MUJHE KUCCH KEHNA HAI
Puja Entertainment (India) Ltd.’s Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai, inspired from the Telugu hit Tholi Prema, is a love story. A simple, shy and very noble-hearted boy falls in love with a gorgeous-looking girl but is unable to express his love to her. On her part, the girl is unaware of his love and treats him as a good friend. She dreams of joining the prestigious Harvard University, and the realisation of her dreams begins when she gets a call from the University. All hell breaks loose in the life of the guy but he refrains from expressing his love to the girl as he does not want to come in the way of the realisation of her dreams. He’d rather sacrifice his love than stop her from pursuing further studies because of his love. Till the end, neither does he say anything to the girl nor does he allow his family and friends to let her know of his feelings for her. Ultimately, true love triumphs when the girl herself realises that she, too, had fallen in love with the simpleton without knowing it.
Although the film is a love story, director Satish Kaushik and writers Rumi Jafri, Bholu Khan and Aman Jafri have added masala to make it a family fare. It has very cute comedy, a simple but absolutely heart-warming drama, fantastic music, excellent choreography, beautiful locations and, above all, heart-rending emotions in the last few reels to make it a wholesome entertainer. Surprisingly, there’s no romance between the boy and the girl in this love story (much like there wasn’t any romance in Sirf Tum) but that is the beauty of the subject!
The first half is light and fun-filled but all through it, there’s a likeable warmth in the drama. The simplicity of the tale and the characters wins the audience over in no time. Resultantly, even though the pre-interval portion tries to put in a little of everything so as to make the film wholesome, the viewer enjoys it all for the warmth the film exudes. After interval, there’s more drama and melodrama mixed with terrific emotions. The climax, in keeping with the mood of the rest of the film, is simple, yet tear-jerking. While a section of the audience is bound to feel let down because the boy doesn’t express his love till the end, others may find the ending a logical conclusion because the hero’s character is that of a selfless lover.
Tusshar makes an extremely confident debut as the hero. He acts very ably and with utmost confidence. His expressions and voice are his assets and his honesty and sincerity will endear him to the audience despite lack of the looks of a traditional hero. He is a welcome addition to the list of successful heroes. He dances gracefully too. Kareena Kapoor looks bewitching and enchanting. She exudes sex appeal, oomph and terrific grace in her dances. Her performance is wonderful and her costumes (Manish Malhotra) and make-up deserve special mention. Rinke Khanna is excellent as Tusshar’s elder sister and shines in emotional scenes. The girl deserves more and meatier roles now. Amrish Puri’s is a highlight performance. His usage of English words like “very good” is rather cute. Dalip Tahhil is natural to the core. Vrajesh Hirjee and Hemant Pandey, as Tusshar’s friends, are first-rate. Gopal Tiwari is lovely as Hrithik. Rajiv Kumar and Mehul Kajaria, as the other two friends, lend good support. Alok Nath, Himani Shivpuri, Pankaj Berry, Rashmi, Puneet and the others provide perfect support.
Director Satish Kaushik deserves distinction marks for not only extracting superlative performances from his cast but also for making the narrative smooth, fun- and emotion-filled. Directorially, the film is a very superior product. Dialogues (Bholu Khan and Aman Jafri) are natural. Johny Lal’s camerawork is splendid and so are the foreign locations. Ahmed Khan deserves special mention for his remarkable choreography. Production values are rich. Action scenes are functional. Technically, polished.
Anu Malik’s music is undeniably hit. Rabba mere Rabba is heavenly and its picturisation, par excellence. Maine koi jaadoo nahin kiya, Dupatta mera and the title song (incorrectly placed) are also very beautifully turned. Picturisation of Jab se dekha hai is enjoyable. The four chorus singers/dancers in every antra of the Rabba song are a highlight.
On the whole, Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai will have a lot to tell at the ticket-windows. An engrossing, entertaining and emotional fare, it will be the first universal hit of 2001 and will fetch fabulous returns to its distributors. Class ‘A’. In some circuits, it can even do ‘A1’ business. Youngsters will love it and ladies will like it.
Released on 25-5-2001 at Metro and 14 other cinemas of Bombay thru Raksha Distributors. Publicity: extraordinary (qualitatively as well as quantitatively). Opening: excellent. …….Also released all over. Opening was superb almost everywhere.
LATEST POSITION
The grand opening of a new star cast film, MUJHE KUCCH KEHNA HAI, has brought cheer to the industry, proving once again that hit music and effective publicity can do the trick even if there is limited face value.
Ek Rishtaa The Bond Of Love has managed good collections amidst dull reports. Is very good in Overseas. 1st week Bombay 90,78,499 (87.92%) from 17 cinemas (6 on F.H.); Ahmedabad 39,60,247 from 7 cinemas (2 unrecd.), Rajkot 2,91,932, Jamnagar 1,80,792 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee); Pune 22,19,118 from 5 cinemas, Solapur 3,66,334 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee), Satara 2,16,638 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee); Delhi 64,03,852 (67.06%) from 12 cinemas (3 on F.H.); Kanpur 4,73,142 from 2 cinemas, Lucknow 5,98,022, Allahabad 3,00,132, Bareilly (6 days) 1,62,570, Hardwar 75,000, Jaunpur 80,000; Calcutta 33,43,624 from 12 cinemas; Nagpur 9,74,162 from 4 cinemas, Jabalpur (6 days) 2,36,560, Balaghat 1,10,150, Amravati 2,88,000, Akola 2,69,882, Raipur (6 days, gross) 3,43,660, Bhilai (6 days) 1,60,272, Jalgaon 3,49,614 from 2 cinemas, Gondia (29 shows, gross) 1,52,452, Wardha 1,31,552; Indore 2,41,000 (3 on F.H.); Jaipur 10,27,237 (59.21%) from 3 cinemas, Ajmer (29 shows, gross) 3,75,959, Bikaner 2,94,621, Kishangarh 1,35,977, record; Hyderabad (gross) 28,32,847 from 8 cinemas (5 on F.H.). Total 3,56,73,847 from 96 cinemas.
…………
Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya… 4th week Bombay 11,56,743 (36.39%) from 8 cinemas (8 on F.H.), total for 4 weeks 1,03,11,039; Ahmedabad 15,937; Pune 3,08,116 from 4 cinemas (1 in matinee); Delhi 9,45,159 from 6 cinemas (2 on F.H.); Kanpur 74,737, Lucknow 1,26,113, Allahabad 28,332, 3rd week Bareilly (6 days) 14,846; 4th week Nagpur 1,25,069 from 2 cinemas, Amravati 60,456, Akola 29,000; Bhopal 29,405; Jaipur 70,404 (14.65%).
Albela 5th week Bombay 10,73,111 (34.77%) from 5 cinemas (6 on F.H.), total for 5 weeks 1,53,05,014; Ahmeabad 25,031 (3 unrecd.); Pune 3,20,321 from 3 cinemas; Delhi 2,47,706 from 2 cinemas; Kanpur 82,978 from 2 cinemas, Lucknow 1,54,084, Allahabad 39,210, Bareilly 21,400; Nagpur 1,00,658 from 2 cinemas, 4th week Jabalpur 78,197, total 6,12,426, 5th Amravati 61,933, Akola 5 weeks’ total 3,90,294, Raipur (6 days) 34,556, 4th Bhilai (6 days) 12,707, 5th week Bilaspur 15,400; Bhopal 47,684; Jaipur 6,10,165; Hyderabad (gross) 1,75,807 from 2 cinemas (1 in noon).
Jodi No. 1 6th week Bombay 20,29,468 (47.07%) from 12 cinemas (6 on F.H.), total for 6 weeks 2,39,34,183; Ahmedabad 1,36,649 from 3 cinemas, Jamnagar 24,559, total 3,76,582; Pune 5,55,767 from 4 cinemas (1 in matinee), Solapur 1,88,346 from 2 cinemas; Delhi 8,73,871 from 5 cinemas (1 on F.H.); Kanpur 1,05,299 from 2 cinemas, Lucknow 2,36,915, Allahabad 52,907, Bareilly (6 days) 39,354, Jaunpur 6,687; Nagpur 94,925 from 2 cinemas, Jabalpur (6 days) 48,728, 1st week Kamptee 81,108, 6th Amravati 1,23,356, Akola 70,213, Raipur (6 days) 41,140, Bhilai (6 days) 15,225, Jalgaon 65,245 (5th 88,188), Wardha 30,195, Chandrapur 70,567, total 8,46,623; Indore 50,800; Jaipur 1,02,445 (20.90%), Hyderabad (gross) 2,73,971.
