Thanda matlab Jodhaa Akbar

Issue – Quality of promos Is Jodhaa Akbar a love story? Is it a war movie? Is it a period drama? Is it a film on communal integration? The problem here lies with the fact that the film is just not conveying the message around what it really is. As an audience, Read More">one doesn’t haveRead More

Issue - Quality of promos

Is Jodhaa Akbar a love story? Is it a war movie? Is it a period drama? Is it a film on communal integration? The problem here lies with the fact that the film is just not conveying the message around what it really is. As an audience, one doesn't have an idea about what to expect from the film and the quality of promos which have been shown so far hasn't helped the cause either. If the theatrical trailer came for some flak a few months back, the ones which are currently on at satellite channels have only taken the film a few steps behind.

Solution

Abandon the promos cut so far and get the new ones on pronto. Increased focus on the dramatic elements, rather than holier than thou look and feel of Hrithik and Aishwarya, should do wonders. In fact, it's the 'thanda' vibe that one gets from the current crop of promos which is proving to be a big hindrance.

When it comes to great anticipation, immense hype and some positive buzz, Jodhaa Akbar certainly deserved much better. However, as things stand today, Jodhaa Akbar is turning out to be one of the most ‘thanda‘ projects that industry has seen for quite some time. If one looks at the project’s scale, star power, Read More">built upRead More

When it comes to great anticipation, immense hype and some positive buzz, Jodhaa Akbar certainly deserved much better. However, as things stand today, Jodhaa Akbar is turning out to be one of the most 'thanda' projects that industry has seen for quite some time.

If one looks at the project's scale, star power, built up during last two years, credentials involved and last but certainly quite important - money spent, this Ashutosh Gowarikar film should have created immense hysteria by now. So, what is it that is missing which is stopping Jodhaa Akbar from creating hype a la an Om Shanti Om or a Dhoom 2 or a Welcome? Let's try to figure that out!

Issue - Poor publicity

This certainly seems to be the prime most culprit here. For reasons known best to its producers, UTV Motion Pictures, one of the costliest projects ever being churned out of Bollywood is hardly seeing much money being pumped into the film's promotion. On a relative scale, even John Abraham starrer Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal, another UTV film, had much better drive associated with it.

Not only has the promotion been completely lukewarm qualitatively, even quantitatively the film is lacking the kind of zing is deserves. This is why if an average viewer still pops the question - 'When is Jodhaa Akbar' releasing' - it is a scary sign indeed!

Solution

Just get it on; and get it hard! With hardly a week to go for the film's release (on February 15), one fails to understand what is stopping it's makers from bombarding print, satellite and web media with multiple promotional campaigns. A film of this stature should be all over. Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai do make news but even Shah Rukh Khan does so in his own right. But then we all saw how far he went towards making his Om Shanti Om a blockbuster it is today!

Read More">Issue – Boring scoops Either let the movie speak for itself or have media plugs (nothing wrong with that) which excite a viewer positively. Talks around actors getting into the ‘skin of the character’ or ‘the expensive sets built for the film’ or ‘Rajputs threatening to block screening of the film’ or ‘Ash’s dances beingRead More

Issue - Boring scoops

Either let the movie speak for itself or have media plugs (nothing wrong with that) which excite a viewer positively. Talks around actors getting into the 'skin of the character' or 'the expensive sets built for the film' or 'Rajputs threatening to block screening of the film' or 'Ash's dances being spiritual in Jodhaa Akbar' have so far hardly succeeded in making people talk about the project.

Solution

No one is suggesting fabricating stories around any love stories building on the film's sets. But what one can be sure is that for a film made on such gargantuan scale with lavish production values and a huge cast, there would certainly be enough stories around the making of the film which would make audience excited about the film.

Issue – Cold music Frankly, till this point in time, A.R. Rahman’s music has hardly created the kind of impact one expects from the maestro. For a film which is releasing in nearly a week from now, Read More">at least a couple of songs should have become a national rage right now. Even a staunch RahmanRead More

Issue - Cold music

Frankly, till this point in time, A.R. Rahman's music has hardly created the kind of impact one expects from the maestro. For a film which is releasing in nearly a week from now, at least a couple of songs should have become a national rage right now. Even a staunch Rahman supporter would agree that it is not the case so far. Boring feel of the music coupled with unimpressive visuals playing along have only pushed the film a few steps behind.

Solution

Of course, one can't have Hrithik strip to his waist, show his six-pack abs and sing a 'Dard-E-Jodhaa' here! The songs can't be changed either but the easiest kill would be to bring on new visuals at the least. Also, if the best track of the album, 'Azeem O Shaan Shahenshah', is brought back along with dramatic visuals, the impact created would certainly take this film set in the 16th century to a new level altogether.

Other notable issues: Fighting against History: No historical has succeeded at box office in recent times. Ok, we are not just talking about Zulfi Syed starrer Taj Mahal but then even Shah Rukh Khan himself couldn’t keep the flag high for Asoka. No wonder, Read More">the movie is fighting against history – pun intended! Statistics: AsRead More

Other notable issues:

Fighting against History: No historical has succeeded at box office in recent times. Ok, we are not just talking about Zulfi Syed starrer Taj Mahal but then even Shah Rukh Khan himself couldn't keep the flag high for Asoka. No wonder, the movie is fighting against history - pun intended!

Statistics: As per Google trends, except India, movie has not made a dent in overseas. With overseas contributing 70% of revenue, the statistics won't really impress the makers of Jodhaa Akbar.