Raja Natwarlal Explained

Raja Natwarlal
Director:Kunal Deshmukh
Producer:Siddharth Roy Kapur
Story:Kunal Deshmukh
Starring:Emraan Hashmi
Humaima Malik
Paresh Rawal
Kay Kay Menon
Deepak Tijori
Prasad Oak
Prachi Shah
Cinematography:Raaj A. Chakravarti
Editing:Anand Subaya
Music:Songs:
Yuvan Shankar Raja
Background Score:
Sandeep Shirodkar
Studio:UTV Motion Pictures
Distributor:UTV Motion Pictures
Runtime:140 minutes
Country:India
Language:Hindi
Budget:470 million[1]
Gross:268 million[2]

Raja Natwarlal is a 2014 Indian Hindi-language crime thriller film directed by Kunal Deshmukh and produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur under UTV Motion Pictures. The film features Emraan Hashmi in the title role, alongside Humaima Malik, Paresh Rawal, Kay Kay Menon and Deepak Tijori.[3] The film was released on 29 August 2014 and received positive reviews from critics.

Plot

Mithilesh Kumar Shrivastava a.k.a. Raja (Emraan Hashmi) is a small-time conman who cons people for a living along with his partner in crime Raghav Desai (Deepak Tijori). He is in love with a bar girl named Ziya (Humaima Malik). Feeling sorry for her, Raja decides he wants to go for a big catch so that he can marry his lady love and she won't have to work in a bar anymore. That's when the trouble starts. Along with Raghav, Raja makes a grand plan to swindle a huge amount of money from two baddies. The plan is successful and Raja decides to celebrate.

This is when Varda Yadav (Kay Kay Menon), a billionaire based in Cape Town, enters. The money belonged to him, and upon realizing it had been stolen by two street cons, Varda orders them to be killed. Varda's men find Raghav and kill him. Raja witnesses this and decides to avenge the loss.

He seeks the help of a seasoned crook Victor Singhal alias Yogi (Paresh Rawal), whom Raghav used to talk about before his murder. After a lot of persuasion, Yogi agrees to help Raja have his payback. Later it is revealed that Yogi is actually Raghav's older brother. Yogi trains him, and eventually, they form a team of crooks and set out to Cape Town to finish off Varda where he takes his revenge.

Cast

Production

In May 2013, it was first reported that Kunal Deshmukh's next project would be produced by UTV Motion Pictures.[4] Deshmukh selected Emraan Hashmi for the lead role, collaborating with him for the fourth time.[5] The film was titled Shaatir and Hashmi was revealed to play the character of a 'shaatir' conman in the film.[6] In April 2014, the film's title was changed to Raja Natwarlal inspired by the 1979 Amitabh Bachchan film Mr. Natwarlal.[7]

In June, it was reported that Abhishek Bachchan would play another lead role besides Hashmi.[8] But he opted out and next month Paresh Rawal was signed for the role.[9] Jacqueline Fernandez and Priyanka Chopra were approached to play the lead female role, but both actresses could not accommodate the dates.[8] In November 2013, Pakistani model and actor Humaima Malick was cast as the female lead.[10] Deepak Tijori was signed for a role in the film in December.[11] Kay Kay Menon was signed for an important role and Deshmukh stated that his character named Vardha Yadav had been modelled on the Sahara India Pariwar chief Subrata Roy.[12] Pritam Chakraborty, who had composed the music for all of Deshmukh's films, was supposed to work on this film's music, too,[5] but was replaced by Yuvan Shankar Raja.[13] [14] Deshmukh later stated that Pritam wanted to take a break and that it was Pritam himself who referred Yuvan Shankar Raja to him.[15] The story seems to have been inspired by the Hollywood film, The Sting. Deshmukh had planned to start the first schedule of the film early 2014 but since Hashmi's other film Badtameez Dil had been postponed, the start of the film's shoot was advanced to October 2013.[16] Principal photography commenced on 20 October 2013. Hashmi took special dance training for the film under choreographer, Raju Khan.[17]

