Ek Paheli Leela

Ek Paheli Leela

Theatrical release poster
एक पहेली लीला
Directed by Bobby Khan
Produced by
Written by Bunty Rathore
(Dialogues)
Screenplay by Jojo Khan
Story by Bobby Khan
Starring
Music by Songs:
Meet Bros Anjjan
Amaal Mallik
Dr. Zeus
Tony Kakkar
Uzair Jaswal
Background Score:
Mannan Munjal
Cinematography Bashalal Syed
Edited by Nitin FCP
Production
company
Paper Doll Entertainment
Distributed by T-Series
Release dates
  • 10 April 2015 (2015-04-10)
Running time
 144 minutes[1]
Country India
Language Hindi
Rajasthani
Budget ₹15 crore (US$2.2 million)[2]
Box office est.₹27.47 crore (US$4.1 million)[3]

Ek Paheli Leela (Hindi: एक पहेली लीला, translation: Leela: A Mystery) is a 2015 Indian thriller drama film, written and directed by Bobby Khan and produced by Bhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar. It stars Sunny Leone in the titular lead role with Jay Bhanushali, Rajneesh Duggal, Jas Arora, Mohit Ahlawat and Rahul Dev in pivotal roles. Choreography is done by Ahmed Khan and Jojo Khan. The music for the film is composed by Meet Bros Anjjan and Amaal Mallik. T-Series has acquired the music rights of the film. Principal photography of the film began in Jodhpur, India.[4]

The film is a reincarnation story which is set 300 years back, and revolves around the story of Leela (Sunny Leone) and her lover. Their love story remains incomplete as they are murdered. The film portrays how their story completes when they both are reincarnated in present time.[5]

The trailer of the film was released on 6 February 2015 and became YouTube's most viewed Bollywood movie trailer in the first quarter of 2015.[6] The film received mixed reviews from the critics upon release and was a commercial success.[7][8]

Plot

The movie starts with Karan (Jay Bhanushali) moving to a new house in Mumbai along with his friends. Karan is a singer and musician who often helps his sister Radhika with music for her fashion shows. Radhika (Shivani Tanksale), is a fashion photographer who wants to get Meera (Sunny Leone) for her shows with the help of her friend Andy (VJ Andy). They both discover that Meera is afraid of travelling in an aeroplane, but take her to India through aeroplane by making her drink. Meera discovers the truth and gets angry. Meanwhile, her mood changes as she sees rajasthani girls playing a traditional game and starts to play with them.

Meanwhile in Bombay, Karan has persistent dreams of someone whipping him. In an attempt to figure why, his friend takes him to a Pandit (Nadi-Shakti Scholar) who tells him that his pain is rooted in his past life.

While in India, Meera meets Ranveer Singh (Mohit Ahlawat), a Rajput prince, in Rajasthan. The two eventually fall in love and get married. Ranveer is in middle of a property dispute with his cousin Bikram Singh (Jas Arora).

Karan travels through his past and figures out that he was Shravan (Rajneesh Duggal), 300 years ago. He was in love with a girl named Leela (also played by Sunny Leone) but his master, an artist, Bhairao (Rahul Dev) adopts her as his muse. Bhairao makes a statue of Leela and discovers that Leela is in love with Shravan. In a fit of rage, Bhairao kills both Shravan and Leela.

Karan goes to Bhairao Virajana (a place of dispute between Ranveer and Bikram). Karan tries to remind Meera about their past but Meera does not believe him. Karan plays a song "Tere Bin" that takes Meera back into their past and she recollects her past life.

Meera and Karan get kidnapped by Bikram who is looking for a statue that Bhairao made. The current market value of the statue is 10 billion and Bikram wants to keep the money for himself. Karan reveals that the statue was hidden behind a wall. When Bikram gets to the statue, he is killed by Ranveer.

It turns out Karan was wrong all along. He was actually the reincarnation of Bhairao and not of Shravan (who got reincarnated in Ranveer). Karan tries to redeem his ills by committing suicide but Meera and Ranveer don't let him. Karan's album "Tere Bin" gets him fame. Meera and Ranveer unite.

Cast

Production

The film is produced by Bhushan Kumar's company T-Series and Ahmed Khan's own production company Paperdoll Entertainment.

