In these hard economic times, if your 2009 New Year Resolution is to cut back on wasteful spending and save money for the rainy days ahead, we suggest you start in the fading days of 2008 by skipping this piece of stolen junk called Ghajini.
Yes, the Hindi Ghajini is the same stolen piece of shit that director and thieving swine A.R.Murugadoss palmed off as his creation in its Tamil predecessor.
Many of the similarities we pointed out in the Tamil version between Ghajini and the Hollywood classic Memento are to be found in the Hindi version as well. We won’t refer to the similarities again here but you may see the list of copied scenes here.
The Hindi Ghajini’s story here hews mostly to the Tamil Ghajini, which Murugadoss stole from Memento.
A young man Sanjay Singhania (Aamir Khan) develops an unusual condition of being unable to form new memories for longer than 15 minutes because of a violent blow to his head in a brutal attack that also led to the death of his girlfriend Kalpana (Asin).
Like Leonard Shelby in Memento, the young man Sanjay is now consumed by revenge and uses an elaborate system of tattoos on his body, notes and photographs to go about his day-to-day life.
Aamir Khan Disappoints
While Ghajini is a crude piece of shit compared to the masterpiece Memento, the bigger disappointment here is Aamir Khan’s mediocre performance. Hey, we’ll go as far as saying that Surya did a superior job in the Tamil Ghajini.
With his torturous overacting in frame after frame, Aamir Khan left us in a fury of frustration and brought back unwelcome memories of yesteryear Tamil actor Sivaji Ganesan, who was guilty of the same offense in most of his movies.
Whether in the stunt scenes as he bashes up more than a dozen guys or the romantic song/dance scenes or when he first tells Kalpana in the bus that he loves her or when he screams in the hospital as he peruses his diary, Aamir Khan flounders and flounders and flounders.
In contrast, Surya in the Tamil version was far more effective in the pre-violent attack scenes with his bemused expression as Kalpana spins a big yarn about the big businessman Sanjay Ramasamy being smitten with her.
When Aamir Khan gets angry in Ghajini, it’s with the ugly intensity of a neanderthal; when he smiles in romantic scenes with his teeth showing and lower lips bent inwards, it’s with the deportment of a retard; when he sings/dances, he excites as much interest as the blind singer on Indian railway platforms.
In short, Aamir Khan is painful to behold in Ghajini; And even more painful when we consider that we are shelling out mucho moolah to see this kinda nonsense.
In not one scene did we see Aamir Khan do more than go through the motions of acting.
Asin – Same Tormentor
Asin is the same beastly tormentor in the Hindi version of Ghajini version. To waste any space on this bimbette would be a waste of our time and yours. If you are in a masochistic mood, you may see the lengthy list of her inadequacies here.
Jiah Khan
Compared to that hideous monster Nayantara in the Tamil version, Jiah Khan did a reasonable job as the medical student getting involved in the male protagonist’s life because of her interest in short-term memory issues.
Other Stuff
Pradeep Rawat has done a better job as the villain in the Hindi version. Also, the final fight scene was not as horrendously crude as in the Tamil film with the twin villains.
With tighter editing, the 3-hour movie could have been cut short by about 20-25 minutes.
Music
Although music in Ghajini is above average, the picturization of all the songs were below par. Our favorite songs were Behka and Hai Guzarish.
Safe to Skip Ghajini
As we said at the outset, in these hard economic times to waste money on a stolen stinker like Ghajini is a sin.
If you are looking for entertainment this holiday season, rent Memento from your local video library. Why watch bad stolen copies like Ghajini when you can watch the original (if you live in the U.S, we strongly recommend Slumdog Millionaire).
Related Stories:
Ghajini Collapses at Box Office
Ghajini Box Office – Not Impressive
Ghajini Review – Aamir Khan Disappoints in Stolen Shit added by SearchIndia.com on
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Rediff review is out…
http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/dec/24hum-do-humaare-memento.htm
2 and a half star…
Why that Taran adarsh gave it 4 and a half bullshit?
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Have you seen Memento?
And what do you feel, comparing Tamil & Hindi versions, which one is slightly better?
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Both are crap…make that stolen crap but Surya did a better job, particularly in the pre-violent attack scenes.
In our view, the Bollywood stars are better at media management and marketing themselves. But ultimately, they are the same overrated buffoons.
What Aamir Khan did on the screen in Ghajini was not acting, but showing the middle finger to fans and yelling it at them- Take it, You Suckers.
Just because you put some fancy clothes on an old man Aamir Khan (43-years old) doesn’t really make him young.
Just because you call someone Ultimate Star doesn’t change the fact that he is really Ultimate Kuppa Star.
Just because you call Abhishek Bachchan an actor doesn’t make him one.
Just because you call A.R.Murugadoss a director doesn’t change the fact that he is a thief.
what according to you is the best picturised song?
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Will answer this later. We are rushing off to watch the new Clint Eastwood movie Gran Torino.
We’ll edit this very comment when we respond to your question.
Lol, you guys really are “love em” or “hate em” kinda guys huh! 😛
Havent seen the movie yet, so can’t comment! But I do trust Aamir to not go over the top with his acting.
And I really hope the ending is different. If not for the ending (nayantara and the needless twins sub plot), the tamil version was watchable(that is if you have it in your heart to forgive the plot stealing from memento).
SearchIndia.com Responds (via iPhone):
Waiting for Gran Torino (new Clint Eastwood film) to start. Review coming later today. 11:00 AM EST.
Thanks for the review. Couldnt watch Ghajini yesterday as the prints got held up in some airport. As we say mockingly in mallu “petti ethiyilya” 😀 .
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write above: Couldnt watch Ghajini yesterday as the prints got held up in some airport.
Lucky you.
We were not so blessed although we were skeptical whether there would be a screening at all given all the background noise about court stay & all that.
There were no problems at AMC Lowes in New Brunswick, NJ. There were about 13-15 people for the first show of Ghajini in North America.
You must be a the most biased and shallow reviewer I have ever seen. Remember that every reviewer should be able to understand the plot and nuances…and more importantly learn in the process of reviewing by appreciating a wide variety of movies…A balanced review is more important to qualify as a reviewer. There is no single actor or actress who is perfect, as the word itself has different meanings and expectations in different countries, regions, etc…A majority of indian population do not understand the subtle emotions that are portrayed by legends in hollywood. If the criteria for good acting is about showing your emotions, then the definition of acting varies across different countries…When most people around you are not subtle in showing emotions then why do you expect all the actors in a movie to be subtle. Acting is not about showing the best quality in people. It is about showing the reality.
I agree that taking ideas from hollywood is bad and not original…we should be ashamed of not able to come up with a good script on our own…but it can be justified if the director acknowledges the inspiration and popularizes it in india. not many people in india would have seen momento or Amelie… How many people in the world would have come with the concept of helping a blind man giving a brief summary of daily activities..such extraordinarily novel cute ideas are worth sharing…
Asin does not fit the zero size model category, but she is definitely a good actress…..A lot of international movies especially french, italian and spanish are much better than the blockbuster hollywood…The definition of acting, physical attributes can not be defined in absolute scale…
Aamir and Asin have been very enthusiastic and dedicated in giving a wonderful performance. You can be as shallow in your thought process as possible and blame them….but remember that they are very talented and you can not stop their success…They will keep accomplishing great things while you may continue to live your pathetic life whinning about insensible things and maybe foolishly take pride in it 😉
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: A majority of indian population do not understand the subtle emotions that are portrayed by legends in hollywood
Ah, we see that you have ascended the Mount Everest of stupidity.
