Tashan (film)

Jeetendra Kumar Makwana a.k.a. Jimmy Cliff is a call center executive who also teaches English. Pooja Singh shows up outside his class and says she needs private tutoring. Without any hesitation, Jimmy quickly agrees as he has already fallen in love with her; he later finds out that Pooja's boss Lakhan Singh Ballebaaz a.k.a. Bhaiyyaji is the one who has to be tutored. As their love grows, Pooja reveals that she is only working for Bhaiyyaji to pay her debts, so she can then go to Haridwar to scatter her father's ashes. They decide to steal Bhaiyyaji's money and run away. The couple succeeds in their mission, and Jimmy asks Pooja to guard the money while he goes to the call center to tell them he is leaving.

At the call center, Jimmy learns through a surprise visit by ACP Kuldeep Singh Hooda that Bhaiyyaji is a maverick gangster who enjoys killing people and goes home to warn Pooja. Unexpectedly, Pooja has run away with all the money and she meets a bank manager to deposit the money in the bank locker. Bhaiyyaji hires Bachchan Pande, a gangster, to catch Jimmy. After getting caught, Jimmy and Bachchan head towards Haridwar to find Pooja and recover Bhaiyyaji's money. When they reach there, Pooja sees them and runs away. Unable to find Pooja there, Jimmy and Bachchhan set off to find her again. While on the road, the duo got into a silly fight about the radio station and their car falls into the water.

Along with Jimmy and Bachchan, Pooja comes out of the water too; she had been hiding in their trunk the whole time. She tells them that she has hidden the money in seven different places across India. Jimmy and Pooja decide to run away with the money. The duo decides that Pooja should seduce Bachchan just like she did Jimmy. She tries to play the ploy, but discovers in the process that he is her childhood lover, and they both fall in love. After recovering all of the money, Bachchan decides to leave with it, not knowing that Jimmy has replaced the money with stones.

When Pooja realizes what Jimmy has done, she tells him the truth about Bhaiyyaji killing her father, kindhearted gangster Vickram Singh a.k.a. "Tiger", to usurp his throne. Rushing to save Bachchan, Pooja and Jimmy reach Bhaiyyaji's lair with the money. Jimmy pretends to betray Pooja and slaps Bachchhan. He tells Bhaiyyaji to give him his gun so that he can kill Bachchan. After getting the gun, Jimmy instead points it to Bhaiyyaji and takes him hostage. He heads towards a car with Pooja and Bachchan following him. Surrounded by Bhaiyyaji's henchmen with guns, Bhaiyyaji manages to jump out of the car and everybody begins shooting at them. After an elongated fight, Bhaiyyaji is killed by Pooja who stabs him with a sword. In the end, Jimmy opens his own call centre, where only girls work, and Bachchan and Pooja get married.

• Akshay Kumar as Bachchan Pande
• Mayank Naresh Tandon as a young Bachchan, who was given the nickname "Ulluram" by his crush, village girl Gudiya, in reality an adult Pooja
• Saif Ali Khan as Jeetendra Kumar Makwana a.k.a. Jimmy Cliff
• Ibrahim Ali Khan as a preteen Jeetendra
• Kareena Kapoor as Pooja "Gudiya" Singh
• Benazir Shaikh as a young Gudiya, who was unable to meet her lover she nicknamed "Ulluram", in reality an adult Bachchan
• Anil Kapoor as Lakhan Singh Ballebaaz a.k.a. Bhaiyyaji
• Sanjay Mishra as Balakram "Misir" Misra
• Yashpal Sharma as ACP Kuldeep Singh Hooda
• Manoj Pahwa as Anand Mohan Tiwari a.k.a. Pintu
• Rajesh Jais as Pankaj Tiwari
• Sreejita De as Parvati

Pre-production began in late 2006 with Akshay Kumar being signed first, and Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor next.{{cite web|author=Adarsh, Taran|title=Yash Raj's new project!|url=http://indiafm.com/news/2006/12/27/8514/index.html|publisher=IndiaFM|access-date=27 December 2006|archive-date=8 January 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070108133556/http://www.indiafm.com/news/2006/12/27/8514/index.html|url-status=live}} In early 2007, Anil Kapoor was signed on to play a negative role in the film which marks his first role as a villain.{{cite web|author=IndiaFM News Bureau|title=Anil Kapoor returns to Yash Raj Films|url=http://www.indiafm.com/news/2007/01/29/8750/index.html|publisher=IndiaFM|access-date=29 January 2007|archive-date=2 February 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202024051/http://www.indiafm.com/news/2007/01/29/8750/index.html|url-status=live}} This film continued Khan's long-standing successful collaboration with Yash Raj Films. It also marked a return for 3 of its lead actors to Yash Raj Films: Kumar was previously seen in Dil To Pagal Hai (1997), whilst Kareena Kapoor and Anil Kapoor were last seen in Mujhse Dosti Karoge! (2002) and Lamhe (1991), respectively.

