28012023-LSTC-01.qxd 1/27/2023 11:17 PM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE NOT TRUE It’s out Ali Fazal’s upcoming action Hollywood film Kandahar is all set to hit the big screens on May 26 this year. The film is helmed by Ric Roman Waugh. ANI Suniel Shetty’s family denies reports of Athiya Shetty-KL Rahul receiving luxurious gifts for their wedding. Ever since Athiya Shetty and KL Rahul got married, there have been reports on expensive gifts received by the couple from their family and friends. CHANDIGARH | SATURDAY | 28 JANUARY 2023 The jinx is One more for RRR RRR composer among others to be feted at Variety Artisans Awards broken Sheetal B OLLYWOOD was waiting with bated breath to witness the moment of its resurrection and the Shah Rukh Khan’s comeback film Pathaan delivered it. It not only made Bollywood’s biggest ever opening day collection of Rs 57 crore but also surpassed biggest Hollywood film of the season, Avatar 2’s worldwide collection by minting over Rs 100 crore. Earlier, Ajay Devgn-starrer Drishyam 2 had created magic at box office and now Pathaan has finally broken the jinx that Bollywood has been suffering since long. We ask experts if it’s a win of the film, actor or the filmmaker or a ray of sunshine for overall film business. Creating history Movie critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted on Thursday evening, “All #BO records demolished… #Pathaan creates history on Day 2 as well… first #Hindi film to near Rs 70 cr on a ‘single day’… Wed 55 cr, Thu 68 cr (#RepublicDay]. Total: Rs 123 cr. 219.60 cr world wide Gross in 2 days… #Pathaan #India + #Overseas Gross BOC…Day 1: 106 cr. Day 2: 113.60 cr worldwide ‘gross’ Total: 219.60 cr #Hindi version. #India biz. Unimaginable. Unprecedented. Unstoppable...” It has raised hopes. After all, it has surpassed the opening day records of Dangal as well as Hindi dubbed versions As unstoppable Pathaan takes on the boycott brigade headon, the industry heaves a sigh of relief, for it signals that Bollywood is back on its feet of Baahubali 2 and KGF 2. Film trade analyst Komal Nahata shares, “Only time will tell how the upcoming films will do but one thing is sure—people have embraced Bollywood with open arms. Everybody was hoping for this film to work. Besides SRK’s long absence from the screen or Pathaan’s script, great action, catchy songs and phenomenal direction, it was the negative campaign by various outfits that worked for the film. I would call it ‘vengeance watching’ as the answer to all the negative campaigns. Films were failing left, right and centre and it’s a great sign that people are willing to watch their favourite hero.” Komal Nahata also predicts that the way the film is shattering the box office records it might surpass dubbed South Indian films, Baahubali 2 and KGF 2’s all- time collection, besides beating Aamir Khan’s Dangal. The josh is high Shah Rukh Khan is back and how! First, Pathaan made news by breaking advance booking records and then the record breaking first-day collection (Rs 57 crores India; 100 crore plus worldwide) and now it gets screened at the world’s highest altitude theatres in Leh. The inflatable theatre is set up at a height of 11,562 ft, making it the world’s top most spot to enjoy teh film. Also, Pathaan breaks Kashmir’s 32-year-old record as houseful boards return outside theatres which no other film could do. Celebs hails Pathaan Rashmika Mandanna along with her Animal co-actor Ranbir Kapoor watched Pathaan on Friday and wrote on Instagram stories, “Team Animal watched and fully enjoyed Pathaan.. (Shah Rukh Khan) sir (Deepika Padukone) ma’am (John Abraham) sir .. an absolute treat.. Thank you so much for this. Congratulations Siddharth Anand sir and YRF .” ■ Raveena Tandon reviewed Pathaan on Twitter. She said that she was ‘blown away’ by Pathaan. She tweeted, “#pathan OMG! Blown away! Just fantastic! @iamsrk @deepikapadukone #johnabraham. Just fantastic! Thank you being the reason for the industry to cele■ brate again!” Reacting to Salman’s cameo, the actress wrote, “Hamaare Karan Arjun aa gaye hahhahahah! @BeingSalmanKhan @iamsrk.” Kamal Haasan wrote, “Hearing great reports about Pathaan. Saket congratulates Pathaan. Way to go brother @iamsrk” ■ Congratulating the Team Pathaan, Mika Singh wrote, “Many many congratulations to the whole team on for the success of #pathaan .. but a little Angry with @iamsrk bhai.. yar ek bhi ticket ni mil rahi all are sold out.. but I’m dying to watch this movie.” ■ Anil Kapoor called Pathaan an emotion. He wrote, “#Pathaan is not just a film, it’s an emotion!! @iamsrk @deepikapadukone Looking forward to seeing #SiddharthAnand create magic on the big screen!” ■ Meme traction Meme makers have been having a field day since the release of Pathaan. A post by stand-up comedian Sumaira Shaikh reads, “Mein Pathaan ki success personally lekar party karne waali hoon.” Calling out the boycott trendsetters, one wrote, “Saffron bikini got the loudest and the longest cheer.” Many also attacked the current political regime, “BBC, Hindenburg, Pathaan; what a terrible week for the BJP and it’s only Wednesday.” Masaba marries Satyadeep ‘Goonjega toh yahan Jai Shri