SRK - Marketing Guru

                          Don-2 in Tamil & Telugu

Post 'Ra.One's release in Tamil and Telugu versions, it now looks like Shahrukh Khan's 'Don' series, 'Don 2' will also see a dubbed release in Tamil and Telugu with select multiplexes also screening the film's 3D version.

This sequel is directed by Farhan Akhtar and is a sequel to SRK's 2006 super hit, 'Don' which by itself was a tribute to the film 'Don' of 1978. 'Don 2' stars Shahrukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra in the lead roles with Lara Dutta, om Puri, Boman Irani and a host of other stars in pivotal roles.

Both 2D and 3D versions will be available for these dubbed versions as well. The film is gearing up to see a Christmas release internationally.

The Dirty Picture beats Desi Boyz at Indian Box Office on first day

Bollywood movie The Dirty Picture, which received a grand opening this Friday, has beaten the record of Akshay Kumar and John Abraham starrer Desi Boyz which had collected Rs 9 crore at the Indian Box Office on the first day of its release. Vidya Balan starrer The Dirty Picture has raked in Rs 10 crore at the collection centres on the opening day.

Desi Boyz, which stars Akshay Kumar and John Abraham, Deepika Padukone and Chitrangada Singh in leads, is a big budget movie and it was released in 2,200 screens across the country. But the movie opened to a dull response with its occupancy ranging between 50% to 65%. Its first earning (Rs 9 crore) was not upto the expectation.

Whereas, The Dirty Picture, which stars Vidya Balan, Emraan Hashmi, Naseeruddin Shah and Tusshar Kapoor in leads, is a medium budget movie and it was released in 1,600 centres across the country. The movie registered 60-65% collection, while its occupancy in single screens ranged between 75% to 80%.

When compared to its volume of release, the movie has done far better than Desi Boyz at the Box Office. The Dirty Picture got rave reviews from film critics as well as it registered a good response from the audience. Many entered the theatres with an excitement of seeing Vidya's raunchy show, but they came out with a feeling of enlightment. Now, trade analysts say that the word of mouth is expected to boost the collection of The Dirty Picture.

Desi Boyz : Akki & John were awesome!!!!

In a recession-hit UK, it doesn't take too long for the jobless duo of Jerry (Akshay Kumar) and Nick (John Abraham) to rename themselves as Rocco and Hunter and turn towards the morally-low but highly-paying profession of male escorts. They strip at hen parties though never cross the preset (Bollywood hero) limits of sleeping around. Things go wrong when Nick's girlfriend Radhika (Deepika Padukone) discovers of their clandestine career.
Jerry and Nick fall apart and the narrative divides into their individual episodes with Sajid Khan's Heyy Babyy being a strong influence for both tracks. Nick tries every trick in the trade to seek forgiveness from Radhika. Anupam Kher, as her dad, reprises Boman Irani's part from Heyy Babyy supporting the repentant boyfriend. On the other hand, the flippant Jerry turns serious in life to win the custody of his orphan nephew. For that he walks that extra mile - to the university, bringing back memories of Farah Khan's Main Hoon Na also.
Rohit Dhawan's storytelling is simple and swift and the comedy never takes the no-brainer route with adequate conviction in the writing. He smoothly establishes the comic chemistry between Akshay and John and never lets anyone overshadow the other, thanks to their reasonably written roles. Renuka Kunzru's dialogues, ranging from the witty to the wacky variety, are a major highlight and pack the requisite comic punches with some much-needed freshness over the customary synchronized lines in most recent comedies.
Certainly Desi Boyz isn't unblemished and has its set of flaws and formula. The basic conflict of Akshay Kumar going back to college to acquire a clean-chit image that could help him legally win back his nephew sounds too silly. If that was not enough, he graduates in less than half a year, thanks to private tuitions by his super-hot teacher (Chitrangda Singh) who gives economics lessons through salsa and striptease sessions. Then the film treads in absolute unnecessary territory, taking its desi title a little too seriously, giving sermons on the intelligence of Indians amidst firangs who demean our country. Sadly the Namastey London gimmick seems completely out of place in this film.
After an interesting graph to the narrative, the film is marred by a weak end, which lacks the high point that a climax demands. A courtroom drama, which drastically changes the scene tone from being comedy to contemplative, isn't a befitting culmination for the otherwise engaging flick. Nevertheless, on second thoughts, you find it as a much better end as compared to the commotional climax that most slapsticks resort to in present times. And like its climax, the film underplays in its humour and romance. The decibel levels don't go deafening in an attempt to make you laugh and you prefer the half-baked Akshay-Chitrangda track rather than the plot straying into an extended love story.