NEW CINEMA AT SATNA
Rajiv Khanna, who owns Jhankar cinema at Rewa (Madhya Pradesh), will open a new cinema at Satna (M.P.; C.I. circuit). Its construction is complete and the interiors work is nearing completion. It will be equipped with Dolby SR sound system supplied by JBL, California. The cinema will be centrally air-cooled and fitted with imported tiles and glass. It is expected to be inaugurated in the first week of July.
The seating capacity is 980 of which 424 seats are in balcony. The chairs have been supplied by Anukool Furnitures, Ahmedabad. The front of the cinema has a car parking area of about 15,000 sq. ft.
UTTARANCHAL FILM CHAMBER
The inaugural ceremony of the Uttaranchal Film Chamber of Commerce was held on 24th May in Dehradun. Union I & B minister Sushma Swaraj was the chief guest. Nityanand Swami, chief minister of Uttaranchal, and Kedar Singh Fonia, minister of tourism and industries, were guests of honour. IMPPA and FFI president Shakti Samanta presided over the function.
AMPTPP OPPOSES WELFARE CESS HIKE
The Association of Motion Pictures & TV Programme Producers has strongly opposed the increase in cine workers’ welfare cess. The Association has dashed off letters to the union labour minister, Satyanarayan Jatiya, and the union I & B minister, Sushma Swaraj, urging that the decision to increase the cess be kept in abeyance. While pointing out that a substantial wage hike is anyway given to members of various crafts associations of the film industry, the AMPTPP points out that there are also several associations within the industry, such as the Film Industry Welfare Trust and the Cine Artiste Welfare Fund, which look after workers’ problems. The AMPTPP also states that although substantial funds have been collected over the years by way of the workers’ welfare cess, “they have not been utilised for any tangible benefit for the cine workers”.
ZEE TO SELL STAKE TO INTL. MEDIA COMPANY
In a bid to globalise its operations, Zee Telefilms Ltd. has planned to sell a stake to a media company of global standing. Chairman Subhash Chandra said this week that such a move would give ZTL more opportunities to distribute its products globally, and the required impetus to increase media assets, syndication revenues, technology advantages and access to capital markets.
UPHAAR FIRE CASE TRIAL BEGINS
The trial in the Uphaar cinema fire case began in a Delhi court on 23rd May, nearly four years after the tragedy occurred. The decision on the release of the cinema’s licence will be taken in July.
Although the charges against the accused were formally framed last month by a sessions judge, the arguments against the charges are being heard in the Delhi high court. There are 16 accused named in the case, with cinema owners Sushil Ansal and Gopal Ansal being the prime accused. The Ansal brothers have filed a revision petition, stating that they have been falsely implicated in the case. The CBI chargesheeted the 16 accused under sections 304-A, 337 and 338 read with section 34 of the IPC.
Fifty-nine people had died in the cinema in Delhi on 13th June, 1997 when a fire broke out in a show of Border.
DAHYABHAI GANDHI NO MORE
Gujarat distributor and exhibitor Dahyabhai K. Gandhi (Prakash Film Exchange) passed away on 24th May in Ahmedabad. He was 72 and is survived by his wife and two sons.
Dahyabhai was the owner of Gurjar Mandir Cinema at Dehgam. He had distributed Jaanwar, among other films.
He used to get Gujarati films exempted from payment of entertainment tax, using his good offices.
ORIYA FILM ACTOR DEAD
Veteran actor of Oriya films, Netrananda Mishra, passed away in Puri recently. He was 78. He was cremated the same day in Puri. He had acted in films like Bandhana, Sansara, Gapa Halebi Sata and Chaka Akhi Sabu Dekhuchi. He had also acted in some Bengali and Hindi films.