* By your asinine logic, Indian movie fans will not understand someone is sick unless he coughs non-stop and pukes blood in the bathroom (Surya in Vaaranam Aayiram)
* By your asinine logic, Indian movie fans will not understand someone is angry unless he screams like a neanderthal whose lunch has been snatched away (Aamir Khan in Ghajini)
* By your asinine logic, Indian movie fans will not understand someone is in love unless he screams like an idiot Tu mere samne (Shahrukh Khan in Darr)
* By your asinine logic, Indian movie fans will not understand someone is gay unless the character behaves like an effeminate dolt (Dostana & Fashion)
* By your asinine logic, Indian movie fans will not understand someone is sad unless the characters have shed a copious amount of tears (Nirupa Roy or A.K.Hangal in a gazillion Hindi movies)
* By your asinine logic, Indian movie fans will not understand someone can fight well unless he has vanquished an army of opponents with just an umbrella (Kamal Haasan in Anbe Sivam)
* By your asinine logic, Indian movie fans will not understand someone can be close friends with another person unless he sings Yeh Dosti (Dharmendra & Amitabh Bachchan in Sholay)
Eureka, now we understand why Indian film-makers shovel out such idiotic movies – Because Indians are such idiots they understand loud garbage only.
Thank you sir. We are beholden to you for helping us understand this riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma of why Bollywood makes shitty movies.
Scoot, you dolt. Speak for yourself not for our smart countrymen.
2. You write above: Aamir and Asin have been very enthusiastic and dedicated in giving a wonderful performance. You can be as shallow in your thought process as possible and blame them….but remember that they are very talented and you can not stop their success…
Oh, you schmuck, can’t you see that we are not trying to stop their success…Au contraire, we are trying to prevent their failure. If they don’t improve, even our dimwitted Bollywood fans will eventually see through their inadequacies and dump them.
3. You write: You must be a the most biased and shallow reviewer I have ever seen
You must have us confused with someone else.
There’s not a biased cell in our body and by the way what does shallow mean? Never heard the term before.
4. You write: There is no single actor or actress who is perfect
We are not talking of perfection whatever that utopian concept may mean.
All we are saying is our Bollywood & Kollywood stars can’t act and our directors are mostly thieves.
Is it that hard to understand such a simple thing. God must have taken his LTC vacation (is that what they still call it in India?) when you were born.
5. You write: Asin does not fit the zero size model category,
We don’t know what you are trying to say but we look forward to seeing Asin model for the next round of Tantex banian ads.
How sad that you have an user name like Ram but talk like Ravan.
Screw this movie…you should go watch The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and The Wrestler. They both are really good, especially The Wrestler.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: Screw this movie…you should go watch The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and The Wrestler.
When we watched Clint Eastwood’s new movie Gran Torino today, we saw the trailer of The Wrestler (seemed OK).
Review of Gran Torino coming soon.
all distributors alwa kinditurukanga
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Hope you got some of it.
[Trash Talk]
SearchIndia.com Responds:
True to the user name that we gave you, you write like an idiot.
Aamir never suited the role in the first place … This role requires you to demonstrate lot of anger …which Aamir is incapable of ….at the end of the day …….Aamir can’t act like say Sunny Deol would have done in such movies … the trailer where he screams was a pointer to what can be expected out of him in this movie….
Comparisons with Sivaji Ganesan is inappropriate …..all stars were loud in those days …since they didnt have those dubbing facilities which we have nowadays …..their voice had to reach the mike …be clear despite all the noise around …somewhat like those in drama’s …..this was once clarified by those actors ….Sivaji Ganesan in his later movies like Thevar Magan gave a very restrained performance
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write above: Comparisons with Sivaji Ganesan is inappropriate …..all stars were loud in those days
You may have a point here.
Someone once wrote here (maybe you or one of your Eelam siblings) that the theatre background of the early artists was a major factor for their overacting. Most likely, in some of the smaller towns & villages where the dramas were performed, there was inadequate or no Mikes in the early days i.e. 1920s, 1930s and 1940s.
you have again come up with the same bullshit as you always do. My earnest request once again,please stop reviewing movies and do only documentaries.
one more suggestion….why dont you type one review with a note at the bottom”APPLICABLE FOR ALL THE BOLLYWOOD MOVIES”. I am sure it will save your and many others precious time.(xxcnvjdgwrufdjfjuinjsahnfxx2@#$*)
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write above: why dont you type one review with a note at the bottom”APPLICABLE FOR ALL THE BOLLYWOOD MOVIES”.
Well, at least you have a sense of humor.
Yes, we do plan to reduce the number of movie reviews & expand coverage of other subjects. India, thankfully, is fecund territory to explore any topic.
2. You write: My earnest request once again,please stop reviewing movies
We’ll give it as much (meaning as little) consideration as we usually give to all your cockamamie suggestions.
3. But the fact of the matter remains that Ghajini (like a lot of Indian movies) is stolen shit.
But the movie has got positive reviews from critics all over india. Apart from tatoos and polaroids nothin is inspired ,there are lot of stuffs that are original-story,screenplay,narration..you can’t call it a complete scene by scene copy. Also every review has mentioned about asin’s performance and lauded her screen presence,only u seem to contradict.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write above: But the movie has got positive reviews from critics all over india…..Also every review has mentioned about asin’s performance and lauded her screen presence,only u seem to contradict
Wrong on both counts.
We’ll give you just one example – Rediff (Raja Sen)
Excerpts from Raja Sen’s Rediff review:
* the entire romantic part of the film is so depressingly obvious that it doesn’t work at all, and only serves in slowing down the momentum of what would be an entertaining action film.
* A large part of this blame must be assigned to the leading lady. Granted, Asin is straddled with a character that begs the suffix -ine to be tagged onto her name, but a strong performance could certainly have salvaged this half of the film.
* The film itself is impressive in bits, with some terrific sequences, but the romance takes away its thunder. It is a breezy watch that could have been a really crackling one, and while there really is timepass fun to be had, the overwhelming feeling is one of regret.
2. For the long list of similarities between Memento and Tamil version of Ghajini, please click here. Many of the similarities are applicable to the Hindi Ghajini as well.
3. There’s no such thing as a complete scene-by-scene copy in Indian movies. Because to accomplish a verbatim copy one would need intelligence & talent, both lacking in our film-makers.
You said you were going to write a story.Have you finished it?
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Work in progress.
What u r saying is partly right. Indian actors dont act that well when compared even to lesser known Hollywood actors. However when presented with a right script, they do try to put a natural performance(Ex, Sharukh in Kabhie Han Kabhie Naa, Amitabh in countless movies.)
With an eye on the boxoffice however most of the actors have given idiotic performances in several of their films. (Ex, Sharukh in Mohabbatein)
However you can not discredit Amir completely as an actor. The most notable feature of Amir in Ghazni is that he has tried to portray a character of a guy who is in search of something that he had lost. Look at his facial expressions and his mannerisms. Thats what it all suggests. That he is a guy in search of something that he had lost. The pain in him however is because he does not know what he had lost actually. I think Amir has brilliantly portrayed these emotions.
