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Tomo or is it today

Finally the film releases.. the one that some critic said “the wierdest film of the week surprisingly to come out of india”.. well am dying to know what the indian audience thinks of it.. what PFC thinks of it.. am anxious, writing out of my hotel room toilet in Rome.. four drinks down.. it’s been a strange experience.. John was here and he is gone now.. Probably sleeping, probably anxious and awake.. i can’t sleep..
Today was the second screening.. the hall was 50% full.. they did not leave.. they clapped but it still was not full..have put in all in this one film..really want everyone to like it..will they .. won’t they.. i don’t know.. today i went to the zoo with aarti and my daughter.. was thinking all the time about the two o clock screening.. was pushing aaliyah to finish her lunch fast.. didn’t want to miss the beginning.. saw it.. saw the theatre was half full.. got drunk afterwards.. last night went to see Michael Clayton and passed out in the theatre.. it is getting too much.. Of all the people it is Imtiaz Ali campaigning for me back home.. am so scared to be thare the opening friday..have so conveniently disappeared..
On the red carpet i wore the T-shirt that said respect absurdity..and no one saw it.. was dressed like a scottish brass band player.. my clothes arrived too late.. have been seeing all the big shots.. only comforting thing is that they all are as nervous and anxious..we all want an audience, when i asked Sean Penn, can i behave like a fan and click a photograph.. he said, “dude, i can’t stand straight, haven’t slept all night”.. so i did not behave like a fan.. at the press conference, there were ten people..may be.. and i thought, WTF.. then they started pouring in and i was happy.. finally.. they must have been in a traffic jam.. and then i realised they all came EARLIER for Sean penn.. so much for expectations..
now all i will try and do is sleep so i wake up in time tomo for the reviews from india.. starting with india fm and rediff and the rest.. hoping..hoping and just hoping..

152 Responses to “Tomo or is it today”

  1. Omprakash Seresta on October 25th, 2007 3:32 pm

    Brutally honest. I liked it. Did you get any buyers from there. Do some PR-ing ? (though I know its very difficult). Would love to see that canal plus at the start of the movie. :D
    Forget about indian critic reviews. they are too much buried in arguing between OSO and Sanwariya.

  2. Anurag Kashyap on October 25th, 2007 3:36 pm

    don’t know about the buyers.. someone from eros is talking with whoever is interested.. they are here..
    whatever i might say the reviews in india still matter to the audience..

  3. Omprakash Seresta on October 25th, 2007 3:43 pm

    If you can get a foreign release, it will be a huge boost to profits. After the India release, is it possible to take to other film festivals like sundance, etc. You have to make some efforts otherwise it will lost like Black Friday :-?

    the indian critics whom audience happens to listen are indiafm and HT. They are both hopeless. One has “on the whole (hole)” approach of reviewing and the other one starts with a jingle. It’s a rigmarole.

  4. oz on October 25th, 2007 3:47 pm

    All the best :)>-

  5. Anurag Kashyap on October 25th, 2007 3:49 pm

    KAHAN HAI TU OZZIE.. missing you man

  6. lenbin on October 25th, 2007 3:53 pm

    All the best anurag..

  7. OM on October 25th, 2007 3:53 pm

    Guru…relax and try to go to sleep…and believe me…you will get great reviews except from Taran Adarsh for obvious reasons he wont understand the movie…but i am sure you will get great ones from raja Sen and Khalid mohammed….

    From my pov the audience will be divided…they will divided between..

    1. i understood the film…it is brilliant

    2. i did not understand the film but…i couldnt take my eyes of..wtf was that…did something hit me?

    Sirjee praying for you…good luck…now be a good baby and go to sleep

    :)>-:)>-

  8. OM on October 25th, 2007 3:54 pm

    oz bhai…call AK…he will feel better

  9. kavita on October 25th, 2007 3:55 pm

    Dear Anurag

    All the Best!

    Here is more of you and PFC in the latest TEHELKA

    http://www.tehelka.com/story_main34.asp?filename=hub271007DearSkeptisch.asp

    Ciao
    K-3

  10. Amit Singh on October 25th, 2007 3:56 pm

    i`m sure it will get gr8 reviews…atleast Rajeev masand will surely give this film high rating . can anyone tell me where and which theatre it is releasing in US ? i`m located in vegas , i can drive to LA to see it .

  11. Omprakash Seresta on October 25th, 2007 4:14 pm
  12. sanjay malhotra on October 25th, 2007 4:14 pm

    Anurag,

    you believed in it and you made it bro. So far you enjoyed making it and had the proper orgasm..thats what matters…Some times …somethings are beyond our reach. So far you enjoyed it and told the story with your whole heart thats the only thing matters in any form of art or sport… Just take it as another film of yours, You still have to go very far..I understand that we can’t take away that anxiety as we are humans…that shows your real passion for the films bro and I respect that.
    I’m in UK now and I’ll be watching it day after tomorrow and I know whatever you made I’m going to like it…Remeber the real fun is in making..so far you had that fun, thats what matter and when you had great fun makin it we’ll have atleast some in watching that too. Rest is just numbers.
    I wish you all luck in this one.

    peace!

  13. Smriti Vij. on October 25th, 2007 4:23 pm

    keeping us awake and curious already Ak. it’s going to be great. each reviewer will be waiting secretly for the other guy’s review .. but let them be..what’s really worth looking forward to is the reaction from the audience - hate it, love it but i am sure there’s bound to be a strong reaction. great going and all the best! :)

  14. Omprakash Seresta on October 25th, 2007 4:28 pm
  15. Smriti Vij. on October 25th, 2007 5:00 pm

    http://arts.guardian.co.uk/filmandmusic/story/0,,2199009,00.html

    He sums up.

    “If and when Bollywood does deliver a crossover hit, it’s likely this film-maker will be behind it. “

  16. OM on October 25th, 2007 5:39 pm

    Wow the guardian guy has nailed it….what a stupendous compliment…take a bow Guru…

  17. Tushar on October 25th, 2007 5:59 pm

    All the best, Sir.
    Another few hours(3.5 hrs to be exact) for the first show in India. Inshallah it will be worth all that has been put in.

  18. prasanth on October 25th, 2007 6:19 pm

    good luck Anurag!

  19. Hemang Shah on October 25th, 2007 6:27 pm

    Best wishes to your film. Hope the team is successful.

  20. RGV Impersonator on October 25th, 2007 6:34 pm

    They say this film is Government sponsered..whats up with it?

  21. Evelyn Tu on October 25th, 2007 6:52 pm

    Best of luck with today’s premier in India.

    Too funny about the repeat Sean Penn encounters! You couldn’t have invented a more ironic scenario.

    I wish I (or someone) could make a movie about the dramas you go through to get your movies out there. Even your blogs are cinematic.

  22. anand on October 25th, 2007 7:08 pm

    Best luck GURU…It will surely do well…whovewer watches it will watch it more…:)

  23. Travis Bickle on October 25th, 2007 7:50 pm

    Some of the reviews especially thisislondon.co.uk one betrays an uneasiness towards a possible new wave in Indian cinema which means they will have to grudgingly acknowledge the artistic merits of the film instead of snobbishly brushing it aside as typical bollywood kistch.

    It sounded like how dare you make meaningful movies like us …do so at your peril…better stick to your own usual shit so we can look down on you and feel good about our cultural sophistication…..

    JMT. Anyways all the best Anurag…..let the games begin…

  24. Sudeep on October 25th, 2007 7:56 pm

    All the best anurag.
    I really hope the film does well.

