SHOOTING COVERAGE
‘TERA MERA SAATH RAHEN’: THE ABIDING SAGA OF LOVE
It’s a sultry May afternoon — one of the days when you really feel hot under the collar. The scene takes place at Kamal Amrohi Studios where Mahesh Manjrekar is shooting the climax of N.R. Pachisia’s Tera Mera Saath Rahen on an incredibly realistic and huge set. The scene involves the lead pair, Ajay Devgan and Sonali Bendre, child artiste Dushyant, Shivaji Satam and Reema and a horde of junior artistes playing bastiwallahs. Ajay is going somewhere with the boy, a spastic. Sonali stops him. Then, Sonali tries to go away. The boy beseeches her to stop, and the three of them then move back towards their house in a poignant moment of reconciliation, lustily cheered by the bastiwallahs.
Mahesh, who has also written the story and screenplay, is quite effusive in his praise for Tera Mera Saath Rahen. He feels, it is his best offering till date. Why? “It deals with an oft-ignored but very integral part of our society, the spastics. They have their own special needs that need to be addressed by their family members. In the film, Ajay has a younger brother who suffers from such an affliction. Sonali plays Ajay’s love interest. She learns to accept her man with all his responsibilities. Ajay has his own shortcomings. Ajay and Sonali grow as individuals in the film, both maturing into sensitive adults.” And no, he didn’t get his story idea from Rainman. He has not even seen the Hollywood classic, says he, adding that his inspiration came from a real-life character in his Wadala (Bombay) neighbourhood of yore. This handicapped boy was loved by his parents and the entire neighbourhood. The neighbours also rushed to each other’s help, whenever needed, unlike in affluent societies.
Mahesh Manjrekar had tried to make the subject into a television serial way back in 1989 but had failed. Ultimately, the project got a fresh lease of life when Babloo (N.R.) Pachisia agreed to produce a film based on the subject. Mahesh says, it took him some time to convince Babloo who is rather known for producing action flicks.
Babloo, on his part, is all praise for his present venture. “While making this film, I feel, I’m making a great film. This film will win an award,” he says confidently.
After the current schedule of 25 days, the film will be 80% complete. Four songs and talkie portion of four to five days will then remain to be wrapped up. The songs will be shot abroad. There are eight songs in the film, composed by Anand Raaj Anand and penned by Sameer.
Art director R. Varman says, it took him 25 days to construct the set which is truly an imposing one. It includes an old but formidable-looking building in a chawl, named Avabai Byramjee Barfiwala Mansion, made in Victorian style. There is a courtyard which has a Shiva temple. There are three structures outside the complex, displaying shops, offices, computer training institutes and so on. There is also an anti-AIDS hoarding to boot!
Varman completes 300 films now, having started with Mahesh Bhatt’s Manzilein Aur Bhi Hain way back in 1979.
Ajay Devgan is his usual cool self. There is something very believable, very earthy, very genuine about this guy. Of his role, he says, he is playing a normal middle-class person who adores his mentally challenged younger brother. He is forced to take tough decisions for his sake but emerges a stronger person. Talking about the film, he explains, “It is a very touching film. Dushyant has delivered a commendable performance as a mentally challenged boy.”
Sonali plays an upper-middle class girl in the film. Namrata is a bindaas tomboyish character who is in love with Ajay. Shivaji and Reema are her parents. Dushyant, the child artiste, informs that he was sent to a special school meant for spastics, to learn how they behaved. It was a fruitful 10 days that he spent in their company. And the sincerity of his effort shows in his performance.
The film should be ready for release this October.
– SWARNESH SINHA
LATEST POSITION
The industry awaits the big releases starting from next week.
Daman is dull. 1st week Bombay 4,18,324 (18.19%) from 4 cinemas (4 cinemas unrecd., 1 on F.H.); Pune 1,33,441 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee); Delhi 8,20,473 (27.86%) from 5 cinemas (1 on F.H.); Kanpur 32,209, Lucknow 1,26,047; Nagpur 89,823 from 2 cinemas, Amravati (6 days) 17,976, Sagar (4 days) 16,819.
