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Total Siyapaa
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| Total Siyapaa | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Eeshwar Nivas |
| Written by | Neeraj Pandey |
| Produced by | Neeraj Pandey Shital Bhatia |
| Starring | Ali Zafar Yami Gautam Anupam Kher Kirron Kher Sara Khan |
| Cinematography | Vishnu Rao |
| Music by | Songs: Ali Zafar Score: Sanjoy Chowdhury |
Production companies | AKA Picture Company Friday Filmworks |
| Distributed by | Reliance Entertainment |
Release date |
|
Running time | 108 minutes[1] |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
| Budget | ₹100 million[2] |
| Box office | est. ₹131 million[3] |
Total Siyapaa[a] (Total Chaos) is a 2014 Bollywood romantic comedy film directed by Eeshwar Nivas and written by Neeraj Pandey.[5] The screenplay is based on that of the Spanish-Argentine film Only Human, written and directed by Dominic Harari and Teresa Pelegri. The main characters in the original film are Israeli and Palestinian, whilst in Total Siyapaa, they are Indian and Pakistani.
It was distributed by Reliance Big Entertainment across 850 theatres in India with two other films: Gulaab Gang and Queen.[6] The film opened on a similar note with Queen in multiplexes, offering stiff competition to each other owing to a similar release count.[6]
The film stars Ali Zafar and Yami Gautam in lead roles,[4] with Anupam Kher and Kirron Kher in supporting roles, who appeared for the first time as an on-screen couple.[7] The first look of the film along with that of Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty was launched on the Zee Cine Awards.[8][9]
Gada-owned Pen India acquired the film rights from Reliance Entertainment while & Pictures acquired 50 per cent equity of the satellite rights. Reliance and Zee Network own the film's overseas and promotional rights respectively. Consequently, Reliance and Gada decided to postpone the release date to 7 March 2014 from 30 January 2014 to promote it.[10] Upon release, Total Siyapaa received generally negative reviews from critics and did not perform well financially.
Plot
[edit]Settled in London, Aman Ali, a Pakistani musician, hopes to marry Asha Singh, an Indian woman living in London with her family. He visits her parents' house to seek their permission to marry her. However, his plans to impress the Punjabi family start failing when they discover that he is Pakistani. During the course of events, "total chaos" happens.
Cast
[edit]- Ali Zafar as Aman Ali
- Yami Gautam as Asha Singh
- Anupam Kher as Rajinder Singh, Asha's father
- Kirron Kher as Asha's mother
- Sara Khan as Jiah Singh, Asha's sister
- Arshpreet Kaur as Anjali Singh, Jiah's daughter
- Vishwa Mohan Badola as Daddu, Asha's grandfather
- Anuj Pandit Sharma as Manav Singh, Asha's brother
- Barrie Martin
- Sandeep Londhe as friend of Manav Singh
Critical reception
[edit]Total Siyapaa received mostly negative reviews, with critics suggesting skipping it.[11] Reviews of the performances were mixed, with the Hindustan Times lauding it;[12] the Deccan Chronicle and Bollywood Life criticized Ali Zafar's and Yami Gautam's performances, respectively.[13][14] Kirron Kher's performance was seen as one of the strong points.[13] The lack of a solid plot,[12][15] the lack of attention to detail[16] and poor comic timing were seen as major drawbacks.[17] The film was largely seen as unfunny[12][13][14][18] and not living up to the trailer.[12][15][19]
Box office reception
[edit]Total Siyapaa received a low opening[20][21] with poor box office reception in India[22][23][24] due to negative reviews from critics.[23] However, the film did better overseas,[25] being positively received in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.[26]
Soundtrack
[edit]| Total Siyapaa | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | ||||
| Released | 14 February 2014 | |||
| Recorded | 2013 | |||
| Genre | Filmi Soundtrack | |||
| Length | 17:17[27] | |||
| Label | T-Series | |||
| Ali Zafar chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Jukebox playlist on YouTube | ||||

The album is sung and composed by Ali Zafar; the main lead of the movie. Music was released on 14 February 2014[28] and was well received by Critics. Karthik writes "The title song Total Siyapaa along with the quirky lyrics, dialogues and sounds, is good fun. Ali Zafar fares really well in Palat Meri jaan, singing, writing and composing the lovely ballad. Palat Meri Jaan is a Chart buster. Nahi maloom has a captivating Middle-Eastern + Latino blend sound and is sung particularly well by Ali and Fariha Parvaiz. The composer-singer uses a reggae template in Asha and delivers a nice, winsome song. Chal Buleya is sufi song with a message. Barring that minor misstep, charming soundtrack overall, with Ali offering a good demonstration of his multi-facetedness."[29][30][31]
All music is composed by Ali Zafar.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Total Siyapaa" | Kumaar | Ali Zafar | 3:05 |
| 2. | "Palat Meri Jaan" | Ali Zafar | Ali Zafar | 3:44 |
