DAHEK
M.J. Films’ Dahek (UA) is the love story of a Muslim girl and a Hindu boy. The girl belongs to an orthodox family which does not approve of any member falling in love, least of all outside their religion. Much after they’ve met and fallen in love, the girl and the boy realise that they belong to different communities, a fact they had never deliberated upon because they weren’t aware of it in the first place. The girl’s family fixes her marriage with a boy of its choice, but her Hindu lover elopes with the girl from the marriage venue. All hell breaks loose in the girl’s house, and the news of the elopement spreads like wild fire. It is exploited by selfish people from both the communities for their personal gains. The family affair degenerates into a social, political and communal issue, giving rise to rioting, arson and bloodshed in the city! Some time later, the girl and the boy are arrested and handed over to their respective families. Unable to stay without each other, the two leave their homes to once again run away, but some unidentified people shoot them dead.
The film, which appears like a poor cousin of Mani Ratnam’s Bombay, has neither the passion and pain of a love story nor the histrionics of a volatile drama. The whole premise of communal riots breaking out due to an inter-religious marriage looks unbelievable in today’s times of liberal sentiments. Had communal tension been shown as already existing and the marriage only aggravating it further, it would have appeared more plausible. The point of the girl and boy realising, only after a series of meetings, that they belong to different religions, looks ridiculous. The romance between them lacks fire.
The film has taken too long in the making and release, and the delay shows everywhere. There are also several continuity jerks which are jarring, to say the least. The first half is terribly slow. The pace picks up a bit, only in the second half. The sermonising dialogues on religion get too much at times.
Akshaye Khanna does a good job, as usual. Sonali Bendre is alright. Danny Denzongpa is effective as Sonali’s uncle. Dalip Tahhil, playing Akshaye’s father, acts quite ably. K.K. Raina and Achla Sachdev impress. Anang Desai, Anjana Mumtaz, Achyut Potdar, Kanu Gill and the rest lend average support.
Lateef Binny’s direction is hardly any better than his incorrect story and screenplay (jointly written by K.K. Raina). Dialogues (Javed Siddiqi) are good at some places. Music (Aadesh Shrivastava) has melody. ‘Meri aankhon mein tum’ and ‘Saawan barse’ are very well-tuned. Song picturisations are ordinary. Camerawork is of standard. Production and other technical values are just about fair.
On the whole, Dahek is a non-starter with no chances of picking up.
Released on 17-12-’99 at Dreamland, Metro (matinee) and 14 other cinemas of Bombay thru Veekay Enterprises. Publicity: poor. Opening: dull. …….Also released in Delhi-U.P., East Punjab and C.I.
TABAAHI – THE DESTROYER
AMGF’s Tabaahi – The Destroyer (A) is a revenge drama of an utterly routine kind. Every scene is a clichéd one, and the screenplay is simply made up of contrived situations. It tells the story of a military commando who serves the nation but finds it tough to punish the enemies within the country. The commando’s brother, a police inspector, and his wife are killed by a don and his accomplices. When the commando comes to know who the culprits were, he tries to seek revenge. And, quite predictably, he eliminates the bad elements.
Mithun Chakraborty, as the commando, is miscast and his performance is lacklustre. Ayub Khan, as his younger brother, is poor. Indira does not have much scope. Divya Dutta is fair. Danish and Monisha are okay in a dance number. Mukesh Rishi is so-so. Tej Sapru and Girija Shankar are fair. The rest pass muster.
Direction (by debut-making Gopi Sapru) could have been better. Music is poor. Action scenes are tame. Cinematography and other technical aspects are ordinary. Production values are hardly noticeable.
On the whole, Tabaahi – The Destroyer is fated to prove its title true for the distributors, more so, due to its release during Ramzan. Total loss.
Released on 17-12-’99 at Super and 10 other cinemas of Bombay thru Friends Movies. Publicity: fair. Opening: poor. …….Also released all over.