  25. Ashish Shukla on October 25th, 2007 8:10 pm

    Good luck bhaiya….:)>-

  26. dazedandconfused on October 25th, 2007 8:43 pm

    Best wishes Anurag. I am sure you will be happy with the reviews and response…

  27. kartik krishnan on October 25th, 2007 8:43 pm

    all the best boss …
    me going to watch it today … Will be cheering throughout the film

  28. OM on October 25th, 2007 8:45 pm

    NO SMOKING RELEASING IN HOUSTON…WOOOHOOOOO

    http://www.funasia.net

    WILL WATCH CHEER..WHISTLE..ESP WHERE KARTIK AND VASAN MAKE THEIR GRAND ENTRY…..DHINCHUK DHINCHUK

  29. shashank on October 25th, 2007 9:08 pm

    good luck anurag

  30. DPac on October 25th, 2007 9:09 pm

    WHoFUKKING RAY!!!!!!!!!!!
    its running in melbourne and Sydney!!!!!!!!!!!!

    to whoever thought this up i am eternally grateful
    so is Jab we met

    double hooray

    funny thing
    after all this rona dhona about late realeases and non releases in australia
    NO Smoking plays 5 mins from my place and 10 mins from Wb’s place

    cant say the same about Jab we Met though (1hour for me by public transport)

  31. sumit on October 25th, 2007 9:10 pm

    Bests

  32. Jasmine on October 25th, 2007 9:12 pm

    Hey Anurag,
    I’m sure it’s going to be a great film. I have very high expectation from it and will be watching the first show in San Jose, Calfornia @3:55 pm on Oct 26. I’ve loved your earlier work as a director and a writer…I wish you all the luck for NO Smoking. It’ll be nothing but brilliant! After all it’s coming from a genius.

  33. OM on October 25th, 2007 9:17 pm

    Calling all the PFC followers in Houston/Dallas/San Antonio/Austin to meet up for No Smoking….we will be watching it in Houston in funasia…saturday night last show…food drinks and No smoking…also we will be meeting Zaheer..the No Smoking Poster contest winner…felicitating him…and watching No smoking…interested parties can email me

    cinemaismypassion(at)gmail(dot)com

  34. Travis Bickle on October 25th, 2007 9:27 pm

    Hey Dpac, Where in melbourne is it showing???
    couldn’t find any info on that?? :(

  35. drupad venugopal on October 25th, 2007 9:30 pm

    ALL THE BEST!!

  36. ravi on October 25th, 2007 9:32 pm

    anurag, all the best bro!

  37. DPac on October 25th, 2007 9:33 pm

    Travis u in melbourne?
    Melbourne City Cinemas
    Search Hoyts

  38. Travis Bickle on October 25th, 2007 9:39 pm

    I’m in melbourne..
    i finally found it in melbourne.citysearch.com.au..
    its showing in greator union in the city..cool

  39. DPac on October 25th, 2007 9:44 pm

    so mr. Bickle gonna watch it today?

  40. Travis Bickle on October 25th, 2007 9:48 pm

    Dpac,I’ve got exams next week….fuck it i’m going for the 5:30 show :d. What about you??

  41. Shailesh Limbachiya. on October 25th, 2007 9:50 pm

    my best wishes also
    :d/:d/:d/:d/

  42. Sourav on October 25th, 2007 9:51 pm

    All the best..may the force be with you!!!!!!

  43. DPac on October 25th, 2007 9:57 pm

    travis Check ur email

  44. Shatrughan on October 25th, 2007 10:03 pm

    Anurag,all the best for your movie and i have done my part of job(Sponsored to all my roommates tickets of “No Smoking”) and believe me my “Critic Image” is also on stake in my friends circle.:):)

  45. Devayon Das on October 25th, 2007 10:36 pm

    Saw the film. 8:30 am show…was up all night so that i wouldnt miss it. Anurag Kashyap, this I’m sure, is the most mindfucking movie to come out of the Mumbai film industry. Simply loved it. But the hall was half empty. Hope that picks up. Great job.

    PS: Found a tiny blooper(maybe). John’s hand gets scanned and the display says homo sapien. its should be ‘homo sapiens’…ther’s no such thing as homo sapien. Anyway ignore what i said. great job..looking forward to Dev D(happens to my name u know)

  46. Machchar on October 25th, 2007 10:38 pm

    Well, it had been a hard choice but its made. I am gonna watch No Smoking this evening at Cinemax Versova.

    In fact I spent around 20 minutes thinking whether to go for Jab We Met (Have some personal interest in it) or No Smoking. I read the Review here on PFC on Jab We Met and decided it’s not worth wasting my time on another love story…

    Hoping No Smoking to be an entertaining watch. I am more interested in the Paresh Rawal character.

  47. Naren on October 25th, 2007 10:39 pm

    Ek saal ka intezaar khatam hua….

    abb main jee bhar ke No Smoking karoonga……

    All the best Anurag bhai….

  48. Sreehari. on October 25th, 2007 10:41 pm

    Being skeptical abt the fact that dimwits might not be able to make sense of your work and dismiss it outrightly..
    a fear that those gr8 people u aspired to be like might say.. “well goood effort.. but not good enough”..
    U r in this weird conundrum of sorts… seeking answers, self-gesticulating, stomping your feet down and saying, “well i could have made this a tad better.. just put in additional zing in there somewhere”.. ur not confident.. bordering somewhere between euphoria and a self-questioning demeanour..

    Cheers to that feeling!!! You are indeed a creative person..

  49. Sourav on October 25th, 2007 10:53 pm

    MIndfucking movie eh?? Am ready to get mindfucked…Bring it on..catching a show def tday… any PFCite comeing to G7 mutliplex/globus today?!..Ill be there with an entire ging bang.:P

  50. Saurabh Dikshit on October 25th, 2007 11:04 pm

    Soch raha hoon aaj office se kat loon… All the Best Anurag

  51. Gopi on October 25th, 2007 11:06 pm

    Anurag, Finally the day arrives. Even though we haven’t had a conversation here on PFC, I can say I know a bit of you through your diary.And believe me,I am actually feeling a bit anxious as we are moments away from the first show today.

    All the best sir. There’s no doubt in my mind that this movie will COMPEL people to sit up, rub there eyes n take notice. And here’s wishing that whoever sees it has a strong opinion about it.

  52. Manu Warrier on October 25th, 2007 11:07 pm

    Hi Anurag..

    I can understand what you are going through… whatever maybe the outcome of the film…. I appreciate the guts, honest and conviction behind your films…and in today’s India…this is more important… Cheers and Good luck Manu Warrier

  53. premal on October 25th, 2007 11:13 pm

    all the best sirjee

  54. Avi on October 25th, 2007 11:17 pm

    Good luck boss…
    koi dekhe na dekhe …
    main jaroor dekhunga…aur 4-5 ko saath bh lekar jaaunga…( My contribution toward making this film a hit…it maybe small but trust me- I m gonna watch it …)

    BEST OF LUCK sir ji…:)>-

  55. sophocles on October 25th, 2007 11:45 pm

    Anurag,

    what you wrote couldnt have been more honst…

    After years of writing, after paanch, after black friday…after hours of anguish and mindfucks..this is your moment..savour it and enjoy it….the movie has already garnered fair deal of good reviews…john seems to be happily campaigning for it….stand back and feel the pleasure of success my friend…

    dont worry about 50% filled halls..i have seen the biggest of films open to 20% openings…dont worry about critics…dont worry about the press…dont worry.period.

    I guess you have waited for a long time for this moment…hold it with both hands and love each moment of it…

    congratulations, again.

