LATEST POSITION
GADAR has taken the nation by storm. It has written new history all over, breaking old records in every circuit and almost every centre and creating new ones. Eighth day was also supremely strong. LAGAAN has also found terrific appreciation but its collections have been affected (except in Bombay and South) by the opposition of GADAR. LAGAAN is extraordinary in good cinemas of ‘A’ class centres but is not up to the mark in small centres. However, looking to the crazy audience reaction in cinemas, it has brilliant chances of consolidating its position at places where it is not strong. Intensive publicity campaign to drive home the point that it is a family film will make a world of a difference in small centres. It appears that, as predicted last week, in the box-office race, universal-appeal GADAR will zoom past LAGAAN in North India while family-appeal LAGAAN will zip ahead of GADAR in Bombay, South and Overseas.
Lagaan 1st week Bombay 72,80,960 (98.65%) from 13 cinemas (all cinemas in 21 shows, 6 on F.H.); Ahmedabad 27,58,716 from 5 cinemas, Baroda 3,32,516, Rajkot 99,930 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee), Jamnagar 1,40,656 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee), Bhuj (21 shows) almost full; Pune 19,52,668 from 4 cinemas, Kolhapur good, Solapur (21 shows) 2,54,227 (90%), Ahmednagar 100%, Satara (gross) 2,27,412 (84.22%); Hubli 100%, Belgaum 100%, Dharwad 100%, Bijapur (21 shows) 1,47,698; Delhi 89,47,660 (86.70%%) from 14 cinemas (2 on F.H.); Kanpur 5,55,091 from 3 cinemas, Lucknow (21 shows) 4,07,912 (100%), Agra (21 shows) 4,52,000, Varanasi 1,97,095, Allahabad 1,73,895 (100%), Bareilly (6 days) 84,000, Jaunpur (21 shows) 50,000; Calcutta 23,62,835 from 14 cinemas; Nagpur 9,22,664 (83.92%) from 4 cinemas, Amravati (22 shows) 2,21,841, Akola (22 shows) 1,73,552, Raipur (6 days) 1,75,857, Bhilai 1,67,921, Jalgaon (22 shows) 1,94,838, Wardha (21 shows) 91,394, Chandrapur (21 shows) 2,01,229; Indore 4,18,291 from 2 cinemas (2 on F.H.), share from 4 cinemas about 7,81,000, Bhopal (21 shows) 2,33,000 (1 unrecd.), Mohw (21 shows) 69,000; Jaipur 9,90,987 (68.52%) from 3 cinemas, Jodhpur 5,50,220, Ajmer (22 shows, gross) 1,41,750, Kishangarh (21 shows) 1,32,027; Hyderabad (gross) 39,50,934 from 13 cinemas (3 in noon), share 23,50,934. Total: 3,50,60,776 from 101 cinemas.
Gadar Ek Prem Katha 1st week Bombay 79,13,979 (95.39%) from 15 cinemas (10 on F.H.); Ahmedabad 23,68,436 from 6 cinemas (others also excellent), Jamnagar 2,30,925 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee), Bhuj (28 shows) 100%, Valsad 2,04,925; Pune 17,42,761 from 5 cinemas (1 in matinee), Kolhapur 100%, Solapur 3,13,404 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee), Ahmednagar 100%, Satara 1,70,483 (95.66%) from 2 cinemas; Hubli 2,98,987, Belgaum 100%, Bijapur 2,43,000; Delhi 92,26,959 (96.40%) from 13 cinemas (3 on F.H.); Kanpur 9,39,808 from 2 cinemas, Lucknow 5,10,658 (100%), Agra 5,59,140, Allahabad 2,99,337 (100%), Bareilly (6 days) 2,00,851, Jaunpur 2,00,000; opened in Calcutta this week; 1st week Nagpur 13,06,001 (95.60%) from 4 cinemas, Jabalpur 3,72,461, Amravati (30 shows) 3,30,634, Akola (30 shows) 2,45,953 (100%), Dhule 2,93,169, Raipur 3,02,927, Bhilai 2,87,064, Jalgaon 3,57,382, Wardha 1,83,448, Rajnandgaon 1,60,000, Chandrapur (29 shows) 3,14,713, Yavatmal (29 shows) 1,78,756 (100%), Bilaspur 2,35,430, Khamgaon 3,66,584; Indore 2,65,507 (2 unrecd.), Bhopal 3,75,399 (1 unrecd.); Jaipur 17,66,153 (95.07%) from 3 cinemas, Ajmer (29 shows, gross) 4,40,846, over-capacity, Bikaner (gross) 5,70,808, share 4,60,000, Alwar 3,86,709; Hyderabad (gross) 28,35,729 from 9 cinemas (1 in noon, 1 on F.H.); Aurangabad (gross) 5,63,585 from 2 cinemas, Latur (gross) 2,47,104; Vijayawada (gross) 3,44,955. Total: 3,81,54,970 from 93 cinemas.