Apart from the major star cast, Khan's son, Ibrahim, also made his acting debut, where he played the younger version of his father's character.{{cite web|author=IndiaFM News Bureau|title=Saif's son makes his debut in Tashan|url=http://www.indiafm.com/news/2007/09/28/10169/index.html|publisher=IndiaFM|access-date=28 September 2007|archive-date=26 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026020143/http://www.indiafm.com/news/2007/09/28/10169/index.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|author=Vyavahare, Renuka|title=Saif's son is quite a nawab!|url=http://movies.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2538331.cms|work=The Times of India|access-date=14 November 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213235858/http://movies.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2538331.cms|archive-date=13 December 2007}} Sources later indicated that all the actors would be seen sporting new looks designed by designer Aki Narula.{{cite news|title=Bebo's going grunge|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India_Buzz/Bebos_going_grunge/articleshow/2903577.cms|work=The Times of India|access-date=27 March 2008|date=28 March 2008|archive-date=26 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226221601/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India_Buzz/Bebos_going_grunge/articleshow/2903577.cms|url-status=live}} In June 2007, the cast began filming in Kerala, and later continued shooting in Ladakh and Rajasthan.{{cite web |author=ApunKaChoice |title=Kareena Kapoor working day and night |url=http://www.apunkachoice.com/scoop/bollywood/20070606-2.html |publisher=ApunKaChoice.com |access-date=6 June 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609220643/http://apunkachoice.com/scoop/bollywood/20070606-2.html |archive-date=9 June 2007 }}{{cite web|author=ApunKaChoice |title=Saif and Kareena mobbed by fans |url=http://www.apunkachoice.com/scoop/bollywood/20070807-4.html |publisher=ApunKaChoice.com |access-date=7 August 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930023546/http://www.apunkachoice.com/scoop/bollywood/20070807-4.html |archive-date=30 September 2007 }}{{cite web |author=ApunKaChoice |title=Saif Ali Khan grows moustache for 'Tashan' |url=http://apunkachoice.com/scoop/bollywood/20070809-2.html |publisher=ApunKaChoice.com |access-date=9 August 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070919231252/http://www.apunkachoice.com/scoop/bollywood/20070809-2.html |archive-date=19 September 2007 }} Pictures of Khan and Kareena Kapoor were taken in September 2007 while shooting for the film in the Fort area of Mumbai.{{cite web|author=MiD DAY|author-link=MiD DAY|title=Saif-Kareena shoot for Tashan on Mumbai streets|url=http://www.indiafm.com/features/2007/09/24/3062/index.html|publisher=IndiaFM|access-date=24 September 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017053632/http://indiafm.com/features/2007/09/24/3062/index.html|archive-date=17 October 2007}} Some portions of the film were later shot in the city of Haridwar on the banks of the river Ganges.{{cite web|author=Abid|title=Kareena shoots for Tashan at Haridwar|url=http://www.indiafm.com/news/2007/11/28/10509/index.html|publisher=IndiaFM|access-date=28 November 2007|archive-date=30 November 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071130165217/http://www.indiafm.com/news/2007/11/28/10509/index.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|work=Screen Weekly|title="I play a high society girl in Kambakkht Ishq" – Kareena Kapoor|url=http://www.indiafm.com/features/2007/12/24/3384/index.html|publisher=IndiaFM|access-date=24 December 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226133328/http://www.indiafm.com/features/2007/12/24/3384/index.html|archive-date=26 December 2007}} The video clips of two songs were made in Milos Island and Nafplio in Greece.[https://elinepa.org/en/tashan-2008-hindi-film/ Tashan (2008 Hindi Film)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223163902/https://elinepa.org/en/tashan-2008-hindi-film/ |date=23 December 2018 }}, ELINEPA, 2003

