One of the biggest weekends of the year, from October 2, will see the release of two films — Hrithik Roshan’s Bang Bang! and Shahid Kapoor’s Haider, which are as different as chalk and cheese in terms of theme, budget, cast, and sensibilities.
Trade experts say it’s unfair to compare the two. “It’s not a clash of the titans at all,” trade analyst Komal Nahta said. “It is unfair to compare them...”
Cinematically speaking, it’s true. Not only are the tone and tenor of the two films diverse, their directors are poles apart in their sensibilities and approach while narrating a story.
In comparison to director Siddharth Anand’s entertainers Salaam Namaste and Bachna Ae Haseeno, Vishal Bhardwaj, known for his penchant for literature, especially his fascination for Shakespeare’s classics, has convincingly adapting Macbeth as Maqbool, Othello as Omkara and now he has adapted Hamlet as Haider.
Bhardwaj also feels the two films are put in the same bracket only because they are releasing on the same day, otherwise there is not a single common factor between them.
“Bang Bang! is said to be a Rs1.8 billion (Dh107.6 million) film, ours is a Rs240 million film. Of course, they would need more money to break even, we would need less,” Bhardwaj.
“It’s a very big weekend and it can accommodate two films and that’s why we thought of releasing with Bang Bang!,” he added.
Shot in Abu Dhabi and India, fast-paced Bang Bang!, which has car chases and shoot-outs, promises edge of the seat excitement, while Haider, set in Kashmir in the 1990s, is grim and gritty as it focuses on the human tragedy in the region.
When it comes to the lead actors of the two films, Roshan’s and Kapoor’s standing are also different in Bollywood.
Dismissing the comparisons, Rajesh Thadani said: “Hrithik is altogether in a different league, so let’s not compare them. Their budgets and costing are also different, so there is no space for comparison. Also, Bang Bang! will have more screens compared to Haider, so let’s not compare,” he added.
If Bhardwaj has signed Irrfan Khan and Tabu to make the drama more intense, Anand relies on the likes of Danny Denzongpa and Javed Jaffrey to add entertaining elements.
Bollywood’s reigning queen Katrina Kaif is the female lead in Bang Bang! and rising star Shraddha Kapoor will be seen with Kapoor in Haider.
Set for a Thursday release, films with diverse themes will be a healthy choice for viewers to the make the best of their holiday.
Shahid Kapoor has said Haider is the best film of his career.
“This film has everything that I haven’t done before. I have pinned my hopes on this film,” he told reporters on Monday.
“Some people like violence, some like romance but I know people will connect emotionally with Haider.
“Vishal Bhardwaj is a real superstar. He presents each film differently,” added the 33-year-old about his director.
