Partner (2007 film)
Partner is a 2007 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy film directed by David Dhawan and produced by Sohail Khan. The film stars Salman Khan, Govinda, Lara Dutta and Katrina Kaif.
Partner | |
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![]() Poster for Partner | |
Directed by | David Dhawan |
Written by | Screenplay: David Dhawan Yunus Sajawal Sanjay Chhel Dialogues: Sanjay Chhel |
Based on | Hitch by Andy Tennant |
Produced by | Sohail Khan Parag Sanghvi |
Starring | Salman Khan Govinda Lara Dutta Katrina Kaif |
Narrated by | Salman Khan |
Cinematography | Johny Lal |
Edited by | Nitin Rokade |
Music by | Songs: Sajid–Wajid Background Score: Salim-Sulaiman |
Production companies | K Sera Sera Private Limited Sohail Khan Productions |
Distributed by | Eros International |
Release date |
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Running time | 143 minutes |
Country | India |
Language | Hindi |
Budget | ₹28 crore[1] |
Box office | ₹145.91 crore[1] |
The story of Partner was inspired by the 2005 American film Hitch.[2] The film revolves around a love guru, who gives wooing advice and ideas to his client for the latter's ladylove, and also himself falls in love with a widowed mother. Partner was released in worldwide cinemas on 20 July 2007. It received a highly positive response, with particular praise for its comedy scenes and Govinda's performance. A critical and commercial blockbuster, Partner collected ₹103 crore (US$13 million) worldwide and was one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films of 2007.
Dhawan has expressed interest in creating a sequel to the film, but as of 2022 no script had been finalized and news outlets have reported that the film has been shelved entirely.[3][4]
Plot
Prem is a Love Guru who solves the love issues of his clients. Bhaskar Diwakar Chaudhary comes to Prem for help. Bhaskar loves his boss, Priya Jaisingh, but is unable to express it as she is the daughter of a wealthy businessman. Prem initially refuses to help Bhaskar and goes to Phuket, Thailand. Bhaskar follows him and convinces him to help.
After returning from Thailand, Prem meets Naina, a photojournalist fleeing from Chhota Don, who mimics Shahrukh Khan in Don. Prem saves her and falls in love with her. Meanwhile, he starts teaching Bhaskar how to impress Priya. But rather than Prem's tactics, Bhaskar's own simplicity and nonsense endears him to Priya, who falls in love with him. Prem learns that Naina has a son named Rohan from her previous marriage, and to impress her, takes care of him.
Bhaskar reveals to Prem that Priya will marry someone according to her father's will. The two attend Priya's wedding ceremony with Rohan, who convinces his mother to marry Prem while Priya's father is convinced by Bhaskar. Priya prepares to marry Bhaskar.
Meanwhile, a spoilt brat named Neil Bakshi asks Prem to convince a girl to have a one-night stand. Prem angrily tells him that he does not help people with bad intentions. Neil manages to get his one-night stand anyway and ditches the girl, telling her the love guru gave him the advice to do so. The girl turns out to be Naina's friend Nikki. Naina finds out the Love Guru is Prem. She hates Prem and publishes a front-page article exposing him and using Priya-Bhaskar's relationship as an example. Bhaskar is fired from his job as a result.
Prem tells Priya what really happened. Priya realizes that all the things she liked about Bhaskar are what Prem wanted Bhaskar to hide from her and is ready to take Bhaskar back. Prem makes up with Naina by making her hear the truth about him not helping Neil. The two happily marry their partners.
Cast
- Salman Khan as Prem Kulkarni a.k.a. Love Guru, a love master who advises those needing help to start a relationship. He is equivalent to Alex “Hitch” Hitchens portrayed by Will Smith
- Govinda as Bhaskar Diwakar Chaudhary, a nerdy man who has a crush on his boss Priya Jaisingh. He asks Prem for his help in trying to fall in love with her. He is equivalent to Albert Brennaman who is portrayed by Kevin James
- Lara Dutta as Naina Sahani, a photo journalist who Prem falls in love with. She is equivalent to Sara Melas, who is portrayed by Eva Mendes
- Katrina Kaif as Priya R. Jaisingh, Bhaskar’s boss and love interest. She is equivalent to Allegra Cole who is portrayed by Amber Valletta
- Tiku Talsania as Naina's boss
- Ali Haji as Rohan Sahani, Naina's son from her previous marriage
- Dalip Tahil as Raj Jaisingh, a wealthy businessman who is also Priya's father and also approves of Bhaskar's relationship with her
- Aarti Chabria as Nikki, Naina's colleague
- Rajat Bedi as Neil Bakshi, a spoiled brat who tries to get Prem to help him set up a one-night-stand with Nikki but is rejected by him. He is equivalent to Vance Munson, portrayed by Jeffrey Donovan.