After the goons erase all the tattoos from Amir’s body and Amir is in the hospital, there is actually lack of any emotion in his face. This depicts absolute vaccum in his life–as the tattoos and other proofs such as the photos are the only means for Amir to identify himself and his past.
I havn’t watched the original (Memento). I guess it will be brilliant and I may appreciate the work of the hero as outstanding. But I dont care. I would like to give credit to Amir in what he has done well. That of a guy in search of his own self. I think it identifies with all of us. We are always in search of that something in our lives.
And Amir truly has given faint expressions with Asin around and gives the impression of a guy who can handle a business empire pretty well but does not have a good romantic quotient. I guess for this reason you called him retard. However the same Amir went out of his way to woo his phirangi love interest in “Rang De Basanti”. Those are the colours of the man. He tries to be a chameleon in the array of roles that he chooses to work on (unlike Sharukh who has reapeatedly cast himself in similar looking movies of the Chopras and Johars ).
And his film “Lagaan” was nominated to the Oscars. If he was so retarded and dont know acting as you opine, would the jury have selected his film as one among the best five foreign films?
Obviously India has good films and bad films. The hollywood has good films and bad films as well. Many of the Hollywood films are very much retarded (those idiots make the same kind of movies–the world is in danger and the hero has to save the world. Or weird loooking animals have invaded the city and the hero has to kill them… etc.)
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write above: However you can not discredit Amir completely as an actor. The most notable feature of Amir in Ghazni is that he has tried to portray a character of a guy who is in search of something that he had lost. Look at his facial expressions and his mannerisms. Thats what it all suggests. That he is a guy in search of something that he had lost. The pain in him however is because he does not know what he had lost actually. I think Amir has brilliantly portrayed these emotions.
Screaming & jumping around like a neantherthal whose meal has been snatched is NOT acting.
2. You write: I havn’t watched the original (Memento). I guess it will be brilliant and I may appreciate the work of the hero as outstanding. But I dont care. I would like to give credit to Amir in what he has done well
Aamir Khan (like Surya in Tamil Ghajini) acts like a guy who’s a crackpot not a guy who has memory forming issues.
3. You write: Obviously India has good films and bad films
Wrong. India occasionally puts out bad films but more often makes unwatchable horror shows.
Besides the acting part, the other serious issue with Indian movies is their idee fixe with love. Are there no other stories in life worth narrating?
The U.S. is not as colorful a place as India with its extraordinary heterogeneity. Yet Indian movies are so homogeneous while Hollywood movies are so heterogeneous.
That’s one of the ironies of the movie business. A more homogeneous culture puts forth a heterogeneous cornucopia of movies while a heterogeneous vibrant culture like India shovels out only homogeneous shit.
OK. Do you think the tatoos and polaroids were actually Nolan’s ideas?
SearchIndia.com Responds:
If you are trying to defend Murugadoss’ theft of Memento, you are not getting anywhere with your effete points.
Try harder next time.
Hey, did you watch Paruthiveeran? I gave you a Google Video link.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
No, for two reasons.
1. Watching on a small PC screen is not a good experience, particularly for an acclaimed movie like Paruthiveeran. A few years back, we watched Manchurian Candidate on our PC via a DVD & the experience was not nice. The small screens are good only for the naughty films.
We’ll try to get the Paruthiveeran DVD if it’s out.
2. We were busy with the two Ghajinis & Gran Torino.
Memento is one of my favorite movies and Nolan is one of my favorite directors.
Ghajini makes no mention that it is inspired from Memento,gives zero credit whatsoever.
Bollywood directors/writers/producers will learn a lesson only when the movies they plagiarize begin flopping.
Why do these leeches have to steal other movies?
Can’t they fucking think and give their fucking lazy brains some fucking work?
Most of the movies now are “inspired from Hollywood or other foreign films.India has a population of 100 crores and I’m sure there’s a plenty of talent.It is because of these leeches that good movies like Water (Deepa Mehta) fail to make an impact.
I had complete respect for Aamir Khan after he made Taare Zameen Par,but now,he’s acting in a movie ripped from my favorite movie MEMENTO.
I recently saw a Romanian movie 4 weeks,3 months and 2 Days and was amazed. If a tiny country like Romania can make such movies Why the fuck can’t India make such movies.
If anyone wants to watch Ghajini they should download it or pick a pirated copy instead of supporting the bigger pirates?Ironically people selling pirated copies of Ghajini are doing some good to the film society on a whole.
I had loads of respect for Aamir because his last 3 movies RDB,TZP,Lagaan were gems in the Bollywood trash can.
Now,When asked about Ghajini being related to Memento,he responds:
“Ghajini is not a remake or even slightly inspired by Hollywood flick Memonto, but it’s a remake of Tamil film Ghajini. Eight per cent of the film has been a remake of tamil version, while the climax for the Hindi film has been changed a bit because director wanted to it to be fresh.â€
He writes in his blog:
“Murugadoss had heard about a film called ‘Memento’ and the concept had really fascinated him. Without having seen the film he went ahead and wrote his own version of the script and screenplay. Having finished his script he then saw ‘Memento’, found it very different from what he had written, and went ahead and made ‘Ghajini’.â€
Aamir says when he saw ‘Ghajini’ he was impressed by the film, even though he did not like the last thirty minutes of it. Then Aamir saw ‘Memento’ and he found that the two films were very different. Murugadoss had written an original screenplay.
Aamir writes: “I had not seen ‘Memento’ myself until then and was very curious to see it. On seeing it I thanked my stars that he (Murugadoss) had not seen ‘Memento’ before having written his script. I preferred ‘Ghajini’ any day. ‘Memento’ I just couldn’t understand. For those of you who have asked me why I don’t have any problems doing a remake of a Hollywood film, it’s NOT a remake. Watch both films and see for yourself.â€
Murugadoss told him this and he bought it!
Murugadoss,the pirate wrote the screenplay of Ghajini before watching Memento!
Nice collection of similarities Reviewer [this commenter is referring to list on Tamil Ghajini review].
Thanks a lot!
Sorry I posted this in Tamil version Ghajini blog by mistake [don’t worry…we have deleted your earlier comments on the Tamil Ghajini review].
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write above: If a tiny country like Romania can make such movies Why the fuck can’t India make such movies.
Indian movie-makers are lazy, incompetent, thieving slobs for the most part.
And you can see it in the crappy movies that come out of the Bollywood & Kollywood sewers.
These buffoons are the laughing stock on the world stage.
How long did it take India to get an individual gold in the Olympics? 100 years?
Well, it’s going to take at least 100 years for the Indian movie business to get its act together.
2. You write: Bollywood directors/writers/producers will learn a lesson only when the movies they plagiarize begin flopping.
That is not happening in a big way and unlikely to happen.
Neither the movie-makers nor most fans care two hoots about this rampant stealing/copying thing in Bollywood.
While God Tussi Great Ho failed, other stolen works like Saroja, Ghajini, Partner, Heyy Baby…may have resonated at the box office.
Stealing is part of the Indian DNA – India movie-makers steal from Hollywood/other foreign sources & Indian movie fans steal/pirate/illegally download Bollywood/Hollywood movies.
