Shamitabh(2015)
'Shamitabh' is a 2015 Indian Hindi-language satirical drama film written and directed by R. Balki. The film stars Dhanush, Amitabh Bachchan, and debutante Akshara Haasan in lead roles. The story follows a mute aspiring actor who uses a drunkard's voice to become a Bollywood superstar. The film explores themes of ego, identity, and the cost of fame. It features cameo appearances by Rekha, Karan Johar, Mahesh Bhatt, and several other Bollywood personalities. The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with cinematography by P. C. Sreeram. 'Shamitabh' received mixed reviews from critics and underperformed at the box office. It was released worldwide on 6 February 2015.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Amazon Prime Video, Eros Now, Airtel Xstream Play, YouTube
- Theatrical Release
- 6 February 2015
- Director
- R. Balki
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 2h 15m
- Rating
- 6.6/10
Storyline
A mute young man named Danish dreams of becoming a Bollywood actor. After a revolutionary surgery in Finland, he gains the ability to speak using another person's voice. He teams up with a drunkard named Amitabh Sinha, who has a powerful voice. Together they become the superstar 'Shamitabh', but ego threatens to destroy their partnership.
“One voice. Two egos. A superstar.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Shamitabh
Cast reunions in this film: Rekha & Ilayaraja (11 films together), Rekha & Amitabh Bachchan (6 films together), Ilayaraja & P. C. Sreeram (6 films together), Amitabh Bachchan & R. Balki (4 films together), P. C. Sreeram & R. Balki (3 films together), and Dhanush & Ilayaraja (2 films together).
Trivia
- The film's title 'Shamitabh' is a blend of the lead characters' names: Amitabh Bachchan's 'Amitabh' and Dhanush's 'Shaman'.
- Amitabh Bachchan's character name, Amitabh Sinha, was his real name before he changed it to Amitabh Bachchan for his film career.
- The film's climax scene, where Amitabh Bachchan's character drinks alcohol, was shot in a single take to capture the raw emotion.
- Director R. Balki wrote the script specifically for Amitabh Bachchan and Dhanush after being inspired by the idea of a voice and a face being separate entities.
- The film's soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, marking his first collaboration with Amitabh Bachchan in a full-length feature film.
- Despite its unique concept and star cast, the film underperformed at the box office, failing to recover its production costs.
- Akshara Haasan, daughter of actors Kamal Haasan and Sarika, made her acting debut in this film as the female lead.
Frequently Asked Questions
News & Stories
Check out the third official song of SHAMITABH. Watch the video and listen to the sound of Stereophonic Sannata.\r\n
