Crook (film)

{{Infobox film

| name = Crook

| image = Crook2.jpg

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Mohit Suri

| writer = Mohit Suri (Story)
Ankur Tiwari (Screenplay/Dialogues)

| producer = Mukesh Bhatt

| starring = Emraan Hashmi
Neha Sharma
Shella Alan
Arjan Bajwa

| music = Songs:
Pritam
Score:
Raju Singh

| cinematography = Ravi Walia

| editing = Ajay Sharma

| studio = Vishesh Films

| distributor = Vishesh Films

| released = {{Film date|2010|10|8||df=y}}

| runtime = 121 minutes

| country = India

| language = Hindi

| budget = {{INRConvert|175|m}}

| gross = {{INRConvert|124|m}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/crook-its-good-to-be-bad/box-office/ |title=Box Office |website=Bollywood Hungama|date=8 October 2010 }}

}}

Crook: It's Good to be Bad is a 2010 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/crook-its-good-to-be-bad-v526361|title=Crook: It's Good to be Bad (2010) - Mohit Suri|publisher=AllMovie}} written and directed by Mohit Suri and produced by Mukesh Bhatt. The film stars Emraan Hashmi, Neha Sharma, South African model Shella Alan and Arjan Bajwa in the lead roles. It was released on 8 October 2010. Mostly shot in Australia and South Africa, the film is based on the controversy regarding the alleged racial attacks on Indian students in Australia between 2007 and 2010.{{cite web|title=Shooting for anti-racial film 'Crook' begins in Oz|url=http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Shooting-for-antiracial-film-Crook-begins-in-Oz/621374/|publisher=Express India|access-date=8 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523135410/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Shooting-for-antiracial-film-Crook-begins-in-Oz/621374/|archive-date=23 May 2010|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title="Crook is based on racial discrimination" - Mohit Suri|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/features/2010/02/25/5994/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100228205259/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/features/2010/02/25/5994/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 February 2010|work=Bollywood Hungama|accessdate=8 October 2010}}

Plot

Jai Dixit, is a young adult who sells pirated DVDs in Mumbai. One day, his uncle Joseph catches him, and this changes his personality completely, he changes his name to Suraj Bhardwaj, and his uncle sends him to Melbourne. At the airport, he meets Romi Latti, an international graduate student originally from Gurdaspur who got a scholarship to a university college. He also meets Suhani, a girl who has come to pick Romi up. Suraj is attracted to Suhani, and therefore he pretends to be Romi and leaves with Suhani. When Suhani finds out that he is not the real Romi, Suraj makes a run for it. Suraj then stays with Goldie, a responsible adult living with his brothers.

While Suraj is at a grocery store, on the phone with his uncle Joseph, he finds that Australians are attacking the shopkeeper because he is a Muslim, so Suraj finds a gun and comes out. He has the Australians at gunpoint as the police arrive. Suraj remembers that his uncle told him not to get in any type of trouble with the police, so Suraj runs away. Suraj hides in Nicole's car, although he finds out Nicole is the younger sister of the attackers. Nicole works in a strip club named 'Duke's Club'. Meanwhile, When Samarth's car breaks down, Suraj has to get help, but instead, he tells Romi to go and fix his car so Suhani and Suraj can have a beautiful night together. But when they are about to kiss, Samarth shows up, and tells them that Romi has been badly beaten up by the Australians on the highway and Romi and Samarth are about to protest against the Australians. Suraj and Suhani had a dispute due to which he makes out with Nicole in a club. Nicole proposes to Jai, and he reciprocates, due to being aroused. But Suraj realizes he is still in love with Suhani and cannot forget about her. Nicole told him that Samarth is going to be attacked, where he leaves her and tries to save Samarth but he was too late and Samarth is badly beaten up. Suraj rushes him to hospital turns out he is in a coma, where Suhani and Romi arrive and Suhani has an emotional breakdown in Suraj's arms. Romi takes Samarth out of hospital meanwhile, Suraj and Suhani goes to the Police Station realizing it is a trap, they run.

When it's revealed that Samarth is not in a coma, he loses his temper and kidnaps Nicole causing an unrest in entire Melbourne as Nicole's brother attempts to try to find her. When Suraj goes to save Nicole, it turns out that Samarth is planning to murder Nicole and blame the murder on Suraj. When Suraj learns of Samarth's plan, Samarth beats Suraj and claims that he is doing all this because his sister Sheena was also murdered by the Australians once. Suraj tries to warn Suhani about Russell capturing her when Suhani reveals the actual truth behind Sheena's death. (Sheena was in love with an Australian and she became pregnant with his child, which infuriated Samarth and he decided to abort the child, despite knowing the fact that she will die because of it, due to the abortion she ends up dead). Suhani gets captures by Russell. Suraj gets mad and goes to fulfills Suhani's promise to save Nicole. He saves Nicole, but when Samarth accidentally shoots Suraj, Romi comes up behind him with a shovel and hits it on Samarth's head, and he dies. The unrest in city stops when the news breaks out that Nicole is alive, Russell gets arrested, and the Indians and Australians both unite for peace. Suraj and Suhani reunites and reciprocates their love for each other and Russell and Nicole reunites.The film ends with Suraj being felicitated in front of the media with Suhani by his side as uncle Joseph gets touched after seeing the news in Mumbai.

