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Rediff.com  » Movies » When movies changed its NAME!

When movies changed its NAME!

By JOGINDER TUTEJA
November 09, 2020 17:58 IST
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The title of Akshay Kumar's horror comedy was changed from Laxmmi Bomb to Laxmii only a few days before its release on November 9.

But this has happened many times before.

Whether controversy or any other reason, films have changed their titles at the last minute.

Joginder Tuteja points them out.

 

Billu Barbar to Billu

The film featured Irrfan Khan in the title role with an extended special appearance from Shah Rukh Khan, also the film's producer.

Barbers across the nation protested against the title, finding it objectionable and derogatory.

The title was then changed to Billu.

 

Mental Hai Kya to Judgementall Hai Kya

For the longest time, this Ekta Kapoor production was known as Mental Hai Kya.

But with pressure building up around the use of the word 'mental' -- many felt it derided mental health -- a call had to be taken for the Kangana Ranaut-Rajkummar Rao starrer.

Giving clarity to the protests, former BJP MP Tarun Vijay wrote, 'Mental Hai Kya is like abuse aimed at those who are fighting a disorder that demands support and social understanding.'

 

Ram Leela to Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram Leela

This was the first film where Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali confronted protests as the original title 'hurt the sentiments of Hindus'.

So days before the film's release, its title was changed from Ram Leela to Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram Leela.

 

Padmavati to Padmaavat

It was originally titled Rani Padmavati. Even though Sanjay Leela Bhansali had quietly started shooting, there were angry, violent, protests.

The Karni Sena demanded a ban on the ground, alleging the film glorified Alauddin Khilji -- all this protest without even seeing the film. The Karni Sena threatened to 'set ablaze' cinema halls screening it.

The title changed to Padmaavati and then to Padmaavat.

 

Rambo Rajkumar to R... Rajkumar

Before Padmaavat, Shahid Kapoor had gone through troubles of his own when his Rambo Rajkumar was ready for release.

He played the title role Rambo in the Prabhudeva directed film.

However, with copyright issues cropping over Sylvester Stallone's Rambo, it went silent with a rather odd title, R... Rajkumar!

 

Jaffna to Madras Cafe

Not many are aware that Madras Cafe's original title was Jaffna.

Since the film was based on the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka, its battles with the LTTE, even the Rajiv Gandhi assassination, a Lankan connection in the title was inevitable.

But with trouble brewing, Actor-Producer John Abraham and Director Shoojit Sircar decided to play it safe with Madras Cafe.

 

Saali Kutiya to Katti Batti

Had this been retained as the title, it would have one of the boldest ones for a Hindi film ever.

Director Nikkhil Advani had shot his romcom with Kangana Ranaut and Imran Khan as Saali Kutiya.

There would have been a shock value but perhaps it was not worth it, and the title changed to Katti Batti.

 

Running With The Bulls to Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

One reason The Sky Is Pink didn't cover the distance was its odd English title.

Farhan Akhtar should have known better because his own production Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara had taken the wise decision of moving away from the original title, Running With The Bulls.

It may have been an important sequence in the film, but definitely not a title for the whole film.

 

Loveratri to Loveyatri

When Salman Khan decided to launch his brother-in-law Aayush Sharma in Bollywood, he put together a Navratri set up.

Since the film belonged to the romantic genre, the word 'love' made its way to the title, and the film was called Loveratri.

But certain groups felt the title distorted the name of a Hindu festival, so it was changed to Loveyatri just before the film's release.

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JOGINDER TUTEJA