LATEST POSITION

MUJHE KUCCH KEHNA HAI is going great guns and is the best in Bombay, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, U.P., Bengal and C.I. It has steadied in Bihar. 

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Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai 2nd week Bombay 43,42,751 (92.28%) from 10 cinemas (6 on F.H.), total for 2 weeks 91,48,406; Ahmedabad 16,87,697 from 5 cinemas (2 unrecd.), Rajkot 1,99,750, Jamnagar 1,00,433; Pune 10,59,754 from 3 cinemas, Kolhapur 100%, Solapur 3,23,941 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee), Satara (14 shows) 93,852 (100%), Islampur 1,64,000 (91.11%); Hubli 1,39,734 (100%), Belgaum 1,52,865 from 2 cinemas, Dharwad 53,267; Delhi 40,68,324 from 9 cinemas (4 on F.H.); Kanpur 4,58,839 from 2 cinemas, Lucknow 5,80,722, Agra 3,20,834, Varanasi 2,06,221, Allahabad 2,35,000, Bareilly (6 days) 1,17,478; Calcutta 8,64,391 from 5 cinemas; Nagpur 5,68,693 from 2 cinemas, Jabalpur 2,43,474 (1st 2,60,351), Amravati 2,51,111 (1st 2,84,851), Akola 2,06,562 (87%), total 4,36,564, Raipur 1,92,104 (1st 2,30,562), Durg 1,38,771 (1st 1,50,684), Jalgaon 1,69,195 (1st 2,19,080), Wardha 84,494 (1st 1,14,182), Chandrapur (27 shows) 1,59,231, Yavatmal (5 days) 50,095; Jaipur 5,00,605 (40.25%) from 2 cinemas, Jodhpur 6,17,853 (76.30%), record, Ajmer (gross) 1,75,760; Hyderabad (gross) 13,94,798 from 5 cinemas; 1st week Davangere 1,87,978.

Ek Rishtaa The Bond Of Love is steady at some centres. Is good in Bihar. 3rd week Bombay 32,83,059 (54.54%) from 12 cinemas (8 on F.H.), total for 3 weeks 1,77,86,394; Ahmedabad 1,14,793, Rajkot 1,29,980, Jamnagar 62,799; Pune 11,45,967 from 5 cinemas, Solapur 1,91,468 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee), Satara 1,06,118 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee); Delhi 17,23,551 from 9 cinemas (2 on F.H.); Kanpur 3,27,879 from 3 cinemas, Lucknow 4,00,211, Agra 2,02,000, Varanasi 1,84,116, Allahabad 2,14,000, Bareilly (6 days) 46,972, Jaunpur 20,000; Calcutta 11,20,553 from 9 cinemas (2 in noon); Nagpur 3,18,932 from 3 cinemas, Jabalpur (6 days) 1,35,096, Amravati 1,85,667, Akola 1,00,135 (2nd 1,23,224), total 4,93,223, Raipur (gross, 6 days) 2,18,424, Jalgaon 1,09,154, Gondia (gross) 97,585, Wardha 52,576, Yavatmal 70,621, total 3,33,008; Indore 84,877; Jaipur 3,25,685, Ajmer (gross) 1,89,706; Hyderabad (gross) 6,64,939 from 2 cinemas; 2nd week Davangere 1,56,218.

Jodi No. 1 8th week Bombay 9,49,246 (48.12%) from 6 cinemas (5 on F.H.), total for 8 weeks 2,61,22,773; Pune 4,54,558 from 5 cinemas (1 in matinee), Solapur (matinee) 36,555; Delhi 2,00,935 from 2 cinemas; Kanpur 62,426, Lucknow 2,06,894, Agra 1,10,000, 7th week Varanasi 47,383, 8th Allahabad 40,647, Bareilly (6 days) 22,611; Nagpur 56,254, 3rd week Kamptee 33,801, total 1,59,809, 8th Amravati 70,930, Akola 48,419 (7th 50,207), total 9,65,164, share 7,35,000, Yavatmal 22,732, total 3,87,536; Jaipur 71,532; Hyderabad (gross) 4,73,847 from 3 cinemas.

