Shivaay

wogma rating: Watch if you have nothing better to do (?)

quick review:

Action for the sake of action. Story that wavers in its focus. And long, way too long.

Read more
Director: Ajay Devgan
Running time: 180 minutes
Genres: Action
More Movie Info

Shivaay - Preview

The visuals, the action all look super cool indeed. Nicely balances off the romance promised in the other Diwali release, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. Other than these special effects and action sequences though, Shivaay's trailer barely holds a hook.

Sure, there is Ajay Devgn's intense look. But, the story looks just too ancillary to leave an impact. The little girl angle is too similar to that seen in Sultan and Rocky Handsome. It almost feels like since all “stars” are done with the police-officer-against-system theme, it is time now to take turns to do the child-as-companion one.

I think the only way to enjoy this one would be to go only and only for the action and make the most of it. Well, at least that's what I am going to do.

Music Reviews:
Bollyspice – "3.5/5"
Bollywood Hungama – "2.5/5"
Firstpost - "isn't cohesive, and apart from some catchy parts in the songs here and there, you probably won't remember this one once Diwali has gone by."
koimoi - "3/5"
Milliblog - "Middling, barely functional soundtrack."

- meeta, a part of the audience

I love the Himalayas. I came back from a grueling trek in the Himalayan ranges a few months ago. One of the first lines Shivaay (Ajay Devgn) speaks resonated with my longing for the mountains. I identified with him when he said he can't leave the mountains. And that was the last thing likeable about the film. This is despite my admiration for Ajay Devgn's goofy, gloomy look.

The main purpose of the film then seems to be what it started as – a showreel for all people involved.

You can't watch a 3-hour long film for the mountains or that suave look, right? I'd rather watch a documentary on the Himalayas and have an Ajay Devgn poster to peek at, if I have to. Other than these two things, Shivaay is one long chase sequence. The story shuttles between it being a struggle for Shivaay to keep his daughter with him, a hunt for her when she is kidnapped and human-trafficking.

The social cause seems like an afterthought. The story setup that gets Shivaay to Bulgaria seems too elaborate. He could've just been any father looking for his daughter. Why the romantic track and the weird situation? It almost seems back-calculated to fit the kidnapping. And to make the film longer.

The main purpose of the film then seems to be what it started as – a showreel for all people involved, the action choreographer, the cinematographer, the special effects team, the music department. And it would be one for Ajay Devgn's “I am so cool” look, if only it needed one.

Abigail Eames, who plays Gaura, Shivaay's daughter is the only one who seems to have put her heart and soul into her act. Ajay Devgn sleepwalks through this one. Sayyeshaa and Erika Kaar are both stiff and awkward. Of course, it doesn't help that the latter has to speak Hindi.

For an action film, there is nothing novel about the fight/chase sequences either. Except that they go on and on and on. This movie certainly did not need to be a minute over the 120-minute mark. In addition, you have predictable situations and tacky dialogue. The one thing I did not expect though, is the gratuitous sudden addition of a woman-in-a-tub song.

Shivaay comes across as a film that wants to be more than a regular action film. It doesn't quite achieve anything there. On the other hand, it loses out on being an out and out crowd-pleasing action film too.

- meeta, a part of the audience

36 reviewers(?) - 3 yays 14 so-so 19 nays

Warning: clicking on "full review" will take you to an external website that could contain spoilers.

Thumbs up, Bollywood Hungama : ...On the whole, SHIVAAY is a perfect emotional thriller that scores high on the account of its breathtaking visuals, amazing action and a high octane performance by Ajay Devgn. At the Box-Office, the extended weekend in the form of the festival holiday will prove to be bountiful for the film. Don’t miss this one. ... full review

Thumbs up, by Sarita A Tanwar, DNA : ...If you’re an adventure junkie, Shivaay is the film for you. And even if you aren’t, Shivaay will make you one. Prepare for action and stunts like never before. ... full review

Thumbs up, by Kunal Guha, Mumbai Mirror : ...This film could've been one of the best-conceived action films in recent times, if only it could cut back on the melodrama, most dialogues and perhaps, Vir Das. ... full review

So-So, by Tushar P. Joshi, Bollywood Life : ...Shivaay has spectacular action scenes, perhaps the best we have seen this year. Watch it for that and the emotional storyline of a father-daughter relationship. ... full review

So-So, by Rahul Deo Bharadwaj, Desi Martini : ...Shivaay for sure is a value for money one time watch ... full review

So-So, by Rachit Gupta, Filmfare : ...Shivaay could’ve been the best of the year. But the ‘more is less’ approach just doesn’t work out.... full review

So-So, by Swaroop Thotada, fullhyd.com : ...Having said that, there are a few scenes that really work, but they are too few and too far apart. ... full review

So-So, by Vishal Verma, Glamsham.com : ...All said and done, Ajay Devgn fans will be watching it in any case but those who are still hooked to this, I will say that SHIVAAY is Ajay Devgn's weakest Diwali gift since GOLMAAL. SHIVAAY must have started with the ambition to reach the highest peak but unfortunately, gets buried in the avalanche of a routine story that lacked any glory. ... full review

So-So, by Rohit Vats, Hindustan Times : ...Devgn’s stunts are a treat to watch, but that’s about it. Shivaay treks trough high altitudes, but the film keeps waiting for him to return to the valley with a string attached to his legs. ... full review

So-So, by Fatema Kagalwala, India Entertainment : ...Shivaay may fall short as a satisfying film experience but simply the ambition and execution is a step forward for a rather backward Bollywood. ... full review

So-So, Indicine : ...http://www.indicine.com/movies/bollywood/shivaay-review/... full review

So-So, by Mayank Shekhar, MiD DAY : ...Absolutely nothing happens. Besides Devgn, who we know is happening anyway. So you sit back and enjoy Shivaay. Just please don’t ask why!... full review

So-So, by Jaidev Hemmady, Movie Talkies : ...Like mentioned earlier, Shivaay is a very self indulgent affair with Devgn standing tall in almost every frame of the film; if you are a Devgn fan, Shivaay will surely be a weekend treat, but if not, give this one a miss. ... full review

So-So, Sify Movies : ...Overall, the title, which resonates with magnetic appeal lacks conviction. Read more at: http://www.sify.com/movies/shivaay-review-defies-gravity-and-conviction--review-bollywood-qk2pksihfjede.html... full review

So-So, by Renuka Vyavahare, Times of India : ...Overall, Ajay is unstoppable in Shivaay but you wish he wasn’t! Laced with visual excellence, you applaud his film’s larger than life canvas but despite the efforts, his second directorial venture fails to engage you emotionally. ... full review

So-So, by Karan Bali, Upper Stall : ...The music has no impact, the film lacks an editor and the less said about some of the deafening background score, the better. But the one place I have to say where Shivaay scores over Ae Dil Hai Mushkil is that it harbors no pretentious or claims to be too profound for its own good. It sets out to make a god of its leading man and that, admittedly, it succeeds in. ... full review

So-So, Zee News : ...Overall, the title, which resonates with magnetic appeal lacks conviction. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Anna MM Vertticad, annavetticadgoes2themovies : ...The music by Mithoon is nice to begin with but then becomes overbearing, and one of the many reasons why Shivaay is elongated to 172 minutes and 38 seconds. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Bobby Sing, Bobby Talks Cinema.com : ...Go for it, only if you are a die-hard Ajay Devgan fan and cannot give it a miss. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Githa Vanan, Bolly Spice : ...Shivaay wants to be the bhakt that imitates the Lord himself but is more like the big budget remake that crushed your beloved favourite film.... full review

Thumbs down, by Subhash K Jha, Deccan Chronicle : ...Aseem Bajaj’s cinematography captures the bleak foreboding mood of the plot much better than any of the actors. Shivaay is not the light fun crackerjack Diwali film you’d like to sit through this festive season. It is laden with an overbearing darkness which eclipses all of the film’s efforts to pull us into its embrace. The proceedings get so edgy that they finally topple over. ...