SADHANA SARGAM BEREAVED
Neela Ghanekar, mother of playback singer Sadhana Sargam, passed away on 17th May in Pune. She was suffering from cancer. She is survived by a son and a daughter. The daswa rites will be performed on 26th May and the barwah, on 28th May in Pune.
ARUN BANSAL MURDERED
Arun Bansal, proprietor of Naheed, Mala and Radha cinemas, Rampur (U.P.), was murdered on 18th May at his Rampur residence by dacoits. He was the brother of Rajeev Bansal of Rajeev Enterprises, Delhi.
YOU ASKED IT
Why do producers tear off unsold tickets to give the impression that a film is doing house-full business when the same is not true?
– Sometimes, such a false picture helps to give a boost to the film. But only sometimes! If the film is rejected, no amount of ‘feeding’ can help.
If the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal can pass bold scenes in films, why can’t the CBFC — especially, since both follow the same set of censorship guidelines?
– The FCAT is a quasi-judicial body while the CBFC is not.
School vacations are considered a beneficial period for the box-office. This year, however, the vacation period has failed to lift the collections. Comment.
– Collections can’t be better than the films. If films lack the merits, what can holidays do? And even bad films have got a 5-10% advantage due to the vacations this year.
DO YOU KNOW?
* Aamir Khan held a preview of his LAGAAN on 25th May for his all-India distributors. After the show in the evening at Famous-Mahalaxmi, the actor-producer held discussions with the distributors at Hotel Guestline, Juhu, Bombay.
* Amitabh Bachchan, after completing his work in Karan Johar’s KABHI KHUSHI KABHIE GHAM in London, flew to Malaysia to participate in the shooting of David Dhawan’s film. He is currently in Malaysia.
* The under-production ABHAY is Kamal Haasan’s 201st starrer. EK DUUJE KE LIYE, with which he debuted in Hindi films, was his 101st film. ABHAY is based on Kamal’s own novel, Dayam, published 17 years ago.
* EK RISHTAA THE BOND OF LOVE seems to have created the real bond of love with audience in the USA. The film did exceptionally well in first week in the US. In the UK, too, it was at the eighth spot in the first weekend.
* C.I. distributor O.P. Ghoyal has created a record of sorts by acquiring the C.I. distribution rights of about 37 medium- and small-budget films.
* Karan Johar’s unit members, who are in London for the shooting of KABHI KHUSHI KABHIE GHAM, celebrated the young director’s birthday on 25th May by watching MUJHE KUCCH KEHNA HAI. The heroine of both the films, Kareena Kapoor, was also with the unit.
* EK RISHTAA THE BOND OF LOVE has created a city record by collecting 3,75,959/- (gross) in 1st week (29 shows) at Majestic, Ajmer.
* EK RISHTAA THE BOND OF LOVE has created history by collecting 21,23,036/- in 1st week from 2 screens at R World, Adalaj, Gandhinagar (Gujarat). This is the highest ever collection.
* EK RISHTAA THE BOND OF LOVE has created a theatre record by collecting 1,31,552/- in 1st week at Shri Ganesh, Wardha.
* EK RISHTAA THE BOND OF LOVE has created a city record by collecting 2,94,621/- in 1st week at Suraj, Bikaner.
* JODI NO. 1 has created a city record at Kamptee (C.P. Berar) by collecting 81,108/- in 1st week at Shree Talkies. The previous record was held by HS-SH.
3-E
Education-Entertainment-Enlightenment
Savouring Success Separately
The celebrations will have to wait. While Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai was gaining appreciation among cinegoers and trade brethren, none of the film’s principal cast and crew members, save its debut-making hero, Tusshar, was in Bombay to savour the success. While producer Vashu Bhagnani was away at an undisclosed destination, director Satish Kaushik was busy shooting in Malaysia for David Dhawan’s film. Kareena, of course, has been in London, participating in the shooting schedule of Karan Johar’s Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. A lonely Tusshar must have really missed congratulating his colleagues in person. Actually, the youngster was also supposed to be in London on the day of release of Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai, but he postponed the visit, specially for the occasion. He will now join the unit of Padmalaya’s Kyaa Dil Ne Kahaa in London — a little late, but, no doubt, far more confident, thanks to the success of his debut starrer!