The first promo was shown on 30 November 2007 with the release of Anil Mehta's Aaja Nachle.{{cite web|author=IndiaFM News Bureau|title=Tashan theatrical shown with Aaja Nachle|url=http://www.indiafm.com/news/2007/11/30/10523/index.html|publisher=IndiaFM|access-date=30 November 2007|archive-date=1 December 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071201120546/http://www.indiafm.com/news/2007/11/30/10523/index.html|url-status=live}} In a poll conducted by indiaFM, Tashan ranked #1 on the list of "Most Awaited Movies of 2008".{{cite web|author=Bollywood Hungama News Network|title=The Most Awaited movies of 2008|url=http://www.indiafm.com/features/2008/02/08/3550/index.html|publisher=IndiaFM|access-date=8 February 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215221047/http://www.indiafm.com/features/2008/02/08/3550/index.html|archive-date=15 February 2008}} To promote the film, Yash Raj Films built communities on social networking sites like Facebook, Orkut and YouTube.{{cite web|author=Businessofcinema.com Team|title=Yash Raj promotes Tashan on Facebook, Orkut, YouTube|url=http://www.businessofcinema.com/newboc/frontend/news.php?newsid=7666|publisher=Business of Cinema|access-date=2 April 2008}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Tashan

| type = soundtrack

| artist = Vishal–Shekhar

| cover =

| alt =

| released = {{Start date|df=yes|2008|03|27}} (Digital Release)
{{Start date|df=yes|2008|04|25}} (Film)

| recorded = 26:33

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Film soundtrack

| length =

| label = YRF Music

| producer = Vishal–Shekhar

| prev_title = Om Shanti Om

| prev_year = 2007

| next_title = Bhoothnath

| next_year = 2008

}}

Released on 27 March 2008 by Yash Raj Films, Tashan{{'}}s soundtrack was composed by Vishal–Shekhar, whilst the lyrics were penned by 4 different lyricists: Piyush Mishra, Anvita Dutt Guptan, Vishal Dadlani and Kausar Munir. Joginder Tuteja from IndiaFM gave the film's soundtrack 4 out of 5 stars and noted, "Songs in Tashan excite, get on to you quickly and make you put them on a repeat mode". There is not a single dull moment in this entire album which has its tallest highpoints in "Dil Dance Maare", "Dil Haara" and "Falak Tak".{{cite web|author=Tuteja, Joginder|title=Music Review: Tashan|url=http://www.indiafm.com/movies/musicreview/13446/index.html|access-date=29 March 2008|publisher=IndiaFM|archive-date=2 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080402082239/http://www.indiafm.com/movies/musicreview/13446/index.html|url-status=live}}

The soundtrack of the film debuted at #3, where it stayed the following week.{{cite web|author=Tuteja, Joginder|date=7 April 2008|title=Top Ten albums of the week|url=http://www.indiafm.com/features/2008/04/07/3748/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411045035/http://indiafm.com/features/2008/04/07/3748/index.html|archive-date=11 April 2008|access-date=21 April 2008|publisher=IndiaFM}}{{cite web|author=Tuteja, Joginder|date=14 April 2008|title=Top Ten albums of the week|url=http://www.indiafm.com/features/2008/04/14/3770/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080416000141/http://www.indiafm.com/features/2008/04/14/3770/index.html|archive-date=16 April 2008|access-date=21 April 2008|publisher=IndiaFM}} On the week of the film's release, the album moved up to #1.{{cite web|author=Tuteja, Joginder|date=21 April 2008|title=Top Ten albums of the week|url=http://www.indiafm.com/features/2008/04/21/3795/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080425023420/http://www.indiafm.com/features/2008/04/21/3795/index.html|archive-date=25 April 2008|access-date=21 April 2008|publisher=IndiaFM}} According to the Indian trade website Box Office India, with around 15,00,000 units sold, this film's soundtrack album was the year's ninth highest-selling.{{cite web|title=Music Hits 2000–2009 (Figures in Units)|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=286&catName=MjAwMC0yMDA5|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100624132928/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=286&catName=MjAwMC0yMDA5|archive-date=24 June 2010|publisher=Box Office India}}

