SRK touched hearts

Who said, love me or hate me... but you can’t ignore me? Not Shah Rukh Khan, surely.

Though the Bollywood Badshah, home after his successful shoulder surgery, is saying just that about his home production Red Chillies’ last Friday release — Billu. “The film’s sincerity is touching hearts. Whoever has seen this Priyadarshan-directed film, is talking about it. And whoever hasn’t, should go and see it,” said SRK. “I am getting loads of texts. People are liking the film, especially the last bit.”

It is true, the last 15 minutes of Billu, when Shah Rukh tugs at the heartstrings of the audience with a powerful and emotional dialogue, is replacing lost values in people. To that end, Billu reminds audiences of forgotten simplicities and displaced values in society. “It’s a great risk that Shah Rukh Khan has taken. Hats off to him for making a film where the focus is not on himself, and where the story and performances are the stars,” said trade pundit Taran Adarsh, adding that “SRK could have made a hardcore commercial flick like Om Shanti Om and earned pots of money, yet he took a different path because he believed in the story.”
Trade analyst Komal Nahata agreed, “It’s a sincere product, one that doesn’t have to try hard to keep the story and morals straight. It works on it’s own. It has everything going for it, like good music, story and performances, all of which touch your heart.” Taran revealed, “The film has done well overseas, considering the number of prints released was about 200. Family films, which we call socials, always have a slow start... but over a period they become blockbusters. Look at films like Baghban, Vivaah, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and Tare Zameen Par. All started on a slow note, but went on to become box office hits. Billu has the potential and there is one more weekend to come. Just give it some time.”

Girish Wankhede, Deputy GM, Cinemax, said, that the film started well with a 50 per cent collection. “It went onto 80 per cent across all our branches on the weekend, which is very good. People walked out appreciating the film... especially the ending.” Taran added, “There was not a single dry eye in theatres. SRK’s dialogue is so powerful. To hold an entire audience with just his words is laudable. Shah Rukh makes you laugh and cry.” While King Khan himself said, “Even my kids cried.”