Which films make the best use of color?

 Sin City (2005 film)[1]

Sin City most notably stars Jessica Alba and Bruce Willis. While altogether a good movie (RottenTomatoes rates it 78% in 242 reviews[2]), Sin City is most noted for its unique visual affects, particularly with color. Directed and based on a graphic novel by Frank Miller, Sin City, according to Wikipedia,

"gather[ed] particular recognition for the film's unique color processing, which rendered most of the film in black and white but retained or added coloring for select objects"

Further, they say,

Colorization is used on certain subjects in a scene, such as Devon Aoki's red-and-blue clothing; Alexis Bledel's blue eyes and red blood; Michael Clarke Duncan's golden eye; Rutger Hauer's green eyes; Jaime King's red dress and blonde hair; Clive Owen's red Converse shoes and Cadillac; Mickey Rourke's red blood and orange prescription pill container; Marley Shelton's green eyes, red dress, and red lips; Nick Stahl's yellow face and body; and Elijah Wood's white glasses. Much of the blood in the film also has a striking glow to it. The film was color-corrected digitally and, as in film noir tradition, treated for heightened contrast so as to more clearly separate blacks and whites. This was done not only to give a more film-noir look, but also to make it appear more like the original comic.

Many of its reviews talk about how "visually groundbreaking"[3] the movie was. To me, the use of black and white, touched with mostly red (and sometimes yellow and blue), was particularly visually appealing. Here are some shots from the movie:

Remember, this was in 2005. My vote for best color manipulation in a film.

[1] not to be confused with SimCity (video game)
[2][3] Page on rottentomatoes.com

Are there any successful Bollywood films where lesser-known regional actors were chosen over stars, and how did they perform?

 

Jaane Bhi Do Yaroon (1983) had many debutant actors.

Friends : This hindi was launched by friends from the world of theatre.

It had Satish Shah ; Ravi Baswani ; Satish Kaushik ; Bhakti Barve ; Om Puri, Naseeruddin Shah.

These theatre actors (IPTA ; Gujarati ; Marathi ) conceptualized movie.

Funds : This movie was produced in a shoe string budget.

Thus, actors also doubled up as production assistants (make up ; camera men; catering etc.)

Beings theatre actors and FTII and NSD alumni ; they promoted on their own.

Film : This dark comedy had a slow start. Few film journals acknowledged it.

But, it became a classic movie within few months.

Facts : Majority of these actors were paid nominally.

Majority of these actors went on to be known film stars in coming years.

Pic Credits : Google Images / Web

Are there any successful Bollywood films where lesser-known regional actors were chosen over stars, and how did they perform?

 In 1974, a documentary filmmaker Shyam Benegal made his debut as a movie director with the film Ankur.

He selected actors either from theatre or regional cinema. So we had an Odia film actor Sadhu Meher, Kannada film actor Anant Nag, Marathi Priya Tendulkar, daughter of famous Marathi playright Vijay Tendulkar and a new actress Shabana Azmi, daughter of celebrated Urdu poet Kaifi Azmi, Shabana had until then had done some small appearances in flop films. The film was made on a shoestring budget of 3 lakhs and was an art house cinema sans the commercial elements but the raw performances of the actors and the brilliant cinematography of the film made the film quite watchable.

The film released without any expectations but became one of the biggest hits of the art house genre earning close to a crore rupees. Shyam Benegal became an established filmmaker, Shabana Azmi won the National Film award for Best Actress (and will go on to win 4 more and become one of the greatest actresses of Indian cinema). Anant Nag did many films in Hindi as well ad Kannada and was a star in Kannada cinema and did great films in Hindi parallel cinema as well including Gehrayee, Manthan, Kalyug etc. Sadhu Meher who played Shabana Azmi’s mute husband, won the National award for Best Actor making it the second occassion in Indian cinema (after Dastak in 1970) when both the Best Actor and Actress National award came from the same film.

Alas, Sadhu Meher didn't had a lasting career in Hindi cinema and not many people know him by name or face and he remained largely restricted to Odia cinema despite giving a wonderful performance. He has worked in many award winning movies and was recognised with a Padma Shri but he didn't get great work or recognition in mainstream Indian cinema.

Priya Tendulkar got her share of recognition much later with the TV show Rajini in the 1980’s. She did worked in many films and TV shows but Rajini gave her lasting fame.

Very few people know that this was also the debut film of Dilip Tahil who has a blink and miss role in the film. Dilip Tahil became popular only after Buniyad TV show in 1986.

Which actors have seriously regretted turning down roles in iconic Hollywood films?

 When an actor reaches a point in their career where they have the opportunity to choose between several job offers, they run the risk of turning down the next big project.

Here are a few examples:

Leonardo DiCaprio was offered the role of Ennis Del Mar in "Brokeback Mountain," but thankfully he turned it down. As we now know, Heath Ledger got the part and was later nominated for an Oscar for his performance. Can you imagine "Brokeback" without Ledger?

That one must sting. Gwyneth Paltrow turned down the role of Rose in "Titanic" and never revealed her reasons. I can understand her. Then Kate Winslet came along and formed one of the most iconic on-screen duos in cinematic history with Leonardo DiCaprio. The film became a massive hit and garnered 11 of their 14 Oscar nominations. I'm glad Leo didn't turn down that film too...

