'Lafangey Parindey' fails to fly high

Deepika-Neil movie managed opening day box office collections of just Rs 3.5 crores

The title of the movie might be as crisp, but the Neil Nitin Mukesh and Deepika Padukone starrer 'Lafangey Parindey" was not crunchy enough to attract the audiences to theatres.

"The business of 'Lafangey Parindey' was nothing great. It was below expectations as the movie could manage only 50 percent occupancy over the weekend on an average," Amit Awasthi, senior manager (Programming and Operations) of Spice Cinemas, said.

"The content was appreciated, but it couldn't gather hype because of the star cast. We are hoping it stretches till the second weekend," he added.

'Lafangey Parindey' opening day's collection was approximately Rs.35 million (Rs.3.5 crore) across India. According to estimates, the movie's opening weekend net collections should be in the range of Rs.100-Rs.110 million, reports businessofcinema.com. Aamir Khan Productions' 'Peepli Live', that was made at a budget of Rs.100 million has earned about Rs.210 million in its first week at the Indian box office.

Yogesh Raizada, corporate head (cinemas) of Wave Cinemas said: "'Lafangey Parindey' is over as far as business is concerned. It could manage an occupancy of only 30-40 percent over the weekend. Though the content was OK, it had no buzz."

Produced by Yash Raj Films (YRF), directed by Pradeep Sarkar, the story revolves around a street fighter Nandu (Neil), who can combat blindfolded and a visually challenged Pinky Palkar (Deepika) who can dance on skates.

While Deepika's performance in the movie has won her appreciation, it has proved a disappointment for Neil, whose last release 'Jail' too bombed at the box office.

"The movie has been average with only 30 percent occupancy over the weekend. It wasn't appreciated that much and now we have no hopes for it," said a source from PVR cinemas.

Amit Shah, chief manager (programming) of DLF DT cinemas, however, blamed the incessant rains for low footfalls.

"The weekend was not at all good. Despite a pretty OK content, the rains played spoilsport in New Delhi for footfalls. People just didn't come out of their houses to watch a movie. We got only 30-35 percent occupancy over the weekend," said Shah.

"Considering tomorrow (Tuesday, August 24) is Raksha Bandhan, hope it gets some footfalls but otherwise now there is no scope for the movie picking up," he added.

Deepak Taluja, senior vice president (business and operations) of Fun Cinemas, said: "The weekend business was lukewarm. The occupancy was 30-35 percent. The content was OK but not very highly appreciable. Though weekdays now look slightly down, it looks positive for the next week as there are no big releases as such."

MOVIE REVIEW: Lafangey Parindey

Sometimes, your reputation precedes you. Pradeep Sarkar carries the reputation of making women-centric movies. Films like PARINEETA and LAAGA CHUNARI MEIN DAAG prove it. Who would've ever thought Sarkar would do a 360 degree turn in his third film by calling it LAFANGEY PARINDEY, set it in a chawl and make his characters speak tapori lingo? Hard to digest, isn't it? Frankly, the skilled storyteller takes you on a trip least expected from him.

When you attempt something you haven't attempted earlier or ventured into before, you either fall flat on your face or walk with your chin up in air. Sarkar doesn't slip, although LAFANGEY PARINDEY does have its share of hiccups that show up intermittently. Unlike PARINEETA and LAAGA CHUNARI MEIN DAAG, Sarkar narrates a simple story this time around and though it has nothing to do with the Rajesh Khanna - Mumtaz - Meena Kumari starrer DUSHMUN, you can't help but draw parallels with it, which, frankly, could be a coincidence as well. Yet, to be fair to Sarkar, he ventures in an unknown territory like a seasoned player.

On the flipside, the film has a major flaw and that dilutes the impact to an extent: Casting Neil Nitin Mukesh as a tapori. He just doesn't look like one. Even if he tries very hard to get into the skin of the character, you just can't connect with him since the suave and dashing demeanor makes him look like a Harvard returned, not someone from the streets or wadis of Mumbai definitely.

Final word? Sure, it has its share of shortcomings, but is an engaging watch nonethess.