Before the release of the film, Tashan received an advance booking, which ranged from 25 to 35% tickets sold for the weekend at the major centres.{{cite web |title=Tashan Set To Embark on Huge Start |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/npages.php?page=shownews&articleid=200&nCat=news |publisher=Box Office India |access-date=3 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080429201417/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/npages.php?page=shownews&articleid=200&nCat=news |archive-date=29 April 2008 }} On the day of its release, the film opened to a 75-80% response but well short of the expected bumper opening due to the multiplex revenue-sharing problem, which didn't allow the film to be released in major multiplexes across India.{{cite web |title=Tashan Opens Well |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/boxdetail.php?page=shownews&articleid=201&nCat=box_office_report |publisher=Box Office India |access-date=3 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501015517/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/boxdetail.php?page=shownews&articleid=201&nCat=box_office_report |archive-date=1 May 2008 }}{{cite web |title=Tashan Struggles at the Box Office |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/npages.php?page=shownews&articleid=206&nCat=news |publisher=Box Office India |access-date=3 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501181637/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/npages.php?page=shownews&articleid=206&nCat=news |archive-date=1 May 2008 }} Due to this, the film lost a major chunk of its revenue and collected a total of Rs. 180 million after its first week.{{cite web|author=Adarsh, Taran|title=Rejected!|url=http://www.indiafm.com/trade/business_talk/318.html|publisher=IndiaFM|access-date=3 May 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505042817/http://www.indiafm.com/trade/business_talk/318.html|archive-date=5 May 2008}}{{cite web |title=Tashan Well Below Expectations |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/boxdetail.php?page=shownews&articleid=210&nCat=box_office_report |publisher=Box Office India |access-date=3 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506140912/http://boxofficeindia.com/boxdetail.php?page=shownews&articleid=210&nCat=box_office_report |archive-date=6 May 2008 }} Although the following week, an agreement was made between Yash Raj Films and the multiplexes, which allowed the film to be screened from 3 May 2008 onwards at multiplexes across the country,{{cite web |author=Bhandari, Rohini |title=YRF, multiplexes settle for all films; Tashan screens 3 May |url=http://www.businessofcinema.com/news.php?newsid=8167 |publisher=Business of Cinema |access-date=3 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506124510/http://www.businessofcinema.com/news.php?newsid=8167 |archive-date=6 May 2008 }} the film managed to add only another Rs. 70 million to its collections and was declared below-average at the box-office.{{cite web |title=Bhoothnath Opens to a Poor Response |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/boxdetail.php?page=shownews&articleid=214&nCat=box_office_report |publisher=Box Office India |access-date=11 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517120412/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/boxdetail.php?page=shownews&articleid=214&nCat=box_office_report |archive-date=17 May 2008 }}

Meanwhile, the film opened to below-average response overseas as well.{{cite web |title=Tashan Opens To Below Average Response |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/overdetail.php?page=shownews&articleid=207&nCat=overseas_report |publisher=Box Office India |access-date=3 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080502170113/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/overdetail.php?page=shownews&articleid=207&nCat=overseas_report |archive-date=2 May 2008 }} During its first week, the film collected £181,838 on 46 screens and debuted at #13 in the U.K charts.{{cite web|author=Adarsh, Taran|title=Major disappointment!|url=http://www.indiafm.com/trade/overseas_boxoffice/208.html|publisher=IndiaFM|access-date=3 May 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510094710/http://www.indiafm.com/trade/overseas_boxoffice/208.html|archive-date=10 May 2008}} In the United States, the film debuted at #24 and collected US$301,226 on 75 screens whilst in Australia, Tashan debuted at #17 and collected a total of $148,087 on 13 screens. During its second week in the overseas market, the film experienced a heavy fall and was declared below average.{{cite web|author=Adarsh, Taran|title=Supreme disaster!|url=http://www.indiafm.com/trade/overseas_boxoffice/209.html|publisher=IndiaFM|access-date=11 May 2008|archive-url=https://archive.today/20081229093938/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/trade/overseas_boxoffice/209.html|archive-date=29 December 2008|url-status=dead}}

