RE: August 2007 - News - 10

RGV ki Aag is Aaaaaargh!!

The biggest question before the release of ‘Ram Gopal Varma ki Aag’ was whether Babban would be the new terror name after Gabbar. The answer is quite obvious just after its first day on screen: a big no! Babban looks like a more comic character rather than a terrifying villian. Old scenes were reshot throughout the film. But someone has truly said: ‘Old is Gold’.

Ram Gopal Varma’s idea of turning a classic film into a modern day remake was like playing with ‘Aag’. RGV must have been expecting to tap the passion of avid ‘Sholay’ fans. No doubt, RGV has done justice with all the characters from Basanti and Veeru to Jai and Thakur. But still comparison with the original is like comparing the sky with the ground! For example- the original Gabbar said, ‘Kab ki hai Holi’(among other legendary dialogues) whereas Babban’s question, ‘Kab Ki Hai Diwali’ makes one roll with laughter!

The romantic track between Ajay Devgan and Nisha Kothari was as weird as Tom romancing Jerry. The movie starts with the fear of Babban as a cruel beyond imagination and far more devious than any gangster that Mumbai has ever seen. Babban was omnipresent in the minds of people but invisible to the eye. No one believed that Babban exists except one man. And that is Inspector Narsimha [Mohanlal], who has a single-minded determination- to finish Babban.

The plot takes the original path in beginning but soon takes the wrong turn. After a spine chilling ‘original’ start, a la murder of Thakur’s family, the movie degenerates into the typical Bollywood ‘Prem Kahani’. There aren’t many songs through the narration in the flash-back but ‘Mehbooba’ is just mind blowing. A perfect item number to set screens ablaze. But comparing it with the Helen starrer would be going too far.

The biggest weakness of the film is Nisha Kothari. God knows what was in Ramu’s mind that he thought about this big misfit. Raj and Sushmita are wasted as confusion envelopes the entire script that Ramu terms as a tribute to the original Sholay. The usage of dark tones throughout the film is another big flaw that sees Ramu fall on his face.

Quelle: http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=...ERTAINMENT-NEWS

`Aag` is born out of respect for `Sholay`: Ram Gopal Varma - August 31, 2007

Ram Gopal Varma`s film ‘Aag’, which has made rounds of courts for infringing the rights of the blockbuster ‘Sholay’, opened up to a mixed response on Friday.

Talking about this much anticipated film, Ramu makes no qualms to say that his film is not a copy of the cult-classic `Sholay`.

"I always make films on ideas I like and I believe. I think every filmmaker should do this. Aag is not the copy of Sholay," Varma told reporters here.

"I made ‘Aag’ because I have tremendous respect for ‘Sholay’. But, in my film everything is original and different from ‘Sholay’, be it is its characters, storyline, dialogues or the sequences, said the producer-director.

Inspite of a number of problems faced by the unit in making the Film, including the title of the film which had to be changed owing to a legal row, Varma managed to complete it. "I believed in this film and I have made it," Varma said proudly.

On `Aag` having only two saleable names Amitabh Bachchan, who plays gangster Babban Singh and Ajay Devgan who plays Heero, Varma quipped, "tell me how many saleable names I had in my film ‘Satya’ or even in ‘Company’, still these films clicked. So, saleable names are only there to woo the distributors to sell the film. But if your story telling is nice, never mind you have a star or super star in the film, you will get appreciation.”

Backing newcomer Prashant Raj, who plays Raj, a character originally played by Amitabh Bachhan in ‘Sholay’, Varma said “I think this boy who played the character of Raj has done a superb job and I hope his character would be remembered for a long time. Despite the fact that he has shared camera with Amitabh Bachchan and Ajay Devgan, still he has effortlessly enacted his role.”

Talking about the character of Gabbar Singh played by late Amjad Khan in the original, Varma admits that Khan had performed it very well and his role was more than excellent.

Yet Varma feels Amitabh Bachchan as Babban Singh has done a great job, especially if it is compared with the technology available in today`s films, make-up and performance. “If you ask me as a normal cinema goer who had now watched both films, I would say Bachchan as Babban Singh is good. No other actor could do this role except him", said Varma.

Discussing the unforgettable dialogues of ‘Sholay’, Varma said that he feels his film ‘Aag’ also has a “few” lines which would be remembered for a long time.

While most people like to believe that Varma does not care what response his films get at the box office or what critics say about his film, in context of ‘Aag’, Varma admits box office is important.

