Tuesday, August 19, 2014

SRK’s Happy New Year: The Inside Story

If you thought that director Farah Khan'sHappy New Year will be just another big-budget time pass movie-watching experience, you've got it dead wrong. Here is the real story. 

For one, Farah in her efforts to create the perfect masala mix has borrowed liberally from each and every director right from Sanjay Bhansali to Prabhu Dheva. But her chief inspiration is Steven Soderbergh's Ocean's Trilogy, although Farah has insisted that "she has lifted but not in the Hitch-Partner sort of way." The director's other inspiration is the body of her previous work, Tees Maar Khan included. 

At the end of the trailer, SRK's character Charlie says, "Picture abhi baaki hai mere dost." That is an interesting hint, the fact being that Deepika Padukone who plays a dancer named Mohini (what an imaginative name) will also make a ghost appearance like she did inOm Shanti Om. The story of a heist, her character of a ghost will do all the stealing since the villain who owns the casino cannot see her: or, it. 

Farah is, in fact, the supervisor of the film. Three other participants whose names have been wrapped in secrecy have played majorly significant roles. In spite of being made at a nominal budget of 400 crore, she has hired Rohit Shetty as the Action Director. 

Shetty who was given complete freedom has picturised an action sequence on the peak of Mount Everest between the macho man played by Sonu Sood (Jag in the film) and an extra named Jaidev Kadam who was paid five crore for agreeing to jump off the peak. The scene was canned, and Kadam's wife Anita paid five crore for her late husband's effort. 

Farah's brother Sajid Khan is the Director (Special Effects). He has made two major contributions, the first among them focusing on Abhishek Bachchan (Nandu) who does a Helen in a cover version of 'Piya Tu Ab Toh Aa Jaa.' Sonakshi Sinha who does a cameo calls out 'Monica.' 

The second has Charlie making love to Barley (a character who looks like him played by him). Charlie is a man - but of course - but Barley, a girl. This is the first time SRK has played a female character in a film. 

Salman Khan will be seen in an item number. Barley is his dancing partner. Charlie who watches them perform falls in love with Barley then and there. 

HNY doesn't have an entirely happy ending. The heist is successful. But Charlie cannot marry Mohini because he already has two wives: Barley whom he marries after their passionate under-cover romance and Sohini, the ghost who looks exactly like Mohini. 

Farah Khan has asserted herself by ensuring that Vivaan Shah (Rohan) who plays a comp hack is actually seen in the film. 

After Sajid Khan and Rohit Shetty, SRK has been the third major decision maker. Apart from Vivaan, he has divided the screen time among the remaining actors.


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