  56. Mitesh Bhanushali on October 26th, 2007 12:35 am

    Hats Off to Mr.Anurag Kashyap.U made a brilliant Dark movie which i think can beat most of the korean and japanese & hollywood too.I am not comparining with them.but what u made is such a masterpiece i just watched movie at Pvr first day first show.i was very excited from the first day when i heard an official announcement of No Smoking till the movie ends.just brilliant sir.I don’t care about ppl out there whose talking rubbish about ur movies or don’t even care about the bloody critics.u just make this kind of movies.just loved ur movie NO SMOING.

  57. Sreehari. on October 26th, 2007 12:36 am

    The problem with the reviews on rediff is that except for Raja Sen nobody else there seems to understand movies or seem like they have some knowledge of the medium..
    I genuinely think Raja sen inspite of the ‘hate campaign” being launched on him consistently is a knowledgable fella..
    And mind u he is the only one on rediff who has some kind of cinematic acumen.. and some idiotic readers want him out..
    That guy has grown up on good cinema..and he knows the essence of good cinema beyond just the names of it…
    Just cast an eye on this review of ‘Jab we Met’ by some Syed Firdaus guy..

    “They may have split in real life but Kareena Kapoor [Images] and Shahid Kapur’s [Images] reel love story Jab We Met [Images] is a cute film”..

    Hamlet of introductions indeed.. dammn.. why dont these people kill themselves.. holy shit!!!

  58. ravi on October 26th, 2007 12:57 am

    Yay! Taran Adarsh gives it a thumbs down and says it was a bizarre experience! I am sure it would be a great watch for me now :).

  59. V on October 26th, 2007 1:23 am

    Hey Anuraag bhai, I am all for your movie man.. even though I am not in India now I’ve been telling all my friends to go and watch it if they want something different… but u know what, its hard to explain it to someone if they haven’t even watched eternal sunshine… to give them the feel of the kind of movie this shd be. Eagerly waiting for a print to come online. I am sure it’ll blow the critics away. I hope u’ve made a good mind-fuck movie, and excel in this genre. All the best yaar !!

  60. suchita b on October 26th, 2007 1:25 am

    RAJA SEN is out of rediff, no review on no smoking there

  61. Lovish on October 26th, 2007 1:28 am

    Well Anurag I’m quite disappointed with your movie. I watched the first day first show because i was so excitd but believe it’s the most absurd , idiotic movie ever made. It’s bizzare to an extent where it sounds rediculous. There were so many abrupt things going on.I’m sorry but this one’s a worst experience of my life.Your Movie was tremendously disappointing!!

  62. vicky on October 26th, 2007 1:45 am

    well anurag i was waiting for no smoking and now its here hope to get your best of it…….
    please let me know about your friends or u working in delhi to assist them

    and ya the contact form is not working please correct that

  63. Joyjeet on October 26th, 2007 1:47 am

    Fuck Fuck FUCK. COULDN’T make it first day first show.:(( this goddamn paper that has to be launched is bad man.
    Anyways, one of my colleague is catching it in Filmistan, Delhi. Said there are around 50 people. Have asked him to get audience reaction.
    But why didn’t we have any publicity boss. Absolutely nothing.
    I don’t even have a wallpaper
    Hoping for word of mouth.
    Alll the Best
    Cheers

  64. Raaj Pillai on October 26th, 2007 2:12 am

    hi anurag,

    actually right now i am in bangalore….so, i havent seen the movie yet ….but wishing u all the best……i read taran adarsh’s review on indiafm and was dissapointed…..but there heve been many instances when he went wrong…so rest assured man….i will try to watch it tomorrow for sure……also waiting for rajeev masand’s review(remember he gave you four stars for black friday?)

    all the best man

    raaj

  65. Rony D'costa on October 26th, 2007 2:27 am

    Hey Anurag, watching it in the evening. first i am watching your friends “jab we met”. and then “no smoking”. reading about it & commenting on it has made that film close to my heart so i am watching it second so that after the screening i cna mull over it.btw INDIAFM REVIEW IS OUT - 1 STAR RATING.AS EXPECTED BY MR. TARAN ADARSH! THE BAAP OF ALL CRITICS!

  66. meetu on October 26th, 2007 2:34 am

    Hey Anurag!

    Loved it. Watched 8.30am show. I don’t know whether I liked the movie more for what it was or more because this is a first in Hindi movies.

    Of course, must admit that I did not understand it completely. Still trying to sort out the three variations of interpretations going on in my head and a fourth one offered by a friend (she loved it too).

    Meanwhile, thought I’d congratulate you!

    To many more weird ideas that catch your fancy!!

  67. Sourav on October 26th, 2007 2:50 am

    Link for taran adarsh review????

  68. Mudit on October 26th, 2007 2:56 am

    Hi Anurag

    Can’t just wait to watch it.
    Have already read and heard so much about it.
    I’ve been drooling over the lyrics of the songs by Gulzar and great music by Vishal Bhardwaj (listening to them @20 times a day!)
    Another small reason is my friend Megh, who’s done the constable role.

    I’m not going to miss it for sure!

    Mudit

  69. gaurav rai on October 26th, 2007 3:10 am

    hi anurag
    saw it, first day, first show in delhi(filmistan) the uniqueness is in the theme. that a movie can be made on such a premise and still hold one’s attention is a revelatiion. (but the about 20-yr-old rickshawwallah i talked to didnt’t like it. a bit too much it was for him.) your production people have done well (camerawork, etc). there were about 80-100 people in the hall. they stayed till the end. minor complaints apart, good show.

    PS: the posters dont work. they are smart, vague and confusing. it is even difficult to know who is in the movie. should have been simple. my theory is that waisa bhi hota hai part II (I) didn’t do well at the box office because of the title (way too samart it was. most people aren’t. so they didnt give the film a try).

  70. rony d'costa on October 26th, 2007 3:11 am
  71. Pratim D. Gupta on October 26th, 2007 3:14 am

    anurag keep your cool friend… everything will turn out just fine…

  72. A.P. on October 26th, 2007 3:51 am

    Hi Anurag,

    Well i saw your film today.

    I surely liked your subject idea.
    I surely liked your style and treatment.
    but unfortunately, i disliked your film.

    I disliked your film because, you made it badly, you scripted it badly and you executed it badly.

    i had great hopes before entering the theatre.
    i felt disgusted after two hours.
    All that you talk unfortunately doesn’t get translated on the screen.

    well i am sure you will try to make good film next time.

  73. A.P. on October 26th, 2007 3:53 am

    lets not just try to make different cinema, lets try to make good cinema

  74. shankar on October 26th, 2007 3:57 am

    It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better.
    The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat
    and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and
    comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions,
    who spends himself for a worthy cause; who,
    at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly,
    so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”

    The man who really counts in the world is the doer, not the mere critic-the man who actually does the work, even if roughly and imperfectly, not the man who only talks or writes about how it ought to be done.

  75. Pavithra Selvam on October 26th, 2007 4:03 am

    Hi Anurag,

    Fantastic movie! loved it :) Here’s my review of the movie… keep up the good work… kudos…

    http://www.aol.in/bollywood/story/2007102606439019000001/index.html

  76. atray on October 26th, 2007 4:22 am

    Hello Mr.

  77. Shatrughan on October 26th, 2007 4:30 am
  78. ajay on October 26th, 2007 4:34 am

    great job…apna review post karoonga…

  79. Akshay Shah on October 26th, 2007 4:35 am

    Anurag, My review will be up shortly, I’ve been as honest as I possibly can…..

