Agent Vinod - starring Saif, Kareena, directed by Sriram Raghavan

[encore]

Pakistan has banned the film.

Saif-Kareena spy flick Agent Vinod banned across Pakistan
KARACHI: Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor starrer spy flick Agent Vinod has been banned in Pakistan, reportedly for having various references to Pakistani spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), NDTV reported on Tuesday.
The Pakistani censor board has rejected its clearance deeming the film could hurt sentiments in Pakistan.
Ticket sales have been stopped and hoardings have been taken off across cinemas in Karachi, where the screening of the film was expected.
....

http://tribune.com.pk/story/352565/saif-kareena-spy-flick-agent-vinod-banned-across-pakistan/

[desigal90]

I was afraid of that. 
But its ok...I suppose some people might get offended if they're gonna show some negative elements in the country, though I do think that the government should let people decide if they are offended or not. Pakistanis also watched Khuda Ke Liye and took it rather well, didnt they? And that film showed terorrism in Pakistan.

Anyway, on a brighter note,
Saif & Bebo's first public appearance together and they both are a delight with their sense of humor.
Always knew Saif's wit was his strenght, but even Kareena seems ot have picked up a few things, and was pulling his leg at 1:49 into the video, lol!

http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/saif-kareenas-first-public-appearance-to-promote-i-agent-vinod-i/226927

[vivster]

For all the Saif fans out there.  Saif is coming on for a live chat at 4pm Mumbai time.  check in and chat with him !

http://www.facebook.com/followagentvinod/app_142371818162

[vivster]

The making of Agent Vinod

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiXWYm5qXv4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H__qgE72jMg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjLvGLgGoIA

[desigal90]

HOLY SHIT!
If my ears completely have no deceieved me, is Saif talking to you VIVSTER?
He says your name in the video!
 
http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/slideshow/type/view/id/1078

That's so kickass!

[Malik_Bhai]

Actor-producer Saif Ali Khan isn't perturbed over Pakistan banning "Agent Vinod", saying that very little revenue would be lost by the restriction imposed on his home production, which is releasing Friday.

"We have lost some revenue, just around Rs.1 crore. They are always banning our movies. 'Kurbaan' was also banned," Saif told IANS adding that "We also shot in Pakistan without their permission."

" 'Agent Vinod' is for Indians but it is not against Pakistanis," said Saif and added with a smile: "But I understand if they get upset because we are beating them up quite often in the film."

Directed by Sriram Raghavan, "Agent Vinod" has Saif in the title role and Kareena Kapoor as the female lead.

Talking about characterization of Pakistanis in "Agent Vinod", he said: "We have shown the Pakistani Army involved with the Taliban and Afghanistan. We have shown them assassinating their own ISI chief. We have shown them encouraging terrorist activities in India and financing the LET. If you feel this is unreasonable or not true, then it is fair enough."

"I think it is all quite true. May be they didn't like that but they do know," he added.

Once a prolific moviemaking country, Pakistan had 1,300 cinema halls in the 1970s with an average annual production of around 300 movies. But by 2005, the country had only 270 cinema halls and made about 18 movies a year. The rest of the movie halls have been converted into gas stations, shopping malls or car showrooms.

In 2010, just eight Pakistani movies were produced.

Movie buffs in Pakistan had a hearty appetite for Bollywood movies, but they had to watch pirated copies of Hindi films as the release of Indian films had been banned in Pakistan.

In 2008, the Pakistan government lifted the ban on Indian films and that has given a much-needed boost to the cinema business.

http://pinkvilla.com/newstags/saif-ali-khan/207500/pakistan-ban-wont-affect-agent-vinod-revenues-saif

What do u have to say to this? Personally i find it very insulting to all his Pakistani fans.. Im Pakistani my self and do not feel like watching his movie now..

[encore]

What do u have to say to this? Personally i find it very insulting to all his Pakistani fans.. Im Pakistani my self and do not feel like watching his movie now..

