Farhan Akhtar's Lucknow Central to release sooner?

After Hrs had reported that there are uncanny similarities between Farhan Akhtar’s Lucknow Central and Yash Raj Films’ Qaidi Band. Both films are about a group of prisoners forming a musical band to escape prison.

While the story of Farhan’s film was already known, the trailer of Qaidi Band — introducing two newcomers — revealed its storyline only a few days ago. That came as a shock to producer Nikkhil Advani. Also, YRF announced that they are releasing on August 25 almost a month ahead of Lucknow Central, leaving the latter team fuming in rage.

Says a source in the know, “Farhan’s film was written, shot and the release was planned months ago. Qaidi Band jumped into the scene all of a sudden, and was completed in record time. It’s almost as if the quickie was planned to pre-empt Lucknow Central and steal its thunder.”

We now hear of the Lucknow Central team trying to bring its release date ahead. Because watching a film on the same theme just a month later is likely to damage its box-office prospects.