Laal Singh Chaddha reviews and box office (DT Warning p30) - Page 52

Originally posted by: atominis

Mona Singh and the little kid who played Aamir are soul of this film.

Mona ate everyone and the little kid could make anyone melt and cry.

Mona was brilliant even if she is younger than Aamir. Kamaal ka kaam kiya hai.

I cannot believe she is same girl who played Jassi. So much improvement and growth!

Strong willed single mother raising an autistic child alone in Punjab village. What a character!

Waise I understand why this film did not have festival release nor had event film marketing like 3 Idiots or Ghajini.

Still if it was edited better and promoted better, it would not do as badly as it is doing now.

Kareena was good too but I felt her role was too short and her character was hardly developed as much. I mean hard to understand why she kept leaving or returning or did not get in touch with Lal earlier the day she was pregnant with his kid...

2nd half letdown

de aging wat ever it was bad

amir was decent in train

SPOILER ALERT

Aamir was good in train and the scene at Bebo's grave.

Made my mom cry and made me feel genuinely sad.

Anyway film has a very consistent message against domestic violence and it is heartwarming to see Aamir defend Kareena anytime someone raises hand on her or manhandles her. She was the first one to offer him affection as a kid, he reciprocated it all life, by being protective towards her, accepting her as she was despite her sort of ignoring him or straying towards shady world of underworld to climb social ladder. He is so earnest and protective towards her that even when he learns that her kid is born due to him, he feels guilty and apologetic if he did something wrong as he was not married to her yet she became mother of their baby. It was heartwarming to see Kareena console him and reassure him saying he did nothing wrong and him seeking permission to touch his own son and later marrying Kareena with kid in tow right in front of village friends without bothering about what society thinks about their becoming unwed parents.

Aamir and another elderly sardar were shown discussing 1984 in train where other passengers were also there. Not a single word of bitterness from either Sikh or Hindu passengers then who were listening to their convo. It has been handled very maturely and sensitively. Accepted as a bad time only.

I liked songs of the film. Chal Kaleya is also a very good song especially if someone has dealt with loss or grief or bereavement.

I would like to point few things which go against LSC and show why Hollywood cannot be pasted on Indian context to make it believable. *SPOILER ALERT*

- I saw people uncomfortable with premarital sex and kissing scenes between Aamir and Bebo in a remote village shown in Punjab in LSC. It seemed unrealistic that unmarried couple of different faiths would be living together and sleep with each other in rural Punjab of mid 2000s!

- It was unrealistic to show Christian schools in rural Punjab in 80s. Rather militants used to attack Xtian schools in Punjab back then. I am surprised how film showed that school.

- It was unrealistic to show Mona living as a single mom of an autistic child in rural Punjab and no other man in house in 1980s. No uncles? No one from side of father? No one knows if he divorced them or died? No man fron side of mother either? No nani or dadi?

- How come they showed peace in Punjab and rural areas or celebrations for India winning WC in era when militancy was at its peak in rural Punjab? How did they show kids happily moving alone in forests or rural areas during militancy era in Punjab?

- How did they show little Lal asking Rupa to marry him? Kids never talked like this in Indian villages in 80s.

- How did they show Sikhs happily travelling to Delhi or taking pics around PM residence in 1984 when Sikhs were hardly allowed near central govt buildings and kept under watch and also faced hate crimes post Op Bluestar? And no Sikh liked Indira anyway and there was resentment against her post Bluestar? So why would Sikh family be excited to take pics or tell kids yeh Indira Gandhi ka ghar hai? Or why would agencies allow Sikh tourists near her residence anyway when Indira was even asked to remove her Sikh bodyguards back then?

- How did they show Lal and his mom safe from mob just after cutting hair in middle of road?

- How did Lal just keep running and no one stopped or questioned him or where did he stop or did he take rest?

- How come Rupa's family kept no track of her or ever tried to stop her or get her back? When did rural families give such liberty to girls in 80s? Or 90s?

- How did they show Anand Karaj in fields when destination Anand Karaj is banned and Anand karaj can only be performed inside gurdwara? There is no village in Punjab where you have Anand karaj in field.

- How come army hired a man with intellectual deficiency?

- How come army took no action against Aamir or ask him why he saved a Pakistani militant or knew nothing about militant in their hospital and let him escape hospital? Did not follow up?