KUMAR SANU HONOURED

Michael R. Turner, mayor of Dayton, Ohio (USA), recently honoured Kumar Sanu by declaring March 31 every year as ‘Kumar Sanu Day’.

PEN, CMM TIE UP FOR MUSIC CHANNEL

Popular Entertainment Network Ltd. (PEN) and CMM Broadcasting Network Ltd. have tied up to launch the revamped version of CMM’s music channel which has been on air for the last ten months. With this tie-up, there will be tremendous flow of software related to films and film music. It has been planned to make this music channel a platform for Hindi film producers. This will include the latest trade news on the lines of business news. PEN will also arrange to play songs exclusively on this music channel. It is aimed to become a trendsetter in promoting forthcoming films in innovative forms and formats.

NEW RECORDING STUDIO

The House of Topiwala and Radiogems have joined hands to launch a new recording studio in the premises of Topiwala cinema at Goregaon, Bombay. The studio is equipped for recording on 8-, 16- and 24-track analogue formats as well as 24-track digital format on Soundscape. The House of Topiwala also owns Kareer Dubbing & Mixing Theatre at Worli, Bombay.

‘DRAUPADI’ ON SAHARA

Cinevista Communications’ TV serial, Draupadi, will be aired on Sahara TV from 11th June onwards. A party to launch the serial was held on 4th June at Hotel Guestline.

Draupadi is the Mahabharat retold from a woman’s point of view — through Draupadi’s tears and sufferings.

‘MAHABHARAT’ RE-TELECAST ON NEPAL TV

BR TV’s Mahabharat went on air for the third time on Nepal TV from 3rd June. It is produced and directed by B.R. Chopra and Ravi Chopra.

TOP ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY DELEGATION TO USA, JAPAN

A 30-member high-profile delegation of the Indian entertainment industry will leave for a tour of Tokyo, Los Angeles and Washington D.C. on 10th June. The FICCI Entertainment industry delegation, headed by union I & B minister Sushma Swaraj, comprises top-level bureaucrats, financial company officials and bigwigs from the entertainment sector. The delegation seeks to showcase to global players the opportunities that exist in entertainment products from the Indian sub-continent.

The delegation includes I & B secretary Pawan Chopra, Prasar Bharati CEO Anil Baijal, Maharashtra cultural secretary Govind Swarup, Yash Chopra, Yash Johar, Kamal Kumar Barjatya, Dr. D. Rama Naidu, Lalit Modi of Modi Enterprises, Kunal Dasgupta of Sony, V.J. Lazarus, FFI’s L. Suresh, Rathikant Basu, Jay Mehta of Dreamz Unlimited, Manu Sawhney of ESPN, Bhuvan Lall of Indian Broadcasting Federation, and IDBI general manager Viney Kumar.

In Tokyo, the delegation will meet with the representatives of the Japan Chamber of Commerce & Industry. After attending a few other meetings in Tokyo, it will leave for Los Angeles for a meeting with representatives of the Motion Picture Association of America. During the last leg of the tour, the delegation will meet the chairman of US’ Federal Communications Commission and attend the annual general meeting of the US-India Business Council in Washington D.C.

MUKTA ARTS’ HIGH-TECH RECORDING STUDIO

M’Audeus, a new music recording studio, was inaugurated in the premises of Audeus, off New Link Road, Andheri (W), Bombay, by Subhash Ghai and Anu Malik with the recording of background music of Yaadein this week. The music is being arranged by Jackie Vanjari and Bipin Panchal under the supervision of ace recordists Bala and Hari. Recording will continue till 14th June. The recording studio is a division of Mukta Arts Ltd.

