Happy New Year Review

Movie Analysis

Fantastically succeeding on the level to entertain the masses worldwide with a rousing grand Diwali spectacle, global super star Shah Rukh Khan’s 11th Diwali release ‘Happy New Year’ is a crowd pleasing dazzler designed to make the fans and the gallery happy and dance to its tune.

The cynics however will be kept busy on finding the logics behind this grand heist and while they do so Farah Khan makes the audience stand with the ‘Indiawaale’ for its considerable ‘patriotic’ appeal to give moments of joy, happiness, dance, romance, laughter, brotherhood, heroisms, patriotisms in this flashy Diwali sizzle.

As ordered by Farah Khan ‘Happy New Year’ (SRK and Farah Khan third outing after ‘Om Shanti Om) is high on EQ (entertainment quotient) and low on IQ. The writers Farah Khan, Althea Kaushal and Mayank Puri do miss the ‘vow’ factor seen in ‘OSO’ but add enough spice to make the movie rise to its crowd pleasing sentiments in this tale of a grand diamond heist in Dubai during a world dance competition masterminded by a freshly developed new chiseled Shah Rukh Khan with a golden highlight.

Charlie’s weird team consist of a bar dancer Mohini (Deepika Padukone), a bewda Nandu Bhide (Abhishek Bachchan), an ex army man with problems in his ear Jagmohan (Sonu Sood) - funny six pack abs take on Sunny Deol, a cool Parsi key cracker Temhton Irani (Boman Irani) who goes into fits for 30 seconds and returns back without any problems. A hacker Rohan Singh (Vivaan Shah) all get together after good jokes, bad jokes, gay jokes (going a bit far) to rob Shalimar owned by Diamond King Charan Grover (Jackie Shroff). Why he is doing it is explained in due course. Divulging details might work as spoilers.

The writers as seen in a Farah Khan previous entertainer dribble with the ploys seen and available in a B-town script but this time couple of unnecessary use of foul language and stubborn shallowness in the story in this Diwali eye candy is a bit put off for some traditional audience.

Rest is fine as the audience won’t mind and as a solid b-town masala entertainer and a Farah Khan film the best is reserved at the end. Farah Khan keeps it simple and continues the momentum with continue moments of fun setting the scene right for its final crescendo making the audience stand up for ‘ Indiawaale’ as the emotion current and ‘desh bahkti’  start running high.

Yes of course the end credit is again a delight with the masterstroke of SRK and the so very cute little Abram coming on screen together making the smile on the face of the audience remain intact till they reach their homes.

Having production values to the highest standards ‘Happy New Year’ is exceptionally shot by Manush Nandan camera. Crisply edited by Anad Subaya and Tushar Parekh. Fabulous Shashank Tere’s production designing gives the film its required grand opulence. Baylon Fonseca’’s action is fitting.

An SRK potential blockbuster without a current chartbuster is impossible to imagine and also Vishal & Shekhar had already made the world groom to Happy New Year’ hit tunes.

Indiawaale featuring the entire star cast is well picturised and comes at the right time. Lovely Ho Gayi featuring Deepika Padokone looks fantastic on screen. Manva Lage is the most soothing from the lot.

Shah Rukh Khan as Charlie is completely charming looking cool and dapper the global superstar pleases his fans and audience alike. SRK rules right from the word go right from the raw gritty action packed entry to the emotionally charged climax King Khan Shah Rukh Khan engages the audience by his endearing performance. don’t miss the entry.

Deepika Padukone is a sheer delight to watch. Pairing with SRK for the third time after Chennai Express they both seem to share B-town’s most crackling chemistry. First it was SRK and Kajol now its SRK and Deepika. Watch the scene when she does the famous ‘Chak De’ take.

Abhishek Bachchan is extremely entertaining and gets a meaty role. Playing perfectly to the gallery Abhishek bewda act as Nandu Bhide will be loved by the audience.

Boman Irani is fantastic as the cool aged Parsi. Sheer delight.

Sonu Sood gives an enjoyable performance and spins a surprise.

Vivaan Shah is niece. Jackie Shroff is menacing. Anupam Kher is competent.

Small cameos by Dino Morea, Prabhu Deva, Sarah-Jane Dias, Malaika Arora Khan, Anurag Kashyap, Vishal Dadlani, Sajid Khan are entertaining.

Business Analysis

Made at an estimated budget of 150 crore Red Chilies Entertainment ‘Happy New Year’ is already in a win win situation. Already sitting happy with a 202 crore booty to its kitty - 125 crore from Yash Raj for the worldwide distribution rights (MG), 65 crore from Zee Network for the Satellite rights and 12 crore from T-Series the music rights.

'Happy New Year' is hitting the screens in record 6000 screens worldwide (5000 in India in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu) this nonstop entertainer is destined for an earth shattering grand mega opening - anything between 30-35 crore is a possibility.

The three day festive weekend in many parts of India on occasion of New Year and Bhai Duj in many parts of India and of course the presence of global superstar Shah Rukh Khan in his 11th Diwali offering will make the box office stare for a record weekend.

The entertaining content plus the added star value of Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Sonu Sood and Farah Khan entertainer with SRK having hit music and positive word of mouth will attract more and more legs to the theatre.

Certain to reach the 200 crore mark in India the overseas collections will be mind-blowing considering the fact that SRK is the most favorite choice in Bollywood’s overseas market ‘Happy New Year’ is certain for a grand heist worldwide. A guaranteed Blockbuster.

Rating ****

For being a complete palatable entertainment to the core

Powered by India’s global superstar SRK

Hit music

And

Patriotism