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‘DIL CHAHTA HAI’ SONGS: HOPE OF EXCITEMENT
Super Cassettes released the music of Excel Entertainment’s Dil Chahta Hai at The Leela, Bombay on 22nd June. The film has nine songs, composed by Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy and penned by Javed Akhtar. It is written and directed by Farhan Akhtar for producer Ritesh Sidhwani.
At the music release party, invitees were shown clippings of five songs and trailers of the film. Shankar, Ehsan and Loy also sang the title track. The songs give an indication of an exciting and different film. The three heroes (Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Akshaye Khanna) and heroines Preity Zinta and Sonali Kulkarni look chic. The music is sure to climb up the popularity charts fast.
SUSHMA SWARAJ INVITES AMERICAN FILMMAKERS FOR CO-PRODUCTIONS
I & B minister Sushma Swaraj, who is currently leading an Indian film delegation under the FICCI umbrella to the US, invited US film producers to shoot their films in India and also to co-produce them. She impressed upon the film people that India had world-class trained software professionals, beautiful shooting locations and state-of-the-art production facilities. She was addressing the US-India business dialogue in Washington on 19th June. She hoped that India would pick up advanced knowledge of digital technology and animation films from the US.
The minister emphasised that access for professionals would prove mutually beneficial as it would reduce transaction costs and boost information flow.
TELUGU FILM WRITER-DIRECTOR JANDHYALA NO MORE
Popular Telugu film writer-director Jandhyala Venkata Durga Siva Subrahmanya Shastri passed away on 19th June in Hyderabad following cardiac arrest. He was 50. He had directed 43 Telugu films, almost all of them comedy-based, besides scripting 400 films.
BHARAT SHAH HOSPITALISED, CONDITION STABLE
Financier and diamond merchant Bharat Shah, who had collapsed at J.J. Hospital during a medical examination on 20th June, is recuperating now and his condition is described as stable. He was rushed to the emergency ward and then to the critical care unit (CCU). He regained consciousness after some hours and was kept in hospital on 21st and 22nd too.
Bharat Shah is in judicial custody under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) for alleged abetment of underworld activities. He fainted around 3.30 p.m. on 20th June when doctors were performing a scan using a dye. Owing to the various medical tests, he had not had anything to eat since morning. The medical examination followed his complaints of chest pain and serious weight loss since his arrest on 8th January, 2001.
Meanwhile, special judge A.P. Bhangale on 21st directed the J.J. hospital dean to ensure that the doctors attending on Shah maintain a round-the-clock record of his medical treatment.
Incidentally, there were all sorts of rumours about Bharatbhai’s condition on 21st. A leading newspaper of Uttar Pradesh also gave the news of the worst about Bharat Shah on its front page on 22nd.
TWO ARRESTED FOR ILLEGALLY SHOWING ‘LAGAAN’
Prakash Laxman Utekar, investigation officer of Feature Films Copyright, a private anti-piracy protection agency, authorised by Shyam Shroff of Shringar Films, Bombay, conducted a raid on Moviegem Mini Video Theatre on 21st June at Behrambaug, Jogeshwari (W) in Bombay. He was assisted by PSI S.S. Jadhav of Oshiwara police station. Lagaan was being illegally shown at the time of the raid. The police recovered the pirated video CD of the film, a Sony projector, a Samsung video CD player, a ticket book, wall posters, a remote bell etc., and arrested the owner of the video theatre, Satish Tiwari, and the operator, Mohan Tapa, under the Copyright Act, 1957.
SOUTH FILMS’ MUSIC DIRECTOR MAHADEVAN NO MORE
Famous music director of Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films, K.V. Mahadevan, died in Madras at a private hospital on 21st June. He was taken to hospital after he complained of breathlessness. He was 85 years old and was fondly referred to as Swara Brahma (creator of tunes).
Mahadevan entered the Tamil film industry as the producer of Allipetra Pillai. He composed music for the first time for the Tamil film Agniprana Mahimai several years later. He then went on to score music for over 1,500 films in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. He bagged two National Awards, one for Kandan Karunai (Tamil) and the other for Sankarabaranam (Telugu). He was closely associated with late MGR and former Tamil Nadu chief minister M. Karunanidhi. He is best remembered for his compositions in films like Thaisollai Thattathe, Vasanthamaligai, Vaanambaadi, Padikkaatha Methai and Thillana Mohanambal.
D.S. MITTLE NO MORE
The doyen of railway and outdoor publicity, D.S. Mittle, passed away on 19th June at Breach Candy Hospital in Bombay. He had been ailing for a long time and bore his health problems with fortitude and patience. Eighty-year old D.S. Mittle leaves behind his wife, two sons, Balkishan and Brij, and four daughters.
D.S. Mittle was born on 7th February, 1921 at Sikandarabad in Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh. He came to Bombay in 1947 and chose to become an advertising agent and publicity representative for Indian Railways. This was in the year 1950. His family concern, D.S. Mittle & Sons, celebrated its golden jubilee last year.
After establishing his company as the leading railway advertising agency in Bombay and Delh, D.S. Mittle diversified into radio and television, and some of his contributions to the electronic media are extremely significant. Apart from placing sizeable advertisements on behalf of his clients, he also produced serials and programmes for which he set up his own recording studio, adjoining his Tardeo office. Among his notable contributions were Gaane Anjaane and Ek Nazar. He was responsible for the introduction of sponsored film songs on All India Radio and Doordarshan. He persuaded Indian Railways to display posters in bulk all over the country and his first assignment pertained to the South Indian film, Sitaron Se Aage, in 1955. Two years later, he handled the countrywide railway publicity of Mughal-E-Azam which he advertised on the main-line trains apart from railway stations. Yet another pioneering effort came in the shape of translights for Suraj.
As both, All India Radio and Doordarshan, became commercial, D.S. Mittle set the ball rolling with the advertisements of Sankoch on television. He was also the first to introduce advertising of film songs telecast on Doordarshan’s ‘Chhayageet’ and ‘Chitrahar’ programmes. D.S. Mittle & Sons is the only agency to receive two awards at the silver jubilee function of commercial services of All India Radio.
Having achieved tremendous success in his professional career, D.S. Mittle later turned his attention to social service. He was a trustee of a number of social and religious bodies.
Many awards came his way, all of which he would accept in all humility. After making his mark with the railways and the electronic media, he turned his attention to outdoor publicity for which he was associated with Brihanmumbai Mahanagarpalika and he developed sites for some of the hoardings in Bombay city, which were very much in demand.
HOMI SETHNA DEAD
Legendary documentary filmmaker Homi Sethna passed away on 19th June in Bombay. He was 80.
Homi Sethna had founded the Indian Documentary Producers Association in 1957 along with other filmmakers like Paul Zils, Jagmohan and K.T. John. He made a number of brilliant documentaries like Creation In Metal, An Epoch Without Summer, The Struggle For Economic Freedom and Dr. Vikram Sarabhai. He was awarded the V. Shantaram lifetime achievement award at the 6th Mumbai International Film Festival for documentary, short and animation films, 2000.
Homi Sethna was a great humanitarian.
CHHATTISGARH CM INAUGURATES ‘LAGAAN’ SHOW
Chhattisgarh chief minister Ajit Jogi inaugurated a special show of Aamir Khan’s Lagaan on 14th June at Shyam Talkies, Raipur, where the film was released on 15th. The show was attended by speaker of the state assembly, Rajendra Prasad Shukla, ministers and distinguished trade personalities. It is distributed by Radhika Films, Amravati, in C.P. Berar.