The state-of-the-art digital music studio, designed by Andy Munro (UK), is the first recording studio in India to get THX certification. It has DynaAudio 5.1 custom monitors and is equipped with Harrison Digital Engine (USA). It is also the first fully automated board with 96 channels and the new Fairlight (QDC technology). The Merlin gives 48 tracks of digital recording facility along with digital outboard processors. It has system controls for hard lock and the best video projection system. It also has networking with other studios around the world and the time locking with GPS system will be installed soon. This kind of technology and mixer is the first of its kind in Asia.

AVTAR GILL’S BROTHER KILLED IN ACCIDENT ON SIBTE RIZVI’S SET

Kuljinder Singh Gill (42), brother of actor Avtar Gill, was killed on 6th June in a freak accident when a water tank at Film City, Bombay burst during the shooting of Sibte Hasan Rizvi’s film, Tera Naam Mera Naam. Gill was assisting director Manoj Agarwal. It was only the second day of shooting. The tank was part of the set.

Actor Amrit Patel suffered an electric shock while six others sustained minor injuries. The mishap took place around 3 p.m.

The film stars Govinda and Preeti Jhangiani in the lead. Nitin Desai had designed the set.

CINEMA EMPLOYEES’ STRIKE IN WEST BENGAL
SETTLEMENT IN OFFING

An early settlement to the ongoing strike of cinema employees in West Bengal finally appears to be in sight. Reportedly, the cinema owners have been asked by the government to give a substantial increment to the employees in lieu of a Rs. 3 tax-free service charge per ticket. At present, the service charge is Re. 1 per ticket.

There is a likelihood that the strike, which started on March 23, may be ultimately called off from either June 15 or 22, say industry sources. Leading West Bengal distributor-exhibitor Lalit Kankaria told Information that the settlement in the offing would benefit neither the cinema owners nor the workers.

It may be recalled that about 750 cinemas in West Bengal had downed shutters from 23rd March, 2001 as employees owing allegiance to the Bengal Motion Pictures Employees Union (BMPEU) went on an indefinite strike. The Union was demanding a 70% hike in basic salaries of the cinema employees.

For the past two-and-a-half months, films have had extremely lopsided releases in the circuit owing to the closure of many cinemas in the state. Hopefully, Lagaan and Gadar Ek Prem Katha may reap the benefit if the strike is called off by 15th.

YOU ASKED IT

Which is the first-ever Indian box-office hit?

– Dadasaheb Phalke’s LANKA DAHAN, released in 1917 and which ran for 23 weeks in Bombay, is the first box-office hit. Reportedly, the money collected at the ticket-counters had to be transported in bullock-carts with armed guards. 

Will the two biggies, Lagaan and Gadar Ek Prem Katha, affect Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai from next week owards?

– Nothing can affect a well-set hit. Collections of MKKH will, of course, come down next Friday but the film will regain its strength soon thereafter.

Which was the first air-conditioned cinema of India?

– Regal in Bombay was the first cinema to have air-conditioning. The AC plant was installed in 1933 when the cinema opened. Regal was also the first cinema in Asia to have underground car parking. The underground car park is now closed for security reasons. 

DO YOU KNOW?

* MUJHE KUCCH KEHNA HAI has created a theatre record by collecting 2,06,562/- in 2nd week at Uday, Akola. Ladies and families are patronising the film in a big way.

* In spite of heavy rains at Durg, MUJHE KUCCH KEHNA HAI collected 1,38,771/- in 2nd week at Swaroop cinema. 1st week was 1,50,684/-.

* MUJHE KUCCH KEHNA HAI has created a record by collecting 6,17,853/- against a capacity of 8,09,816/- in 2nd week (28 shows) at New Kohinoor Upper, Jodhpur.

‘MUJHE KUCCH KEHNA HAI’ SWEEPS IN C.I. 

* The second week’s shares of MUJHE KUCCH KEHNA HAI in Indore, Bhopal and Gwalior are also more than of KN…PH, as in the first week. 

