Black & White Preview

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When i first saw the promo of Black & White, I found it interesting, even though it is directed by none other than the showman Subhas Ghai. Now I am not a fan of Subhash Ghai - I have not liked any of his films that much. I find his films to be lame, over-the-top melodramatic and cheesy. What has he done? I prefer to stay away from those sort movies.

But yet, this above promo of Black & White made me a bit curious about the film; it intrigued me. I was very itchy to find more about the movie. The promo looked like a film that I would want to watch it. I could not find any dope on the movie, but then apni Smritiji comes up with the synopsis of the film(and previews of other films releasing this year):

Subhash Ghai is out to prove that he will not direct only big-budget musical extravaganzas.
In this socially-purposeful tale, he has a Muslim boy (Anurag Sinha) on a mission to blast a bomb at Red Fort on August 15. He comes to stay at the nearby Chandni Chowk, and encounters a bunch of characters that makes him question his fundamentalist beliefs, realizing that India is not about black and white characters but of a colourful and loving lot. Anil Kapoor and Shefali Shah play the Hindu professor and his wife who do so much for this man on a monstrous mission

Still, I was interested in the film. Where as my fellow bloggers were hell skeptical about the film. The skepticism hadn’t gotten to me, though. They thought the promo would be the only good thing about the film and he had not given anything decent recently, so were skeptical about the film. You cannot blame that.

Initially, the film was known as Chandi Chowk. I am not sure why he has changed the title. I would have preferred Chandi Chowk. Did he change the title for the international market? Or he changed the title after seeing Black Friday?

Also, Subhash Ghai, was not the man to direct this film. He was only meant to produce the film. Why did he take the directorial seat? Is it because after getting a lot of criticism for Kisna he wants to prove a point to critics by directing a sort of off-beat arty type of film? Making a film for critical acclaims? So many directors do that or say that whenever their films are criticized. Satish Kaushik did that when one of his recent film failed. What has he done after that making statement? Nothing. Instead of that why cannot they have a genuine attempt on making a decent film?

Anyway, the soundtrack was released a few weeks ago. It is composed by Sukhwinder Singh. Apparently, Subhash Ghai wanted both Sukhwinder and A R Rahman to compose the songs, but it did not work out, for some reasons, which I am unaware of. The soundtrack is rubbish. There is only one half decent song in the soundtrack, which is that Jogiya. Sukhwinder should not compose any songs. He should leave it to others. The least said about the soundtrack… the better.

A few more promos were released and unfortunately, it did not impress me that much. I started becoming a bit skeptical about the film. The latest promos did not back up the first promo. Now I do not want to see the film. The film seems a bit of a cross between Mission Kashmir and Gandhi My Father. I did not like Mission Kashmir and I have not seen Gandhi My Father. And I will not be watching this film…….

17 Responses to “Black & White Preview”

Sudhir Nair on February 9th, 2008 1:20 am

I remember catching the glimpses of the promos for the first time thinking hey this should be some good movie but when i saw the name Subhash Ghai all the interest evaporated and when the songs started appearing i dont think anybody would have wanted to see the movie.

I never liked Subhash Ghai movies cos they seemed to be over the top for me; but i have to admit he had a keen understanding of the audiences’ pulse and had people in awe of his movie making skills in 80s and mid-90s. Sadly he seems to have lost touch with the same audiences’ pulse or he’s not able to relate to the thoughts and sensibilities of today’s audience.

Wat ever be the reason for his downfall this just shows that in film industry nobody can take things for granted. A Subhash Ghai delivering flops and sub standard films was unthinkable in his hey days.
Raju on February 9th, 2008 5:07 am

Dear Honaar & Sudhir,

I respect views of both of you. But I would beg to disagree with both of you. You can just write a person with 30 years standing in the film industry off. Subhash Ghai has delivered many blockbusters. I agree Yaadein & Kisna were failures at the box office; but that is fine. Even a great cricketer does not score high runs in every cricket match; he also gets outs with a duck many times. Film making is an art and there is no question about it - that he has not only mastered the art; will now teach this art of film making to this new generation through his international film school located in Mumbai, viz., Whistling Woods International. You will feel the vibes of this great man; when you just walk around the film school. As regards Black & White, if the promos/storyline that is being reported in the media is anything to go by, I think B&W is an honest attempt by Subhash Ghai to really make a different film which is based on an international issue of terrorism, the root-cause of terrorism and means to get rid of this disease. I am not bothered about the box office report of this film. I am sure it is a good film and I will see it. As regards Subhash Ghai loosing touch, it is a media cooked material. By giving two not so good movies, you can not see one looses its touch and looses its standing of 30 years in the film industry. Please note he is an Institution by himself and has proved it by creating a film institute. Tell me any one else in the industry who had such a noble dream and got it executed in record time and with such less expenditure. Any ways, all are welcome to put their views. The success of movies like Bheja Fry and Mithya gives me a lot of confidence and belief in Subhash Ghai
Phoenixnu on February 9th, 2008 5:26 am

raju, i may be wrong but looks like u r a student of whistling woods…
Phoenixnu on February 9th, 2008 5:33 am

the first promo was intersting. but the songs r horrible excpt may be for jogiya which is ok. so much effort hav been put into the cover n design of the album but content is rubbish. i still want to watch it, no m not big fan of ghai anymore but cz of the lead actor..anurag sinha..from ftii’s new batch…the acting course was started after long gap. if he delivers, it will help many others. m bored of the khans nyway.
Honhaar Goonda on February 9th, 2008 5:46 am

