First Look & Theatrical Trailer: ‘Happy New Year’

Iss Diwali Todenge Taale... Indiawaale — Happy New Year's catchphrase alone, gives a pretty good insight into what Farah Khan's festive, mega budget, anticipated extravaganza is about. It's a project she conceptualized way back in the early 90s when Raveena Tandon was supposed to star in it (!), but ultimately the film never took off.

Well after some to-ing and fro-ing with its cast, the film is finally here and sees SRK-Deepika reunite after last year's smash hit Chennai Express. They're ably supported by Abhishek Bachchan, Sonu Sood, Boman Irani and Vivaan Shah in a film where every single frame is spectacularly lit and everything about it looks polished.

Perhaps one of 2014's most eagerly anticipated films, Happy New Year hits the marquee this Diwali and is about the underdog — six losers Charlie (SRK), Mohini (Deepika), Nandu (Abhishek), Jag (Sonu Sood), Tammy (Boman Irani) and Rohan (Vivaan Shah) on a mission to pull off a massive heist in the heart of Dubai.

The film's trailer which hit online today, looks decent enough, and has a very Dhoom:3-esque feel about it but didn't entirely do it for me. It  lacks substance and seems more akin to Farah's moronic Tees Maar Khan. How I wish the director would return to the subtle, tongue in cheek humour of Om Shanti Om, and avoid going down the loud, garish David Dhawan route, which is what she's done here. 

The cast too, don't seem like they're on unfamiliar ground. Sadly, SRK seems to be playing himself (again), although I did like his bearded look — he pulls it off well and it suits his persona. Deepika, unsurprisingly, looks like a kazillion bucks but I doubt she'll have anything ground breaking to do here, besides look good, and she's ticked off that box already — I just hope she isn't reduced to a prop like Katrina was in Dhoom:3. In fact, I'm expecting more surprises from the supporting cast — Abhishek has a knack for pulling off silly characters and comedy has always been his forte, and I'm expecting comic lols from Boman and Sonu too. Vivaan may finally get his break after 2011's Saat Khoon Maaf, which failed to do anything for his fledgling career, although he didn't have much to do in the trailer here either, so we'll just have to wait and watch in his case.

To give the trailer it's due, it does make Happy New Year look grand and slickly packaged, promising entertainment all round, so I'm willing to give it the benefit of the doubt, provided SRK doesn't go overboard with its promotions and deliver a DOA duck like Ra-One.

What are your expectations from Happy New Year? Let us know below!

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Theatrical Trailer: Happy New Year