Fresh plots break ground
BOLLYWOOD had a challenging year in 2017 with many formulaic films not favoured by audiences, but ground-breaking cinema was eagerly accepted.
Bollywood superstars such as Hrithik Roshan, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Salman Khan all had film releases last year.
Not all fared well. Roshan and Shah Rukh, in Kaabil and Raees respectively, were saddled with productions which didn’t deviate much from the norm.
Salman currently rules at the Bollywood box office, not just in India, but worldwide with Tiger Zinda Hai. This suffers from poor writing and illogical sequences. But it makes up for it with loads of thrilling action sequences and magnificent foreign locations.
His earlier release, Tubelight, was a damp squib.
The Big B, Amitabh Bachchan, also came a cropper with Sarkar 3, the third instalment in the series about an underworld family who help disadvantaged communities and individuals.
Films that had a sense of realism about topics relevant in Indian and global society made their mark.
In Mukti Bahwan director Shubhashish Bhutiani uses death to tell a beautiful story about life and relationships. Heralded for showcasing the importance of women’s equality, Lipstick Under My Burkha received critical acclaim and the approval of audiences worldwide.
Akshay Kumar has of late used his star status to back films with an important social message. Toilet – Ek Prem Katha is a satirical comedy that backs the Indian government’s campaign to improve sanitation in rural areas. Kumar gives an excellent performance as a husband fighting for a toilet to be installed in his family home, ably supported by Bhumi Pednekar as his wife who has to hide in the bushes with other female villagers to defecate.
Kumar also produced and starred as the handler of a secret agent in Naam Shabana, a film featuring a wonderful performance by Tapsee Pannu. He was also seen to great effect in Jolly LLB 2, in which he plays a lawyer fighting for the rights of the downtrodden.
Vidya Balan had a mixed reception at the box office with her roles in Begum Jaan and Tumhari Sulu. In the former she plays a madam at a brothel at the time of the India-Pakistan partition. The film didn’t fare well, despite her excellent performance. But the latter sustained a good run at the box office with Balan excelling as an ambitious housewife who becomes a radio DJ offering relationship advice.
Ranbir Kapoor, in Cape Town recently to shoot scenes for the film in which he plays the Bollywood superstar Sanjay Dutt, was fantastic in the title role of Jagga Jasoos.
Another film that tanked at the box office was Rangoon. Vishal Bhardwaj’s love story set in World War II featured stunning locations, an international crew with brilliant production values and beautiful performances. It just didn’t click with audiences.
Other entertaining films included Badrinath Ki Dulhania, Bareilly Ki Barfi, Half Girlfriend, Ok Jaanu and A Gentleman featuring talented actors such as Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt, Ayushmann Khurrana, Arjun Kapoor, Shradda Kapoor, Aditya Roy Kapur and Sidharth Malhotra. But it was the impeccable acting by Rajkummar Rao in films such as Trapped and Newton that gained favour with critics and audiences.
Aamir in Secret Superstar showed how excellent writing, good production values and wonderful acting could result in easily the best Bollywood film of 2017.
Welcome to 2018. Keep in the festive mood and enjoy summer with Cape Town Comedy Club at The Pumphouse,V&A Waterfront.The club opens the New Year with a fantastic programme. A Night Of Headliners – presented by Savanna Premium Cider is on Friday January 19. Four top comedians will perform: Matthew McAloone, Kurt Schoonraad, Brent Palmer and Martin Evans as the MC.Tickets are R190. Rob van Vuuren will be doing the best bits from his extensive repertoire on January 22 and 29 with his show,The Best of Rob van Vuuren.Tickets are R150. Cape Town Comedy Club shows start at 8.30pm.
for a show next week – January 10-14 – show only. Email giveaways@capetowncomedy.com by 6pm tomorrow. SUBJECT LINE:ToTT.
The Maynardville Open-Air Festival starts with vooma on January 18, with Symphonic Shakespeare.This is a brand new addition to the festival which has been re-branded and re-vitalized. For Symphonic Shakespeare, the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra will play orchestral works that underscore Shakespeare plays, passages and characters – such as Tchaikovsky’s stirring composition for Romeo and Juliet.This is a wonderful expansion on the classical theme of Shakespeare. Symphonic Shakespeare is on for three performances only: January 18, 19, and 20 at 8.15pm. Tickets are R150 to R220/www.computicket.com/0861 9158000/Artscape Dial-A-Seat 021 421 7695.
(worth R440 a pair). Email luvuyo@cpo.org.za or call 021 410 9966 today between 9am and 9.15am. SUBJECT LINE:ToTT
David Muller is performing at the Masque from January 17-20 in Oom Schalk, From the Heart. Direction is by Celia Musikanth, the production is part of Muller’s popular showcases in which he relates stories from Herman Charles Bosman stories which focus on his zany and complex central character, Oom Schalk Lourens.Tickets are R100. Bookings at the Masque on 021 788 1898.
Email bookings@masquetheatre. co.za by 6pm Sunday. SUBJECT LINE: ToTT.