Thumbs down, by Suparn Sharma, Deccan Chronicle : ... issue I have with Shivaay is that the myth of Shiv that Ajay Devgn’s character promises conjures up more drama in our head than on screen. The Shiv connect is at best nebulous. Apart from giving the hero an icy abode, a chillum, and making him frisky with ladies after some intended innuendo talk, it amounts to little.I was looking forward to basking in the joy of the silly, big budget film with the inevitable, grand climax. I didn’t get that. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Dev Raj Gulati, Desi Martini : ...Ajay Devgn must realise that a tight screen play is a must in comparison to unrealistic stunts,howsoever speak they may be for the success of a movie. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Ameet Bhuvan, Desi Martini : ...loud, misconceived badly directed , Shivaay is a collosal mess. give it a miss. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Sidhant Shori, Desi Martini : ...Shivaay is most memorable only when the fists are flying, as the characters barely leave an impression on the audience. There’s no zing about the movie as it's tried to be a jack of all trades but not mastered anything. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Prerna Singh, Desi Martini : ...Action sequences are really well-shot but after a point they stretch out too much. The entire film was a like a drug-induced hallucination which trips you on the verge of panic of overdose. You know when you start feeling that "Khatam karo bhayi ab isko", it is not worth it. Nope. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Ronita Torcato, Free Press Journal : ...The cinematography is top-notch but the music, dialogues and the sound beats that serenade it are so obviously heralding that they leave a bad taste. Ajay Devgn the director indulges Ajay Devgn the actor beyond sufferable limits. Abigail Eames is the only one who manages to evoke some sympathy from the audience.... full review

Thumbs down, by Suhani Singh, india today : ...Devgn sure has imagination when it comes to action with many fast and furious stunts set in beatific backdrops. While he occasionally wows with the action, he never succeeds in touching the hearts. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Ananya Bhattacharyal, india today : ...Watch Shivaay if you have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ELSE TO DO. Else watch a documentary on mountaineering. Or child trafficking. Or Bulgaria. Or whatever you want to... full review

Thumbs down, by ANISH MOHANTY, Kia Gia : ...'Shivaay' is a film that is high on style and low on substance. The screenplay does not do justice to the scale of the film and the vision of an ambitious filmmaker who fails to achieve what, one believes, he had set out to. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Surabhi Redkar, koimoi : ...Shivaay seems high on never ending action and loud emotion. Visuals don’t fill the void of the missing storylin... full review

Thumbs down, by Udita Jhunjhunwala, Live Mint : ...What works are the action scenes —ambitiously designed, well executed and often pulsating, with background music and cinematography to match. But the story interlacing the action set pieces is so lame and the motivations of the characters so illogical that the emotional thread is frayed. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Saibal Chatterjee, NDTV : ...It takes the film nearly three hours to establish that obvious fact. By which time you are too tired to even think. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Manisha Lakhe, Now Running.com : ... Ajay Devgn can be forgiven because he does show he is pissed off with that angry eye thang. Others? Better not ask. Watch the film on the telly. And if you are a parent, dream up of ways to punish brats who throw a tantrum like the Bulgarian Brat of Bhaijaan in this movie... full review

Thumbs down, by Raja Sen, Rediff : ...To invoke a truly superb avalanche-filled film, this one may as well have been called Force Manure. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Namrata Joshi, The Hindu : ...The Ajay Devgn brand of stylish cinema sports an archaic heart at its core... full review

122 tweeters(?) - 97 yays 5 so-so 20 nays

yogisolanki916: #Shivaay is the best movie. Go and watch it. Ajay bhai best story & best directions. Best of luck https://t.co/rl6JOzC3PY

VogueGarima: To all those busy comparing & fighting over issues which one out of #AeDilHaiMushkil & #Shivaay is the best. Oh cmon. Both are amazing !! :)

VinodPanesar: Just came out from Shivay. It's really good movie. Awesome effort all the team Shivay.. Ajay devgan did a very good job. Love it.

travelport123: #Shivaay phenomenal movie..best movie of the year..Top class action,beautiful emotions between father and daughter..Ajay rocks...wow wow.

Tarunch2327: Must watch #Shivaay movie. Love the storyline

swastik_imu: A visual treat! Class direction and Flawless performances. Ajay Devgan.. You silent Gun!

SuperADianDhruv: Go And Watch SHIVAAY https://t.co/dvpd0wjd0H

Ss1000890Sahil: Zabrdust movie Hai shivaay

srinkanjan1: #Shivaay directed by #ajaydevgan is a must watch.

SportsTweetsIn: Saina Nehwal: Happy Diwali sir …..movie is just too good

Someshwarsdonga: I watched #shivaay in my city amrvati.Housefull..powerfull performance by ajay sir. Sur shot Hit.

SKYShubhamKumar: Mind blowing movie #Shivaay .. I think the movie is best gift

shivam6880: Woww..... speachless too good #Shivaay https://t.co/GrAxXcpBCY

ShivaayTweets: #TakeABow @ajaydevgn for making such brilliant film. SHIVAAY is really a kind in itself !!

ShivaayFanClub: Visuals , Action Sequences EVEN BETTER Than Most Hollywood Films PROUD MOMENT FOR BOLLYWOOD SHIVAAY A Must Watch !! @ajaydevgn

Shiv1986Kumar: Since #ADHM turnd out to be a boring movie .paid critics trying to defame #Shivaay . The level of shivaay is as gud as a Hollywood movie

shHarranu: GO OUT AND WATCH #SHIVAAY in a theatre near you. DON'T MISS IT.

SherryHakim123: Must watch #Shivaay

shayedewu: #Shivaay is much better than ADHM! Saw both films!

sandymenon: Watch it - It's Better than Liam's Taken' . Edge of the seat stuff, awesome camera and slickly directed and edited!… https://t.co/M0L0w2iUXJ

sandeepkhanjode: Enjoy this Hollydays ..SHIVAAY

SaifiansCaptain: Shivay Over All Mesmerizing, Thunderous, Earth Shattering, Simple, Breathtaking Action Scenes. AJAY TAKE A BOW. HISTORY IN BOLLYWOOD. 5*/5*

Rsaini91: Just watched #Shivaay ..what a mve

rohit_chahal: Friends I just watched film "Shivaay".. Very Nice Film by @ajaydevgn .. Really Heart Touching ✌️️फ़िल्म "शिवाय" ज़रूर देखें

rcrasto: #Shivaay .. Sheeee Why !!!!

rakeshpatidar17: Saw #shivaay @ShivaayTheFilm it's an amazing movie #thrill #emotion #scenes #action no doubt fully entertainment. @ajaydevgn #goforshivaay

Rakeshbhatia444: This is Bhopal and my family and friends were enjoying watch#Shivaay#DBmall Bhopal.we didn't like#ADHMbecause karan johar support pak actor.

raju101ind: #Shivaay superb movie touch our hearts @ajaydevgn love to watch this film

rajatsaroraa: Outstanding action coupled with a father's emotional journey for his daughter makes #Shivaay a complete entertainment dhamaka. #MustWatch

rahulaggarwal04: Srk+karan+aish+aliya+ranbir+anushka+huge money paid to critics =but there is only @ajaydevgn #SHIVAY brilliant movie sir

preetisingh5061: ajay nailed it….must watch. Superb movie #Shivaay

PratikFeels: Saw #Shivaay today! Still can't take off the bful visuals & action frm my mind. @ajaydevgn -Kudos to you! Brilliant acting. 4.5/5 Stars!