    A.Shah

  80. gaurav on October 26th, 2007 4:44 am

    Just saw the movie..
    Congratulations Anurag for the gift u have. Loads of gud luk though for a commercial hit.
    What u’ve made is excellent cinema. Visually it was superb. Concept & treatment - out of the world. Performances - mind boggling:o
    But sadly it took all my strength to resrain myself from hitting the ppl around me.
    Frankly, no one got it !!
    I’ve racked my brain the entire afternoon n probably the concept looks quite simple now.
    Obviously u can’t expect majority of our public to understand this movie in one go. But i was appalled by how unreceptive the audience has come to be here.
    twas mostly college kids n gals in the morng show (who came to saw john) n were clearly shocked out of their wits with wat they saw. neways maye be there’ll be a more sensible audience ovr the weekend.
    wat i seriously thnk is, cme out wth the entire concept and the story in dailies smetme later next week. Maybe thn, our “great thnkng” public (who cannot visualize nethng beyond the 3D reality) mght be bttr equippd to face the challenge u’ve thrown thm !!!!!
    :o

  81. nikhil on October 26th, 2007 5:05 am

    what a movie dude.just watched it and i have booked for the night show…obviously i have to now look at the nuances that i missed on the first instance..i could not understand the metaphor…are u trying to show something else besides quitting smoking.

    about the reviews u can’t help it..people will write crap..i was reading a crap on sify..what the hell? who will critique the critics,there has to be someone..one cannot just lash anyone if one doesn’t understand what cinema is..who gives them job.Indian cinema will remain stuck to what it is ..owing to these crappers..and dude the film is not showing in many cinema halls,in delhi..some audience might be lost,(but i know how things work)..cheers once again for giving us a masterpiece.

  82. Kareena on October 26th, 2007 5:08 am

    Ur movie was sex without orgasm…

  83. Kareena on October 26th, 2007 5:13 am

    The first half was mind blowing but the second half was really disconnected… didn’t know what was happening or what u were trying to do… I came out dissatisfied. But still appreciate ur efforts… next time try to make film for the audience also, not for urself.

  84. Sandeep Mohan on October 26th, 2007 5:13 am

    Why do we Indians read so many reviews? Is it because we don’t have the ability to judge films on our own?!!!

  85. Sandeep Mohan on October 26th, 2007 5:24 am

    “Those who can, DO IT.
    Those who can’t, CRITICISE”

    I believe we all should trust our gut feel, trust the intelligence of this director who is backing himself, give “No Smoking” a watch, and only then read any of these silly reviews by semi-demented reviewers who don’t recoginise the difference between fart and a hot breeze! Actually, just like Exit Polls being banned on the day of General Elections, I guess, its’ time to ban Reviews on the day of the Movie release. Just a thought…

  86. nikhil on October 26th, 2007 5:26 am

    oh i did’t know the crapper was TTARAN ADARSH.so no surprise..!

  87. Jyoti on October 26th, 2007 5:27 am

    Trustworthy review…while the rating is low, he’s written the review very well and convinced me to check it out….

    http://www.naachgaana.com/2007/10/26/akshay-shah-reviews-no-smoking-hindi-2007/

    http://aakshayshah.blogspot.com/2007/10/akshay-shah-reviews-no-smoking-hindi.html

    J.K

  88. First Born Unicorns on October 26th, 2007 5:41 am

    Kareena….
    ‘Ur movie was sex without orgasm

  89. Shanty on October 26th, 2007 6:05 am

    Hi Anurag,

    Saw No Smoking in Dubai. The 1.30pm show. Around 50 people dotted seats across the hall.

    My wife wanted to see Jab We Met. I loved Black Friday, so I plumped for No Smoking. I won.

    Only to lose.

    Sorry Anurag, I did not like No Smoking.

    It was different.
    It was cerebral.
    It was twisted.
    It was wicked.
    It was replete with quite a few in-jokes (esp. the ‘vishal’ shehar mein ‘gulzar’ bit)
    It was stylishly shot.
    It was niftily edited.

    Unfortunately, it was also thoroughly un-entertaining and terribly confused in screenplay.

    I’m sure a few people would like it.

    I didn’t.

    Sorry.

    Or maybe you should be saying so to all those who were awaiting the arrival of this film as the arrival of neo noir films finally from Bollywood.

    - Shanty

  90. Chandni on October 26th, 2007 6:53 am

    Hey Anurag,
    Have read a few of your posts on this blog… have enjoyed reading them. Am posting a comment for the first time here.

    I didn’t like ‘No Smoking’. I had no idea what the film was about; hadn’t watched the promos; didn’t know Vishal Bharadwaj was also a part of the film. And although I went with no expectations really (if that’s really possible! :)), I think I hoped I’d like the film. Or (quite) a few parts/moments of the film, at least.

    Sadly, that didn’t happen. And I’m sorry for me. And for you. Making different movies is great… but different/”weird” movies shouldn’t stop entertaining, right?

    If you were a part of the audience that watched the film with me this afternoon, you’d have seen that there was either an uncomfortable, awkward silence for most part of the film or loud mocking of some of the scenes. (The latter was a tad annoying although it did offer some unexpected entertainment/chance to laugh. Sigh!)

    I’d read recently in one of your interviews that you’d texted/approached a lot of actors to be a part of the film but they didn’t agree to/respond. At one point, the (sad and almost mean) thought that crossed my mind was “No wonder so many actors weren’t willing to be a part of the film; good for them”… and this wasn’t a very pleasant thought to have, especially since I’ve liked some of your other work and generally respected your approach to films (whatever little I might know about it!).

    By the way, one of the two friends I went with liked the film. Your movie reminded her of ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’, she said.

    The other friend didn’t like it at all. A non-smoker, she said she felt like picking up a cigarette to take the edge off all that this film did to her! She said the words “paranoid schizophrenia” came to her mind after watching the film. Why/how/in what context? Well, I didn’t have the energy/inclination to invest more of me in this film or film-related dicussion…

    Chalo, I’ll get back to work now. Didn’t think I’d delurk on your (or almost any) blog really… chalo, one good thing to come out of the film I guess… :)

    Or going by how much I’ve spouted off and squawked about the film, you might disagree! :P

    Best,
    Chandni.

  91. aditi on October 26th, 2007 7:03 am

    After reading all this, I don’t think I will see the movie. I’d prefer to stay with the Black Friday feel…..Good Luck Anurag!

  92. ranjit on October 26th, 2007 7:10 am

    hey………

    dont worry man ur gonna rock…….

    u have done something which is never before…

    done a remarkable piece of work…

    & also applause to DOP - Rajeev Ravi” have done a staggering job…
    have shot it likea graphic novel….
    & i got a mood of Wong Kar-wai film….
    keep rockin..

  93. Saurabh on October 26th, 2007 7:35 am

    @chandni

    I think what you felt WAS one of the intentions with which No Smoking was made… it never was supposed to be a conventional entertainer. We all have a notion of how films should be and what entertainment is. No Smoking seeks to challenge it all. It seeks to challenge how stories are told, what kind of stories are told…

    By this, I am not saying that someone should ‘like’ the film. But I think it was the purpose of the film to make you ‘uncomfortable’…and of course, mr.anurag can answer better :)

  94. Gattu on October 26th, 2007 7:50 am

    Fuck!!will it release in Kochi? Heard tht it has made to the theatre in the Capital Trivandrum… hope the same reel will come here next… pls make sure tht it does. Black Friday did not make it.

  95. turrtle on October 26th, 2007 7:59 am

    “Rediff rating - No stars” by some Mr.Hegde

    Now that’s a first.