Development

Sunny Leone with director and producers of the film at the trailer launch.

Bobby Khan stated that Sunny Leone was the only actress suitable for the roles .[9] He also stated that big actors refused to do the film because of Leone.[10] Actor Mohit Ahlawat returned to films after four years.[11] Leone's husband Daniel Weber also had a cameo appearance in the film as flight attendant. As the film revisits two very different eras, the attire worn by Leone was also carefully designed. Leone's personal stylist Hitesh Kapopara who has also designed costumes for Leone for her previous films went for shopping in the local markets of London and Rajasthan for traditional accessories.[12]

Filming

Leone at promotions of the film in Mumbai

The film was shooted at various location including Mumbai, London and Rajasthan. In Rajasthan, it was filmed at remote interiors and villages. At Jodhpur, the sand dunes were also included in the shoot along with the villagers for a song sequence.[13] A village was also created on the desert to commence the filming. The Khimsar Fort in Nagaur, Laxmi Niwas Palace of Bikaner were also included into the shots and were used as royal palace in the film. Reportedly, Sunny got skin infection on the sets as she has to shoot in the scorching heat and had rashes over the body.[14] Leone also learnt Rajasthani dialect for the film. She attended workshops for the song "Dhol Baaje" and learnt classical dance steps from the veteran choreographer Saroj Khan.[15] As per reports, she also had to bath with 100 litres of milk for a scene in the film.[16]

Soundtrack

Ek Paheli Leela
Soundtrack album to Ek Paheli Leela by
Released 10 March 2015
Genre Feature Film Soundtrack
Length 39:54
Label T-Series
Singles from Ek Paheli Leela
  1. "Desi Look"
    Released: 20 February 2015
  2. "Tere Bin Nahi Laage (Male)"
    Released: 27 February 2015
  3. "Saiyaan Superstar"
    Released: 5 March 2015
  4. "Glamorous Ankhiyaan (MBA Swag)"
    Released: 20 March 2015

The music for the film is composed by Dr. Zeus, Amaal Mallik, Meet Bros Anjjan, Tony Kakkar and Uzair Jaswal with lyrics penned by Kumaar, Manoj Muntashir and Tony Kakkar. The background score is composed by Mannan Munjal. The soundtrack comprises 9 songs.[17] Ensemble singers like Tulsi Kumar, Arijit Singh, Kanika Kapoor, Monali Thakur, Meet Bros Anjjan, Mohit Chauhan, Neha Kakkar and Pakistani singer Uzair Jaswal have lent their voices for the film.[18] The first song titled "Desi Look" was released as single on 19 February 2015.[19][20] The full soundtrack album was released on 10 March 2015.[21]

No. TitleLyricsMusicSinger(s) Length
1. "Desi Look"  KumaarDr. ZeusKanika Kapoor 3:27
2. "Tere Bin Nahi Laage (Male Version)
(Recreation of Original Version)"  		KumaarUzair Jaswal
(Recreated by Amaal Mallik)		Uzair Jaswal 3:41
3. "Saiyaan Superstar"  KumaarAmaal MallikTulsi Kumar 4:10
4. "Khuda Bhi"  Manoj MuntashirTony KakkarMohit Chauhan 5:03
5. "Glamorous Ankhiyaan"  KumaarMeet Bros AnjjanMeet Bros Anjjan, Krishna Beura 4:54
6. "Main Hoon Deewana Tera
(Recreation of Sonu Nigam's 1999 song)"  		KumaarMeet Bros Anjjan
(Recreated)		Arijit Singh 5:24
7. "Dhol Baaje
(Recreation of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam's song)"  		KumaarMeet Bros Anjjan
(Recreated)		Meet Bros Anjjan, Monali Thakur 5:37
8. "Tere Bin Nahi Laage (Female Version)"  KumaarUzair Jaswal
(Recreated by Amaal Mallik)		Tulsi Kumar, Alam Khan, Aishwarya Majmudar 4:31
9. "Ek Do Teen Chaar"  Tony KakkarTony KakkarNeha Kakkar, Tony Kakkar 3:13
Total length:
 39:54