Khatron Ke Khiladi fares badly. 1st week Bombay 9,17,859 (33.09%) from 7 cinemas (4 on F.H.); Ahmedabad 96,642 from 2 cinemas; Solapur 59,872 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee); Delhi 6,81,712 (23.01%) from 6 cinemas (2 on F.H.); Kanpur 1,18,971 from 2 cinemas, Lucknow 99,838, Varanasi 67,611; Nagpur 71,399 from 2 cinemas, Jabalpur 32,254, Amravati 42,685, Akola 47,136, Raipur 33,686, Jalgaon (8 days) 53,163; Jaipur 62,959 (10.06%); Hyderabad (gross) 3,50,364 from 5 cinemas.
Uljhan is also depressing. 1st week Bombay 7,52,707 (25.56%) from 6 cinemas (3 on F.H.); Pune 2,37,179 from 3 cinemas; Delhi 2,34,712 (12.96%) from 3 cinemas (3 on F.H.); Lucknow 48,814, Agra 42,000, Varanasi 38,841; Nagpur 62,649; Jaipur 62,780 (10.36%); Hyderabad (gross) 1,71,087 from 3 cinemas.
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Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya… is good in Bombay. 2nd week Bombay 30,92,051 (55.51%) from 11 cinemas (6 on F.H.), total for 2 weeks 72,24,155; Pune 6,25,601 from 3 cinemas (1 in matinee), Solapur 75,284 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee); Delhi 28,26,959 from 2 cinemas; Kanpur 1,72,452 from 2 cinemas, Lucknow 2,08,745, Agra 92,000, Varanasi 49,428, Allahabad 56,003, 1st week Bareilly (6 days) 61,626; 2nd Calcutta 5,60,746 from 2 cinemas; Nagpur 1,83,224, Amravati 85,660, Akola 45,654, Raipur (6 days) 38,023; Indore 84,911, Bhopal 77,361; Jaipur 2,99,812 (37.86%).
Albela has held well in some stations of U.P. 3rd week Bombay 17,91,128 (50.80%) from 8 cinemas (7 on F.H.), total for 3 weeks 1,23,59,324; Ahmedabad 1,48,540 from 2 cinemas, Jamnagar (matinee) 6,500 (1 in regular unrecd.); Pune 7,62,109 from 4 cinemas, Solapur 1,16,307 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee); Delhi 6,79,193 from 3 cinemas (2 on F.H.); Kanpur 1,41,593 from 2 cinemas, Lucknow 2,91,713, Agra 1,32,000, Varanasi 92,631, Bareilly 47,572, 1st week Jaunpur 29,000; 3rd week Calcutta 1,91,928; Nagpur 2,07,625 from 2 cinemas, 2nd week Jabalpur 1,59,884, total 4,03,167, 3rd week Amravati 83,834, Akola 50,000, Raipur (6 days) 62,213, Durg 37,947, Jalgaon 61,531, 1st week Gondia (29 shows, gross) 1,10,852; 3rd Indore 61,112 (2 on F.H.), Bhopal 1,24,841; Jaipur 6,42,919 (75.92%), Ajmer (28 shows, gross) 1,26,193; Hyderabad (gross) 3,16,701 from 2 cinemas (1 in noon).
Jodi No. 1 is strong in Maharashtra and is doing well in U.P. too. 4th week Bombay 24,34,961 (71.51%) from 9 cinemas (7 on F.H.), total for 4 weeks 1,88,26,206; Ahmedabad 3,65,637 from 4 cinemas (3 cinemas unrecd.), Jamnagar 49,888; Pune 7,42,897 from 4 cinemas (1 in matinee), Solapur 2,52,434 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee); Delhi 22,67,634 from 9 cinemas (3 on F.H.); Kanpur 1,82,830 from 2 cinemas, Lucknow 3,80,467, Agra 2,55,000, Varanasi 97,367, Bareilly (6 days) 61,733, Jaunpur 15,935, total 1,25,502; Nagpur 2,10,558 from 3 cinemas, Jabalpur (6 days) 74,889, Balaghat 37,117, total 2,58,271, Amravati 1,47,088, Akola 1,06,245, total 7,04,303, share 5,92,000, Raipur (6 days, gross) 1,52,239, Jalgaon 91,055, Wardha 46,838, Chandrapur 1,03,104, total 6,73,245, Bilaspur (6 days) 61,500, Sagar 25,512; Indore 97,022 (2 on F.H.); Jaipur 1,78,137 (23.40%) from 2 cinemas, Ajmer (28 shows, gross) 90,881, Bikaner 39,019.
