N.N. SIPPY RE-ELECTED IMPDA PRESIDENT

N.N. Sippy (in picture above) was unanimously re-elected president of the Indian Motion Picture Distributors’ Association for 1999-2000 at the first meeting of the new executive committee held on 29th September in Bombay. This is Sippy’s 14th consecutive term as IMPDA president. Indravadan Shah was elected vice president, and Kantilal Mehta, hon treasurer. Devendra Shah and Haresh Bhatia were elected hon. secretaries.

Earlier, at the 60th annual general meeting of the IMPDA at Birla Kreeda Kendra, the following other members, besides the abovenamed, were elected to the executive committee by voting through secret ballot:

Ayub Selia, Balkrishna Shroff, Guru Shenoy, Inder Raj Kapoor, Sanjay Chaturvedi, U.A. Thadani, Tolu Bajaj, Vinay Choksey, D.Y. Pattani and Mohanlal Susania. Inder Raj Kapoor and Sanjay Chaturvedi are the two new entrants in the committee this year. They have come in place of Ramesh Sippy and Vinod Kakkad, both of whom ‘lost’ the elections this year. Ramesh Sippy and Kantilal Mehta were locked in a tie on the 12th (last) position in the Ordinary Class in which 12 members are voted. The tie was broken by electing Kantilal Mehta on the basis of seniority.

Of the 15 winners above, Indravadan Shah, D.Y. Pattani and Mohanlal Susania were elected unopposed in the Associate Class. The other 12 were voted in the Ordinary Class from out of 16 candidates. Besides Ramesh Sippy and Vinod Kakkad, the two others who lost were Tekchand Anchal and Abid Zafar.

Balkrishna Shroff bagged the highest number of votes (167). A total of 220 votes were cast, of which one was invalid. N.N. Sippy and Haresh Bhatia were on the second position with 132 votes each. They were followed by U.A. Thadani with 131 votes, Inder Raj Kapoor (128), Devendra Shah (127), Guru Shenoy (119), Tolu Bajaj (114), Vinay Choksey (113), Sanjay Chaturvedi (101), Ayub Selia (95), Kantilal Mehta and Ramesh Sippy (94 each), Vinod Kakkad (78), Abid Zafar (53) and Tekchand Anchal (47).

LATEST POSITION

Both the releases of last week have failed to evoke appreciation in most of the circuits.

Dil Kya Kare is dull except to some extent in Maharashtra. 1st week Bombay 43,28,321 (83.45%) from 10 cinemas (5 on F.H.); Ahmedabad 13,89,406 from 6 cinemas; Padra 1,73,134, Jamnagar 1,03,848 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee); Pune 13,04,339 from 5 cinemas, Solapur 2,53,603 from 3 cinemas (1 in matinee); Delhi 50,22,127 (68.15%) from 11 cinemas (1 on F.H.); Kanpur 4,12,710 from 2 cinemas, Lucknow 3,70,548, Allahabad 1,63,500, Varanasi 1,92,212, Bareilly 1,40,412 (40.23%), Hardwar 78,414; Rohtak 39,872; Calcutta 14,92,667 from 10 cinemas; Nagpur 5,07,683 from 4 cinemas, Jabalpur 1,04,171, Amravati 1,71,460, Raipur (gross) 2,13,499, Jalgaon 1,62,469; Indore 2,90,797 from 2 cinemas (2 on F.H.), Bhopal 1,98,482 (1 on F.H.); Jaipur 5,37,044 from 3 cinemas, Ajmer (29 shows) 1,27,498; Hyderabad (gross) 16,45,834 from 7 cinemas.