Critical response

The soundtrack of Ek Paheli Leela received generally positive review from the music critics. Critic Rajiv Vijayakar from Bollywood Hungama gave the album a rating of 3 stars out of 5 and felt, "Some tracks will help the film, some will be helped by the film, but the rest are largely fillers. With four of the nine tracks being re-creations, the score gets a fillip in theory.[22] " Kasmin Fernandes of The Times Of India gave a rating of 4 and commented, "The originals stand out more than adaptations here."[23] Joginder Tuteja of Rediff gave three stars, and commented, "The music of Ek Paheli Leela has a good mix of party and romantic numbers. It's the original numbers in the soundtrack that do better than the adapted versions. Play this one when you want some variety; it has a good mix of party and romantic numbers."[24] BizAsia gave a rating of 7.5 out of 10 to the album summarizing it as, "This album has the elements for an all-round entertainer designed and composed for the masses around the world using the best hit making formulas in the current industry... including recreating old hits."[25] Glamsham awarded the album 3.5 stars out of 5 and stated, "Summing up, the audio of T-Series' Ek Paheli Leela meets the expectations with some potential chart toppers like 'Desi Look', 'Tere Bin Nahi Laage' and 'Saiyyan Superstar'. The 'getting popular' audio should aid the cause of this musical love saga, when Ek Paheli Leela releases all over this April."[26] Radioandmusic.com called the album "a mixed one".[27] Surabhi Redkar from Koimoi gave 2 stars and felt, "The music album of Ek Paheli Leela is not exactly a hit one. It has only certain songs that are worth listening" while picking "Tere Bin (Male)", "Khuda Bhi" and "Ek Do Teen as the best ones.[28]

Ek Paheli Leela Remix
Remix album to Ek Paheli Leela Remix by DJ Chetas
Released 26 March 2015
Genre Remix album
Length 26:51
Label T-Series

A remix album was made by DJ Chetas and was released on T-Series YouTube on 26 March 2015.[29]

No. TitleLyricsMusicSinger(s) Length
1. "Glamorous Ankhiyaan (MBA Swag)"  KumaarDJ ChetasMeet Bros Anjjan, Krishna Beura 4:56
2. "Main Hoon Deewana Tera (MBA Swag)"  KumaarDJ ChetasArijit Singh 3:39
3. "Desi Look (Remix)"  KumaarDJ ChetasKanika Kapoor 4:02
4. "Saiyaan Superstar (Remix)"  KumaarDJ ChetasTulsi Kumar 3:22
5. "Tere Bin Nahi Laage Remix (Male Version)"  KumaarDJ ChetasUzair Jaswal 3:21
6. "Khuda Bhi (Remix)"  Manoj MuntashirDJ ChetasMohit Chauhan 4:38
7. "Ek Do Teen Chaar (Remix)"  Tony KakkarDJ ChetasNeha Kakkar, Tony Kakkar 2:53
Total length:
 26:51

Reception

Ek Paheli Leela got an 'A' certificate which the producers were expecting, from Central Board of Film Certification with 5 cuts on 4 April 2015. The film was recertified and was given an U/A certificate for TV and video viewing.[30]

Box office

The film was released on 10 April 2015 with estimated occupancy of 20%[31] with greater occupancy in single screens than multiplexes.[32] On its opening day it collected ₹53.0 million (US$790,000) beating the opening day collections of films like NH10, Shamitabh and Detective Byomkesh Bakshy.[33] On its second day, it collected around ₹52.0 million (US$770,000) taking its total to ₹105 million (US$1.6 million).[34] The film showed further growth on its third day as it collected ₹53.5 million (US$800,000) nett to take its first weekend total to around ₹160 million (US$2.4 million) nett.[35]
Till its second weekend, it managed to collect ₹243 million (US$3.6 million) nett.[36] At the end of its theatrical run, Ek Paheli Leela grossed around ₹275 million (US$4.1 million) nett.

