Wow! 4 hrs and 10 min. It's 4-5 min longer than the available video time, from VHS & YRF DVD sources, I had found a few Yrs back. It was 245 min 22 sec video and an additional 2 min 30 sec audio that I had listed. This new release is 2 min longer than that.

Moreover, looking at its run time, there is no 4% speed up.

My BR copy on its way. Barring flight delays or custom issues, I should have it in my hands in 30 hours.
Indian official price is Rs 800, picked up for Rs 750.

Shemaroo ought to be ashamed for raining on our parades by mutating the aspect ratio of the movie.

to me it looks like 1.85:1

Right. It isn't supposed to be 1.85:1. If it were presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.33:1, the Blu-ray would sport black bars on the sides.

Ignoring the1.78:1 AR from 4:3 (or is it 1.4:1) OAR, here are some of my initial comments:

EXCELLENT EXCELLENT Print on Blu Ray. No Field Averaging. Distinct 24 frames per sec, i.e. frame to frame transfer.

250 min of film content (No 4% speed up), that includes some material not seen before in any VHS or any DVD or any youtube.

(I think, my VHS has at least one dialog line that did not make into this 250 min version. I WAS WRONG, SEE POST BELOW).

Because of full length feature, there are no discontinuities or abrupt scene/ audio change. As I commented, in previous posts, without the Phooka Pahelwaan episode, you deduce that love was one sided, Raju loved Marina but Marina never said 'I Love You'. With that Phooka Pahelwan episode 'IN', here Marina in no uncertain terms says 'I Love You' and there is intense lip-lock.

Even in theatre, in 1970s, I don't remember having seen 'Reechh' (Black Bear) episode in circus, that's in this version. Reechh episode justifies Dara Singh's dialog to Raju, something like, 'Do you know the language of my Shers and Reechhs'.

I still have to compare from my early notes/ post about MNJ title song if this BR has those repeat versus (different video but same line repeated, as normal in many songs) that are in VHS.

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My views on picture cut from top-bottom for 1.78 AR out of OAR, Later.
(there are pluses and minuses when you make a 1.78:1 picture out of original narrower AR).

Overall : excellent job by shemaroo


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The dialog I had in mind, was spoken in another scene. So, it's not missing in the new 250 min version.



This intense lip-lock could not have been in the initial Indian release as this could not have passed censors. Even in my Esquire VHS (early 1980s), where this scene is there, the scene cuts as the lips come close.


This Reechh Mascot episode is not in the VHS (runs for 2-3 min in the new 250 min version). I don't recall seeing this scene in the 1970s either.

Without this Reechh episode, we tracked 259 min of MNJ where Audio + Video was identified (see p4 of this thread). Add to it the Reechh episode, we can now count it to 262 min. MNJ title song is still not complete in the 250 min version. There could be even more that can be found in one version or other, but it's not worth the effort now as the discrepancy is not much.

Shemaroo 250 minutes 2-disc DVD is presented in 4:3 AR

Shemaroo DVDs are mostly Rs 150 or less. But, M N J DVD is Rs 299.
http://shopping.shemaroo.com/India/Prod ... issions%20)

Still, I prefer this DVD as compared to MNJ Blu Ray that has top and bottom of picture Cut. At least no portion of the frames are cut in DVD. Hopefully, and most likely, DVD is direct film to NTSC transfer with intact film frames @ 24 fps (like in Blu Ray).

A much longer version of "Jaane Kahan Gaye Vo Din" from a stage show. 9 min vs 3-4 min in 255 min film version.

Some, perhaps not heard of before, stanzas and yet they look so familiar ??

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1sJhzbB120

Thanks, for revisiting these gems ! awesome:)

Sometimes a number recorded as OST is slightly different from what is finally seen on the screen (and so, not technically OST - Original Sound Track)

Mera Naam Joker was declared a flop at the time of its release. But, just look at its Box Office Collections from Russia alone. It's comparable to the biggest blockbusters of today (adjusted for inflation), just from Russia alone.
It's close to Rs 850 Crores from Russia alone.

Another song verse that's not in the film:

This verse of the song 'Jaane Kahan Gaye Vo Din' perhaps never was in the film but was in one of the live stage shows.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMxbWzhlNws