"What were Jaideep & Shimit thinking while doing Rocket Singh?" - Abbas Tyrewala

Abbas Tyrewala who directed one of 2008's biggest successes is also a writer of great repute, having written among other things, the prophetic dialogues of Munnabhai MBBS and the screenplay of Maqbool.

Abbas went to see the latest Yashraj production Rocket Singh Salesman Of The Year not only as a writer and director but also as an eager fan of the films that the banner comes out of.

"I love Jaideep Sahni's writing and Shimit Amin's direction. But what were they thinking while doing Rocket Singh? Where is the payoff in the screenplay? Where is the hero? Ranbir plays a timid Sardar who steals phone lines and computer hardware from his work-place to start his own business. And we are supposed to accept him as a man of integrity! Would he be able to start his own business if it wasn't for the nefarious support he gets from his work-place? In other words the 'hero' resorts to those very underhand tactics that he claims to abhor and takes the help of that very organization which has disgraced him!"

Most damaging of all, Abbas couldn't see a hero in Ranbir's character. "The boss (Manish Chowdhary) is so over-the-top he belongs to another sensibility altogether, calls Ranbir a 'bastard' several times, humiliates and disgraces him publicly. We wait for our hero to have his revenge on the boorish boss. I completely believe in the old-fashioned Hindi film formula where the hero gives his tormentor tit for tat. But Boss, where's the comeuppance for the villain? In fact the story comes across more as the boss' redemption story as the hero's."

Read more from HERE

"What were Jaideep & Shimit thinking while doing Rocket Singh?" - Abbas Tyrewala

Abbas Tyrewala who directed one of 2008's biggest successes is also a writer of great repute, having written among other things, the prophetic dialogues of Munnabhai MBBS and the screenplay of Maqbool.

Abbas went to see the latest Yashraj production Rocket Singh Salesman Of The Year not only as a writer and director but also as an eager fan of the films that the banner comes out of.

"I love Jaideep Sahni's writing and Shimit Amin's direction. But what were they thinking while doing Rocket Singh? Where is the payoff in the screenplay? Where is the hero? Ranbir plays a timid Sardar who steals phone lines and computer hardware from his work-place to start his own business. And we are supposed to accept him as a man of integrity! Would he be able to start his own business if it wasn't for the nefarious support he gets from his work-place? In other words the 'hero' resorts to those very underhand tactics that he claims to abhor and takes the help of that very organization which has disgraced him!"

Most damaging of all, Abbas couldn't see a hero in Ranbir's character. "The boss (Manish Chowdhary) is so over-the-top he belongs to another sensibility altogether, calls Ranbir a 'bastard' several times, humiliates and disgraces him publicly. We wait for our hero to have his revenge on the boorish boss. I completely believe in the old-fashioned Hindi film formula where the hero gives his tormentor tit for tat. But Boss, where's the comeuppance for the villain? In fact the story comes across more as the boss' redemption story as the hero's."

Read more from HERE

Exclusive Review -Rocket Singh : Salesman of the Year

Who is Shimit Amin? The one who directed Ab Tak Chhappan or the one who directed Chak De! India and Rocket Singh. After watching Rocket Singh, I began to think is Ab Tak Chhappan more of a RGV Factory product than a Shimit Amin film? Is Chak De! India and Rocket Singh more of Jaideep Sahni films than a Shimit Amin film? Does Shimit Amin adapt himself to the company he works for? When he was associated with RGV factory he gave Ab Tak Chhappan that always looked like a factory product. When he moves out and teams up with Jaideep Sahni, his style of making film completely changes. I am not blaming Shimit Amin for making himself look adapted to the company he works for, I am just trying to figure out how much is Shimit Amin, the director, involved in making films? I wouldn’t call Chak De! India or Rocket Singh as regular Yash Raj films but yes, they have Jaideep Sahni written all over them. And I appreciate Shimit Amin not taking the credit for the film alone. Instead he has made sure that Rocket Singh is as much his film as it is of Jaideep Sahni. The first stills that came out of Rocket Singh had Ranbir Kapoor, Shimit Amin and Jaideep Sahni in it which is quite surprising. That itself showed Shimit Amin respects Jaideep Sahni for his contribution to the film. I haven’t seen such immense respect given to a writer before in Indian Cinema. Gulzar and Anurag Kashyap have got recognition for their writing too but then they probably got it once they entered the field of direction. Jaideep Sahni on the other hand is getting himself recognized only because of his writing skills and capabilities. We never heard the name of Shimit Amin alone whenever there was talk about Rocket Singh. We always heard Rocket Singh is from the makers of Chak De! India or Jaideep-Shimit duo are back.

Rocket Singh, one of the awaited films of the year, especially because of the fact that it is from the makers of Chak De! India, is about a fresh graduate Harpreet Singh played by Ranbir Kapoor, who trying to adapt himself to the job of a salesman. It isn’t a stylish film that shows the extraordinary capabilities of Harpreet Singh as a salesman, nor does it glorify the job of a salesman. Harpreet Singh is very much like a common man working in an office, and about a man whose ethics do not synchronize with the company he is working for.

