By Anant Mathur (October 10, 2011)
I always find it interesting how the top critics in the country vary in their opinion about a certain film. Over the years I've realized many Bollywood critics are paid for their reviews and some develope a genuine dislike or love for a star which effect their reviews. Taking all this into account, I will predict how I believe these top critics will rate Ra.One, arguably the biggest film of the year, when it's released this Diwali (Oct. 26, 2011).
After Ra.One is released I will post the actual rating given by these critic so you can compare how close I came to understanding how these critics think. So be sure to come back to this post after the film is released. Here we go...
Taran Adarsh (Bollywood Hungama)
Taran Adarsh has reviewed many Shahrukh Khan films in the past. Below is a list of films he has reviewed. He is also one of those critics who get paid for their reviews - It's pretty obvious when you note that all the films produced by Karan Johar's (Dharma Productions) or Shahrukh Khan's (Red Chillies Entertainment) have averaged over 4/5 stars while all other producers fare much worst. Karan Johar recently admitted to paying for reviews (see this article for more on that) so it's not all that surprising Karan's films get such high ratings from Mr. Adarsh and others.
Previous Shahrukh Khan Films Reviewed by Taran Adarsh:
My Prediction is Nikhat Kazmi will give Ra.One 3 or 4 out of 5 stars.
Previous Shahrukh Khan Films Reviewed by Nikhat Kazmi:
My Name Is Khan - 5/5
Billu - 3/5
Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi - 3/5
Om Shanti Om - 3.5/5
Chak De India - 4/5
Don - The Chase Begins Again - 3.5/5
Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna - No Rating (Verdict: Too long. Too tedious. And strangely plastic.)
Khalid Mohamed (HindustanTimes)
Before turning film critic Khalid Mohamed was a filmmaker. So one would think if there's one critic who know about how to rate a film honestly, it's him.
Previous Shahrukh Khan Films Reviewed By Khalid Mohamed:
Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi - 3.5/5
Om Shanti Om - 4/5
Chak De India - 3.5/5
Don - The Chase Begins Again (Reviewed for Daily News and Analysis) - 2/5
Mayank Shekhar (HindustanTimes/(Mumbai Mirror)
Mayank Shekhar has been pretty consistant with his reviews of Shahrukh Khan films in the past, one would think he has built up a certain opinion of SRK.
My Name Is Khan (HindustanTimes) - 3/5
Billu (Mumbai Mirror) - 3/5
Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (Mumbai Mirror) - 3/5
Don - The Chase Begins Again (Mumbai Mirror) - 4/5
Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna (Mumbai Mirror) - 3/5
Komal Nahata (Koimoi)
Komal Nahata is probably the most hated critic in Bollywood for he low ratings to film. But I feel he judges a film in totality and will probably give a more honest review and rating than all the others.
Previous Shahrukh Khan Films Reviewed By Komal Nahata:
My Name is Khan - No Rating (Verdict: Far from entertaining and also too boring.)
Billu - No Rating (Verdict: Dull.)
Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi - No Rating (Verdict: a hit film, hit music and SRK’s superlative performance.)
Sarita Tanwar (Mid-day)
I'm not too familiar with Sarita Tanwar, but I find her reviews to be too uncritical for a critic. I mean someone who gives My Name Is Khan 4.5 out of 5 can't really be relied upon considering she works for what has been described by many as a tabloid and Karan Johar admitting that he pays for reviews.
My Prediction is Sarita Tanwar will give Ra.One 4.5 out of 5 stars.
ACTUAL: Did Not Review.
Previous Shahrukh Khan Films Reviewed By Sarita Tanwar:
My Name Is Khan - 4.5/5
Billu - 3/5
Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi - 3/5
Rajeev Masand (CNN/IBN)
Rajeev Masand is synonymous with film reviews at IBN. Each Friday he's ready with his next review telling us whether the film is worth watching or not.
My Prediction is Rajeev Masand will give Ra.One 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Previous Shahrukh Khan Films Reviewed By Rajeev Masand:
My Name Is Khan - 3.5/5
Billu - 2/5
Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi - 2/5
Om Shanti Om - 3/5
Chak De India - 4/5
Don - The Chase Begins Again - 1/5
Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna - 4/5
Raja Sen (Rediff)
Raja Sen has been with Rediff for a great many years. He may not be the best critic out there, but he sure tries hard.
My Prediction is Raja Sen will give Ra.One 3.5 out of 5 stars.
ACTUAL: Raja Sen's Rating: 1.5/5 stars (He must've read this post... I'm kidding of course).
Previous Shahrukh Khan Films Reviewed By Raja Sen:
My Name Is Khan - 3.5/5
Billu - 2.5/5
Om Shanti Om - 3.5/5
Chak De India - 3.5/5
Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna - 2/5
Paheli - No Rating (Verdict: A breathtaking dream)
Subhash K. Jha (Now Running)
Subhash K. Jha has been around for a very long time. Hopefully this time around he will give an honest review of Ra.One - one can always hope.
My Prediction is Subhash K. Jha will give Ra.One 3.5 or 4 out of 5 stars.
ACTUAL: Did Not Review.
Previous Shahrukh Khan Films Reviewed By Subhash K. Jha:
My Name is Khan - 5/5
Billu - 3/5
Om Shanti Om - 1/5
Chak De India - 3.5/5
Don - The Chase Begins Again - 2/5
Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna - 4/5
Paheli - 4/5
Kaal - 3/5
Swades - 4/5
Veer-Zaara - 2/5
Aniruddha Guha (DNA)
Anirrudha Guha is slowly becoming quite popular amongst the critics in Bollywood. Anirrudha's reviews are pretty honest and can be usually relied upon.
Previous Shahrukh Khan Films Reviewed By Anirrudha Guha:
My Name is Khan - 3/5
Billu - 2/5
Martin D'Souza (Glamsham)
Martin D'Souza has been around for many years and although it's sometime difficult to
say how he will rate a film you can be sure if it's a Shahrukh Khan
film it will likely get a rating which is around 3/5.
Previous Shahrukh
Khan Films Reviewed By Martin D'Souza:
My Name is Khan - 3.5/5
Billu - 4/5
Om Shanti Om - 2.5/5
Chak De India - 4/5
Anupama Chopra (NDTV)
Anupama Chopra has been with NDTV's entertainment
division for quite a long while and is one of the few honest critics out
there.
My Prediction is Anupama
Chopra will give Ra.One 2.5 or 3 out of 5 stars.
ACTUAL: Did Not Review.
Previous Shahrukh
Khan Films Reviewed By Anupama Chopra:
My Name Is Khan - 3/5
Billu - No Rating (Verdict: strictly average)
Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi - No Rating (Verdict: Disappointing)
Gaurav Malani (Indiatimes)
Every Friday Gaurav
Malani passes judgement on the latest
releases. Here's hoping he will do justice to the review of Ra.One
and not be pulled into all the hype surrounding it.
Previous Shahrukh
Khan Films Reviewed By Gaurav Malani:
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Anant Mathur. All Rights Reserved.