BAHKE KADAM
Om Namah Shivay Films’ Bahke Kadam (A) is a sex-educational film. It preaches about the bad effects of sexy films, TV programmes and even cinema posters. A college-going boy and girl fall in love with each other. Another boy, the wayward son of a sincere education minister, loves the same girl, but when she rejects him, he tries to rape her. His frustration makes him land at a brothel, under the influence of an evil friend. The minister takes a proposal to the girl’s father for his son’s marriage with the girl when he learns that his son had tried to rape her. But the girl’s father turns down the proposal. The girl, in the meantime, is forced to marry her lover as she is carrying his child. Her younger sister, who is a teenager, feels the pangs of sex when she sees her sister and brother-in-law indulging in sex. She almost becomes sex-starved but the death of her sister at the time of childbirth makes her a psychic case — she is afraid of any man coming near her. Meanwhile, the minister’s son, who was sent out of town by his father, comes back after contracting AIDS. He wreaks vengeance by killing all those who, he thinks, were responsible for his miseries, including his evil friend and his beloved’s widower-husband. Ultimately, he is killed by his own father. A group of college students start campaigning against open sex in society and asking for the introduction of sex education in schools.
The drama is crude and provides enough titillation all through. The bad effect of early marriages has been told well. Other bad effects have a more sermonising effect and are less entertaining and dramatic. Dialogues are ordinary.
Robin Ghai is no hero material. Raashi is fair. Aman Sagar is dull. Vaarun Vaardaan is quite good. Pramod Moutho has done well. Shakti Kapoor looks and acts like a perfect brothel-keeper. Aryan, Amisha, Aruna Sangal, Abhay Bhargav and Suhas Khandke give average support. Guest Trishna’s dance is good.
Direction is fair. Music is ordinary. Photography and other technical aspects are below the mark.
On the whole, Bahke Kadam has titillation value for front-benchers.
Released on 17-12-’99 at Shalimar and 4 other cinemas of Bombay thru Rero Films. Publicity: fair. Opening: so-so. …….Also released in East Punjab.
MADHURI DIXIT’S WEDDING RECEPTION
A reception to celebrate the marriage of top heroine Madhuri Dixit with Shriram Nene will be held this evening (18th December) at The Club. The actress had got married to Shriram in the US on 17th October this year.
GULSHAN RAI BACK HOME
Producer and Bombay distributor Gulshan Rai, who was admitted to the Breach Candy Hospital, Bombay, some weeks back, following a paralytic stroke, was discharged recently.
CANADA INDIANS’ AWARD FOR GURDAS MAAN
The Indian community in Canada has honoured Gurdas Maan as the ‘Outstanding Punjabi Star of the Millennium’. The honour was bestowed on him in recognition of his dedication to promote Punjabi culture and language. Maan was given the award on his recent visit to Canada.
Incidentally, following the success of his film, Shadeed-E-Mohabbat, Maan will be launching his next, titled Zindagi Khubsoorat Hai, in the first week of January 2000.
MAHESH KOTHARE ATTENDS MHASAWAD YATRA
Mahesh Kothare, actor and producer-director of Dhangad Dhinga (Marathi), visited Mhasawad yatra in Satara district recently. The collections at cinemas screening Dhangad Dhinga received a boost on the main day of the yatra due to his presence.
ORDER ON LAST SHOWS IN BIJAPUR
The superintendent of police in Bijapur has ordered that the last shows in cinemas of Bijapur should conclude by 11.30 p.m. Hum Saath-Saath Hain is, therefore, being screened in daily three shows at Amir from 2nd week onwards (that is, from last week).
NEW SOUND SYSTEM INSTALLED
A 6-track digital sound system was installed at Prabha Cinema, Bareilly, on 28th November. The sound system was formally inaugurated by minister of state for petroleum & natural gas, Santosh Gangwar.
Nadeem Shravan To Score Music In Kuku Kohli’s Next
Kuku Kohli has signed Nadeem Shravan to score the music for his forthcoming film. The songs will be recorded in London where Nadeem is facing extradition proceedings for his alleged involvement in the Gulshan Kumar murder case. The film, to be produced by Aroona Irani, will star a new boy and a new girl. It will be shot in London and India. It is likely to roll in April 2000.
Kuku Kohli told Information, “The police officials will not create hurdles if we assign the music direction of the film to Nadeem Shravan. I have been assured of that.” Added the director, “When someone asked me who will be the stars in my film, I replied that the only stars I’ll have in the new film will be Nadeem Shravan. Nadeem has some really wonderful new tunes ready.”
