Singh Is Kinng
Starring Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif
Directed by Anees Bazmee
Music by Pritam
Released 8th August 2008
Shot in Australia with a plot similar to Frank Capra’s 1934 release Lady for a Day and a later 1989 release starring Jackie Chan titled Miracles, Singh Is Kinng is a film about a Sikh boy (Happy) who tries to win over the love of his life but is inadvertently given leadership of a Sikh Gang in Australia.
The release of the film was controversial with members of the Sikh community expressing their disapproval over the interpretation of the Punjabi Community. A ban was initially sought stating Punjabi’s were ‘ridiculed’ in the film with the main objection centering on the fact that Kumar’s character sported a trimmed beard, which some orthodox Sikhs found offensive. A 50-minute discussion with the DSGMC authorities, Kumar and producer Vipul Shah led to twelve changes in the motion picture. As a result the DSGMC permitted the release of the film on the 7th of August on 2008; however, the first show of Singh is Kinng in NM Cinema Hall of Amritsar on August 8, 2008 was disrupted with protesting and the vandalism of the hall.
Reviews of the film have been positive. Taran Adarsh, of Indiafm.com stated, “SINGH IS KINNG lives up to the hype and hoopla. Want a joyride without taxing your brains? Board the SINGH IS KINNG wagon.”
Singh Is Kinng had a record opening in India with 95-100% occupancy and a weekend net gross of Rs. 29 crores breaking the previous record of Rs. 22 crores set by Om Shanti Om. The film went on to gross Rs. 43.77 crores in the first week in India alone breaking the record for the highest opening week gross also held by Om Shanti Om at 41 Crores in 2007 with a gross profit of over Rs. 73 crores in it’s first month in India.
Worldwide, Singh Is Kinng has grossed over 2 crores in Pakistan in two weeks, which is a record for any Indian film. In the United States, the film has grossed $1.1 million, approximately $1 million in the UK. Singh Is Kinng has already been declared a blockbuster worldwide and a super-hit in India which is why this makes it the biggest hit of the year so far.
