ALBELA
Tips Films’ Albela is a love story which boasts of almost nil romance! A tourist guide in India falls in love with a rich and pretty girl from Austria. She, however, is unaware of his feelings for her. The girl loves a journalist from India but her father can’t bear her romance with any Indian. On the other hand, the tourist guide has a girl living in his neighbourhood, who loves him. But the guide does not understand her love. Ultimately, the rich girl gets her beloved (journalist), and the guide appreciates his neighbour’s love for him and goes to her.
The story and screenplay by Honey Irani are poor, to say the least. The drama moves at a snail’s pace, that is, if it does. Although a love story, there’s no romance because most of the times, it is one-sided romance. The rich girl and the Indian journalist reciprocate each other’s love but their romantic track is brief and hardly romantic. Since there’s no feeling of romance, there’s no sorrow or pain too, when the lovers don’t meet. The climax is an apology and gets over in a jiffy. Javed Siddiqi’s dialogues are terribly routine except at a couple of places. Making the guide speak English is jarring, more so because his (Govinda’s) accent is quite vernacular.
Jackie Shroff looks handsome and is restrained as the journalist. He gets limited scope. Govinda, as the tourist guide, is not able to endear himself to the audience as he usually does in his other films. He is not even in form in comedy scenes which are his forte. Part of the blame for this also goes to the poor scripting. Aishwarya Rai looks a stunning beauty and also acts very naturally. Her costumes are gorgeous. Namrata Shirodkar doesn’t have much to do; she is alright. Saeed Jaffrey is as stagey as can be. Maya Alagh does a routine job. Rest fill the bill.
Deepak Sareen’s direction is dull. The film turns out to be neither a love story nor a comedy. The comic scenes have been treated with utmost immaturity. Only one comedy scene — Govinda’s confrontation with Saeed Jaffrey — is somewhat funny. Music (Jatin Lalit) is very melodious. All the songs have hit and pleasing tunes and are, perhaps, the only plus point in an insipid drama. Song picturisations are colourful and the foreign locations, on which they’ve been shot, add to their appeal. Manmohan Singh’s camerawork is mind-blowing. Locations are beautiful. Editing is weak. Sets are rich.
On the whole, Albela is neither here nor there. A poor show all the way, it will not leave any mark at the box-office except, to an extent, in Bombay circuit where it has taken an excellent start.
Released on 20-4-2001 at Metro and 19 other cinemas of Bombay by Tips Films thru R.G. International. Publicity: superb. Opening: extraordinary. …….Also released all over. Opening was excellent in Gujarat but below the mark in other circuits. 1st day Raj Mandir, Jaipur was not full.
LATEST POSITION
The dull opening of ALBELA this week has yet again saddened the trade.
Jodi No. 1, as predicted last week, is excellent in Bombay and Nizam. Records very good collections in U.P. and C.P. Berar. In Delhi, collections were impressive despite the taxi, autorickshaw and bus strike, and unseasonal rains. However, collections began to drop in Delhi from 5th day onwards. Is not up to the mark in East Punjab, Bengal, Bihar, C.I. and Rajasthan. 1st week Bombay 87,92,208 (95.24%) from 15 cinemas (6 on F.H.); Ahmedabad 32,09,374 from 9 cinemas, Rajkot 2,57,800 (1 in matinee unrecd.), Jamnagar 1,57,742 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee); Pune 17,46,919 from 5 cinemas (1 in matinee), Solapur 3,73,394 (100%) from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee), Satara (gross) 1,98,079; Delhi 58,06,533 from 10 cinemas (7 on F.H.); Kanpur 4,77,868 from 2 cinemas, Lucknow 5,44,882, Agra 4,88,427, Varanasi 2,70,134, Allahabad 2,48,890, Bareilly 2,24,398, Jaunpur 62,692; Calcutta 5,10,005 from 5 cinemas; Nagpur 10,51,886 from 5 cinemas, Jabalpur (nett) 2,57,316, Balaghat 1,12,361, Akola 3,10,083, Raipur (6 days, gross) 3,36,911, Durg 1,25,585, Gondia (gross, 29 shows) 1,35,315, Wardha 1,50,591, Chandrapur 3,00,206, Sagar over 90,500; Indore 2,31,000 (3 on F.H.); Jaipur 6,25,979 (40.69%) from 3 cinemas, Ajmer 2,56,439, Bikaner 2,05,986 from 2 cinemas, Bharatpur (4 days, gross) 96,000; Hyderabad 32,10,495 from 8 cinemas (4 on F.H.).
………….
Rahul 2nd week Bombay 7,25,007 (49.37%) from 6 cinemas (5 on F.H.); Baroda (21 shows) 60,112; Delhi 3,33,315 from 4 cinemas; Kanpur (6 days) 49,375, Lucknow 1,52,650, Agra 35,000, Varanasi 26,168; Nagpur 35,908; Indore 40,000 (1 unrecd.).
