"Bombay Talkies", a film which marks a tribute to 100 years of Indian cinema, has fallen short of many major icons identified with the Hindi film industry.
Call it ignorance or an accidental slip but the recently released title song of "Bombay Talkies" which boasts of the entire Bollywood fraternity left out many iconic figures.
The absence of Bollywood biggies like Dilip Kumar, Waheeda Rehman, Bachchans, the Deols, Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Preity Zenta Jeetendra, Rekha, Hema Malini, Kajol, Ajay Devgn and several other stars has been conspicuously noted.
The video's presentation no doubt lacked lustre and appeared haphazard with about 20 actors choreographed in a clumsy presentation.
The film only highlights in its anthem, actors of the present and recent past but with no credits to legends like Dharmendra, Dilip Kumar, Jeetendra and of all Amitabh Bachchan on whom one of the stories in the film is based.
Moreover, the anthem barely entertains with its shoddy music and bland choreography.
A displeased Shobhaa De said, "Not a single shot of Salman Khan in parade of Bollywood Greats 'Bombay Talkies'? His absence registered more than several presences."
Rajeev Masand tweeted, "Can't decide what's worse between the song and the video. How could they get so many stars and do such a wretched job!"
Krithika Manchan said: "They picked actors like Sonam Kapoor, whose only contribution to Bollywood has been a handful of flop films. Imran Khan is a step above, but just barely."
Another fan voiced, "Why is Ranveer Singh in 'Bombay Talkies' song? He's done two films! Where are Amitabh, Rekha, Hema, Dharmendra? They represent B-town. Not Ranveer."
The song was composed by Amit Trivedi and choreographed by Vaibhavi Merchant.
"Bombay Talkies" will see the collaboration of directors Anurag Kashyap, Dibakar Bannerjee, Zoya Akhtar and Karon Johar for four short films in the project.