The Big Bull is a 2021 Indian Hindi-language crime drama film directed and written by Kookie Gulati, based on stockbroker Harshad Mehta who was involved in financial crimes over a period of 10 years during 1980–1990.[1][2] The film stars Abhishek Bachchan, Ileana D'Cruz and Nikita Dutta.[3][4] It entered production in September 2019, and was digitally released on 8 April 2021 on Disney+ Hotstar.[5][6] The film received mixed reviews, praising Bachchan's performance, but criticized in comparison to the much acclaimed Scam 1992, which was also based on Mehta's life.
| The Big Bull | |
|---|---|
 Poster | |
| Directed by | Kookie Gulati |
| Screenplay by | Kookie Gulati Arjun Dhawan |
| Based on | Harshad Mehta |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Vishnu Rao |
| Edited by | Dharmendra Sharma |
| Music by | Songs: Gourov Dasgupta Wily Frenzy Mehul Vyas Background Score: Sandeep Shirodkar |
Production companies | Ajay Devgn FFilms Anand Pandit Motion Pictures |
| Distributed by | Disney+ Hotstar |
Release date |
|
Running time | 154 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
Plot
editBased on the life of Harshad Mehta, the movie follows the rise and fall of the stock market broker who rose from the chawls of Mumbai and became one of the big players of the Bombay Stock Exchange in the early 1990s, while the country was undergoing major changes in its economy (Economic liberalisation in India).
Cast
edit- Abhishek Bachchan as Hemant Shah (based on Harshad Mehta)
- Ileana D'Cruz as Meera Rao (based on Sucheta Dalal)
- Nikita Dutta as Priya Patel Shah (based on Jyoti Mehta)
- Sumit Vats as Hari Vyas
- Mahesh Manjrekar as Rana Sawant
- Ram Kapoor as Ashok Mirchandani, Hemant's lawyer (based on Ram Jethmalani)
- Sohum Shah as Viren Shah, Hemant's brother, based on Ashwin Mehta
- Lekha Prajapati as Tara Shah, Viren's wife
- Supriya Pathak as Amiben Shah, Hemant's mother
- Sanjeev Pandey[7]
- Saurabh Shukla as Mannu Malpani, Chairman of Bombay Stock Exchange
- Samir Soni as Sanjeev Kohli
- Shishir Sharma as Rajesh Mishra, Meera's Boss
- Hitesh Rawal as Kantilal
- Kanan Arunachalam as Venkateshwar
- Rio Kapadia as NCC MD Singh
- Trupti Shankadhar as Ashima
- Abhijit Lahiri as Baldev
- Anand Goradia as CBI Officer Nikhil
- Pankaj Vishnu as CBI officer Dheeraj
- Rohit Tiwari as CBI officer Rakesh
- Sanjiv Jotangia as Mr. Patel, Priya Patel's Father
- Aarjav Trivedi as Priya Patel's Fiancé
- Vijay Rajoria as Raman
- Akhil Vaid as Vikram Solanki
Production
editIn 2018, it was reported that Ajay Devgn will produce the film with Abhishek Bachchan playing the lead role.[4] The film is directed by Kookie Gulati and shows the financial crimes and life of Harshad Mehta. Nikita Dutta and Ileana D'Cruz were brought in to play supporting roles.[8]
The shooting commenced on 16 September 2019.[9] Many shots of the movie has been filmed in Gautam Buddha University.[10]
Release
editDue to the COVID-19 pandemic, the film was released for streaming worldwide from 8 April 2021 on Hotstar.[6]
Soundtrack
edit| The Big Bull | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by Gourov Dasgupta, Wily Frenzy and Mehul Vyas | |
| Released | 26 March 2021[11] |
| Recorded | 2020 |
| Genre | Feature film soundtrack |
| Length | 15:33 |
| Language | Hindi |
| Label | Zee Music Company |
| Official audio | |
| The Big Bull - Full Album on YouTube | |
The film's music was composed by Gourov Dasgupta and Mehul Vyas with lyrics written by Kunwar Juneja and Anil Verma. The rap single "Yalgaar" by CarryMinati, with music by Wily Frenzy, served as the theme song.[12] Sandeep Shirodkar composed the background score.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Ishq Namazaa" | Kunwar Juneja | Gourov Dasgupta | Ankit Tiwari | 4:25 |
| 2. | "Yalgaar (The Big Bull)" | CarryMinati | Wily Frenzy | CarryMinati | 3:15 |
| 3. | "Hawaon Ke Sheher Mein" | Kunwar Juneja | Gourov Dasgupta | Yasser Desai | 4:57 |
| 4. | "Paise Ka Nasha" | Anil Verma | Mehul Vyas | Sunidhi Chauhan | 2:56 |
| Total length: | 15:33 | ||||
Reception
