• London Dreams • News/info

‘London Dreams’ is not a copy of ‘Rock On’: Vipul Shah

Thursday , Oct 08, 2009 at 1149 hrs

The TV promotions of Vipul Shah’s ‘London Dreams’ where Ajay Devgan and Salman Khan are styled like rock stars, headbanging on stage, seem eerily familiar to the 2008 Arjun Rampal starrer Rock On!!. Shah is quick to protest. “Just because the actors are singing on stage doesn’t mean it’s a remake of Rock On!!. In my film, music forms the backdrop against which friendship is tested,” explains the filmmaker in between wrapping up post-production work of the film which releases on October 30.

The two seasoned actors, Devgan and Khan, will be acting together after a gap of 10 years and the film will also mark Asin Thottumkal’s second stint in Bollywood. “Ghajini was a Tamil remake. But this is an original, an out-and-out commercial Hindi film and feels more like a debut for me,” says Asin, 24.

The film revolves around the musical aspirations of two childhood friends from rural Punjab. While one of them migrates to London and becomes a success with his own pop-band, the other’s more charming personality threatens his friend’s success.

SRK & Salman: A tale of two airports
Salman Khan is acting on screen what happened to Shah Rukh Khan at the Newark airport a few months ago.

While Shah Rukh had to go through a humiliating detention and had a tough time convincing officials who he was, Salman's upcoming film London Dreams has a similar moment - but with a comic touch.

The film has a comic situation built around Salman's detention. He is showing giggling away to glory even as officials strip-search him. Eventually, Salman is left in his underwear and a red tie around the neck.

"This (tie) didn't come off, and this (underwear) I didn't let them," he says in the film amid all the confusion.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Thx Shahram !

Salman Khan’s tribute to Dharmendra

Ardent Bollywood buffs who’ve seen the promos of the Man Ko Ati Bhave number from London Dreams are delighted by Salman Khan’s tribute to Dharmendra. Khan, in his adorably mad style, does the age-old veteran’s dance moves whilst wooing Asin. The track was shot in cold Paris against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower.

Confirming that Salman’s moves were consciously modelled on the lines of Dharmendra’s, choreographer Rajeev Surti said, "When we were discussing the choreography, Salman Bhai suggested that we incorporate Dharamji’s famous moves He is a big Dharmendra fan and felt that the steps would go really well with the fun feel of the song. He managed to ape Dharam ji’s moves perfectly and added his own unique flavour to them"

Incidentally, when the number was being shot, French President Nicolas Sarkozy had just won the six month presidency of the EU, and to celebrate, the Eiffel Tower was lit up in the blue and gold of the European flag. "We were lucky to grab that rare sight," added director Vipul A. Shah.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Salman Khan, Ajay Devgan take a pay-cut

Vipul Amrutlal Shah’s film London Dreams might have remained just a dream had the two stars of the film, Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan, not co-operated in the moment of crisis.

Last year, when the global economic meltdown began, the film got an unexpected jolt. Shah had planned to make the movie on a lavish scale, without compromising on the costs. Elaborate shoots were planned in London and Paris apart from Punjab.

But once the domino effect of the economic crisis began, it was clear some compromises would have to be made. Either the film’s budget had to be chopped substantially, or the stars had to slash their fee.

Shah recalls having a meeting with both Salman and Ajay on this issue.

“They told me to go ahead and make the film on the scale that I had envisioned, and they would be willing let go of a part of their fees,” Shah is quoted as saying in a tabloid report.

It’s believed that the two stars made a voluntary 25 percent cut in their fee while Vipul did not charge a penny for directing the film.

Starring Asin as the common love interest between Ajay and Salman, ‘London Dreams’ is set for release on October 30.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Asin Talks About London Dreams

First of all how are you feeling now?

Oh my God! It was just a sinus infection. I was in the hospital for two days as a precaution. So much has been made of it…It's just ridiculous.

London Dreams reunites Salman Khan and Ajay Devgn. What are your memories of watching Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam?

My earliest memories would be Salman Khan's songs in that film. I was in school then. Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam was a great film. But we shouldn't talk about that because then people will draw parallels. This one is a completely new film and it's just a co-incidence that Salman Khan and Ajay Devgn are coming together after 10 years.

But in school were you a Saman fan or an Ajay fan?

Oh God, can I act as if I don't have a tongue anymore? I guess I had watched more of Salman's work. That's because I loved all his songs.

Both actors are perceived to have contrasting working styles. How similar or different was your experience with both?

You know both Salman and Ajay are quite similar. Given their experience, they would hear out what Vipul had to say and effortlessly finish their shots. As personalities they may have opposite images – but their approaches aren't too different. In fact while everyone knows about Salman's fun side, Ajay is the real prankster and extremely chilled out on sets. Both are extremely comfortable with each other and to me they were like friendly seniors.

What are you doing with these two grown up men?

It's basically about a band called London Dreams with four boys and one girl. I am the dancer of the group. While they handle the singing and instruments part of it.

And you must also be the common love interest…

Well, that's what it looks like in the promos. Who do you think gets the girl?

Maybe Salman Khan…he can get even for losing out in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.

Oh no, poor Salman! I am happy people are guessing. It could also be a Kuch Kuch Hota Hai like surprise cameo by a third person.

Then since it is a Vipul Shah film, you might go to Akshay Kumar.

Keep guessing. But to set the record straight, I want to state that it is nothing like Amadeus.

Can you be completely honest and say you are happy with the promos? Despite having a hit like Ghajini, your second film is being marketed like an all boys outing...

I knew what I was getting into. The film is about Salman and Ajay. So it is only too dumb or arrogant of me to expect the focus on my role. After Ghajini I was consciously signed a commercial film where the heroine is just there. I am very clear about my portions in the film.

This role first went to Priyanka and the Katrina. Did you try and compare what was offered to them?

I have no flashbacks of any kind. I know that when Vipul Shah took over the film, I was the first choice.
There has been lot of negative publicity about your professionalism and attitude. Why do you think it's happening?

Rest of the interview here:
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Review : London Dreams (Music)
Anupama Chopra, Consulting Editor, Films, NDTV
Friday, October 30, 2009

Cast: Salman Khan, Ajay Devgn, Asin
Music: Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy
Director: Vipul Shah
Producer: Aashin Shah

My biggest apprehension about London Dreams was how director Vipul Amrutlal Shah would convincingly transform two middle-aged actors, Salman Khan and Ajay Devgn, into pop stars. As it turns out, that is the least of this film’s problems.

London Dreams is about two friends, Arjun played by Ajay and Mannu played by Salman, who have been together since their school days in Bhatinda.

Despite his rural surroundings, Arjun nurtures a fierce desire to be a pop singer. But his father cannot tolerate his ambitions because his own father was a famous musician who committed suicide after a disastrous concert at London’s Wembley stadium. When Arjun’s father dies, his uncle, also a music hater, takes Arjun to London, where he promptly runs away. He runs all the way from the airport to London city where he plays a flute on the street, earns a few pennies and, incredibly enough, puts himself through a fancy looking music school. You must have figured out by now that logic and realism are not high on the priority list here.

In fact, all of Arjun’s dreams fall into place laughably easily – he gets a band, an audition with a big music company, a snazzy apartment, a BMW and even a dancer/groupie, Priya played by Asin. Trouble only starts when he imports Manu to London and the village bumpkin turns out to be more talented. So Arjun, like Salieri from Amadeus, accuses God of short-changing him by giving him the passion and Manu the talent and he plots Manu’s downfall, via, drugs and women.

London Dreams is a frustratingly dim-witted drama about artistic passion, friendship and insecurity. The script, written by Suresh Nair, has the complexity of a cartoon. Moments of high drama are undermined by sheer silliness.

Arjun is an intense, brooding man but his ambition is hard to take seriously because he is in the habit of whipping himself when he thinks he’s faltering. So he takes out his belt and goes into self-flagellation mode when he finds himself attracted to Priya.

You see Arjun, like his namesake from the Mahabharat, cannot take his eyes off his target of someday singing at Wembley. Mannu’s downfall is almost as funny. In one scene, we see him eating cocaine—he thinks its salt—and in the next, he’s addict.

Meanwhile 90,000 people, including Brits who I’m assuming cannot follow Hindi, are lining up to see these two men sing Hindi songs.

Poor Priya is devoid of even these superficial traits – all we know about her is that she comes from a strict Iyer family and therefore does classical dance at home but wears miniskirts outside. When her conservative father sees her in rockstar mode on a poster, she explains that it’s a look alike and he believes her.

Most of us don’t watch Hindi films for their verisimilitude but honestly, how much disbelief can a viewer suspend. There are a few nice songs here and occasional moments of charm provided by Salman Khan, who once again, plays a variation of Salman Khan.

Otherwise London Dreams is as much fun as a stuck record. See it if you must.

Salman Khan And Sania Mirza Enjoy Private Screening Of ´London Dreams´!

- Planet Bollywood Special Correspondant

Indian tennis player Sania Mirza, who is in London to start the build-up to the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, came face to face with Salman Khan who was put up at the same hotel.

Salman invited Sania and her family for a private screening of 'London Dreams', which was held at a West End hotel last evening. Salman's brother, Sohail, and his close family and friends also attended the showing and gave the film a thumbs up.