Many Indian grocery stores in the U.S. start selling/renting Bollywood DVDs within two or three days of the movie’s release.
Will The Wrestler,The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Milk, Revolutionary Road, Frost/Nixon, Doubt, The Reader release in India before they are nominated for the oscars? I doubt.
Actually, sometimes I hate the Indian audience turn Ghajini into a blockbuster and the above mentioned movies go unnoticed.
But then again,I realise that Indians are tuned to watching “masala” and glamor filled movies by the filthy writers/directors who lack originality and creativity.
So who’s to blame now?
If the directors make art movies then there are high chances of it flopping and them losing their precious money. To cater to the Indian audience and grow rich in the most effortless way possible, they steal.
Can’t wait for Slumdog Millionaire and Milk. I love Danny Boyle and Sean Penn.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: Will The Wrestler,The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,Milk,Revolutionary road,Frost/Nixon,Doubt,The Reader release in India before they are nominated for the oscars? I doubt.
How long does it usually take for a Hollywood movie to make it to India after it releases here in the U.S. ?
2. Gran Torino (Clint Eastwood) is a hot Oscar favorite too. Better than Slumdog Millionaire.
I dont know about memento but i watched Ghajini (hindi). I did not understand one thing which actually is a flaw in the story that how Aamir collected the first clue of ghajini. in the movie everything was prepared from maps to all the hints..but how did he collect the first clue is still a puzzle.and it was all coincidence how he killed ghajini or his gang member on the college annual day….but while watching movie u dont see all these flaws.
In the whole movie it was never shown how these clues helped him. the clues used to remind him of the murderer of his wife and that was all.
Aamir khan acting was strictly ok…people and other reviewers are rating his act as the best in recent times but i dint see anything in it….he played the role of businessman very well but failed later.
People call Aamir the best in bollywood in terms of acting but i dont think he is actually that good…..
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: I did not understand one thing which actually is a flaw in the story that how Aamir collected the first clue of ghajini
As the medical college professor says in the beginiing of the movie to Sunita (Jiah Khan), Sanjay (Aamir Khan) remembers fragments of the incident (the violent attack).
In any case to look for logic in the thieving swine Murugadoss’ movies is to run on a fool’s errand.
Stealing isn’t a part of Indian’s DNA,it is part of an Indian Filmmaker’s DNA of course and not necessarily Indian movie fans steal/pirate/illegally download Bollywood/Hollywood movies.
Before you blatantly call Indians thieves,you should know that, Before appearing in the Indian grocery shop, American upload it on torrent/P2P sites and P2P/Torrents/illegal download is the biggest in America than anywhere else in the world.
You seem anti-Indian. Not only movies, America is the leader for illegal download of Software/Games/Books/….an endless list. Accusing Indians blindly for every illegal thing without any basis/evidence is bias.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
There is no bias here. Just the plain truth.
We are talking about Bollywood movies/music here. Piracy is indeed rampant. Americans are a little scared of illegally downloading music now after the RIAA campaigns, court cases, media publicity & all that.
Ditto with software piracy. Some piracy maybe but nothing of the scale in India.
Big budget shit Hollywood films like The day the earth stood still, Twilight release on the same day.
Good movies(Critically acclaimed) which are low budget release much later.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Thanks for the info.
gosh, what a bunch of suck-ups!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Stop whining.
If you have nothing better to do than whining, you might spend your time more fruitfully watching Gran Torino. It’s running in a few theaters in your area.
“Some piracy maybe but nothing of the scale in India.”
Like what?
And do you think RIAA campaigns, court cases, media publicity would do anything to instill fear of piracy?The chances of you getting caught for illegally downloading something may be 1 in a quadrillion or less than that.
Americans have more access to computers and internet than most of the countries in the world,certain a number of times more than India.So it comes without saying that USA is the biggest contributor of piracy in the world.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. The RIAA actions, the media campaigns, the expensive lawsuits, hefty fines et al have created considerable fear in the illegal downloaders. The ISPs cooperate with the music/movie industries making it easy to identify the illegal downloaders.
Ditto with software piracy…just not worth it to do those things (though we are sure some stray elements still do it).
2. You write: Americans have more access to computers and internet than most of the countries in the world, certain a number of times more than India. So it comes without saying that USA is the biggest contributor of piracy in the world.
Not sound logic. We have more cars than any other country but our DMVs (Dept of Motor Vehicles) are not havens of corruption like Indian RTO (Road Trafic Offices).
In general, there’s greater fear of law here.
That said, we agree there’s some illegal downloading here but again the scale is vastly lower because the penalty is heavy.
Also, a lot of stuff is affordable here. If you don’t want to buy an entire album, you can buy a single track on Apple iTunes or Amazon MP3 for 99 cents or less.
About Us page:
We usually process most comments promptly except those we consider unacceptable (vulgar, racist, abusive, legally objectionable and malicious attacks on SearchIndia.com fall in this category).
Hmm
I see that racist comments are a part of the unacceptable comments! And then I see this …
You said: Stealing is part of the Indian DNA
And then you go on to diss Indian filmakers- Fair enough! But what’s with the need to generalise and say “Stealing is part of the Indian DNA”.
If that is not racist, I really dont know what is!
You argue that piracy laws are stricter in USA hence piracy is lesser there! How is that different from an Indian DNA. If the rules are stricter in India, we will also be averse to piracy, similarly if the rules are more lax int USA, they will be a lot more “supportive” of piracy. This has nothing whatsoever to do with the general trend of people of a given country. USA has 250million pcs in use in USA, India has about 30 million PCs in use, even 15% of the american pc population is more than the current indian pcs in use. I think this is why they are given such a massive scare.
Come to chennai, and try to get yourself a bootleg dvd copy of any tamil flick that is released and you will know how hard it is to get one. Thats coz thats the only form of piracy that the cops are handling at the moment. They either dont see the online piracy as an issue or they are just not competent enough to handle the technology and costs involved in tackling online piracy. At the same time, you wont have any problems getting your hands on an new english flick that’s come out.
How hard is it to get yourself a bootleg copy of a new bollywood movie in the states? I am guessing not that hard, because the authorities there dont really care if the movie pirated because it doesnt affect them. Its the same everywhere. Be it an american or an indian, if the guy can get it free without serious consequences, he will get it. It is the consequences that make all the difference, and the consequences are handled by the makers/producers and promoters of the product in question. It’s their call where,when and how they want to invest in sufficient measures as per their business viability.(Special reference to the “where” in this context). By your own arguments, you accept that it is the “heavy penalty” that is the difference between the piracy situation in India and USA and yet you make the wonderful statement “Stealing is part of the Indian DNA”.
Again!! If that is not racist, I dont know what is!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write above: And then you go on to diss Indian filmakers – Fair enough! But what’s with the need to generalise and say “Stealing is part of the Indian DNA”.
If that is not racist, I really dont know what is!
Calling a spade a shovel may be hyperbole but it’s not a racist taunt.
It’s not racist to say any of the following – Blacks have higher rate of incarceration in the U.S., Muslims are the perpetrators of most retail bombings lately, Christians have unleashed more violence than members any other religions, Many Hindu Brahmins still nurse hatred/contempt toward the other castes, Stealing is part of the Indian DNA…
The above and below are facts not opinions.
