Partner (2007 film) explained

Partner
Director:David Dhawan
Producer:Sohail Khan
Parag Sanghvi
Based On:Hitch
by Andy Tennant
Narrator:Salman Khan
Starring:Salman Khan
Govinda
Lara Dutta
Katrina Kaif
Music:Songs:
Sajid–Wajid
Background Score:
Salim–Sulaiman
Cinematography:Johny Lal
Editing:Nitin Rokade
Studio:K Sera Sera Private Limited
Sohail Khan Productions
Distributor:Eros International
Runtime:143 minutes
Country:India
Language:Hindi
Budget:28 crore[1]
Gross:100.91 crore

Partner is a 2007 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy film directed by David Dhawan and, produced by Sohail Khan and Parag Sanghvi. The story of the film was inspired by the 2005 American film Hitch.[2] The film stars Salman Khan, Govinda, Lara Dutta and Katrina Kaif.[3]

The film revolves around a love guru, Prem, who gives wooing advice and ideas to his client, Bhaskar for the latter's ladylove Priya, and also himself falls in love with a widowed mother, Naina. the film's music is composed by Sajid–Wajid, with background score by Salim–Sulaiman.

Partner was released on 20 July 2007. It received highly positive response, with particular praise for its comedy scenes and Govinda's performance. A critical and commercial blockbuster, Partner collected worldwide and was the fourth highest-grossing Hindi film of 2007. Dhawan has expressed interest in creating a sequel to the film, but as of 2022 no script had been finalized and news outlets have reported that the film has been shelved entirely.[4] [5]

Plot

Prem (Salman Khan) is a Love Guru who solves the love issues of his clients. Bhaskar Diwakar Chaudhary (Govinda) comes to Prem for help. Bhaskar loves his boss, Priya Jaisingh (Katrina Kaif), but is unable to express it as she is the daughter of a wealthy businessman. Prem initially refuses to help Bhaskar and goes to Phuket, Thailand. Bhaskar follows him and convinces him to help.

After returning from Thailand, Prem meets Naina, a photojournalist fleeing from Chhota Don (Rajpal Yadav), who mimics Shahrukh Khan in Don. Prem saves her and falls in love with her. Meanwhile, he starts teaching Bhaskar how to impress Priya. But rather than Prem's tactics, Bhaskar's own simplicity and nonsense endears him to Priya, who falls in love with him. Prem learns that Naina (Lara Dutta) has a son named Rohan from her previous marriage, and to impress her, takes care of him.

Bhaskar reveals to Prem that Priya will marry someone according to her father's will. The two attend Priya's wedding ceremony with Rohan, who convinces his mother to marry Prem while Priya's father is convinced by Bhaskar. Priya prepares to marry Bhaskar.

Meanwhile, a spoilt brat named Neil Bakshi (Rajat Bedi) asks Prem to convince a girl to have a one-night stand with him. Prem angrily tells him that he does not help people with bad intentions. Neil manages to get his one-night stand anyway and ditches the girl, telling her the love guru gave him the advice to do so. The girl turns out to be Naina's friend, Nikki. Naina finds out the Love Guru is Prem. She starts hating Prem and publishes a front-page article exposing him and using Priya-Bhaskar's relationship as an example. Bhaskar is fired from his job as a result.

Prem tells Priya what really happened. Priya realizes that all the things she liked about Bhaskar are what Prem wanted Bhaskar to hide from her and is ready to take Bhaskar back. Prem makes up with Naina by making her hear the truth about him not helping Neil. The two happily marry their partners.

Soundtrack

Partner
Type:Soundtrack
Artist:Sajid–Wajid
Released:12 June 2007
Genre:Feature film soundtrack
Label:T-Series
Producer:Sajid–Wajid
Prev Title:Jaane Hoga Kya
Prev Year:2006
Next Title:Kismat Konnection
Next Year:2008

The music was composed by Sajid–Wajid. The soundtrack entered the top five on 23 July 2007.[6] According to the Indian trade website Box Office India, with around 18,00,000 units sold, this film's soundtrack album was the year's third highest-selling.[7]

Track list

Song Singer(s) Picturised on Length
1"Do You Wanna Partner"Udit Narayan, Shaan, Wajid, Suzanne D'Mello, Clinton CerejoSalman Khan & Govinda04:30
2"You’re My Love"Shaan, Shweta Pandit, Suzanne D'Mello, Earl D’Souza, Aastha GillGovinda, Katrina Kaif, Salman Khan & Lara Dutta04:35
3"Dupatta Tera Nau Rang Da"Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghoshal, Kunal Ganjawala, Suzanne D'MelloGovinda, Katrina Kaif, Lara Dutta & Salman Khan05:00
4"Soni De Nakhre"Labh Janjua, Sneha Pant, WajidGovinda, Katrina Kaif & Salman Khan04:17
5"Maria Maria"Wajid, Sonu Nigam, Shakib, Sunidhi Chauhan, Naresh IyerSalman Khan & Lara Dutta04:36
6"You’re My Love" (Remix by DJ A-Myth)Shaan, Shweta Pandit, Suzanne D'Mello, Earl D’Souza, Aastha GillExcluded in film04:27
7"Do You Wanna Partner" (Remix by DJ A-Myth)Udit Narayan, Shaan, Wajid, Suzanne D'Mello, Clinton CerejoExcluded in film03:58

Reception

Box office

Box Office India declared the film a "Blockbuster" and was the second biggest domestic opener at that time. It grossed Rs. 1.03 billion in India[8] and $4.19 million overseas.[9]

Accolades

Won:

Nominated:

Legal issues

Copyright Infringement Lawsuit

Sony Pictures, owners of the film Hitch, contemplated a $30-million suit against both the Indian producers for copyright infringements.[10] It would have been the second time after the 1957 film Begunah, an international film company took legal action against an Indian entertainment company for plagiarism. Partner was eventually released, with Sony acquiring the world's exclusive satellite broadcasting rights.[11]

References

  1. Web site: Partner – Movie. Box Office India.
  2. Web site: No ripoffs, please .
  3. Web site: 'Partner' inspired from 'Hitch'. 8 July 2007. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120323061340/http://www.apunkachoice.com/scoop/bollywood/20070708-0.html. 23 March 2012.
  4. News: Script not ready, but Partner 2 is still alive!. 2012-04-21. Hindustan Times. 2016-10-30.
  5. News: Salman Khan, Govinda's 'Partner 2' shelved. Bollywood Life. en-US. 2016-10-30.
  6. News: Partner enters Top 5. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070930221055/http://www.indiafm.com/features/2007/07/23/2875/index.html. 30 September 2007.
  7. Web site: Music Hits 2000–2009 (Figures in Units). https://web.archive.org/web/20100624132928/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=286&catName=MjAwMC0yMDA5. 24 June 2010. Box Office India.
  8. Web site: Box Office 2007 . Boxofficeindia.com . 28 December 2010.
  9. http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=308&catName=TGlmZXRpbWU= Top Lifetime Grossers OVERSEAS (US $)
  10. News: Partner may face $30 mn Hitch . The Times of India . 8 August 2007.
  11. News: Who Will Bell the Copycat . Forbes . 22 July 2009.