I think Kashyap used Quitters, Inc. as a jumping off point and didn't do a straight adaptation. This is either a love or hate kind of film, as Ali said, and I happened to love it, but even if I hated it at least it is something creative and different from the usual fluff.

Indian reviewers are idiots. They praise the crap to the heavens and then when something interesting like this comes along its too radical for them so they pan it.

Cursing in subtitles, oh my god, what a horrible thing!

Apparently the film is "loosely-inspired" by Quitters, Inc. I haven't read the book, but soon will be seeing "Cat's Eye" again, which features a short-film version of Quitters, Inc which is apparently faithful to the book. I'll then see how much Anurag may have copied or not.
But it's been almost 2 weeks since I've seen "No Smoking" and I want to see it again! Even though Saawariya and OSS are out, I'd rather see "No Smoking" again. I can't believe I only got to see it once and I have a cineworld card! I usually get a second chance to see a film I really like, but this film only lasted one-to-two weeks! I really don't want to get it on Eros because I'm boycotting their crap-quality DVD's. I just hope it would've been snapped up by an international label.

As passionate as ever AK tries to explain No Smoking in a defeatist tone;

http://passionforcinema.com/in-defence-of-the-i/

The last few lines is probably some one the saddest I've read from his blog;



Ali

Reading some of the comments from his blog, AK had this to say about the DVD and requested commentary from many people;



'upto them' probably meaning Eros Added me 2p worth

Ali

I don't know what is wrong with this Anurag. He has a blog where most people appreciate "No Smoking", the people that matter anyway, yet he is falling victim to so-called critics like Khalid Mohammed, who's a crap director anyway. It looks like he may listen to these critics and start making crappy Yash-Raj candy floss instead.

Now I don't feel sorry for Anurag at all, because he's staring to act like a loser. With his attitude, I wouldn't be surprised if he disowns "No Smoking" altogether. That would be a shame, but a bigger shame is if he starts to make films that please the masses, e.g. family films for mothers, fathers, aunties, grandparents and kids. It will take India some time to realise how good a director he is or to appreciate his films. It didn't help with two of his films being banned, one which took a few years to be released.

Actually he is in no way apologising for, or disowning 'No Smoking'. His apology is limited to having sucumbed to adding Bipasha's item song and for using it to market the film.

I agree he is not screw you! RGV or SLB or Subash Ghai

Guys - this monthsSight and Sound magazine has this to say about "No Smoking" (part of their report from the Rome Film festival)




This is also noted on the PFC site now.

along the same note for those interested here is Anurag's glowing article on TAARE ZAMEEN PAR

Nice to see they appreciated No Smoking in Rome, which is better than how Indian critics thought of it.

I have seen Cat's Eye (a film remake of three Stepen King short stories in which "Quitters, inc" is the first story. I can confirm that Anurag did not copy and that No Smoking was just "loosely-inspired" by Quitters. This must be the first time an Indian director would say his film was 'loosely inspired' while it really being so. I would say No Smoking is even better than Quitters, inc and probably the best Indian film on 2007.

This is a very interesting Q & A session with Anurag Kashyap on No Smoking and his thus far short but illustrious oeuvre. (Keep your ears open for the douche-bag who discriminates against Kashyap for being an atheist).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjJAL5emp74
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Klu5yOsysbs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN45Pd7Z5Aw

Quite a good Q&A, would've been good as an extra on the DVD. The guy who discriminates against Kashyap for being an atheist was a joke, but unfortunately there's quite a few people like him in the world. They simply can't accept that atheists exist and have something to say.
I just wish Paanch would get released.