So, I finished my complete synopsis of Dilwale, but no synopsis can be complete without also discussing, the trailers that set the stage for the film!  I saw Dilwale 4 times (so far), and among the various shows, I saw 4 different trailers.  For Neerja, Wazir, Fan, and that new Madhavan movie.

So, Wazir first, because it is coming out soonest, and it is the only one that I saw at all 4 shows, in all 3 theaters (I went back to the same one twice).  The first two times, I thought it was going to be Neerja at first and was bracing myself for tears, and then it wasn’t, and the relief was so great I kind of couldn’t concentrate on the trailer.  But the next two times, I actually watched it closely.

So, I am a little dubious to begin with, because it is Farhan acting, which always makes me resentful, because WHERE IS DON 3??????  But I am intrigued by Amitabh and Farhan having some sort of mentor relationship.  Farhan grew up with Amitabh, running in and out of his house, so I am expecting a very lived in and natural relationship between them, which should be fun.  Also, we finally have proof that Neal Nitin Mukesh and John Abraham are not the same person!  Also, John Abraham?  I understand Neal playing second fiddle to Farhan, but I would have though John was a bigger star than this.  Maybe it is just a touching cameo and he dies within a few minutes.  Like Jimmy Shergill in Bang Bang.  Also, this is why you always look for bicyclists before you open your car door! (I know a couple people who’ve been “doored”, and it is not fun)

So, Fan, I of course had already obsessively watched the trailer on youtube, but it was nice seeing it on the big screen.

So, am I the only person in the world who saw Billu?  I loooooove Billu.  And I think it might be a little similar to this, except like the children’s story version instead of the horror film version.  What both of them did was take Shahrukh, basically playing himself, and use him as the literal Deus Ex Machina for the plot.  Billu is based on a story about Krishna, so he really is playing a God.  They kept him very removed from everyday concerns and human connections, but at the same time showed his enormous importance to and power over his followers.  Here is a song that shows what I mean.

(I love the helicopter arrival)

I am actually more excited to see Shahrukh play himself again, than I am to see him play his fan.  Also, is it just me, or is the make-up/CGI still a little too uncanny valley for comfort?

Finally, Madhavan!

Before moving on, am I the only one who can’t stand the new UTV logo thing?  I loved the old hands in paint one, and I think the new abstract dancers thing is just stupid.  Anyway, Madhavan!  I am so happy!  I love him, based purely on his little cameos in Rang De and Guru.  I don’t actually like him when he gets a full starring role.  But I think that is more because he is harder to fit into the right starring role than into a cameo.  He is great for coming onscreen, being charming and super charismatic, and then leaving you wanting more.  Oh, and 3 Idiots!  Which I don’t even think of as a Madhavan role, he disappeared into it so well.  I am hopeful that this will be a similar disappearing act.  And based on the trailer, it looks like it!  He is still charismatic and I want to watch him act, but at the same time, I’m not thinking “It’s Madhavan!” the whole time he is on screen.  And I looooooooove the girl.  I really hope it is just a Million Dollar Baby remake, not a straight ripoff, because I want a happy ending for them both!

Okay, have a procrastinated enough?  Is it time to deal with Neerja?  I don’t want to!  Thank goodness, it was only actually shown in one of the theaters I went to so I only had to suffer through it once.  5 seconds in, I was already in tears.

(I mean, I’m in tears 5 words into the wiki article on the real person.  It’s not the film, it’s the story)

Apparently, I am not the only one, Sonam herself started crying at the launch.  So just picture that, but way less elegant, and in the front row of a sold out theater surrounded by a bunch of strangers and small children, and that is my reaction to this trailer.  If I do watch it (which I still haven’t decided whether or not I can), I should probably bring in a bottle of water to the theater with me to prevent dehydration.