Remember the popular civic speech from schooling days? You know the one which goes something like…”Government is of the people, by the people…”
Director Priyadarshan’s latest venture too follows similar line of thought. To sum it up in simple words, Billu Barber is…of the Shahrukh Khan, by the Shahrukh Khan and for the Shahrukh Khan. I know it sounds silly, really silly but believe this is how silly (and boring to the gut) this film is.
It’s like as if King Khan woke up one morning, thinking “Jee…let’s make a film on…Me”. And then again why the hell not? Matlab, let’s face the reality (my sincere apologies to all SRK fans); the man’s Rahul days are long over and with time the stardom too will fade away. And once the popularity sun sets down what will he be left with? Nothing but a film like Billu Barber.
A film which he could watch (once bed-ridden) and re-live his Superstar days, a trophy to proudly show off in front of grand kids and every time get high from the fact…there was a time people literally came in their pants at the mere mention of my name.
I mean let the truth be told, not everyone is born with Amitabh Bachchan’s kismat. The man is touching 80’s 70′s and still romancing (on screen, of course) women half is age. Fate of his films maybe doubtful but his rock star fate forever is shinning. And the closest Shahrukh can get to this – is the Crorepati chair.
So yeah if you can tolerate 3 hours long Shahrukh Khan self prachaar (even when he is not on the screen) then this film may not entirely disappoint you. Otherwise it’s a complete waste of time, something even the ever-so-talented Irfan Khan can do jack shit about.
Comments
17 comments | Add your comment »
M
Feb 17th, 2009 at 11:50 am | #
Some of his best films IMO, were the ones earlier on in his career where he took risks and played negative characters. After that it’s all been one big fucking sellout! I still think he rocks tho.
lmfrz
Feb 17th, 2009 at 2:29 pm | #
It seems you are trying too hard to run down Billu.
1. SRK doesn’t need a Billu to carry forward his legacy or for that matter, to make people/himself remember that he was a superstar once when he retires.
2. Bachchans kismat was such that he did multistarrers all all his life but still some people think those films were hit only ‘coz of Amitabh.
3. Bachchan kismat is such that he had to get a recommendation from Ms Gandhi to get an entry into Bollywood.
4. SRK has gone past AB long ago. That too, in less than half the time. SRK grabbing Crorepati seat was just a reinforcement of the fact.
Sir Sultan
Feb 17th, 2009 at 3:58 pm | #
Nice one Saakshi. Check Satyam’s blog:
http://satyamshot.wordpress.com/
Sir Sultan
Feb 17th, 2009 at 4:15 pm | #
With each passing year and with more and more BAD acting, SRK is becoming more and more arrogant. I gues he realizes this and somethimes people tend to react this way. He totally hams. As far as the gentleman who just remarked above about Amitabh, I am sure its his fanatic and equally dogmatic fans that tend to run Amitabh down as they too realize that there is a gulf between the two and this increases the frustration.
Motorbeam
Feb 17th, 2009 at 5:23 pm | #
I cant agree more with you Saks, the movie is totally a SRK boasting of his superstar status. Whats with the BADshah of bollywood in the whole movie and the likes. Its better watching DevD then this peace of mindblowing crap
Divya
Feb 17th, 2009 at 5:46 pm | #
NO ways… I dnt agree at all. Its nothin tht shahrukh is boasting abt himself or nythng.. People have diffirent viewpoints.. Bt i thnk u have exaggerated too much
My Name is Khan
Feb 17th, 2009 at 7:15 pm | #
Good Review !!
Serendipity
Feb 18th, 2009 at 5:27 am | #
The problem with these movies (forget who’s acting in it…), is that they are all “inspired”. Billu Barber is a remake of a Tamil remake of a Malayalam movie. That is what Priyadarshan has always done. Bring movies that have succeeded down south (due to their phenomenal stories), and try and adapt them to the masala bollywood. Films like Dor, Hera Pheri, Hungama, Bhool Bhulaiyya (or any Priyadarshan flick in Hindi for that matter) are all copied from Malayalam movies (or Tamil remakes of these mallu movies)…
Where’s the originality these days
HOBO(nickname)
Feb 18th, 2009 at 5:06 pm | #
SRK an ordinary actor.
But yes with good marketing skills.
Get well soon.
: )
RukmaniRam
Feb 19th, 2009 at 12:00 am | #
oooh. irfan khan. except when he acts in telugu movies.
looking forward to dev d.
Motorbeam
Feb 19th, 2009 at 10:27 am | #
DEvD is the worst movie i have ever seen, Its more of a Porn movie then anything else.
Mario
Feb 20th, 2009 at 10:42 pm | #
Bachchan is an arrogant person. SRK is the most humble Superstar.
Anurag Verma
Feb 21st, 2009 at 3:31 am | #
I thinks perhaps Sakshi saw a different movie all together. The movie I saw was an out and out Irfan Khan movie. Even in the final scene, Irfan is given more importance, SRK is in a supporting role (an extended cameo). Hence, this review seems to have been written to either tarnish SRK or fluff up Amitabh Bachchan’s achievement. Unfortunately it only exposes the agenda of Sakshi Juneja.
Just because Mr. Bachchan has not been able to give a solo hero hit since the early 80s, it does not mean you have to penalize SRK.
p@r@noid
Feb 25th, 2009 at 7:07 am | #
Even I expected a lot out of movie…
And thought movie will be up to the expcttaION …
Though luckily I watched this movie on my 15 inch small laptop screen and I’m glad I didn’t wasted my precious money on this crap.
Tatya Tope
Feb 26th, 2009 at 8:19 am | #
Billu Bhayankar is just a tax saving vehicle for SRK. He will weep copious tears when the Taxman comes knocking and say.. “sirjee meraa saara paisaa doob gaya billu mein..”
Altaf
Mar 6th, 2009 at 12:57 pm | #
Hey..
Here I somewhat disagree with you. I saw the movie, and I think that the movie is a complete Irfan Khan movie. I was hoping to see more of SRK, but the story revolved mostly on Irfan.
With comparision of Amitabh and SRK, its quite a fact that the hits of Amitabh in 70′s were multi-starrer (Shashi Kapoor, Shatrughan Sinha, Vinod Khanna, and many other people were also there in those movies). And SRK’s hits in his early career were his solo hits. Also, AB is selfish, Prakash Mehra and Manmohan Desai were the ones who gave him roles of his lifetime, but now he dont even speak or acknowledge them.
You maybe thinking that I am a SRK fan, and this reply is to boost his image. But, the fact will remain the fact. Also considering your liking of Salmaan Khan, I assure that this post is to downgrade his image and stardom.
Sorry for such a long reply.
Thanks…
Antonio
Mar 7th, 2009 at 10:18 am | #
Very well said Sakshi…..a total narcissict is what is SRK.