LAFANGEY PARINDEY is about a group of youngsters living in the backstreets of Mumbai. It is the love story of Nandu [Neil Nitin Mukesh] and Pinky [Deepika Padukone].

One-Shot Nandu takes boxing to a new level by knocking down his opponents - blindfolded. Needless to say, One-Shot lives life on his own terms and is a local hero amongst his friends. But all that changes when he meets Pinky.

Pinky works at a mall, but is a kickass dancer on skates. Strong-headed, talented and fiercely ambitious, she aspires to rise above all the 'losers' living in her locality and carve a niche for herself. Two different personalities. Two different lives. Destined to meet.

LAFANGEY PARINDEY starts with gusto! Also, it moves on a singular path, without diversifying into unwanted sub-plots and superfluous characters. In fact, the story takes off at the commencement of the film itself and how Neil and Deepika's lives get intertwined makes for interesting viewing.

The film has some truly engaging moments and most of them are in its first hour. Sequences between Neil and Deepika after the accident are wonderful and keep you hooked. However, things begin to slacken in the post-interval portions, when the love story takes over and Neil and Deepika realize that they share a deeper bond. Just when things are about to go downhill, the climax happens and LAFANGEY PARINDEY is back on track. In fact, the drama in the finale - when Deepika and Neil have to perform the final act for a television show - is the highpoint of this film. The skating sequences and choreography are stunning and awe-inspiring.

Blemishes? Oh yes! The love story is conventional and dreary. Also, the investigating officer's track is half-baked and looks like an add-on. Besides, the film is embellished with a mediocre musical score [R. Anandh]. Also, the Bambaiya Hindi has its limitations.

Like I pointed out earlier, Neil is the wrong choice for this part. Also, he lacks the fire to carry off the role with flourish. LAFANGEY PARINDEY clearly belongs to Deepika Padukone, who suits the character and enacts it with such competence that it leaves you amazed. The pretty lass is only getting better with every film. Piyush Mishra is first-rate. Kay Kay Menon is okay in a brief role. The friends, each them, leave a mark. Especially Namit Das, who's wonderful. Shiamak Davar, Juhi Chawla and Javed Jafferi feature in brief roles.

On the whole, LAFANGEY PARINDEY may be predictable, but is engaging and entertaining nonetheless. A decent watch!

RATING: 3/5

Deepika's got blind confidence

Deepika Padukone is playing a blind girl in 'Lafangey Parindey' and it instantly reminds one of Rani Mukherji's performance in 'Black'(2005) and Kajol's in 'Fanaa'(2006), but the actress maintains that she didn't let either of them influence her character.

"I have seen Rani in 'Black' and Kajol in 'Fanaa', but I didn't see them before my own performance because I didn't want to be influence by anyone else's performance. I wanted my own take on what suits my character," Deepika said at a press meet.

"I have spend a lot of time with blind people and that helped me a lot," she added.

For the press meet, the set of Tilak Wadi, a fictitious place in Mumbai shown in 'Lafangey Parindey', was made in the studio and Neil Nitin Mukesh, Deepika along with a few other actors did a small act to give a feel of the film.

Singer Shail Hada, Suraj Jagan and Shilpa Rao sang songs from the film and it was complemented with dance performance.

"I doubt if ever I have promoted any of my film like this. Another thing is I for the first time I interacted with my audience and fans at such an extent," said Neil.

Neil's first on-screen kiss with Deepika

How the conservative actor agreed to the liplock for 'Lafange Parindey'

Deepika Padukone has kissed Saif Ali Khan on screen, but her new co-star Neil Nitin Mukesh hadn't kissed on camera. The conservative actor had no choice but to succumb to a liplock for Yashraj Films' 'Lafange Parindey'.

Neil has pulled out the plug on his no-kissing clause as he was virtually forced to do a long, lingering kissing scene with Deepika.

Director Pradeep Sarkar and Deepika had to use every possible power of persuasion before Neil abandoned his chastity vow.

"At first Neil was totally against the kiss with Deepika. He has refused to kiss in all his films," said a source close to the project.