MULTIPLEX IN RAJKOT
A multiplex of three screens is proposed to come up in Rajkot. Being made by Chunibhai Mandavia and Bhupendra Mandavia, the cineplex will be near their Drive In cinema, about 5 kms. from Rajkot. The legal procedures are complete and construction will start soon.
The complex will also have an amusement park, a bowling alley and food counters. Phone: 571423.
MHADA’S CASE AGAINST SAMEER SEN
A case has been registered by the Economic Offences Wing of Bombay police against music director Sameer Sen (of Dilip Sen Sameer Sen) for allegedly misusing properties allotted by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) at Aram Nagar, Versova, Andheri (West). It has been alleged that he converted a part of the unit allotted to him for “conducting research in Indian classical music” into Sabah Sound Recording & Dubbing Studio for commercial purposes. The matter is now in court, and Sameer Sen has obtained a stay order against MHADA’s vacating order.
UNIVERSAL MUSIC PREMISES RAIDED
The Andheri (Bombay) police on 10th May raided the Bandra office of Universal Music, following a court order directing the police to carry out searches for audio and video cassettes of Daler Mehndi’s song, ‘Nabi Buba Nabi’, released by Universal, at all suspected places. The court was ruling on complaints lodged by the Mumbai Regional Muslim League, claiming that Daler Mehndi had “made fun of Islam and Nabi the Prophet” in the song. About 15 League members accompanied the police team during the raid.
Earlier in the week, Daler Mehndi had agreed to drop the words ‘Nabi’, ‘Ali’ and ‘Madina’ from the song after facing protests from Raza Academy, a local Muslim religious group. But the League alleged that the old cassettes, with the objectionable words, were still in circulation and had not been called back.
2-YEAR EXTENSION FOR ‘KBC’
Star India has extended its contract to produce the Amitabh Bachchan-hosted hit game show, Kaun Banega Crorepati, by two more years. The original one-year contract for the show was to expire in June this year. Britain’s Celador Productions owns the rights for KBC which is based on the hugely popular British game show, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. According to Celador, the Indian version of the show is the most successful among all versions of the original show aired in 66 countries around the globe.
TELUGU FILM DIRECTOR T. KRISHNA DEAD
Veteran editor and director of Telugu films, T. Krishna, died in Hyderabad on 8th May. He was 74 and is survived by two sons and six daughters. In his 50-year-long career, Krishna edited more than 350 films, including Raj Kapoor’s Boot Polish and Premalekhalu (Telugu version of Raj Kapoor’s Aah).
CHAMAN LAL MALHOTRA NO MORE
Chaman Lal Malhotra, ex-president of Motion Pictures Association, Delhi and attorney of Eagle Films, Delhi, passed away on 10th May in Delhi. His cremation took place the same evening at Bodh Ghat.
BALKRISHNA KAKADE PASSES AWAY
Balkrishna Bhaurao Kakade, owner of Ratan and Nishat cinemas of Pune, passed away on 9th May in Pune.
G.D. DESHPANDE DEAD
G.D. Deshpande, ex-general manager of Sri Rajshri Pictures P. Ltd., Secunderabad, passed away on 5th May at his residence. His funeral was well-attended. Mr. Deshpande had worked for more than 50 years for Sunderlal Nahata. He was soft-spoken and was known for his helpful nature.
PREM DHAWAN PASSES AWAY
Well-known film lyricist, music director, producer and choreographer Prem Dhawan passed away on 7th May at Jaslok Hospital, Bombay, following a massive heart attack. He was 76.
Although Prem Dhawan was trained in music and dance, he began his film career as a lyricist with Bombay Talkies’ Dev Anand starrer Ziddi in 1948. The film, which had music by Khemchand Prakash, also marked the debut of playback singer Kishore Kumar. In all, Prem Dhawan wrote lyrics for about 300 films, notable among which were Ae watan, ae watan and Mera rang de basanti chola from Shaheed (1965) — for which he also scored the music — Seene mein sulagte hain armaan from Tarana (1951) and Ae mere pyare watan from Kabuliwala (1961). Prem Dhawan also produced several short films under his banner, Triveni Films. The government of India honoured him with a Padma Shri in 1970.