- Suresh Menon as Kiran
- Deepshikha Nagpal as Pramita "Pammi" Kulkarni Purohit, Prem's sister
- Ali Asgar as Naina's colleague
- Atul Parchure as Rana's Assistant
- Vindu Dara Singh as Chadha
- Razak Khan as John Uncle
- Puneet Issar as Rana
- Shashi Kiran as a Newspaper Stall Owner
- Dheirya Sorecha as Pammi's son
- Chinky Jaiswal as Pammi's daughter
- Sohail Khan in a photographic appearance as Dr. Sameer Purohit, Pammi's husband
- Jason Shah as Priya's fiancé
- Rajpal Yadav as Chhota Don
- Kavish Majmudar
Soundtrack
Partner | ||||
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Soundtrack album by | ||||
Released | 12 June 2007 | |||
Genre | Feature film soundtrack | |||
Label | T-Series | |||
Producer | Sajid–Wajid | |||
Sajid–Wajid chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Planet Bollywood | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Bollywood Hungama | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The music was composed by Sajid–Wajid. The soundtrack entered the top five on 23 July 2007.[7] According to the Indian trade website Box Office India, with around 18,00,000 units sold, this film's soundtrack album was the year's third highest-selling.[8]
Track list
# | Song | Singer(s) | Picturised on | Length |
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1 | "Do You Wanna Partner" | Udit Narayan, Shaan, Wajid, Suzanne D'Mello, Clinton Cerejo | Salman Khan & Govinda | 04:30 |
2 | "You’re My Love" | Shaan, Shweta Pandit, Suzanne D'Mello, Earl D’Souza, Aastha Gill | Govinda, Katrina Kaif, Salman Khan & Lara Dutta | 04:35 |
3 | "Dupatta Tera Nau Rang Da" | Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghoshal, Kunal Ganjawala, Suzanne D'Mello | Govinda, Katrina Kaif, Lara Dutta & Salman Khan | 05:00 |
4 | "Soni De Nakhre" | Labh Janjua, Sneha Pant, Wajid | Govinda, Katrina Kaif & Salman Khan | 04:17 |
5 | "Maria Maria" | Wajid, Sonu Nigam, Shakib, Sunidhi Chauhan, Naresh Iyer | Salman Khan & Lara Dutta | 04:36 |
6 | "You’re My Love" (Remix) | Shaan, Shweta Pandit, Suzanne D'Mello, Earl D’Souza, Aastha Gill | Excluded in film | 04:27 |
7 | "Do You Wanna Partner" (Remix) | Udit Narayan, Shaan, Wajid, Suzanne D'Mello, Clinton Cerejo | Excluded in film | 03:58 |
Reception
Box office
Box Office India declared the film a "Blockbuster" and was the second biggest domestic opener at that time. It grossed Rs. 1.03 billion in India[9] and $4.19 million overseas.[10]
Accolades
2008 Zee Cine Awards
- Nominated: Best Film - Sohail Khan
- Nominated: Best Director - David Dhawan
- Nominated: Best Actor - Salman Khan
- Won: Best Comedian Actor - Govinda
Legal issues
Copyright Infringement Lawsuit
Sony Pictures, owners of the film Hitch, contemplated a $30-million suit against both the Indian producers for copyright infringements.[11] It would have been the second time after Begunah an international film company took legal action against an Indian entertainment company for plagiarism. Partner was eventually released, with Sony acquiring the world exclusive satellite broadcasting rights.[12] The film had a television premiere on Sony Max in late October 2007.
A decade later April 2018, Partner was acquired by Zee Entertainment Enterprises as part of its programming and branding overhaul.
References
- "Partner – Movie". Box Office India.
- "'Partner' inspired from 'Hitch'". 8 July 2007. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012.
- "Script not ready, but Partner 2 is still alive!". Hindustan Times. 21 April 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
- "Salman Khan, Govinda's 'Partner 2' shelved". Bollywood Life. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
- "Partner Music Review". Archived from the original on 18 January 2010. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
- "Partner Music Review". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 8 September 2008. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
- "Partner enters Top 5". Archived from the original on 30 September 2007.
- "Music Hits 2000–2009 (Figures in Units)". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 24 June 2010.
- "Box Office 2007". Boxofficeindia.com. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
- Top Lifetime Grossers OVERSEAS (US $) Archived 22 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Box Office India. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
- "Partner may face $30 mn Hitch". The Times of India. 8 August 2007.
- "Who Will Bell the Copycat". Forbes. 22 July 2009.