Befikre Trailer Review, Trade and Audience Response

The Befikre trailer was launched near the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris on 10th October. The response to the trailer has been ‘mixed to negative’ with both the trade and the audience not liking most of what they saw in the trailer.

However, once the trailer is accepted for what it is and not compared to previous ‘family films’ directed by Aditya Chopra, it does promise to be a fun ride, especially for the urban youth.

We have been asking a lot of people about the trailer, so here are some of the positive things that have been said:

• “Ranveer is fantastic, brings a lot of energy and innocence. Trailer aside, the actor is loved, it’ll be his first film after Bajirao Mastani, so the youth will definitely come to watch him”
• “The dare games were entertaining, hope to see more of it in the film”
• “The film promises to be a visual treat as Paris has been captured like never before”
• “Didn’t like it on first watch, but on repeat-viewing the trailer a couple of times and accepting the film for what it is, I found the trailer to be ‘time pass‘ and ‘entertaining‘”

Coming to the negatives:

• “What’s wrong with Vaani Kapoor” is a message that we have received from a lot of people, she’s been disliked. Lips, jaw-line and her overall appearance not what it was in ‘Shuddh Desi Romance’, who’s to be blamed?
• “Didn’t expect such a pathetic trailer from someone like Aditya Chopra, it doesn’t even look like he’s directed the film” said a trade veteran – expected response as the trade is usually quite dismissive about such films.
• “Expected better music“
• “Too many kissing and making out scenes, too vulgar..”

What the makers can do to turn things around, to change perception and the negativity:

• Cut down on the kissing excess, every poster had one and trailer is filled with it too. It doesn’t sell anymore, people don’t pay to watch kissing scenes. In fact, it has become a major negative as the most liked comment on Youtube is “Emraan hashmi director hai kya iska” There are better ways to highlight ‘carefree’.
• Instead, release promos that highlight those ’dare games’. Make the film look more like a fun-ride, an entertaining youth film.. not one where the lead couple is desperate to make out. Smart marketing from here on, could really turn things in favour of the film.
• Music is going to be important, Aditya Chopra has never failed to impress when it comes to the music of his films (directorial), expectations are high from the Befikre album.
• Show more of Ranveer Singh and less of Vaani Kapoor in the promos (if that’s possible).

Putting the response into numbers:

• We asked 26 people in the trade: 2 of them said the trailer is ‘good’, 9 said ‘average’ and 15 said ‘bad/very poor/pathetic’.
• Audience: On our Twitter poll, we asked our followers if they liked trailer, 30% voted for YES, 70% for NO. Outside the internet world, people have generally disliked the trailer too.
• Our Rating: 6 on 10, expected better, but it isn’t as bad as it’s being made out to be.

Movie	Trade Response	Audience Response	Our Rating
Wazir	Average	Average	6
Airlift	Winner	Outstanding	8
Kya Kool Hai Hum 3	Average	Poor	3
Mastizaade	Average	Poor	2
Saala Khadoos	Average	Good	7
Ghayal Once Again	Average	Average	4
Sanam Teri Kasam	Average	Average	4
Fitoor	Poor	Average	4
Neerja	Average	Good	8
Love Shhuda	Poor	Poor	4
Tere Bin Laden 2	Poor	Average	5
Jai Gangaajal	Average	Average	5
Teraa Suroor 2	Average	Poor	1
Kapoor & Sons	Winner	Good	7
Rocky Handsome	Average	Average	5
Ki And Ka	Winner	Good	7
Fan	Winner	Good	8
Baaghi	Winner	Good	6
1920 London	Average	Average	3
Azhar	Average	Average	4
Sarabjit	Average	Good	6
Housefull 3	Average	Average	5
TE3N	Negative	Average	7
Udta Punjab	Average	Average	6
Sultan	Unanimous Winner	Oustanding	8
Great Grand Masti	Winner	Average	6
Dishoom	Average	Average	5
Mohenjo Daro	Average	Average	7
Rustom	Winner	Good	8
Happy Bhaag Jayegi	Average	Average	6
A Flying Jatt	Winner	Average	7
Akira	Average	Average	5
Baar Baar Dekho	Average	Good	7
Shivaay	Winner	Oustanding	8
Raaz Reboot	Poor	Poor	3
Pink	Average	Good	7
MS Dhoni	Winner	Good	8
Ae Dil Hai Mushkil	Poor	Average	5
Force 2	Winner	Average	6
Befikre	Poor	Average	6
Rock On 2	Poor	Poor	4
Tum Bin 2	Poor	Poor	3
Kahaani 2	Good	Good	7
Dangal	Winner	Outstanding	8
Kaabil	Good	Good	7
Raees	Winner	Good	8