New song video from Phillauri, and first trailer for that Swara Bhaskar movie! Both of them add on some new angles to their films.
Phillauri first. A fun song! We get to see more of Anushka young and in love in the past, and we get to see some happy wedding celebrations in the “present”. My favorite part is how the two eras are edited together. Which I hope they are able to capture in the finished film in some way, but I’m not sure if they can. This is such a modern song, it really wouldn’t make sense for the “past” scenes. It only works like this, if they are kind of tired in thematically, but that’s it.
The Anaarkali of Aarah trailer, this is the one that really really surprised me! Based on the look of the poster, it seemed like a fun sort of village comedy with a little bit of a message to it maybe. But from the trailer, HOO BOY! Looks like a total social message movie, very realistic, very gritty and hard to watch. So, I’m probably not going to see it. I didn’t even see Pink until it had been out for weeks and as a confirmed “important” film!
What I find really interesting about this is the marketing of it. The inter-titles of the trailer, and the poster they put together, that is selling it as this big glitzy fun kind of film. And then the actual scenes we see are more Peepli Live than Humpty Sharma.
In his autobiography, Karan talks about how Kaal taught him to trust his instincts, not just as a director, but as a marketer. He knew the film would flop as soon as he saw the rushes, and he knew the only way to save their investment was to throw on a couple of songs and start promoting them in heavy rotation. I don’t know if Dharma is officially involved in this film, it isn’t listed in the credits of the trailer. But I feel the touch of Karan, or some other marketing genius, in how it is being promoted.
If this really is a story about a powerful politician raping a dancing girl, and her fighting through the courts to get him punished, even if it means more abuse, being put in jail herself, etc. etc., then promoting it as a big fun film is kind of brilliant! Of course, the audience might be a little mad about the bait and switch after they buy the tickets, but hey, anything that gets them to see it!
And you know, I just thought of the one thing that might make me see it! No subtitles on the trailer, but I think there might have been some comments or references tying this “Anarkali” into the famous legendary one. The idea that maybe all powerful Prince Salim wasn’t such a great guy for seducing and destroying the life of a powerless dancing girl. I know that one shot of her cowering against the brick wall of a cell, that had definite “Beqas Pe Karam Kijiye” vibes.
dontcallitbollywood 
I’ve been listening to the Phillauri song all day. I like it a lot! There isn’t really anything fresh or unique about it but still, a catchy, upbeat song. I’m interested to see how the past and the present connect in this film and how they weave the two together. I’m really looking forward to the film.
Anaarkali of Aarah couldn’t be further from what I expected, based on the poster! I mean, I’m sure it will be an interesting and powerful film. At the same time, though, I really just want to see more fun movies- light, comedic, nice love stories and great songs. There were so many “social message” type films last year. It’s worn me out (and I haven’t even seen all of them yet).
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Running Shaadi! Which you have probably missed, it’s not even playing near me after today and I have 4 theaters to pick from that show Indian. Anyway, when it hits einthusan (probably in a couple weeks, the way the box office is looking), it is the light happy rom-com of your dreams!
On Thu, Feb 23, 2017 at 3:02 PM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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I’m dying to see it! I actually just found a theater that is showing it, about two hours away, but it’s being pulled after today. And my wife is on afternoon shift this week. Argh! I’ve been listening to the soundtrack non-stop (Mannerless Majnu is soo good). That’s the kind of movie that I would move heaven and earth to go and watch. Can’t wait!
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The one advantage to these movies that fly in and out of theaters is that they tend to fly right to streaming a few weeks later. So it won’t be long!
On Thu, Feb 23, 2017 at 3:14 PM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Promoting Anarkali of Aarah as a big fun movie could have backfired if all they did was focus on the fun and colors. I’m glad they showed the seriousness of the film in the trailer itself. I think one of the biggest mistakes for Runningshaadi.com is that the trailer made it seem like it was about the business that the two guys start and Taapsee helps them with it. Honestly, that trailer made the movie seem like a mash up of Band Baaja Baaraat and Happy Bhaag Jayegi.
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The funny thing is, it is a Mashup of those films, but only the best bits of them. Bob’s independent young people making their own way and Happy Bhaag Jayegis grounded love story and sense of place.
But of course in the trailer they just showed the “hey, funny misunderstanding!” bits.
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