Indian moviemakers steal from Hollywood. Indian fans steal from Indian moviemakers, India politicians steal from the tax payer (Some years back in Gulbarga, Karnataka just before the World Bank monitoring team visited a bank-assisted project, dozens of lorries filled with water and construction material were shifted to the site to give the appearance of so much work being done there…multiply that kind of theft/corruption by a billion), Indian citizens steal from the state by not paying tax (some Bollywood stars once claimed to be NRIs to pay less tax)….the list is ad nauseum ad infinitum. In such an overall noxious atmosphere, laws have no meaning and what laws there are on the books have no teeth. So your argument on deterrence becomes meaningless in that Hobbesian land.
While strong laws are a factor in deterring folks from stealing movies/music in the U.S., stealing is in the Indian DNA. While it’s most visible in movies/music/computer software, it’s noticeable in other arenas too. Go to an Indian jewelry or appliance store in Jackson Heights (NY) or Oak Tree Road (NJ), the first thing you’ll hear is Indians telling the store owners not to charge tax and they are ready to pay cash (even for appliances), stealing Wi-Fi, stealing satellite broadcast….
As we never tire of saying, you can take the Indian out of India but not the India out of Indians.
Indians will be Indians whether they are in Vyasarapadi or Virginia, Kallakuruchi or Kentucky, Parangipettai or Philadelphia, Nagercoil or New York. Things may change but it’s going to take a long time for attitudes and a dominant culture to change (decades, if at all). Won’t happen in your lifetime or ours.
2. Chennai/Tamil Nadu must be an exception if the cops are addressing piracy. This is probably because the film industry & politicians are in bed together in the state.
No one knows where the film industry ends and where politics begins in Tamil Nadu. It’s a continuum where one smoothly merges into the other. That’s probably why you have drama like MLAs ripping off the dhotis and saris of fellow members inside your legislature halls and hurling slippers at each other.
Clausewitz once said, war is a continuation of state policy by other means.
In Tamil Nadu, Politics is merely a continuation of film roles played by heroes and heroines on a larger stage.
Cassandra like, we’ve been warning that the intersection of politics+films+broadcast business (Sun TV and their recent foray into movie production) is very dangerous to the common man & can pose a serious threat to democracy (even the odd kind that exists in India). Each of the three elements supports the other two elements and makes it very difficult to replace your leaders.
@ SI Guys..
Yep one of my all time favorites. We can’t even dream such a movie from those thieving swines. They keep doin this(pls don’t call it a copy, it’s a pathetic attempt to copy/remake) and we get lot of dumb movies…
Ah about memento, Even if it was released no one in India will accept it, what we need is shitty copies. Add some romance. 3 songs. And some revenge. Congrats. There’s a movie! Now hire some reviewers and let them give the stars for ya…
Really hopless abt indian cinema! After seeing TZP had a hope that aamir could bring a little change. This movie was a huge letdown. 😡
By the way have you seen Motorcycle diaries? recommended, but before that i recommended you Manichitrathazhu remember?
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write above: By the way have you seen Motorcycle diaries? recommended, but before that i recommended you Manichitrathazhu remember?
We’ll see The Motorcycle Diaries today. Netflix does not have Manichitrathazhu.
ten pounds down the drain 🙁
Very very disappointed. After TZP expected Aamir to come out with atleast a watchable movie. I guess i forgot that he also is a part of Bollywood.
The only thing i can infer from his choice of ghajini is maybe Aamir is sending out a message to SRK and Akshay kumar that ” I can also sell shit as successfully as you guys, in fact i can sell it better than you”.
I came across a review in ndtv.com if i remember correctly, where the reviewer praises the movie saying that “it is a throwback to the three hour masala movie extravaganza complete with set peice songs and comedy” or something on those lines. If the reviewer wanted that kinda shit all he/she could have done was to rent a south indian movie (telugu is highly recommended) and he/she would have got extravaganzas of shit with varying states of staleness to suit their tastes.
well, pardon my language… but im really disappointed 🙁
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write above: The only thing i can infer from his choice of ghajini is maybe Aamir is sending out a message to SRK and Akshay kumar that ” I can also sell shit as successfully as you guys, in fact i can sell it better than you”.
Well said.
Just because you list out a bunch of facts and add your racist slander at the end, it doesnt change it to fact!
You say:Blacks have higher rate of incarceration in the U.S.,
Yes fact! If I manage to get my hands on data of people being detained in America and classif according to skin-colour, I wont be surprised if it the max violations come from the black community!
Try saying: It is in a Black American’s blood to be be a crook! Racist slander!
You say:Muslims are the perpetrators of most retail bombings lately,
Yes! Fact! If I take up list of “retail” bombings and look up groups that claim ownership along with investigations and classify them according to religon. I would probably find that it is Muslims with max bombings.
Try saying: Muslims are born with terror in their dna!!
tad racist no?
You say:Christians have unleashed more violence than members any other religions,
With the documented wars that have taken place, if we list by religon, this can be proved/disproved.
Try saying: Christians have it in their dna to inflict pain upon other religons!
You say:Many Hindu Brahmins still nurse hatred/contempt toward the other castes,
Ok! This maybe derived from the communal riots by hindus against minorities in many places in India.
(Btw Love the use of “Many” Hindu Brahmins (emphasis on Many), instead of blindly classifying All Hindu Brahmins as opposed to the comprehensive coverage of the Indian DNA. I want to but I wont ask if you are a Hindu Brahmin by any chance?)
Try saying: Hindu DNA is filled with hatred for other communities. Just not true!
You say:Stealing is part of the Indian DNA…
Where is verfiable proof. Do you have access to this kind of indepth information(wifi stealing etc) about other communities as well? You may be acutely aware of this trend among Indians what with you being a first gen american and all! But that doesnt make it a fact that it is only Indians! Nor does it make it fact that ALL INDIANS (Indian DNA would cover all indians) have it in their blood to steal.
Indian filmmakers steal, Piracy in India most rampant in world!(All facts that can be verified/discarded based on statistics)
“It is in the Indian DNA to steal” : This is just plain racist slander!!
Secondly, glad that you accept “strong laws are a factor in deterring folks from stealing movies/music in the U.S.”, so if you were to remove these strong laws, the average american wouldn’t mind using pirated software/movies/music rite?(considering that piracy is present in a small percent(about 10% wen i last checked the mpaa site) in the states inspite of stringnet rules). So, that injects “stealing” into the “american dna”? Please dont confuse the low piracy rate in USA with “the good and conscientoius dna of american people”. The reason piracy is low is coz of stringent measures and the reason there are stringent measures there(and not in India) is not because American dna is so pure but because America is so much bigger a market than India….I stress..so much bigger….bigger in terms of spending capability, spending population and in turn spending in development of products etc. With this kind of money being involved, they are willing to spend money on anti-piracy!
Thirdly!
Stealing is a crime no? So, if it is in the Indian DNA to steal, there must loads of Indians who have been convicted for stealing in the states? And if we line up all such cases and classify them on nationality, would I find the largest population of “stealing felonies” by Indian population. Or atleast will I find largest percent(among each community) among the Indian community? You can say Indians in India steal all the time and you can probably furnish details of the corruption in our country(I am not denying that) but if, as you say, “stealing is in the indian dna” and “you cant take india out of an indian”, it must be true that an indian anywhere must be involved in stealing. and you should have no trouble getting some cold facts about Indians there!
