Bewakoofiyaan (transl. Stupidities) is a 2014 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy film directed by Nupur Asthana, written by Habib Faisal and produced by Aditya Chopra under the banner of Yash Raj Films. The film stars Ayushmann Khurrana, Sonam Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor. It was released on 14 March 2014 to mixed reviews, and emerged a commercial failure.

Bewakoofiyaan
Theatrical release poster
Directed byNupur Asthana
Story byHabib Faisal
Produced byAditya Chopra
StarringAyushmann Khurrana
Sonam Kapoor
Rishi Kapoor
CinematographyNeha Parti Matiyani
Edited byAntara Lahiri
Music bySongs:
Raghu Dixit
Background Score:
Hitesh Sonik
Production
company
Release date
  • 14 March 2014 (2014-03-14)
[1]
Running time
119 mins[2]
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi
Budget22 crore[2]
Box officeest. 22.2 crore[2]

Plot

edit

Mohit Chadha (Ayushmann Khurrana) is promoted from Junior Executive in Marketing to Senior Executive. He goes for lunch with Girlfriend Myra (Sonam Kapoor) after the promotion, where he proposes to her. Meanwhile, Myra's father, V.K. Sehgal (Rishi Kapoor), a Government Officer, is nearing his retirement. V.K. Sehgal does not approve of their wedding, as he believe Mohit would not be able to provide for her and give her happiness. V.K. goes to Mohit's office and challenges him: if he passes a test, then he can marry Myra. He calls Mohit to the club every day to play squash. V.K. soon retires from his Office.

Mohit is laid off by his company. V.K. goes to confirm if Mohit has been laid off. Both Mohit, Myra and his friend pretend that Mohit is still holding his Job. V.K. shows Mohit his criminal inquiries and Mohit gives V.K. an idea of working after his retirement, which V.K. likes very much. Mohit goes on a spree to find a new job. V.K. tries to find new work after his retirement. Myra is against it. V.K. compels Mohit to secretly help him get some work, going against Myra's wish. Mohit receives calls from everywhere to return money; he calls Myra and she gives him ₹50,000.

Next day, when Mohit asks Myra for money for his apartment. She does not have it, and they have a fight. Mohit sells his car, and gives Myra her money back, and they break-up. The same day, V.K. calls Mohit and Myra, as he got an interview call and engagement rings; Mohit reveals to V.K. that he is jobless. Mohit leaves his apartment, rents a smaller place, and joins a cafe. Meanwhile, Myra accepts a Dubai transfer. She tells her father about her plan to move to Dubai. When she returns, she shows her dad their new apartment and takes out their passports. He goes to Mohit's old office and asks Imi where he is. Imi takes him to the car garage manager, who takes them to the cafe. V.K. visits the cafe and orders food cheaply. V.K. tells Mohit that Myra is going to Dubai. Back at home, their maid, Radha starts crying. Mohit goes to their house and screams out for Myra; V.K. lectures him, and Mohit tells V.K. that he is being uncool.

Myra tells her dad that it is enough, and Mohit is a National Level under 16 silver medalist in squash but still kept losing to V.K. She tells him that she does not have fun shopping without him because there is nobody to say, "Very Hot, Khaa Jau Tere Ko". V.K. prepares for the interview in a suit with four pockets, then changes clothes, and goes to Mohit's apartment to get a tie. The couple go to the coffee shop, where V.K. comes back as the COO of the company.

Cast

edit

Production

edit

The film was announced in December 2012.[3] Bewakoofiyaan was written by Habib Faisal (of Ishaqzaade fame) and directed by Nupur Asthana (of Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge fame). It is a "slice of life" film, set during a recession. Ayushmann Khurrana's and Sonam Kapoor's characters are described as being "passionately in love" and believe that their love can help them survive. However, Kapoor's father strongly disagrees.[4]

Ayushmann Khurrana, Sonam Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor were cast in December 2012. Ayushmann and Sonam are paired opposite each other for the first time, with Rishi Kapoor cast in the role of Sonam Kapoor's father.[3]

Shooting began in February 2013[5] in Delhi and Gurgaon.[6][7] Part of the filming took place in Dubai.[8][9]

Soundtrack

edit
Bewakoofiyaan
Soundtrack album by
Released19 February 2014 (2014-02-19)[10]
Recorded2013
YRF Studios, Saba Studio
Mumbai, India
GenreFilm soundtrack
Length24:45
LabelYash Raj Films
ProducerAditya Chopra
Raghu Dixit chronology
Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge
(2011)
Bewakoofiyaan
(2014)
Aviyal
(2016)
External audio
  Audio Jukebox on YouTube

The soundtrack was composed by Raghu Dixit, while the lyrics were penned by Anvita Dutt, except where noted. Dixit was the music composer for Asthana's last film, Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge.[11] The song "O Heeriye" is a bonus track on the soundtrack.

