Diwali Bonanza : The clash of the Khans
14th Oct 2006 21.05 IST
By N. K. Deoshi
Just a few days remain for two of the most awaited films of the year to hit the marquee. Shah Rukh Khan starrer 'Don' and Salman Khan starrer 'Jaanemann' will release on Diwali eve.
It is being described as the clash of the Khans. Shah Rukh and Salman will vie for the box-office pie as their respective films hit the theatres on the weekend that falls before the festivals of Diwali and Eid. This period of year draws maximum number of movie buffs to cinema halls.
While it is inevitable that the two films will eventually bite into each other's market share, the competition won't be very stiff because the two movies are as different from each other as chalk is from cheese.
Don is an out-and-out thriller with doses of light humour. A remake of Chandra Barot's movieDon (1978) , the Farhan Akhtar directed movie has Shah Rukh reprising the role immortalized by Amitabh Bachchan twenty-eight years ago. While SRK is the key player of the film, Priyanka Chopra plays a chic woman on a secret mission to avenge the don. Isha Koppikar plays Don's girlfriend and Arjun Rampal plays a limping ex-convict. The movie's strong points are its sleek look, its music, action and stunts, and Farhan's stylish direction.
Jaaneman , on the other hand, is a love triangle featuring Salman, Preity Zinta and Akshay Kumar . Debutante director Shirish Kunder (choreographer Farah Khan's husband) is said to have explored the 'musical romance' genre in a very novel way. Set in New York, the movie tells the story of three characters who meet again after a gap of ten years since their college days. The film promises feel-good entertainment to movie buffs.
Considering the crucial time of their release, the two movies would hit the theatres with a record number of prints. According to the estimates, nearly Rs 50 crore is riding on the two films.
Trade analysts believe both movies have a chance of good run. The fact that there has been no big release in Bollywood for the preceding two weekends goes in favour of the two films.
While the media is portraying it as the clash of the Khans, the two stars certainly don't see it that way. At the promotion party of 'Jaanemann' a few days back, Salman urged his fans to see his film and Shah Rukh's film as well.
"Jab aap 'Jaanemann' dekhne jaoge... lage haath 'Don' bhi dekh lena. Bahut rocking film bani hai," said Salman at the function.
Shah Rukh too might reciprocate the gesture during the promotion of 'Don' in the coming days.
Anyway, it is going to be a delectable Friday feast from Bollywood on Diwali eve.
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