MUNNABHAI CHALE AMERIKA On hold

There’s a twist in the tale!

The third installment in the MUNNABHAI series, MUNNABHAI CHALE AMERIKA, has been put on hold for some time. Please don’t press the panic button since the film isn’t shelved. The project is very much on. It’s just that Rajkumar Hirani has decided to make a non-Munnabhai film before he begins MUNNABHAI CHALE AMERIKA.

Hirani is forthcoming when asked about the status of MUNNABHAI CHALE AMERIKA. “I haven’t completed scripting MUNNABHAI CHALE AMERIKA yet. In the meantime, the second script [non-Munnabhai] got over first. So I said, chalo yeh film bana lete hain,” he states.

Hirani rubbishes rumors that MUNNABHAI CHALE AMERIKA has been put on the back burner. “We need to get the script right. There are humungous expectations from the third installment, so we can’t take chances,” he states.

What’s the non-Munnabhai film all about? “It’s a satire on the education system. The casting? We haven’t finalized anyone yet. But we hope to start filming this year, so the casting should happen soon,” Hirani divulges.

Ninad Kamat - a regular with Sanjay Dutt?

Popular TV actor Ninad Kamat who is getting recognition in films too with good character artist's roles seems to be becoming a regular in films starring Sanjay Dutt! Or one look at it the other way round and say that most of the films in which he has featured star Sanjay Dutt in the lead.

Picture this! He worked with 'Sangharsh' and 'Zeher' in the past before he appeared in 3 back to back films that had Sanjay Dutt starring in them. They were 'Parineeta', 'Dus' and 'Viruddh'. And now he was roped in for a one scene role in 'Lage Raho Munnabhai' where he plays a cocky lawyer who gives false hopes to the senior citizens with a promise to get their bungalow back! How Munnabhai pushes him to a corner with his 'vinmarta' and makes the scene grow from strength to strength is already a talk of the town!

Ninad's next release would be 'Shiva' where he plays an interesting character by the name of Bollywood! In fact he has also sung the controversial song 'Chor Police' where he matches dance steps with Nisha Kothari.

Source: Indiaglitz

Munna’s Gandhigiri Rocks

‘Lage Raho Munnabhai’ has finally won the battle with the multiplexes. And the Gandhian principle of ‘Satyagrah’ that they’ve exemplified in their brilliantly soothing film has been practiced by them in real life too. It was great to see big multiplexes showing ‘LRMB’ in huge numbers. In fact, Fame Multiplexes (owned by Shringar Films, the Distributor of the film) are showing a whopping 15 shows daily (‘Fanaa’ showed twelve per day).

A day after…The media has given a Thumbs Up to Munnabhai’s tryst with ‘Gandhigiri’. The reviews both in print as well as visual medium have been spectacular. Everyone has loved the film and recommended it in glowing terms (IndiaGlitz review ‘Bole Toh Jhakaas’ gave it a four stars….And our readers are agreeing with it hundred percent). In fact, Star News went so far as saying that ‘Lage Raho Munnabhai’ is the best film of the year so far. Now, that’s debatable. But, ‘LRMB’ is an unusual mix of Entertainment-at its best and simple moral values that can make life that much more bearable. I don’t have any doubt that ‘LRMB’ will be having a rocking time at the Ticket Window. ‘Lage Raho Munnabhai….’

Source: IndiaGlitz

Lage Raho Munnabhai: Review

Munna and Circuit are back! The lovable goons embark on their new adventure with LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI. The first part [MUNNABHAI M.B.B.S.] was a mesmeric experience and it's indeed a tough task to come up with a worthy sequel/follow-up. Will LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI meet the monumental expectations? Will Munna and Circuit's escapades and antics in LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI supersede the adventures and frolics in MUNNABHAI M.B.B.S.?

Producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra and director Rajkumar Hirani have a tough job on hand and a major responsibility on shoulders. But there's good news… Like its predecessor, LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI is a sparkling example of qualitative cinema. LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI not only entertains, it also enlightens. LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI is forward-thinking, but also makes you recall your roots. It promises lots of laughs and also a heartwarming message.

Director Rajkumar Hirani strikes a fine balance between humor and emotions. The comic portions are executed with panache, the drama is attention-grabbing and the emotional quotient is strong enough to turn you moist-eyed. The marriage of humor and emotions as also technique and content is what drives LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI to the winning post.

There are movies aplenty, but very few remain etched in your memory and possess recall value. LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI is one of those films. Indisputably and undeniably, this Munna-Circuit outing is worth the price of the ticket and more.

All you want to tell Chopra and Hirani is, Lage raho with the Munna-Circuit series!

Munna [Sanjay Dutt] is in love with the voice of popular Radio Jockey Jhanvi [Vidya Balan]. Her effervescent greeting of 'Good Morrrrning Mumbai' on her daily radio show makes Munna's heart skip a beat each time he listens to her.

Life is beautiful for Munna. His 'dadagiri' business is flourishing and he listens besottedly to the radio for hours every day, he dreams of marrying Jhanvi. There is just one minor problem: Jhanvi thinks Munna is a 'Professor of History'.

And in all her innocence, Jhanvi even invites Munna to give a history lecture to her family. Poor Munna! What should he do?

As Munna tries to sort out this minor entanglement in his otherwise perfect life, Circuit [Arshad Warsi] comes up with a bright solution. And then, the most unusual thing occurs in Munna's life. He comes face to face with Mahatma Gandhi.

LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI is one of the best-constructed, funniest and most clever comedies to grace motion picture screens in recent years. It's pretty evident that Hirani and his team of writers [screenplay-dialogues: Hirani and Abhijat Joshi, screenplay associate: Vidhu Vinod Chopra] have invested ample time on this script. LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI doesn't bear any similarity to any released film [Hindi or Hollywood] and that's such a welcome relief. In fact, the USP of the film are portions between Mahatma Gandhi and Munna, which is a brilliant stroke from the writing as well as execution point of view.

But there are minor aberrations in this otherwise smooth journey. Munna's transition to a radio jockey and playing the role of a counselor seems a little far-fetched. However, one must add that despite this oddity, the sequences between Sanju and Jimmy-Parikshit Sahni and also with Dia Mirza subsequently keep you glued to the screen, not as much for the writing, but due to Hirani's master execution.

Similarly, the focus in the post-interval portions suddenly shifts to the love story between Munna and Jhanvi and you sorely miss the maddening conversation between Munna and Circuit. Again, the romantic portions are well executed, so you don't really mind this glitch.

Hirani's command over humor, drama and emotions is exemplary. Note the sequence when Munna slaps Circuit and tenders an apology after Mahatma Gandhi tells him to; it brings tears to your eyes instantly. The sequences between Munna and Circuit are, of course, the mainstay of the enterprise. Some of the sequences -- Munna readying to participate in the radio-quiz, Munna-Jhanvi's meet in the college campus or Munna-Circuit landing up behind bars -- are hilarious. Moreover, the entire track between the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi and Munna is exceptional. To his credit, Hirani treats the second installment of the Munnabhai series with as much flourish as he treated the first.

Shantanu Moitra's music is soothing. 'Samjho Ho Hi Gaya' and 'Bole To Bole Kaisi Hogi Hai… Lage Raho Munna Bhai' are the best tracks, but what elevates the tunes is their picturization. Both the numbers are full of vibrant colors and imaginatively filmed. 'Pal Pal Har Pal' also comes at the right place and even its filming is eye-catching. Cinematography [Muraleedharan C.K.] is first-rate. Dialogues are wonderful and those between Munna-Circuit abound in wit and hilarity.

