Normally I try to mix these trailer posts up a little, adding in a few to compare. But right now, there is NOTHING. Because stupid Padmavat messed up the release schedule and there is this weird gap. All the movies that got moved to February last minute, their trailers came out months ago when they were supposed to release. And all the movies that might otherwise be release in February have scuttled forward to March and their trailers aren’t out yet. But this one trailer does look fun!
First, and most importantly, do you see who is producing? Jackky Bhagnani! YAAAAAAAAAY! This makes me so happy. Because if he is producing, he isn’t ACTING. Or, whatever he called what he used to do in front of the cameras. Existing while being photographed? (I had to suffer through Youngistaan for a paper I was writing on young rebel films and I will never forgive him)
Moving on, I think I understand this. Two average people from the Punjab win a contest to come to some Hindi film awards show in New York. Karan Johar is kidnapped, Ritiesh Deshmukh is funny, Sushant Singh Rajput is also there. Lara Dutta continues to play humorous character parts, which makes me super happy because she is very good at it. And Boman Irani is also there, also being a humorous character. And Diljit and Sonakshi star!
I know almost nothing about Punjabi film, but from what little I know, this feels kind of Punjabi. Wacky comedy in a kind of hectic way, romance that involves two strong personalities, and everything feels sort of hyper real. Oh, and huge cast that each get their little funny bits. And I love it! It’s like a breath of fresh air into the Hindi industry.
Interesting cross-release strategy, this is coming out opposite Hichki which is almost a total opposite film. Actually real, not hyper real, minimal comedy and romance and Masala, very classy vibe to it. So, excellent counter-programming. If you want something light and silly, go to this. If you want something serious, go to Hichki. Everyone’s happy. And both films are looking for a modest release, so they can happily share screens. If only every weekend could be like February 23rd!
dontcallitbollywood 
it looks wacky..in a good way..no over the top dialogues..that’s a good sign..although there are some but can be gladly overlooked.. is it just me or do Karan Johar and Ritesh Deshmukh have more screen time than the main leads?Glad to see Lara Dutta
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It’s not just you! I can’t tell if that is because Karan and Ritiesh got all the best lines for the trailer, or if they want to keep the main lead plot secret, or if they just think Karan and Ritiesh are big selling points than Diljit and Sonakshi. It worked on me in all three ways, the lines are funny, I want to know more about Sonakshi and Diljit possibly falling in love, and I love Karan and Ritiesh as a comedy team.
On Mon, Jan 22, 2018 at 11:22 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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i don’t know..i would rather watch Karan johar and Ritesh track rather than Diljit -Sonakshi plot because i kind of enjoyed their story more than the latter’s..call me weird but i did..btw not a big fan of any of them ..Also i don’t think Diljit -Sonakshi back story will be that interesting..
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Maybe it will be a wacky film people hijinks plot, with Diljit and Sonakshi as the straight people moving through the wackiness. That would be fun!
On Mon, Jan 22, 2018 at 11:46 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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OMG this looks so good! Indians are so good at making madcap comedy, Hollywood and the British film industries used to do more of this, but they’ve lost their touch (It’s a mad mad mad mad world, a fish called wanda). This is actually the kind of film that they can export to the world.
Love the Bahubali ->Rana intro.
I’m scared though… India seems to have become much better at crafting trailers than at crafting films. If it’s like 2017, then all the best bits are in the trailer, then they expand upon the trailer to make the film. Hopefully with such a talented ensemble cast, we can expect a fairly good movie.
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Yes! That is my hope also. That this trailer is just a taste of the film to come, not everything good in it. Same writer as Sardaarji and Jatt & Juliet, which is a good sign.
On Mon, Jan 22, 2018 at 12:07 PM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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I thought Karan will have cameo role in this movie, but now after watching the trailer I looks like double main role and I’m not sure if I’m ready for this. But who knows what kind of plot it will be. Trailer shows Rana few times and he said he is playing “blink and miss cameo”, the same with Sushant I guess.
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I love that all these big names showed up to do a small one gag appearance in this film.
On Mon, Jan 22, 2018 at 12:34 PM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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This looks like so much fun!!!
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Ayayay! I think they are using footage from (or at least the stage from) the IIFA that I went to last Summer. Diljit performed and was amazing. I tried to watch Sardaarji and just couldn’t get through it, though it had some cute bits with the captured ghosts. But this looks like lots of fun. I can’t decide if I want to see Hichki. I love Rani but I’m allergic to “disability of the week” type movies.
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Well, I will be watching Hichki opening night,you can watch this one, and we can compare notes.
On Mon, Jan 22, 2018 at 12:44 PM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Sounds like a plan. 😆
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I saw an interview with rani where she said hichki would be her litmus test; i.e. If it’s not at least a modest hit, then she will know that the audience is sick of her, and it’s her time to move on.
But it’s too much to expect a disability movie, even if it’s funny, to be that litmus test. Better a T Sulu or an E Vinglish. If this doesn’t do well, I hope Rani remains undeterred.
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Based on the trailer, it’s also possible that they could go the route of focusing on the non-disability part of it. The tourrette’s is only there to explain why Rani is so excited to have this chance to teach, finally. But it’s really about her teaching and her interactions witht he kids. AT least, I hope so.
On Mon, Jan 22, 2018 at 4:58 PM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Oh wow. So I must go see it. I really think she can do anything after seeing her in Mardaani, No One Killed Jessica, and Bombay Talkies. I hope it’s a hit or that she finds she misses acting too much to stop. 🙂
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Looks like wacky fun but will it screened here (at the slightly easier to get to cinema complex…), hmmmm
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Well, Australia in general is All About Punjabi Films, so that’s a good sign for you. If distributors are smart and tracking these numbers, they might give Welcome to New York an even bigger release than Hichki.
On Mon, Jan 22, 2018 at 4:00 PM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Definitely a Punjabi film vibe! It also has that thrown together Punjabi film vibe, too, that concerns me. Seriously, how long did this take to make? I never heard a thing about it and then all of a sudden it exists (with relatively big stars involved). But overall I’m super excited to see this! I like the whole cast, and I especially like Ritesh Deshmukh in comedic roles. In interviews he comes across as naturally funny in a kind of self-deprecating but snarky kind of mainstream, almost Western comedy style. Just wish there were more roles in Hindi cinema that could capitalize on that (this probably won’t be that film and neither was Bank Chor!).
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I remember when Bluffmaster came out, it was so exciting and Ritiesh was so amazing. And then somehow he just never quite gelled. At least he seems happy, the same intelligence that you can see in how he does screen comedy coming out in his savvy producing choices.
And, most importantly, his babies are super super cute.
On Mon, Jan 22, 2018 at 7:25 PM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Yeah, when I started watching Hindi films early on I saw him in Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya and thought he was the charming Hindi equivalent of a Tom Hanks kind of romantic hero. His filmography is so unfortunate because he deserves better than starring in three of the stupidest Hindi comedy franchises. Ek Villain could have been a game changer but wasn’t. The poor guy needs a chance at a career changing role (but I think he and his adorable family are probably doing just fine!).
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I’d be happy if he ages in to being the new Anupam Kher. Not necessarily all the father roles, but the mixture of interesting mainstream character parts, the actor whose face you recognize but isn’t a star-star.
On Mon, Jan 22, 2018 at 7:38 PM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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This actually looks good! Diljith is great with comedy and Sonakshi too is pretty comfortable with comedy. Everybody looks like they’re having a ball. Could be what they call a sleeper hit
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Yes! I have hopes. Especially since Fukrey Returns just did so well. And with the perfect release opposite Hichki
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