Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic

2008 Indian film

27 June 2008 (2008-06-27)

Running time

145 minutes^[1]CountryIndiaLanguageHindiBudget₹230 million (US$2.8 million)^[2]Box office₹372.53 million (US$4.5 million)^[2]

Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic (English: A Little Love, A Little Magic) is a 2008 Indian fantasy comedy-drama film with Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji in lead roles, and Rishi Kapoor and Ameesha Patel in supporting roles. The child artists include Akshat Chopra, Shriya Sharma, Rachit Sidana and Ayushi Burman. Directed, written and co-produced by Kunal Kohli, the film is produced and distributed by Yash Chopra and Aditya Chopra under their banner Yash Raj Films.

Released on 27 June 2008 in India, it grossed ₹37.25 crores on a budget of ₹23 crores, and was deemed a "flop" by Box Office India.^[2] It received generally mixed reviews, with praise for its performances and humor, but criticism for script and screenplay.

Plot

Ranbir Talwar, a leading industrialist in India, is lonely because he has lost everyone who is dear to him which include his childhood friend, who moves away, and his mother, who passes away, during his childhood. Due to distraction, he mistakenly kills a husband and wife in a car accident. The judge sentences him to look after their four children until the youngest child turns 18 years of age, and to do so without sending them to a boarding school nor keeping them in the care of anyone else. Additionally, the judge also warns him that if he fails to look after them properly, then he will be sentenced to 20 years in prison without parole. The children resent Ranbir for his role in their parents' death and desire revenge, whereas he is unprepared to live with them, making both him and the children miserable in this situation.

One day, the children pray to God for help. God discusses the matter with his fairylike angels and decides to send Geeta, his favourite and the most whimsical of the angels, to unite Ranbir with the children. God warns her not to use her ability to alter reality during her time on earth. Geeta ignores God's warning and uses this power often, providing comic relief, she descends upon earth and disguises herself as a mortal. She appoints herself as the children's governess and places the children in awe of her by using her transformative powers. Soon, she ingratiates herself with the children with her supportive affection and positiveness. The children begin to cherish her and depend on her while Ranbir remains perplexed and overwhelmed by her dominance of his affairs. He soon becomes enamored of her, despite the interference by his girlfriend Malaika.

Ranbir's relationship with Malaika ends when Geeta asks if he wants to end their relationship. She along with the children successfully ruin her birthday party. Ranbir eventually begins getting involved with the children's lives after Geeta tells him that he just needs to see their dreams and see what troubles them. As Ranbir and the children slowly bond, the children forsake their desire for revenge and treat him as an older brother. On one such incident, Ranbir took the kids and Geeta along to Los Angeles as he has a conference trip with his boss. He invites them to play golf and the oldest child who wishes to gain revenge and mistreats the children of the boss. He throws insults at the children but Ranbir defends them. Geeta is called back to heaven as she has succeeded in uniting Ranbir and the children. Upset, Ranbir and the children go to a church to pray that she returns to them. After God talks with Geeta, he concedes to her wishes and changes Geeta into a human who now has emotions allowing her to return to the children. Geeta marries Ranbir and gives birth to a daughter, who inherits the ability to alter reality, despite Geeta's loss of her own power. Nevertheless, they all live happily ever after.

Cast

Rishi Kapoor as God
Saif Ali Khan as Ranbir Singh Talwar
Rani Mukerji as Geeta(Angel-turned human and Ranbir’s wife)
Razak Khan as Pappu
Ameesha Patel as Malaika
Akshat Chopra as Vashisht Walia
Shriya Sharma as Aditi Walia
Rachit Sidana as Iqbal Walia
Ayushi Burman as Avantika Walia
Sharat Saxena as Judge Jaswant Rai
Mahesh Thakur as Lawyer
Tarana Raja as Kapoor
Danish Aslam as Mr. Gupta, Kid Ranbir's Teacher
Biren Patel as Yada
Cameron Pearson as Steve
Tigerlily Perry as Michelle
Steven Schneider as American Boy

Production

Development

In September 2007, the film began shooting in Delhi with some portions also being shot in Alibaug, Bangkok and Los Angeles.^[3] The shooting of the film was completed on 3 February 2008.^[4]

Soundtrack

Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic

Soundtrack album by

Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy

Released

21 May 2008 (2008-05-21)

Genre

Film soundtrack

Length

29:16

Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy chronology

Taare Zameen Par
(2007)

Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic
(2008)

Rock On!!
(2008)

The music of the film was composed by Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy with lyrics by Prasoon Joshi.^[5]

No.	Title	Singer(s)	Length
1.	"Pyaar Ke Liye"	Shankar Mahadevan	5:07
2.	"Nihaal Ho Gayi"	Shankar Mahadevan	4:11
3.	"Bulbula"	Shankar Mahadevan, Sunidhi Chauhan	3:21
4.	"Lazy Lamhe"	Anusha Mani	5:12
5.	"Beetey Kal Se"	Shreya Ghoshal, Sneha Suresh	4:56
6.	"Nihaal Ho Gayi" (DJ Aqeel Remix)	Shankar Mahadevan	3:51
7.	"Lazy Lamhe"" (DJ Aqeel Remix)	Anusha Mani	5:58

Reception

Box office

According to Box Office India, Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic had a poor opening and altogether grossed ₹295 million (US$3.5 million).^[2]

Critical reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 86% of 7 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.7/10.^[6] Anil Sinanan of Time Out gave the film 4 out of 5, calling it a "skilful bolly-blend of ‘Mary Poppins’ meets ‘The Sound of Music’."^[7]

Conversely, Namrata Joshi of Outlook gave the film 2 out of 5, writing, "A reasonably nice kiddie flick, but fails to reach out to adults. Essentially like a cartoon film, utterly simplistic in every aspect-characters, plot or narration."^[8]

Accolades

List of awards and nominations
Award	Ceremony	Category	Recipient(s)	Result	Ref(s)
Stardust Awards	2009 Stardust Awards	New Musical Sensation (Female)	Anusha Mani for Lazy Lamhe	Nominated	^[9]
Producers Guild Film Awards	4th Film & Television Producers Guild Awards	Best Special Effects	Neil Cunningham and M.S. Senthil Nathan	Nominated	^[10]

References

^ Saltz, Rachel (28 June 2008). "An Angel Rides in to Preserve a Family (and India)". The New York Times. New York City. Archived from the original on 26 November 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic - Movie - Box Office India". boxofficeindia.com. Archived from the original on 18 January 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
^ "Rani is not quitting, shoots for Kunal Kohli's next". IndiaFM. Archived from the original on 20 September 2007. Retrieved 3 September 2007.
^ "Last shooting schedule of Kunal Kohli's untitled film". NDTV Movies. Retrieved 18 February 2008.
^ Pandohar, Jaspreet (21 May 2008). "Shankar, Ehsaan & Loy Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic Review". BBC.com. Archived from the original on 3 November 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
^ "Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
^ Sinanan, Anil (1 July 2008). "Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic". Time Out. London: Time Out Group. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
^ Joshi, Namrata (14 July 2008). "Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic". Outlook. New Delhi: Outlook Publishing. Archived from the original on 13 April 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
^ "Nominations for Pan Bahar Max Stardust Awards 2009". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 21 September 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2009.
^ "Nominations of 4th Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Awards". Bollywood Hungama. 23 November 2009. Archived from the original on 13 September 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2024.