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Rajeev Masand

Entertainment Editor, CNN-IBN

Aug 21, 2012 | Closed

Ek Tha Tiger: the making of a blockbuster, the whys and the hows

Chat with Rajeev Masand at 4 pm today.

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Ek tha tiger is another example of Lack of stars in bollywood and same old script of India and pakistan doing the job for the movie, this time there were not even great music so all in all medicority gaining success Asked by: Hitesh
The music was indeed weak, but I still feel the film wasn't entirely terrible. Nevertheless I wish it was a better film with a more solid plot and more engaging performances.
Is 100 crore club is criteria for an ideal film. Should this kind of club should created by media. Asked by: anu
It is sad that that seems to have become the only yardstick to measure a successful film. Not all good films make money.
I think they make these huge nos through Satellight rights and Overseas markets. A hindi movie in my place cost 200 Kr , ie 1400 Rs. Asked by: Renjith
That is true. Some of those numbers are arrived at after adding on the revenues earned from such anxillary streams.
In continuation to my previous question about the numbers being inflated, I would also like to point out that, most of these movies are screened in Multiplexes, where the ticket price hits the roof on Weekends and Holidays..So comparing apple to apple, the number of people who actually see the movie Ek tha Tiger, would be far lesser than those who have seen a Sholay or a DDLJ..It is just freaking manipulation of numbers and nothing else.. Asked by: Karthik
That is true. But you cannot apply that logic anymore. Those times of golden jubilees and silver jubilees is over. Today it's all about releasing maximum prints, making as much money as you can in the first weekend.
Do you think re-making movies is good for indian cinema? Asked by: madhav
I think the only reason to remake a movie is if you think you can improve on the last version. By that logic one should remake only the bad films or the flop films. Why remake the good ones?
what elements are take into account when ratings are given to a movie?? like(3/5 and so on) Asked by: madhav
Does the film engage me? Is it successful in its intention?
Hi masand y do u nt pasand salman khan's ETT any specific reson????? Asked by: Mikki
I thought it was at best an average film. It had a plot albeit a weak one.
one more thing I would like to know. In your view wat these 5 stars stands for. n if your review any of the film. wat are the things you keep in mind while giving stars. Asked by: anu
I only judge the movie on the basis of how much they are able to engage me. Does the film succeed in its intention to make me laugh (in the case of a comedy), cry (in the case of a tragedy), thrill me (in the case of action / horror or thrillers)? Those are the parameters I judge films by.
Hi Sir, What do u think about Katrina's acting and Hindi? Asked by: Fahadkak
I think she has improved considerably since her initial films.
I have seen ETT and was totally disppointed of Kabir Khan...now he also is in the path of making commercial masala movie...is the only to sustain in Bollywood is to make Masala films, rather than quality films? Asked by: Praveen
Kabir Khan is not a mindless filmmaker. But when you're working with a popular star like Salman Khan, I suppose it's important to cater to his core audience too.
Hi Rajeev, Multiplexes in Bangalore were not full even over the weekends. But, media says biggest hit ever, why this fake publicity? Asked by: Sunita Gedam.
Multiplexes cannot be full if they're playing 40 shows per day. The idea is to carpetbomb with so many shows that a person has no choice but to watch ETT in the first week/weekend itself. The idea is to make all their money (of the biggest chunk of it) in the first week itself.
Hi Rajeev, nowdays people watch movie for actor or the contents of the movie. What is your opinion? Asked by: Shivaji Nalawade
The fans go in to watch their favourite stars. Others seek to be engaged from the films they watch.
If Salman continue doing mindless movies, do you think public will accept him after 2/3 years? Asked by: Nabarun
If his fans' tastes change, they might be tired of watching him do the same thing over and over again, but I think he's smarter than that. I think he will look to do different kinds of movies.
Whats up with Saif Ali Khan and Salman Khan taking their begums a dozen Middle eastern countries just like Travel Agent Vinod? Is this also a trend or any special reasons? Asked by: Aravind
I think the spy genre in Bollywood borrows heavily from the Bond formula which is a country-hopping formula.
Do u think Salman iz d now d king or tiger of bollywood,the way he recieves support from auidence made him no.1 bollywood actor Asked by: Aajaz Dar
Yes he has a very loyal fan base. But we've seen Govinda and Akshay go through a similar arc previously.
Thanks a lot Rajeev for going through terrible movies just because that we dont have to undergo the same:-)which movie in your carrer made you scratch your head with its boredom,stupidness and son on, m very eager to know your answer Asked by: vinayak
So many films I can think of... All the films I've given 0 to 2 stars were hard to sit through.