Elements of the Pakistani establishment are shown as the bad guys which is not the same as the film being anti-Pakistan. I think you should watch the film and let us know if you still feel insulted.  I really would like to find out from a member of this forum since much of the chatter out there is short on facts and loaded with nationalism.

[Darshana]

I havn'et read this whole thread - has anyone mentioned or discussed the info that there was an old Agent Vinod film?

an online friend wrote me this:

"Agent Vinod - is a remake from a 1977 film by the same name, featuring an actor called Mahendra Sandhu...a tacky film of the first order...an expressionless wonder, that movie was a sleeper hit in 1977 for the Rajashree film studios who till then only made rural family dramas"

[encore]

I havn'et read this whole thread - has anyone mentioned or discussed the info that there was an old Agent Vinod film?

That expressionless wonder is available for viewing on Youtube at no absolutely cost except one's time.

[LinKarish]

Saif's shooting without permission is iffy. But film makers do that all the time.  Danny Boyle also once explained how he got around rules and regulations and shot without permission in India. 

[never_evil]

Thought this may be of interest...

Iranian band says sorry to Pritam

Said a statement issued by the band, "We decided to withdraw the case filed against Pritam for copying a song of Barobax. After the analysis made by experts, we realized that Pritam is right and there is no copying. We understood that we cannot build a good case. We do not want to get into any further legal hassles and so, are withdrawing the case as we know Pritam's lawyer, Henal Vakharia, is an expert in copyright laws. Moreover, there might be criminal charges levelled against us. We sincerely apologize to the composer and withdraw all our allegations."

Reacting to this statement, Henal Vakharia, advocate and solicitor at the Bombay High Court, said, "They decided to withdraw the case after realizing that we had a strong case. This is probably the first time in India, especially in music copyright infringement cases, that the defence was so elaborately set up. In music, what is apparent to a layman, as similar, may be poles apart from a technical perspective."

Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-04-13/news-and-interviews/31337029_1_pritam-kourosh-yaghmai-pungi-song

[mala]

I don't understand... what possible criminal charges could they be talking about?

[Dancelover]

Libel and Slander.

D

I don't understand... what possible criminal charges could they be talking about?

[LinKarish]

I don't think this was posted here. This is old, but I myself hadn't gone to itwofs for some time.  Anyway, Karthik defends Pritam against the Pungi allegations. 

19.March.2012
Considering the last update on ItwoFS happened on December 24, 2011, I do agree that I have mildly lost interest in updating this site. I keep reminding myself to do it, but there's only so much interest I can muster to update older instances of lifts, most of which don't convince me in the first place. But here I am, back, to do the most unlikely thing - supporting a composer known for his plagiaristic ways.

Iranian band Barobax had reportedly sent a legal notice to Pritam and Agent Vinod team for copyright violation. The bone of contention - one that is being discussed in YouTube comments and online discussion forums - is the song 'Pungi'. It is alleged that the song is copied from Barobax's 2010 song, 'Soosan Khanoom'.

Having ripped apart Pritam a LOT, in this site, in the past, I guess it is only fair that I also come out in support of him when an allegation is widly silly and false. In my opinion, the ONLY similarity between Barobax's Soosan Khanoom and Agent Vinod's Pungi is the rythm loop that plays in the background. Tune-wise (or genre-wise) both the songs are similar to other songs like Hawa hawa (by Hassan Jehangir, but owes its origins to the 70s Iranian song 'Havar havar' by Kourosh Yaghmai) and Viju Shah's song from Aar Ya Paar, Tamma ele. There is no base for alleging that Pritam copied Barobax's song since the tunes are completely different and rhythm similarities could be tracked back or explained to commercial loops. A few instruments and a rhythm loop doesn't make a song (with lyrics, like film songs - different case for instrumental songs, anyway) - the tune does.

For once, I believe Pritam is in the clear.

More here
http://www.itwofs.com/