LONDON DREAMS***

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

By Taran Adarsh, October 30, 2009 - 08:26 IST


In real life, if you feel your colleague is far more superior to you in intelligence, talent, charisma, efficiency, chances are you might feel the heat. Jealousy, generally, stems from there. In the process, the best of relations get strained. LONDON DREAMS, directed by Vipul Shah, talks of two musicians, thick pals actually, and how jealousy drives a wedge in their friendship.

Let's clear a few myths before discussing the positive and negative factors of this film. LONDON DREAMS is not BAIJU BAWRA. LONDON DREAMS is not ROCK ON!!, ABHIMAAN, YAARANA or SAAJAN either [a section of the industry wants us to believe that]. The truth is, LONDON DREAMS borrows from Milos Forman's brilliant film AMADEUS [1984], which was based on Salieri and Mozart's life. In fact, Suneel Darshan too had made a film based on AMADEUS called SHAKALAKA BOOM BOOM [2007; Bobby Deol, Upen Patel].

Write your own movie review of London Dreams LONDON DREAMS is a complete departure from Vipul Shah's earlier outings, AANKHEN, WAQT, NAMASTEY LONDON and SINGH IS KINNG [produced by Vipul, directed by Anees Bazmee]. This film is about relationships and tends to get very real and intense, in the post-interval portions specifically. The scale of LONDON DREAMS is gigantic and the execution of concerts [it's about a band] sweeps you off your feet.


In terms of execution, it wouldn't be erroneous to state that LONDON DREAMS is amongst Vipul Shah's most accomplished works to date. Also, it boasts of incredible performances by Salman Khan and Ajay Devgn. But there are hiccups too and it's these deficiencies that bog the film down!

They were childhood friends. But they had little in common except their family's connection with music. While Arjun's [Ajay Devgn] life was consumed by a passionate drive to get on stage and realize his grandfather's unfulfilled dream, Mannu [Salman Khan] was content with remaining a child at heart with no higher ambition than enjoying the good things in life.

As Arjun forges a band with Zoheb [Rannvijay Singh], Wasim [Aditya Roy Kapur] and Priya [Asin], a music enthusiast from a conservative South Indian family, far away in Punjab, music becomes a survival tool for Mannu, who takes to playing in wedding bands in his village.

Arjun gets Mannu to London and makes him a part of the band, but soon realizes he's created the biggest threat and obstacle to his own ambitions.

Mannu, with his inherent musical gift, becomes an instant darling of the crowds. Arjun's unbearable pangs of jealousy and insecurity only worsen when Mannu also unwittingly woos and wins his secret love, Priya. As he battles his inner demons, Arjun slowly devises a sinister plan to destroy his best friend.

It takes time to get into Ajay's world [its Ajay who's narrating the story here]. The film moves back and forth and it's only when the two buddies, now adults, meet that you realize where the story is headed. The first hour depicts the two extreme characters - Ajay, who's an introvert and who cannot think of anything but his goal and Salman, a happy-go-lucky guy, laidback and fun-loving, least focused.

The narrative has some interesting moments in the first hour, but the actual story unravels only towards the second half. The first half, frankly, only sets things up for the explosive drama that is to follow. The wheels start moving when Ajay plays a vicious game and hatches a conspiracy to ruin his buddy's career.

It's the second hour that does the trick. You can't help but carry several sequences in your heart, even after you've made an exit from the auditorium...
Note the scene when Salman makes four different tunes from the original tune created by Ajay.

Note the scene when Ajay meets an inebriated Salman and professes revenge, while Salman is completely clueless about Ajay's sinister plans.

Note the scene when the band arrives in London after a 3-city concert and they're received by aggressive mediapersons.

But there're roadblocks too. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's music is a downer. LONDON DREAMS is about a rock band, about music, about concerts and the music had to be the soul of the film. Unfortunately, it's not! The songs have been filmed in the most energetic fashion, but how one wishes the music was one of the strengths of the film.

Also, the film could've concluded when the two friends re-unite at the station. Adding one more song thereafter only dilutes the impact of the emotionally correct sequence that has just been witnessed. Besides, the song in question hasn't been promoted either, so it only comes across as an aberration.

Prior to that, Ajay's outburst at the end of the concert is far from convincing. The film has a real feel, real characters and real situations, but the outburst looks unreal and is one of the drawbacks, from the writing point of view. It's just not convincing!

Besides, Ajay's childhood character is shown fleeing from the airport and making it big in a foreign land [London], without any support whatsoever. It's unpalatable!

Vipul Shah has handled this intricate subject well, but the writing could've been tighter. Sejal Shah's cinematography is super. Brownie points for capturing the concerts brilliantly. Salim-Sulaiman's background score matches international standards.