Track listing

edit
Bewakoofiyaan
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Gulcharrey"Aditi Singh Sharma, Benny Dayal03:55
2."Khamakhaan" (Lyrics by Habib Faisal)Ayushmann Khurrana, Neeti Mohan04:25
3."Bewakoofiyaan"Raghu Dixit04:24
4."Rumaani Sa"Mohit Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal04:40
5."Aye Jigida"Vishal Dadlani03:46
6."O Heeriye" (Composed and lyrics by Ayushmann Khurrana & Rochak Kohli)Ayushmann Khurrana03:35
7."Khayali Berukhi Hai"Aditi Singh Sharma03:20
Total length:24:45

Critical reception

edit

Bewakoofiyaan received mixed responses from critics.[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]

Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama praised it, saying the film was a "pleasant surprise" with "super performances of [sic] Rishi, Ayushmann and Sonam, watertight writing, skilled direction and dollops of humor." Ultimately, he gave      .[12] Saibal Chatterjee in his review for NDTV described the film to score "with its disarming simplicity" thereby "never less than watchable".[13] Tushar Joshi reviewing for Daily News and Analysis stated it to miss out on the "opportunity to be smarter and funnier" by playing "too safe to rise above the ordinary".[14] Madhureeta Mukherjee in her review for The Times of India stated the film to have its share of beauty but falters with a helpless script".[15]

According to Rajeev Masand of CNN-IBN, ″Asthana directs with an easy hand, but she's saddled with a dead duck of a script that simply can't be saved.″[21]

In a review for Hindustan Times by Anupama Chopra stated, "This is one of those films that doesn't either offend or engage. It just goes on, in a bland, listless manner, until we hit happily ever after." She praised Khuranna's performance, saying, "The strongest performance here is Ayushmann's. His anger and frustration at losing the good life are palpable." Concerning Sonam Kapoor's performance, she said, "Sonam looks lovely. She attempts to imbue Mayera with some texture but it's an uphill climb."[22]

Rahul Desai of the Mumbai Mirror wrote ″This is the kind of middling film that one doesn't know what to make of. It looks clean, simple and doesn't boast of any highs or lows. Everything, including the change of heart(s), is predictable. To be fair, the screenplay doesn't aspire to blow your socks off. Even director Nupur Asthana (Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge) seems to have made her peace with that.″ He ended with ″Bewakoofiyaan isn't Nupur Asthana's best effort (out of two), but I'm still going to look forward to her next. All she needs is an ambitious screenplay and a voice—perhaps her own?″[23]

Danny Bowes from RogerEbert.com gave it      , writing, ″The movie is perfectly acceptable middle-of-the-road romantic comedy material, and for fans of such things it should certainly hit the spot.″[24]

The New York Times critic Andy Webster wrote "This tale of a yuppie couple (played by Ayushmann Khurrana and Sonam Kapoor) flirts with intriguing notions of recessionary struggle, though strained, contrived humour bogs it down... It is the question of money's influence on passion and relationships that gives Ms. Asthana's movie what dramatic traction it has."[25]

Box office

edit

The film made on a budget of 220 million (US$2.6 million) including promotional expense of 80 million (US$960,000) released on 14 March 2014.[26][27]

Domestic

edit

Bewakoofiyaan opened to poor response on the first day of its release.[28] It went on to collect 20 million (US$240,000)—22.5 million (US$270,000) on its first day.[29] It managed to collect 67.5 million (US$810,000) over the first three days of its release showing very little growth on it second day, which Box Office India claimed was necessary for a multiplex-oriented film like itself.[30] It collected another 60 million (US$720,000) to end up with a collection of 128 million (US$1.5 million) over the first week of its release.[31]