Cast

Emraan Hashmi as Jai Dixit (real name)/Suraj Bhardwaj (fake name), Suhani's love interest and Mahesh's son
Neha Sharma as Suhani, Jai's love interest and Samarth's sister
Shella Allen as Nicole, Russell's younger sister
Arjan Bajwa as Samarth, Suhani and Sheena's brother
Mashhoor Amrohi as Goldie
Kavin Dave as Romi Latti
Gulshan Grover as ACP Joseph Pinto
Francis Michael Chouler as Russell, Nicole's elder brother
Smiley Suri as Sheena, Suhani and Samarth's sister (Special Appearance)
J Brandon Hill as Sgt. Damien Stern
Glen David Short as Chief of Police
Vineet Kumar Singh as Mahesh Dixit, Jai's father, an underworld gangster of Mumbai

Soundtrack

{{Infobox album

| italic_title = no

| name = Crook

| type = soundtrack

| longtype =

| artist = Pritam

| cover =

| alt =

| released = {{Start date|df=yes|2010|08|31}}{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/in/album/crook-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/390435258 |title=Crook (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) |date=31 August 2010 |publisher=iTunes}}

| recorded = 2010

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Soundtrack

| length = {{Duration|m=34|s=25}}

| language = Hindi

| label = Sony

| director = Mohit Suri

| producer = Mukesh Bhatt

| chronology = Pritam

| prev_title = Hello Darling

| prev_year = 2010

| next_title = Aakrosh

| next_year = 2010

}}

The songs were composed by Pritam and{{cite web|title=Crook (Album Details)|url=http://www.indicine.com/bollywood/crook|publisher=Indicine|accessdate=11 February 2016|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311223939/http://www.indicine.com/bollywood/crook|archivedate=11 March 2016}} the lyrics were penned by Kumaar. The song, "Challa" was based on the song "Australian Challa" by Babbal Rai.{{cite news|title=I'm happy to get my credit now: Babbal|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/music/news/Im-happy-to-get-my-credit-now-Babbal/articleshow/6700114.cms|work=The Times of India|accessdate=7 October 2010|last1=Dasgupta |first1=Priyanka }} The song "Mere Bina" topped the charts in India. The film's background score was composed by Raju Singh.

=Track listing=

{{Track listing

| extra_column = Performer(s)

| title1 = Challa

| extra1 = Babbu Mann, Suzanne D'Mello

| length1 = 3:45

| title2 = Mere Bina

| extra2 = Nikhil D'Souza

| length2 = 4:50

| title3 = Kya

| extra3 = Neeraj Shridhar, Dominique Cerejo

| length3 = 3:50

| title4 = Tujhi Mein

| extra4 = KK

| length4 = 5:00

| title5 = Tujhko Jo Paaya

| extra5 = Mohit Chauhan

| length5 = 3:05

| title6 = Challa (Remix)

| extra6 = Babbu Mann, Suzanne D'Mello

| length6 = 4:25

| title7 = Mere Bina (Unplugged)

| extra7 = KK

| length7 = 4:50

| title8 = Tujhi Mein (Reprise)

| extra8 = KK

| total_length = 34:25

| length8 = 4:40

}}

=Reception=

NDTV India quoted, "Music composer Pritam Chakraborty, who is a favourite of the Bhatt camp, brings forth another likable soundtrack in forthcoming film Crook. Even though the compositions fall under his signature style and not much experimentation is involved, the tracks do have the potential of getting noticed."{{cite web|title=Music Review: Crook|work=NDTVMovies.com |url=http://movies.ndtv.com/music/music-review-crook-596814|publisher=NDTV Movies|accessdate=12 September 2010}}

Critical reception

=India=

The reception of the film in India has been mixed. The critics praised the story and music but criticized the execution. However, many of them praised the erotic scenes between Emraan Hashmi and Shella Allen. Movie critic Taran Adarsh, criticized the film as a "half-hearted effort", but praised Mohit Suri's handling of the subject during the second hour of the film.{{cite web|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/|title=Hindi Movie List|website=Bollywood Hungama|date=11 August 2023 }} Another critic praised the film for presenting "an altogether different approach to the situation and (the director) takes both the sides and speaks in favour of Indians and as well as the Australians.{{cite web|url=http://www.india-server.com/news/crook-its-good-to-be-bad-review-crook-34251.html|title="Crook- It's Good To Be Bad" Movie Review|website=india-server.com}}

Among negative reviews, a critic at India Today complained that the film racially vilifies Australians as:

{{cquote|A country of ex-convicts. A country where they sleep with each other without marrying. A country where they don't take care of their families. Yes, that's the sort of venom that's spewed against the Australians in Crook ......