Hum Tum Pe Marte Hain is extremely dull. 1st week Bombay 35,93,347 (61.27%) from 8 cinemas (6 on F.H.); Ahmedabad 11,22,438 from 4 cinemas, Jamnagar (matinee) 17,255; Pune 9,76,179 from 5 cinemas (1 in matinee), Solapur 2,42,270 from 2 cinemas; Delhi 29,42,349 (46.29%) from 12 cinemas (1 on F.H.); Kanpur 2,69,347 from 2 cinemas, Lucknow 2,11,174, Agra 2,28,435, Allahabad 1,04,285, Varanasi 1,38,390, Bareilly 90,678 (33%); Calcutta 11,97,033 from 19 cinemas; Nagpur 4,49,897 from 3 cinemas, Jabalpur (6 days) 1,78,468, Raipur (gross, 6 days) 2,49,116; Indore (25 shows) 69,511 (3 on F.H.), Bhopal 1,89,858 from 2 cinemas; Jaipur 6,50,690 from 3 cinemas; Hyderabad (gross) 20,47,976 from 14 cinemas (2 in noon).

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Hello Brother is good in parts of U.P. 3rd week Bombay 16,00,265 (52.01%) from 7 cinemas (4 on F.H.); Ahmedabad 79,828 from 2 cinemas; Pune 7,98,953 from 4 cinemas (1 in matinee), Kolhapur 1,22,507, Solapur 1,30,468 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee); 1st week Bijapur 1,74,157; 3rd week Delhi 5,82,768 from 4 cinemas (2 on F.H.); Kanpur 1,47,801 from 2 cinemas, Lucknow 2,40,238, Agra 55,365, Allahabad 75,000, Varanasi 87,585, Bareilly (6 days) 32,988 (12.69%), Hardwar 25,000, total 1,90,000; Rohtak 4,863; Calcutta 1,59,951; Nagpur 1,11,865 from 2 cinemas, Jabalpur (6 days) 77,037, Amravati (6 days) 83,663, Raipur (6 days) 50,863, Jalgaon (6 days) 92,646, Wardha (4 days) 23,065, 2nd Yavatmal 72,176 (1st 1,45,413), 3rd week Bilaspur 38,560; Jaipur 1,27,936, 2nd week Ajmer 1,29,398; 3rd week Hyderabad (gross) 1,87,743.

1947 Earth 3rd week Bombay 16,22,682 (51.29%) from 7 cinemas (2 on F.H.); Pune 3,77,914 from 4 cinemas (2 in matinee), Solapur 26,042; Delhi 10,16,815 from 3 cinemas; Kanpur 20,795; Calcutta 96,712; 1st week Jabalpur (6 days) 65,060; 3rd week Hyderabad (gross) 2,10,718 from 3 cinemas (1 in noon); 1st week Vijayawada (gross) 1,04,730.

Taal 7th week Bombay 13,63,535 (54.51%) from 4 cinemas (1 on F.H.); Ahmedabad 2,10,622 from 3 cinemas, Baroda (6 days) 1,00,000, 1st week Bhuj 87,700; 7th Pune 4,87,012 from 5 cinemas (2 in matinee), Solapur (7 shows) 56,501; 3rd week Bijapur 60,347; 7th week Delhi 6,29,848 from 3 cinemas; Kanpur 1,01,509 from 2 cinemas, Lucknow 1,52,690, Agra 1,14,326, Allahabad 53,101, 6th week Varanasi 75,747; 7th Calcutta 1,66,340; Nagpur 73,385, Jabalpur 40,155, total 6,63,122, Amravati 73,084; Indore 69,000, Bhopal 49,502; Jaipur 4,99,060, Jodhpur about 1,00,000; Hyderabad (gross) 4,58,148 from 2 cinemas (1 in noon); 2 weeks’ Vijayawada total (gross) 2,83,937, 50 days’ total of Visakhapatnam (gross) 13,21,986, Kurnool (gross) 6,72,374, 1st week Adoni (gross) 1,04,786, Nandyal (gross, 6 days) 63,928, Vizianagaram (gross) 1,23,752.

