Entertainment (2014 film)

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Entertainment
K. Subhash
Produced byRamesh S. Taurani
Starring
CinematographyManoj Soni
Edited bySteven H. Bernard
Music by
  • Sachin–Jigar (songs, background score)
  • White Noise Productions (background score)
Production
company
Distributed byPen Studios
Release date
  • 8 August 2014 (2014-08-08)
Running time
145 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi
Budget₹88 crore[1]
Box office₹115.93 crore[2]

Entertainment is a 2014

Tips Industries Limited banner. Based on an original story by K. Subash, the film stars Junior – The wonder dog as the titular protagonist and Akshay Kumar, along with Tamannaah Bhatia, Mithun Chakraborty, Sonu Sood, Krushna Abhishek, Johnny Lever and Prakash Raj.The film's music was composed by Sachin–Jigar, with cinematography by Manoj Soni and editing by Steven H. Bernard.[1]

Entertainment was released theatrically worldwide on 8 August 2014. The film received mixed reviews and grossed ₹115.93 crore at the box office against a budget of ₹88 crore, falling short of breaking even.[3]

Plot

The film starts with Akhil Lokhande getting paid for doing an ad, where he gets into a fight, as he wasn't paid the full amount of money that they had promised. This continues with a few other assignments, where Akhil constantly gets underpaid, resulting in a fight, ends the fight when he gets a phone call, and says he has to go somewhere. He then arrives on a shoot where Saakshi is shooting for her television series. After her shoot lets out, they go for a walk around the park, observing other couples. At the end of their walk, Akhil proposes to Saakshi. Akhil and Saakshi go to her father's house, where they are told that until Akhil becomes rich, he can't marry Saakshi.

Akhil goes to his film-obsessed friend, Jugnu's shop. He tells him that he is going to visit his father at the hospital because he has chest pain. However, his father Mr. Lokhande, is actually acting and is dancing around with the nurse, only staying in the hospital because it has service like a 5-star hotel. Akhil arrives just in time to hear and see this, and goes to beat up Mr. Lokhande when he reveals that Akhil is adopted and his real father wasn't ready for a child so his mother left, but was killed in a train crash. Luckily Akhil survived, and when the railway officers were giving one lakh rupees for the families who are even one member dies, he adopted Akhil to claim the compensation. Akhil, in a fit of rage, beats him up. He goes back to his house, and opens the chest that he never had before, which contains love letters from his real father, to his mother, and a locket with his father and mother's pictures. He discovers that his father is Pannalal Johri who is a billionaire in Bangkok. Right as he finds this, on the television comes news that Pannalal Johri is dead and his 30 billion's($480,000,000 in 2014) will go to anyone who can prove that they are related to Pannalal Johri.

After arriving at his father's house at Bangkok, Pannalal Johri's lawyer tells Akhil that a dog named 'Entertainment' is the owner of Johri's property, and is actually Johri's pet dog. He relays this to Jugnu, and they try to kill Entertainment, by having Akhil become Entertainment's caretaker, but fail. Saakshi and her father surprise Akhil at the mansion, and discover that Entertainment is the heir, causing the father to declare that Saakshi will never marry Akhil. At this time 2 brothers, Karan Johri and Arjun Johri, the 2nd cousins of Johri, escape jail. Karan and Arjun want to kill Akhil, because they figure that the dog will die in a couple of years anyway, and thus while Akhil is attempting to kill Entertainment, they do the same to Akhil by drowning him under a thinly iced lake. Karan and Arjun hit the ground at the same time as Akhil causing him to nearly fall in, but Entertainment saves the former, and falls into the lake instead. After a lot of efforts, Akhil fails to save Entertainment but he comes out of the water and survives. Akhil realizes his mistake and learns that Entertainment is a good hearted dog so he becomes his friend and leaves the mansion. Karan and Arjun, citing their legal connections very well, inappropriately acquire the property from Entertainment.

Akhil learns this news and returns. He vows that he'll get the property back for Entertainment. Akhil's strategy is to divide the two brothers and conquer. He manages to get a job as a servant at the mansion, now owned by Karan and Arjun. Akhil attempts to split the two brothers, first by introducing Saakshi who pretends to love the two brothers separately. However, the scheme fails. Akhil again attempts trying to split the two brothers, this time by introducing a false impression of a ghost of Entertainment the dog. The two brothers quarrel and accuse each other of illegally disguising as Entertainment and having tricked the other. Akhil's friends tape this conversation in a CD slyly, however, the CD drops accidentally and Karan and Arjun realize that all this was planned by Akhil.