"In fact his first director, Sriram Raghavan, threw a fit when Neil refused to kiss Rimi Sen. In his second film, 'Tera Kya Hoga Johnny', director Sudhir Mishra insisted Neil kiss Shahana Goswami, but the actor refused. Even in 'Jail' where there was an intimate scene with Mugdha Godse, Neil refused to kiss," the source added.

Conservative to the core, Neil plunged into his first kiss only after the director assured him that the romantic relationship needed a culmination.

"Pradeep persuaded Neil and he finally saw his director's point of view. But the actor was nervous. Deepika had kissed before on screen. Not Neil," the source said.

"He first suggested a peck. But was finally persuaded to do a long, torrid smooch comparable in intensity and duration with Aamir Khan and Karisma Kapoor's kiss in 'Raja Hindustani'," the source added.

When contacted, Neil said: "I can't talk about this. But, yes, we've gone completely by the requirements of the script. And 'Lafange Parinde' is my first love story."

Deepika likes the character she plays in 'Lafangey Parindey'

Lead actors playing visually challenged characters is not new, but for Deepika Padukone it was a first. She describes it as her toughest role yet but also says she is exactly like the heroine - a woman who is self-confident, ambitious and never gives up.

"For me, this role out of all the films that I have done was the most challenging. It's not been easy. It required a lot of focus and concentration. I had to observe a lot of blind people before I could play this role," Deepika said.

"I think I identify with the character Pinky a lot because she is someone who is extremely self-assured. She is extremely confident, knows exactly what she wants. She is ambitious and she never gives up, which is exactly how I am," she said.

This time director Pradeep Sarkar has teamed up with Deepika Neil Nitin Mukesh and a bunch of other actors to narrate the story of a group of youngsters living in the back streets of Mumbai. Releasing Aug 20, it will see Neil playing a boxer who fights blindfolded, while Deepika will be seen as a visually challenged girl who can dance on skates.

"The biggest challenge was to pretend that I was not seeing. There were no supporting tools like black goggles or a stick with me to make it obvious that I am blind.

"For example, we friends are sitting together and discussing something and one of them says, 'arre dekh na' and then realises I can't see. Or he removes a glass a bit aside spontaneously not realising I couldn't see that...So everyone had to focus and give a lot of attention all the time while shooting the film," said Deepika.

The actress along with other cast and crew spent time with visually challenged people to understand their behavioural nuances and figure out counter actions.

"It took around six months of reading and interacting. There were lots of physical movements I had to get used to. It's like feeling things around you without actually being able to see them.

"We didn't visit any blind school, but all of us met a lot of blind people... it was not just for me but also very important for Neil and the group of friends I am interacting with in the film, even for 'dada' (Sarkar) to see how it is to interact with the blind. So I think it was a group process for all of us," she said.

Deepika says she didn't find it nerve-wracking to do the implausible stunts.

"As I have been an athlete and a sportsperson before, I think it just makes it much easier and interesting for me. I think to be able to do stunts, you need to be physically fit. It needs a lot of dedication, it needs a lot of control on the kind of food you are eating. So it was a lot of discipline," said Deepika.

It's her zeal for sports that gave her the courage to train in scuba diving and sky diving.

"The skating is something I had to learn for the film, but the scuba diving and this sky diving is something I have done for myself. It's always nice to challenge your limits. I always thought that I was scared of heights until I jumped off a plane. Today when I fly in a plane and look outside, it doesn't feel like anything," said Deepika.

After ‘Lafangey Parindey’, Deepika has two films – ‘Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey’ and ‘Break Ke Baad’ - in queue for release this year.

The actress doesn't get bogged down by work pressure; neither does she get jittery by audience expectation.

"I don't consider it as work pressure, as I enjoy doing it. But I feel very relaxed when I spend my time alone at home after I pack up every day or I speak to my parents and spend time with them.

"I don't expect people to expect anything. I know I have given it my best.

I obviously hope the best for every film," said Deepika.

FIRST LOOK: Lafangey Parindey