New Year Action!

The spectrum of directorial talent coming in for 2011 is wide. it stretches from the veteran actor pankaj kapoor (mausam) to david dhawan’s son rohit (desi boyz). there weren’t too many actors turning directors in 2010. only jugal hansraj and parmeet sethi. in 2011 we are bound to see a further fall in the number of actor-directors for the simple reason that the two areas of activity now involve special skills that preclude multitasking.  therefore filmmakers david dhawan and ravi chopra have allocated the directorial and acting responsibilities to their two sons respectively. subhash k jha enlists directors to watch in 2011…


Kiran Rao
Film: Dhobi Ghat
Introduction: Aamir Khan’s better-half turns director with three stories featuring three different protagonists, one of course being, ahem ahem… Aamir himself.
USP: Aamir as producer seldom fails. Aamir as actor never fails. Plus the film looks very European in its classiness.
Downer: Barring Anurag Kashyap’s Life In A Metro, episodic films have never worked in Hindi. Also the film looks too European.


Rohit Dhawan
Film: Desi Boyz
Introduction: Chip off the old block; David Dhawan’s Beta No.1
USP: Fresh lively look with an endearing cast of Akshay Kumar, John Abraham (back together after Garam Masala), Deepika Padukone and Chitrangada. Rohit has his Papa’s blessings.
Downer: Director-sons seldom strike gold. Ramesh Sippy’s son Rohan will never make Sholay. Does anyone remember Chetan Anand’s son Ketan? And Satyajit Ray’s son Sandeep is still struggling to get out of the shadows.

Ali Abbas Zafar
Film: Mere Brother Ki Shaadi
Introduction: Has assisted several directors at Yashraj including Shaad Ali and Kabir Khan.
USP: Imran Khan–Katrina Kaif together for the first time. Need we say more?
Downer: Haven’t we just seen a full-on wedding film from Yashraj? Band Baaja Baraat again?


Raghav Dhar
Film: My Friend Pinto
Introduction: Assisted Mani Ratnam and Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
USP: With Prateik Babbar in the title role, and Mumbai at its backdrop My Friend Pinto should get sizeable support in the metros.
Downer: Barring Julie and Black, Hindi films on the Anglo-Indian community didn’t grab mass attention. Even Saeed Mirza’s Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hai which starred Prateik’s mom Smita, was an arthouse oddity.


Remo D’Souza
Film: F.A.L.T.U
Introduction: Well-known choreographer; has directed a very successful Bengali film.
USP: Brings to the table some years of experience; is making a young vibrant campus film.
Downer: Except Farah Khan, choreographers have been disastrous directors. Hope audiences don’t take the title to heart.



Yogesh Mittal
Film: Yeh Faasley
Introduction: Has assisted Raj Kumar Santoshi.
USP: Has the guts to make a father-daughter film and to release it on the same Friday as Kiran Rao’s Dhobhi Ghat. Brave boy!
Downer: Father-daughter films – from Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Anupama to Ramesh Behl’s Indrajeet to Surendra Kumar Bohra’s Saajan Ka Ghar to Vikram Bhatt’s Aetbaar –seldom work.




Siddique Lal
Film: My Love Story
Introduction: Super-successful South Indian director.
USP: After Ghajini by Murugadoss and Wanted by Prabhu Deva, Siddiqui could complete a hat trick of South Indian directors in Bollywood.
Downer: Hard for South Indian director to translocate the culture-specificity of the South into Mumbai.



Shiamak Davar
Film: A Slumdog Millionaire Goes Dancing
Introduction: Superstar choreographer.
USP: Knows the whole entertainment industry on first-name terms.
Downer: Choreography and direction are separate vocations.

Shakun Batra
Film: Short Term Shaadi
Introduction: Has assisted Farhan Akhtar, Abhishek Kapoor and Abbas Tyrewala.
USP: With Kareena Kapoor and Imran Khan coming together finally and Karan Johar for producer, this one needs no further recommendation.
Downer: Not another ‘Shaadi’ film, please!

Deven Khote
Film: Phillum City
Introduction: Years of solid experience as a producer.
USP: Knows the business of entertainment.
Downer: Film sounds too culture-specific. Is the audience in the mood for some niche harkatein?



Mrighdeep Lamba
Film: Mad Madder Maddest
Introduction: Has assisted Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.
USP: A small budgeted sensible comedy about three brothers played by three talented actors, the good Shreyas Talpade, better Deepak Dobriyal and the best Om Puri.
Downer: Glutted with comedies.