}}

Also stating that "it is badly directed and doesn't even have that one redeeming feature of all".{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/reviews/story/film-review-crook-83514-2010-10-09|title=Film review: Crook|first=Kaveree|last=Bamzai|date=October 9, 2010|website=India Today}}

A critic at Rediff.com complained of a weak script and story line.{{cite web|url=https://movies.rediff.com/report/2010/oct/08/review-crook.htm|title=Crook: As Bad as it Gets|website=Rediff}} A reviewer at Bolly Spice said that the film was "too insensitive" and "superficial".{{cite web |url=http://www.bollyspice.com/movie-reviews.php/0772-crook-its-good-to-be-bad-movie-review.html |title=Movie Review: Crook: Its Good to be Bad » Bollywood Spice |accessdate=2010-11-11 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101114121234/http://www.bollyspice.com/movie-reviews.php/0772-crook-its-good-to-be-bad-movie-review.html |archivedate=14 November 2010}}

=Australia=

One media outlet in Australia voiced concern about the film, repeating Indian newspaper reviews that Crook portrayed Australia as "A country of ex-convicts. A country where they sleep with each other without marrying. A country where they don't take care of their families. Yes that's the sort of venom that's spewed against the Australians in Crook."{{cite web|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/bollywood-film-paints-australians-as-violent-racists/news-story/a4b1a7c0554e5898aec52fb4c323cd64|title=Bollywood film paints Aussies as racists|date=14 October 2010|website=dailytelegraph.com.au}}

Among Australia's local Indian population, Gautam Gupta, spokesman for the Federation of Indian Students criticized the piece, saying: "They have performed their research so badly, it's shocking." He also complained that, far from helping the situation, that the film could help inflame tensions.{{cite news | url=http://www.news.com.au/national/even-indians-say-new-bollywood-movie-errs-with-melbourne-violence/story-e6frfkvr-1225938939099#ixzz14x9pWOUw | work=Herald Sun | first1=Katherine | last1=Firkin | first2=Finn | last2=Bradshaw | title=Bollywood blockbuster paints Melbourne as racist | date=15 October 2010 | access-date=11 November 2010 | archive-date=21 October 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101021142538/http://www.news.com.au/national/even-indians-say-new-bollywood-movie-errs-with-melbourne-violence/story-e6frfkvr-1225938939099#ixzz14x9pWOUw | url-status=dead }}

Director Mohit Suri responded to these charges, rejecting the claims of bias. The Hindustan Times quoted Suri saying:

{{cquote|I am facing flak from both sides. Indians are saying that the film is pro Australia, and they are saying it shows them in a bad light. I think Australians should watch the film as a cinematic experience. The film does not show them as 'wrong'.”{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/archive-news/|title=Hindustan Times - Archive News|website=Hindustan Times}}

}}

Responding to allegations that the film is "poorly researched", Suri says, "I have just made a film. At 28, don't expect me to have a cure for racism worldwide. I have just expressed my opinion."

Suri also complained that during the production of the film:

{{cquote|"Permissions were not given in several places and even our online Australian producer had his doubts. One day, we were stopped from entering a club by an Indian bouncer who allowed other foreigners in! Then there was the incident where Emraan Hashmi asked an Aussie to click a picture of all of us at a beach. He agreed, and then tossed the camera far into the air and walked away!”{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/105083/of-dark-narratives.html|title=Of dark narratives|date=15 October 2010|website=Deccan Herald}}

}}

Awards and nominations

;6th Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Awards{{cite web|title=Apsara Award 2011 Nominations|url=http://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/discussion/apsara-awards-2011-nominations|publisher=Pinkvilla|accessdate=6 January 2011}}

Nominated

Apsara Award for Best Music - Pritam
Apsara Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role - Arjan Bajwa

;3rd Mirchi Music Awards{{Cite web|url=http://www.radiomirchi.com/mma2010/hindi/nominees.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110130070949/http://www.radiomirchi.com/mma2010/hindi/nominees.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-01-30|title=Nominees - Mirchi Music Award Hindi 2010|date=2011-01-30|access-date=2018-09-30}}

Nominated