- What happened to Rupa corp after both Aamir and Pakistani guy left it?

- What happened to Lal's cancer hospital?

- What was point of showing 1984, Mandal, Rath yatra, 1992-1993 riots, blasts, Babri, Anna agitation, Kargil war, Miss Universe 1994 or 26/11 if these events had not much link to characters in story? 26/11 is only incident that makes Pakistani guy go back to his country.

- Why Rupa gets a grave and not cremation? I mean did she not convert to get an Anand karaj? As far as I know, interfaith Anand Karaj is not allowed in rural areas at least as it is allowed abroad. So Rupa retains her parent religion after marriage to Lal?

Film has too many logical loopholes and inaccuracies. Most unrealistic is peace in Punjab village in 1980s. Nope. It became more violent post Bluestar if anyone knows that era.

Originally posted by: 2RsFan

Funny that she gets to play the mother despite being younger than both Aamir and Kareena

But she carried the role off so well proving how versatile she is

I couldnt even recognise her😆

I agree with you. Aamir's acting as older sardar, with turban and beard was way better than the acting of younger self.

Mohammad paji bit was stupid, illogical and hard to believe Indian army and agencies could not track a Pak based militant working as a businessman of a top undergarment brand in India or did not realise he was being treated at army hospital. The intention to add his character may have been good to show him as someone who reformed or had change of heart through goodness of an Indian who saved him. But it did not come across as it should have.

Kareena is good but her role needed better development and a bit more footage.

Mona and 2 child actors who played Aamir and his son respectively are amazing, adorable and soul of film.

Originally posted by: Kyahikahoon

Pooja paath hai to dialogue me..and Ibaadat at too.

Aamir's dialogue was in response to this question.

Honestly..kyun daalne hai aise dialogues? Controversy karne? Ya khud ko atheist prove karne..

Telling that someone's faith spreads malaria doesn't sound nice to at least the believers..so they will speak their mind. Makers can choose to ignore..they have already spoken their mind

SPOILER ALERT

I have seen the film and it is not against any religion at all. Lal has grown up in militancy infested Punjab, see Op Bluestar and barely escaped mobs in Nov 1984 pogrom when his mom cut his hair to save his life and he also saw driver of his auto being burnt alive by mob. His mom tells him to stay inside his room or hide because there is 'malaria' outside whenever there is any riot outside such as 1984 or 1992 and does not want to discuss details of religious strife to him. So when she cannot discuss religious politics with him, she simply tells him 'bahar ni jana bahar malaria hai'.

This is why the man begins to think it is malaria.

It is not promoting atheism or mocking any religion nor it names any religion. Lal simply repeats idea his mom instilled in him to keep him safe and sheltered from communal violence as a kid and teen.

The Pakistani terrorist also goes back to Pakistan saying there is same malaria in his country also and it is being used to radicalise youth. This dialogue comes after he sees news on 26/11 and young Kasab and feels shocked why such a young guy became terrorist and feels the need to stop radicalism in his own country also. He also mocks a maulvi's preaching on hoors and virgins one gets in jannat and switches off TV and jokes to Lal how these preachers brainwash young men like he was at some point of time.

If you have NOT seen the film or seen the context then please keep quiet and stop making allegations or foisting agenda on the film.

If Lal was an atheist he would not get married to Rupa in Anand karaj but go for court marriage.

Anyway even if a film is about atheism it is NOTHING wrong and we have FoE to have atheist characters or dialogues too.

It is nothing to whine about.

It is not religions they spoke against but misuse of religion to radicalise youth and cause militancy and riots. Do not start crying 'hurt sentiments' or so called insult to religion without seeing context or film.

Originally posted by: BettyA1

So LSC is about Hindu atrocities against Sikhs in the 1984 riots...

Then why didn't they say so

P.S. I thought religion is banned in this thread (Warning on pg 30)

SPOILER ALERT

No. It does have a scene of mob attacking auto where Mona and little Aamir travel in Delhi but it has no such main theme of 'Hindu atrocities against Sikhs' and they did not even show the khoon ka badla khoon slogans or burnings of gurdwaras by mobs in 1984.

Only one shot of their Sikh auto driver being killed by mob and even his burning was not shown. Only hinted at.

