010. My Name is Khan--linking Bollywood and Hollywood?
It's confirmed! My Name is Khan (*ing SRK & Kajol) is releasing on Feb 12, 2010. (Valentine's weekend, how apt.) This is the first time a Bollywood movie is being picked up by an International company for release and marketing. 20th Century Fox, Fox Star, and Fox Searchlight will be releasing the film in the U.S., Canada, Aus, UK, Middle East, India, and eventually will roll out to Europe and other countries.
Now, I can't help but think that this is going to be way past our expectations. This is a big deal! It would be quite a gamble for Fox to watch the film and agree to put a sh*tload of money in to market it, if it wasn't a good film. That's just my take! So I was thinking about this, for what it's really worth and realized that this is probably the first true blue Crossover film. Til now, (to me anyway) a crossover film meant that it was a movie about Indians, usually by an Indian director working with a smaller production company to release the film. Some of these are Bend it Like Beckam, The Namesake, Monsoon Wedding, etc. However, it seems to me that this is the first time a Bollywood film, with a Bollywood director, starring mainstream Bollywood actors, produced by Bollywood production companies is going to be released on an international release in such a large way. Is My Name is Khan the next link between Bollywood and Hollywood? Is that even the point? My opinion, is yes perhaps it is a link, but no, I don't think that's the point. I don't think Karan is doing this to get his foot into the door of Hollywood or to even get Bollywood mingled with Hollywood. I feel he's doing this because it's what he needs, as a filmmaker, for this particular film. It seems that that this film is an international story that needs an international audience, so why not release it on an international platform?
Jitesh Pillai, editor of Filmfare magazine saw the trailer and said that it is amazing and totally unlike Karan Johar territory. He claims it's 'international stuff', Rajeev Masand, a film critic is all praise for the rushes he's seen and the script he read. I know, it's very unsafe to assume that just because these few people who've seen it are all praise, means that it will be that amazing. You can never predict the outcome of a film. But honestly, how can this film NOT be big? Srk and Kajol are reuniting after 8 years, and Karan is finally growing up and away from his typical 'filmi' films. I know i shouldn't have high hopes because there's a risk of being disappointed, but hell, i'll say it--I have very high expectations for this film and I am sure it will cater to my expectations! I don't know if I've ever been able to say that about another film (or have I just never wanted to say it?) Time will tell. Only 3 months to go :)
Now, I can't help but think that this is going to be way past our expectations. This is a big deal! It would be quite a gamble for Fox to watch the film and agree to put a sh*tload of money in to market it, if it wasn't a good film. That's just my take! So I was thinking about this, for what it's really worth and realized that this is probably the first true blue Crossover film. Til now, (to me anyway) a crossover film meant that it was a movie about Indians, usually by an Indian director working with a smaller production company to release the film. Some of these are Bend it Like Beckam, The Namesake, Monsoon Wedding, etc. However, it seems to me that this is the first time a Bollywood film, with a Bollywood director, starring mainstream Bollywood actors, produced by Bollywood production companies is going to be released on an international release in such a large way. Is My Name is Khan the next link between Bollywood and Hollywood? Is that even the point? My opinion, is yes perhaps it is a link, but no, I don't think that's the point. I don't think Karan is doing this to get his foot into the door of Hollywood or to even get Bollywood mingled with Hollywood. I feel he's doing this because it's what he needs, as a filmmaker, for this particular film. It seems that that this film is an international story that needs an international audience, so why not release it on an international platform?
Jitesh Pillai, editor of Filmfare magazine saw the trailer and said that it is amazing and totally unlike Karan Johar territory. He claims it's 'international stuff', Rajeev Masand, a film critic is all praise for the rushes he's seen and the script he read. I know, it's very unsafe to assume that just because these few people who've seen it are all praise, means that it will be that amazing. You can never predict the outcome of a film. But honestly, how can this film NOT be big? Srk and Kajol are reuniting after 8 years, and Karan is finally growing up and away from his typical 'filmi' films. I know i shouldn't have high hopes because there's a risk of being disappointed, but hell, i'll say it--I have very high expectations for this film and I am sure it will cater to my expectations! I don't know if I've ever been able to say that about another film (or have I just never wanted to say it?) Time will tell. Only 3 months to go :)




(Danny Boyle)
(Rubina & Azar)
(Aamir Khan)



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