  96. The Real Abhishek on October 26th, 2007 8:04 am

    People should realize that these kind of movies are not for everybody. While the genre of surrealistic movies is well expounded by people like David Lynch, (as per my limited knowledge) ‘No Smoking’ is first of its kind in India . If anything, Anurag Kashyap deserves a resounding applause for pioneering a completely new genre in the biggest film industry in the world. If a particular audience finds ‘No Smoking’ to be cryptic then he is bound to find ‘Mulholland Drive’ or ‘Abre Los Ojos’ completely unfathomable and MD and ALO are cinematic landmarks…
    A movie like ‘The Science of Sleep’ which was an ingenious and curious amalgamation of “magic realism” and “surrealism”, got panned by critics and left a sizeable portion of the audience confused. Anurag must not lose sleep over what the critics say. I am sure the audience will warm up to it. There are only 3 or 4 directors in India who can incorporate art in commercial cinema and Anurag Kashyap is certainly one of them. In fact, if I were Shelley I would say “Hail to thee avant garde spirit!” … :)

  97. bugsnest on October 26th, 2007 8:30 am

    Abhishek - Well put!! This film may not be for everyone and the ones who may like it ought to stop asking their friends who cannot find joy in indulging in this kind of film-making.

    Anurag - My opinion on you was dwindling these past weeks on PFC. Not sure why but after hearing what “No Smoking” is about I have new-found respect for you boss!!
    It’s likely that 20 years from now you would be a case study in Indian film-schools for pioneering the art of surrealism in Indian cinema :d But until then keep this fire burning chief and continue manifesting your dreams like this (literally here) :)>-

  98. Nabil on October 26th, 2007 8:40 am

    MAn Aurag I saw this movie two times back to back today and gave a standing ovation both the times..U have opened ur heart out in this flick…….Yaar…indian cinema ko ek aisi hi film ki bahot saalon se zaroorat thi.and u have done it man………was a bit unsatisfied with johns performance….John apne pure career me isse acchi movie nahi kar payega……

    But man seriously this movie is not for everyone…..it is only for special audience and u know it…..

    Can u tell me which part of the movie was from ur peronal expereince??..

  99. Nabil on October 26th, 2007 9:10 am

    Anurag pls put the making of no smoking and some terrific extras in the DVD pleeeeeeease

  100. turrtle on October 26th, 2007 9:21 am

    Khalid Mohamed’s review .. so he does definitely read PFC. :)

    And man, is he angry ! Check these out ..

    “Now, we must all stand up, salute and go wah-wah-wah for Anurag Kashyap, who writes blockbuster blogs and classic movies.”

    “Kashyap reads and sees movies, you know, so he

  101. siddharth on October 26th, 2007 9:27 am

    hey anurag bhai..i am a big fan of urs and all that…today was the day when i was really waiting for ur movie..i went to malad fame ..which is a real luxury for me..was very eager to see the movie..but sorry dude it failed to move my absurd and depresed soul..
    all that playing with dreams and reality n quoting socrates n plato is brilliant but i think u wasted the subject.i mean why did u try to mix a subject like no smoking with all these intellectual philosophy..io understand this real world n the world in our space n all ..but the theme of no smoking just didnt work with this philosophy.
    people are comparing it to fight club n other western films ..but it just didnt satisfy me.
    it is not unique in itself. if u were doing something western it didnt work..n there was no indian or oriental thing in it..and this idea doesnt go with the theme of the movie.
    i think u should have explored with this philosopy..there is so much to it..
    please dont get depressed n alll..because i really like u..buti felt sad ..it didnt give me a high which good films usually give me.
    read antim aranya n u will know what i am talking about.

  102. Sudeep on October 26th, 2007 9:29 am

    I have been waiting to watch the movie since the day i saw the promo online. The name initially gave me the impression that it might be desi version of “Thank you for smoking”. Thank God it’s not! If not for any thing else….i do want to see the movie for hot hot Ms Randhawa :)

  103. Manjeet Singh on October 26th, 2007 9:33 am

    Audiences gave a standing ovation and hooted at Vashi Adlabs after the film ended!!! Seriously it happened!!
    Saw the 6:15 show…was little skeptical myself to be honest, when I went in…but was sucked into the film! it was a joyful ride!!..people were confused asking questions, laughing at one liners, surprised by the events..the young college goers loved it!
    Guru Dev ki jai ho!
    John rocks!
    Rajeev Ravi, Wasiq da, Kunal brilliant work guys!!

  104. Clifford on October 26th, 2007 9:33 am

    Anurag,

    I will definitely watch this movie and post my comments. Surely, you have put every ounce of your soul into this effort.

    Good luck dude and no matter what everyone says… it’s your baby and be proud of it.

    Cliffy

  105. sandy on October 26th, 2007 9:36 am

    I don’t know if Khalid reads PFC, but I know for a fact that Karan Johar has gone through the blog and is pretty annoyed with Anurag, for dragging his name.

  106. Neha Desai on October 26th, 2007 9:39 am

    :-?

    One thing I wonder is why the makers worry so much about critic reviews, when we already know that they dont know the ABC of film-making or watching for that matter.

    Dont worry about them! As long as there is one person who likes your film, you keep making them the way you want to!

    Good luck!(I havent read reviews, and I also dont believe in reviews!).

  107. OM on October 26th, 2007 9:46 am

    @ Sandy can you provide links of that?

  108. turrtle on October 26th, 2007 9:47 am

    @sandy

    What is that supposed to mean ? Are you referring to the Tehelka interview ?

  109. sandy on October 26th, 2007 10:03 am

    Actually, I work as journalist in Pune and when I men Karan Johar for an interview, he mentioned in so many words that he doesn’t understand why Anurag has to drag his name along with people like Yash Chopra, who are legends in their field.

    You could check out the i\interview here, http://sandhyai.blogspot.com/2007/08/interview-with-karan-johar.html or this one, http://www.naachgaana.com/2007/08/14/sandy%e2%80%99s-interview-with-karan-johar/

  110. turrtle on October 26th, 2007 10:25 am

    Karan Johar has suddenly turned a massive shade of “candid” or what. Does he say namastey to a Mahesh Bhatt photo every morning he wakes up ?

    Classic K.Jo :.

    “(straight-faced) Yeah, I mean Soham made Kaal, not some Ben Hur that I should miss him.”

  111. Chandni on October 26th, 2007 10:34 am

    @ Saurabh

    I know and completely understand that this film was not intended to be like a “conventional entertainer”. I think by now people like us who watch movies made by filmmakers such as Anurag, Vishal, et al know that these guys don’t dish out movies that can be seen as conventionally entertaining… and I don’t know about you… but very many of us like these filmmakers specially (but of course, not only) for that.

    What I meant was that the movie, overall, failed to be engaging or entertaining. I can’t be sure of the connotation that the word ‘entertaining’ has for you but it’d be sad (and kinda silly) to presume that the movie failed at some level (for me) simply because it wasn’t entertaining in a conventional/regular/masalaish manner.

    I agree that the film attempted to challenge a lot of things that we get to see mostly in mainstream cinema. But that’s something that makers like Anurag might subconsciously (or consciously) be attempting to do (or at least seem to) anyway… with all their works… not just with this film specifically.

    I don’t expect filmmakers to make films that make me feel “comfortable”. Or films that I, or their audience members would “like”. Personally, I’d love films that make me “uncomfortable”, angry, upset, shocked, anything. Anything that would (overall, at least) impact me, hold my attention, make me sit up and take notice. This one was almost bleh in parts.

    Just because a film is made very differently (and technically, quite well too, in many ways) or by someone who seems to do his work with integrity and passion does not automatically make it a brilliant/great/good film.

    Well, clearly, not for me at least.

    Chandni

  112. The Real Abhishek on October 26th, 2007 10:50 am

    Khalid Mohamed is to Anurag Kashyap what Sajid Khan is to Vidhu Vinod Chopra - a sore with lot of pus.

