Yuvvraaj
| Yuvvraaj | |
|---|---|
 Movie poster | |
| Directed by | Subhash Ghai |
| Written by | Sachin Bhowmick Subhash Ghai Kamlesh Pandey |
| Produced by | Subhash Ghai |
| Starring | Salman Khan Anil Kapoor Zayed Khan Katrina Kaif |
| Cinematography | Kabir Lal |
| Edited by | Subhash Ghai |
| Music by | A. R. Rahman |
Production company | Showman Pictures |
| Distributed by | ShowMan Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 162 minutess |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
| Box office | Rs. 16.95 Crores |
Yuvvraaj is a 2008 Indian film directed and produced by Subhash Ghai. The film stars Anil Kapoor, Salman Khan, Zayed Khan and Katrina Kaif in the lead roles and is inspired from Hollywood film Rain Man (1988). Yuvvraaj is a musical story of a fragmented family of three brothers who try to con each other to inherit their father's wealth. According to the director, the film is about the arrogance and overconfidence of contemporary youth.[1] The film was released on 28 November 2008 and although it received a mixed reception from critics and bombed at the box-office[2] in 2009 the script for the film was added to the library of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[3][4]
Synopsis
Deven Yuvvraaj (Salman Khan) is a struggling singer who signs an agreement with his girlfriend Anushka’s (Katrina Kaif) father Dr. Banton (Boman Irani) to become a billionaire in 40 days. To acquire this wealth, he has to go through an emotional roller coaster journey of joy and pain with his two estranged brothers, Gyanesh Yuvvraaj (Anil Kapoor) and Danny Yuvvraaj (Zayed Khan), who he meets after 12 years. On meeting them, he is shocked to see that his father has left everything to his mentally ill brother Gyanesh. so both Danny and Deven making an agreement to scam their brother out of his money. Danny attempt to blackmail Gyanesh fail and suddenly assaults Gyanesh. Deven intervenes and plays the good guy and helps Gyanesh and then takes him to Austria in an attempt to win over Gyanesh. There Anushka and Gyanesh get on very well and she is amazed by his singing talent so she lets her into her orchestra which is due to perform in front of thousands of people. Deven gets jealous by Agnuksha and Gyanesh getting on so well but soon learns to love his brother. Danny is now penniless and is thrown out of all his luxurious clubs and loses his girlfriend because he has no money. He meets up with Deven and Gyanesh and they all become loving brothers again and forget about the money. However as he is about to preform on the big stage his mothers, new husband, and family decide to poison Gyanesh so they can get his money. They show Gyanesh a recording of Devan and Danny plotting to scam Gyanesh out of his money and this breaks his heart. They then switch his inhaler with one containing poison and leave. Gyanesh shocked uses his inhalers and fights with his brothers who realize that he knows about their plot to get the money. Heartbroken Gyanesh preforms on stage when Devan shows up and they due a duet with Devan singing about forgiveness. Onstage, Gyanesh collapses and Devan takes him to hospital whilst Danny gets the police to arrest the family members who tries to poison Gyanesh. At the hospital Devan is informed that the only doctor is Dr Banton, who refuses to help. Dr Banton accuses him of only wanting Gyanesh to survive for the money so he can marry his daughter but Devan breaks down and begs Dr Banton that if he saves Gyanesh he will not marry Anushka saying he just wants to keep his family together. Dr Banton shocked by Devans by Devan's family responsibility saves Gyanesh and then allows him to marry Anushka now that he is a changed man who cares about his family. The ending is a dance scene with all the actors and crew who participated in the film.
Cast
- Salman Khan as Deven Yuvvraaj is a slightly ambitious guy who believes life begins with himself and ends with his love Anushka. A quarrel with his father was reason enough for him to leave home and live as a struggling singer. Devoid of family values, he is forced to journey through the circle of love for the sake of money to complete his love story.
- Anil Kapoor as Gyanesh Yuvvraaj a autistic savant, who is completely removed from the idea of money; therefore, his enormous inheritance has no impact on him. By some stroke of destiny, he has a genius disorder. Since childhood, he was brilliant in all aspects of music. He enters Deven’s world of music and effortlessly becomes the superstar that Deven dreamt of being.
- Zayed Khan as Danny Yuvvraaj is the real prince who lived life super-large. A passion for flying kept him floating on an air-cushion filled with his father’s money. A playboy and a brat, he was sure that the inheritance would be his. Unable to deal with the loss of his playground (as casinos and clubs threw him out), he strikes at Gyanesh in an attempt to get back what he thinks was rightfully his.
- Katrina Kaif as Anushka is an angelic girl who is passionately in love with her 'cello and Deven. A girl of very high values, she refuses to marry Deven unless her father accepts him willingly.
- Mithun Chakraborty as Mirza uncle is an attorney and a friend of Gyanesh, Deven and Danny's father. He insists Deven on having a true brotherly relation with Gyanesh. He wants to see the three brothers live as a happily united family.
