Not an SOS call worth answering
Film: Son Of Sardaar
Cast: Ajay Devgn (last seen in Bol Bachchan), Sonakshi Sinha (last seen in Joker) and Sanjay Dutt (last seen in Department)
Storyline: The film’s director insists the movie is not a remake of the Telugu production, Maryada Ramanna. He says only the plot is similar. Ajay Devgn, the super sardaar, returns to his native town to find himself in the middle of a family feud. Then he falls for a Punjabi chick. Her older brother (Sanjay, who has put in so much effort to look as bad as he does), obviously wants to hurt him.
Director: Ashwni Dhir
He last directed Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge in 2011. Also starring Ajay Devgn, the film took an average opening at the box-office and is not considered the best piece of work.
Music: Himesh Reshammiya
If the song ‘Pon pon pon pon pon’ doesn’t make you want to jump out of your window, it’ll at least force you to change the channel or kill the radio. Those calling the track “full of masti” probably are in on a joke that we know nothing about; they’ve probably watched the film.
Controversies/stunts
Ajay Devgn felt late Yash Chopra’s film, which also releases this Diwali, has taken up extra screens that rightfully belonged to him. If he hadn’t made a film, whose promos look like they do, the distributors probably wouldn’t have taken up the soppy offer to showcase Shah Rukh Khan’s film as fast as they did.
Marketing/hype
The makers roped in Salman Khan — who seems to have become the hottest item guy in town. He has featured in one song in this film too. Sonakshi Sinha, who reportedly has been trying very hard to be stereotyped, seems to have finally succeeded. No interviews about her “not willing to expoje” have done the rounds.
Our assessment
If you haven’t watched the trailer, you’ve saved yourself some bile, unless you like being spoken to by Ajay Devgn’s flexing chest muscles. The sad part is, a few million who will make this film a ‘hit hai ji hit’, might actually enjoy that. Doesn’t look like a cringe-free experience at all. Jab Tak Hai Khan
Film: Jab Tak Hai Jaan 
Cast: SRK (last seen in Don 2, 2011), Katrina Kaif (last seen in Ek Tha Tiger) and Anushka Sharma (last seen in Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl, 2011).
Storyline: Madly in love, Samar (SRK) enjoys furiously strumming the guitar around international locales. The happy-go-lucky man dances around town waltzing a ‘beautiful’ Meera (Katrina). Then, due to an unavoidable dramatic situation, they part ways. He grows a beard, joins the army and becomes an angry, middle-aged man, until he meets manic pixie happier-go-luckier dream girl Akira (Anushka), who reminds him that they are, after all, in a big-budget YRF production and they have to dance, sing, cry, fall in love again and have life-changing revelations in the next hour or so.
Our assessment
If you haven’t watched the trailer, you’ve saved yourself some bile, unless you like being spoken to by Ajay Devgn’s flexing chest muscles. The sad part is, a few million who will make this film a ‘hit hai ji hit’, might actually enjoy that. Doesn’t look like a cringe-free experience at all. Jab Tak Hai Khan
Film: Jab Tak Hai Jaan Cast: SRK (last seen in Don 2, 2011), Katrina Kaif (last seen in Ek Tha Tiger) and Anushka Sharma (last seen in Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl, 2011).
Storyline: Madly in love, Samar (SRK) enjoys furiously strumming the guitar around international locales. The happy-go-lucky man dances around town waltzing a ‘beautiful’ Meera (Katrina). Then, due to an unavoidable dramatic situation, they part ways. He grows a beard, joins the army and becomes an angry, middle-aged man, until he meets manic pixie happier-go-luckier dream girl Akira (Anushka), who reminds him that they are, after all, in a big-budget YRF production and they have to dance, sing, cry, fall in love again and have life-changing revelations in the next hour or so.
Director: Late Yash Chopra
The veteran filmmaker last stepped behind the camera for Veer Zaara in 2004. He passed away on October 21 this year, days before he planned to shoot one last song for Jab Tak Hai Jaan (JTJH).
Music: AR Rahman
The soundtrack is far from memorable. You’d expect songs like ‘Challa’ and ‘Saans’ from anyone, but AR Rahman. All in all, the maestro seems to have produced a disappointing album with this film’s soundtrack.
Controversies/stunts
Ajay Devgn’s decision to approach the Competition Commission to speak up against YRF’s claim on more screens for its release helped JTHJ grab some eyeballs too. The film has also been banned in Pakistan for the some irrelevant reason.
Marketing/hype
Katrina Kaif, Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma have been going about town talking to every publication and media outlet to keep the buzz going. Probably because they realised the first look of the film (a poster with a long, boring poem printed on it) only inspired a series of Twitter jokes and no curiosity.
Our assessment
There is no denying that all those who enjoy this brand of Bollywood will make it a point to watch this one. But for anyone who would judge a film purely on the basis of its promos, this one is far from enticing. It will bag nominations in every
possible category because it can. The fact that Son Of Sardaar is the other
available option just might help JTHJ achieve
super-duper hit status.
—Compiled by Serena Menon
For the final verdict, look out for Anupama Chopra’s review in the Watch & Listen page in the Hindustan Times
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