  113. YOGI on October 26th, 2007 11:35 am

    PLEASE RETURN MY HARD-EARNED MONEY ANURAG.

    FIRST YOU BORROW YOUR PLOT LOCK, STOCK AND BARREL FROM ‘QUITTERS, INC’ FROM STEPHEN KING’S CAT’S EYE….THEN YOU CLEVERLY MANIPULATE US ALL USING THIS FORUM…

    YOU’RE WORSE THAN THE BLOKES AT YASHRAJ.

  114. kalki on October 26th, 2007 11:45 am

    saw the film

    dont know what to say

    the only thing that im feeling sure abt rite now is that whoever wrote a review for this film on the day he/she watched the film is either a loser or a real film lover.

  115. Omprakash Seresta on October 26th, 2007 11:45 am

    Karan Johar’s reaction to AK’s blogging :D He really believes in what he makes. Talks about positivity, light, etc etc :D Hilarious stuff.

    http://www.mid-day.com/hitlist/2007/october/166102.htm

  116. turrtle on October 26th, 2007 11:52 am

    Karan

  117. Machchar on October 26th, 2007 12:12 pm

    I never read anywhere about he attacking Yash Chopra personally but the mammoth octopus called YRF with its tentacles everywhere in the Industry - which is actually true.

    Coming to No Smoking, as I said, it would take some time for people to like/accept this kind of subjects but this is much much better than the same fucking fare we are watching every week like “girl meets boy on train, girl takes boy home and asks his help to elope with her lover, and in the process falls in love with the boy” stories!

    No one seems to understand that we need diverse and varied stories. It’s the effort thats important! Diverse stories don’t mean movies like “Boom” where the villain has a blow jobber employed under the table! It is shit. I mean movies like Manorama, No Smoking which at least tackle some new topics…

    How long are we going to be happy with mind numbing rose flavored romance and shit?

  118. Shekhar shimpi on October 26th, 2007 12:13 pm

    I love the Movie, (And I love Ayesha)
    By the way, Nicely designed,.
    Landmark in Indian Cinema

    Cheers Anurag ,Great Job done

    Somehow film reminds me of Alex Proyas”s “Dark City” (Visually & about trapped protagonist)

    (~~)(~~)(~~)

  119. OM on October 26th, 2007 12:15 pm

    Machchar…plss write your review and send it to iView

  120. Shekhar shimpi on October 26th, 2007 12:15 pm

    =d>=d>=d>=d>

  121. Sumanth on October 26th, 2007 12:22 pm

    Anurag Bhai… Take a bow…. ^:)^^:)^^:)^^:)^^:)^^:)^^:)^^:)^^:)^^:)^^:)^^:)^

  122. Machchar on October 26th, 2007 12:24 pm

    OM, I have not yet perfected the art of film making that I can bring myself to review any movie. :)

    As I mentioned, NS is much much better than the chocolate factory products. Looking forward to more of Anurag’s movies.

  123. Abhishek on October 26th, 2007 12:53 pm

    Thanks bugsnest… As you said 20 years from now… Time (not the audiences and not the critics) is the only reliable test of quality. Not all the foreign critics should be taken seriously about their criticism of Indian films because too much is lost in translation. Besides the very obvious and convenient “Bollywood fare” condescension from foreign critics is both unfair as well as comes cheap. Indian Critics - I wonder if they have the heart to take themselves seriously…
    20 years from now we can hope Anurag Kashyap will do a Mohammed Ali and shout back at critics “Eat your words! Eat your words!” … Hehe… I can understand that Anurag Kashyap may be very apprehensive - after all lot of money runs on a film (IMHO He should take cue from Salvador Dali on courting attention and curiosity from an audience that suffers from large scale pathological incuriosity about new art forms and movements). I hope he doesn’t overlook the fact that cinephiles (of very Indian origin) exist !!! 20 years from now - May he have a Kubrickesque variety in his body of work. Amen.

  124. AZAD on October 26th, 2007 1:03 pm

    Just came back after viewing No Smoking. Must admit that I could not understand some of the scenes.

    After the scene I heard a wonderful comment from another viewer “movie aisi thi ki na uthte ban raha tha na baithte ban raha tha. Baar baar aisa lag raha tha ki ab kuch hoga, ab kuch hoga, lekin kuch hone se pehle picture hi khatam ho gaye”. I would not agree totally with this, but to some extent I found the movie a bit too streched. I believe it should have been told like a short story rather than a novel.

    A movie like NO Smoking deserves a debate. But for that to happen, you need people who have seen the movie. This movie reminds me of Matrix. I dont think anyone would have completely understood the movie in first viewing, but it was so compelling that viewers came back to the theatres to understand it completely. I myself have watched it umpteen times and am able to figure out something new even today with each fresh viewing. But sadly, this is not going to be the case with No Smoking. I dont think most of the viewers will go back to watch this movie.

    The movie is technically very sound and Anurag deserves a pat on his back for his valiant effort.

  125. satchit on October 26th, 2007 1:19 pm

    Dearest Anurag…

    have not been this curious about any other film in the last 20 years at least… and my age is 26… will watch it, and I don’t know how or why will I like or not like it? but thanks for being that fountainhead of passion in cinema again…

  126. AZAD on October 26th, 2007 1:20 pm

    The movie has umpteen references to many movies as well. The ones that come to my mind right now are Taxi Driver, One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Fight Club, Matrix, Schindler’s List. Havent seen Cat’s Eye or Quitter’s Enc so cant comment on that.

    Anurag, I noticed you using bird’s eye view of Mumbai followed by a scene in a room pretty often. I have noticed RGV too using the same pretty often. Can you let me know, the first movie which has such a scene.

  127. AZAD on October 26th, 2007 1:23 pm

    The best part for me in the whole movie was the first conversation between John and friends related to hazards of driving etc. I myself have been involved in many such discussions and have come out in support of choice to smoke using similar opinion.

  128. Abhishek on October 26th, 2007 1:45 pm

    In defence of KJ

    As a cinephile, I will risk my neck to say that he maybe a filmmaker to watch out for in future.
    Karan Johar is an evolving filmmaker - when he makes mistakes he understands and acknowledges them - quite openly. (unlike people like Farah Khan and Sajid Khan who can neither perceive deeply nor judge correctly).

    At the risk of “getting shot” for saying this on PFC I would like to point out that KANK was a daring attempt - to cinematically present a POV, a subversive ethos that marriage is a social institution with dwindling chances of success in view of general decadence of old and at times obsolete culture - His experiment failed because he chose star cast and the opulence rather than Gulzaresque deft sensitivity or Sudhir-Mishra-esque perceptive cerebration.

    At least (like Farah Khan does in Main Hoon Na) he did not pit a Muslim Ram called “Ram” (Shah Rukh Khan) against a Hindu Ram called “Raghavan” (Sunil Shetty) in a mentally compromised movie. If any of you has some acquaintance with anthropology then he (or she) may be able to draw a quick parallel to Persian “ahuras” pitted against Vedic “daevas”. Unwitting?… Maybe.

    Nor did he (like Sajid Khan does in Heyy Baby) make a mind-numbing movie about a 2-year old for people who have brains of 2-year olds.

    KJ is justified in being upset. I have seen episodes of his show where he has willfully and openly faced criticism over his movies particularly over KANK. And it may also be unfair to call KWK a “mutual masturbation club” - I think Karan Johar is a smart warm, articulate and at times witty host. But, he is not doing himself a favor by excluding people like Shekhar Kapur, Sudhir Mishra, Gulzar, Mani Ratnam, Aaamir Khan, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Nagesh Kukunoor, etc. etc.
    From his show he comes across as a slightly insecure, very sharp, mostly honest (except when he is praising his guests) and definitely as a warm and good-natured guy. So he has all the right to get miffed - when bombarded with unfair and strongly-worded criticism.