PRODUCTION NEWS
‘Pukar’ On 4th February
Recording of background music of Boney Kapoor and S.K. Films Enterprises’ Pukar will be completed on Dec. 20. Final mixing will begin soon thereafter at Media Artist, Madras. Pre-mixing of dialogues and effects are already complete. The film will be submitted for censorship by 27th December. Produced by Surinder Kapoor, co-produced by Bharat Shah and written and directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, the film stars Anil Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit, Namrata Shirodkar, Om Puri, Girish Karnad, Farida Jalal, Anjan Shrivastava, Shivaji Satam and Danny Denzongpa. Music is scored by A.R. Rahman.
The film is due for release on February 4 all over.
‘Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai’ Recording, Shooting
The seventh song of Boney Kapoor and S.K. Films Enterprises’ Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai was recorded on Dec. 16 and 17 at Sunny Super Sounds. Penned by Javed Akhtar, it was rendered by Udit Narayan and composed by Sanjeev Darshan. A 12-day shooting schedule will begin on Dec. 20 at Padmalaya Studios in Hyderabad. Anil Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai and Sonali Bendre will participate alongwith kids. The film is being directed by Satish Kaushik for producer Surinder Kapoor.
‘Aaghaaz’ First Shooting Spell Complete
The initial 15-day shooting schedule of Suresh Productions’ Aaghaaz (The Beginning) concluded on Dec. 13 on Bombay locales and at Kamal Amrohi Studios. A song and scenes were picturised on Sunil Shetty, Sushmita Sen, Namrata Shirodkar, Anupam Kher, Asha Sachdev, Sharat Saxena, Gulshan Grover, Johny Lever, Alok Nath, Padmini Kapila, Akshay Anand, Govind Namdev, Anjan Shrivastava, Mukesh Tiwari, Shraddha Nigam, Dina Pathak, Asrani, Viju Khote, Yunus Perwaiz, Rakesh Bedi, Rajesh Puri, Rajendra Mehra, Dinyar Tirandaz, Brij Gopal, Sanjay Swaraj, Shashi Kiran, Manoj Joshi, Ahsan Khan and Suresh Oberoi with Sharad Kapoor and Saadhika who make guest appearances. The film is being directed by Yogesh Ishwar for producer Dr. D. Rama Naidu from a screenplay by Nikhil Saini. Dialogues: Kamlesh Pandey. Cinematographer: Shyam K. Naidu. Music: Anu Malik. Lyrics: Sameer. Art: Sharmishtha Roy. Dances: Ganesh Acharya. Action: Abbas.
‘Tarkieb’ Complete
The entire shooting of Jay Movies’ Tarkieb has been completed in 60 days. The second and last shooting schedule was held in Bhopal and Pachmarhi from Nov. 21 to Dec. 10. Only one song now remains to be picturised. Produced by Jay Mehta and directed by Esmayeel Shroff, the film stars Nana Patekar, Tabu, Shilpa Shetty, Aditya Pancholi, Milind Soman, Raghuvir Yadav, Tiku Talsania, Akhilendra Mishra, Razzak Khan, Deepak Qazir and Ashutosh Rana. Written by Moin-ud-din, the film has music by Aadesh Shrivastava. Lyrics: Nida Fazli. Choreographers: Ahmed Khan and Lollipop. Cinematography: Mazhar Kamran. Action: Sham Kaushal. Audiography: Buta Singh. Art: Vimlesh Lal. The post-production work of the film has already begun. It is presented by Pranlal Mehta.
‘Hadh Kardi Aapne’ Complete
With the conclusion of the final shooting schedule on Dec. 14 at Hiranandani Complex and Nair bungalow, the entire shooting of R.R. Productions’ Hadh Kardi Aapne is now complete. Produced by Rajiv Anand and Rakesh Malhotra and directed by Manoj Agrawal, the film stars Govinda, Rani Mukerji, Nirmal Pandey, Ritu Shivpuri, Johny Lever, Tinnu Anand, Satish Kaushik, Avtar Gill, Navneet Nishan, Himani Shivpuri, Tanaaz Currim, Viju Khote and Paresh Rawal. Story-screenplay: Rajeev Kaul and Praful Parekh. Dialogues: Anwar Khan. Camera: Nirmal Jani. Action: Andalib Pathan. Dances: Ganesh and Chinni Prakash. Art: Leeladhar Sawant. Sound: Jagmohan Anand. Editing: Arun Shekhar. Lyrics: Anand Bakshi. Music: Anand Raaj Anand.
