The practically moribund Bollywood household drama style is ready for a revival with “Raksha Bandhan,” directed by Aanand. L. Rai (“Atrangi Re”) and starring Akshay Kumar (“Sooryavanshi”) and Bhumi Pednekar (“Badhaai Do”).
Movies revolving across the household unit, which was once a staple in Bollywood, peaked with blockbuster “Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!” (1994), starring Salman Khan and Madhuri Dixit, and made a short reappearance with “Badhaai Ho” (2018) that includes Neena Gupta, Gajraj Rao and Ayushmann Khurrana. “Raksha Bandhan” hopes to emulate the heydays of the style.
“In ‘Raksha Bandhan’ there may be a number of starvation — starvation to come back out with Indian values, starvation to depict the tradition, starvation to speak in regards to the bonding, the relationships, that are there with us, we’ve not gone insensitive in direction of them, however one way or the other they’ve taken a again seat, we don’t discuss it,” Rai instructed Selection. “Let me carry all these feelings to the forefront, which we’ve got unknowingly sidelined.”
Set within the bustling Chandni Chowk space of Outdated Delhi, the movie follows Kumar, who runs a road meals store, the third technology of his household to take action. His major concern is getting his 4 sisters married, besides that 2022 India continues to be beset with the issue of dowry, the place the bride’s household is predicted to supply a considerable amount of money and presents to the groom, regardless of the apply being unlawful.
“Dowry is a giant downside in India, and plenty of different locations additionally,” Kumar instructed Selection. “The most effective half in regards to the movie is, it not solely talks about the issue, it additionally talks in regards to the resolution.”
Rai provides that there are two Indias at present, with totally different mindsets. Within the nation’s metros, daughters of prosperous fathers think about no matter their households give grooms as presents, whereas within the inside of the nation, mother and father who can sick afford dowries need to undergo it anyway, as a result of it’s a ritual and a practice.
Pednekar performs Kumar’s childhood sweetheart who has to attend to get married as Kumar’s precedence is his sisters’ weddings.
“Cinema is a really highly effective instrument to succeed in throughout to a mass viewers. [Akshay Kumar] and I’ve efficiently executed that sufficient our collaboration ‘Rest room: A Love Story’ and with ‘Raksha Bandhan’ we hope the identical factor,” Pednekar instructed Selection. “Right here you’ve got an Aanand. L. Rai world which is colourful, full of affection, as Indian because it will get, as near our tradition because it will get. By all that leisure, we hope to depart behind a message and make clear a predominant downside inside our nation.”
Kumar added, “This isn’t a preachy movie. It’s very industrial cinema, which has 5 songs. It has numerous humor. And it teaches you about household values.”
Rai mentioned, “At one time, we had massive joint households – now it has turn out to be aspirational. We’ve gone very nuclear in that means. Many of the metro {couples} have one child, in order that they don’t know what was a joint household. So for them after they see a movie with a number of characters, a number of relations, it’s lovely. I’m attempting to revive that outdated sentiment of residing collectively.”
Produced by Zee Studios, Color Yellow Productions and Cape of Good Movies, “Raksha Bandhan” will launch theatrically on Aug. 11, the day of the Indian competition Raksha Bandhan, which celebrates the brother-sister relationship. It opens towards Aamir Khan’s “Laal Singh Chaddha,” the Indian adaptation of “Forrest Gump.” Rai will resolve on his subsequent venture after the discharge.
Kumar has a number of movies lined up for launch together with an untitled police drama, which was shot within the U.Okay. in late 2021, which is able to debut on a streaming platform; archaeology and mythology centered “Ram Setu,” which is ready for an Oct. 24 launch, through the Diwali vacation body; satire “OMG 2,” a sequel to hit 2012 movie “OMG – Oh My God!”; and “Selfiee,” alongside Emraan Hashmi, a remake of hit 2019 Malayalam-language movie “Driving License.” “Gorkha,” co-produced by Rai, is within the works and an untitled movie a couple of coal mine hero is at the moment filming within the U.Okay.
Pednekar has comedy “Govinda Aala Re,” investigative journalism drama “Bhakshak,” socio-political drama “Bheed” and thriller “Afwaah” developing.
Akshay Kumar, Bhumi Pednekar, Aanand L. Rai Plan Revival of Bollywood Household Drama With ‘Raksha Bandhan’ (EXCLUSIVE)