Soundtrack

Raja Natwarlal
Type:Soundtrack
Artist:Yuvan Shankar Raja
Border:yes
Released:23 July 2014[18]
Recorded:2013–14
Genre:Feature film soundtrack
Length:24:35
Language:Hindi
Label:Times Music
Producer:Yuvan Shankar Raja
Prev Title:Anjaan
Prev Year:2013
Next Title:Govindudu Andarivadele
Next Year:2014

The film's soundtrack was composed by noted Tamil film composer Yuvan Shankar Raja who made his debut in Hindi films with the film.[19] The soundtrack album consists of six tracks: four romantic numbers including one reprise, one dance number and in Hashmi's words, "a dhinchak tapori" song.[20] The lyrics were written by Irshad Kamil. The tracks were unveiled on 30 July 2014 and premiered at Radio City.[21] The reprise "Tere Hoke Rehenge" was the first song to be released, although it was the last song to be recorded.[15]

Joginder Tuteja from Rediff.com gave the album 3 out of 5 stars and wrote, " Raja Natwarlals music grows on you slowly", further adding, "Since debutant Yuvan Shankar Raja brings in a new sound with this album, he deserves a few hearings before one pronounces judgment".[22] Bollywood Hungama gave 2.5 stars out of 5 and wrote, "Yuvan Shankar Raja has absorbed the ethos of the contemporary Hindi film song with far more accuracy, acumen and sharpness than any colleague down South with the exception of that redoubtable genius, M.M. Kreem. Yuvan Shankar Raja's tunes are quite trendy, and their appeal makes the score sound fresh despite generic similarities to today's 'hit' music. His production is immaculate and Irshad Kamil's lyrics, as usual, vary from the pithy to the occasionally needlessly Sufi".[23]

Critical reception

The film received positive reviews upon release.[24]

The Times of India gave 3.5 stars out of 5 and wrote, "With its twisting story, good-looking frames and zingy acting, Raja Natwarlal keeps you entertained".[25] Rachel Saltz from The New York Times wrote, "Mr. Deshmukh's setup can be overly fussy – some of the con machinations seem needlessly complicated and hard to follow, or maybe not quite worth following – but his payoff works. And his cast, too, hits the right notes and finds an easy rhythm".[26] Bollywood Hungama gave 3 stars out of 5 and wrote, "Kunal Deshmukh does a reasonably good job in Raja Natwarlal. There are a few repeated moments from his earlier films, but the plot of the film overshadows that. He manages to get the audiences glued to their seats throughout the film, a few loopholes notwithstanding".[27]

Anupama Chopra from Hindustan Times gave a rating of 2.5 and wrote, "If you can get past the foolishness of the plot, director Kunal Deshmukh's film is mildly engaging".[28] Raja Sen from Rediff gave the same rating, while writing, "Raja Natwarlal has some smarts but tragically lacks the skill or the sleight-of-hand".[29] Kusumita Das from Deccan Chronicle gave 2.5 stars as well and wrote, "There's a gripping premise of a revenge plan, little bit of comedy, some interesting dialogues and convincing performances from the chief cast. But in a bid to broaden the suspense and make the twists more unpredictable, the story gets entwined in all the yarns it manages to spin for over two hours".[30] Shubha Shetty-Saha from mid-day gave 2.5 stars out of 5, too, and wrote, "This film had huge potential but sadly one walks out of the theatre unimpressed by Raja Natwarlals antics and this film".[31] Rahul Desai from Mumbai Mirror wrote, "This film is far from perfect, but makes for an acceptable non-Italian version of The Indian Job-by entertaining solely within the confines of a revenge drama".[32] Sify wrote, "The film, with an impressive intermission point, is pacy and full of twists in the second half...Where the film falters is in insinuating incongruous melodrama and unnecessary characters".[33]