    As far as Yash Chopra being a legend… Well… I think it’s time that people acknowledge that he is a businessman first and a filmmaker afterwards. The movies of his early career were better than OK - but recently his movies…Hmmm… After seeing half and hour of ‘Veer Zaara’ I wondered why it should not be called “Why Zaara?”

  129. thatsmua on October 26th, 2007 2:47 pm

    u represnt the face of all those young directors in India, who are out to fight the star system….all those young directors who do not enjoy the dynasty….
    U HAVE FAILED THEM ALL anurag .
    just saw the film….pretentious…self indulgent…not honest
    guess you just have people around you who just say- wah kya idea hai sir !
    I was so hoping/ praying and believed that NO SMOKING will be a benchmark in bollywood.
    Do not misunderstand me, as a film maker i think you are brilliant. A man who can take a yashraj by their balls ! But not after making a film like NS.
    It is as good as making a short film and trying to explain your 4 friends in the drawing room- this is what i meant !…. this scene actually is saying this…!!!!
    The first half is awsum….I went into the theatre at the 10.30 show…already phone calls..sms warned me not to go. But its your film anurag, i had to go.
    Honestly the film starts loosing its plot in the second half. U assumed to many things…left it all on the audience to figure out. And who is your target audience by the way..?

    i understand many would have loved it..many will hate it…but i was in the theatre where the junta never understood what the story was all about.
    Evrybody makes mistakes…the point is to learn from it, and knowing you- u will bounce back !

  130. ricky on October 26th, 2007 3:27 pm

    NO SMOKING - honest intentions towards a surreal and bizarre experiment gone for a toss!
    it took me 2 viewings to understand David Lynch’s ‘MULHOLLAND DRIVE’ and some more for ‘THE LOST HIGHWAY’…eventually got it!
    but in the case of ‘NO SMOKING’, it’s neither bizarre or surreal…actually there’s nothing to understand….the first half is interesting though…but the second half is completely confusing…what does one really make of the story? no clue!!
    but must admit that the film is shot smartly…visually superb! some of the dialogues are witty…BGM is good…
    john is just about ok…ayesha takia’s acting is overshadowed more by her assets(twin towers!)…ranvir was average…paresh rawal was disappointing…actually his character should have been more serious than funny…someone like nana patekar would have been apt to play his role…and the worst scene of the movie is when K’s brother J (from germany??) is on his ‘i’m trying hard to commit suicide’ trip when john lights his cigarette in front of the cops…atrocious!!
    NO SMOKING is ‘disjointed’ and i desperately need a ‘joint’ to smoke this one out of my head!! phoonk de!
    (my take on NO SMOKING is as honest as anurag’s intentions of making it. i’m disappointed with anurag the same way i was disappointed with RGV for making AAG)
    ricky.

  131. Ologadhvo on October 26th, 2007 10:35 pm

    Watched it yesterday…11.05 pm show at PVR Mulund…Its a cinematic masterpiece and a commercial disaster. Deserves an Oscar and pathetic box office collections…coz only 2% people will understand the movie and appreciate it..be happy coz only those 2% count

  132. Snehit on October 27th, 2007 4:15 am

    Mr.Anurag Kashyap! … He is a genius… Hey ppl don mistake me to be saying this cuz i havent understood the movie….. ACTUALLY i hav understood the movie …. The first movie made in bollywood which really should i say shocked me? …. or should i say shook me ?…… But i dint move a muscle when i was watchin the movie…. Somebody gave 1 out of 5 for the movie i think he is too immature to even watch the film .. Anurag deserves a biggggg round of applause for this project of his …. Should be nominated for oscars… Everyone should watch this movie for a great experience… People should encourage Anurag’s style of filmmaking.. Amazing movie …. Genre:Anurag is my favorite genre

  133. Sahil on October 27th, 2007 1:04 pm

    Well..i just watched the movie and have been thinkin abt it ever since..tryin to understand wht some scenes meant..it is a movie for intelligent audience only but it certainly makes me feel proud that someone in India has the balls to make such an abstract film…it would be great if u can blog the context of this script in layman terms..cause there were so many scenes where i wld wanna knw the context

  134. Fatema on October 28th, 2007 7:43 am

    Hi Anurag,

    I don’t know 10% of what you know about film-making but this is what I thought of No Smoking. Would like to hear your reactions and what you think of my perspective. Its a movie review I am posting below.

    No Smoking
    It is very easy to write off this film and equally tough to rate it. Simply because at one level it could be read as brilliant and on the other as mindless.

    Anurag Kashyap

  135. N on October 29th, 2007 11:51 am

    Hi Anurag

    This is the first time i am visiting your blog , have heard lot’s ’bout it in the paper but i finally thought i’ll give it a visit after watching No Smoking today.

    First of all,i agree with most of the people above when they say you are an absolute gem of a director,you know cinema and your various different techniques which you showcased in both black friday and NS.I’ll watch any of your film over yashraj anytime. BALLS TO ‘EM !!

    Second of all , as far as No Smoking goes,i personally loved it.(Although this might be the case in general, coz the truth when i walked in the movie hall there was just a single person besides me and my friend and the few others came in,making a total of max 15-20 people)

    You have tried to do a ‘Mullholand Dr’ or a ‘Barton Fink’ and you have almost succeeded.
    The ‘Requiem for a Dream’ walk with john was kindy cheeky but great.

    But i will agree with what the guy above me said ,that you became too self-indulgent and took few things for granted, for audience to figure out.You can leave some things for us to figure out,but not so many ,after all this is india and you gotta roll in with it. A better phrase would be more appropriately “When in Rome , do as the Romans do”
    :d

    But i hope you NEVER sell out and always find the support of producers like Kumar Mangat and Vishal B.Hope ya fine tune yourself and come with another cracker of a movie.

    Rock ON !!

  136. N on October 29th, 2007 11:56 am

    Hi Anurag

    This is the first time i am visiting your blog , have heard lot’s ’bout it in the paper but i finally thought i’ll give it a visit after watching No Smoking today.

    First of all,i agree with most of the people above when they say you are an absolute gem of a director,you know cinema and your various different techniques which you showcased in both black friday and NS.I’ll watch any of your film over yashraj anytime. BALLS TO ‘EM !!

    Second of all , as far as No Smoking goes,i personally loved it.(Although this might be the case in general, coz the truth when i walked in the movie hall there was just a single person besides me and my friend and the few others came in,making a total of max 15-20 people)

    You have tried to do a ‘Mullholand Dr’ or a ‘Barton Fink’ and you have almost succeeded.
    The ‘Requiem for a Dream’ walk with john was kindy cheeky but great.

    But i will agree with what the guy above me said ,that you became too self-indulgent and took few things for granted, for audience to figure out.You can leave some things for us to figure out,but not so many ,after all this is india and you gotta roll in with it. A better phrase would be more appropriately “When in Rome , do as the Romans do”
    :d

    But i hope you NEVER sell out and always find the support of producers like Kumar Mangat and Vishal B.Hope ya fine tune yourself and come with another cracker of a movie.

  137. manu on October 30th, 2007 1:31 pm

    hmmm… interesting space anurag…visiting first time…

  138. Vk on October 30th, 2007 6:36 pm

    good man ,
    keep it up…..u rock….:d

  139. Ratnam.G on October 31st, 2007 12:51 am

    Hi Anurag,

    This is my first time here. I have seen all the films that you have scripted, and the one you directed, Black Friday. I have added the DVD to my collection, which includes movies directed by Kubrick, Tarantino, David Lynch, The Coen brothers, Coppola ( the GF movies & Apocalyse Now), Alejandro Innaritu, Mani Ratnam & RGV and am hoping to add more.