Overseas

edit

A report by Rentrak states the film collected in the first three days US$46,888 (INR 2864,000) releasing in 51 theatres in United States; $20,850 (INR 1274,000) releasing in 15 theatres in Canada; 33,620 pounds (INR 3412,000) in 26 theatres in United Kingdom and Ireland; 22,145 Australian dollar (INR 1228,000) in Australia with a screen count of 14; and 12,558 New Zealand dollar (INR 656,000) in New Zealand where it has released in 1 theatre.[32]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Hindi Movies Release Dates | Box Office". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  2. ^ a b c "Bewakoofiyaan - Movie - Worldwide Gross & Budget". Box Office India. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Sonam Kapoor, Ayushmann Khurrana bag Yash Raj Films' next | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". Dnaindia.com. 27 December 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  4. ^ "Ayushmann Khurrana, Sonam Kapoor in YRF's next project". Indian Express. 27 December 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  5. ^ "Sonam Kapoor kickstarts shooting for YRF's next – bollywood news". glamsham.com. 5 February 2013. Archived from the original on 18 February 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  6. ^ "Ayushmann Khurrana And Sonam Kapoor Starts Shooting YRF's Next". Bollywoodjournal.com. 18 February 2013. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  7. ^ Bollywood (12 January 2013). "Ayushmann to shoot YRF's next in Delhi | CanIndia NEWS". Canindia.com. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  8. ^ "Sonam Kapoor filming in Dubai right now". GulfNews.com. 11 February 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  9. ^ "Bewakoofiyan – Review". Womenpla.net. 13 March 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  10. ^ "Bewakoofiyaan (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". iTunes.
  11. ^ "Yash Raj Films". Yash Raj Films. 19 February 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  12. ^ a b Taran Adarsh (14 March 2014). "Bewakoofiyaan". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 31 December 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2014.     
  13. ^ a b Saibal Chatterjee (14 March 2014). "Bewakoofiyaan movie review". NDTV. Archived from the original on 14 March 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.     
  14. ^ a b Tushar Johsi (14 March 2014). "Film Review: Bewakoofiyaan plays it too safe to rise above the ordinary". Daily News and Analysis. Retrieved 17 March 2014.     
  15. ^ a b Madhureeta Mukherjee (14 March 2014). "Bewakoofiyaan". The Times of India. Retrieved 17 March 2014.     
  16. ^ Sanjukta Sharma (14 March 2014). "Film Review | Bewakoofiyaan". Mint & The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  17. ^ Suhani Singh (14 March 2014). "Movie review: Bewakoofiyaan offers a jaded romance and few laughs". India Today. Retrieved 17 March 2014.     
  18. ^ Faheen Ruhani (14 March 2014). "Bewakoofiyaan review: Don't spend your money on this one". India Today. Retrieved 17 March 2014.     
  19. ^ Rohit Khilnani (14 March 2014). "Movie review: Bewakoofiyaan. Skip it!". India Today. Retrieved 17 March 2014.     
  20. ^ Shubhra Gupta (15 March 2014). "Review Bewakoofiyaan: Sonam, Ayushmann, Rishi Kapoor are as flat as the film". The Indian Express. Retrieved 17 March 2014.     
  21. ^ "'Bewakoofiyaan' review: The film is lightweight, not lighthearted, with a dead duck script". Archived from the original on 16 March 2014.
  22. ^ Anupama Chopra (15 March 2014). "Movie review by Anupama Chopra: Bewakoofiyaan is a bland tale of yuppies". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2014.     
  23. ^ "Fim review: Bewakoofiyaan - Mumbai Mirror -".
  24. ^ Bowes, Danny. "Bewakoofiyaan Movie Review & Film Summary (2014) - Roger Ebert".
  25. ^ "Boy Meets Girl; Boy Must Win Dad Over". The New York Times. 17 March 2014.
  26. ^ Taran Adarsh (17 March 2014). "'Queen' reigns supreme,'Bewakoofiyaan' unsteady!". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  27. ^ Rahil Shaikh (4 February 2014). "Bewakoofiyaan's first look revealed starring Sonam Kapoor, Ayushmann and Rishi Kapoor". Daily News and Analysis. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  28. ^ "Bewakoofiyan Has A Poor Start". Box Office India Trade Network. Box Office India. 14 March 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  29. ^ "Bewakoofiyan Poor First Day Queen Super Strong Day Eight". Box Office India Trade Network. Box Office India. 15 March 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  30. ^ "Bewkoofiyaan Hs Dull Weekend". Box Office India Trade Network. Box Office India. 17 March 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  31. ^ "Bewakoofiyaan Has Poor First Week". Box Office India Trade Network. Box Office India. 21 March 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  32. ^ Taran Adarsh & Rentrak (14 March 2014). "'Queen' races past all films, including 'Bewakoofiyaan'!". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 17 March 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
edit