ILLEGAL PRINT SEIZED
Acting promptly on a tip-off by the Motion Pictures Association, Delhi, the local police raided Shree Talkies, Basti (U.P.) earlier this week and seized copy no. 26 of Beti No. 1. The film, yet unreleased in Delhi-U.P., was being screened illegally at the cinema since 4th May. The print was allegedly supplied by one Kaka Bhatia of Gorakhpur (U.P.).
Gurcharan Singh, proprietor of Kartar Palace cinema of Basti, assisted in the raid.
SHAH RUKH TO DEPOSE IN GULSHAN KUMAR CASE
Shah Rukh Khan, Chunkey Panday and Anuradha Paudwal, alongwith 223 other witnesses, have been summoned to depose in connection with the Gulshan Kumar murder trial. Public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam submitted to the court the list of witnesses proposed to be examined. The trial will begin on 18th May.
Fardeen Khan Arrested, Released On Bail
Fardeen Khan, who was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau in the early morning hours of 5th May for possession of cocaine, a banned drug, was freed on bail on 10th on a personal bond of Rs. 25,000. He was arrested while buying cocaine from a drug peddler outside a hotel at Juhu, Bombay. The drug peddler, Nasser Abdul Karim Shaikh, was also arrested alongwith Fardeen. Later, Nasser’s drug supplier, Tony Gomes, too, was arrested by the NCB.
Fardeen had been remanded to police custody till May 18 by the special judge, M.S. Keny, who heard the case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
The bail conditions for the release of the actor, son of Feroz Khan, stipulate that he attend the Narcotics Control Bureau office at Ballard Estate every day till 18th May. He has also been directed not to leave the city without the express permission of the court. The judge has also asked the young actor to deposit his passport with the court. The NCB has been allowed to approach the court in case Fardeen violates his bail conditions. Nasser and Gomes did not apply for bail and will remain in NCB’s custody till 18th May.
The NCB has booked both, Fardeen and Nasser, under the NDPS Act, claiming that the duo was found carrying out a drug transaction at the time of the arrest. According to the NCB, Fardeen and Nasser met near an HSBC automated teller machine (ATM) at Juhu at about 1.40 a.m. on 5th May for the deal. Fardeen picked Nasser up in his Opel Astra and drove to the drive-in ATM where he tried to withdraw Rs. 4,000 to pay the peddler for one gram of cocaine. However, his card got stuck in the machine and he was unable to withdraw any cash. Meanwhile, the NCB men rushed to his car and nabbed the duo. Nasser was found to be in possession of cocaine at the time. The NCB has stated that the entire incident has been recorded by the security cameras installed at the ATM and that the video tapes would be produced in the court at the time of trial.
While observing that the duo had been arrested prior to a transaction taking place, special judge M.S. Keny noted that it served no purpose to keep Fardeen in custody as investigation in his case was complete. In granting bail, the judge set aside special public prosecutor Usha Sisodiya’s plea opposing the bail application. She had contended that the banned substance had been recovered from Fardeen’s car which had been seized and that the veracity of the actor’s claim that he was only a consumer could not be ascertained. The bail application was heard on 8th and then again on 10th. Ayaz Khan argued on behalf of Fardeen who admitted before the NCB officials that he did take cocaine occasionally because of the stressful life he led. His lawyer contended that only section 27 of the NDPS Act, which attracts punishment of only a year-and-a half, be applied to the actor.
YOU ASKED IT
Will Fardeen Khan’s popularity be adversely affected by his arrest in the drug consumption case?
– Not at all! Public memory is short. Besides, history proves that any sort of negative controversy involving a star acts in his favour.
When will the music of Yaadein be released?
– On 30th May in Delhi. Tips will flood the market with more than 7.5 lakh audio cassettes as it is hopeful of a stupendous response to the music of Subhash Ghai’s Hrithik Roshan starrer. Its music is scored by Anu Malik.
Which was the first colour film released in India.
– KISAN KANYA, released in 1937.
When will Rajshri’s Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon roll?
– On 29th May, at Mehboob Studios in Bombay.
3-E
Education-Entertainment-Enlightenment
‘Gadar’: Ek Naee Katha!
Nittin Keni, the executive producer of Zee’s Gadar Ek Prem Katha belongs to a breed of film producers which is almost extinct today. When showing trials of your film to even your distributors is considered out of fashion (read that dangerous), Keni has made it a point to sell his film after letting the prospective buyers see its rushes!