    I havent yet seen No Smoking and would rather wait for the DVD than watch it in a theatre with, in all probabilty, a bunch of morons making cat calls ! Going by what people are saying, looks like you have been tripping on a combination of a story idea from King and Lynch’s surreal directorial style. Admire your guts man ! How did you get someone to finance such a project ? You must have amazing persuasion skills, I am sure.

    I feel sorry for guys like you, like I have always felt about K.Balachander ( the movies he made in the 70″s, in B & W had amazing themes and were rarely understood), Kamal Hassan, Mani Ratnsm & RGV ( who have had their share of frustations I am sure). I feel you are going the same way and like them, you will evolve and find a way of making your films commercially viable too. I though Mani used photography and music to create outstanding visual imagery in his song & dance routines to make up for often serious themes. RGV has done the same.

    I am sure you will get there as well as I am afraid its too early for our country and its citizens to care about efforts like BF & No Smoking. We are absolutely juvenile, when it comes to our popular cinematic ( and other art forms)taste. I am sure you will agree.

    All the best. Looking forward to you becoming a commercially viable filmaker, while retaining your core filmaking instincts.

  140. screenwriter on October 31st, 2007 9:38 am

    no smoking is a film which one fails to understand…a film wwith no entertainment at all..

  141. turrtle on November 1st, 2007 8:51 am

    Here is what Taran Adarsh is saying about AK criticising him ..

    “Anurag Kashyap’s outburst against me and two more critics amused me no end. I feel sad for Anurag. My only retort would be to advice him to visit the distributors pronto or any cineplex screening his movie for a reality check. Wake up and smell coffee. NO SMOKING is a monumental disaster not just in India, but also in Overseas. Even RAMGOPAL VARMA KI AAG fetched better collections than NO SMOKING. ”

    http://indiafm.com/trade/business_talk/index.html

  142. turrtle on November 1st, 2007 8:54 am

    Looks like Taran Adarsh reads PFC too. And if he does .. Mr. Adarsh pls note your grammar …

    1. “would be to advice him ” -> “would be to advise him ”

    2. “Wake up and smell coffee” -> “Wake up and smell the coffee”

    3. “but also in Overseas” -> “but also Overseas”

  143. Vasanbala on November 1st, 2007 9:51 am

    Did Taran Adarsh himself check with the distributors about the box office of Chak De.which he trashed.. a good film and a good box office are two different things. job of the reviewer is not to predict boxoffice but to review films.he is a boxoffice pundit of yesteryear masquerading as today’s critic.

  144. NoVaDJ on November 1st, 2007 5:35 pm

    PFC really irks me sometimes with all the name calling. I don’t consider myself a “dimwit” or “idiot” because I actually like some of the commercial Indian cinema, but that seems to be the only way on here. I also was never a fan of Anurag’s attitude until he actually apologized for insulting me a few weeks back…..SO with an open mind I finally saw NS and I have to admit it was awesome!

    NS actually reminded me of a Korean or Japanese movie because of all the metaphysical concepts happening. Sometimes you get lost and then you are found again with the storytelling and in the Korean/Japanese films they get wilder and more convoluted towards the end and then all of the sudden you get it.

    Most people keep saying it’s not for the average Indian audience, but I really think it’s just not for any audience that isn’t interested in this type of film. I work at a local Blockbuster Video Rental store and 80% of the customers will not rent a movie if you tell them it’s subtitled. I’ve had company at my house that noticed my Asian DVD collection and they would say, “I can’t watch those cause I have to read and I fall asleep when I read”….and that’s usually the last date with them for me.

    What I’m trying to say is that if a person doesn’t understand then you can’t make him understand and it has nothing to do with them being Indian. I am really surprised that the Indian critics also don’t understand and they should be the ones that do, because they can make or break a movie. In the US the critics can all hate a movie and people will still see it and make it number one for the week.

    I still love my Bollywood and look forward to any Karan Johar movie, but I also can appreciate and love a movie like NS and I hope it doesn’t get lost in the shuffle because that would be a shame for others that would enjoy the experience.

    ….so Anurag, accept my appreciation and also my admiration(which I never thought I would say), but also don’t hate me for liking my commercial stuff too.

  145. OM on November 1st, 2007 6:15 pm

    People like you NoVaDJ “always” irk me. Correct me if i am wrong..you have been here on PFC for quite a long time now…and i always see you commenting on Anurag’s post..and some other token comments garnished here n there…nobody here is against commercial cinema..hell i love commercial cinema…if you love something you love something…its only that…here on pfc “we” have a 1000 different opinions and you my friend are one of them…i am sure..all the authors n editors of pfc are sick and tired of trying to explain people of your ilk what pfc stands for..do me a favor and search for the comments made by some on…ahem coz u read only anurag’s post…search em…u will understand what pfc stands for…

    And if you have an opinion…be thankful that somebody gave you a platform like pfc….if u have something to say…then bloody right it on IView and stop fucking cribbing…and grow up

  146. NoVaDJ on November 1st, 2007 6:39 pm

    @OM,

    Wow, I wasn’t trying to insult anyone and I used the word “sometimes”…and I thought I had a really cool post comparing the Korean/Japanese thing to Anurag’s film. Sorry you were to angry at me to see it. The Blogs I seem to read always have the insults towards the commercial cinema and I have the right to say my feeling too and I always try to back them up with reason. I’d love to write something on IView, but not sure how to go about it. I tried to write something once and never heard anything back.

    …and I’m 51 and have been through a lot of trauma in my life , so I feel I am grown up.

  147. NoVaDJ on November 1st, 2007 9:21 pm

    @OM

    So I just got home from trying to party and I was angry all night about what you said to me,but I just re-read your comment and what you said was right. I just wish you had said it in a nicer way…..I’m still new to this Blog stuff and this was the first one that I have actually written on so I’m trying to get used to everything. I try to get my point across and I get frustrated so I guess I’m sounding stupid….wish there was an edit button :d

  148. OM on November 1st, 2007 9:24 pm

    NoVaDJ….its all good sir….koi gal nai…cheers

    :)

    friends? hehe

  149. NoVaDJ on November 1st, 2007 9:35 pm

    @OM
    Thanks friend….
    Tell me how I write an article…, I must be sending it to the wrong place
    NoVaDJ(at)Hotmail(dot)com

    [Edited by OM] : NoVaDJ, i have edited your email, so you will not be attacked by spams

  150. OM on November 1st, 2007 9:42 pm

    NoVaDJ

    Here is the link for Projekt IView

    http://passionforcinema.com/about/#iview

    We have a set of editors who will review the articles sent on IView and if they feel its worth publishing, they will…and once your articles regularly start publishing, there is every chance that you would be given the author rights…

    cheers

    :)

  151. nikhil on November 5th, 2007 2:30 am

    i am pledging today that i will not watch KARAN JOHAR’S movies…reasons are obvious- if he thinks anurag needs a pshychiatrist,then i also need one(acc to his views).

  152. satty on November 6th, 2007 8:51 pm

    Hi Anurag..
    I just have seen your film No Smoking. I must say I have never seen such an intelligent movie in hindi…. switching between dream and reality, dark comedy and thrill, suspense and mystry was jsut amazing.
    I am quite hopeful that Indian cinema has a director like you , who dares to experiment and doesn’t make just-happy-ending movies…
    Bravo my friend…
    cheers for your work!!!!
    Satty

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