Do you think critics can turn a mediocre movie into a big hit and vice versa. Asked by: Nabarun
I think critics can draw attention to good films, but if a viewer isnt enticed to go in, nothing can make a small film into a big hit.
In present time. Is there any need for film critic. The film like Ek tha tiger or salman khan's film are must seen by their fans. then wat is the need of critic to give stars Asked by: anu
It's true that perhaps critics have become redundant in the case of critic-proof films like ETT and Rowdy Rathore and Bol Bachchan. But I think critics continue to play a very important role in drawing attention to smaller gems - films that don't have big marketing budgets. Films like Udaan, Dev D, Paan Singh Tomar which audiences might not have gone in to see if they hadn't got those rave reviews from critics.
Best and Worst three Hindi films of the year ? Asked by: Pushkar
Best - Kahaani, Paan Singh Tomar, GOW Part 1 - not necessarily in that order. Worst - Chaar Din Ki Chandni, Jism, and Rowdy Rathore. Personal choices all.
ETT is not a better film than 3 Idiots, definately, so do you feel people will go for repeat shows? Asked by: akshay
It's definitely not as good a film as 3I. People are clearly going for repeat shows if the numbers are so big.
Do you think RGV's Aag would have beene a blockbuster if Salman was there? Asked by: Nabarun
Ha ha ha.... No i don't think so. London Dreams, Veer and Yuvvraaj released only a few years ago. All were complete duds. Salman was in all of them.
To which category of star will u classify Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar? Is it true NOW that the critics are scared to penned down Salman Khan's some of the crapiest movies coz they know no matter what review they give, the movie will be a BLOCKBUSTER? So what is the role of a critics in such scenario? And also, What is the reason for Katrina Kaif doing so well in Bollywood even though she has ZERO acting talents? Asked by: Suman Sangma, New Delhi
A star's popularity among his fans has nothing to do with his acting talent necessarily. I don't think Salman or Akshay are untalented, it's just that they seem to be doing only the kind of films that their hardcore fanbase seems to enjoy - mindless films with no plot. It is a critic's job - no matter how popular the star may be - to point out that the star has not performed in the film or that the film has no story. Those films may still make lots of money, but a critical review has nothing to do with box-office. I don't think Katrina has Zero acting talents. Look how much she has grown since her first film. You can't expect her to overnight turn into Madhuri Dixit. But she has grown, and she is working hard and she is ambitious. She seems to want to overcome her handicaps and I think good filmmakers notice that.
The Script of movies are Really going down each day. How long would be movies able to collect audience just by its STAR cast? Asked by: Biswajit Das
Till as long as fans will rush into cinemas first day first show, first weekend, unmindful of the reviews. Till the audience itself becomes more quality conscious, nothing will change.
Hi, do you at any moment hate your job while you have towatch movies like ETT and jism beacuse you have to review them, I felt like i was undergoing a terrible punishment while watching Love story 2050,which is the one film that made you feel so? Asked by: vinayak
It's not easy or pleasing to watch bad films week after week. To be fair I didn't think ETT was terrible. I was bored by Ready and Bodyguard completely, but ETT had a plot (a weak one) and had some semblance of a narrative. But to answer your question - yes! It's hard to sit through bad films repeatedly. But I watch those films so you don't have to :-)
Many people asked why Udaan and Kalam hasnt collected money and ETT. Rajeev the best answer will be : Have you saw these movies , People has the right to reject and accept.They must be blamed for this Asked by: Renjith
Indeed. If people don't go in to watch those films, how will they make money?
Films like Ek tha tiger will always be successful as long as there is lack of quality in Indian films as film has gained success because of marketing and starcast and has nothing to do with great script and it has same old dialogues which bollywood is known for Asked by: Rij
It's true. A film's opening day or opening weekend collections have NOTHING to do with the film's quality. It is only because of the star's popularity and the strength and impact of its marketing. But you cannot ignore the numbers that Ready, Bodyguard, Dabangg or even Ek Tha Tiger have done. That isn't just a first-weekend craze. That is the unconditional loyalty of his fans who have gone in droves to watch the film, then probably returned the next weekend to watch it again!
Do you think this movie will be talked about even after a month or so or it will be forgotten like bodyguard, ready, dabangg etc as initial hype is likely to fade after a while Asked by: Manav
I dont think it will be forgotten. Salman Khan has unconditional loyalty of his fans and this film has made so much money, it's unlikely the industry will stop talking about it so soon :-)