Shubhra Gupta from Indian Express gave 1.5 stars out of 5 and wrote, "A caper flick necessarily has to do a couple of things: it has to have some surprises, and it has to be fun. On neither of these counts, Raja Natwarlal comes up trumps".[34] The Economic Times reported, "With its many twists, the film actually has enough potential to stay gripping, but fails woefully at it as it gets a hackneyed treatment".[35] Faheem Ruhani from India Today, gave the film one star and said, "Unfortunately for Emraan, there is very little in this film that is enthralling. In fact, this story...is nothing but plain boring and exhausting to sit through".[36] Mihir Fadnavis from firstpost.com wrote, " Raja Natwarlal is a con film about con men, and it succeeds wonderfully in conning you into coming to see it. Raja Natwarlal is a Stupid Man's Ocean's 11".[37] Sanjukta Sharma from livemint wrote, "You probably won't remember this film after you have watched it. There is no inventiveness in plot, treatment, and characterization—unlike the best con movies, not for a moment do any of the characters seem to be duping each other, and their wiles or avarice hold no surprises. Raja Natwarlal is unimaginative pulp; it begins and ends on a lukewarm note".[38]

Box office

The film's approximate opening day gross was to,[39] while were reportedly collected on Saturday; the overall weekend gross was .[40] At the end of the first week, the film had collected and the overall lifetime collection were according to Bollywood Hungama.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Raja Natwarlal - Movie - Box Office India . 15 April 2021 . 15 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210415141706/https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=2297 . live .
  2. Web site: Raja Natwarlal . https://web.archive.org/web/20140121033253/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/boxoffice/id/507113 . dead . 21 January 2014 . . 20 December 2014.
  3. Web site: Emraan Hashmi Is A Conman in His Next Film Shaatir . July 20, 2013 . 20 July 2013 . Oneindia . 16 January 2014 . 16 January 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140116201614/http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/news/2013/shaatir-emraan-hashmi-utv-motion-pictures-next-film-115084.html . live .
  4. Web site: Box Office India . Emraan Hashmi and Kunal Deshmukh in UTV's Thriller | Box Office India : India's premier film trade magazine . 14 May 2013 . 17 April 2014 . 19 April 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140419013446/http://www.boxofficeindia.co.in/emraan-hashmi-and-kunal-deshmukh-in-utvs-thriller/ . live .
  5. Web site: Emraan, Kunal join forces again . Mumbai Mirror . 14 May 2013 . 17 April 2014 . 18 April 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140418235934/http://www.mumbaimirror.com/entertainment/bollywood/Emraan-Kunal-join-forces-again/articleshow/20039774.cms . live .
  6. Web site: Emraan Hashmi's next is called 'Shaatir' . Gulf News . 20 July 2013 . 17 April 2014 . 19 April 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140419012859/http://gulfnews.com/about-gulf-news/al-nisr-portfolio/tabloid/emraan-hashmi-s-next-is-called-shaatir-1.1211000 . live .
  7. Web site: Title of Shaatir changed to Raja Natwarlal | Celebrity News . https://web.archive.org/web/20140419025206/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/news/type/view/id/2476899/Title%20of%20Shaatir%20changed%20to%20Raja%20Natwarlal . dead . 19 April 2014 . . 17 April 2014.
  8. Web site: Kunal Deshmukh's next is a thriller . The Indian Express . 21 June 2013 . 17 April 2014 . 18 April 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140418234649/http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/kunal-deshmukh-s-next-is-a-thriller/1131627/ . live .
  9. Web site: Soumita Sengupta . Paresh Rawal in KD's Next? | Box Office India : India's premier film trade magazine . Box Office India . 6 July 2013 . 17 April 2014 . 19 April 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140419013207/http://www.boxofficeindia.co.in/paresh-rawal-in-kds-next/ . live .
  10. Web site: Humaima Malick signed alongside Hashmi in Shaatir . https://web.archive.org/web/20131118081009/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/2202992/Humaima-Malick-signed-alongside-Hashmi-in-Shaatir . dead . 18 November 2013 . . 15 November 2013 . 17 April 2014.