In the good old days, producers used to either sell their films after holding previews or, at least, invite their distributors to see the rushes after they had bought the film. But as film prices went up and, therefore, producers’ stakes increased, they made it a trend to keep distributors out of their trial shows. Producers conveniently overlooked the fact that if their stakes were high, so were the stakes of their distributors. The latter have been complaining of this step-motherly treatment meted out to them after they’ve paid huge under-production instalments but could the producers care? That is why a producer like Nittin Keni comes as a pleasant change for prospective distributors.
Teaching The Star Some Discipline
If there is one thing Telugu film actor Prakash Raj is good at, besides acting, it is how to stage a drama. The actor recently staged a silent dharna near the office of the Hyderabad State Film Chamber of Commerce. He was protesting against the six-month ban imposed on him by the Movie Artistes’ Association. The MAA had earlier written to the actor, asking for an explanation following a complaint lodged by Padmalaya Studios that the actor had failed to give his dates after accepting a role in its Telugu film, Vamsee. Padmalaya also stated that repeated pleas had evoked no response from the actor. Being the consistent actor he is, Prakash Raj did not respond to MAA’s letter either. That is when the MAA decided to discipline the guy and slapped a Rs. 10,000 fine on him. The Association also demanded that he tender an unconditional apology. Realising that the matter was taking a serious turn, Prakash Raj changed his tune. He immediately paid the penalty and apologised, besides returning the advance amount paid to him by Padmalaya. However, the MAA wasn’t yet through with him — or so it seems — for, it subsequently imposed a six-month ban on the actor.
The actor took to the streets, terming the ban “unfair”. He insists that the whole thing was a “mistake” as he had been too busy to sort it out initially. Last heard, following the dharna, the MAA is contemplating lifting the ban, the message having been delivered to the errant actor, loud and clear.
Coincidence Or Precedence?
Call it coincidence or bad timing, somehow the releases of Ram Gopal Varma’s recent films have been marked by some controversy or the other. Within just 10 days of the release of Ramu’s latest production, Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya…, its hero, Fardeen Khan, was nabbed by the police for possession of cocaine. While Fardeen was lucky enough to be let off on bail within a week, Kannada film superstar Dr. Rajkumar, who was kidnapped by Veerappan on whose life Ramu’s Jungle was based, wasn’t favoured so soon by fortune. In July 2000, Dr. Rajkumar was held hostage for many weeks, after being kidnapped by the notorious forest brigand, Veerappan. Curiously, the kidnapping took place just two weeks after the release of Ramu’s Jungle!
If these two incidents constitute any sort of precedence, one hopes, nothing happens after the release of Ramu’s Companywhich takes a hard look at the underworld dons.
‘Nayak’ Heats Up
Shankar was to have shot a song sequence for his Nayak – The Real Hero in St. Petersburg (Russia) in the melting snow but decided otherwise. Instead of Russia, the unit is now parked in the burning Bikaner (Rajasthan, India) where the temperature soars to an unbelievable 48 degrees Celsius! Anil Kapoor and Rani Mukerji must be worse off than the rest of the unit because the song picturisation requires them to be dressed as king and queen respectively. Shooting, which began in Bikaner on 6th May, will conclude on 13th. A part of the song will be shot in yet another oven-hot city, Delhi. So instead of the snow, the nayak and nayika have had to encounter the villainous heat.
In New Territory?
C.I. distributor J.P. Chowksey may have relinquished the rights of Gadar Ek Prem Katha for C.I. But he may keep a share in the distribution of the same film in Gujarat. The distribution rights for Gujarat have been acquired by a new entrant, Kamal, at a phenomenal price. Similarly, the rights for Saurashtra, too, have been given at a very fancy price.
Fancy Offer For ‘Yaadein’
While on J.P. Chowksey and Kamal, it would be in place to mention that they offered Bombay distributor Tolu Bajaj an unbelievably high price for the distribution rights of Subhash Ghai’s Yaadein for Gujarat. The signing amount was also to be phenomenal. However, the deal did not take place as Tolu will strike deals only after the film’s music is released.
New Look For Sanjay Kapoor
Sanjay Kapoor, with his new get-up, seems to have caught the attention of the trade. The publicity brochure of Boney Kapoor’s Koi Mere Dil Se Pooche, distributed with copies of Film Information last week, showed Sanjay in an attractive and different get-up. The film, directed by Vinay Shukla, introduces Esha Deol and co-stars Aftab Shivdasani and Jaya Bachchan.