I hope you accept that the statement made by you is not fact but slander. And one with racist implications at that.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. There’s no racist slander here.
Despite the:
There is quantitative research and then there’s qualitative research (based on techniques like participant observation).
Since there’s little hard statistical data on the ethnic Indian community’s propensity to crime (except in the fastest growing illegal group in the U.S.), we’ve relied on qualitative research techniques.
Our generalization on Stealing is part of Indian DNA is based on intensive observation of our (here our means Indians again) people in different settings over several decades in India, the U.S. and in Europe and Asia (during our travels).
As an obiter dictum, we might even add that many Indian tribes and castes have a reputation for stealing. For example, the Uchalya caste, Zacka-Khail, Gulgulias, Koravers…
Deterrence might not even work with our people. In the U.S., laws are strict (and enforced too mostly) but our people still engage in a wide variety of stealing.
We might add tips stealing by restaurateurs and stealing jobs with fake certificates to our earlier list.
2. Also, keep in mind that the most commonly accepted description of racism is when a member of one community makes disparaging comments (true or false usually becomes irrelevant) against a member of on another community.
For instance when a Black calls another Black Nigga or Motherf*****, it’s a term of endearment not a racist taunt. But when a White guy calls a Black Nigger, the ACLU jumps in.
Likewise when an ethnic Indian (notice we said ethnic Indian) criticizes Indians, it ain’t racism. In this context, it’s more of an opportunity to reduce recedivism rather than racism, also see it as a chance for frank, forthright discussion and soul searching.
3. You write: Try saying: Muslims are born with terror in their dna!!
If the current rate of retail bombing by Islamic terrorists around the world increases, it won’t be long before folks pose the question whether terror is in the DNA of Muslims.
4. You write: But that doesnt make it a fact that it is only Indians!
Is that a defense for our folks stealing – Rob is stealing, Bob is stealing, Dick is stealing, so why not our dickhead Ram join the gang too? If that’s your defense, it’s too effete.
It’s possible that other ethnic groups also have a high propensity toward stealing but our focus here is on ethnic Indians.
5. You write: And if we line up all such cases and classify them on nationality, would I find the largest population of “stealing felonies†by Indian population
We wouldn’t be surprised, We wouldn’t be surprised at all.
if we line up all such cases and classify them on nationality, would I find the largest population of “stealing felonies†by Indian population? From your lips to the FBI’s ears.
Already, Indians are the fastest growing illegal population (ahead of even our Mexican amigos) in the U.S. Illegal immigration is a big crime…when Indians are the fastest growing group of illegals among the gazillion ethnic communities in America, it’s no surprise they don’t think twice before filching Wi-Fi, tips, DVDs, satellite, software (many years back when we were buying a PC from Circuit City in Long Island, the sardar salesman told us, Sab, I’ll give you all the software free…we are inclined to believe that only desis do such shit)
6. You write: I want to but I wont ask if you are a Hindu Brahmin by any chance?)
Whether we are Iyer, Mudaliar or Vanniyar is not germane to this discussion.
On a totally unrelated note:
Your argument about the “politics+films+broadcast” trifecta is very very true.
The situation in Tamilnadu is pathetic when it comes to media!
But it isn’t all that different around the world.
America has become adept at the art of embracing free speech/media and exploiting it at the same time.(Read: Fox News and if not too careful MSNBC for the democrats!)
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Rachel Maddow (MSNBC) was interesting in the beginning but now she’s beginning to sound like Bill O’Reilly without the pecker.
So, I guess
You Said:Is that a defense for our folks stealing – Rob is stealing, Bob is stealing, Dick is stealing, so why not our dickhead Ram join the gang too? If that’s your defense, it’s too effete.
Uhm, Actually it is Rob is stealing, Bob is stealing, Dick is stealing, Ram is also stealing. All I want is for Tony (aka Tarun) to not single out Ram and say it is only in his blood.
You said:we’ve relied on qualitative research techniques.
And yet all your other facts mentioned are verifiable from quantiative research! Could we have some more qualitative research facts on other communities in the USA. Preferably, if they could be as sensational as the previous bunch of facts!
You said:Likewise when an ethnic Indian (notice we said ethnic Indian) criticizes Indians…
Lol dude! C’mon! It is pretty obvious by now that you strongly have American interests at heart (What with being First gen americans!)! In some posts you say I am an American first and occasionally you are an Indian. When it comes from someone like that, trust me, you cant get away with thinking you are being endearing.
I really dont think you should be the guy writing for a site that claims to “talk about issues of the Indian diaspora”.
For a site that caters to Indian diaspora, I am yet to find any post that gives any valid constructive critisicm nor am i able to find many posts that posts anything good about the country. I mean, ok things are bad here, but is it that bad that there is mass migration as seen in many parts of the world? I mean, is there absolutely nothing worth living for in India? Should we all just consider a mass migration to some other country?
Finally You said: Whether we are Iyer, Mudaliar or Vanniyar is not germane to this discussion.
Uhm,actually it was the subtle yet glaring change of tone in that particular fact among your various facts.
You said:Blacks have higher rate of incarceration in
the U.S.,
(All Blacks?)
You said:Muslims are the perpetrators of most retail bombings lately,
(All Muslims?)
You said:Christians have unleashed more violence than members any other religions,
(All Christians?)
You said:Many Hindu Brahmins still nurse hatred/contempt toward the other castes
(All Hindus?…oh wait..its many hindus, that led me to believe you just may be a Hindu Brahmin, because not being an Muslim or a Black or a Christian, all you rely on is media reports etc to derive your conclusions and you have absolutely no qualms in blindly branding them ALL with various tags, the moment it is something that I identify myself with, It becomes many but not all because I know I am not that kind of a guy, and it is exactly for this reason that you have no qualms in branding all Indians with “stealing in the their DNA” because you just dont feel that you are an Indian, you may delude yourself by saying Ethnic Indian and watch a couple of Indian flicks here and there but that just doesnt cut it, does it?)
I am hoping you see this small, non-germane point as a chance for frank, forthright soul searching. It is a good thing this site isn’t managed by a big media house. Or else by now, the management would have stepped in! Unless of course it is headed by someone like murdoch, in which case they would give you your own show like o’reilly!
P.S. If you wouldnt mind could you highlight the last argument that I have written. From “Finally You Said..” to the end. Your Comments posting text box doesnt have formatting tools. You might want to ask your dev team to do something about that.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: I really dont think you should be the guy writing for a site that claims to “talk about issues of the Indian diaspora”.
Whoa whoa. Hold on.
Just because the Clown Prince of the Kingdom of Marijuana doesn’t relish what we write, we should stop writing about Indians or Indian diaspora? What next – stop breathing?
Wonderful.
Among their many venal sins, Indians are the most intolerant folks on planet Earth. It never ceases to surprise us how often we’re proved right. Beneath the veneer of tolerance toward all faiths/opinions, lurks a most hideous intolerance to alternate viewpoints. No wonder, half the time you folks are lashing out at each other literally & figuratively.