The story of the film can well be compared to the silent era comedies especially the ones of Charlie Chaplin where he played the honest person forced to take the wrong way due to the situations in his life. And Rocket Singh references it very well with a transition effect which was used in the silent films. We can see the reference in the image below.



The script written by Jaideep Sahni is really the true winner of the film. The subtleness and the realism he gives to his characters and situations should be applauded. The atmosphere shown in Rocket Singh is very much real and how well Jaideep – Shimit have shown the atmosphere in different places (HOME, PARTY, OFFICE) and distinguished them is commendable. The best part of Jaideep’s writing is he is very honest to his work and no doubt in the fact that Shimit Amin does complete justice to Jaideep’s script. Through his work, one can see the effort he makes to make a scene look very much real. The characters in the film do small things that work like wonders in giving the film look real. Like right at the start, we see Ranbir Kapoor winking to his God and then apologizing right after that and then Harpreet Singh (Ranbir Kapoor) giving body massage to his father. Jaideep – Shimit establish the character so well in the film through their mannerism and dialogs they speak. Characters in the film speaking regional lines like “Nakko Re” for “No”, Harpreet Singh’s(Ranbir Kapoor) father calling him ‘Sardar’ in a informal way, speaking regional language while at home, etc makes the film look real.

Read more from HERE

Exclusive Review -Rocket Singh : Salesman of the Year

Who is Shimit Amin? The one who directed Ab Tak Chhappan or the one who directed Chak De! India and Rocket Singh. After watching Rocket Singh, I began to think is Ab Tak Chhappan more of a RGV Factory product than a Shimit Amin film? Is Chak De! India and Rocket Singh more of Jaideep Sahni films than a Shimit Amin film? Does Shimit Amin adapt himself to the company he works for? When he was associated with RGV factory he gave Ab Tak Chhappan that always looked like a factory product. When he moves out and teams up with Jaideep Sahni, his style of making film completely changes. I am not blaming Shimit Amin for making himself look adapted to the company he works for, I am just trying to figure out how much is Shimit Amin, the director, involved in making films? I wouldn’t call Chak De! India or Rocket Singh as regular Yash Raj films but yes, they have Jaideep Sahni written all over them. And I appreciate Shimit Amin not taking the credit for the film alone. Instead he has made sure that Rocket Singh is as much his film as it is of Jaideep Sahni. The first stills that came out of Rocket Singh had Ranbir Kapoor, Shimit Amin and Jaideep Sahni in it which is quite surprising. That itself showed Shimit Amin respects Jaideep Sahni for his contribution to the film. I haven’t seen such immense respect given to a writer before in Indian Cinema. Gulzar and Anurag Kashyap have got recognition for their writing too but then they probably got it once they entered the field of direction. Jaideep Sahni on the other hand is getting himself recognized only because of his writing skills and capabilities. We never heard the name of Shimit Amin alone whenever there was talk about Rocket Singh. We always heard Rocket Singh is from the makers of Chak De! India or Jaideep-Shimit duo are back.

Rocket Singh, one of the awaited films of the year, especially because of the fact that it is from the makers of Chak De! India, is about a fresh graduate Harpreet Singh played by Ranbir Kapoor, who trying to adapt himself to the job of a salesman. It isn’t a stylish film that shows the extraordinary capabilities of Harpreet Singh as a salesman, nor does it glorify the job of a salesman. Harpreet Singh is very much like a common man working in an office, and about a man whose ethics do not synchronize with the company he is working for.

The story of the film can well be compared to the silent era comedies especially the ones of Charlie Chaplin where he played the honest person forced to take the wrong way due to the situations in his life. And Rocket Singh references it very well with a transition effect which was used in the silent films. We can see the reference in the image below.



The script written by Jaideep Sahni is really the true winner of the film. The subtleness and the realism he gives to his characters and situations should be applauded. The atmosphere shown in Rocket Singh is very much real and how well Jaideep – Shimit have shown the atmosphere in different places (HOME, PARTY, OFFICE) and distinguished them is commendable. The best part of Jaideep’s writing is he is very honest to his work and no doubt in the fact that Shimit Amin does complete justice to Jaideep’s script. Through his work, one can see the effort he makes to make a scene look very much real. The characters in the film do small things that work like wonders in giving the film look real. Like right at the start, we see Ranbir Kapoor winking to his God and then apologizing right after that and then Harpreet Singh (Ranbir Kapoor) giving body massage to his father. Jaideep – Shimit establish the character so well in the film through their mannerism and dialogs they speak. Characters in the film speaking regional lines like “Nakko Re” for “No”, Harpreet Singh’s(Ranbir Kapoor) father calling him ‘Sardar’ in a informal way, speaking regional language while at home, etc makes the film look real.