| 3. | "Nahin Maloom" | Aqeel Rubi | Ali Zafar, Fariha Pervez | 3:41 |
| 4. | "Asha" | Ali Zafar | Ali Zafar | 3:24 |
| 5. | "Chal Buleya" | Bulleh Shah | Ali Zafar | 3:23 |
| Total length: | 17:17 | |||
See also
[edit]- Bollywood films of 2014
- Ali Zafar discography
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "TOTAL SIYAPAA (2014)". BBFC. 25 February 2014. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
- ^ Ankita R Kanabar (13 March 2014). "An unimpressive start". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
- ^ "Total Siyaapa – Movie – Box Office India". Archived from the original on 19 November 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- ^ a b "'Aman Ki Asha' goes on floors March 2013". dawn.com. 17 November 2012. Archived from the original on 18 January 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
- ^ "Neeraj Pandey: Movies, Photos, Videos, News & Biography – eTimes". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
- ^ a b "Gulaab Gang Queen And Total Siyaapa Depend On Word Of Mouth". Box Office India. 7 March 2014. Archived from the original on 7 March 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
- ^ "Resource not found". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
- ^ "Ali Zafar, Yami Gautam shine in the first look of 'Total Siyapaa' at Zee Cine Awards". 20 February 2014. Archived from the original on 27 February 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
- ^ "Ali Zafar launches the first look of his film 'Total Siyapaa'". 20 February 2014. Archived from the original on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
- ^ India, Box Office Capsule. "Pen India Buys Rights Of ITS ENTERTAINMENT And TOTAL SIYAPAA". www.boxofficecapsule.com. Archived from the original on 21 January 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
- ^ Mehta, Ankita (7 March 2014). "'Total Siyapaa' Review Roundup: Avoid it!". International Business Times. Archived from the original on 14 March 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
- ^ a b c d Kaushal, Sweta (8 March 2014). "Movie review: Despite good actors, Total Siyapaa is a waste of time". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 8 March 2014.
- ^ a b c "Movie review Total Siyappa: Loud, no punch". Deccan Chronicle. 8 March 2014. Archived from the original on 17 March 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
- ^ a b Thakker, Namrata (6 March 2014). "Total Siyapaa movie review: Ali Zafar and Yami Gautam's romedy lacks both romance and comedy!". bollywoodlife.com. Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
- ^ a b Kamath, Sudhish (8 March 2014). "Total Siyappa: Lamest Indo-Pak match". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 13 March 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
- ^ Chute, David (8 March 2014). "Film Review: 'Total Siyapaa'". Variety. Archived from the original on 27 November 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
- ^ Joshi, Tushar (7 March 2014). "Film review: 'Total Siyapaa' is a wasted opportunity". DNA. Archived from the original on 14 March 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
- ^ Saltz, Rachel (9 March 2014). "A Pakistani Fiancé Meets the Indian Parents". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 24 November 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- ^ "Total Siyapaa (2014) Movie Review". Archived from the original on 23 March 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
- ^ "Gulaab Gang, Queen, Total Siyapaa Have Poor Opening at Box Office". 7 March 2014. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
- ^ "Total Siyapaa Lags Behind Gulaab Gang, Queen". Koimoi. 8 March 2014. Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
- ^ "Total Siyapaa Has A Low Opening Weekend Collections at the Box Office". 10 March 2014. Archived from the original on 11 March 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
- ^ a b "Total Siyapaa Continues To Perform Poorly – 1st Tuesday Box Office Collections – Koimoi". 12 March 2014. Archived from the original on 27 March 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
- ^ "Queen races ahead of Gulaab Gang and Total Siyappa at the box office". India Today. Archived from the original on 28 March 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
- ^ Mehta, Ankita (11 March 2014). "Box Office Collection: 'Queen' Dominates Over 'Gulaab Gang', 'Total Siyapaa' Worldwide". International Business Times. Archived from the original on 27 March 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
- ^ Mehta, Ankita (18 March 2014). "Box Office Collection: 'Queen', 'Bewakoofiyaan', 'Total Siyapaa', 'Gulaab Gang' and Others". International Business Times. Archived from the original on 23 March 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
- ^ ""Total Siyapaa" Full Songs (Jukebox) | Ali Zafar, Yaami Gautam". T-Series. 13 February 2014. Archived from the original on 8 February 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Total Siyapaa (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – EP". Ali Zafar. iTunes India. 14 February 2014. Archived from the original on 27 July 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
