One look at Shah Rukh Khan’s filmography, and you will notice that, most of his films have received the best of reviews.
Another look at the films, made by critics, and you will notice the common element in most of them, is the Shah Rukh Khan factor.
So while it is a fact that, Shah Rukh has received much critical acclaim, there’s also no denying to the fact that, critics have exploited enough of SRK’s fame.
The most recent example of this could be Samar Khan’s film – Shaurya – starring Kay Kay Menon, Rahul Bose and Minissha Lamba.
Shah Rukh will make a special appearance in the film towards the end, reciting poems!
Popular television film critic-turned-filmmaker, Samar Khan says, “Shaurya didn’t have any role for Shah Rukh. But when the film was complete, I felt there was something missing. Something special was absent. Hence, for this film, I knew that I just wanted SRK to be in it. Then came the poem part and I approached him to recite it.”
Samar continues, “SRK can never say no to anyone. Besides when he heard the lines of the poem he was so taken by it that he just agreed to do it on the spot”.
So a small offbeat film like Shaurya gets that extra star value, even when Shah Rukh comes in for a 2 minute recital!
Samar Khan’s previous film – Kuchh Meetha Ho Jaye – too had Shah Rukh Khan in a cameo. King Khan couldn’t help that film much with his presence, since much harm was done by the time, he arrived in the picture. Samar can only pray that history doesn’t repeat itself now!
When another popular film critic, Khalid Mohammed turned towards filmmaking, Shah Rukh Khan featured in his wish list too.
Shah Rukh was supposed to do an item number in Khalid’s debut film – Fiza – on the track Gaya Gaya Dil, when male item numbers were still not recognized. Unfortunately since the length of the film went over 3 hours 15 minutes, his song was chopped off at the last moment.
However, that didn’t discourage Khalid from approaching Shah Rukh for a second time in his third film – Silsilay – where he finally played the sutradhaar.
Silsilay was about three parallel stories, that were connected together by Shah Rukh, who played a host to the film introducing and interlinking the characters. Unfortunately, this time too, his presence didn’t help the film, which bombed badly at the box-office.
Which makes us ponder, whether SRK is jinxed for the critics?
Is that the reason another popular film critic-turned-filmmaker Kunal Kohli never had Shah Rukh Khan, in his films? And if you come to think of it, all his films from Hum Tum to Fanaa have worked well.
Of course, we know that the script and direction is what matters in the end, but in an industry ruled by myths, superstitions and fallacy, the fate of Shaurya will decide if Shah Rukh Khan is jinxed for film critics turned filmmakers.
Stay tuned in!
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I got a question Ravi and hope if you could answer it: Why the evaluation and rating of any movie is based on the box office income?? For example: If 80% of people love some cheap comedy movies e.g. Kiya Cool Hai Hum, Welcome, etc. and people go to watch only these type of movies, so these movies win at the box office although they’re meaningless and very shallow.
And some excellent movies flop or don’t do well. some of Shahruk Khan’s films didn’t do well at the box office e.g. Dil Se ( my favourite movie for SRK, I saw it 7 times) and Anjaam with Madhuri, it was a very good movie, Asoka which was extremely good with a big production except some comedy scenes which I didn’t like.
Why don’t they rate the movie according to the following: The direction, prodcution, screenplay, music, story, cinematography, art, etc. and they rate the movie according to the distribution and the box office?? Will you please answer this question Ravi. Thanks.
@Fathiya – Answers (to the best of my limited knowledge!):
# Box Office income is very imp. specially in Indian Film market, as this is the first and foremost criteria to “judge” a movie. It’s unfortunate but true.
# Here in India, popularity of a movie is decided by Masses (which consists of front benchers also and that’s y the word “cheap” comes into the picture)
# I loved Asoka (I’ve its DVD!) however the movie was not a commercial success, maybe because the “masses’ couldn’t really understand the concept.
# Hollywood rate their movies according to all those standards you mentioned (screenplay, music, story, cinematography etc) but in Bollywood…well….Box Office rules!
Take care
Thanks Ravi for your reply, even if what you mentioned is a fact, but it’s not fair, totally unfair, sometimes some bad reviews and critics ruin the movie and the whole work of some best directors, see what happened to “Saawariya” Oh.. I couldn’t believe it! I watched Saawariya 3 times and enjoyed as it was really an interesting movie and I considered it best of SLB, unfortunately people didn’t like it much, and found it boring!!!
Saawariya should’ve win – at least – the category of best art direction, but, while watching an award function this year, they gave the award for best Art direction to a very regular movie! I think it was for “Life in a Metro”! Isn’t this crazy and totally unfair?!!
Was the movie really artistic?!!!
Some people tried to ruin by their comments and reviews “Jodhaa Akbar” as well!! How could some write some reviews before watching the movie?! People shouldn’t be allowed to do this but after watching the movie.. only.
@Fathiya – You bet!
Have you seen Jodhaa Akbar?
I simply loved that movie
Take care!
Yah, it was excellent, Ashoutosh Gowariker does quality and good movies, I loved all his 3: Lagaam, Swades & Jodhaa Akbar.
Imagine if people didn’t like Jodhaa Akbar and “Taare Zamine Paar” and found them boring! One boring about a kid, and the other one a historical romantic boring movie, then I would’ve asked all the good directors to quit movies or do some silly ones to satisfy the audience’s tastes!