We will see Hrithik Roshan on the big screen after quite a while; and we shall see him in an uncharacteristic de-glam look in Super 30, which releases on 12 July 2019. The story about aspirational India’s have-nots struggling to find their place in the sun seems inspiring. However, Roshan’s deliberately darkened skin and dodgy Bihari accent seem rather less inspiring, especially to the tweeple who simply have to express their views.
Roshan shared the trailer via his handle along with this tweet: “Not all Superheroes wear capes. It’s the ideas that make a nation. It's the people who empower it. Presenting one such story from the heartland of India.” The film is based on the story of mathematician Anand Kumar and his ‘Super 30’ educational programme. It examines the reality of coaching centres that function like a factory with an assembly line.
Many of the B town stars came out and tweeted their gushing praise for the movie and said that they were looking forward to watching it.
Hrithik Roshan fans and many others thought that this movie promises to be another great performance by a very versatile and talented actor. The film also stars Virendra Saxena as Roshan's father, Mrunal Thakur as his love interest, Pankaj Tripathi and Nandish Singh among others.
Why was Roshan cast as the protagonist of this movie? Pankaj Tripathi (who also stars in the movie), who is undeniably, hugely talented would have fit the role far better.
This is a comment on Bollywood’s predilection for casting ‘big stars’ and the industry’s reluctance to pin the fortunes of a movie on a ‘character actor’.
Many on Twitter weren't too impressed with the trailer of Super 30. They felt that Roshan – the personification of privilege in real life – was a misfit for the role.
This is the accent that non-Biharis think a Bihari accent should sound like.
People weren't too amused (or rather they were altogether too amused) at the notion of a Bombay boy trying to do a Bihari Babu.
Whenever Bollywood wants to show a character from an underprivileged class they darken the actor's skin. Netizens made references to Ranveer Singh’s character in Gully Boy, when the filmmakers had denied using brown-face, had tried to explain away Singh’s darkened skin as a sun tan.
This movie seems to reflect the prevalent mood of Indians who have rejected the concept of the entitlement of privilege. Those from weaker socio-economic backgrounds no longer believe that their circumstances have to limit their future.
There is a new aspirational India that believes it can be anything it wants to be and it is this hope that the film seems to reflect.
Our education system is often criticised for churning out robots with degrees rather than capable professionals trained in a vocation. There is also the fact that there is parental pressure to choose a particular profession; which often results in students regretting their choice.
This line from the Special 30 trailer really caught everyone's attention. The Indian team at the World Cup, Tiger Shroff in any movie, regular Indians at the traffic signal, or Arya Stark attacking the Night King… apparently they all make that chhalaang (leap).
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