DRONA
NO STORY FOR THIS VFX GLORY
by Vishal Verma
Banner: Rose Movies with Eros Entertainment
Producer: Shrishti Arya & Sunil Lulla
Director: Goldie Behl
Genre: Debatable Issue
Star Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra, Kay Kay Menon, & Jaya Bachchan.
VFX Supervisor: David Bush
Production Design: Tania Behl
Cinematography: Sameer Arya
Editor: Shyam Salgaonkar
Costume: Anaita Shroff
Sound: Baylon Fonseca
Story : Goldie Behl
Screenplay:Jaydeep Sarkar, Rohini Killough & Goldie Behl.
Lyricist: Vaibhav Modi
Music Director: Dhruv Ghanekar
Singers: Sunidhi Chauhan, Nandini Shrikar, Roop Kumar Rathod, Sadhana Sargam, Shaan, Suzanne D'Mello, Francois, Dean Devlin & Sunaina
Action: Shyam Kaushal & Tom Delmar
Media Consultant: Spice
Technical Analysis
First of all let me honestly congratulate David Bush for bringing quality VFX to bollywood. The guy is a known name in the west and is remembered for his beautiful work in the award winning ‘Malena’ in 2001 written and helmed by Giuseppe Tornatore the man behind the cult classic ‘Cinema Paradiso’, one of my top favorites.
Goldie Behl and Eros deserve a pat on their back also but strictly for introducing this gentleman to Bollywood, who once when I met was thrilled to be working with the Bachchans. OK Folks, the nostalgia part is over now let’s get back to business.
A lot has been spoken and shouted about this 50+ crore Flick which unfortunately fails to register in any genre. An award for guessing what the makers where trying to churn out, a fantasy, a superhero film, a costume action, a children’s film. God heavens what is ‘Drona’ all about.
What a waste, after spending so much hooplas, ‘Drona’ the latest adventure by Eros and Rose ends up as an absolute humdrum. The VFX though are very good but there is no meaning to it. Such a pity, the helmer Goldie in his own story has made a mockery of a potential blockbuster.
Apart from the VFX by David Bush, Cinematography by Sameer Arya and stupendous production values, Drona has nothing positive to talk about. it’s a beffiting example of a heart without a beat. It’s a beautifully decorated gift hamper where the gift is missing.
Even the actors looked disinterested in this misadventure. No one impresses. Ironically, they where far better in the films promotional events.
The Story
Abhishek Bachchan plays ‘Drona’ the protector of ‘amrit’ against the demons- a legacy carried by his forefathers to save the world.
After identifying his true perceptive and purpose of life, he encounters a magician cum demon KK Menon ( who tries to be different and ends up being funny) and saves the ‘amrit’ in falling into the evil hands in a bewildered 2+ hr humdrum affair.
Where neither the villain nor the hero are in a single scene established as the saviour or the destroyer of thre earth to that matter. Only god can save such screenplays.
Promotion
Promotion has been aggressive and effective. The Drona community on the social networking website moderated by Abhishek Bachchan, promos of Drona screened prior to every concert of The Unforgettable. Merchandising of various toys and weapons from the movie, online games and tie-ups with mobile service providers and mobile handsets companies was a smart move.
Media Awareness by Spice was effective.
Business Analysis
Smart promotion techniques only helps if the movie has some E (read entertainment) quotient and content which Drona lacks in plenty. This VFX glory unfortunately lacks a story and it’s going to effect severely on the business of the film.
Industry will see another VFX disaster after ‘Love Story 2050’, which is not a good sign at all. Adding more salt to the wound, Rose and Eros Both will have to wait longer for the lady luck to shine on them.
Star Status
Abhishek Bachchan: is yet to open his account at the B.O. after ‘Guru’ in 2007 and will have to wait till the verdict of ‘Dostana’ to regain his star status which is on decline rapidly film after film. His last release ‘Sarkar Raj’ was average only in Mumbai and a loser elsewhere, while ‘Drona’ is most likely to be a disaster.