Ram’ Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan has drawn sneaky criticism from Kangana Ranaut for portraying Pakistan, an “enemy nation” and its intelligence agency ISI in a “good light”. In the thread of tweets, Kangana wrote, “All those who are claiming Pathaan is triumph of love over hate, I agree but whose love over whose hate? Let’s be precise, whose is buying tickets and making it a success? Yes it is India’s love and inclusiveness where 80 per cent Hindus live and Kangana Ranaut criticises SRK’s Pathaan for putting out Pakistan in ‘good light’ yet a film called Pathaan which shows our enemy nation Pakistan in good light is running successfully, it is this spirit of India beyond hate and judgment that makes it Mahan... it is the love of India that has triumphed hate and petty politics of enemies... Lekin all those who are having high hopes please note... Pathaan sirf ek film ho sakti hai... goonjega toh yahan sirf Jai Shri Ram... Jai Shri Ram.” —ANI Actress Jamuna passes away Fashion designer Masaba Gupta and actor Satyadeep Mishra have tied the knot, the couple announced on Friday. She shared the news on her official Instagram page and posted photos with Mishra. "Married my ocean of calm, this morning. Here's to many many lifetimes of love, peace,stability & most importantly laughter. And thanks for letting me pick the caption - this is gonna be great!" Masaba Gupta wrote. Masaba posted a family photo with father, West Indies cricket legend Vivian Richards and mother Neena Gupta.—PTI Veteran actress Jamuna passed away here on Friday after a brief illness. She was 86. She breathed her last at her residence, family sources said. Jamuna, who acted in about 200 movies in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Hindi, is survived by a son and a daughter. Jamuna, whose real name was Jana Bai, made her acting debut at the age of 16 with Puttillu (1953) directed by Garikapari Rajarao. Jamuna also acted in 11 Hindi films. —IANS MASABA GUPTA & SATYADEEP MISHRA WITH FAMILY Though the film falters on some counts, it sure points in the right direction Mona Gandhi and Godse, who doesn’t know these names or their life trajectory? Those interested in their narratives must also be aware of known playwright Asghar Wajahat’s play Godse@Gandhi.com. Now, this play gets a cinematic outing in Rajkumar Santoshi’s directorial Gandhi Godse - Ek Yudh. Santoshi dons the director’s hat, after a decade, with a film that’s written by him, and dialogues are by Asghar Wajahat on whose play the film is based. The film hit the screens on India’s 74th Republic Day and four days before Godse shot Gandhi. The film explores a fictional aftermath of Gandhi surviving the bullets. The sub-plot has Sushma and Naren's love story; her martyr father's last wish was that she joins Gandhi in serving the nation. The film chases ‘what if’ scenario addressing many a myths about Gandhi, however, it’s the portrayal that falters. Gandhi is shown to be a petulant, old man who every An engaging drama Film: Gandhi Godse - Ek Yudh Director: Rajkumar Santoshi Cast: Deepak Antani, Chinmay Mandlekar, Tanisha Santoshi, Anuj Saini, Pawan Chopra Rating:  now and then resorts to aamran anshan when ignored. Godse is one dimensional. More theatrical, given it’s based on a play, it’s Deepak Antani, who impresses with his Gandhi act. This Gandhi, unlike its earlier reel attempts, is more human, and accepts when he is wrong and is able to right those wrongs. Chinmay Mandlekar gets Godse’s wrath right and his passion for Akhand Bharat of his dreams. Tanisha Santoshi, director’s daughter, who debuts in this film as Sushma, portrays a woman caught between love and duty just fine, although not many women look pretty crying, which she has to do aplenty. Anuj Saini, who debuts as Naren, lives the part well. This rather sensitive film has moments of humour and much of it falls in Madhu Kandhari’s lap, who plays Sushma’s mother c m y b and shares name with Gandhi’s goat Nirmala. Credit goes to Rishi Punjabi’s cinematography as he recreates 1940s. A particular scene of Gandhi being followed by villagers at night holding mashaals is shot spectacularly. It’s the sound design by Resul Pookutty that hits the high note, including AR Rahman's Vaishnav Jan To and Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram that make a timely appearance. Dialogues, rather simple, convey a lot, and make sense, especially in today’s polarised world. The film may be just a fictional take, and veers towards one side over the other, it makes certain valid points. To hear the other side, to experience the reality that you are ready to do or die for and accept when you are wrong. If only each one of us subscribe to these three, even if we can’t change the painful past, we certainly have a better present and finer future! MM Keeravaani, RRR composer and Naatu Naatu songwriter, Catherine Martin, costume designer, production designer and producer of Elvis, Claudio Miranda, cinematographer of Top Gun: Maverick and Florencia Martin, production designer for Babylon are among the recipients of Variety’s Artisans Awards. The honourees will be feted at the Santa Barbara Film Festival on February 13. —IANS MM KEERAVAANI