Critical reception

The Times of India gave the film 3 stars out of 5 and described the film as "colourful, crisp and convivial".[37]Bollywood Hungama gave the film 3.5 stars out of 5 and praised the film's cinematography, direction, screenplay and stated, "On the whole, Ek Paheli Leela is worth watching, purely because of Sunny Leone and the way she has been presented... like never before!!!"[38] DNA India gave the film 2 stars and applauded Sunny's transfromation of two characters and film's music while stating that, "Sunny Leone fans will be in for a royal treat. If Sunny Leone gets your temperature rising then Leela won't disappoint.[39]The New Indian Express gave the film three and a half stars praising film's narration and stated, "Stunningly mounted and sumptuously narrated, "Ek Paheli Leela" is a feast for the senses. Basha Lal's camera caresses Ms Leone's assets and the sand dunes of Jaisalmer with equal affection. It may not be revolutionary in concept or path-breaking in execution. But make no mistake. "Ek Paheli Leela" is the surprise of the year.[40]
Mid Day called it "semi-porn rubbish",[41] while IBNLive gave it 1.5 stars stating that the dialog was full of crude sexual jokes and that it was "soft porn" emphasising the short skirts of the women and the physique of the men.[42] The Hindustan Times said the film had a " ludicrous script" and "wooden" acting.[43] India Today praised the cinematography and Leone's dancing.[44] Mumbai Mirror called it " an insincere, lavish and titillating compilation of every item song ever made."[45] Rediff stated although the film was poorly written and had many flaws in its execution, it succeeded at its purpose of being a one-woman show to highlight Leone.[46] Indian Express gave the film zero stars stating "all this film wants to do is to exploit its leading lady's awe-inspiring stack... From as many angles as possible, the closer the better".[47] NDTV called it a "vapid yarn about love, desire and obsession unfolds against good-looking backgrounds".[48]