Entertainment runs with the CD. Karan, Arjun and their gang chase the dog, Akhil, and his friends. Akhil manages to beat them all. Later, Karan shoots Akhil, but Entertainment takes the bullet by jumping in front of Akhil. Akhil gets angry and beats up Karan and Arjun black and blue.

Entertainment is taken to the hospital but is unable to come back to life. Akhil, in a fit of anger, punches him but at this process, he had saved him. Karan and Arjun come to apologize to Entertainment, who forgives them. Saakshi's father gets Akhil and Saakshi married while Entertainment also marries a female dog in the same ceremony. The film concludes by showing Mr and Mrs Johri living happily with Mr and Mrs Entertainment, along with their children. At the end, the film delivers a social message: Love your pets, and they will entertain you all your life.

Cast

Cameo appearance

Production

In February 2013, Ramesh S. Taurani announced a film starring Akshay Kumar and directed by Sajid-Farhad.[4] Tamannaah Bhatia was confirmed as female lead in the following month.[5] In April, Taurani confirmed that Sonu Sood and Prakash Raj will be playing the antagonists, with Johnny Lever in key role.[6] The film was tentatively titled Entertainment.[7] In an interview, Sajid-Farhad said that Kumar had motivated them to start their directing career and they had prepared the script for their directorial venture a long time ago.[8][9] Shooting started on 3 June 2013 in Mumbai, where the mahurat shot was filmed.[10] Television actor Hiten Tejwani also made a special appearance as a TV presenter.[11] An audition was conducted in Bangkok for the role of the dog, Entertainment. A Golden Retriever named Wonder Dog was chosen from a total of 50 dogs to play the role.[12][13] In June 2013, the producers, directors and Kumar discussed about shooting locations. Kumar expressed his wish to shoot the film in Bangkok, where he had worked as a waiter and trained in martial arts. The finalised locations included Baanpradhana Bungalow in Ongkuruk, Asiatique Mall, Ancient City, Bangkok University and Ongkuruk Railway Station.[14][15]

On 1 July, shooting started in Bangkok for a three-month-long schedule, during which 80% of the film was shot.[16] The remaining 10% of the film was shot in Mumbai, with one song in Goa during late 2013. The shooting was wrapped up in April 2014.[17][18] A few songs and an item number were shot in Mumbai.[19] During the film's censoring process, the Indian Censor Board objected to the name Abdullah for Johnny Lever's character, citing its sacred nature and frequent mispronunciations in the film, which could offend religious sentiments. Consequently, Sajid-Farhad changed the character's name to Habibullah a week before the film's release. The Board also objected to a joke involving the word HIV, leading to its removal from the film. Additionally, Kumar's character using a trident was objected to, resulting in the removal of the scene.[20]

Music

Entertainment
Tips Industries Limited
ProducerRamesh S. Taurani
Sachin–Jigar chronology
Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania
(2014)
Entertainment
(2014)
Bey Yaar
(2014)

The soundtrack is composed by Sachin–Jigar, with their new A&R platform White Noise Productions, including only the duo at that point, composing the background score. This marked the first time the duo worked with Kumar. The song "Teri Mahima Aprampar" was taken from the Telugu film D for Dopidi. Kumar also sang one of the tracks of the film. The YouTube link of the making of the song was uploaded on Twitter.[21]

The party single "Johnny Johnny" was released first. Based on a nursery rhyme, the song featured Kumar lip-synching to a female voice. The directors said about the song "...in a small subtle way, we are showing our support for women empowerment".[22] Sunitra Pacheco of The Indian Express said that it had "all the ingredients to become a new party anthem".[23] In a review for Rediff.com Joginder Tuteja said that the film's music "is entertaining, providing good fun at a frantic pace." He called "Veerey Di Wedding" "an infectious number" and praised Mika's voice. About the song "Johnny Johnny", he said, "it has addictive beats that get you hooked at the first listening" and praised the lyrics and singers. He added that the song "will be played for many months, till the next New Year party at least."[24]