2. You write: For a site that caters to Indian diaspora…. I mean, ok things are bad here, but is it that bad that there is mass migration as seen in many parts of the world?
Of course things are depressingly bad in India, except for a few privileged coolies, a few call center employees, a dwindling number of public sector employees on life support and a few other ‘growth’ sectors like biotech, pharma & auto (now badly hit). The vast majority still live on what? Less than $2 a day with no drinking water, no toilets, Nazi era cattle cars for public transport, no roof…
If things were not that rotten in India literally & figuratively, people wouldn’t be queuing up at consulates at 3AM (now they replicate it online by making visa appointments several months in advance) for exit Visas.
If things were not that rotten, Indians would not be the fastest growing illegal community in the U.S.
3. You write: Could we have some more qualitative research facts on other communities in the USA
Sure.
Blacks have no hope at all for many more decades (Many reasons – High crime, father-less homes because Dad’s in prison, lack of role models, teen pregnancy, attitude problem, high high-school drop-out rate, plus the discrimination…).
The obnoxious arrogance of Hispanics means they’re going to get scalded badly on the hot pan of White rage.
Black cops can be as obnoxious as White cops.
4. We still maintain that our Mudaliarness, Iyerness, Vaniyarness or Nadarness is not germane here.
5. BTW, Murdoch is said to loath Bill O’Reilly (Source: NYT Book Review of Murdoch’s biography on Sunday)
6. Identity conflict among first generation immigrants is hardly unique to us.
7. You write: It is a good thing this site isn’t managed by a big media house
Given the current pitiful plight of newspapers, there won’t be any print media houses standing for long, let alone big media houses.
The Newspapers are in very bad shape here. Many have already folded and several are on life support.
The only way we can see good indian films , with a variety of genre, is if the film makers start reading books. In world cinema, most of the classics came as adaptations, But in india, how many we can name?
Most film makers are too lazy to read a book, so they watch a film and draws inspiration or everything from it. We have good writers, indians are getting bookers, its high time we start making adaptations often…
SI WROTE: You write above: Comparisons with Sivaji Ganesan is inappropriate …..all stars were loud in those days
You may have a point here.
Someone once wrote here (maybe you or one of your Eelam siblings) that the theatre background of the early artists was a major factor for their overacting.
My response: I pointed that out, and I AIN’T NO EELAM SIBLING. Versteht?
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Ja, Ja. Wir verstehen sehr gut.
Sigh!
An argument over the internet is just pointless coz more often than not we are arguing for the sake of arguing. I always make a conscious effort to try and understand the other guy’s point of view and change my thought if it is strong enough. There are some points that I have come to agree even though I was opposed to them initially. But you guys (I am inclined to believe “guy”- singular) are not open to any thought that goes against your point of view. (In all your posts!!)
I have also learnt that my views on my country are far different from the opinions of “Ethnic” Indians (Persons of Indian origin). Where you see no hope, I see hope. because not everyone else has the luxury of sitting in states and passing judgement on the pathetic state of affairs here.
Peace out guys!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: But you guys (I am inclined to believe “guy”- singular) are not open to any thought that goes against your point of view. (In all your posts!!)
We know it’s hard for your fossilized mind to believe the following. But it’s the truth.
At SearchIndia.com, we have a catholic bent of mind and a glorious tradition of letting the winds of the world blow through the doors and windows of our house but we will not be blown away (Thank you, Tagore).
Stop being sexist. We could be she, we or, as some have mischievously suggested, even it.
2. You write: I have also learnt that my views on my country are far different from the opinions of “Ethnic” Indians (Persons of Indian origin). Where you see no hope, I see hope
That India has not turned out a basket case like Bangladesh or an all-against-all nation like Somalia is nothing short of a miracle. One of the wonders of the modern era.
Guess, we have to be thankful for that.
More than anything else this film was about marketing and PR. Aamir, I guess, wanted to beat Shah Rukh at his own game.
Don’t know if you remember – in 2007 during Diwali there were two big budget films, “Om Shanti Om” and “Saawariya” released during Diwali. SRK, being the star and producer of “Om Shanti Om” was far more aggressive than Bhansali, the director of “Saawariya”. Never mind the fact that the last few of SRK’s home productions were deservedly disasters (“One Two Ka Four” and “Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani” were made by people who should be castrated) and Bhansali’s films were blockbusters (“Black”, “Devdas” and “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam”). SRK’s strategy was to put up hoardings twice the size right next to Bhansali’s. And it worked like a charm, making OSO the biggest grosser without inflation adjustment (source: http://www.boxofficeindia.com) and Saawariya collapsed.
Aamir effected the same strategy here, ambushing premieres of “Rab Ne…” to promote his film, and the result shows in the revenues collected since Ghajini’s release.
That being said, how would you rate this movie if you did not know it used the basic premise of “Memento”? Most people in the US are familiar with Memento and tend to compare this movie with Memento. On the other hand most of the movie-going public in India is not familiar with “Memento” (happens when a movie gets a pretty small release because it is too tough for the “aam aadmi” to grasp).
So when a movie like Ghajini comes along, with a smart concept dumbed down, using a more comfortable storytelling strategy of 3 flashbacks rather than prolonged non-linear narration, having the customary song and dance insertions, featuring a star who is branded a method actor, and riding on excellent marketing you are bound to have soaring box-office sales. Added to this, the Aamir-Murugadoss team insisted that the movie was different from “Memento”, to get people who watched the former to join the queues as well (technically Ghajini’s story ends before Memento’s begins, so in a way the plot is different, though the plot device is the same). Did anyone think it would flop? I know people hoped it would, but I don’t know if anyone believed it would. Kind of like the feeling I had with OSO (though that movie was way dumber).
On a somewhat unrelated note, I guess my outlook, since quite a while, has become more like Taran Adarsh’s. He gives his “*” rating based on the ability of a movie to succeed rather than any artistic merit. Of course, if it is a good movie that succeeds, it is a bonus. At the end of the day a film-maker is out there to make money, which will explain the depression that Guru Dutt and Raj Kapoor faced when their dream projects “Kaagaz Ke Phool” and “Mera Naam Joker” turned box-office nightmares. In fact “Kaagaz Ke Phool” figures in the top 10 Hindi movies of all time on most lists, along with two other Guru Dutt movies, “Pyaasa” and “Sahib, Bibi Aur Ghulam” (watch them if you haven’t). Aamir, I guess, having essayed a wider variety of roles than most Hindi film actors over the past decade, occasionally does the masala role too – after all money talks. This reminds me of Sean Connery in the “The Great Train Robbery”, where he was asked why he stole 20 million dollars (or pounds? I don’t remember) in an elaborate heist, and he replied “I needed the money”.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write above: More than anything else this film was about marketing and PR.
Sure, marketing & PR will work fine as long as you have idiots for fans.
2. We liked Sawariya better than the Om Shanti Om.
3. You write: That being said, how would you rate this movie if you did not know it used the basic premise of “Memento”?
We can’t get the bad feeling off our mind that Ghajini is stolen shit.
4. At least Mera Naam Joker & Pyaasa had great songs.
You wrote:
4. At least Mera Naam Joker & Pyaasa had great songs.
You probably wanted to say “Kaagaz Ke Phool” instead of “Pyaasa”. Not that you would have been wrong, for Pyaasa’s songs will survive the test of time for at least another 100 years, but it was also a commercial success, unlike “Kaagaz Ke Phool”.