References

  1. ↑ "EK PAHELI LEELA (A)". Central Board of Film Certification. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  2. ↑ Box Office Predictions: Ek Paheli Leela, Dharam Sankat Mein. Koimoi.com (9 April 2015). Retrieved on 2015-07-14.
  3. ↑ "Lifetime Business & Economics of EK PAHELI LEELA". Box Office Capsule. 29 April 2015.
  4. ↑ Sunny Leone to play princess in Leela. BollywoodHungama.com (13 June 2014). Retrieved on 2015-07-14.
  5. ↑ Geety Sahgal (20 February 2016). "Sunny Leone's Ek Paheli Leela is a reincarnation story". The Indian Express.
  6. ↑ "Sunny's 'Ek Paheli Leela' trailer most viewed on YouTube". The Times of India. 10 April 2015.
  7. ↑ "Sunny Leone's Ek Paheli Leela: 5 things so absurd you can't miss them"
  8. ↑ "Viewers Bowled over by Sunny Leone's Glamour"
  9. ↑ "Sunny Leone was only choice for Leela: Bobby Khan". The Times of India. 22 March 2015.
  10. ↑ When A-List Actors Refused to Work with Sunny Leone in 'Ek Paheli Leela' for Being Former Adult Star. M.ibtimes.co.in (29 March 2015). Retrieved on 2015-07-14.
  11. ↑ Hiren Kotwani (6 April 2015). "Ek Paheli Leela actor Mohit Ahlawat gets a new lease". The Times of India.
  12. ↑ "Sunny Leone sports various avatars in 'Ek Paheli Leela'". The Times of India. 8 April 2015.
  13. ↑ "'Ek Paheli Leela' is shot at iconic locations of Rajasthan". The Indian Express. 26 March 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  14. ↑ "Sunny Leone gets skin infection on the sets of 'Ek Paheli Leela'". The Indian Express. 17 March 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  15. ↑ "Saroj Khan takes a special workshop for Sunny Leone in Leela". Bollywood Hungama. 12 January 2015.
  16. ↑ Kaushal, Ruchi (9 April 2015). "Sunny Leone'€™s Ek Paheli Leela: Interesting facts". The Times of India.
  17. ↑ Coutinho, Natasha (4 February 2015) Fifty shades of Sunny Leone. asianage.com
  18. ↑ Ek Paheli Leela 2015 Movie News, Wallpapers, Songs & Videos. Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved on 14 July 2015.
  19. ↑ "Ek Paheli Leela song Desi Look: Sunny Leone scorching hot number is addictive!". Bollywood Life. 19 February 2015.
  20. ↑ "Desi Look (From "Ek Paheli Leela") - Single by Dr. Zeus & Kanika Kapoor on iTunes". iTunes Store. 20 February 2015.
  21. ↑ "Ek Paheli Leela (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Dr. Zeus, Uzair Jaswal, Amaal Mallik, Tony Kakkar & Meet Bros Anjjan on iTunes". iTunes Store. 10 March 2015.
  22. ↑ http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/musiccriticreview/id/743590
  23. ↑ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/music/music-reviews/Ek-Paheli-Leela/articleshow/46701091.cms
  24. ↑ http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/review-ek-paheli-leelas-music-is-worth-a-listen/20150321.htm
  25. ↑ http://www.media247.co.uk/showbiz/music-review-ek-paheli-leela-2015
  26. ↑ Rafat (26 March 2015). "Ek Paheli Leela music review". Glamsham.com.
  27. ↑ http://www.radioandmusic.com/entertainment/editorial/reviews/ek-paheli-leela-mixed-album-150331#
  28. ↑ Redkar, Surabhi. "Ek Paheli Leela Music Review". Koimoi. Archived from the original on 8 April 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  29. ↑ "Ek Paheli Leela Remix by Various Artists on iTunes". iTunes Store. 26 March 2015.
  30. ↑ Subhash K Jha. "Sunny Leone’s ‘Ek Paheli Leela’ gets ‘breast-censored’". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  31. ↑ Sunny Leone starrer ‘Ek Paheli Leela’ box office collections get off to slow start. The Financial Express (11 April 2015). Retrieved on 2015-07-14.
  32. ↑ Ek Paheli Leela Opens To A Low Occupancy At The Box Office. Koimoi.com (10 April 2015). Retrieved on 2015-07-14.
  33. ↑ Sunny Leone’s 'Ek Paheli Leela' earns around Rs 19 crore nett in 10 days – The Times of India. Timesofindia.indiatimes.com (20 April 2015). Retrieved on 2015-07-14.
  34. ↑ "Ek Paheli Leela trounces NH10, Shamitabh in opening-day collection". India Today. 12 April 2015.
  35. ↑ "Sunny Leone's Ek Paheli Leela earns Rs 16 cr in first three days". India Today. 13 April 2015.
  36. ↑ "Sunny Leone's Ek Paheli Leela box office collections better than expected at Rs 24.28 cr". The Financial Expres. 19 April 2015.
  37. ↑ "Ek Paheli Leela Movie Review". The Times of India. 10 April 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  38. ↑ "Ek Paheli Leela Review". Bollywood Hungama. 10 April 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  39. ↑ Tushar Joshi (11 April 2015). "'Ek Paheli Leela' review: Sunny Leone fans in for a royal treat!". DNA India. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  40. ↑ IANS (10 April 2015). "'Ek Paheli Leela': A Voluptuous Fairy Tale". The New Indian Express.
  41. ↑ Shetty-Saha, Shubha (10 April 2015) 'Ek Paheli Leela' – Movie Review. Mid Day
  42. ↑ 'Ek Paheli Leela' review: It's a dumb film that wears you out – IBNLive. Ibnlive.in.com (11 April 2015). Retrieved on 2015-07-14.
  43. ↑ Ek Paheli Leela review by Anupama Chopra: It's skimpy all around. Hindustantimes.com (11 April 2015). Retrieved on 2015-07-14.
  44. ↑ Ek Paheli Leela review: The real paheli is not Leela's story; it's something else : Reviews, News – India Today. Indiatoday.intoday.in (10 April 2015). Retrieved on 2015-07-14.
  45. ↑ Film review: Ek Paheli Leela. Mumbai Mirror (11 April 2015). Retrieved on 2015-07-14.
  46. ↑ Review: Ek Paheli Leela is Sunny Leone's show. Rediff.com (10 April 2015). Retrieved on 2015-07-14.
  47. ↑ Gupta, Shubhra (11 April 2015) ‘Ek Paheli Leela’ review: All the movie wants to do is exploit Sunny Leone. Indian Express
  48. ↑ Ek Paheli Leela Movie Review – NDTV Movies. Movies.ndtv.com (10 April 2015). Retrieved on 2015-07-14.

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