Prabhudsk: #AjayDevgn #Shivaay excellent film with Hollywood intense action. Your action has been flawless! Thanks for giving such films!! Happy Diwali

parmindersingh_: #Shivaay is far far better than #ADHM ....

NSaina: Happy Diwali sir .....movie is just too good

niteshm93987582: shivay nice movie paisa vasool

NirdoshAhuja: Shivaay is a much better film than Ae dil hai mushkil..

nillkool2016: #Shivaay excellent movie, breath taking action scenes, best cinematography best performance by Ajay. A delight to watch. Full wasool

nikitaloveu: shivaay is nice movie

navindhanuka: Just came back from - Shivaay. Its an awesome movie.

nareshsirvi00: #Shivaay Awesome movie but last scene was a little boring. #BHAKTOFSHIVA

mannumaheshaa: I highly recommend #Shivaay# Good movies are very less these days so enjoy everyone https://t.co/pOf0uhvZRx

manishk900: Jus enjoyed the action pact movie #Shivaay @ajaydevgn sir you are awesome as an actor n individual respect

manishjm811: Watched #Shivaay again with unbiased viewpoint, it is an EXCELLENT movie m direction by AJSir. Paid critics ki maa ki choot.

Maj7864: Hi guys watch shivaay https://t.co/2h0I8xyetk

lovekajollove: really charmed.@ajaydevgn sir this movie #Shivaay In one word amazing @ajaydevgn @KajolAtUN

LonerTwiner: #Shivaay is a nice movie with greatest action sequences for Indian cinema so far. Bollywood ki #Taken but with lots more. Must watch.

LahiriSupratim: Watched full show #TheKapilSharmaShow must watch #Shivaay @ajaydevgn my most fav @sayyeshaa ❤❤

laddhaadi: #Shivaay 3rd watch.It even gets better #housefull @ajaydevgn (excellent work).

kroonaal: Excellent movie #Shivaay @AJAYDEVGNCLUB @ajaydevgn on this #Diwali. Great performance✔️

KiranRao24: #Shivaay an awesome movie by #AjayDevgn. Good action and best story. @krk now dnt tweet as u say. and baksh do hume.@smile

Khanaghaa: There is no comparison between #ADHM n #Shivaay as both are totally different cinema n are worth to be watched but both not festival films.

keurani: Just watched #Shivaay and its brilliant @ajaydevgn!! Don't k know why it is getting such a bad reviews. What an emotional ride altogether

Keshav62288721: Shivaay is a gud movies in which movies contain action +romance and splendid location. I love this movie. Best of luck Ajay sir

kenziemegan03: When mama needed a break yesterday.. The wait for these two films were totally worth it!! Both were absolutely amaz… https://t.co/dGjhDOgWRz

Jayrana20033: I am still not understanding, how critics gave Shivaay movie 2 and 1 stars. Probebly, Karan Johar's dirty game. Must watch movie. I loved it

Jayraj86918315: Shivaay osm movie

IshaanDutta32: SHIVAAY journey begins from today! Shivaay a true masterpiece you should not miss go and watch in theatres.feel the magic f shivaay

iRohitShah: The most honest Shivaay Review is here - The Frustrated Indian https://t.co/IdjfajwQ2J

IRege4: Shivaay is such an amazing movie and @ajaydevgn's best directorial debut

imfrostmj: watch shivaay, very beautiful movie nd my dream to see dis shit KRK as a chaprasi or chayewala at AD's office. @kamaalrkhan @ajaydevgn

ikunalkhatri: Great movie! Great work! Hats off to Sir @ajaydevgn Please watch #Shivaay in theaters It will touch your soul and heart!

iam_bxm: One of the best movie #Shivaay 10 time better than #ADHM

hemantvijayinc: Must Watch #SHIVAAY #AJAYDEVGAN #Movie osom action in Bollywood history

Hdtrueac: Just watched shivaay and this movie clearly shows why @ajaydevgn is called the versatile actor of bollywood.

gpandey3: Don't miss #Shivaay & don't forget 2 #BoycottADHM Happy Diwali 2 all @colkt @DrGarekar @colnrkurup @Brain_hunt… https://t.co/6Oi15TZ8z7

GovindDubey91: #Shivaay awesome movie .. all hard work of @ajaydevgn sir n #Shivaay team turns into a beautiful result

gourav__ahuja: #Shivaay Too good

Goupi4: Hello , very Nice movie Ajay ji i will ask god that you movie will always be very succesfull #AjayDevgn #Shivaay

gillgugni: Thank you so much for shivaay @ajaydevgn the power of unconditional love. Tears rolled till the end #reelstorythatrelate #Shivaay

EeRajeevkumar: SHIVAAY Rock

dineshkpr: 'Shivaay': An Unforgettable Action Thriller With A Tender Core https://t.co/aSRU2eVMzF

Davita_Kd: I recommend #Shivaay to all of you, please go to the theatre,watch and support good cinema !

Chauhan_VijayK: #Shivaay @ShivaayTheFilm one of d best adventurous emotional action Bollywood movie of current time. @ajaydevgn @ErikaKaar @thevirdas (2/2)

chadankumar871: a well action-packed performance from @ajaydevgn and so cute @sayeshasaa. Just a simply WOW.. Loved the movie #Shivaay. Nice Direction AJ.

BudhramSamad4: Hlw ajay sir I liked your new movie shivaay, I have seen

BloodyKamina: Action of Shivaay is Top notch, movie is simply awesome for Ajay Devgn fans.

bhattiarshad2: Amazing world class movie...best of the bestest I hv no words ... shivaay shivaay shivaay...

Being_Jeet2: Overall good effort by Ajay. Liked second half more. Action + camera work were 1st class. Editing needed to be sharper & smooth.. #Shivaay

badmonkpk: Just Watched #Shivaay Thanks To @ajaydevgn Sir ,What a Awesome Movie !

avirinku411: Must watch movie..don't believe on reviews..its actually 4.5 star and far better than

Avinash68800648: Birliyant jhkas jbrdast movie shivaay

ashukarn1: #shivaay review ...critics aiwiii negative rating de rahe ..movie is superb ..go 4 it guys https://t.co/V83OEbKGh3

ashrafkml: Hey @ajaydevgn , Awesome movie @ShivaayTheFilm. #MustWatch #Shivaay. Superb direction by the way.

AshishkumarBIGG: Worth mentioning AJ s Eyes in Shivay....

asad96khan: Both are completely different film but @ShivaayTheFilm is much better than @AeDilHaiMushkil #Shivaay - Marvelous #ADHM - Stupid & Stretched

arvind_prakash: Awesome movie #Shivaay Great performance by @ajaydevgn

ArshitC: Watched #Shivaay, an incredible movie. . phenomenal acting by @ajaydevgn @ErikaKaar and @Abigail_eames. Heads Off !!! #bestmovie

ArijitSinghSing: Multiplex screen also shows #Shivaay more than #ADHM . I watched it again today . What a film!!!