"Some of my films got rave reviews but did not do well at the box office. In cinema a big money is involved from a producer, a distributor, a cinema hall to a cinegoer... it is a chain. I have tried my level best to get good response," Varma said

Looking at his last film ‘Nishabd’ which bombed at the box office, it seems this time Varma is keeping his fingers crossed. “No filmmaker can ensure in advance that his film would do well, all what he can do is make a film, rest all depends on the audience,” he added.

Meanwhile, Varma is also looking forward to `Sarkar 2` which stars Bachchan trio Amitabh-Abhishek-Aishwarya.

Quelle: http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=...20Gopal%20Varma

Big B and Sush attend premiere of RGV Ki AAG - August 31, 2007

The premiere of the much-hyped film, 'Ram Gopal Verma Ki Aag' was held at Cinemax Versova, Andheri on August 30th. The film's cast including Amitabh Bachchan and Sushmita Sen walked down the red carpet premiere. New-comers Prashant Raj and Nisha Kothari were also present and interacted with the media. Others present included Rajpal Yadav, Ritesh Deshmukh and Gul Panag. Ajay Devgan gave the premiere a skip as he was busy shooting.

Quelle: http://nowrunning.com/news/slideshow.asp?newsid=11827

Ram Gopal Verma's 'Aag' leaves cinegoers cold and disappointed - August 31, 2007

The pre-release hype and bonhomie over the Bollywood's most awaited film, 'Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag', disappeared in thin air, as the movie considered to be inspired form 1970's cult classic 'Sholay' disappointed the cinegoers.

"It's really bad, really bad...please don't watch it," said Aditya, a viewer, who had booked the ticket in advance for the first show of the movie on Friday.

Audience left theatres cold and disappointed.

Boasting of a big star cast, the movie failed to create the magic that original blockbuster 'Sholay' weaved on its audiences and still wields its magic.

"It's okay, only Amitabh Bachchan's role is good, otherwise the movie is not worth it," added Gaurav.

'Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag' was in the news from the day it was announced but mostly for the wrong reasons.

After film critics and researchers denounced the attempt at tinkering with classics, the producer got into trouble for trying to use the original title since it was earlier titled as 'Ram Gopal Verma Ki Sholay'.

The Sippy family, who made the classic 'Sholay' took Verma to court, where the former won the case, prohibiting the latter to use the title Sholay in the film.

Verma then had to change the title to 'Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag'.

Varma, who made his directorial debut in 1989 and has 27 films to his credit, denied the allegation of plagiarism, saying 'Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag' is not a take-off on the original blockbuster but, admits to it being loosely 'inspired' from it.

"Theme of 'Aag' is the same as 'Sholay'. In terms of revenge-drama of a cop wanting to take revenge against a dacoit or a gangster. But, my intention is not to do one-upmanship on it when I can do something better," he says in his defence.

"So, this is just a kind of tribute, homage to what it encompasses. It's not the scenes, it's not the story," he adds.

Such was the success of 'Sholay', a film about two reformed crooks who saved a village from a neurotic, foul-mouthed bandit, that it ran in theatres for years and arguably became the greatest Bollywood film ever made.

'Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag' is also about two crooks, just out of jail who come to Mumbai with big dreams but end up working for a gangster, and how they help the police to round off a dreaded criminal 'Babban'.

The film sees some of the seasoned actors of Indian film industry playing key roles along with some new comers.

Ram Gopal Varma, who reversed roles of some of the characters in his remake and added his own to the story, stunned Bollywood by casting Amitabh Bachchan in the iconoclastic role of Gabbar Singh, the merciless villain, while in the original version he was one of the two heroes.

The legendary actor, who plays the role of 'Babban'- the dreaded criminal in the film, seemed really upbeat about the role reversal.

"It's been a great pleasure to be in this film. Having worked in the original in an entirely different role and now to be challenged to do perhaps one of the most different experiences that I have had," said Amitabh Bachchan.

The film is also being dubbed in Tamil language, to cater to the regional audience.

After Varma's disastrous attempt at a remake of the classic, next in line is a 100-million-dollar project to make four versions of 'Sholay'- a remake, a prequel, a sequel and an animated version, by Pritish Nandy Communications (PNC) an upcoming Bollywood studio.

The deal signed between PNC and Sippy family is one of the biggest in the industry, which operates on low profit margins and spends an average of 1-2 million dollars on a film.

Quelle: http://www.aniin.com