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U.A. THADANI RE-ELECTED TOA PRESIDENT

U.A. Thadani was unanimously re-elected president of the Theatre Owners’ Association for 1999-2000 at the first meeting of its council of management held on 25th September in Bombay. C.N. Mirani was elected vice president, Nester D’Souza, honorary treasurer, and R.V. Vidhani, honorary secretary. Earlier, at the 40th annual general meeting of the TOA, 11 other members, besides the four aforesaid, were elected to the new council of management. These are Indulal D. Shah, Kiran Shantaram, R.P. Anand, M.F. Sidhwa, F.C. Mehra, Russ F. Balaporia, Salim Ebrahim Beg Mohamed, Kundan Thadani, N.F. Damania, Milap B. Joshi and Girivarsinh.

In his address at the AGM, president U.A. Thadani announced that the TOA, along with the Film Federation of India, was in the process of making a review application of the Supreme Court award in the INR case. He also added that in the event of the review application being rejected, a full bench intervention would be sought in the matter. He called upon the members to contribute substantially to meet the expenses of the litigation.

GUILD SEVERS TIES WITH FMC

The Film Producers Guild of India Ltd. has severed ties with the Film Makers Combine (FMC) without assigning any reasons.

The FMC is now left with only two constituents, the IMPPA and the WIFPA. Efforts are on to bring the Guild back to the FMC fold.

The FMC has already written to the Guild, asking it to withdraw its resignation.

YOU ASKED IT

I want to become a film director. How should I go about it?

– First and foremost, join as an assistant to a director. Also, watch a lot of films — new, old, good, bad, all kinds. They will teach you a lot.

I have a distribution office for Delhi-U.P. Looking to the heavy losses being suffered by other offices, I am scared to negotiate for the distribution rights of any film. Any suggestions?

– Wait and watch. Buy a film or two, if you must, but don’t pay crazy prices simply because another is willing to do the same. Or else, you will make a deal in haste and repent in leisure.

Which heroine, according to you, has the potential of occupying the number 1 position, now that Kajol is cutting down on her assignments?

– Karisma Kapoor has it in her to make it there.

DO YOU KNOW?

* Architect Gajjar of Baroda has been receiving accolades for the renovation work done by him at Lokendra Talkies in Ratlam, which has become one of the leading cinemas of C.I. after renovation and installation of Dolby sound system. Gajjar has received enquiries from other cinemas for similar renovation work, including one from Maharana Talkies, Bhilwara (Rajasthan).

* J.P. Chowksey, who is the distributor of Gramco’s GODMOTHER in C.I., has hit upon a novel ploy to bring female audience to the cinemas to see the film. His concern, Prachi Films, has issued well-written letters describing the film’s woman-centric content, to various girls’ and co-ed colleges in the city for displaying on the students’ notice boards. Earlier this week, a special screening of the film for bureaucrats and other government officials was organised in Bhopal by Chowksey. Reportedly, the officials were so impressed with the film that they have assured it tax exemption very soon.

* As many as four sex-horror films are being screened at the holy city of Hardwar: SWORN TO JUSTICE (English) and three dubbed films, DRACULA, BADAN KI AAG and CHUDAIL NO. 1.

MIX MASALA

TWELFTH MAN

Kantibhai and Ramesh Sippy were saath-saath in the IMPDA election on 28th September. Not that they were sitting or walking together. Both had polled 94 votes and were, therefore, locked in a tie. Since only 12 members were to be elected to the executive committee in the Ordinary Class, they had to be ‘un-tied’. Ultimately, Kantibhai, who is the distribution manager of Rajshri Pictures, which is releasing Hum Saath-Saath Hain in Bombay, was elected on the basis of seniority and had to leave the saath of Ramesh Sippy.

FAMILY TIES

Cinemas all over the country have entered into familial ties these days as the films being screened have titles like Hello Brother, Godmother, The Mummy, and Big Daddy and General’s Daughter (both English). On the way are Mother and Runaway Bride (English).