Censor 2nd week Bombay 68,596 from 2 cinemas (2 on F.H.); 1st week Pune 1,27,618 from 3 cinemas; Jaipur 37,592, Ajmer 48,658.
GOOD TIMES AHEAD FOR EXHIBITORS
After about a month of big to medium releases, there’ll be a lull for two consecutive weeks beginning May 4. There is no major release on 4th and 11th May. Daman, Uljhan and a host of small, non-star cast films will hit the screens on 4th. There’s no worthwhile release in the following week. So the position of exhibitors vis-à-vis distributors, which had only now become better, will once again become weak in the two weeks.
After that, there’s a line-up of major release. Ek Rishtaa on 18th May, followed by Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai on 25th May and Lagaan on 1st June. Zee is targetting Gadar Ek Prem Katha for 8th June but there is a likelihood of just a week’s postponement. Similarly, Goldie Behl’s maiden directorial venture, Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai…, is scheduled for release on 15th but it might be pushed ahead by a week or two. The month of June would’ve ended with Rajiv Rai’s love drama but Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat may actually make it in July.
All in all, exhibitors may find themselves in a happy situation after mid-May. God willing!
CINEMA EMPLOYEES’ STRIKE IN WB CONTINUES
The Bengal cinema employees’ strike entered its 30th day today (21st April). No settlement is still in sight. The strike call was given by the Bengal Motion Pictures Employees Union (BMPEU) when the demand of the employees for a heavy increase in wages was not met.
As a result of the strike, a number of cinemas in West Bengal are closed since a month.
G.S. MAYAWALA ELECTED MPA PRESIDENT
G.S. Mayawala was elected president of the Motion Picture Association, Delhi, at its elections on 14th April in Delhi. G.D. Mehta and Kirit Desai were elected vice presidents. S.M.S. Khan was voted hon. general secretary. Vinod Lambha, Rajinder Singh, Vikram Sethi and Surinder Pal were elected joint secretaries. The aforesaid eight were elected unopposed.
The other 10 elected to the executive committee were: Lalit Kothari – hon. treasurer, Ravinder Rastogi, Brijesh Tandon, Sanjay Ghai, Kamal Jain, Rakesh Jain, Narinder Sharma, Rakesh Paul, Sunil Bhasin and Sakshi Mehra. Ramswaroop Marwah and his son, Rishi, lost the elections.
MUKTA ARTS’ AGM
The 19th annual general meeting of Mukta Arts Ltd., the first after its IPO last year, was held on 16th April in Bombay at Rang Sharda, Bandra. The meeting was presided over by Subhash Ghai, chairman and managing director, and was well-attended by members of the company, many of who raised questions on the performance and future prospects of the company. Two members greeted Subhash Ghai with flowers and expressed their faith in the Mukta family.
Ghai, in his speech, welcomed the members and briefly explained about the operations and future prospects of the company. He thanked the government of India, the state government of Maharashtra, financial institutions, banks and the media for their continued support.
He also apprised the shareholders on how the filmmaking industry was different from FMCG businesses and asked investors to understand that the unique nature of the industry required a company’s performance to be assessed over annual rather than quarterly periods.
The annual report of Mukta Arts was praised by everyone present, for its printing and content. The report sought to educate investors about the film industry and filmmaking in general, and Mukta Arts in particular.
‘KAANTE’: PNC JOINS HANDS WITH SANJAY GUPTA
Producer-director Sanjay Gupta and Pritish Nandy Communications Ltd. have joined hands to make White Feather Films’ Kaante. The two hosted a party at The Leela on 20th April to announce the joint venture.
Kaante stars Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Sunil Shetty, Kumar Gaurav, Lucky Ali and (director) Mahesh Manjrekar. It is scheduled to roll in August.
RATAN KUMAR PASSES AWAY
Producer Ratan Kumar expired on the night of 17th April at his residence in Bombay. He was 75 and had been suffering from a liver ailment. He is survived by his wife, a daughter and three sons.
Ratan Kumar produced several films, including Madari, Banjaran, Noor Mahal, Bankelal (which was also directed by him) and Do Chehre. He was remaking his Madari at the time of his death.
Uthamna will be held on 27th April at 6 p.m. at his office, situated at 121/23, Dadasaheb Phalke Road, Hariram Mansion, above Ranjit Studio, Dadar (E), Bombay. Phones: 412-9122/415-1924.
D. HANUMANTHA RAO NO MORE
Producer, distributor and exhibitor D. Hanumantha Rao of Padma Priya Creations, Secunderabad, expired on 14th April in Hyderabad. He was the past hon. secretary of the Hyderabad State Film Chamber of Commerce. A condolence meeting was held on 16th in the office of the Chamber.