Tashan opened to mixed reviews from critics. Most Indian critics criticized the lackluster script penned by director Vijay Krishna Acharya. Critic Taran Adarsh from indiaFM gave the film a 1.5 out of 5 rating and concluded that it was "...one of the weakest films to come out of the Yash Raj banner."{{cite web|author=Adarsh, Taran|title=Movie Review: Tashan|url=http://indiafm.com/movies/review/13446/index.html|publisher=IndiaFM|access-date=3 May 2008|archive-date=3 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503032625/http://www.indiafm.com/movies/review/13446/index.html|url-status=live}} Rajeev Masand from CNN-IBN described the film as "...a road movie...that is going in all the wrong directions."{{cite web|author=Masand, Rajeev|title=Masand's Verdict: Tashan is terribly trashy|url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/masands-verdicttashan-lacks-style/63972-8.html|publisher=IBNLive|access-date=3 May 2008|archive-date=28 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080428215129/http://www.ibnlive.com/news/masands-verdicttashan-lacks-style/63972-8.html|url-status=live}} On the other hand, Sanjay Ram, who gave the film 3.5 stars out of 5, wrote, "The film, though with many slips, is thoroughly engaging and entertaining. The vibrancy and spunk keeps it alive and loaded."{{cite web |author=Ram, Sanjay |title=Film Review: Tashan |url=http://www.businessofcinema.com/news.php?newsid=8032 |publisher=IBNLive |access-date=3 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430070153/http://www.businessofcinema.com/news.php?newsid=8032 |archive-date=30 April 2008 }}

US critics were favourable. Rachel Saltz of The New York Times wrote, "The giddy camera work and busy visual effects would be exhausting if their excess didn't fit so well with the movie's tongue-in-cheek tone".{{Cite web |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2008/04/26/movies/26tash.html?ref=movies |title=Saltz, Rachel, The New York Times, review of Tashan, 26 April 2008 |access-date=13 February 2017 |archive-date=16 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616153414/http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/04/26/movies/26tash.html?ref=movies |url-status=live }} Frank Lovece of Film Journal International found it "crowded with dizzying visuals, dry humor, cartoonishly violent set-pieces that play like Indian Spaghetti Westerns, and gorgeously shot musical numbers.{{Cite web |url=http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003799977 |title=Lovece, Frank, Film Journal International, review of Tashan |access-date=4 February 2009 |archive-date=25 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225221443/http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003799977 |url-status=live }} Maitland McDonagh of TV Guide described the film as "a delirious crime romp [that] borrows pop-savvy attitude from Quentin Tarantino, stylised gun-play from Sergio Leone and stylised hand-to-hand combat moves from Hong Kong action films. The result is a nutty, ridiculously entertaining neo-noir pastiche with lavish musical numbers."{{cite web|author=McDonagh, Maitland|title=Tashan Review|url=http://www.tvguide.com/movies/tashan/review/293552|work=TV Guide|access-date=6 May 2008|author-link=Maitland McDonagh|archive-date=18 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118211758/http://www.tvguide.com/movies/tashan/review/293552|url-status=live}}

The performances of the lead cast too received mixed reviews. Kumar and Kareena were praised for their performances, however Anil and Khan received mixed reviews for their performances. Taran Adarsh noted, "Tashan belongs to Akshay Kumar completely. No two opinions on that. Take Akshay out of this film and the movie is a big zero. He's the lifeline of this project...[whilst] Kareena Kapoor is fantastic. She looks gorgeous and acts very well." Sonia Chopra from Sify concluded, "It is Akshay and Kareena who sizzle in the film and have the best parts."{{cite web|author=Chopra, Sonia|title=Tashan|url=http://sify.com/movies/bollywood/review.php?id=14655472&ctid=5&cid=2425|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080429202855/http://sify.com/movies/bollywood/review.php?id=14655472&ctid=5&cid=2425|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 April 2008|publisher=Sify|access-date=3 May 2008}} Sonia Chopra explained "Anil plays the baddie to the hilt...[and] Saif...gives a strictly lukewarm performance."

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.yashrajfilms.com/microsites/tashan/tashan.html}}
• {{IMDb title}}
• {{Rotten Tomatoes}}
• {{Metacritic movie}}
• {{Mojo movie}}
• {{Bollywood Hungama movie|tashan}}

{{Vijay Krishna Acharya}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2008 films

Category:2008 action comedy films

Category:2000s comedy road movies

Category:Indian action comedy films

Category:2000s masala films

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Category:Yash Raj Films films

Category:Indian comedy road movies

Category:Films shot in Uttarakhand

Category:Films scored by Vishal–Shekhar

Category:2008 directorial debut films

Category:Films shot in Kanpur

Category:Films shot in Greece

Category:Films shot in Ladakh

Category:Films shot in Rajasthan

Category:Films shot in Mumbai

Category:Films shot in Alappuzha