- ^ "Total Siyapa (Music review), Hindi – Ali Zafar by Milliblog!". itwofs.com. 15 February 2014. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
- ^ "Music Review; Total Siyapaa (2014) *Ali Zafar – Yami Gautam*". www.bollywoodcinetalk.com. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
- ^ "Total Siyapaa – Music Review (Bollywood Soundtrack)-Ali Zafar-Yami Gautam – Music Aloud". www.musicaloud.com. 15 February 2014. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
External links
[edit]Total Siyapaa
View on GrokipediaDevelopment and Production
Concept and Script Adaptation
The core concept of Total Siyapaa centers on the comedic chaos ensuing when a young Indian woman introduces her Pakistani fiancé to her conservative Hindu family, highlighting tensions arising from cross-border romance in a diaspora setting. This premise draws from real-world Indo-Pakistani cultural and historical frictions, relocated to contemporary London to emphasize immigrant family dynamics rather than overt geopolitical conflict. The narrative prioritizes slapstick humor through escalating mishaps—such as mistaken identities and familial misunderstandings—over substantive exploration of ethnic divides, aiming to portray light-hearted reconciliation amid absurdity.[9][10] The screenplay, penned by Neeraj Pandey and directed by Eeshwar Nivas, adapts the 2004 Spanish-Argentine comedy Only Human (original title Seres Queridos), which features a Jewish woman bringing a Palestinian man home to her family in Madrid, resulting in similar farce-driven pandemonium. Key modifications include shifting the ethnic antagonism from Israeli-Palestinian to Indian-Hindu versus Pakistani-Muslim, a change intended to resonate with South Asian audiences by incorporating diaspora-specific elements like parental expectations and subtle nationalistic biases without delving into policy or history. Pandey retained the original's structure of confined, escalating errors but infused Indian familial tropes, such as overbearing mothers and patriarchal authority figures, while toning down preachiness to focus on universal relational strains. Nivas described the intent as delivering a "beautiful message" through entertainment, not sermonizing, though critics noted the adaptation's superficial treatment of underlying prejudices risked diluting causal tensions for comedic expediency.[9][10][11] Script development concluded after principal casting announcements in late 2013, with refinements to integrate London immigrant experiences, including bilingual dialogues reflecting Punjabi-inflected English common in UK South Asian communities. Initially titled Aman Ki Asha—evoking the 2010 Indo-Pak peace initiative spearheaded by journalists—the name was altered pre-release to Total Siyapaa (meaning "total mess" in Hindi) to avoid connotations tied to that campaign and underscore the film's chaotic tone. This adaptation process balanced fidelity to the source's farce with cultural localization, yet internal critiques during production highlighted concerns over the script's reliance on stereotypes for laughs, potentially undermining deeper bridge-building between portrayed communities.[12][10]Casting Decisions
Ali Zafar, a Pakistani singer-actor, was selected for the lead role of Aman, a Pakistani immigrant in London, to capitalize on his growing Bollywood footprint after comedic supporting turns in Tere Bin Laden (2010) and Chashme Baddoor (2013), which showcased his natural humor and appeal in light-hearted scenarios.[13] His national origin aligned with the film's premise of an Indo-Pakistani romance, adapted from the Spanish comedy Only Human (2004) featuring inter-ethnic tensions between a Jewish woman and Palestinian man, aiming for cultural authenticity in portraying cross-border dynamics.[9] Yami Gautam was chosen as the Indian lead Asha for her established comedic timing and relatable everyman charm, evident in her debut Vicky Donor (2012), where she balanced humor with emotional depth in a socially unconventional storyline.[14] This selection followed a deliberate gap after her breakout, positioning Total Siyapaa as a strategic follow-up to leverage her rising versatility in romantic comedies.[15] Supporting roles went to veteran actors Anupam Kher and Kirron Kher as Asha's parents, drawing on their real-life marriage to infuse authentic familial interplay and comic rapport, marking their inaugural on-screen coupling in a Hindi film.[16] Writer-producer Neeraj Pandey's choices emphasized Indo-Pak collaboration for narrative realism, with Zafar's involvement underscoring efforts to bridge cinematic ties despite historical frictions, though this provoked pre-release backlash from nationalist groups citing perceived pro-Pakistan sentiments in dialogues.[17][18]Filming and Technical Aspects
