At Home but Cinema?
So I am yet to see “1971″, in fact, I am yet to purchase the DVD of “1971″, which I should do without wasting any more time. I wanted to see the film on the big screen but, unfortunately, the film did not get a UK release.
Anyway, the film received rave-excellent-splendid reviews from critics, bloggers and PFC. But it did not do well at the box office, however, DVDs of Amrit Sagar’s “1971″ are selling very well – according to its distributor Studio 18. Now that is a good news for Amrit Sagar and the people attached to the film. But I still have a grudge…. the film could have done good at box office if it was marketed properly but it was not. They did not put any efforts in marketing. Who should be blamed for that Studio 18 or the producers or both?
Apparently, people had a “misconception” that “1971″ was a War film, so the audience opted out from watching the film in cinema. A misconception?! 1971 is a War drama so “1971″ will be classified as a War genre and not as a “Bollywood” film; there was not any misconception! It just was not marketed! It seemed the general idea of marketing “1971″ heavily based on mouth-of-word and when it started working the film was taken off from the cinema.
I believe Studio 18 should/could have done something to market the film like they did a lot for “Kya Love Story Hain” – they had got Tushar Kapoor to present BBC Asian-Network’s Film Cafe, etceteras (I believe they were behind this). If they can do such things for film like that, then why could not they have done something for “1971″. If they had done then they truly would be singing “It’s Rocking”. It was good of them to distribute the film but you gotta do more – you cannot just invite someone for dinner and then tell them to cook the dinner.
Or when it comes to Hindi Cinema the majority of audience prefers to watch only big star/production films in cinema and will catch other movies on cable channels/DVDs? If so, why? What do you think?
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I didnt like it. It is usual bollywood jingoism. Little better than Border or LOC. See it for yourself :d
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have watched 1971 – the best part of the movie is the end credits – a poignant violin piece playing over the montages of various MIA war heroes. i’d rather second dekko la grande illusion or the great escape.
that said, contrary to what you’ve suggested, yours truly usually does NOT shell out the $15.00 for watching the big star movies but waits for the dvd instead. chopras, khans and bacchhans will have to come to my home – i won’t be going out to see them – because my pocket and i’ve been burnt by their star hype one too many times… if someone’s gonna bring me to the theater to scalp me it better be a new cheat.
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@Honhaar
It was not a surprise that the film didnt have a UK release( considering it didnt have any khan or bachhan or some punjabi wedding) but you can watch the film neways, yupp thats the biggest boon of piracy (although i watched it in a half full hall on the first day). Lastly about the movie, it is definitly NOT a classic, not even great cinema but was good cinema. I was disappointed how they used the ever talented Piyush Mishra in a very cliched role. Overall it was an honest movie with some excellent performances.
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loved the film. n yes it was badly marketed. even the promos were really bad. since lot of people deecide whether they want to c the film or not only on the basis of the promos.
omprakash shreshta…dont agree with u. it wasnt bollywood jingoism for sure. it was human drama. it wasnt a war film. n much much beter than border n loc.
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It was a different kind of movie.It was what Deewaar(2004)should have been,But it was not.But i gotta admit,this movie deserved to be a hit because it was a tightly scripted story with really good performances(Deepak Dobriyal,i’m your fan yaar)and the jingoism has been toned down a lot.
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you know they should have gotten news channel to talk more about 1971 war.. they should have provoked a bit of patriotism in the audience.
i cannot believe studio 18 fully promoted a film like kya love story but ignored 1971!