ARUN BHATT BIDS ADIEU
Arun Bhatt, prominent producer-director of Gujarati films, who was admitted to Nanavati Hospital on April 14 following a paralytic stroke, died in the early hours of April 17. He leaves behind his wife Bharatiben, three daughters and a son. He was 67.
Educated at St. Xavier’s College, Bombay, he started as an assistant director under his father, veteran Vijay Bhatt of Prakash Pictures. Thereafter, he wrote and directed documentaries for the govt. of Gujarat. He made his debut in feature film direction with the Hindi film, Vardaan, in 1975. Soon after, he turned to producing Gujarati films with his brother-in-law, Kishore Vyas. Among the 16 Gujarati films he directed, six — Ver No Vaaras, Mota Ghar Ni Vahu, Hiro Ghoghe Jai Avyo, Ghar Ghar Ni Vaat, Lohi Ni Sagai and Shetal Tara Oonda Pani — were for his home banner. He directed five for Bharat Films, the most successful being Parki Thapan. His other films included Via Viramgam, Jugal Jodi and Lakhtar Ni Ladi Ne Vilayat No Var. His production, Ma Baap, directed by Kishore Vyas (for which Arunbhai wrote the story and screenplay), set the trend for social subjects in the then folklore-ridden Gujarati cinema.
Rangai Ja Ne Rangma, his last Gujarati film which he was directing at the time of his death, is two-thirds ready.
Later in his career, Arunbhai had directed two Hindi films — Jawani Zindabad for Pranlal Mehta, and Ghar Jamai for B.P. Shahabadi.
He had won five Gujarat state government awards for direction.
Katha Sarita, a TV series based on Gujarati short stories, directed by him, was telecast on Ahmedabad Doordarshan. He was on the panel of selectors for Gujarat State Film Awards for three years.
Arunbhai was a voracious reader of literature in Gujarati, Sanskrit and English. Jovial and unpretentious, he was never short of words in appreciating good work of his contemporaries.
‘KALASIUNDAM RAA’ BAGS AWARDS
Kalasiundam Raa bagged the award for the best film of 2000 at the 1999-2000 Yuva Kalavahini Awards for Telugu films, presented in Hyderabad on 19th April. The film also bagged the best actor award for Venkatesh, and the award for the best villain. Samarsimha Reddy was adjudged the best film of 1999. It also won the best actor award for Balakrishna, besides awards for the best villain and the best dialogues.
Soundarya made a clean sweep, bagging the best actress award for both years — Premaku Velayera for 1999, and Tommidi Nelalu for 2000. E.V.V. Satyanarayana was named the best director for 2000 for Ammo Okato Thariku, while Arun Prasad bagged the award for the previous year for Tammudu. Nandamuri Krishna for Seetharama Raju and L.B. Sriram for Ammo Okato Thariku were named the best character actors for 1999 and 2000 respectively.
YOU ASKED IT
I want to make a teenage romantic film. Can you suggest a good heroine who should know to dance, because the film will be a musical?
– Esha Deol. She is a brilliant dancer!
To whom do you give the credit for the brilliant opening of Albela in Bombay? And to whom do you give the discredit for the ordinary opening of the film in other territories?
– The credit goes to Tips’ superb promotion and the extremely good music. But these good points seem to have been overshadowed by Aishwarya Rai’s Christian character in the film, so evident in the promotional trailers.
With music and satellite markets falling, will production budgets of films become tight?
– May be, film prices will go up!
DO YOU KNOW?
‘JODI NO. 1’ RECORDS IN U.P. IN 1ST WEEK
* JODI NO. 1 has created a theatre record by collecting 5,44,882/- (100%) at Pratibha, Lucknow.
* Creates a theatre record at the fully renovated Jwala Cinema in Agra by collecting 4,88,427/- (in 28 shows).
* Creates a theatre record by collecting 2,70,135/- at Sajan, Varanasi.
* Creates a theatre record by collecting 2,76,145/- at Nishat, Meerut, against a capacity of 2,92,334/-; collects an additional 62,869/- in extra midnight shows due to Nauchandi fair.
* Creates history by collecting 2,54,874/- (95.76%) at Surjit, Aligarh.
* Creates an all-time record at Saroj, Moradabad by collecting 2,70,135/- (92.90%).
* Creates a record by collecting 3,33,596/- at Vasant, Ghaziabad.
* Creates a theatre record by collecting 2,31,096/- at Kalpana, Saharanpur.
* Creates a theatre record by collecting 2,24,598/- at Imperial, Bareilly.
* Creates a record by collecting 2,48,890/- (88.29%) at Payal, Allahabad.