YOU ASKED IT
How much profit can a super-hit non-film audio album yield?
– Maybe, even more than a crore!
Some big producers appoint agents to scrutinise accounts of distributors. Isn’t this practice of keeping a hawk’s eye on distributors a ridiculous exercise?
– If some distributors don’t reveal true accounts, isn’t that ridiculous too?
How do you compare the business of Rajshri’s HS-SH with that of Rajshri’s HAHK..! and the previous blockbuster, KKHH?
– In Bombay, HS-SH will do about 40% of HAHK..! and 85% of KKHH. In Delhi-U.P., it will do 25% of HAHK..! and 60% of KKHH. In East Punjab, the respective percentages are again 25% and 60%. In West Bengal, it is 35% and 65% respectively. In Bihar, HS-SH will do 60% of HAHK..! and 120% of KKHH. In C.P. Berar, it will do 70% of HAHK..! and 135% of KKHH. In C.I., it will do 65% and 100% respectively. In Rajasthan, HS-SH will do 65% of HAHK..! and 120% of KKHH. In Nizam, it will do 90% of HAHK..! and 125% of KKHH. In Mysore, it will do 45% of HAHK..! and 80% of KKHH.
DO YOU KNOW?
* Puru Raaj Kumar will play a villain in Boney Kapoor’s HAMARA DIL AAPKE PAAS HAI. With Sanjay Kapoor set to play a negative role in Boney’s new film (to roll shortly), it seems that heroes are now wearing the masks of the bad men!
* Govindbhai Patel has a penchant for releasing his films on the auspicious Makar Sankranti day (Jan. 14). Like his several previous Gujarati hits, including DESH RE JOYA DADA PARDESH JOYA, LAJU LAKHAN, OONCHI MEDI NA OONCHA MOL, etc., his new film, GAAM MA PIYARYU NE GAAM MA SASARYU will also hit the screens on 14th January, next year.
* BINDHAST (Marathi) is being remade in Tamil by director Priyadarshan, with Tabu and Jyotika Sadanah in the main cast. The film is also being remade in Malayalam and Telugu (by other directors). It has already been dubbed in Hindi.
MIX MASALA
OF SONY, SUCCESS & CELEBRATION
Earlier this week, we received a wonderfully designed invitation card for a celebration party hosted by the mega television channel, Sony, at The Oberoi yesterday (17th December). The extremely classy invitation came in the form of a diary. Its cover, made of genuine leather, had ‘Mantras of Success’ embossed in golden. Inside, there were some of the most relevant quotations on ‘success’, by famous people. A few samples:
♦ Success is what you do with what you’ve got.
– Leroy Van Dyke
♦ If you don’t leap, you’ll never know what it’s like to fly.
– Guy Finley
The invitation sure creates an impact!
3-E
Education-Entertainment-Enlightenment
‘Raju Chacha’ And Dirty Politics
Ajay Devgan must be cursing the day he decided to put up a set for his Raju Chacha in Ooty in the Schoolbund area. After taking due permissions from the authorities, the producers began the set construction work which took three months to complete, besides a couple of crores of rupees. Set workers worked furiously not only in Ooty but also in Bombay to ready the set for the shooting. But as shooting was about to begin, actor-producer Ajay was told by the authorities that he would not be allowed to shoot there for environmental reasons. And this, after he had spent so much time and money for the set erection. Insiders reveal that the issue has assumed a political colour, with the opposition party trying to stall the shooting and a scared ruling party not wanting to antagonise the opposition. Consequently, it is poor Ajay who has been made the scapegoat. Anyway, Ajay succeeded in obtaining a stay order from the Madras high court, against the authorities’ refusal to let him shoot.
Phir Bhi Price Hai Hindustani…
No producer in today’s times would dream of doing what Shah Rukh Khan has done. At a time when it is the rule rather than the exception to hike film prices, the debut-making producer, Shah Rukh, has gone ahead and reduced the price of his film, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, for C.I. circuit. It was felt by the actor-producer that the price for C.I. was a little on the higher side. If only more producers would think like Shah Rukh Khan does, the industry would be such a nicer place to be in.