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@phoenix – I didnt like it because it was full of cliched situations and dialogues. And to top it, it was presented in an over-the-top manner. None of the actors impressed me. I agree that I dont or unable to see the humanism which you have heard about the movie. But I have read few of your posts in other topics in PFC and I would look forward to your comment after you see it
. I would prefer a mixed doubles or raghu romeo any day.:)
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@Omprakash…yaar,i hav seen the film. i dont think that its full of cliches. but yes it bollywood at the end. none of the actors impresed u ??? strange yaar. they were so natural. all of them unlike sunny deol from border!!! liked performncs by all the leading actors. they wer so controlled. n one big factor that worked for me was…here is one new guy telling a new story without big budgets n big stars. no pyaar-ishq-mohabbat…i enjoyed it throughly. also, m big fan of manoj bajapi. he was so good. how many actors now a days allow the other actors so much space. otherwise the so called superstar of the millenium hrithik roshan is not willing to do even double hero project, forget about a film with so many characters!!! u need guts for that!! m all for people who dare to do something new. n more so if u r newcomer. the indutsry needs new people n new ideas.
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@phoenix – The reasons that you gave for liking 1971 are not as compelling as I would have like it to be. we cant say that each and every movies that try to defy the typical bollywood norms are good. The movie regardless of budget, stars should stand on its own merit and not demerits of others. The same attitude, I believe, put the last nail in the coffin for art house movie movement of 70s in India. A couple of self proclaimed art film makers ne saare kiye karaye pe paani fer diya. All I can remember right now is Nehru’s (though I am no great fan of Nehru’s politics) quote on reservation issue “The day we celebrate mediocrity, our future is doomed”.
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@Ompraksh…completely agree. u must have ur own reasons for not liking the film. but i liked teh film. n then there were all these reasons attched with that film. so i will do whatever i can to support this kind of films.
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Omprakash, if we go by your/Nehru’s…. then the future of India is doomed! Because India celebrates Himesh Reshamayia, Yash Raj Films, FilmFare Awards, etceteras and now India’s draw against Bangladesh! :-\\”
We are not celebrating “1971″ for defying Bollywood norms, but giving a decent perception of factual events – a decent War film/drama. Which you hardly see in Indian cinema. If you do not celebrate this kind of films then no-one will be brave enough to…..
giving them encouragement will provide them a platform to go one step further and perhaps a path-breaking movie?
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@phoenix – I appreciate your passion.
@honhaar – You misinterpreted my citation. Please re read it again and the context. Before, I wrote that statement, I tried to establish the mediocrity (by my opinion) of 1971 and current hailing of many bloggers as awesome just because it tried to do something different (which was phoenix’s opinion). The example of art house movement has a striking resemblance to current situation of the new wave movement in India where every tom, dick and harry movie which is slightly different than typical is being included in the new wave. I hope I made myself clear this time :d
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H.G:
Have you any idea about the source of the story of 1971?How its factual. I have no idea.
I mean to ask, its known that Pakistan kept Indian soldiers in its jails but all the other details which are shown in the film.
And how this film’s story is different then Danny’s TV serial Ajnabi(?) and then a TV serial starring Kanval Jeet Singh in the role of Major.
Danny’s serial was a story written by him and he wanted to make a film on that basis taking Amitabh Bachchan in the role of Major. But film could not be materialised because of AB’s sabatical of 4-5 years and later Danny made the TV serial.
Details in the story are based on imagination? If not then whats the source.
As in the film only Deepak Dobriyal’s character is left live. Story came through his character.
Ending of the film does not suggest its based on true story. Its more like ending of Heena+Kabul Express.
Is not Amrit sagar son of late Ramamnand Sagar, a successful film maker of the past and maker of Ramayana Serial. Amrit shd have much experience before also though may be in making of TV serials. If that so he is not a unexperienced newcomer so that film has to be judged as very first attempt.
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My bad. I should have said that it is based on fact there are 54 PoWs but the story about those 6 soldiers is a bit fictitious. It is a mix of fact and fiction, like, Mangal Pandey was, I believe.
Unforunately, I have not seen Danny’s tely-drama Ajanabi. So I do not know much about it.
India has seen so many wars but yet there are hardly any quality war films made in India and out of most of the war movies 1971 is likely to stand out, imo. Also according to Vijay(comment 17), it is difficult to make a war film , so you gotta commend that. Nahi?
If I had judged him for his work in PrithiviRaj then I would have never given a look to 1971 :d
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