'Ghajini' gets bumper opening, mixed reviews

Mumbai, Dec 25 (PTI) Bollywood actor Aamir Khan's
much-awaited "Ghajini", depicting the story of a man with a
brief memory loss out to avenge the death of his fiancee, had
a bumper opening worldwide and received mixed reviews.

Aamir said the advance bookings of the film were four
times more than the record opening any movie has ever got.
There were about 650 paid previews all over the country which
boosted the Box Office collections.

The three-hour-and-four-minute-long movie written and
directed by A R Murugadoss is a remake of a 2005 Tamil film by
the same name which starred Asin and Surya in the lead. The
film was dubbed in Telugu also.

According to trade analyst Amod Mehra, the film has
got a "bumper opening" worldwide.

"It is a well-made film even though the length is a
slight hitch," Mehra told PTI.

Decks were cleared for the smooth release of the film
which got entangled in copyright issues after Madras High
Court lifted a stay and Bombay High court refused to grant a
stay on it Wednesday.

The film was in news throughout its making primarily
due to Aamir's specially acquired all-beefed-up look and a new
hairdo. The special hair cut was done in March, a few days
after the actor's birthday.

Critics said despite flaws in the story, the treatment
and presentation make all the difference.

"Asin is a lively actress and poses a serious threat
to all present leading Bollywood heroines. Aamir is the soul
of the film. The length should have been trimmed by half an
hour," a critic said said.

According to trade sources, the film has been released
with nearly 1,500 prints.

Makers of the film left no stone unturned to promote
it since Diwali. Aamir justified the marketing blitz. "Each
film is a brand. 'Ghajini' has a huge canvass and the
promotions have been done accordingly," he said interacting
with reporters after the press screening Wednesday.

Aamir said his new look was to suit the character
which has suffered injuries in the head. The actor also
underwent physical training to shape his body.

After watching the film, college goer Pooja said,
"Performances are to die for and the film is technically
superior. I felt the violence was too much and the film should
have been trimmed a lot."

Sachin, a bank executive, watched the film with his
family at a suburban multiplex as it was Christmas holiday. He
felt that there were too many faults in the script. "I wonder
why there is no mention of a police case in the near fatal
attack on Aamir's character who is a top business tycoon," he
said.

Another college student Priya said she did not like
the ending. "Aamir is grievously injured before he kills
Ghajini, the villain. The next shot shows Aamir, fully
recovered and hair grown, at a orphanage named after his dead
fiancee Kalpana celebrating the birthday of one of the
inmates," she said.

Vijay M, who watched the dubbed Telugu version said
the plot of the story is excellent. Especially performance of
the lead roles in the movie are commendable. "Though I haven't
seen the Hindi version, I believe it will maintain the same
tempo," he said. PTI MR
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