Principal photography for Total Siyapaa was conducted entirely in London, England, making it the first Bollywood film shot completely in the city, with locations including Wimbledon Studios for interior family home scenes and exterior shots on local streets and landmarks such as Covent Garden to evoke the Indian and Pakistani diaspora setting.[19][20][21] The production schedule was efficient, completing principal shooting in 28 days, facilitated by a tightly scripted narrative that minimized on-set improvisation.[13][22] Cinematography was handled by David Meadows, employing widescreen color capture to depict the film's comedic chaos within realistic urban and domestic environments.[9][23] Editing by Shree Narayan Singh paced the 108-minute runtime to sustain the momentum of escalating mishaps without relying on extensive visual effects, prioritizing practical setups for cultural and slapstick gags.[9][23][5]Synopsis
Plot Summary
Total Siyapaa follows Aman, a Pakistani-origin musician living in London, who falls in love with Asha, an Indian woman also residing in the city.[24] Eager to marry her, Aman visits Asha's family home to seek her parents' blessings, initially concealing his background to navigate their expectations.[10] The story unfolds amid the family's boisterous Punjabi household dynamics, where Aman's efforts to integrate lead to escalating comedic mishaps.[9] As revelations about Aman's nationality surface, deep-seated cultural and national prejudices ignite a series of slapstick sequences, including bungled cooking attempts and frantic identity concealments that spiral into chaotic family confrontations.[24] These incidents highlight tensions between the characters, with misunderstandings compounding through language barriers and stereotypical assumptions, building toward a frenzy of relational tests within the confined London setting.[25] The narrative centers on the couple's resilience amid the farce, probing familial acceptance through humor derived from real-world Indo-Pak divides.[9]Cast and Crew
Principal Cast
Ali Zafar portrays Aman Ali, the male lead who pursues a relationship with Asha Singh.[1][5] Yami Gautam plays Asha Singh, the female lead from a Punjabi family.[1][5] Anupam Kher acts as Rajinder Singh, Asha's father.[1][5] Kirron Kher depicts Asha's mother.[1][5] Sara Khan performs as Jiah Singh, Asha's sister.[5][26]Key Crew Members
Eeshwar Nivas directed Total Siyapaa, overseeing the adaptation of the screenplay into a Hindi romantic comedy centered on cross-cultural mishaps between a Pakistani musician and an Indian family.[5] His direction emphasized the film's chaotic humor derived from the source material, the 2004 Spanish film Only Human.[5] Neeraj Pandey wrote the screenplay and served as producer, adapting the original story by Teresa de Pelegri and Dominic Harari to incorporate elements of Indo-Pak relations through comedic domestic conflicts.[5] Pandey's script focused on dialogue-driven scenarios highlighting cultural clashes without overt preachiness, as noted in promotional contexts.[11] Ali Zafar composed the film's soundtrack, which features five tracks including the title song and romantic numbers like "Palat Meri Jaan," blending Bollywood melodies with his signature fusion style; he also performed vocals on multiple songs.[9] The music was released on February 14, 2014, prior to the film's theatrical debut.[27] David Meadows handled cinematography, capturing the film's Delhi and family interior settings in widescreen format to support the intimate comedic sequences.[9] Shree Narayan Singh edited the picture, ensuring pacing aligned with the escalating series of mishaps central to the narrative.[9]Soundtrack and Music
Composition and Release
The soundtrack for Total Siyapaa was composed by Ali Zafar, the film's lead actor, who also penned lyrics for the tracks and served as the primary vocalist.[28] Recording sessions occurred during the film's production phase spanning 2013 to early 2014, aligning with Zafar's multifaceted role in the project.[29] The compositions emphasized light-hearted, upbeat melodies with fusion influences blending contemporary pop and traditional South Asian rhythms, intended to capture the romantic comedy's breezy and chaotic tone.[30] Distributed by T-Series, the album was released digitally and physically on February 13, 2014, three weeks prior to the film's March 7 theatrical debut.[28] [29] Promotional singles, including the title track featuring Zafar and Yami Gautam, were unveiled via music video on February 6, 2014, synchronized with escalating trailer campaigns to build anticipation.[31] This strategy leveraged Zafar's established music profile to drive early buzz for the soundtrack ahead of the full release.[32]Track Listing and Reception
The soundtrack of Total Siyapaa, composed, written, and largely performed by Ali Zafar, features five original tracks released on February 13, 2014, ahead of the film's premiere.[28]| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Total Siyapaa | Ali Zafar | 3:05 |
| 2 | Palat Meri Jaan | Ali Zafar | 3:44 |
| 3 | Nahin Maloom | Ali Zafar, Fariha Pervez | 3:41 |
| 4 | Asha | Ali Zafar | 3:24 |
| 5 | Chal Buleya | Ali Zafar | 3:31 |
