Box Office Report: 'Yeh Saali Zindagi' open with average start

Box Office Report: 'Yeh Saali Zindagi' open with average start: Most of the four releases this Friday -- Yeh Saali Zindagi, Utt Pataang, United Six and Hum Dono (Rangeen) -- face rejection at the box office.

More Yeh Saali Zindagi Movie Stills

Of the four, the most promising (relatively) is director Sudhir Mishra’s rom-com crime caper Yeh Saali Zindagi, starring Irrfan Khan, Chitrangada Singh, Aditi Rao Hydari and Arunoday Singh. The film has got very positive reviews from critics and grossed around Rs. 1.20 crore on its opening day, which is below average.

Given the positive word of mouth, the collection might pick up on Saturday evening and Sunday.

On the other hand, Utt Pataang saw a very low response of about 10 percent (or even less) and grossed just a paltry sum of Rs. 10 lakh on its opening day.

The other two films - United Six and Hum Dono - fear a total washout at theatres.

Last week’s release Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji has rounded off its first week collection at a figure of Rs. 21 crore.

Yeh Saali Zindagi Premiere Photos

Yeh Saali Zindagi Premiere Photos:

Yeh Saali Zindagi Premiere Photos

Movie Review - Yeh Saali Zindagi

Movie Review - Yeh Saali Zindagi: Getting your head around the maze of director Sudhir Mishra’s Yeh Saali Zindagi could be quite an ask and task. Taking a plot bursting at its seams, Sudhir Mishra plonks in it so many characters, with many a voice-over and flashbacks, that keeping the count after a while becomes an exercise in maths. But, given the reputation of the director, you are willing to sit back, play along, and let the movie grow on you. And it does.

Simply put, Yeh Saali Zindagi is a romantic thriller with too many sub-plots unspooling at a breathless pace. Arun (Irrfan Khan) is in love with the singer Priti (Chitrangada Singh) but she loves Shyam (Vipul Gupta) who is set to marry the daughter of a politician.

On the other hand Kuldeep (Arunoday Singh) is a criminal on his last assignment. Thanks to his feisty wife (Aditya Rao Hydari) who disapproves of his shady, deadly profession, he’s set to reform and start life afresh. But his last assignment embroils Shyam, Priti and Arun in a deadlock where each character’s love is tested against the grime and crime of Delhi’s underbelly.

A whole lot of oddballs are entangled in the ruck. There are gun-toting hardy criminals, corrupt cops and opportunistic politicians. At first the characters remain mostly isolated, like an assorted bunch in a puzzle that begins to make sense as each piece falls into its place. Yet, the overwrought and complex structure of the plot does challenge your grey cells.

The story-screen writing (Mishra and Manu Rishi) is one of the strengths of YSZ. The dialogues, liberally sprinkled with expletives of choicest variety, are witty gems that keep you amused throughout the frenetic pace of the story.

Another strength is the cast ensemble. Irrfan Khan comes up with the most winsome performance as the man who goes out of his way to help the woman he loves without his feelings being reciprocated. Chitrangada Singh is naturally glamorous and pitches in a fine performance. Arunoday Singh shines as the rowdy criminal trying to mend his ways for the sake of his wife and kid. His torrid, almost violent love story with Aditi Rao does prove a mild distraction in the plot but is quite finely etched. From the sidelines, Sushant Singh and Saurabh Shukla leave an impression.

More than anything, YSZ is a testimony of Mishra’s craftsmanship as a writer and director. With its many unpredictable twists and twirls and a climax that some might take with a pinch of salt, YSZ is a delightfully different film that attempts to break all set formulas and leave you with a smile on the face in the end.

'Yeh Saali Zindagi' Preview

'Yeh Saali Zindagi' Preview: After quite a gap, director Sudhir Mishra returns with his latest film Yeh Saali Zindagi, starring Irrfan Khan, Chitrangada Singh, Arunoday Singh, Aditi Rao and Sushant Singh.

The film is a quirky love story in the guise of a thriller. It’s an obtuse take on how far they both the heroes go to get the women they love and how sometimes one screw-up can set everything right!

Synopsis:

Some bullets kill you, some save your life; some women kill you, some save your life.

Arun (Irrfan Khan) has to save Priti (Chitrangda Singh) the woman he loves, but for that he first has to save the man Priti loves- Shyam, the future son-in-law of a powerful Minister.

Meanwhile, time is running out for Kuldeep (Arunoday Singh), the young gangster who is on his last job as his wife is threatening to walk out on him completely, and he begins to suspect she is leaving him to go into the arms of another man. The job has gone haywire for it is still unknown to Kuldeep that the Minister daughter’s engagement with Shyam is off and now she doesn’t care whether Shyam lives or dies and more importantly neither does the Minister who Kuldeep hoped would pay the ransom!

Priti finds herself inextricably caught in this mess and Arun has to save her life. But for that he has to risk everything, and put his own life at stake, he wonders why he should do it at all, if she still loves another. He’s torn, but love knows no reason. Meanwhile, Shyam is trying to make deals in captivity, and his goodness only seems superficial and as Kuldeep tries desperately to save his situation, there are dons coming from Bangkok, who have their own plans.

The film rides a roller-coaster towards a shattering climax, where all the players have to fend for their lives and loves. Who gets the girl, and who gets the money, and who escapes by the skin of his teeth, is now anybody’s guess. But hold on, there are still jokers in the pack, and aces up some sleeves.

Expect the unexpected!

Yeh Saali Zindagi is set to release on February 4.