3-E
Education-Entertainment-Enlightenment

Bollywood’s Millennium Men

As the millennium draws to a close, all kinds of awards and epithets are being conferred on outstanding achievers from all walks of life. We would like to propose the name of Manoj Kumar for the best all-round film personality of the millennium. For, no filmmaker in India, except, perhaps, late Satyajit Ray, has ever won awards in so many different categories as Manoj Kumar has. Take a look at Manoj’s impressive list of records: National Award for best director for Upkar, National Award for best writer for Shaheed, Filmfare awards for best  director (Upkar and Roti Kapada Aur Makaan), best story, best screenplay and best dialogue (all for Upkar), best editor (Shor) and best actor (Beimaan)! Satyajit Ray, too, has won awards in six categories and more international awards than Manoj Kumar. Surely then, here are two of the finest innings of all-round performances in our industry, won’t you agree? And if you think there is someone else who deserves this best all-round film personality of the millennium title, do let us know.

Birthday, The Best Day

Generally, no producer in Bombay launches his film during the shraddh period as starting anything new during this period is considered inauspicious. But Yash Chopra went ahead and launched son Aditya’s Mohabbatein on 27th September (when shraddh was on) at Rajkamal Studios, the venue where he has launched all his earlier films too. For, that day — 27th September — was Yash-ji’s birthday!

Rajshri’s Release Plan

The Rajshri’s 164-query questionnaire has evoked a positive response from many cinemas desirous of screening Hum Saath-Saath Hain. Managements of many cinemas have started renovating their cinemas, re-tuning the sound systems, re-focussing the projection, upholstering the seats and re-doing all minor and major things. All these, in anticipation of Rajshri offering their film for screening at their cinemas. Why, the management of a cinema of Nizam, which was constructed only recently, is extensively renovating it in the hope that this cinema might be the chosen one for the film. According to Ajit Kumar Barjatya, “We are interested in screening our film at ideally good cinemas. We are not going to be lured by cinemas offering attractive terms of ‘high MGs and low theatre hires’. If the cinema is really good, we won’t mind getting lower MGs and giving higher theatre rentals for it. It is our firm belief that a good cinema establishes a film and assures it of a longer run.” On the film’s release strategy, Ajit Barjatya revealed, “We will be releasing the film all over (excluding in the Overseas) with about 250 prints. We will increase the prints subsequently as per the demand/order….” Kantibhai, Rajshri’s distribution manager for Bombay, disclosed, “We are planning to exploit the film at ‘B’, ‘C’ and even ‘D’ class centres within eight weeks of the film’s premiere release. Possibly, there would be about 175 prints in circulation in Bombay circuit alone.”

Hum Print De Chuke Sanam!

A new film screened on cable TV on the day of its release or before is no more news these days, thanks to our men of law turning a blind eye to the menace and a deaf ear to the complaints against this menace. But when a new film is openly screened on the streets through a 35mm projector, it certainly is news, though sad news. Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam was screened on Tuesday night (28th September) in a bylane of BDD Chawls at Worli, Bombay. On receiving a call from an industry friend, the Bombay distributor’s staff rushed to the spot with the police and took the film’s print and projector into custody. It later came to light that the culprit, who had provided the print, was a staffer of the Bombay distributor.

The Sorrow Beneath The Smile!

The C.P.CI. Rajasthan trade is in pain. It is in a state of panic, its mood is one of pessimism. The general feeling is that producers are over-charging distributors, not caring for them and, worse still, making films for the Overseas markets.

Although the distributors and exhibitors manage to keep up a brave front, deep down inside, they are scared, shattered, disturbed and distressed. They are also angry with the producers who have been dishing out sub-standard fare in the name of entertainment. Producers’ egos are massive, they say. But not as massive as their under-production margins.

Reproduced hereinbelow are random comments of trade people whom I met in Indore on September 27 and 28 on the occasion of the annual general meeting and elections of the Central Circuit Cine Association. Some of the remarks may make you laugh but, remember, there’s an underlying feeling of sorrow in all such comments — the sorrow of loss of money, loss of peace of mind, loss of confidence and loss of lots more. My salutations to the distributors and exhibitors of this circuit who still manage to wear a smile in the face of adversity!