* MUJHE KUCCH KEHNA HAI has yielded a share from Shivpuri (a ‘B’ class centre of C.I.) in 2 weeks which is more than the entire run’s share of KN…PH from the same cinema. Interesting to note that KN…PH opened at Shivpuri after becoming a super-hit whereas MUJHE KUCCH KEHNA HAI was released at the centre simultaneously with its premiere.

‘MUJHE KUCCH KEHNA HAI’ MAGIC IN BOMBAY CIRCUIT

* MKKH has drawn all 28 shows full in 2nd week at City Pride 2, Pune. It has also created a record by drawing 100% at Vasant, Pune. At Rahul, Pune, it has collected a record 5,04,798/- in 2nd week (21 shows).

* MKKH has drawn all 7 shows full in 2nd week at Uma, Solapur (81,278/-) too. In 1st week at the renovated Asha, Solapur, also, it drew all 21 shows full (2,42,663/-).

* MKKH has created a city record by drawing 100% in 2nd week at Shahu, Kolhapur.

* MUJHE KUCCH KEHNA HAI has created another record by drawing all 14 shows full (93,851/-) in 2nd week too at Radhika, Satara.

* MKKH has collected 2,13,925/- in 2nd week against a capacity of 2,23,020/- at Pratap, Sangli. A total of 23 shows out of 28 were full.

* Despite heavy rains on the last 2 days of the week, MKKH has collected 1,64,000/- against a capacity of 1,80,000/- in 1st week at Mankeshwar, Islampur.

* In spite of rains, MKKH has collected a record 9,54,432/- in 2nd week at R World, Ahmedabad.

* MKKH has drawn 23 out of 28 shows full in 2nd week at Pratap, Baroda.

* At Rajhans, Surat, MKKH has drawn 23 out of 28 shows full in 2nd week. 

* MKKH is creating havoc in Bombay-Karnataka. It yielded a distributor’s share of 4.76 lakh in 1st week and another 4.61 lakh in 2nd week. ….At Bijapur, while the total run’s share of a hit film normally doesn’t exceed Rs. 1 lakh, MKKH has fetched a share of 1,53,000/- in 1st week alone!! ….It has drawn all shows full at Sudha, Hubli (1,39,734/- in 21 shows), Chitra, Belgaum (1,07,803/- in 21 shows) and Nartaki (matinee), Belgaum (45,062/-). 

‘MUJHE KUCCH KEHNA HAI’ RECORDS IN DELHI-U.P.

* MUJHE KUCCH KEHNA HAI has created theatre records in the following cinemas of Delhi in 2nd week: Odeon by collecting 5,56,313/-, Golcha (3,87,006/-), Liberty (6,03,032/-), PVR Anupam (6,42,688/-) and Alpna (3,88,869/-).

* MKKH has created a theatre record by collecting 5,80,722/- in 2nd week at Novelty, Lucknow. Of the 28 shows, 26 were full. The cinema has tied up with the leading chaat-waala of Lucknow, Chhappan Bhog, and got printed special fancy tickets with the logo of Chhappan Bhog on them. Any patron holding this special ticket is entitled to free chaat after the show!

* MKKH has created a theatre record by collecting 3,19,185/- in 2nd week at Movie House, Kanpur.

* MKKH has created a theatre record by collecting 2,14,640/- in 2nd week at Vijay, Gorakhpur. 3rd week 1st day: 26,500/-.

* MKKH has created a city record by collecting 3,12,039/- in 2nd week at Nandan, Meerut.

* MKKH has created a record by collecting 1,63,767/- in 2nd week at Nandan Aligarh.

* Delhi-U.P. distributor Brijesh Tandon had to seek the intervention of the MPA, Delhi, when an exhibitor declined to return the print of MUJHE KUCCH KEHNA HAI after the contracted 2-week run. Tandon had to supply the print of Milan cinema, Delhi to Vishal, but the Milan management refused to part with the print because of good collections. Why, the exhibitor even offered to screen the film in 3rd week (simultaneously with Vishal) on percentage basis. But the MPA prevailed upon Milan to return the print and it finally reached Vishal where the film opened yesterday (8th June).