Filming
Although a part of the film supposedly plays in the Czech capital Prague, the corresponding outdoor shots were actually filmed in the Austrian mountain province Tyrol. Scenes filmed in the province's capital Innsbruck feature many of the city's sights, such as the imperial castle, St. James's Cathedral, the main street and the ski jumping arena.[5]
Reception
Critical response
The film received mixed reviews from critics. Taran Adarsh from Bollywood Hungama gave the film 3 out of 5 saying "On the whole, Yuvvraaj is interesting in parts, with the penultimate 20/25 minutes taking the film to an all-time high".[6] Martin D'Souza of Glamsham giving it 3 from 5 stars said " In short, there's nothing new, script wise, but the way it has been backed with music and choreography is what lifts this mundane script to another level. The execution is 'perfect'".[7] Nikhat Kazmi from Times of India rated it 3 out of 5 while praising the music, cinematography and performances by Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor and Katrina Kaif.[8] IndiaGlitz also gave it 3 out of 5 and said "As a whole, Yuvvraaj is splendiferous in all parts with exceptional performance by all and it's a perfect family entertainer".[9]
The film also received a number of negative reviews. Nikhil Kumar from Apunkachoice gave it 2.5/5 and said "The biggest flaw of 'Yuvvraaj' is that its story belongs to a period when the audiences used to lap up anything tossed at them. Sure, 'Yuvvraaj' has terrific cinematography and a few soulful tunes by A.R Rahman, But the style of telling the tale is so outdated, that at many times in 'Yuvvraaj' you feel you are watching a rerun of 'Ram Lakhan' or Taal".[10] Rajeev Masand of IBN Live gave the film 1 out of 5 stars saying "Yuvvraaj doesn't quite hit the right note because it's an archaic drama that feels too tired. Barring a handful of vintage Subhash Ghai moments that still work, the film sadly is far from his best work".[11] Sonia Chopra of Sify gave the film 1.5/5.[12]
Box office
Yuvraaj was released with around 1000 prints in India, but it opened to a poor response and in the end the film only managed to collect around 16.95 crore nett. Box Office India declared it a disaster.[13][14]
Soundtrack
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
The score performed by the Chennai String Orchestra, utilizes Western classical music and retro disco music. The orchestra also performs Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.[15] The soundtrack album was released on 16 October 2008.[16] Salman Khan himself promoted the music saying that it is the USP of Yuvvraaj.[17]
| No. | Title | Artist(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Main Hoon Yuvvraaj" | Salman Khan | 1:13 |
| 2. | "Tu Meri Dost Hai" | Benny Dayal, Shreya Ghoshal, A. R. Rahman | 6:13 |
| 3. | "Shanno Shanno" | Sonu Nigam, Srinivas, Karthik, Timmy, Sunaina, Vivienne Pocha, Tina, Blaaze | 6:22 |
| 4. | "Tu Muskura" | Alka Yagnik, Javed Ali, A. R. Rahman | 5:37 |
| 5. | "Mastam Mastam" | Sonu Nigam, Alka Yagnik, Benny Dayal, Naresh Iyer | 6:17 |
| 6. | "Zindagi" | Srinivas | 5:06 |
| 7. | "Dil Ka Rishta" | Sonu Nigam, Roop Kumar Rathod, A. R. Rahman, Clinton Cerejo, Suzanne, Vivienne Pocha, Sunaina, Benny Dayal, Naresh Iyer, Blaaze | 7:39 |
| 8. | "Manmohini Morey" | Vijay Prakash | 3:11 |
| 9. | "Shanno Shanno (Remix)" (remixed by Krishna Chetan) | Sonu Nigam, Srinivas, Karthik, Timmy, Sunaina, Vivienne Pocha, Tina, Blaaze | 2:38 |
Reception
The album received positive reviews. Gulzar said "music of Yuvvraaj is magnificent".[18] Usha Lakra from Apunkachoice gave it 4.5/5 saying "In 'Yuvvraaj', A.R Rahman has come up with such an album that it's hard to match its excellence with any other comtemporary album. And music lovers should be grateful to Subhash Ghai for conceiving such a theme where this high quality music can be used".[19] Rediff.com gave it 4 out of 5 stars and said Rahman excels in Yuvvraaj.[15]
References
- ^ "Showman Ghai presents Yuvvraaj". NDTV. Retrieved 19 April 2007.
- ^ "Yuvvraaj disappoints on all counts". rediff.com. Retrieved 24 November 2008.
- ^ "'Yuvvraaj' finds its way to the Oscar Library". IndiaGlitz. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
- ^ "Subhash Ghai surprised over YUVVRAAJs entry to Oscar Library". Glamsham. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
- ^ "Subhash Ghai in Vienna (Austria) for YUVRAJ". Glamsham. 7 August 2007. Retrieved 2012-02-31.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Yuvraaj Review". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 27 November 2007.
- ^ "Yuvvraaj movie review". Glamsham. Retrieved 29 November 2007.
- ^ Kazmi, Nikhat. "Yuvraaj". Times of India. Retrieved 30 December 2007.
- ^ "Yuvvraaj - Magnificent comeback by Ghai". IndiaGlitz. Retrieved 21 August 2008.
- ^ Nikhil Kumar. "An Avveraage Yuvvraaj". Apunkachoice.
- ^ Rajeev Masand. "Masand's Verdict: Yuvvraaj an archaic drama". Ibn Live. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
- ^ "Yuvvraaj a yawn of a moral science lesson". Sify. Retrieved 27 November 2007.
- ^ "Box Office 2008". Boxofficeindia. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
- ^ "All India 2008". Boxofficeindia. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
- ^ a b "Rahman excels in Yuvvraaj". Rediff.com. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
- ^ "'Yuvvraaj' Music Launch". IndiaGlitz. Retrieved 17 October 2008.
- ^ "Salman Khan promotes his forthcoming film 'Yuvvraaj' at a show in Mumbai". Oneindia.in. Retrieved 5 November 2008.
- ^ "Gulzar: YUVVRAAJ music is magnificient". Glamsham. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
- ^ "Rejuvenating melodies - the Yuvvraaj music review". Apunkachoice.