Anshul_dixxit: saw #adhm #shivaay both are mind-blwng movies but Story of #adhm is not So strng it borr in 2nd hlf nd end wth Confusen but @AnushkaSharma

Akkieyy: For me #shivaay is fabulous movie @ajaydevgn it deserve success. Dkh rha h kitni mehnat ki h.

ajinkya_s89: Happy Diwali sir.Saw #Shivaay Nice film.Must watch with Family. https://t.co/GLOoIp8MXR

AhmanSayyed: Finally Saw #Shivaay Outstanding movie Superb performances Breathtaking Visuals taking bollywood to another level. Take a bow @ajaydevgn

AbhishekVora810: An amzing film seen yet of @ajaydevgn #Shivaay...very nice and superb better than #ADHM

abdulmasood31: Just now watch shivaay movie what an amazing master piece.. @ajaydevgn sir you are a legend

aashish_tanwar: Watched Shivaay.... awesome acting/story/music/locations/actions....

aapkaapnakhabri: Movie to #Shivaay bhi badhiya hai.... Go for it. Ye #Diwali dono movie dekh daalo...

saifhasan: #AeDilHaiMushkil is no masterpiece. #Shivaay is not garbage. Both are average to effective in their own ways. Critics stop this tamasha

Sai_swaroopa: Watched #Shivaay . Not as bad as some made it out to be. Could have been made better. But strong story.

lifetips111: #shivaay hardwork deserves A watch....@RealBoxofice @ajaydevgn....Awsm actn & cinematography...my rating 2.5*...lyftym -70 cr...

Ishivamkunal: Shivay wasn't that bad...

Bhukhan1000: Is diwali me dono film thik thak hai koi jyada maza nahi aaya. #ADHM #Shivaay

TusharrJoshi: A 30 minute shorter #Shivaay wud have made a LOT of difference. Length has truly been an issue since its release.

sundus_05: Watched both #Shivaay and #AyDilHaiMushkil during weekend. I am completely disappointed with both movies. Grow up bollywood #shivaayvsadhm

SteveUnknown: As a director, I guess Ajay lost perspective. Too many random sequences which dragged the movie down, robbing it of any impact.

siddhesh_5: If you ignore all the loopholes, long shots, impracticalities, length #shivaay is an unnecessary addition to the list of films.

SarcasticGuru: #Shivaay #AnotherShitMovie

sam9456: watched SHIVAAY bokwaaaas movie

S_jain25: Shivaay is way too slow movie

PrakaSH_KKR: Both Adhm and Shivaay Have Wasted This Years Diwali ! Iss se Accha Raees Ko De Dete Yeh Date , Chutiya Kjo and Ajay Devgn

ppreet: #Shivaay a disastrous script,direction , acting ..nonsense story (Taken part 3) .. Just that visual effects n locations were v gud.

kumarshyam: At start of the film she questions, why Y? Must ask @ajaydevgn "why #Shivaay"? 3 hours of wasted time & money I will never get back #review

ImDp_: Looks like @jabykoay is still recovering from disaster he saw last night #Shivaay

iKunaal: Above all, avoid #Shivaay

IamMayaSharma: Both the films n filmmakers suck. I suggest People not to waste money on #ADHM n #Shivaay. Instead, watch them both… https://t.co/gCimsP2e17

iAm_Sangam: The worst #Shivaay movie of 2016 so far. @ajaydevgn fails this time. Boooooooii

i_amvipul: Third class movie from starting to end #Shivaay

GhashK: #Shivaay Ghatiya Chutiyapa ek limit hota hai...bt iss movie woh limit cross ho geya..makes movie too much boring..annoying

efdotes: SHIVAAY koi free mein bhi dikhaye toh mat dekhna

dipsy_doodles: Ajay devgan should have paid for an editor, or maybe a writer...#Shivaay...#EndlessNonsense

changdholai: Such A worst Movie...Totally Ghatiya Movie...I dnt like either at all... worst movie #Shivaay

aamir_greatest: go watch #shivaay and apne dimaag ki maa behan ek karaay

6 readers - 6 yays 0 so-so 0 nays

Not Interested in Watching, by kapil : No interest

Yay! Thumbs Up, by Ajax

Yay! Thumbs Up, by Anuj

Yay! Thumbs Up, by Anuj

Yay! Thumbs Up, by Anup

Yay! Thumbs Up, by Fan

Yay! Thumbs Up, by Rancho : Outstanding

This page has additional observations, other than the ones noted in the main review.

Parental Guidance:

  • Violence: Lots of it.
  • Language: Clean
  • Nudity & Sexual content: A love-making scene. Pedophelia and human-trafficking implied and talked about.
  • Concept: A father is on the look for his kidnapped daughter.
  • General Look and Feel: Slick action

Detailed Ratings (out of 5):

Direction:
Story:
Lead Actors:
Character Artists:
Dialogues:
Screenplay:
Music Director:
Lyrics:

Shivaay - Cast, crew, links

Director:
Supporting Cast:
Music Director:
Running time:
180 minutes
Reviewer:
Language:
Country:
Genres:

Comments (64)

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Fan

Ajay Devgan's track record with high budget home production is highly shaky. In all his past endeavours he has confused money with substance. He has spent lavish amounts on his films in special effects and other polishing without concentrating on the contents of the film. Result? Terribly flop Raju Chacha, Toonpur ka superhero.

That is what is making me worried about Shivaay. I sincerely hope that he has learnt his lessons, and that he has a top notch story which is being recounted with the help of slick effects. If that is the case then nothing can stop Shivaay being the Diwali superhit.

Fingers crossed tightly, hoping that Ajay delivers the blockbuster.

Kapil

Was all along thinking that Shivaay is based on Immortals of Meluha. But searched now and what a relief I got. This book is still out there, ready to be lapped by some talented director.

Fan

@Meeta your bias for mediocre Dharma productions and Ranbir Kapoor shows through the 2 previews you wrote including that of Shivaay. Where the Dharma product is banking on the most repeated and chewed up formula of a love triangle, you are calling it something to look forward to in your preview. And in the same breath you are labelling Shivaay as a film with similar stories to some films and by consequence nothing great to look forward to other than probably the action.

@Fan Oh no-no! It is a bias towards romantic films. And that "looking forward to" is something Karan Johar tends to mess up like I mention in the preview -
"Karan Johar picks all these themes that sound like they involve a lot of soul-searching. And then, the execution, the story just is a broad stroke and thus disappointing." and

"Just which man and woman get together isn't remotely exciting enough."

Perhaps, you overlooked those lines.

Fan

@Meeta: to each their preferences. :-)

Anuj

Not surprised by this as well as the other reviews from a media that loves sucking up to urban multiplex cappuccino audiences. If this media and bunch of braindead reviewers cannot appreciate a Drishyam and OUATIM, how can we expect them to praise Shivaay. Despite the lack of novelty, Shivaay deserves a watch only for its ambition and its narration parallels with the greatest god among all. Then again, we Hindus have a habit of preserving our secular fabric a bit too much at times! Especially the commie inclined urbanites.