The characters populating LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI are strongly written and effectively portrayed. Sanjay Dutt lives the character of Munna. He gets the best of lines and delivers them with relish. His is a wonderful, larger-than-life performance and he knows just how to present Munna best. Watching Sanju's tour de force is one of LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI's chief pleasures.

Arshad Warsi is superb. There are very few actors who have an unmatched timing for comic scenes and Arshad ranks prominently in the list. Even a smirk or an exclamation makes you flex your facial muscles. There's no denying that Arshad matches up to Sanju at every level, in every sequence.

Boman Irani proves yet again that he's an actor with an infinite range. He's at crossroads with Munna in the second installment as well; this time he plays the conniving person who wants to usurp a mansion. He's excellent.

Vidya Balan is only getting better with every release. If she was confident in her debut film PARINEETA, she acts like a complete pro in her second outing. Also, she looks extremely photogenic in a glam role. Jimmy Shergill has a brief part and he does it well. Ditto for Dia Mirza; she's perfect. Abhishek Bachchan, in a cameo, adds to the star quotient.

Dilip Prabhavalkar [in the role of Mahatma Gandhi] is up to the mark. However, the makeup could've been better. The six senior citizens are lovable, especially the actor enacting the role of a Parsi gentleman. Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Parikshit Sahni and Saurabh Shukla are appropriate.

On the whole, LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI is a sparkling follow up to MUNNABHAI M.B.B.S. Its strength lies not just in Munna and Circuit's chemistry, but also reliving the teachings of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi. Qualitatively, it's a worthy sequel and not to be missed and even at the box-office, LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI will march towards the winning post in the next few days.

Source: IndiaFM

MUNNABHAI comes at a price- Vinod Chopra

Sanjay Dutt just can't get enough of LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI, the new chapter in Munnabhai's life. He has already seen the film more than 15 times and still is asking for more trials for his near and dear ones to watch. Besides Sanjay Dutt, the audiences are also keenly awaiting the release of this comic caper. But Vinod Chopra's LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI may probably have to forego a multiplex release if exhibitors refuse to work out a settlement with Chopra on the terms of the film's release. Chopra is said to be demanding the same terms from muliplexes, which includes a larger cut in profit shares that was earlier offered to Yash Chopra for his FANAA. It may be recalled that there was a four-day deadlock between multiplex owners and Yash Raj Films, with Yash Raj demanding a heft share in the profit-sharing ratio of multiplexes. The issue was resolved then with three multiplexes bowing down to pressure and agreeing to release the film. However multiplex owners are in no mood to compromise the second time, though none of them came forward to comment on the issue.

Meanwhile single screen owners who opened the advance booking for the film described it as average. According to Ramesh Sippy, the advance booking was not extraordinary but Sippy added that it could not be considered as the likely parameter for the opening response to the film. "An average advance booking does not necessarily indicate that the film will open to a lukewarm response. Likewise a great advance booking is no criteria for a film's success. Look at KANK, which got a terrific advance but later slumped at the box-office," Sippy points out.

However the distributors of MUNNABHAI are all charged up about the film's release, after they saw it last week. Chopra is said to have specially organized a sleek preview of the film for select distributors and exhibitors last week. According to veteran Nizam distributor and exhibitors, Ravi Macchar, who was present among the select gathering of distributors, they entered the auditorium with the intention of watching MUNNABHAI-2 but were in for a pleasant surprise. "The distributors present unanimously felt that they had never seen a more entertaining film in recent times. Moreover, it is so perfectly written and directed that it is difficult to find flaws in it. In fact when we finished seeing the first half we kept our fingers crossed whether the second half would confirm to expectations but it turned out to be equally good. It is a nationalistic film with a purpose targeted at every segment of the audience," Macchar points out.

Source: Glamsham

Lage Raho Sanju Baba

Sanjay Dutt just can’t get enough of LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI, the new chapter in Munnabhai’s life. He has already watched the film more than fifteen times and is asking for more preview screenings for his near and dear ones.