‘Khushi’ Spreading Unprecedented Khushi
The Telugu Khushi is out to surpass the Tamil original of the same name. While the Tamil Khushi, starring Vijay and Jyotika, had done a business of over Rs. 10 crore, the Telugu remake, starring Pavan Kalyan (brother of Chiranjeevi) and Bhumika, will cross this figure in Nizam alone. In Andhra, the Telugu version may repeat its historic feat of Nizam! The Telugu Khushi entered its fifth week yesterday (25th May) with extraordinary collections. Interestingly, both the versions have been directed by one person — Surya. Boney Kapoor, who holds the Hindi remaking rights of Khushi, has finalised Surya himself to call the shots the third time over. But who will be the lucky lead pair? Time will tell.
Mirror Images?
As the hype is building up on Aamir Khan’s Lagaan and Zee Network’s Gadar Ek Prem Katha, here are some uncanny similarities between the two films — and it is not only the same release date (15th June) that one is talking about. Lagaan and Gadar are both historicals. While the former is set during the British Raj in the 1900s, the later is set just after the Raj ended in 1947. Both the films are long by conventional standards — Lagaan runs into 3 hours and 40 minutes while the running time of Gadar is 3 hours and 10 minutes! Both will have ‘English’ cinemas as their main theatres in Bombay. Lagaan will be screened at Eros while Gadar, at New Excelsior.
The Long And Longer Of It!
The long running time of 3 hours and 40 minutes means that the screening of Lagaan will have to be restricted to only 3 shows per day, just like Mohabbatein. At 6,142 metres (in 24 reels), Lagaan has surpassed the length of Mohabbatein (6,028.65 metres in 20 reels). Reportedly, the first half of Lagaan runs into 1 hour and 40 minutes, while the second half lasts all of 2 hours.
Firoz Does It Again!
The first Indian producer to mix his film in Dolby sound, Firoz A. Nadiadwala is bringing yet another new technology to India with his forthcoming Awara Paagal Deewana. The Akshay-Sunil-Aftab starrer has become India’s first film to be graded digitally. The digital grading process enriches the colour and texture of the film and yields a much better quality than the traditional optical grading allows. The new process involves digital scanning of every frame of the film at full 2K resolution, with a colour depth of 16 bit per channel. The film, thus scanned, is digitally graded, using an advanced colour correction computer system. Finally, the corrected images are recorded back on to a fine grain film. The end result of the process is to be seen to be believed.
Now, that is as far as the technical aspects of Awara Paagal Deewana go. As regards the content, Firoz is including an item number in the film, which is being shot in the current schedule in Bombay. The song-dance number, for which a Spanish music piece has been specially recorded, will feature a team of Flamenco dancers and musicians from Spain who have been flown into the city to participate in the shooting schedule. The film will also feature stuntmen from London.
Like Father, Like Son
Coincidences in the film industry are aplenty. Like, Bombay distributor Ramesh Sippy’s first independent release was Himmat, starring Jeetendra, in 1970, and his son, Rakesh Sippy’s first release is Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai, starring Jeetendra’s son, Tusshar. Thirty-one years later, history is poised to repeat itself as MKKH is set to be a major success like Himmat. The coincidence doesn’t stop here. The concern of Ramesh Sippy in 1970 was Raksha Film Enterprises, followed by a couple of other names down the years, but Rakesh’s concern is called Raksha Distributors.
Incidentally, the Sippys have tasted success after a pretty long time. MKKH is not just their first release in the new distribution concern, it is also their premiere release after they shifted to their new office less than two months back. Why, it is also the first release after Rakesh Sippy got married. His wife, Sweetu, seems to have brought sweet luck to the business.
New Numero Uno?
Looking to Kareena Kapoor’s beauty and performance in Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai, cinegoers and the trade are already touting her as the soon-to-be number 1 heroine!