You can stop being self conscious or assuming it is about showing Hindus as aggressors when it did not show footage from 1992- 1993 riots, did not even mention 2002 pogrom or Graham Staines murder and has also shown Pak based militants and terrorists and 26/11 attacks. Even the reference to Mandal is only through protest signs in college. No slogans or mobs or scenes of violence or any casteist remarks.

No points to score here against the film if you want to claim it is anti Hindu. It is not showing any community as specific aggressors but all communities as victims of certain radical elements. The only 3 people who are friendly towards Lal in this film are from all faiths be it Hindu (Bala), Muslim (Mohammad), Christian (Rupa). It actually gives message of communal harmony and to rise above radicalism and also has message against domestic violence and ill treating or bullying kids with intellectual deficiencies.

1984 is only used as a time stamp or marker of the era just as 1983 WC win of India or Sushmita's win at Miss Universe 1994.

Originally posted by: atominis

SPOILER ALERT

No. It does have a scene of mob attacking auto where Mona and little Aamir travel in Delhi but it has no such main theme of 'Hindu atrocities against Sikhs' and they did not even show the khoon ka badla khoon slogans or burnings of gurdwaras by mobs in 1984.

Only one shot of their Sikh auto driver being killed by mob and even his burning was not shown. Only hinted at.

You can stop being self conscious or assuming it is about showing Hindus as aggressors when it did not show footage from 1992- 1993 riots, did not even mention 2002 pogrom or Graham Staines murder and has also shown Pak based militants and terrorists and 26/11 attacks. Even the reference to Mandal is only through protest signs in college. No slogans or mobs or scenes of violence or any casteist remarks.

No points to score here against the film if you want to claim it is anti Hindu. It is not showing any community as specific aggressors but all communities as victims of certain radical elements. The only 3 people who are friendly towards Lal in this film are from all faiths be it Hindu (Bala), Muslim (Mohammad), Christian (Rupa). It actually gives message of communal harmony and to rise above radicalism and also has message against domestic violence and ill treating or bullying kids with intellectual deficiencies.

1984 is only used as a time stamp or marker of the era just as 1983 WC win of India or Sushmita's win at Miss Universe 1994.

I know that Atominis ji

There was this member making posts(now deleted) about how this movie shows about the killings of Sikhs by Hindus and that's the real reason for boycotts (I think 2 or 3 such posts were made. U can see one since I quoted it, rest deleted)

My post was a tongue-in-cheek (at least I thought so) response to that

Thanks.

The film is not against any religion at all. Rather speaks to anyone fed up of communal violence and extremists or radical preachers or some innocent persons caught up in violence caused by others and suffering losses or barely saving own life.

SPOILER ALERT

You can be assured it is not even remotely anti Hindu or anti any other faith. Though some may be irked at that Mohammad bhai scene bashing preacher promising hoors in heaven or talking about how 'malaria' has spread in his country a lot. But even that scene was just being honestly stating a fact and a former terrorist regretting what all he lost and how he was ditched by same lot that radicalized and used him as a pawn when he was younger. He goes back to his own country to stop more kids from being radicalized.

Laal Singh Chaddha Crashes Out Post Holidays

Wednesday 17 August 2022 11.30 IST Box Office India Trade Network

Laal Singh Chaddha crashed out on Tuesday as it collected in the 2 crore nett range which takes the six day business of the film to around 48 crore nett. Obviously its sad to see such a huge drop for such a big event film but this drop should to make it clear to the industry that it is not negativity but content which is the reason for the failure of this film. No film if it is good or even average drops like this just because of some external factors.

The film will now be looking at an extended first week of 53-54 crore nett. There is a holiday for Janmashtami on Thursday but with collections down to such low levels the boost will be very limited. The film has done better in the big cities of Punjab state where even the lifetime will probably beat all the original Hindi content in these cities though the circuit figure will stay below Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 as smaller cities of Punjab and cities of Haryana are not so good.

The opposite is a state like Gujarat where the film could not even collect 10 lakhs nett on Tuesday and this is a state which must be on board today for any chance of a big number. The six day numbers for Laal Singh Chaddha are as follows.

Thursday - 11,50,00,000 apprx

Friday - 7,25,00,000 apprx

Saturday - 8,75,00,000 apprx

Sunday - 10,25,00,000 apprx

Monday - 8,00,00,000 apprx

Tuesday - 2,00,00,000 apprx

TOTAL - 47,75,00,000 apprx