Bollywood Preview - Direct Dil Se: Raja Natwarlal

Casts : Emraan Hashmi, Humaima Malick, Paresh Rawal
Banner : Utv Motion Pictures

Director : Kunal Deshmukh
Producer : Siddharth Roy Kapur

Writers : Parveez Shaikh
Music : Yuvan Shankar Raja
Release Date : 29th August 2014

Story line: A small-time con man seeks assistance from his mentor with an intention of setting scores with a gangster.

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

In June, it was reported that Abhishek Bachchan would play another lead role besides Hashmi.But he opted out and next month Paresh Rawal was signed for the role.Jacqueline Fernandez and Priyanka Chopra were approached to play the lead female role, but both actresses could not accommodate the dates.In November 2013, Pakistani model and actor Humaima Malick was cast as the female lead. Deepak Tijori was signed for a role in the film in December.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. Pritam Chakraborty, who had composed the music for all of Deshmukh's films, was supposed to work on this film's music, too,but was replaced by Yuvan Shankar Raja. Deshmukh later stated that Pritam wanted to take a break and that it was Pritam himself who referred Yuvan Shankar Raja to him.

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.Principal photography commenced on 20 October 2013. Hashmi took special dance training for the film under choreographer, Raju Khan.

Know more about the captain of the ship the director: Kunal, After finishing his schooling at Arya Vidya Mandir, Bandra, Mumbai and junior college at Jai Hind, Church Gate, he took up an advertising course at H.R. College. Later, he went to the US for a short diploma course on filmmaking. During that trip he also explored the NY dining scene with his friend Rikhey, which resulted in him eventually entering the hospitality industry. He started his career as an assistant director in Zeher (2005), Kalyug and Woh Lamhe (2006), under director Mohit Suri and Vishesh Films. In October 2006, he quit his job to work on a script. He made his directional debut Jannat in 2008, starring Emraan Hashmi, produced by Vishesh Films. Jannat was released in 2008 and was successful.

He made a film in 2009 Tum Mile, based on the 26 July 2005 Mumbai floods, starring Emraan Hashmi and Soha Ali Khan. In 2012 Jannat 2, a sequel to Jannat was released and it got a huge success. In 2009, he opened a fine dining restaurant named Trikaya at Bavdhan, Pune.

My Gut Feel and comments:

Experiment do excites the audience these day however raja natwarlal seems to be conventional in nature where emran Hashmi once again playing a grey shade character and through promos whole plot is clearly evident. I respect Kunal deshmukh as a director of masses who has done decent work in past as assistant director and director.

One important factor is that till date kunal worked under and for vishesh films ( Mukesh and Mahesh bhatt camp) and this is the first film where he worked under some other banner. This leads to some lousy music as amusing music has always been the USP of vishesh films and on top of it that X factor of vishesh films is also seems to be missing. Film has not been promoted enough which could lead to information to the targeted audience about its release date, I believe much more promotion should been done.

All facts and figures not favoring this movie clearly and as I go by gut feel, I am expected it to be an entertainer with purpose still short of X factor and I would give this movie 2.5 stars out of 5, a weekend before its release date.