Anuj

@Kapil : Let me assure u, no Bollywood film-maker would dare make a movie on The Shva Trilogy. They're too interested in preserving their secular fan base by making films like PK, Chak De India and Sultan, thereby naming their holier than thou heroes as "Kabir Khan" and "Sultan Ali Khan". It took a southern film maker like SS Rajamouli to create a Sanatana mythological tale like Baahubali and only someone like him would be able to bring Amish's masterpieces on celluloid. Not the Johar's, Chopra's and Hirani's of this world.

ehinome okojie

Shivaay - International Himmatwala

kapil

@ Anuj I don't think that Rajamouli would be able to do justice to The Shiva Trilogy. He is too commercial to me. We need some director who can keep The Shiva as Amish has depicted him to be. Truly human. Nothing God like. Just an extraordinary human being who would later came to be worshipped as God. Then only that movie shall become great. We need someone who can do true justice to the book. And I just can't think of anyone. Actors.... may be Nawazuddin, Irrfan, Priyanka Chopra, Vidya Balan, Aliya Bhatt as supporting actors. But for the role of Shiva, i can't think of anyone. SRK, Aamir, Ajay Devgan, Salman, Hrithik don't fit the bill. Shahid Kapoor doesn't have the height. Do we have any 6 ft plus good actor with charisma? Basic problem with directors is that our intelligent directors don't make grand movies. So, we will get either an intelligent mid budget movie or a grandly dumb big budget movie. Hope I am proved wrong and we get a true masterpiece. Fingers crossed.

Anuj

@Kapil : I think Hrithik would make the perfect Shiva and so would Prabhas or a Suriya for that matter. Anyhow, that's my personal opinion :)

ehinome okojie

Kajol: Sweetheart, do you have Himmat?
Shiva with a Y: Yeah I do, there is Himmatwala
Kajol: Yeah we can make Himmatwala this time with Y-ites.
Shiva with a Y: Babe! what can I do without you?

Fan

What's in a name, asked Shakespeare. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

Well Shakespeare did not know the Indian intellectuals and minorities, who are willing to dump a film because it's title has Hindu connotations. Poor Shakespeare.

BTW : Happy Diwali to all.

ehinome okojie

Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Krrish have Parsi or Scientology connections I guess. Shivaay(Shiva with a Y) and not Shiva (Hindu God) will face disgrace this Diwali.

ehinome okojie

If this film crosses Son of Sardaar (boi) I will call it a semi hit, if it crosses Ek Villain I will call it a hit, if it crosses Airlift I will call it a superhit, if it crosses Dilwale I will call it a blockbuster.

Anuj

@Joker : Yeah, Khan fansite boi and you verdict is what Ajay Devgn's life depends upon.

@Fan : Hahaha...good one! I guess Ajay could have Indian-zed the screenplay a bit more and casted more Indian actors in the film to make it seem more authentic. Nevertheless, Shivaay's easily got the most breathtaking action sequences I'v witnessed in Indian cinema since Baahubali. Coming to Baahubali, it would be interesting to see if any of these pseudo liberals, leftists and minorities would be able to prevent part 2 from becoming the highest grossing domestic movie of all time. Baahubali-2, which takes huge inspiration from Hindu mythology would not only find favor among the Hindi masses (thanks to its dubbed version) but also among the south Indian masses, something that Shivaay being a Hindi film could not achieve. Its interesting to note that while part 1 surpassed the likes of PK and Bajrangi Bhaijaan in the domestic market and did well even in the US/Canada market, its the gulf/middle east region that prevented the overseas collections from escalating. Something similar to what happened to Bajirao Mastani which fell short of Dilwale in the overseas markets thanks to Dilwale's humongous numbers in the gulf/Saudi/Iran/Pakistan and where not. Speaks volumes of the nature of the "Khan fanbase" worldwide :P

Fan

Almost a decade ago Ajay Devgn had made a brave attempt via U Me Aur Hum to increase awareness on the sensitive and painful issue of Alzheimer. This time around Mr. Devgn makes a brave attempt to highlight the issue of paedophilia, human trafficking and human organs dealing. Gruesome as it sounds it is a fact that India is faced with this problem (remember Mardaani?) and Eastern Europe is rampant with it. The Eastern European mafias are ruthless and have successfully infiltrated the important institutes to guarantee a smooth running of their operations. In India too this is a serious and widespread menace which the Burhan Wani sympathising media chooses to ignore and keep out of news.

It's with this context, crime and injustice that the film deals with.

The film starts off with the finest Himalyan visuals to be captured on the celluloid. It is simply breathtaking. Watching this on a 50" TV or an even smaller tablet would rob the viewer of the grandiose views that the makers had envisaged. Yes, I agree that this "introduction" part was lengthy and could have been shortened to 10 minutes. But sit back and relax because the story kicks in about 1 hour into the film.

The anxiety and pain felt by a father who knows that he is confronted with paradoxically an extremely efficient mafia to save his mute daughter, and with single focus of saving her from the sex traders is played out brilliantly by Ajay Devgn. There are enough "lump in the throat" moments, and the "bas kar rulayega kya" moments. Yes the second part of the film is loaded with top rated action. And it can be accused of being extremely violent often gruesome too. But that is the context. Eastern European mafias are not known to deal, discuss, negotiate; they go after the enemy with one sole purpose - eliminate the bastard. In that situation the only possible way to advance is to fight them and kill them before they kill you.

On the performance front it is Ajay Devgn show all the way. Abigail as the mute child was outstanding too. Some of the Bollywood leading ladies should take lessons from her.

The film does have aberrations and a few cliches - somebody must stand up. Yes, somebody must standup and take the (right) position.

Several factors will certainly work against the film; ie the name. Had it been called Sikander or Ali or Pervez the film would have fared better. The absence of a known face for the female lead or for the bad guys will also put off many people from appreciating this valiant attempt. And finally the cause of paedophilia and human trafficking does not resonate with many Indians - which is a shame IMHO.

Final words? If Ajay Devgn had kept the exact same story and execution of the film, but would have replaced the father by a simple god fearing Pakistani who is fighting against (not Eastern European) Indian politicians who are also sex traders to save his mute Pakistani daughter - then the movie would have broken all commercial records and would have scaled high peaks to make even Lord Shiva proud.

Anuj

SHIVAAY is a technically brilliant film and one of the finest pieces of action even made in Hindi cinema. Pity that urban junkies prefer the same old done to death melodramatic formula of ADHM and ditch this fine piece of action and thrill. I do expect SHIVAAY to grow and perform well among the tier 2 and 3 cities though!

ehinome okojie

Shivaay will be at best a Semi Hit.

ehinome okojie

Disaster overseas.

Anuj

I would definitely recommend Shivaay for the action movie lovers as this movie is a one of a kind action product in Hindi cinema. For the rest, you might just need a Disprine to sit through this one :

http://simplebollywoodreviewer.blogspot.in/2016/10/shivaay-review-har-har-mahadev.html

ehinome okojie

Bajirao Mastani had an upper hand in three countries: India, US-Canada, and Australia.
Muslims from UK, Malaysia, Netherlands and other areas helped Dilwale achieve success I guess. Nobody remembers how Dilwale crushed Bairao Mastani in Malaysia in multiple of 20. Even in BM's best zone Mumbai circuit it was in multiple of 1.75. Still lolling. Yes it looked more expensive and it was reasonable for it to win worldwide.

Anuj

Despite an 8cr difference in nett collections, it seems like the footfalls of Shivaay would go ahead of ADHM soon. Ticket price disparity between the metro and B/C centers coming to the fore i guess.

Fan

Shivaay is at 7.4 out of 10 on imdb.

Another product vying for attention gets 5.4 out of 10.

Even though imdb is full of trolls, it is clear that even the trolls are dumping some crappy product.

Fan

Anuj's prediction that Shivaay will pick up during the week seems to be coming true. Collaborated by industry figures/statements:

https://twitter.com/taran_adarsh/status/793354235454730240

Anuj

Action always works with the masses and as much as the intellectual urbanite's detest him, Ajay does have a strong fanbase among the masses and in the interiors.

Ajax

Shivaay would definitely make profits for the distributors in the interiors and mass centers. Despite comparatively lower collections, the movie would record almost equal footfalls to ADHM.