  11. Web site: Deepak Tijori in Shatir | Celebrity News . https://web.archive.org/web/20140419025453/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/news/type/view/id/2297691/Deepak%20Tijori%20in%20Shatir . dead . 19 April 2014 . . 9 December 2013 . 17 April 2014.
  12. Web site: Is Kay Kay Menon's character in Raja Natwarlal modelled on Sahara's Subrata Roy? . The Times of India . 20 October 2013 . 17 April 2014 . 18 April 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140418103130/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news-interviews/Is-Kay-Kay-Menons-character-in-Raja-Natwarlal-modelled-on-Saharas-Subrata-Roy/articleshow/33860156.cms . live .
  13. Web site: Ilayraja's son Yuvan Shankar Raja to compose music for 'Raja Natwarlal' . The Indian Express . 26 April 2014 . 22 July 2014 . 5 August 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140805052721/http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/ilayrajas-son-yuvan-shankar-raja-to-compose-music-for-raja-natwarlal/ . live .
  14. Web site: Veteran South musician Illayaraja's son in Bollywood – Entertainment . 2 September 2013 . Mid-day.com . 17 April 2014 . 19 April 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140419012840/http://www.mid-day.com/articles/veteran-south-musician-illayarajas-son-in-bollywood/229672 . live .
  15. Web site: Tere Hoke: Lovestruck - Mumbai Mirror . 4 February 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150921202344/http://mumbaimirror.com/entertainment/music/Tere-Hoke-Lovestruck/articleshow/39345465.cms . 21 September 2015.
  16. Web site: Emraan's Shaatir move . Mumbai Mirror . 23 September 2013 . 17 April 2014 . 18 April 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140418235936/http://www.mumbaimirror.com/entertainment/bollywood/Emraans-Shaatir-move/articleshow/22924245.cms . live .
  17. Web site: Emraan Hashmi takes dance training for Kunal Deshmukh's next . https://web.archive.org/web/20140104214234/http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/emraan-hashmi-takes-dance-training-for-kunal-deshmukh-s-next/article1-1169255.aspx . dead . 4 January 2014 . Hindustan Times . 4 January 2014 . 17 April 2014.
  18. Web site: Raja Natwarlal (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) . 23 July 2014 . . 27 June 2018 . 27 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180627213644/https://itunes.apple.com/in/album/raja-natwarlal-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-ep/902508492 . live .
  19. Web site: Yuvan's first trailer out - the Times of India . 4 February 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150712024904/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/Yuvans-first-trailer-out/articleshow/38668289.cms . 12 July 2015. .
  20. Web site: Yuvan Shankar Raja debuts in Bollywood with Raja Natwarlal . The Indian Express . 4 July 2014 . 20 December 2014 . 20 December 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141220194736/http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/screen/yuvan-shankar-raja-debuts-in-bollywood-with-raja-natwarlal/ . live .
  21. Web site: Exclusive Radio premier of 'Raja Natwarlal' only on Radio City . 31 Jul 2014 . www.radioandmusic.com . en . 13 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140812224146/http://www.radioandmusic.com/content/editorial/news-releases/exclusive-radio-premier-raja-natwarlal-only-radio-city-0 . 12 August 2014.
  22. Web site: Review: Raja Natwarlal's music grows on you slowly . 9 August 2014 . Rediff . 20 December 2014 . 20 December 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141220195256/http://www.rediff.com/movies/review/review-raja-natwarlals-music-grows-on-you-slowly/20140809.htm . live .
  23. Web site: Raja Natwarlal . https://web.archive.org/web/20140810005725/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/musiccriticreview/id/507113 . dead . 10 August 2014 . . 20 December 2014.
  24. Web site: 'Raja Natwarlal' Review Roundup: One-Time Watch . 29 August 2014 . International Business Times . 20 December 2014 . 20 December 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141220194713/http://www.ibtimes.co.in/raja-natwarlal-review-roundup-one-time-watch-607890 . live .
  25. Web site: Raja Natwarlal movie review: Wallpaper, Story, Trailer at Times of India . 4 September 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140904070435/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-review/Raja-Natwarlal/movie-review/41188259.cms . 4 September 2014. .