Meanwhile, the advance bookings have been phenomenal and cinema halls have been inundated with mounting enquiries for block bookings for the film.
Source: IndiaFM

'Lage Raho Munna Bhai' - comedy with a social message

The wait is over. The lovable duo of Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi are back this Friday with the comic caper "Lage Raho Munna Bhai", a sequel to their 2004 superhit "Munnabhai M.B.B.S.".

If "Munnabhai M.B.B.S." saw Munna creating an upheaval in a medical institution, part two will see him running around a radio station because this time he falls in love with a radio jockey played by Vidya Balan.

Director Rajkumar Hirani moves into the realm of the philosophical as well. Through the film, Hirani makes an attempt to prove that Gandhian philosophy continues to be relevant today.

The story goes something like this:

Munna (Sanjay Dutt) is a tough goon with a heart of gold. He confronts every situation with his unique streetwise attitude and humour. But even Munna's successful 'dadagiri' methods are tested when love takes him for an unexpected historical tour.

Munna falls in love with the voice of popular radio jockey Jhanvi. Her effervescent "Good Morrrrning Mumbai" makes Munna's heart skip many beats. While listening to her shows, he dreams of marrying her.

Jhanvi is also bowled over by Munna's rustic charm. The only problem in this perfect love story is that Jahnvi mistakes Munna for a professor of history and invites him to give a lecture on history to her family. And that is where all the trouble starts.

Munna doesn't know how to sort out this entanglement. His trusted buddy Circuit (Arshad Warsi) comes up with a bright solution. And then, the most unusual thing occurs in Munna's life - he encounters a figure from history.

What happens when the present meets the past?

There is another problem in Munna's life and his name is Lucky Singh (Boman Irani), a contractor hankering after money. But Lucky Singh's daughter, Simran (Dia Mirza) challenges traditional ideas with her independent views and shows her father that there is more to life than money.

Produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, the film is expected to have a bumper opening.

Source: IANS

Will 'Lage Raho Munnabhai' live-up to the hype?

The wait is finally over. The good-hearted goon -- Munnabhai, who made us guffaw as well as ponder over ills ailing the practice of medicine -- returns to the marquees Sep 1.

The first part, 'Munnabhai M.B.B.S', was released with no fanfare whatsoever in the winter of 2003. But it had gone on to become the sleeper blockbuster of the year in addition to setting higher standards for Indian cinema to follow. In fact, 'Munnabhai M.B.B.S' has the unique distinction of being made into a Hollywood film by 20th Century Fox.

Actor Sanjay Dutt as Murli Prasad Sharma aka Munnabhai or Munna supported by Arshad Warsi as the inimitable Circuit will be seen again in 'Lage Raho Munna Bhai', a movie that is expected to witness a bumper opening.

The much-awaited new chapter in life of the much-loved Munna is attracting mounting enquiries for block bookings weeks before cinema halls open the window for advance booking.

News reports say the Fame multiplex in Andheri, Mumbai, has already got the first 13 shows houseful on account of bookings through Internet and Short Message Services (SMS).

Expectations from the film by the writer-producer-director team of Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Rajkumar Hirani are sky-high to say the least, according to all trade indicators.

In the sequel, Munna, who confronts every situation with his unique street-wise attitude and humour, goes on an unexpected historical tour that brings him face-to-face with teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.

Much like this year's blockbuster -- 'Rang De Basanti' -- the filmmakers are apparently trying to establish that the Father of the Nation and his ideals continue to have relevance in today's time.

Once again Arshad is Munna's trusted handyman who fixes everything for him, including his love life.

Among the changes, Boman Irani, who had entertained all as Dr. J. Asthana in the original, returns in a new avatar in part two. Ditto for Jimmy Shergill.

And Vidya Balan replaces Gracy Singh, who was Munna's love interest in the original. Dia Mirza is the other new addition and Abhishek Bachchan is rumoured to have put in a special appearance as her screen husband.

