| No Smoking | |
|---|---|
&sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:No_Smoking_(Poster).jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Anurag Kashyap |
| Screenplay by | Anurag Kashyap |
| Story by | Anurag Kashyap Raj Singh Chaudhary |
| Based on | Quitters, Inc. (1978) by Stephen King |
| Produced by | Kumar Mangat Pathak Vishal Bhardwaj |
| Starring | John Abraham Ayesha Takia Paresh Rawal Ranvir Shorey |
| Cinematography | Rajeev Ravi |
| Edited by | Aarti Bajaj |
| Music by | Songs: Vishal Bhardwaj Background Score: Hitesh Sonik Clinton Cerejo |
Production companies | Big Screen Entertainment Vishal Bhardwaj Films |
| Distributed by | Eros International |
Release date |
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Running time | 127 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
| Budget | ₹23 crore |
| Box office | ₹3 crore[1] |
No Smoking is a 2007 Indian Hindi-language thriller film[2] written and directed by Anurag Kashyap and co-produced by Vishal Bhardwaj and Kumar Mangat. The film stars John Abraham, Ayesha Takia, Ranvir Shorey and Paresh Rawal in the lead roles, while Bipasha Basu appears in an Item number.[3] The film is loosely based upon the 1978 short story "Quitters, Inc." by Stephen King, which was previously adapted as one of three segments featured in Hollywood anthology film, Cat's Eye (1985). It became the second Indian film after Julie Ganapathi and first Hindi-language film to be adapted from a Stephen King's work.[4] The story follows K (Abraham), a self-obsessed, narcissist chain smoker who agrees to kick his habit to save his marriage and visits a rehabilitation centre, but is caught in a labyrinth game by Baba Bengali (Rawal), the man who guarantees he will make him quit.[5][6]
The film released worldwide on 26 October 2007, but was met with a lukewarm response from Indian critics and mixed response from overseas critics.[7][8] The film did not perform well at the box office either, with a box office gross of ₹3 crore (US$360,000) against a production budget of ₹23 crore (US$2.8 million) and was one of the major disasters of the year.[9] According to Kashyap, the film failed because, it was considered much ahead of its time, courtesy of its dark and unusual storyline comprising with elements of surrealism, fantasy, dream, reality,[10] horror and dark humour which left critics and the cinema-goers baffled, this was frowned upon by Indian audiences, as it was unconventional, pretentious and they had never seen anything like it.[11] But in later years, the film received positive reviews and has become a cult film.
No Smoking was nominated at several award ceremonies in 2008, primarily for the technical aspects of the film, including three Filmfare Award nominations. Before a full cinematic release in India, the film was invited to be screened at the Rome Film Festival where it won huge appreciation from the audience and critics alike.[7][12] In 2011, the film was played at several film festivals in India and China, receiving unanimous applause and praise, as well as winning a number of awards.[13]
- ^ Jha, Lata (27 October 2015). "Here are 10 directors who didn't taste success in the first few attempts, but are at the top of the game today". Mint. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ^ "No Smoking". British Board of Film Classification.
- ^ "No Smoking Cast & Crew". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 23 January 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
- ^ "The Inspiration Behind Anurag Kashyap's Films". Rediff.com. 21 June 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
- ^ Manish Gajjar (10 October 2007). "No Smoking". BBC. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
- ^ "No Smoking preview". Apunkachoice. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
- ^ a b "Biased criticism doesn't help: Anurag Kashyap". Hindustan Times. 30 October 2007. Archived from the original on 13 March 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
- ^ "Lashing from critics for 'No Smoking' hurt: Anurag Kashyap". Oneindia.in. 6 January 2008. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
- ^ "Anurag Kashyap's 'No Smoking'". The Times of India. 10 February 2011. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
- ^ Sandipan Dalal (30 November 2007). "Anurag's Saif option". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
- ^ "Critics failed to understand 'No Smoking': Anurag Kashyap". Apunkachoice. 7 January 2008. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
- ^ "No Smoking in Rome". Rediff.com. 25 October 2007. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
- ^ Shree Misra (20 July 2011). "No Smoking wins awards at Indian Film Festival". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2012.