Sorry, just a nitpick.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Wonder if readers remember that Mera Naam Joker had two intervals in the movie. Here (in the U.S.), we usually never have intervals. The only occasion we remember was Jodhaa Akbar.
instead of watching trash of so called superstars of bollywood, watch some nice bollywood movies. You should watch “A Wednesday”.It stars exceptional actors like Naseeruddin shah and Anupam kher. What do you think about these actors.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Naseeruddin shah and Anupam Kher are decent actors. But Kher has mostly been reduced to playing stupid roles like the girl’s father.
We look forward to seeing A Wednesday.
you are such an moron….ghajini did an outstanding job on box office all over india,uk,us and all over the world…..why are you critisizing man ?? if you dun like then shut the f*** off….and warm up your a** sitting at home….if you dun hab talent like amir then why are you doing these nonsense things ??? and if you hab guts then why dun you make movies and act in the movies….? you are sick….!!!! you better do good job and stop critisizing others…..you sucks big time!!!!
STOP THIS BLOG SITE>>>>>moron!!!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: ghajini did an outstanding job on box office all over india,uk,us and all over the world…..
Who says stealing doesn’t pay. It pays BIG TIME.
2. It’d be nice if you could to learn to write in proper English.
3. You write: and if you hab guts then why dun you make movies and act in the movies….?
Guess by your logic, Gandhi, Nehru, Mother Teresa, Jinnah, Indira Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi et al have no guts since they never made a movie or acted in one.
hey man…..most of the people love this movie….why you are the one to hate this movie huh???are you from mars or some other planet???tum amir ka jaani dushman ho kya???and stop critisizing about my english sucker!!!btw gandhi,nehru,m teresa,sonia gandhi,etc ….they are the legends….they didnt critisized about the movies….so you big time sucker!!!stop critisizing others…..dont you got anything to do???stop wasting your time LOSER!!!!big BOOOOOOOO for you!!!!!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write above: and btw gandhi,nehru,m teresa,sonia gandhi,etc…they didnt critisized about the movies
Gandhi, Teresa, Nehru et al had better things to do in life than watch our stolen Bollywood shit.
2. You write: most of the people love this movie
Most people in the world are like you i.e. schmucks.
hey who’s asking u to watch bollywood movies, man. Watch only hollywood movies.
Get a life, dude.movies like ghajini, a wednesday are decent movies. if u find them bad, then my friend, i am afraid, u are suffering from anterograde amnesia.
maybe u got hit by a generic looking pillar while coming out of the theatre. fear not, my friend, fear not, for there is a cure for every disease!!!!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. One of the great things about the Internet is that even chimps, which sadly can’t speak in a human language, can now use the net to sound off.
The flip side is that what chimps type is as unintelligible as their chatter.
2. We’ve seen Ghajini, both the Hindi version and its Tamil predecessor. They are nothing but stolen shit. Of course, chimps have no way of distinguishing stolen shit from the genuine stuff. They all smell the same to simians.
We have yet to see A Wednesday. We got the DVD a few months back but it wouldn’t play on the DVD player but worked only on the PC. So we returned it.
Will try again to get hold of A Wednesday. Unfortunately, it’s still not available on Netflix.
Is this website only for insulting Nayanthara?
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Oh, no. We think Nayantara is an interesting personality. Really.
One of these days, we are planning to do an interview with her.
This is a stupid website….huuuuuu
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Chinnu Babu, perhaps you are confusing between your chinna thalai (small head) & SI.
The movie has done a business of over 2.3 million in US and is the only movie in India to pass 100 crore mark. Indians anywhere in this world are just as stupid and dumb to only watch pathetic movies.
So my dear friend , thanks for agreeing that u r unintelligible. As for Ghajini being stolen shit , memento follows a nonlinear narrative structure unlike ghajini. If u find it so repulsive , then why watch ghajini hindi version after watching tamil version.It would appear that u have watched only 15 min of memento . As for u not watching A Wednesday , jesus , what silly excuses u offer for not watching a film. I am sure you have watched the movie and liked it. So you moron , scoot and take other readers for a ride. You cant take rockee for a ride , u dolt, numskull, dunderhead!!! go watch shit movies like meet the spartans , you will enjoy such movies i suppose. dude , learn to appreciate, praise than just criticize for the sake of criticizing. my friend , learn to appreciate life and offer constructive criticism , you depressed soul!!!!!!God bless u , my son
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Are you a complete idiot?
Why are you in denial that Ghajini is stolen shit
We’ve given so many examples of outright copying in the review of Tamil Ghajini.
And the Hindi Ghajini hews close to the Tamil Ghajini.
Like a lot of folks, we watched Memento twice.
It’s hard to argue with the certainty of a fool.
Is there any movie for which you gave good comment? we should really appreciate aamir khan’s dedication.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: we should really appreciate aamir khan’s dedication
Hitler, Stalin & Prabhakaran were also dedicated in their mission (extermination). Guess, by your asinine logic they also deserve appreciation.
As far as Ghajini, Aamir Khan is a beneficiary of theft. Ghajini is stolen from Memento.
Murugadoss is a thief.
2. You write above: Is there any movie for which you gave good comment?
So many….here we go:
Mullum Malarum
Anbe Sivam
Kaakha Kaakha
Taare Zameen Par
Matrubhoomi
Forrest Gump
Gran Torino
Sweeney Todd
Slumdog Millionaire
Monsieur Hire (French)
Blame it on Fidel (French)
Bicycle Thief (Italian)
Tell No One (French)
Casablanca
On the Waterfront
Sunset Blvd
Pan’s Labyrinth
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Brokeback Mountain
Please click here for more.
i agree that
1.this movie is too much hyped.
2.aamir has done a bad job
3.asin overacts in nearly every scene
4.this movie breaking records in collections is something that will remain a mystery(i’m guessing aamir’s perceived star value and the media hype(not unlike the one sivaji got)).
this movie is definitely not worth watching if you’ve already watched the tamil one(as i had). by the way, asin is far better in tamil (of course, the same scenes in both. but she has not overacted in tamil as she’s did in hindi).
the climax (changed from the tamil one) is pathetic. the tamil one too.
but i have to disagree on murugadoss not crediting nolan bros for the story.
1.both seem to have the same story. memento is the story of the hero with short term memory loss who kills a police officer who takes advantage of him while ghajini is one where the hero goes after his wife’s murderers. in the case of memento, its not revealed who killed the hero’s wife. its we who decide.
2.memento does not have many scenes of the hero and his wife while nearly a half of this film does. i concede the copying of tatoos and photos strategy.
but i would definitely rate memento far far higher than ghajini coz
1.its more practical and real
2.really nice screenplay
3.it came up with the tatooing and photographing hero first
4.the climax is superb.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write above: but i have to disagree on murugadoss not crediting nolan bros for the story.
Sure, there are people out there who believe Elvis is still alive. Just look at the number of Elvis sightings in the world.
Disbelief in the face of hard evidence is not an uncommon phenomenon (Read our 17 similarities between the two movies again. The Hindi Ghajini hews closely to the Tamil Ghajini).
Ghajini in essence is nothing but outright theft.