Matt Damon had to turn down the lead role in "Avatar" because he was still filming the Bourne movies. Damon stated that he really wanted to play Jake Sully in Avatar but it was impossible due to scheduling conflicts. Avatar went on to become one of the highest-grossing films of all time.

What are the most remarkable debut Indian films?

1. Abhishek Bacchan - Refugee (2000)

2. Vivek Oberoi - Company (2002)

3. Shahrukh Khan - Deewana ( 1992 )

4. Kangana Ranaut - Gangster ( 2006 )

5. Aishwarya Rai - Iruvar 1997

6. Ranveer Singh - Band Bajaa baraat (2010 )

7. Sushant Singh Rajput - Kai Po che ( 2013 )

8. Siddhant Chaturvedi - Gully Boy ( 2019 )

9. Geetika vidya ohlyan and Saloni Batra - Soni 2018

10. Vishal Jethwa - Mardaani 2 ( 2019 )

The ranking are in no particular order, and is true to my knowledge !

Also I am a late 90’s kid so obviously many great debut’s before 90’s may not have been included in the list ! 

What is the record for the most films an actress has done in a single year?

 Reena Roy had 13 releases in 1982 one of the highest numbers of releases for a Bollywood Actress. 8 out of these 13 films were either successful or average grossers even though hardly any of them was a major blockbuster but she and Jeetendra worked in many successful films and she also launched her debut production film that year “Sanam Teri Kasam” which was also a moderate success. These 13 films include-

Main Inteqam Loonga - Indian version of Rocky with Dharam ji playing a boxer- average

Lakshmi- Flop

Kacche Heere- Flop

Dard ka Rishta- Sunil Dutt made this film as a tribute to Nargis Dutt who passed away and year ago due to c**cer and he made this film to spread awareness on the disease. Famous South Indian actress Khushboo Sundar, who was then a child artist played the daughter of Sunil Dutt suffering from the disease. The profits from this film went to medical research institutions- Critically acclaimed and moderately successful

Baghavat- costume drama with an ensemble cast of Dharamji, Hema, Jeetendra and Reena Roy. One of the last hits of Ramanand Sagar before he turned to television

Dharam Kaanta- One of the rare multi starrer films of Rajesh Khanna and another Dacoity movie by the Daku movie expert Sultan Ahmed (this man only made Dacoit movies all through his career from Heera, Ganga Ki Saugandh, Dharam Kanta, Daata and Jai Vikranta). Again Jeetendra and Reena Roy together. The film was above average success.

Badle ki Aag- The film was discussed in the parliament not because it was good but because it showed k**ling of children which was criticised by the leaders. Film had a huge cast made by the multi starrer expert Rajkumar Kohli. Film had Jeetendra, Reena Roy, Sunil Dutt, Dharmendra and Smita Patil. The film did average business.

Hathkadi- This film did good business because of one popular song- Disco Station. The film had Sanjeev Kumar, Shatrughan Sinha, Reena Roy, Ranjeeta and Rakesh Roshan in its cast. The film was a Semi Hit.

Jeo aur Jeene Do- Again Jeetendra and Reena Roy and the film was a major hit. Jeetendra was impressed by director Shyam Ralhan. At the same time he was producing a really expensive film Deedar e Yaar but he was not at all happy with the final cut of H S Rawail. So he brought a masala film director Shyam Ralhan to reshoot some scenes of Deedar e Yaar to salvage the film. Eventually Deedar e Yaar became one of the biggest disasters of Indian cinema wiping out all the life savings of Jeetendra and forcing him to go south to work in South remakes which resurrected his career. Reena Roy did a cameo as Qawwali Singer in Deedar E Yaar (so this was her 14th appearance)

Insan- A much delayed film starring Jeetendra, Reena Roy and Vinod Khanna. Due to Vinod Khanna doing to USA the film was years in making and therefore despite the hitpair of Jeetendra and Reena Roy this film didn't do well.

Do Ustaad- One of the last films of Shatrughan Sinha and Reena Roy (along with Hathkadi the same year) but the film failed at the box office.

Sanam Teri Kasam - produced by Barkha Roy, sister of Reena Roy, the film had Kamal Haasan (after the blockbuster success of Ek Duje ke Liye) alongside Reena Roy. The film was moderate success, with much credit to its music which gave RD Burman his first Filmfare Award for Best Music Director.

Bezubaan- Reena Roy’s best film and best performance of the year was Bezuban directed by popular South Indian director Bapu. The film had Reena Roy, Shashi Kapoor and Naseeruddin Shah in a rare negative role. Naseeruddin Shah has given a remarkable performance in the film and Reena Roy has played her role very well. Unfortunately the film didn't do very well.

What lessons can Shah Rukh Khan learn from films like "Piku" and "Stree" to achieve commercial and critical success?

 He has his calibre and potential which he has proved by acting in more than hundred movies.He is still working as lead actor or hero in movies.Shahrukh debuted in Bollywood in Deewana (199 2) and his upcoming movie is King whi ch is scheduled to release on 24th Dec ember,2024.