Krrish is a 2006 Indian superhero science fiction film. The film was directed, produced, and written by Rakesh Roshan, while the screenplay was written by Robin Bhatt, Sachin Bhowmick, Honey Irani, Akarsh Khurana, and Sanjay Masoom. The film is a sequel to Koi… Mil Gaya, and relates the story of Krishna (Hrithik Roshan), the son of the previous film’s protagonists who inherits his father’s superhuman abilities. After falling in love with Priya (Priyanka Chopra), he follows her to Singapore, where he takes on the persona of “Krrish” to keep his identity secret after saving children from a burning circus. From that moment on he is regarded as a superhero, and must later thwart the plans of the evil Dr. Siddhant (Naseeruddin Shah), who has built a machine capable of seeing the future.
The film was mainly shot in Mumbai, India and Singapore. The film was considered the first major superhero film to be produced in Bollywood since Shekhar Kapur’s Mr. India (1987). The film’s stunts, choreographed by Tony Ching Siu-Tung, were adapted into storyboard before accepted into the film. Several scenes in the film were made using a lot of visual effects, created by Marc Kolbe and Craig A. Mumma. Half of the film’s epic stories were adapted from “Ramayana” and “Mahabharata”.
The film was cited as a new “trend setter” in Indian cinema. Rotten Tomatoes gave the movie an aggregate rating of 100% (fresh). Being one of the highest grossing films of the year, Krrish grossed Rs 730 million as total, against Rs 450 million budget. It was a box office success and was elevated to a “blockbuster” rating on Box Office India.
Plot
The plot of the film connects with the predecessor. For more information on the predecessor’s plot, see here.
The film commences with a twelve-year-old Krishna Mehra undergoing an intelligence quotient test by a professor, who suspects his family have superpowers. Krishna answers all the questions correctly, just as his grandmother Sonia (Rekha) fears, and she takes the young Krishna to a remote mountain village in northern India to conceal his unique abilities. Krishna is abandoned by most of his friends, who believe him to be “weird”. There he stays for many years running around the mountainside, racing against horses and developing more abilities. Years later, however, Krishna (Hrithik Roshan) meets camper Priya (Priyanka Chopra) and her friend Honey (Manini Mishra), and they soon become friends after Krishna saves Priya from a hang glider accident, much to the bewilderment of the camping group. Krishna and Priya grow close just before she departs, but Krishna has the stronger feelings of love.
Back in Singapore, Priya and Honey are fired by their boss (Archana Puran Singh) for illegitimately taking an extra five days of holiday leave. However, Honey suggests bringing Krishna to Singapore and making a television program about him. Their boss sees potential in this plan and revokes her previous decision to get rid of them. Aware of Krishna’s love towards her, Priya tells Krishna that she loves him to encourage him to join her in Singapore.
Production
Due to the success of Koi… Mil Gaya, a sequel was prepared,[3] initially titled Koi… Tumsa Nahin.[4] After several months, the Roshans confirmed and announced the film.[4][5][6] Preity Zinta was confimed to be replaced by Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra,[5] though she said, “Yes. I am in a sequel. The story will start where Koi… Mil Gaya ended.”[5] Rakesh also confimed that the film would not be an “out-and-out action film”.[7] Three-fourths of the movie was filmed in Singapore over a month’s period,[8] though filming also took place in Mumbai, India.[9]
The locations used in filming include Singapore’s famous zoo and Singapore National Library’s Plaza.[10] Singapore’s police were on the filming location to protect vehicles and other filming equipment.[8] Robinson Road was one of the main filming locations. However, it rained heavily during filming there, causing delays that cost production $25,000.[8] There were traffic blocks because the film’s action scenes required no less than 250 feet high industrial cranes weighing 30 tons. Two were used, in case one broke down.[11]
During the film’s development, Prakash Jaju,Priyanka Chopra’s manager was sued by Rakesh Roshan under a case of threatening calls to him to settle his accounts with Priyanka Chopra.[12] Jaju was also being asked to withdraw his case in court about the film being developed using illegal money.[12] Several incidents also occurred during the film’s production stage.
Reception
Krrish was the second-highest grossing Bollywood film of 2006, according to Box Office India, earning over Rs. 73 crores (730 million) net gross in India alone, and was classified as a “blockbuster”.[2] The film grossed Rs. 6 crores (60 million) alone in the United Kingdom, Rs. 8 crores (80 million) in North America, and Rs. 5 crores (50 million) in other foreign countries, bringing the total overseas gross to Rs. 19 crores (190 million)—rated as “Semi-Hit” by Box Office India.[21] The film was rated “PG” during its release
Soundtrack Cover art for Krrish’s soundtrack.
The film’s soundtrack—scored by Rajesh Roshan—was released on 8 November 2006,[33] by T-Series. Salim and Sulaiman won the Filmfare Best Background Score Award for Krrish in 2007.[34]
Critical reviews were generally favorable. Joginder Tuteja of Bollywood Hungama gave the album a rating of 3.5/5, feeling that it was “another good outing for Bollywood music lovers”. He especially praised the songs “Chori Chori”, “Koi Tumsa Nahi”, and “Pyaar Ki Ek Kahani”.[35] Sukanya Verma of Rediff gave a favorable review for the film’s “catchy” songs. However, she felt that while the songs meshed with the film, “none of them bear the staying power of Rajesh Roshan’s earlier soundtracks like Khudgarz, Kishen Kanhaiya, Karan Arjun or Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai”.
Sequel
Following the success of Krrish, film director Rakesh Roshan planned to develop a sequel for the film,[40] with Hrithik Roshan as Krrish saving the Seven Wonders of the World.[41][42] The Roshans confirmed that they would start working on the project after Kites.[41][43] Deepika Padukone was confirmed to replace Priyanka Chopra’s role in the sequel.[41][42][44] However, plans for the sequel have currently been dropped due to script issues.[45]