Have we Indians lost the taste for a good movie? How can movie like ETT rake in crores while movies like I am Kalaam and Udaan see empty theaters? Asked by: Prakash Sawant
Well unfortunately ours is a star-driven industry. It's true all over the world. I Am Kalaam and Udaan can never make the same money as Ek Tha Tiger. But slowly they're being noticed and making a mark and even a dent at the box-office. It's a slow but sure journey. Hopefully the audience will also tire of mindless films. Until they don't, this trend will continue.
Is the 100 cr is just a hype or for real.. Cause the film had really bad WOM , so is 100 is to boost the ppl Asked by: Renjith
The numbers may be slightly inflated but they are very big numbers. 100 crores is a benchmark they will SURELY cross if they havent already.
Hi Rajeev, I have been following you since 2005 and and i observe that you are not a great fan salman khan and his movies, and i feel you admire Hrithik and Ranbir,is my observation true Asked by: vinayak
I enjoyed Salman tremendously in films like Maine Pyar Kiya, Andaz Apna Apna, Hum Aapke Hain Koun, Khamoshi, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Judwaa and many other films. I'm not a big fan of comedies that take pride in describing themselves as mindless and plot-less. I dont like to leave my brains behind at home. Perhaps as a result of that I havent enjoyed films like Ready and Bodyguard. I do find that Hrithik and Ranbir tend to pay greater attention to the quality of the films they pick. But I didn't think Hrithik was good in Guzaarish, and I thought Ranbir was embarrassing in Anjaana Anjaani. I have no unconditional loyalty to anyone.
Why does media pay too much of importance to initial ticket sales of opening days as they are always going to be good because of marketing and actor's hype instead of that focus should be on durability of movie as was with sholay and old movies which are talked even today while ready and bodyguard have been forgotten Asked by: Manush
Reporting of opening day and opening weekend collections is a trend/habit we have borrowed from Hollywood. It is a very NOW trend. 25 years later we don't remember films because they made lots of money, we remember the films that have remained evergreen and continue to engage.
What did you think of the performances of the supporting cast of ETT ? Ranvir Shorey, Girish Karnad, Roshan Seth etc ? Asked by: Pushkar
I thought Ranvir Shorey was very good, he usually is. Girish Karnad had very little to do. Roshan Seth also had a few fun moments. They're all great actors, but the focus was clearly not on them and they had very little to do.
Is money the only criterion to judge a film. That is what it seems today. For eg: D.W.Griffith's Intolerance hardly made money during its time, but is considered an all time best. Same with Frank Capra's James Stewart starrer It is a wonderful life. What do you think Asked by: Narayan
No money is not the only criteria to judge a film. In fact if you think of the greatest movies ever made - Mother India, Mughal e Azam, Pyaasa, Sholay, Lagaan - do you remember how much money those films made? No. You remember them because they're evergreen films that have stood the test of time. We talk about box-office numbers NOW because some of these films are breaking records. We'll remember them and talk about them 25 years later only if they stand the test of time and if they prove to be great films that continue to engage and entertain generations of cinephiles.
why do dey make such a crap movie?? Asked by: Pankaj
Crap is such a subjective opinion. What you and I may regard as crap, others might regard as entertainment. I wasn't a big fan of Ek Tha Tiger, but clearly there is a big audience out there who embraces Salman Khan in his movies.
Hi Rajeev, where do we see the hindi film industry in near future, beacuse now a days making a movie means raking in a star and celebrate his stardom? Asked by: vinayak
While it is true that big star driven films will always find an audience (although it is important to remember that when big star-driven films flop, their failure is just as big), it is also true that smaller films with smart filmmakers taking the path less traveled are also doing well. I'm guessing the novelty and the vibrancy of Hindi cinema comes from the fact that both kinds of cinema can co-exist at the same time. I think we will see more of that in the future.
Is there any Indian, not just Bollywood star, who can be compared to the stardom of Salman ? Asked by: Pushkar
Let's not forget that Rajnikant's films do very big box office not just in India but in some overseas territories like Japan as well. Salman is enjoying a very successful, unprecedented run but he's also had downers not so long ago - Veer, London Dreams, Yuvraaj. I think in films like Wanted, Dabangg, Ready and Bodyguard particularly he has discovered what the audience wants to see him do.
How can one validate these crazy numbers? Are these numbers a ploy to boost the ticket sales? I cannot fathom movies like Rowdy Rathore, Ready, Wanted, Dabangg, Bodyguard, Ek tha Tiger can rake in so much moolah.. Asked by: Karthik
The numbers may be only slightly inflated, but they are big numbers. Clearly there is a sizeable audiences for each of these films. They've been embraced generously.