MovieChat Forums > Billu (2009) Discussion > Movie Review

Movie Review

posted 15 years ago by shailensukul
14 replies | jump to latest

What an indulgent piece of crap!
Shah Rukh Khan has truly started his decline into senility! Produced by his wife Gauri Khan, the only thing holding up this movie is the decent comic direction by Priyadarshan and the convincing acting by Irfan Khan.

The overblown and self gratifying scenes from Shah Rukh Khan are truly annoying to watch (yes there is even a light saber in one of the many meaningless scenes).

The story and movie would have performed so much better had it not been for the distractions of SRK. Come to think of it, why hide behind the onscreen name of Sahir Khan when meaningless repeats of his other films are scattered throughout the glorifying shoots. It makes one wonder about the mental condition of the actor and the negative influence he has on the direction of movies (his company is the producer).

Nevertheless, the supporting cast and Irfan Khan in particular are good and make for an enjoyable watch.

This film might do well in India where Shah Rukh Khan does not really have to do much in his movies than to repeat the same old cliches (he is already revered as a demi god anyway). In a more discerning overseas market with a more intelligent audience, films have to work much harder for aceptance and therefore, this film will be soon forgotten, even loathed.

Finally, it is good to see some real talent emerging from bollywood like Irfan Khan and Dev Patel (Slumdog millionare) etc. To be honest, there is only so much a cliched SRK romancing a girl half his age that viewers can stomach!

[–] niks_foonts 15 years ago

Its funny because the film is actually doing better overseas then in India.

[–] uncle_g1234 15 years ago

I started thinking a while back that maybe overseas audiences are becoming more and more important. After all, where I go to movies, I pay a multiple of what folks back in India pay for a ticket. Overseas attendance doesn't have to match the home audience to actually produce more revenue.

Indian Hotties (Tiny Sample)
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[–] Sahil_Madan 15 years ago

I dont think people overseas are so dumb, if not they just left india to go abroad. These people do still have really bad taste. Back to this movie, this was a pure crap. I really dont now why they needed so many songs? And whats up with the bad jokes? This movie started okey the first 15 min, then it just went down, down and down. SRK need to produce better movies like Aamir Khan. And stop making pure crap cinema with retarded directors. PEACE OUT!

[–] HeadleyLamarr 15 years ago

I would have taken your post seriously but you called Dev patel an emrging talent! LOL! That removed all seriousness from the post. Dev was the worst actor I saw in recent memory. The story of Billu required a superstar - that was the story. And it was a modern day retelling of the Krishna Sudama legend - if you did not get that then please read up. Aamir Khan gave us Ghajini - more unadulterated crap I have not seen. Now he will play a college boy in 3 Idiots - way to go!

'This film is only for Madagascar and Iran, neither of which follow American copyright law'

[–] jax1492 15 years ago

I agree Dev is not a good actor

[–] bdanker 15 years ago

I just came back from watching this and have to agree with the OP word for word!

It was indeed an indulgent piece of crapola. Exceedingly cringe-worthy to watch SRK (getting on in years) prancing in those baggy Arabian-knights pants in the first song and dance number. (Deepika never looked lovlier, however!)

SRK's overblown you-could've-seen-it-coming-a-mile-away speech was stomach-churning, to say the least...and all that overacting made it even more laughable and embarassing. What was he going on about...and why at this point of the movie when you never had any inkling before that he knew or acknowledged Billu at all?

Irfan Khan truly gets a huge applause for his superbly convincing portrayal of Billu. Fantastic actor.

The songs were good but the scenes involving SRK does make me want to rip my eyes out...ouch. What's the light-sabre for? And what was the movie he was supposed to be shooting? Star Wars? Matrix? Titanic?

"Ghajini", while has it's flaws, still made me sit up and salute Aamir Khan. The man goes for diversity.

SRK may be King Khan, but to me Aamir Khan will always be the Better Khan.

My two-cents worth.

[–] HeadleyLamarr 15 years ago

Hahahahahaha! Aamir Khan or Hamir Khan? Ghajini was the biggest and most pathetic heap of trash in recent memory. If that is fine acting then I was Gunda back!

'This film is only for Madagascar and Iran, neither of which follow American copyright law'

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] nishil_t 15 years ago

i stopped watching SRK after Kabhi alvida na kehna so cant comment but going by the trailers this looked like the regular trash SRK is famous for. . As for compaaring him with aamir thats pure blasphemy.. aamir is a genius, even his masala movies like ghajini & fanaa make for engaging viewing. He gave us gems like TZP,Rang de basanti, Lagaan... after Ghajini he isnt just the thinking mans superstar but THE superstar!

[–] badboydiablo 15 years ago

Ghajini was not an engaging viewing especially if you have seen Memento.

"He gave us gems like TZP,Rang de basanti, Lagaan"

Although I agree that the movies you have mentioned are great, you completely overlook SRK's "gems" such as Chak de!, Dil Se..., Swades, Devdas (granted it's a remake nonetheless I thought SRK was great) and Kabhi Haan Khabhi Naa.

[–] Sahil_Madan 15 years ago

Movies like Dil Se where Mani Ratnam is behind film, of course SRK will act good. I mean, you can almost take whatever actor you have and give it to Mani Ratnam. He will MAKE you act. Look at SRKs movies all together, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, om shanti om, main hoon na, kuch kuch hota hai and now BILLU. This movie was so boring, only Irrfan Khan and Lara Dutta made this movie watchable. SRK is playing the same *beep* like 10 years back. And this movie didnt do overseas at all. And in India, Billu so far has earned 23,45,00,000 Rs getting a 'Flop' verdict.

Its just funny that you people are compering aamir khan with SRK. AAMIR KHAN have acting skills in a another level. But hey, keep convincing your self that SRK is a good actor.

[–] HeadleyLamarr 15 years ago

Yes, I am still traumatized from Aamir Khan's great acting in Ghajni. I would have to say he leaves an impact - like being hit with a metal rod.

'And I guess that was your accomplice in the wood chipper'

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Sahil_Madan 15 years ago

Well, I think Mani Ratnam made Abhishek Bachan a better actor in YUVA (but R.Madhavan did a much better job playing the same character in Aayutha Ezhuthu) If you look at Abhisheks earlier movies before YUVA, he relly did bad. So if you ask me, I will say that Mani made him a better actor. Guru wasn't that great but it was watchable, especially compering to the rest of the bollywood "films".

I have some other examples where the actor has been developed under Mani Ratnams direction but its in tamil movies and I don't know about your awareness in that so I didn't mention them.