Rancho

Shivaay truly raises the bar for Bollywood. Hope critics search their heart, forget about the moeny they got or the religious bias they have, and tell the truth about this movie. I was completely mesmerised by it. It does have some flaws, but overall, the movie is truly outstanding.

Fan

Considering that as of today, Shivaay is hardly 10% below some wannabe in terms of money collected. And given that Shivaay's main patrons are in smaller cities where movie tickets are at least 50% less expensive as compared to metros wherein lies the main patronage for the wannabe. It is amply clear that the number of footfalls for Shivaay are much higher than the wannabe. Power to the people who ignored all the paid superlative reviews of the wannabe.

Shivaay is not the finest of movies to come out of Bollywood but this Diwali it is the clear winner.

Gokul

@Fan How come??ADHM has more collections than Shivaay and has collected over 100 crores.That is a good achievement considering the boycott claims and threats and also the bad streak Ranbir Kapoor had.And this is just the domestic collections we are talking about.
It is a no contest when it comes to overseas collections.

Fan

@Gokul: 100 crore depends on what is measured and how is measured. I am hearing 100 cr since day 4, but then bollywoodhungama etc is displaying 70-80 cr at least around day 8 or 9. So, the 100cr is whatever anybody wants to make of it.

Regardless of this reference point, in whatever business article you read, Shivaay collections are approximately 10% less. Thus if one is at 100 cr (in a given reference) then the other is at 90cr in the same reference. And given that the average ticket price paid for one is 300 Rs it would give a footfall of 3.3 Million. For the other, with an average ticket price of 150 Rs (which is on the higher side still considering smaller towns of India - and talking of average prices): gives a footfall of 6 Million for Shivaay. Even if you throw in the lopsided overseas collections thank to the Muslims of UK, you could still not match 6 Million footfall.

Of course I am simplifying a lot, but even with a complex algorithm it would be more than evident which was the number one choice of audience.

Gokul

@Fan But considering all that still shouldn't Shivaay be the one making more because it is has Ajay Devgan who has multiple 100Cr films and Shivaay is a masala action entertainer-something that sells in our country.And Multiplex audiences have have rejected masala films earlier too.Considering Shivaay has the bigger budget among the two and has the lesser collections,isn't ADHM the winner considering all the boycott claims and threats??

Anuj

@Fan & Gokul : Firstly, there has been no clear winner in this clash. The business has been splt wide open and both the films have underperformed thanks to the audiences being divided. As per BoxOfficeIndia, although Shivaay has done 63.5 cr in its first week while ADHM has done 78, the footfalls for both films is around the 75 Lakh mark & in the final tally, Shivaay might actually record higher theatrical viewership despite ADHM's collections being 18-20 cr higher. I have repeatedly mentioned this on this website and I continue to believe that popularity is directly proportional to footfalls (and not collections), so yes Shivaay might actually end up being the more watched (popular) film. Although in terms of ROI, ADHM will clearly make pore profits, although not by too much of a margin as ADHM itself carries a budget of 98 cr while Shivaay carries a budget of 103 cr.

@Gokul : Please watch Shivaay before calling it a run of the mill "masala" film. It is not your conventional Dabanng/Singham/Rowdy Rathore kinda action. This is world class action choreography, brilliant camerawork and stunts performed by action man Ajay Devgn himself. As to why Shivaay didn't perform in metros, that was bound to happen as Ajay's popularity among the metropolitan audiences has always been questionable, thanks to the metro audiences affiliation to anything and everything that looks mushy, chocolaty and pretty (SRK, Aamir, Ranbir, Hrithik etc).

Anuj

Mind you, BoxOfficeIndia is not a Bhagwat Gita. Its just one of the many manipulative trade sites out there with their own vested interests. Fabricating numbers, manipulating verdicts (Ra.1 hit?) and providing false statistics in the name of authenticity is an expertise with them. I'm cent percent sure that they're decreasing the collections of Shivaay on purpose as they're infamous for being an SRK/YRF/Dharma fansite.

Fan

@Gokul: to answer your question, it depends on what is the criteria used to define a winner. More footfalls, or more money. Or a combination of both. It is not straightforward as who made more profit, which is easier to say. Another factor (other than money, footfalls, etc.) is the technical and artistic excellence. Shivaay, is long but action is top rate once it starts going. The other I have not watched, and have no intentions of paying to watch - so difficult for me to compare both, but in my friend circle whosoever has watched the other has complained heavily that it is a bakwas film. So the (paid) media hype of catch it in theatre with 4 stars is visible for many to see. The word of mouth for both the movies has been average, with Shivaay having an edge in the word of mouth (at least in my circle).

So going only by footfalls, which Anuj equates to popularity in his above post, then Shivaay is the winner - even if it made lesser profits.

ANuP

Hope its not too late to enter into the discussion .
Anuj - agreed what u said - "world class action choreography, brilliant camerawork and stunts performed by action man Ajay Devgn himself" , but you left the other things. "Average direction , not so good emotional scenes , Below average performance by both leading lady , editor must be sleeping in his working hours , and that extended climax after the last fight almost made me angry thinking when the hell this movie will end. My friend has been sleeping throughout the film and i have to woke him again and again for the action scenes. Shivaay is those kind of Hollywood movies which people like to see in fast forward mode just for action scenes. Yes its technical department has done a brilliant job , but it never compensate for good drama.
As compared to this ADHM is a much more mature work , Superb direction , not a single acting flaws , a very interesting screenplay (inspite of not so new storyline which is the only average thing in the movie) and alot of laugh out moments (& yes pretty nice cinematography as far as bollywood live stories go).
Both of these movies are for different audience. I am just presenting my views. Many frnds of mine have disliked SHIVAAY and liked ADHM and there is also the case of Vice Versa. Any person who doesnt mind boring drama in between superb action scenes will definitely enjoy Shivaay , for others (including me)ADHM is a better film..
Anybody saying Shivaay is another run of the mile Masala film is wrong , its not. But anybody who is saying ADHM is just another YRF/DHARMA eye candy love story with just good songs in it is very wrong too.
As far as boxoffice performance goes upto now , i guess ADHM has crossed its budget , but Shivaay is still behind it.

Anuj

@Anup : I did watch ADHM in bits and pieces on a poor quality print and frankly, i did not find anything different from whatever i'v watched in the equally mediocre KANK and KKHH and YJHD. If at all anything, the characters in this came across as even sillier. Agreed Shivaay is slow and tedious at times, but at least it offers something new and worth watching in the action department! As for costs, yes ADHM has made profits in metros and overseas but Shivaay too has covered majority of its ground as per BoOfficeIndia's latest update. That despite BOI under-reporting Shivaay (something that they tend to do with all single screen hits like Kick, Krrish 3, Chennai Express etc). If we are to believe trade numbers, Shivaay is gonna make losses for distributors in metros but profits for the one's in the tier 2 and 3 cities and would cross 100 cr figure soon. As per BOI, it would end at 90 cr nett with an Average lifetime verdict. Even by BOI, Shivaay would record higer footfalls than ADHM despite collecting lower. Not a bad result when you have a film with just one known face in the action/thriller genre (something that doesn't work too well in Hindi cinema unless made on shoestring cost like Kahaani and Pink), absolutely no comedy and a lackluster romantic track with an unknown female lead. Esp when its up against a Karan Johar film with Ranbir/Anushka/Aishwarya in the lead, romance genre and chartbuster music.