In take two Munna falls in love with the voice of popular Radio Jockey Jhanvi, played by Vidya. Complications arise when Jhanvi mistakes our good-hearted goon for a professor of history and forces him to give a lecture to her family.

As Munna tries to sort out this 'minor' entanglement in his otherwise perfect life, Circuit comes up with a bright solution. And then, the most unusual thing occurs in Munna's life including an interface with Gandhi.

Shantanu Moitra's score for 'Lage Raho Munna Bhai' is nothing to write home about. But it is very likely it picks up once its situation or scenario is more obvious, once the film hits the theatre.

Unlike the original in which the novel characterisations were the best part of the film, the sequel has to deal with the fact that it has little surprises to offer.

Meeting expectations from the film to entertain as much as the original including delivering a social message will be doubly difficult for the film. Here is the hope Munna gets it right second time around, especially, because talks are already underway for part three.

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Vidya Balan is being touted as the big surprise package in 'Lage Raho Munna Bhai'. The newcomer, who made quite an impression in her debut Hindi film 'Parineeta', essays the role of a Radio Jockey - Jhanvi - in the sequel to 'Munnabhai M.B.B.S'.

'The film is not just a comedy. It's about life. It's about a subject that everybody will connect to. There is a lot of substance,' Vidya was quoted as saying about the much-awaited comic caper.

A lot of energy flows through the film and that, she says, is because of the 'energetic character of Raju Hirani'.

'Jahnvi is today's girl and the clothes complement my looks,' said Vidya.

Having won almost all the best debutant awards for 'Parineeta', Vidya's kitty is full. She has Vidhu Vinod Chopra's 'Eklavya', Nikhil Advani's 'Salaam-e-Ishq', Rajkumar Santoshi's 'Halla Bol' and Mani Ratnam's 'Guru' in hand.

Bengali cinema where she had made her silver screen debut sure must be missing her.

If 'Lage Raho Munna Bhai' is even half the success that the original was, she will be on her way to clinch an enviable title of being commercially successful and critically acclaimed. Given that female actors have to wait decades before they can even remotely claim to be both, she sure has lady luck on her side.

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Trade reports predict that the average box-office returns for 'Aap Ki Khatir' that released Friday has cleared the path for bumper opening for the next big release. The film starring Akshaye Khanna, Priyanka Chopra and Ameesha Patel is apparently a mish-mash of Hollywood fables.

The film is about a single woman who wants to make her ex-fiance jealous. It definitely draws from 'The Wedding Date' starring Debra Messing, Dermot Mulroney with smatterings from 'My Big Fat Greek Weeding'.

Director Dharmesh Darshan who re-packaged 'Jab Jab Phool Khile' as 'Raja Hindustani', 'Caravan' as 'Mela' and 'Gumraah' as 'Bewafaa' has gone international this time in search of inspiration.

Akshaye, who is perhaps the most underrated actor in the industry, is the best part about the film. Here is man waiting for a role like 'Munnabhai' to finally arrive. But then again, aren't they all!

Souce: IANS

500 ‘Munnabhai and Circuit’ look-alikes coming together

As a part of their annual college fest Tsunami 06, Lala Lajpat Rai College in Mumbai has organized a unique contest. They have a special program in the fest called ‘Look like Munnabhai and Circuit’ contest where students from 8 colleges in the city are invited to participate. Interestingly, the contest will be judged by the director of Munnabhai MBBS, Rajkumar Hirani. Also, actor Boman Irani would be on the panel. According to the event organizers, the students from the participant colleges seemed pretty excited about the contest and therefore, they are expecting not less than 500 participants to turn up.

The kind of excitement among masses for Munnabhai, especially students, is definitely good news for Rajkumar Hirani who is ready to Lage Raho Munnabhai next week. The film will be a second episode of Munnabhai and Circuit’s adventure. It stars Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi, Vidya Balan, Boman Irani, Jimmy Shergill and Dilip Prabhavalkar
Source: IndiaFM