                       Vidya said, ‘You want sex? I am sex’  

                             (An Exclusive Viday Balan's Interview on "The Dirty Picture")

Vidya Balan on her most sexualized role to date and how there is no such thing as a woman being exploited
Vidya Balan specifically chose Basilico in Bandra as the locale for an interview. “They make a dish for me that is not on their menu anymore. Yet, I merely step in and they bring it to my table because they know what I will order anyway. Isn’t that lovely?” Vidya is vegetarian; the dish in question is cracked wheat ragout. And speaking of dishes, Vidya is looking the dishiest she ever has. Excerpts from a very meaty interview:
How did your close ones respond to your most sexualized persona on screen to date?At first, I had to come to terms with this role myself. My dad is not someone who reacts very vociferously. When he saw Jessica, he was like, “Oh, you’ve donned your St. Xavier’s College look.” My mom said you smoked stylishly. She always gets a bit nervous with any role I play, I know. But on seeing the promos she said, “You’re looking very sexy. You’re dancing very well.” I am very close to my sister and my brother-in-law; they are like my second set of parents. If they felt what I was doing was cheap or tacky, it would have been a concern. But thankfully, they’re both proud of my performance.

What is the most frustrating aspect of being a talented woman in a male-dominated industry?

What really frustrated me once – though I can see a change now – was the perception that if a film is woman-centric then it’s got to be heavier, a critic’s film. By god’s grace, I enjoy commercial success, and to me film is about entertainment. A film should be entertaining. There was a time when films with a woman in a lead role had to be leaden with a social message. I understand if you want to make a point, but do entertain. If you want to educate, then you should make documentaries, not movies.
So ‘Dirty Picture’ is partly based on a woman who became famous for her semi-pornographic, oomph-y appeal. How did you negotiate the thin line between exploiting a juicy role such as this and being, well, exploited?
I think part of the reason that everyone thinks that ‘Dirty Picture’ is about Silk Smitha is because she was not an ordinary dancing girl. She enjoyed pan-Indian fame. She was a front-runner, who got billing alongside the hero – a feat by any standard. Silk was well ahead of her time. She, it seems, was celebrating her sexuality, while the others were being exploited. That’s what made her a star. She seemed to be saying, “I am enjoying my body. I am enjoying the attention my body gives me. You like sex, I am sex. Take it or leave it.” For instance, in 'Sadma', she was blatantly wanting sex, she enjoyed sex. I would like to emphasize that there is no such thing as a woman being objectified. It is her choice. So I was rather comfortable with the role.

Acclaimed author Martin Amis has been vocal about how pornography demeans women. Conversely, others say that our squeamishness about sex is hypocritical. Across this spectrum, with pornography as misogyny and anti-pornography as moralistic, where do you locate your stance?
The first step in having a more balanced stance towards this subject is when you recognize that there was more to dancing girls than just their bodies. Beyond the body exists a person. A shift in our stance is not going to happen overnight. But films such as ‘Dirty Picture’, films that probe the lives of our dancing girls, or porn stars even, are baby steps towards a more developed perspective that is neither too misogynistic, neither too moralistic. As I said before, there is no such thing as a woman being objectified. It is her choice.