan woos a woman young enough to be his daughter, the other a gangster flick where he plays a lawyer who saves trigger-happy policemen from the law.
The two films opened on May 25 to rave reviews and an impressive box office response, once again proving Bachchan's versatility and reaffirming his status as an industry legend, critics said.
"Cheeni Kum", the romantic comedy, succeeded because of humour, whereas a similar, bold Lolita-like story also starring Bachchan and released this year, failed because conservative Indians rejected its sexual undertone.
"A film like 'Cheeni Kum' signifies the winds of change in Bollywood," said film critic Taran Adarsh. "Amitabh Bachchan proves his supremacy yet again. Playing an arrogant chef, the actor is natural all through."
Not only is "Cheeni Kum" doing very well with urban audiences, as expected, but it is also slowly picking up in small towns.
Bachchan has had a powerful hold over audiences for over three decades, and even now, roles are written exclusively to suit his age.
He has had four releases so far this year and three more are due to open around the end of the year.
COOK VS LAWYER
Bachchan's popularity is not limited to the big screen though. He is also among the most sought-after celebrities by the advertising industry and endorses an array of products from cars to chocolates.
In "Cheeni Kum", Bachchan is a confirmed bachelor living with his 85-year-old mother and his only friend and confidante is a nine-year-old girl with cancer.
An arrogant, egoistic and pompous man with a singular passion in life -- cooking -- Bachchan's first encounters with the 34-year-old heroine are fraught with tension.
But against all odds they fall in love and go to the girl's father -- who is six years younger than the prospective groom -- for consent to marry.
The gangster story, "Shootout at Lokhandwala", is inspired by a real-life gun battle between police and criminals on the streets of Mumbai in 1991.
The shootout was highly controversial because of allegations that it was stage-managed by police who took money from the mob to eliminate a rival gang.
Though Bachchan plays a small role, he shines as the lawyer fighting for the policemen.
Indu Mirani, a film critic with the DNA newspaper, described the lawyer played by Bachchan as a "cynical, headmaster-type of dictatorial figure".
"He thinks nothing of insulting his clients, telling them to shut up and passing judgement on all they tell him."
Bhabhi Ji Ghar Pe Hain?
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