editSaibal Chatterjee of NDTV rated the movie 1.5 out of 5 stars commenting that “the film's problems are rooted in the screenplay, stilted dialogues and arbitrary character arcs.”[13] Writing for Film Companion, Rahul Desai called the movie a “rushed portrait of a slow-burned legacy” further adding that “Abhishek Bachchan’s version of Harshad Mehta is far more compelling than the story it defines”.[14] Jyoti Kanyal of India Today gave the movie 2.5 out of 5 stars calling it “an interesting watch, which often oscillates between boredom and excitement.”[15]
Ronak Kotecha of Times of India graded the film with 3 out of 5 stars and asked not to let the 'stock of expectations rise too high'. He opined that Abhishek Bachchan 'delivered a decent performance'. In conclusion of review he wrote, "Overall, The Big Bull is a decent attempt to tell a dramatic story of one of India’s biggest financial scams, orchestrated by a man, who seemed more like a common man than a con man."[16]
References
edit- ^ "Abhishek Bachchan shares the first poster for his next 'The Big Bull'". The Times of India. 16 September 2019. Archived from the original on 10 October 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
- ^ "Abhishek Bachchan, Ileana D'Cruz Begin Filming Ajay Devgn's 'The Big Bull'". News 18. 16 September 2019. Archived from the original on 27 December 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
- ^ "The Big Bull poster: Abhishek Bachchan begins work on upcoming Ajay Devgn production. See pic". The Hindustan Times. 16 September 2019. Archived from the original on 18 December 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
- ^ a b "'The Big Bull': Abhishek Bachchan's film produced by Ajay Devgn goes on floors". Daily News Analysis. 16 September 2019. Archived from the original on 30 October 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
- ^ "Abhishek Bachchan kickstarts The Big Bull, produced by Ajay Devgn. Bollywood says all the best". India Today. 15 September 2019. Archived from the original on 18 September 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
- ^ a b "The Big Bull teaser out: Abhishek Bachchan, Ajay Devgn introduce film as 'mother of all scams.'". India TV News. 13 March 2021. Archived from the original on 20 March 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ "Sanjeev Pandey will be seen in Abhishek Bachchan's next The Big Bull". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
- ^ "Abhishek Bachchan starts filming for Ajay Devgn's production 'The Big Bull' - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 6 February 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
- ^ "Abhishek Bachchan starts shooting for The Big Bull, film produced by Ajay Devgn". Firstpost. 16 September 2019. Archived from the original on 11 January 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
- ^ "Abhishek Bachchan kickstarts The Big Bull, produced by Ajay Devgn. Bollywood says all the best". India Today. 17 September 2019. Archived from the original on 18 September 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
- ^ "The Big Bull – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". Jio Saavn. 26 March 2021. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
- ^ Suri, Rishabh (2 April 2021). "CarryMinati on shooting for MayDay in pandemic: I never imagined I could be a one take artist". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
- ^ "The Big Bull Review: Abhishek Bachchan-Led Cast Struggles In Baffling Blob Of A Movie". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 8 April 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- ^ Desai, Rahul (8 April 2021). "Big Bull, On DisneyPlus Hotstar, Is A Rushed Portrait Of A Slow-Burning Legacy". Film Companion. Archived from the original on 8 April 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- ^ Kanyal, Jyoti (8 April 2021). "The Big Bull Movie Review. Abhishek Bachchan film adds Bollywood to Harshad Mehta story". India Today. Archived from the original on 8 April 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- ^ Kotecha, Ronak. "The Big Bull Movie Review: Don't let the stock of your expectations rise too high". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021.