Isn’t Whislting Wood International a scam?
Honhaar Goonda on February 9th, 2008 5:51 am

i think, it was the look of the first promo made it all interesting. then it got a bit mushy and all.

Yep, only Jogiya track is worth hearing it once.. having said that, they should not have used it in the promo.
papai on February 9th, 2008 9:01 am

i have watched only one trailer for this movie. i found it pretty interesting coming from Subhash Ghai. But after reading the plot synopsis in this post, i am frightened… a very nice journey can be turned uber melodramatic and cheesy.
oz on February 9th, 2008 9:33 am

- HG, the synopsis of Black and White is nothing but the desi, post 9-11 rehashed version of The Devil’s Own… where Brad Pitt an IRA terrorist goes to the USA on a terrorist mission - buy weapons (B&W: Hero goes to Delhi on terrorist mission to blow Red Fort) and ends up staying with the family of Harrison Ford (B&W - Hero ends up staying with family of Anil Kapoor)… gone baby gone… :w;
32 on February 9th, 2008 9:54 am

I don’t understand why Subhash Ghai thinks he can TRY to make a different film.
Mr.Raju, with all due respect, Subhash Ghai knows how to make money by producing films and founding inst.
Student of Whistling Woods won prize at PIFF. SO????
Do you mean he won because Subhash Ghai started that inst.et al? Please, he one on his own efforts.
What is the connection with SG?

I’m sure even he makes promos good, Black and White, can hardly be good. I don’t trust SG. He has great nack to melodramatise movie and make it unworthy to bear, watch etc.
Honhaar Goonda on February 9th, 2008 11:45 am

i will have to start watching some international movies; some day, but not from today!

BTW, we have given Mithya a bit benefit of doubt…. you know, genre of the film is a bit similar to some Italian film… so does this movie deserve same kind of treatment as well? Naaaah.
Tushar on February 9th, 2008 6:13 pm

I am willing to be contradicted, but this project looks doomed, no two thoughts. Pray why again a Hindu Muslim pravachan aatma ka parivartan sadiyon se puraani dadi ma ki kahaani, Mr. Ghai? OK, I will wait to watch the film but there is more things that put me off than impressed in this one.
Why become a Madhur Bhandarkar when you are Subhash Ghai?
On the soundtrack, I think its a good one, Sukhi goes overboard in his passion but it works sometimes when you crack the points he went overboard at. Main chala is actually quite nice but I was seriously expecting more quantity and quality. Haven’t really gone back to the songs after the initial checking out. Waiting for the right mood.
Tushar on February 9th, 2008 6:19 pm

btw HG, I would like to differ from you on the initial comments on Ghai. He has done a lot man. Commercial films wouldn’t be the same today without him making all the blockbusters that he did. I remember discussing this long back on the first article I wrote way back. Anyways, like I said, I will dance like Mandhari Kaka if he makes a good film.
Not Looking Good : PassionForCinema on March 1st, 2008 10:00 am

[...] “Black & White” will be the first release of March. I have already done a sort of preview of the film earlier, but will say a few more words about it. No harm in that, eh? What was I going to say? My [...]
Smriti Vij. on March 7th, 2008 12:56 pm

Sorry HG, I liked the film for whatever it did. i feel this story would attract anyone with a bit of a conscience..it talks of peace and it doesnt hurt anyone. thanks sg :)
Honhaar Goonda on March 7th, 2008 2:52 pm

Areah Smriti… you don’t have to be sorry. I thought it would be good and then thought it would not be good and now I guess I will have to watch the film….
Amanda on March 7th, 2008 6:35 pm

Yes, Sukhwinder should definitely leave music composition to others! And, I think he should vary his style a bit as well and get out of the peppy & classical/semi-classical niche he has created for himself. Taking long alaaps in most of one’s songs gets redundant after a while. Although, he does have a very powerful voice…

I really hope B&W does well. I feel everything went downhill for Ghai after Yaadein, and I can’t wait for him to finally regain his lost glory ;)
Black & White : Ghai Waah! : PassionForCinema on March 7th, 2008 9:47 pm

[...] & White is interesting for more reasons than one. We have already talked about the reasons and possibilities of this film missing the mark. Surprisingly, it doesn

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Honhaar Goonda