3-E
Education-Entertainment-Enlightenment
‘Bits’ Become Big Issue
The Delhi-U.P. trade body, Motion Picture Association (MPA), is becoming strict. At a meeting of the Association, held on 17th April, it was resolved that the MPA would itself monitor the screening of ‘bits’ in sexy films and report the matter to the police. The menace of adding uncensored portions — called masala in filmi parlance — has assumed gargantuan proportions all over India. Realising that it is not just illegal to add ‘bits’, but the itsy-bitsy ‘bits’ are also eating heavily into the collections of big films for which distributors are paying huge prices, the MPA decided to act — and act it did! It decided that the membership of erring exhibitors and distributors would be suspended. Another decision taken by the MPA was that depots would not be entertained by distributors except for Eastern U.P. It was felt that depots undersold the films and, thereby, caused losses to distributors. Yet another decision likely to be taken by the MPA is that old films will soon not be allowed to be released under new names. The practice of changing titles and reviving old films under new titles is very common in Delhi-U.P. Actually, this business of releasing old films under new names was started by Delhi-U.P. distributors but is now common in other circuits too. The MPA, taking note of this all too common practice, may resolve to not permit it henceforth.
‘Sholay’ Revisited
The party hosted by director Ramesh Sippy and Hutchison Max Telecom, to release the National Award-winning book, ‘Sholay – The Making Of A Classic’, by Anupama Chopra on 19th April at The Regent Hotel, was a nostalgic affair. More than 25 years after the legendary film wrote box-office history, a book on its making has been released. This book was adjudged the best writing on cinema in the National Film Awards 2000, announced only last month. While Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan were there at the party, Dharmendra and Hema Malini were both conspicuous by their absence. It may have been a sheer coincidence that when G.P. Sippy had, a year ago, hosted a party to announce a sequel of Sholay, it was Dharmendra and Hema who attended, while the Bachchans were nowhere in sight.
National Award winner Anupama Chopra, who only last week delivered a baby girl, made a brief appearance at the party which was also to honour her. Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan, the lead pair of Rohan Sippy’s (son of Ramesh Sippy) under-production film, were also present as were many of the stars of Sholay.
Sunil Shetty’s New Venture
The beautification drive at Girguam Chowpatty in Bombay received a major boost when actor Sunil Shetty plunged in as the event manager of H2O, a water sports complex launched on 19th April. The project is the brainchild of Rajiv Somani, CMD, Drishtii Adventure Sports Pvt. Ltd. (DASPL).
As event manager, Sunil Shetty’s Popcorn Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. will cater to the palate of the users of the water complex. In other words, the company will manage the cafeteria as well as a floating restaurant, to come up later, at the water sports complex. And is his participation purely a commercial venture? Sunil denies, “Apart from being a commercial venture, it is also something which I’m giving back to the city. It is a joint effort by all of us to make Bombay a more beautiful place to live in.”
When asked how he would manage to oversee the operations in spite of his acting commitments, Sunil was candid. He said that he was only adding glamour to the project as an actor. “The whole thing is, in fact, managed by Rajiv,” he informed.
Apart from being a recreational centre, H2O will also extend life-saving facilities during Holi and Ganeshotsav. The complex will have a health club and a yoga centre in due course of time.
Terror Titles
If only script writers could be half as imaginative as those coming up with fancy film titles, we’d have a great variety of films made in Bombay. Take a look at titles for the registration of which the AMPTPP has received applications:
Main Namard Nahi, Budha Ghar Pe Hai, Pati Naram Devar Garam, Chikni Chikni Saali Garam Garam Gharwali. ….One Saika Art seems to have fallen in love with the hit Adnan Sami number, for, it has applied for two titles borrowed from it — Kabhi To Kareeb Aao and Kabhi To Nazar Milao.
The dot-com fever seems to have afflicted the television industry. For, someone has applied a title like Www.Hungama.Com for a serial. ….One Super Music & Entertainment seems to have flipped for Karan Johar’s Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham… so much that it seeks the title Kahin Khushi Kahin Gam for a TV serial. ….In House Productions, which has several shows on air on Sony TV, is, perhaps, planning a chat show or the like with Kamal Haasan. Otherwise, why would it apply for registering titles like Kamal Ke Saath and The Kamala Hassan Show? ….There seems to be a Govinda in the television industry too. For, a title that’s come up for registration is Serial No. 1! ….Perhaps, inspired by the phenomenal success of Ekta Kapoor’s Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, one Karan Films Intl. has sought registration of Budha Bhi Kabhee Damad Tha for a television serial. ….Although Grace Films may have no connection with Vashu Bhagnani, the title it has applied for registration for its serial bears a striking resemblance to Vashu’s last film. The title is Mera Jhadoo (not Jadoo) Chal Gaya!