ANuP

Anuj - like i said , nothing new with the storyline. It has been taken from , YJHD , ROCKSTAR and WAKE UP SID , but what elevates it , is the screenplay , acting and direction. What differentiate this movie from other KARAN JOHAR directorial films is totally eradicating the Melodrama (which is the Forte if Dharma and YRF) . Most tragic scenes have been converted into light hearted one in the movie. The way Karan directed it , is more close to his produced movies like Kapoor and Sons and Hasee to Phasse then his earlier directorial ventures.
In simple words i can summarised that Shivaay tried to show something new (which i totally appreciate) and succeed to some extent .
While ADHM tried to show the same story in a different way. and succeeded more.

Fan

@Anup : you say
That extended climax after the last fight almost made me angry

It is a pity that you felt that way. The irony of the situation that the writer director wanted to convey is lost.

Think of it this way. Here's a father who can go to any extent to stop his child being separated from him. Fighting the known and visible bad men. But life has so many ways to force the separation. How many battles are he going to fight? What is the point of fighting such battles? Can we win all the battles? If not then why bother about winning any?

So many questions come to mind. So many emotions rush in. So many profound thoughts occupy your mind in that "5 minutes of extended end". Leaves a Kashyap film far behind.

But then again, if the irony is lost on the audience then it is a real pity.

Anuj

@Fan : U say both the films have had "Average" trending. As per numbers, Shivaay began with 9 cr on day 1 and would end up with a 90 cr nett approx total with an AVERAGE verdict due to its high investment. That's 10 times its day 1 number. In a normal scenario that would imply a 90% word of mouth. But since the Diwali factor comes into picture, we would deduct ~20% off and yet the movie would carry a 70-75% word of mouth which is a solid wom imo. The only reason Shivaay suffered in collections is dues to the metropolitan multiplex audience not generating enough footfalls and revenue in the first 5 days of release.
ADHM on the other hand started at 13 cr on day 1 and would end up with 110 cr lifetime. That's 8.5 times its day 1 number which in a normal scenario would be a 75% word of mouth. But with the Diwali factor into picture, we can safely say that the word of mouth is nothing more than 60%, mainly among the metropolitan and semi metro cities. Even on footfalls Shivaay might just inch ahead. A bigger initial and higher appreciation among the 5 major metros is what has tilted numbers in ADHM's favor despite lower appreciation and footfalls.

Anup

Fan - its hard to discuss it without giving it away. But the way it had been handle , didn't seem realistic (and became too much melodramatic - fault of the director). May be could have worked in any other film , but when u are already bored of a film because of its length and want to leave the theater , extended climaxes are the worst things. EVEN LORD OF THE RINGS 3 made me bore with its extended climaxes.

Anuj

@Admin : Why are my comments not being published?

@Anuj Comments by commenters who have been identified as using abusive language and making personal attacks are now being moderated.

Moderation would also apply to comments with political and religious content from now on. I am interested in making wogma a ground for healthy discussion about the content of the movie.

Discussions about the business around it, is just about as much as I can handle. Numbers without any sound statistical studies is bad enough, adding unresearched religious and political commentary is going to be completely deleted with [comment deleted because of political and religious content] to replace the entire comment.

Fan

Okay, so the year 2016 is coming to an end. And from the last few drops that remain in the pipe, nothing spectacular is expected. Yeah yeah I know Amir Khan is lined up, but after his disguised communal attack exactly a year ago he has lost all forms of credibility.

From the rest that is still in the pipe: Force 2 might be an alright watch, if it continues where Force left. But still it would not be a force to reckon with and to upset the 2016 tables.

Kahaani 2: all promos lead me to think that this is going to be the biggest disaster of this year. It will make Mohenjo Daro look like the finest film ever made. Kahaani is so high in esteem (par with a Wednesday), and the promos of the 2nd installment are completely cheesy and Vidhya seems to be hamming all the way (despite the fact that she is a brilliant actor in the current generation of actors).

What does that leave us? Some Zindagi crap - I leave it for die hard SRK fans (who are dying faster than I am typing).

And that is about it.

So: all in all after an exciting 2015 with the Bahubalis and Bajiraos and Bajrangis the year 2016 has been a completely banal year. Commercially Sultan leads, but artistically or technically it is an average film. Followed by MSD in 2nd place with an approx. 125 cr collection. That's it. All the others just trying to make a difference but failing.

On star power, Akshay Kumar still reigned. With 3 movies released, and all 3 crossing the 100cr marker, his aggregate in 2016 is 300cr +

Maybe the absence of Deepika Padukone film made the year lose out? In the past few years, she has been at the spearhead of each commercial blockbuster.

On the hatke films, very few remain in memory. Neel Battey Sannata is very high. Aligarh is a good attempt. And that is about it.

So good riddance to a rubbish year (from Hindi films aspect). Year marked by stupid commercial driven controversies created by Kashyaps and Johars. And the year is not complete, wait for Dangal to contribute in the controversies.

Looking forward to 2017, with Kaabil to start the year. Going by the promos, if the love track is kept within a song sequence, then the movie promises to be a great watch. If the love track is going to take up one hour, then the movie will go down the drain.

Anup

Fan - u seems pretty pessimist for the upcoming lineup. its almost like u want those movies to be bad.
Yes Dear Zindagi seems average. Force 2 has a nice trailer , Kahani 2 seems interesting , without much giving away , Befikre seems just a fun movie nothing more but i have hopes on Aditya Chopda's direction. Really liked Dangal's trailer , the way Amir's character has been sidelined to his daughter's character. Much better then Sultan and yes its first song's video is very entertaining too.
For the movies already released , my Fav are NEERJA , KAPOOR AND SONS , UDTA PUNJAB and PINK (best of this year , a 10/10 for me) . And all 4 didnt come on your comment but i guess better you didn't mention them then criticizing them.

Anup

Infact Pink made almost 250% of its budget and Neerja even more then 250%. Only other movie which compete with these two on ROI basis is Sultan.

Anuj

@Fan : I'd like to know your rating of Airlift, Neerja, Kapoor & Sons and Pink out of 10. For me, they're the top 4 of the year with Shivaay and MSD being at #5.

1. Pink 8/10
2. Airlift 8/10
3. Neerja 8/10
4. Kapoor & Sons 8/10
5. Shivaay 7/10
6. Sultan 7/10
7. Wazir 7/10
8. MSD 7/10

Dangal and Kahaani 2 might change equation here.

Anuj

BoxOfficeIndia.com's constant manipulation and downgrading not withstanding, another reliable website BoxOfficeIndia.co.in records Shivaay at ₹ 97 cr in 18 days. Collections have slowed down due to demonetization. However, the movie is still the first choice for audiences in B/C centers even now. 100 CR calling for this one man action/drama/adventure. After BAAHUBALI last year, SHIVAAY has well and truly raised the stakes as far as action choreography and Visual effects are concerned. Kudos to the 2 time NATIONAL AWARD Ajay Devgn. Keep rocking! #HarHarMahadev

Anuj

@Anup : ROI is only one half of a movie's "final verdict" and has nothing to do with "audience acceptance and word of mouth". Pink and Neerja targeted 25% of the total audience so in a best case scenario they could generate 1 CR footfalls. Both the films generated footfalls in the 65-70 lakh range. Both the films started at 4-4.5 CR nett on day 1 and ended up with 65-70 CR nett lifetime total. That's >12 times their day 1 numbers and a 95%+ word of mouth among the people who'v watched the films. Contrast this with last year's PIKU, it started at 5 CR on day 1 and ended up with a lifetime number of 78 CR and recorded 80 Lakh footfalls. However, PIKU was a more expensive film. On ROI, PINK>PIKU, on Word of mouth they're both the same but on footfalls, PIKU>PINK. And hence the final verdict for both the films is a HIT+ although since PIKU has higher footfall thank PINK, PIKU becomes a more "popular" of the 2. That because PIKU is a light heated family drama while PINK is a broody thriller. And Indian audiences, both urban and mass prefer the romance/comedy/family drama genre a lot more than action/thrillers (star worshipping not withstanding).

http://bollywoodboxofficedata.blogspot.in/

Fan

@Anup : my remarks are on money made. I mentioned second highest around 125 cr and the rest below them. I did say that Force2 looks interesting, but I doubt that it would break commercial barriers. Kahaani2, the first trailer was horrible, the second trailer is alright. Befikre is for 2017, isn't it? As regards Dangal, I don't want to give too much credit to someone who regularly makes racist and communal remarks against only one community.