Both Salman and Ajay vie for top honours. Salman has a role that the junta would take to instantly and the actor too endears himself to the viewers. He's stupendous. When it comes to displaying intensity on screen, very few can live up to the standards set by Ajay. To state that he packs in a power-packed performance would be an understatement. They, in fact, compliment each other wonderfully well.

Asin is admirable and pairs off very well with Salman. She is sure to have a new name after this film - Chennai Express [that's how Salman addresses her affectionately, all through the film]. Om Puri has a brief role. Aditya Roy Kapur is very good and registers an impact. Rannvijay Singh doesn't get much to do, except throw nasty looks at Salman. Manoj Pahwa provides some funny moments. Brinda Parekh is okay.

On the whole, LONDON DREAMS has superb performances from its principal cast and several emotionally-charged sequences as its two trump cards. But its biggest drawback is its climax and also the music, which is the weakest link of the movie. At the box-office, the film should appeal more to the multiplex audience than the masses. Business at big centres, especially at metros, should be better, but mini-metros and towns will be a contrast.

***

Salman's career best performance in LONDON DREAMS?

October 31, 2009 2:55:39 PM IST
Joginder Tuteja, Bollywood Trade News Network

Let's spread the red carpet. Salman Khan is at it again. And this time around he rocks the show and completely dominates the proceedings. If he was a one man army in WANTED a few weeks back, he is a complete scene stealer in LONDON DREAMS, even with Ajay Devgn as the other lead protagonist.

One can't pin point at Ajay though. He does what only he can in the current set of actors - come up with an intense act. He deserves full marks for that. However, Salman's character, which is that of an underdog, is such that audiences are bound to root for him. Totally bindaas and ever so crowd friendly, he gets the mood of masti and mazaa bang on without turning overboard or crass.

CHECK OUT: Salman and Ajay are beyond hits and flops

With the kind of role that he gets to enact in the film, he could have easily become frivolous by going overboard. However, he shows immense range as an actor and comes up with one of the finest performances of his career.

One expects high degree of drama in LONDON DREAMS due to it's theme of friendship, deceit, betrayal and ultimate redemption. To the credit of Vipul Shah, he does complete justice to what was expected from the film. There are quite a few dramatic moments in the film that keep you glued to the screen.

One had always wondered if 40+ actors like Ajay and Salman would be able to do justice as rock stars. However, as things stand, unlike a ROCK ON, LONDON DREAMS is much more than just being a film about a band. It's a story about human nature and the negativity it brings along with it. In this aspect, Vipul Shah spins a winning tale.

London Dream Grosses Approx 4.25 Cr Nett On Day One

Saturday 31st October 2009 15.00 IST

Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network



London Dreams has grossed 4.25 crore nett approx on day one. The first day figures are decent thanks to pick up yesterday evening at multiplexes. Further improvement over the weekend will mean a good Monday also as it is a holiday. The approx first day territory breakdowns are as follows.



Mumbai - 1.50 crore

Delhi/UP - 90 lakhs

East Punjab - 35 lakhs

West Bengal - 18 lakhs

Bihar - 8 lakhs

CP Berar - 20 lakhs

CI - 16 lakhs

Rajasthan - 25 lakhs

Nizam - 26 lakhs

Musore - 16 lakhs

Others - 20 lakhs

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

B.O. update: 'London Dreams' starts slow, picks up, 'Aladin' very poor
- By Taran Adarsh, October 31, 2009 - 08:28 IST

The two releases, LONDON DREAMS and ALADIN, had a below-the-mark start in the domestic market. LONDON DREAMS fetched a 30% - 40% start at plexes, but was lower at single screens. The slow start could be attributed to two factors - non-exciting promotion [qualitatively] and music, which lacked a Hit number to draw the audiences. The film picked up during the course of the day, generating 50% to 60% collections at plexes, while single screens continued to remain lower than plexes.

ALADIN had one of the lowest starts, garnering a 10% opening at several screens. Both LONDON DREAMS and ALADIN are expensive films and with next Friday films AJAB PREM KI GHAZAB KAHANI and JAIL carrying a strong buzz, it will be interesting to see how well these films perform over the next few days.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

dnt worried london dream is a excellent movie , i dnt why ki l.dreams bussiness in delhi only 90 lakhs but i saw in book my show ki london drems shows going housefull . this is a 2 nd film of the year of salman khan

Monday 2nd November 2009 18.30 IST

Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network



London Dreams managed average business in most circuits with Rajasthan being best and Bihar on the lower side. The first weekend breakdown is as follows.



Mumbai - 5.50 crore

Delhi/UP - 3.25 crore

East Punjab - 1.35 crore

West Bengal - 60 lakhs

Bihar - 30 lakhs

CP Berar - 65 lakhs

CI - 55 lakhs

Rajasthan - 90 lakhs

Nizam - 75 lakhs

Mysore - 60 lakhs

Others - 60 lakhs

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]