Crook (film)
Crook | |
---|---|
Directed by | Mohit Suri |
Written by | Ankur Tewari Mohit Suri |
Produced by | Mukesh Bhatt |
Starring | Emraan Hashmi Neha Sharma Shella Alan Arjan Bajwa |
Cinematography | Vishnu Rao |
Edited by | Devendra Murdeshwar |
Music by | Songs: Pritam Score: Raju Singh |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Vishesh Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 121 minutes |
Country | India |
Language | Hindi |
Budget | ₹175 million (US$2.2 million) |
Box office | ₹124 million (US$1.6 million)[1] |
Crook: It's Good to be Bad is a 2010 Indian
Plot
Jai Dixit, is a young adult who sells
When Samarth is attacked, he loses his temper and
Cast
- Emraan Hashmi as Jai Dixit (real name)/ Suraj Bhardwaj (fake name), Suhani's love interest and Mahesh's son
- Neha Sharma as Suhani, Jai's love interest and Samarth's sister
- Shella Allen as Nicole, Russell's younger sister
- Arjan Bajwa as Samarth, Suhani and Sheena's brother
- Mashhoor Amrohias Goldie
- Kavin Dave as Romi Latti
- Gulshan Grover as Joseph
- Francis Michael Chouler as Russell, Nicole's elder brother
- Smiley Surias Sheena, Suhani and Samarth's sister (Special Appearance)
- J Brandon Hill as Sgt Damien Stern
- Glen David Short as Chief of Police
- Vineet Kumar Singhas Mahesh Dixit, Jai's father
Soundtrack
Crook | ||||
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Soundtrack album by | ||||
Released | 31 August 2010[5] | |||
Recorded | 2010 | |||
Genre | Soundtrack | |||
Length | 34:25 | |||
Language | Hindi | |||
Label | Sony | |||
Director | Mohit Suri | |||
Producer | Mukesh Bhatt | |||
Pritam chronology | ||||
|
The songs were composed by Pritam and[6] the lyrics were penned by Kumaar. The song, Challa was based on the song Australian Challa by Babbal Rai.[7] The song "Mere Bina" topped the charts everywhere. The Film's background score was composed by Raju Singh.
Track listing
No. | Title | Performer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Challa" | Babbu Mann , Suzanne D'Mello | 4:25 |
7. | "Mere Bina (Unplugged)" | KK | 4:50 |
8. | "Tujhi Mein (Reprise)" | KK | 4:40 |
Total length: | 34:25 |
Reception
Atta Khan from planet Bollywood rated the album 7/10 and said, "The music of Crook is another rendezvous to Pritam's rock annals and the first album to do that since last year’s awesome Tum Mile. But it's a much shorter album with only four original songs and only two of these being rock anthems so it doesn't quite match Tum Mile's soundtrack for depth, quality, and consistency. However whilst "Challa" and "Kya" will not be missed, "Mere Bina" and "Tujhi Mein" are a MUST listen for fans and you know who you are. Furthermore, the remixes at Tracks 5-8 are simply superb! So forget about the prospects of Crook as a film- when you have music that sounds this enjoyable you can only call this (Bhatt/Pritam) collaboration special and we await their next soundtrack with baited [sic] breath. And yes, Pritam has satisfied once again."[8] NDTV India quoted, "Music composer Pritam Chakraborty, who is a favourite of the Bhatt camp, brings forth another likable soundtrack in forthcoming film Crook. Even though the compositions fall under his signature style and not much experimentation is involved, the tracks do have the potential of getting noticed."[9]
Critical reception
India
The reception of the film in India has been mixed. The critics praised the story and music but criticized the execution. However, many of them praised the erotic scenes between Emraan Hashmi and Shella Allen. The scenes have become quite popular as well. One critic writes praises the music, writing: "this along with its already popular songs makes Crook a full on entertainment package that should not be missed when it releases all over on 8 October".[10] Movie critic Taran Adarsh, criticized the film as a "half-hearted effort", but praises Mohit Suri's handling of the subject during the second hour of the film.[11] Another critic praised the film for presenting "an altogether different approach to the situation and (the director) takes both the sides and speaks in favour of Indians and as well as the Australians.[12]
Among negative reviews, a critic at India Today complained that the film racially vilifies Australians as:
A country of ex-convicts. A country where they sleep with each other without marrying. A country where they don't take care of their families. Yes, that's the sort of venom that's spewed against the Australians in Crook ......