Anuj

@Admin : I don't see the point in publishing comments 2 days after they've been typed out under the pretext of "monitoring". Anything >2 hours and the entire essence of the comment is lost at most times.

Anup

Fan - Befikre is on 9tth Dec .
I was talking about money too. Isnt Pink and Neerja are superhit with their budget. Dhoni earned 125cr with over 100 crs budget.
And i thought we are here to discuss about the movies and not the personal life of actors , if thats the criteria , then Salmaan should be the last person who should be mentioned here.
And yes obviously , nobody discuss on this forum if any actor do something good , rather they only discuss if something bad happens that too with their own personal choices.

Anup

Such an irony , when i started reading reviews in this forum few years back , it was all about quality of movies was discussed , but now a days its just about money what is discussed.
People even start mentioning what a movie is earning , without even watching the movie by themselves . Doesnt make sense , does the audience gets the money a movie earn. No. Rather they get a quality movie , doesnt matter it earned or not , and for the audience thats important. Yes ofcoarse we dont want our Fav movies to be flop , but thats only secondary.

Fan

@Anup: see my earlier posts on Salman being a convicted criminal before shooting. I am quite consistent in my position. As regards Amir, sorry but his actions speak louder than your words. The guy is a hypocrite, and has selective pangs of hurt and human rights awakenings. And selective is unacceptable.

Human rights must not distinguish on religion, color, creed, caste, gender, age, ... If you agree on this basic principle then you would see through the pattern of Amir. You need to remove your adoration goggles to see the true colors of the guy.

Fan

I was under the (false) impression that Befikre is in 2017. Hence missed it from my list.

@Anuj I agree 2+ hours is unacceptable. Actually, even 2 minutes of delay is not good which is why there was no moderation for repeat commenters. However, unacceptable language that takes the discussion away from the movie has forced me to take some measures.

Anyway, this is the way it is because I cannot go through comments more than once a day and sometimes once in 2-3 days. I am equally unhappy with this situation, but will have to live with it.

@Anup I completely agree. That's why this new moderation policy. Hope it will help bring the discussion back to the movie. Who knows some day I will add "no business talk" to the list of "moderated" too. Let's see how it goes.

Fan

@Anuj: Sorry, I had not seen your post. And I would have most likely missed it had not my explorer by chance positioned the screen after refresh on your post.

Let me make an attempt to answer it.

With the exception of Pink and MSD, for all the other films that you have mentioned in your post I have put my rating on the relevant wogma review pages. Nevertheless, to summarise:
I enjoyed watching all those films (probably Airlift a bit less), and if I am not mistaken then I have given a Yay Thumbs Up on their individual pages. Having said that, I do not feel like watching them again, not even in parts. Let me explain:

Often I have nothing to do, and am just switching the TV channels in an effort to find something that I might like to watch whilst whiling away my time. At that time, if I come across any channel playing any of these films, then I would not stay on the channel for a few minutes to give it a relook. I would just continue switching the channels. So, even though I did enjoy them when I watched them, having watched them they do not hold any special attraction for me to give a full or partial re-look.

This is not the case for the 2015 films. For instance, a Bahubaali or a Bajirao or a Drishyam would make me want to see a couple of scenes before continuing on my exercise of channel switching. Similarly, a Kahaani or A Wednesday would make me pause and take a re-look. None of the 2016 films that you name give me that urge. And that leads me to say that they are good films, but they all are at the same level. None is better or worse than the other. And certainly they are not exceptional.

Coming to the special case of Airlift, as I wrote in my review on the wogma page, I found it like a documentary. Does not mean it is bad, but it did not have the filmy touch. Yes, the goosebumps were there. Yes, Akshay Kumar gave one of his best performances. Yes, it gives a pretty good patriotic feel. But it still looked like watching a documentary. I cannot put my finger on the real reason for that, but I never got the feeling of watching a film - with the inherent anxieties, adrenaline, what-next, etc. I think that what also probably spoilt it for me is the massive hype that was already built up by the time I saw the film. And most likely the hype made me to expect something out of the world. And these expectations (which were unrealistically high due to the hype) not being matched, the experience was not ecstatic (artistically speaking).

Anyways, so in short, enjoyable films to watch once, but nothing memorable. At least for me.

Au revoir.

Anup

Anuj - for me ROI is the best judgement of a movies success (as much as business prospects go). A good movie is a movie which knows its target audience and made on a budget that could guarantee a hit according to that target audience. A movie which is seen by more people but didnt get much on ROI due to its high budget is a less successful film (yes m pointing at MSD).
AS once Ajay Devgan gave a very nice comment on movie business "MOVIES NEVER FAIL, ITS THE BUDGET WHICH FAILS"

Anuj

@Anup : ROI is a business verdict and is imperative only for the producers, distributors and exhibitors. It is not a true indicative of the audiences' response. Ex, Murder 2 and Ek Villain were Super hits on ROI but among the audiences, the word of mouth was extremely mixed for both the films and hence these movies hardly lasted in theaters beyond the first week. The final verdict for a film has to be a combination of ROI as well as audience verdict/footfall/trending. With regards to box office discussions, I do not see anything wrong with that as box office knowledge gives us a reality check of some of these so-called hits and false media propaganda stands exposed. Did u know that HAHK recorded over 2 crore more footfalls thank DDLJ? The media would have you believe that DDLJ was the biggest bollywood hit since Sholay but factually, its footfall count is even lower than Gadar. Did u know that DCH was just an Average grosser and just a 3 city hit? Ditto for RDB (although post multiplex/internet piracy era the footfalls have drastically reduced and even the biggest multiplex era hit 3I recorded just 3.3 cr footfall which is nowhere near DDLJ and Gadar). The media would have you believe otherwise! Nothing wrong in knowing facts even if they go against your personal choices.

Anup

Anuj - m not saying that m against the discussion about box office , m saying that the content of the movie is more important thing to discuss..Which doesnt happen here anymore. There were numerous times i find you duscussing about the movies business without even mentioning whether you by ur self has liked the movie or not.
Nobody watches movies so they become hit , nobody watches movie so they can spread good word of mouth or bad word of mouth , people watch movies for their own satisfaction , and that's the most important thing to discuss..Like i said before , what business a movie did is only secondary to it..
And yes , the ROI discussion by me was about the business verdict not about whether people like that movie or not..or how long a movie ran in the theater or how good the word of mouth was.

@Anup I would really love to have discussions here about the movie for its content rather than its business.

Anup

@meeta cant help it. have to talk about what others are discussing. although i try to change the topic

@Anup Thank you!

Anuj

@Fan : Totally agree with you on Airlift. That's where I found BABY a lot more gripping and edge of the seat thereby making it a lot more watchable on repeat viewing. I never saw you write your views on BABY and PINK as yet though!

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