Anatomy of a First Look

Upcoming Hindi films have already raised curiosity levels to an unprecedented level.

Its the season for trailers. Last week,two trailers or first look as marketing machinery of Bollywood likes to call them now,were unveiled. Aamir Khan launched the first look of his latest production,Delhi Belly while the Akhtar siblings,Zoya and Farhan,presented the trailer of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.

As always,Aamir was quick to define the audience for his film. Delhi Belly,according to him,is not for children but for the youth and those young at heart. Owing to some graphic adult content in the film,he also joked that Delhi Belly has the potential of,in a single stroke,destroying all the goodwill his banner has built in the last ten years. Going by the trailer of Delhi Belly,it seems like a whacked crime-caper comedy. Ram Sampaths Bhaag DK Bose has already become an Internet sensation. Trust Aamir Khan and his creative team to come up with this super brainwave. The song cleverly slips in a North Indian expletive in the lyrics while keeping it oh-so-real.

Didnt get it? Ah well,okay,try saying DK Bose,DK Bose,DK Bose and see what you get. Quite a trip,isnt it? Well,the song has raised expectations from the film. Itll be interesting to see Imran Khan break out of his boy-next-door romcom groove. Im waiting.

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As for Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara,with a lineup comprising Hrithik Roshan,Abhay Deol,Farhan Akhar,Katrina Kaif and Kalki Koechlin,the expectations are nothing short of epic. Add to this the background of Spain and Zoya behind the camera (her debut Luck By Chance really set her bar high),Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara has must-watch written all over it. Having said all that,the trailer of this much-awaited film underwhelmed me a little. Maybe my expectations were too high. Im going to be patient and wait for Excel Entertainment to tell us something more about their movie in subsequent promos.

I must share that Zoya had warned me in advance: This film is totally different from Luck By Chance,so please see it like that. Im going to go by her words. As of now,my first impression is that it has a The Hangover meets Dil Chahta Hai feel about it. Im all to take a bachelor trip with Hrithik,Abhay and Farhan. Hope Zoya lives up to the promise that she showed in her debut. Well be watching.

Meanwhile,it is also the season for horror. The success of Vikram Bhatts Haunted 3D and Ekta Kapoors Ragini MMS is bound to unleash an assembly line of similar films. The concoction of horror and sex always sells. So we better brace ourselves to be spooked more. The ghosts are coming and very soon,who knows,someone might even script an item song for a ghost. Keep the Hanuman Chalisa in hand,just in case.

Finally,Amole Guptes Stanley Ka Dabba is the film to watch. Its a little gem of a movie with big true-to-life magical moments. Its an expression full of heart. Dont miss it. Amoles son Partho and his entire dabba gang,take a bow.

harneet.singhexpressindia.com