* The advance booking of GADAR EK PREM KATHA was started a week earlier — on Friday (8th June) instead of the customary Monday (11th June) — at Anand cinema of Lucknow. The response was excellent.

3-E
Education-Entertainment-Enlightenment

Experimenting, Vashu Style

Vashu Bhagnani has hit upon an unusual idea to lure the audience to repeat Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai. From 14th or 15th June, he will show some deleted scenes of the film and an entire new song as an added attraction in the film. The 10-minute addition will be screened after the film’s end, in every cinema showing the film. Needless to add, the distributors of the film are pretty excited about it.

The Surprise Of ‘Yaadein’ 

That Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor are the current sensations is an undisputed fact. That both of them in their first film together, Yaadein, will, therefore, create magic on the screen is now taken as a foregone conclusion. But Jackie Shroff may well spring the biggest surprise in Subhash Ghai’s film. From the songs and a few scenes of Yaadein which Information has seen, it gets the feeling that Jackie will sweep the audience off their feet. Not only is Jackie looking mind-blowing, but he has also done a superb job as Kareena’s father and Hrithik’s best pal. While dubbing his dialogues in an emotional scene this week, Jackie’s emotions got the better of him and he began to cry in the dubbing theatre!

Not A One-Film Wonder

Ninety-five per cent of the trade had written off Muhje Kucch Kehna Hai even before its release, assuming that hero Tusshar wouldn’t be accepted by the audience. It may be because of this reason that almost the entire trade felt that although the film had opened to full houses, it would not sustain. They proved wrong. Now that the film is a confirmed hit in most of the circuits, the trade is going wrong yet once again. How? The majority in the trade feel that Tusshar is a one-film wonder and will not be accepted in any other role/film. But the public reaction is quite different. Not just the film, but Tusshar, too, has been accepted in a big way. It is Tusshar and producers of his forthcoming films, who will have the last laugh. Incidentally, our industry which thrives on superstition, has made up its mind that Tusshar has tasted success only because Jeetendra and his family are passing through a very lucky phase of their lives. By assuming so, the industry is being rather unfair to Tusshar. Let it be said again that the boy’s sincerity and honesty come across so beautifully on his face and in his performance that there’s no reason to believe, it won’t be the same in his forthcoming films. And, frankly, we do have several other heroes, too, who don’t boast of great looks but are still popular. So why not Tusshar? Let it be heard loud and clear that a new star is born with Vashu Bhagnani and Satish Kaushik’s Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai.

‘Love’ly Booklet

The publicity booklet of Rajiv Rai’s Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat is eye-catching, to say the least. Stills from the film, the colours and the rose-motif used throughout the booklet easily convey the film’s romantic mood. Moreover, the booklet explains the relationships of the lead players — Sunil Shetty, Aftab Shivdasani, Arjun Rampal and Keerthi Reddy — with each other in the film.

The Sound Of ‘Lagaan’

Aamir Khan and director Ashutosh Gowariker are pleased as punch after prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, home minister L.K. Advani and I & B minister Sushma Swaraj saw their Lagaan earlier this week in Delhi and praised it. But also thrilled is Sushil Bhatnagar, film production co-ordinator (India), Dloby Laboratories Inc., UK. The reason for Bhatnagar’s joy is that Films Division’s preview theatre in Delhi, where the show was held, has a Dolby digital sound system (installed by R & S Electronics). Before the screening for the PM, Dolby engineers flew from Bombay to the capital city to ensure that the sound quality was perfect. Neena Gupta, deputy secretary film, I & B ministry, personally previewed a test-run of the film prior to the screening and was happy with the quality of the Dolby soundtracks. Besides Aamir, others present at the PM’s show were Aamir’s wife, Reena, presenter Jhamu Sughand, John Mathew Matthan and Uday Kaushish of Shiela cinema, Delhi.