Track Listing
No.TitleLyricsArtist(s)Length
1."Johnny Johnny"
Jigar Saraiya, Priya Panchal & Madhav Krishna
3:38
2."Tera Naam Doon"Priya SaraiyaAtif Aslam & Shalmali Kholgade4:44
3."Veerey Di Wedding"Mayur PuriMika Singh3:34
4."Teri Mahima Aprampar"Ashish PanditUdit Narayan, Sachin–Jigar & Anushka Manchanda3:45
5."Nahi Woh Saamne"Priya SaraiyaAtif Aslam1:48
6."Veerey Di Wedding (Remix)"Mayur PuriMika Singh3:37
7."Johnny Johnny (Remix)"Mayur PuriMika Singh3:38

Marketing

Previously titled It's Entertainment, the teaser trailer for the film was unveiled on 14 May 2014, with the theatrical trailer following on 19 May.[25][26] Politician and animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi was the chief guest at the trailer launch ceremony.[27] Initially, the producers intended to title the film Entertainment, but this was already registered for another upcoming film by Amole Gupte. However, in July 2014, Gupte donated the title to Sajid-Farhad as a friendly gesture.[28] Akshay Kumar decided that the credit for the dog Junior should appear before his own.[29] Some fraudsters released a poster of the film and falsely invited people to attend the music launch at Birla Matoshree. Producer Taurani issued a warning about these fraudulent posters.[30] The film's satellite rights were sold to Zee TV for approximately ₹100 crore.[31]

Release

Entertainment was theatrically released worldwide on 2850 screens on 8 August 2014.[1]

Reception

Critical response

The film received mixed reviews from critics.

Meena Iyer of The Times of India praised the film's humour, Kumar's performance and his chemistry with Junior, especially in comic scenes. She stated that though the dog was not a good actor yet "his eyes can melt your heart." She said that the directors could have kept the film "tight".[32] Mihir Fadnavis of Firstpost called it a "sheer genius" and said that it was Kumar's funniest film since Hera Pheri. He wrote that the film satirised all of the Sajid-Farhad films and took "potshots at everything that is wrong with desi cinema and television." He also appreciated the scene transitions and called it "technically great."[33] Hindustan Times's Sweta Kaushal criticised the screenplay, Kumar and Prakash Raj's acting. She said that Bhatia "[did not] have much to do" and Chakraborty did not have much screenspace. However, she praised Abhishek's comedy and said that it was the "[only] bright spark in the film." She concluded her review by saying that the film was neither a "great piece of art" nor entertaining.[34]

Prior to the film's release, Hindustan Times published an article titled Four reasons why you shouldn't waste your time on Entertainment and criticised the film's story, songs and dialogues.[35] Shubha Shetty-Saha of Mid-Day wrote "Entertainment pleasantly surprises with its delightful absurdity and sure gets you roaring with laughter at several points." She called it a child friendly film and appreciated the dialogues and the performance given by the actors. However, Saha stated that the pace of the film's second half was slowed down by the excessive melodrama.[36] Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express wrote, "[Entertainment] is the film which misses the point entirely : it is dull and loud, with a brow so lowered that it reaches the floor." She also criticised the film's story and dialogues.[37] Rohit Khilnani of India Today appreciated Kumar, Bhatia and Lever's performance and wrote that the rest of the cast was wasted. He criticised the plot and called it "senseless and full of loopholes."[38]

Sukanya Verma of

CNN-IBN, Rajeev Masand termed the film's humour repetitive and lazy. He criticised the film's story but appreciated Lever's performance by calling him "the single saving grace in this overcooked, misguided comedy".[41] In his review for Bollywood Hungama, critic Taran Adarsh praised the humorous writing and the comedic acting talents of the actors. He called the film "a joy ride that lives up to its title."[42] However, Daily News and Analysis called it a commercial failure and Tamannaah Bhatia's third disaster in a row.[43]

Box office

Entertainment earned approximately ₹11 crore on its first day at the box office and grossed ₹56.50 crore in its first week.[44][45] The film collected a total of ₹115.93 crore during its theatrical run.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Entertainment – Movie – Box Office India". Archived from the original on 19 November 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  2. ^ a b Hungama, Bollywood (5 January 2024). "Entertainment Box Office Collection". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 3 August 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  3. ^ Sehgal, Geety (22 August 2014). "Tamannaah, a television serial actress, in It's Entertainment and a VJ in Humshakals". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 16 May 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  4. ^ Bollywood Hungama News Network (8 February 2013). "Akshay's next to be directed by Sajid-Farhad". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 31 December 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  5. CNN-IBN. Archived from the original
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  21. ^ Indo-Asian News Service (26 July 2014). "After Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar sings for his film". The Times of India. The Times Group. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
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External links