KHUSHBOO
Avantikka brezees fresh air in her debut.
by Vishal Verma

Genre: Love Story
Target audience: Family   
Star cast: introducing Rishi Rehan & Avantikka along with Prem Chopra
Raj Babbar, Himani Shivpuri & Ninad Kamat.
Banner: Ntree Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.
Presenter: Pahlaj Nahalani
Producer: Chirag Nihalani
Director: Rajesh Ram Singh (debutant)
Story / Writer: Pathik Vats
Lyricist: Javed Akhtar & Dr. Deepali Dhusia
Music Directors: Adnan Sami &Bappi Lahiri
Cinematography: C. Vijayshree
Editor: Sanjay Sankla
Publicity Designs: Trusha Patel
PR: Alok Mathur 

Technical Analysis
Pahlaj Nahalani is back after a gap of five years and its inspiring to see the prolific producer is confident as ever when its comes to introducing newcomers and trying his hand at an off season subject based on relationship.

With ‘Khusboo’ Pahlaj had not only introduced 2 actors - Rishi Rehan & Avantikka but also gives break to Rajesh Ram Singh as director and Pathik Vats as a full fledge writer ( better known for his dialogues in Aamir Khan starrer ‘Sarfarosh’ which won him the Filmfare award).

Pahlaj has been instrumental in shaping careers of Govinda ( ‘Ilzam’ Govindas first major hit & Chunkey Pandey (introduced him in Aag Hi Aag).

Though the confident quotient of Pahlaj in investing in a project involving newcomers with a first time director has not deteriorated even after his previous failures and he maintains his repute without compromising in the production values.

Unfortunately, the erstwhile award winning writer Pathik, first time director Rajesh Ram Singh & music directors Adnan Sami &Bappi Lahiri fail to compliment the producers cause.

It must be noted that love stories targeted at the family audience has clicked ( eg. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge or the recent Jab We Met) if it has a hit music to cover up if there is any technical failure. The plot of a young, ambitious and successful professional (Rishi Rehan) who is alien to family values, falling for a bubbly girl (Avantikka) who always considers family and tradition as top priority. They get married and differences develop due their attitude.

This could have been a gripping emotional drama for the entire family audience but incompetence writing by Pathik and mediocre narration by director Rajesh Ram Singh marred by average music by the two talented music directors Adnan & Bappida, fails to hold the pulse of the audience.

The other debutant actor Rishi Rehan is dull as compared to the bubbly Avantikka who oozes with fresh charm and confidence. Even the freshness of Avantikka and eye pleasing cinematography by C. Vijayshree does not help the movie in being a mediocre.

Promotion:
Publicity designer Trusha Patel has kept a low –key in outdoor publicity and the promos on the channel has been below par.

A movie with newcomers requires to create a buzz in the market ( ex. Love story 2050, Jane Tu Na Jane Na) but unfortunately its not been properly planed & it has failed to create any curiosity.

The two debutant actors should have been part of reality shows, contest, tie-ups etc to create any buzz.
Actually, the promos of the film and music lacked vision and idea & it fails to give the fresh feel. Instead of the number ‘Gud Chaka’, the basic theme of the film - romance and family bounding should have been highlighted in the promos to give the target audience a feel of the movie.       

Though the media awareness by Alok Mathur has been fair in print and satellite.

Business analysis:
Lack of curiosity, low key promotion, and absence of a known face marred with mediocre writing, narration & hit music, will keep the audience disinterested in the film.

It has resulted in a dull opening which is not likely to improve. It may find some patronage in remote single screens were love stories are still a novelty.

Unfortunately the confident shown by Pahlaj Nahalani in introducing newcomers is praiseworthy as usual but it will not reap in the desired dividends.

But one thing is sure; Pahlaj Nahalani’s confident is rock steady even after five years and he has at least introduced a decent actor – Avantikka to the industry.