Also that "it is badly directed and doesn't even have that one redeeming feature of all"[13]
A critic at Rediff.com complained of a weak script and story line.[14] A reviewer at bollyspice.com said that the film was "too insensitive" and "superficial".[15]
Australia
One media outlet in Australia voiced concern about the film, repeating Indian newspaper reviews that Crook portrayed Australia as "A country of ex-convicts. A country where they sleep with each other without marrying. A country where they don't take care of their families. Yes that's the sort of venom that's spewed against the Australians in Crook."[16]
Among Australia's local Indian population, Gautam Gupta, spokesman for the Federation of Indian Students criticized the piece, saying: "They have performed their research so badly, it's shocking." He also complained that, far from helping the situation, that the film could help inflame tensions.[17]
Director Mohit Suri responded to these charges, rejecting the claims of bias. The Hindustan Times quoted Suri saying:
I am facing
flak from both sides. Indians are saying that the film is pro Australia, and they are saying it shows them in a bad light. I think Australians should watch the film as a cinematic experience. The film does not show them as 'wrong'.”[18]
Responding to allegations that the film is "poorly researched", Suri says, "I have just made a film. At 28, don’t expect me to have a cure for racism worldwide. I have just expressed my opinion."[18]
Suri also complained that during the production of the film:
"Permissions were not given in several places and even our online Australian producer had his doubts. One day, we were stopped from entering a club by an Indian bouncer who allowed other foreigners in! Then there was the incident where Emraan Hashmi asked an Aussie to click a picture of all of us at a beach. He agreed, and then tossed the camera far into the air and walked away!”[19]
Awards and nominations
Nominated
- Apsara Award for Best Music - Pritam
- Apsara Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role - Arjan Bajwa
Nominated
- Best Programmer & Arranger of the Year - Jim Satya, Johan Folke and DJ Phukan - "Mere Bina"
References
- ^ "Box Office". Bollywood Hungama. 8 October 2010.
- ^ "Crook: It's Good to be Bad (2010) - Mohit Suri". AllMovie.
- ^ "Shooting for anti-racial film 'Crook' begins in Oz". Express India. Archived from the original on 23 May 2010. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
- ^ ""Crook is based on racial discrimination" - Mohit Suri". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 28 February 2010. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
- ^ "Crook (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". iTunes. 31 August 2010.
- ^ "Crook (Album Details)". Indicine. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
- ^ Dasgupta, Priyanka. "I'm happy to get my credit now: Babbal". The Times of India. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
- ^ "Crook - Music Review". Planet Bollywood. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
- ^ "Music Review: Crook". NDTV Movies. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
- ^ Glamsham (7 August 2021). "Crook-It's Good to Be Bad is not just about action!". Glamsham.
- ^ "Hindi Movie List". Bollywood Hungama. 11 August 2023.
- ^ ""Crook- It's Good To Be Bad" Movie Review". india-server.com.
- ^ Bamzai, Kaveree (9 October 2010). "Film review: Crook". India Today.
- ^ "Crook: As Bad as it Gets". Rediff.
- ^ "Movie Review: Crook: Its Good to be Bad » Bollywood Spice". Archived from the original on 14 November 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
- ^ "Bollywood film paints Aussies as racists". dailytelegraph.com.au. 14 October 2010.
- ^ Firkin, Katherine; Bradshaw, Finn (15 October 2010). "Bollywood blockbuster paints Melbourne as racist". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 21 October 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
- ^ a b "Hindustan Times - Archive News". Hindustan Times.
- ^ "Of dark narratives". Deccan Herald. 15 October 2010.
- ^ "Apsara Award 2011 Nominations". Pinkvilla. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ "Nominees - Mirchi Music Award Hindi 2010". 30 January 2011. Archived from the original on 30 January 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
External links
- Crook at IMDb