  26. News: A Criminal With Charm: In 'Raja Natwarlal,' Bollywood's Kiss King Plays a Con Man . . 20 December 2014 . 30 October 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141030032432/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/30/movies/in-raja-natwarlal-bollywoods-kiss-king-plays-a-con-man.html . live .
  27. Web site: Raja Natwarlal . https://web.archive.org/web/20140121034217/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/criticreview/id/507113 . dead . 21 January 2014 . . 20 December 2014.
  28. Web site: Movie review by Anupama Chopra: Raja Natwarlal isn't an actively awful film . https://web.archive.org/web/20140829235429/http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/reviews/movie-review-by-anupama-chopra-raja-natwarlal-isn-t-an-actively-awful-film/article1-1258050.aspx . dead . 29 August 2014 . Hindustan Times . 20 December 2014.
  29. Web site: Review: Raja Natwarlal lacks directorial finesse . 29 August 2014 . Rediff . 20 December 2014 . 31 December 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141231024717/http://www.rediff.com/movies/review/review-raja-natwarlal-lacks-directorial-finesse/20140829.htm . live .
  30. Web site: Movie review 'Raja Natwarlal': Could just be a watchable fare . Deccan Chronicle . 29 August 2014 . 20 December 2014 . 20 December 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141220194517/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/140828/entertainment-bollywood/article/raja-natwarlal-could-just-be-watchable-fare . live .
  31. Web site: Movie review: 'Raja Natwarlal' . 15 September 2014 . mid-day . 20 December 2014 . 20 December 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141220195841/http://www.mid-day.com/articles/movie-review-raja-natwarlal/15564159 . live .
  32. Web site: Film review: Raja Natwarlal - Mumbai Mirror . 4 September 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140901041451/http://www.mumbaimirror.com/entertainment/bollywood/Film-review-Raja-Natwarlal/articleshow/41136533.cms . 1 September 2014.
  33. Web site: Movie Review : Raja Natwarlal review: King Con! . https://web.archive.org/web/20140829150913/http://www.sify.com/movies/raja-natwarlal-review-king-con-review-bollywood-15058197.html . dead . 29 August 2014 . Sify . 20 December 2014.
  34. Web site: Raja Natwarlal movie review: It is a limp con job . The Indian Express . 20 December 2014 . 20 December 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141220193956/http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/movie-review-raja-natwarlal-is-a-limp-con-job/ . live .
  35. Web site: Movie review: Raja Natwarlal cons the audience with serial kissing - the Economic Times . 4 September 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140905023104/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/41584978.cms . 5 September 2014.
  36. Web site: Movie review: Raja Natwarlal is plain boring and exhausting . India Today . 20 December 2014 . 22 October 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141022114142/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/raja-natwarlal-emraan-hashmi-humaima-malick-movie-review/1/379794.html . live .
  37. Web site: Raja Natwarlal review: Don't get conned into watching this Emraan Hashmi film . Firstpost . 29 August 2014 . 20 December 2014 . 1 November 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141101194555/http://www.firstpost.com/bollywood/raja-natwarlal-review-dont-get-conned-into-watching-this-emraan-hashmi-film-1687517.html . live .
  38. Web site: Film Review | Raja Natwarlal - Livemint . 4 September 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140902042757/http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/Nfz5mdp9jtocqIdccAH1hJ/Film-Review--Raja-Natwarlal.html . 2 September 2014.
  39. Web site: Box office report: 'Raja Natwarlal' does average business on Day 1 - the Times of India . 19 September 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140903020312/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/box-office/Box-office-report-Raja-Natwarlal-does-average-business-on-Day-1/articleshow/41252413.cms . 3 September 2014. .
  40. Web site: Box Office report: Emraan Hashmi's 'Raja Natwarlal' doesn't meet expectations - the Times of India . 19 September 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140904065937/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/box-office/Box-Office-report-Emraan-Hashmis-Raja-Natwarlal-doesnt-meet-expectations/articleshow/41434566.cms . 4 September 2014. .

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