Read more from HERE

'Rocket Singh will be worth the wait' - Shimit Amin

Chak De! India team Shimit Amin, director, and Jaideep Sahni, writer, are back with their new film, the curiously titled Rocket Singh Salesman Of The Year.

Starring Ranbir Kapoor and newcomer Shazahn Padamsee, the film is set for release on December 11.

Shimit tells Patcy N what it's all about.

Why was it necessary for Ranbir's character to be a sardar?

No, it was not. But this is how the character first came to me when I was thinking of the story. There is no reason why every protagonist in every Hindi film has to look like a hero.

Why is there no buzz about the film even though it is a Yash Raj project. Why is the marketing and publicity of the film so low-key?

Chak De did not have any buzz either. In fact, I am experiencing a sense of deja vu as people asked the same thing -- that why we weren't promoting Chak De when it had Shah Rukh Khan.

Why a film on the life of a salesman? What aspect of his life does the film stress on?

We have always made films about college life but never about life after college. This film is about life after college. When you are in college, you are always wondering what your office, colleagues or boss would be like.

We just found this phase very fascinating as one gets to discover a whole new world, and that is why we thought of making a film which explores this new world.

What made you select Ranbir for the film?

Ranbir was our first choice though we thought of him only after the script was ready.

It is actually a process where you think of everyone to make this film work. We wanted a young actor to play the part of a fresh graduate, and since only a handful of people in our industry fit in that group, we thought of Ranbir.

Plus, we wanted a person who could understand this kind of character better.

Read more from HERE

'Rocket Singh will be worth the wait' - Shimit Amin

Chak De! India team Shimit Amin, director, and Jaideep Sahni, writer, are back with their new film, the curiously titled Rocket Singh Salesman Of The Year.

Starring Ranbir Kapoor and newcomer Shazahn Padamsee, the film is set for release on December 11.

Shimit tells Patcy N what it's all about.

Why was it necessary for Ranbir's character to be a sardar?

No, it was not. But this is how the character first came to me when I was thinking of the story. There is no reason why every protagonist in every Hindi film has to look like a hero.

Why is there no buzz about the film even though it is a Yash Raj project. Why is the marketing and publicity of the film so low-key?

Chak De did not have any buzz either. In fact, I am experiencing a sense of deja vu as people asked the same thing -- that why we weren't promoting Chak De when it had Shah Rukh Khan.

Why a film on the life of a salesman? What aspect of his life does the film stress on?

We have always made films about college life but never about life after college. This film is about life after college. When you are in college, you are always wondering what your office, colleagues or boss would be like.

We just found this phase very fascinating as one gets to discover a whole new world, and that is why we thought of making a film which explores this new world.

What made you select Ranbir for the film?

Ranbir was our first choice though we thought of him only after the script was ready.

It is actually a process where you think of everyone to make this film work. We wanted a young actor to play the part of a fresh graduate, and since only a handful of people in our industry fit in that group, we thought of Ranbir.

Plus, we wanted a person who could understand this kind of character better.

Read more from HERE

"Interview with the team" - Rocket Singh - Salesman of the Year

"Interview with the team" - Rocket Singh - Salesman of the Year

Shazahn Padamsee: Ranbir's new heroine for Rocket Singh

Meet the new face of YRF's Rocket Singh, Shazahn Padamsee, to debut with Ranbir kapoor in this upcoming flick. Bollywood's love affair with debutantes continue with the upcoming Rocket Singh. With Asin, Anoushka Sharma, both making their big debuts last year, this year has already seen some good fresh faces in Dev D, Gulal, Love Aaj Kal etc, now is the turn of Shazahn Padamsee to make her mark. Shmit Amin- Jaideep Sahni already have presented quite a handful of debuts in CDI in 2007, so they have experience of working with a new comer, I believe that Shazahn is in great hands to make her foray in BW.

Shazahn is a beauty no doubts, but in the presence of Priyanka, Katrina, Kareena, looks only can not keep you in the game, and how much she can act will be known once the movie release.


but for now we all can say, kya baat hai Ranbir, Deepika, Katrina, now Shazahn, thats one lucky boy.

Shazahn Padamsee: Ranbir's new heroine for Rocket Singh

Meet the new face of YRF's Rocket Singh, Shazahn Padamsee, to debut with Ranbir kapoor in this upcoming flick. Bollywood's love affair with debutantes continue with the upcoming Rocket Singh. With Asin, Anoushka Sharma, both making their big debuts last year, this year has already seen some good fresh faces in Dev D, Gulal, Love Aaj Kal etc, now is the turn of Shazahn Padamsee to make her mark. Shmit Amin- Jaideep Sahni already have presented quite a handful of debuts in CDI in 2007, so they have experience of working with a new comer, I believe that Shazahn is in great hands to make her foray in BW.

Shazahn is a beauty no doubts, but in the presence of Priyanka, Katrina, Kareena, looks only can not keep you in the game, and how much she can act will be known once the movie release.


but for now we all can say, kya baat hai Ranbir, Deepika, Katrina, now Shazahn, thats one lucky boy.