Jagdish Advani (C.I. distributor of Hum Tum Pe Marte Hain): “The title of the film should have been Hum Tum Ko Maarte Hain. Because that is what producers seem to be telling distributors today. They are indeed out to kill us with their sub-standard films.”

Aditya Chowksey (C.I. distributor of such films as Kudrat, Laawaris and Doli Saja Ke Rakhna) was badly injured on his forehead a couple of months back in a road accident. When yours sincerely exclaimed, on seeing the stitches on his forehead, “Bahut chot lagi?”, here’s what Aditya replied: “Yeh chot producers ki dee huyee chot se toh bahut kam hai.”

Narendra Jain (Rajasthan distributor), who came to Indore for the CCCA annual general meeting, alongwith many others from Jaipur, revealed that, as is customary every year, there were no cloth banners this year adorning the train bogie in which the Jaipur trade travelled. When someone asked why there were no banners, Narendra Jain quipped: “Nowadays, no banner is worthwhile. Aaj kal, koi banner nahin chalta!”

Trilokinath Kapoor (C.P.C.I. distributor) lamented: “Gone are the days when producers and directors used to take the opinions of their distributors before releasing their films. Nowadays, they don’t even show distributors the film! When Raj Kapoor had kept a trial show of Satyam Shivam Sundaram before its release, he asked each and every distributor to tell him if there was anything lacking in the film. When Vakil Singh (East Punjab distributor) began to sing the film’s praises, (Raj) Kapoor Sahab said, ‘Don’t tell me what is good in the film; tell me, what is bad.’ He used to not just welcome but invite criticism. Compare this to today’s makers who can’t take criticism at all.”

Hemant Vyas (C.I. distributor & exhibitor): “The scene is scary. Films are falling like nine pins at the box-office. We can’t even think of switching businesses because distribution and exhibition is all we know… There’s no fun in doing business today.”

Santosh Singh Jain (CCCA president): “Unscrupulous producers not only charge crazy prices for their films, they also fleece distributors by charging four and five thousand extra per print. One such producer is Bunty Walia. I warned him to refund the excess amount he had charged to the C.P. Berar distributors for Hello Brother or else face Association action. But he quickly telephoned his C.P. distributor and made him speak to me. The distributor told me, ‘Jain Sahab, I’ve got the distribution rights of Bunty Wali’s next film too. If I claim refund of the excess amount charged, I’ll lose the next film. I, therefore, don’t want any money returned.’ Now tell me, what do I do in such a case?”

Harish and Deepak Janiani  (C.I. distributors): “More than films, it is their prices which are failing. All films sold at ratios of 2 crore and more have flopped in C.I. in the last nine months.” Incidentally, their distribution concern has given an overflow of Rs. 1 crore and 4 lakh to the producers of Raja Hindustani.

In the course of the voting, returning officer Joharilal Jhanjharia announced that voters who had any sharirik taqleef did not need to stand in the queue and could cast their vote immediately. To which someone shouted in reply, “Inhone Hello Brother release ki hai. Inse zyada sharirik aur mansik taqleef kisko ho sakti hai?”

Mohan Kasat (C.P. distribjutor): “We don’t have the guts to come to Bombay because we don’t have the capacity to suffer any more losses.” (Kasat has released Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Mann, Taal, Arjun Pandit, Baadshah, 1947 Earth and Dil Kya Kare!!!)

Aditya Kasliwal: “We’ve built the new cinema, Astha (in Indore), specially for Hum Saath-Saath Hain. Raj Babu (Raj Kumar Barjatya) says, ‘The sure way to ensure development of an area is to build a cinema in that area. Howsoever under-developed the area may be, it will develop in no time if a cinema comes up there.’ Astha cinema has 308 seats in Dress Circle (Rs. 20) and 391 seats in Balcony (Rs. 35). Nett capacity per show is Rs. 11,000.”

– KOMAL NAHTA