‘GADAR’ SCREENING DISRUPTED IN BHOPAL
Angry mobs from the minority community, armed with petrol bombs and knives, stormed Lily cinema, Bhopal on the afternoon of 19th June and disrupted the 12 noon show of Gadar Ek Prem Katha. They were protesting against what they termed as “objectionable dialogues” in the film. However, another version has it that local politics had led to the tension.
By the time the local police arrived, the mobs had burnt several vehicles parked in the cinema compound. More than 20 people, including 10 policemen, were injured in the stone-pelting that followed. The police had to use tear-gas shells and resort to lathi-charge to control the mobs. Fifty-two persons were arrested.
The show was cancelled after the high-tension drama.
The following day, the Bhopal district authorities held a special screening of Gadar for various local political leaders, government officials, the press and people from various religious communities. After the screening, collector S.K. Vasisth and police superintendent Arun Pratap Singh invited opinions from the guests about the supposedly objectionable portions of the film. No one present found anything particularly objectionable in the film. A few from the minority community even suggested that the film be given an award and decried the rioting that took place at Lily cinema.
Meanwhile, some vested interests are trying to create trouble over the film’s screening in Indore. But the local authorities have taken note of it and are taking appropriate steps to prevent any untoward incident in the city.
Cinema Employees’ Strike In West Bengal Called Off
‘GADAR’ OPENS EXTENSIVELY
The 91-day-old cinema employees’ strike in West Bengal was finally called off on 21st June. All the 700-odd cinemas in the state reopened on 22nd. Following the reopening, Gadar released in the circuit extensively. It did not open anywhere in West Bengal last week.
Although the trade and the cinema employees are not very happy about the settlement between themselves, everybody heaved a sigh of relief that at least cinemas had now reopened. Employees working in cinemas in Calcutta city and suburbs will get a hike of 25% in their wages following the settlement. All other employees will get a hike of 22.5% in wages. They were demanding an increment of 70% in basic wages.
The government on its part has raised the tax-free service charge per ticket. It has been trebled, from Re. 1 to Rs. 3, for air-conditioned cinemas. The service charge for non-air-conditioned cinemas will now be Rs. 2 per ticket as against the earlier 50 paise. However, air-cooled cinema houses will be able to charge Rs. 2.50 per ticket as service charge. Earlier, the air-cooled cinemas also levied 50 paise as the service charge, like non-air-conditioned cinemas.
Cine employees owing allegiance to the Bengal Motion Pictures Employees Union (BMPEU) had gone on an indefinite strike from 23rd March.
YOU ASKED IT
Which was the first film to celebrate a jubilee in the Overseas territory?
– Rajshri’s HUM AAPKE HAIN KOUN..!, which completed its golden jubilee in 1995 in Bellevue in London and in Albion in Toronto.
Which is the forthcoming film for which you predict a mind-blowing initial?
– The same film which you, perhaps, have in mind. Yes, YAADEIN!
I want to buy a big film for distributing it in Bombay. What should I look for?
– A star-cast musical with a fairly novel story-line or presentation but within the parameters of commercial cinema. Besides, the producer must have the money to publicise it on a big scale.
DO YOU KNOW?
Historical ‘GADAR’ Writes New History All Over
* GADAR has created history by drawing all shows full in 1st week at Ravi, Bhuj.
* GADAR has created an all-time record by collecting 100% in 1st week at Vaishali, Anjar (Saurashtra).
* GADAR has written history by collecting cent per cent in 1st week at Vijay, Morbi (Saurashtra).
* GADAR has created a record by drawing all shows full in 1st week at Amber, Jetpur (Saurashtra).
* GADAR has drawn 22 out of 28 shows full in 1st week at Laxmi, Valsad. Collection: 2,04,925/-.
* GADAR has created an all-time record by collecting 4,06,560/- in 1st week at Mahalaxmi, Nasik. All shows were full. The rush on the last two days of the week was more than on the earlier days. It has collected about 2,22,000/- (against a capacity of 2,35,000/-) at Anuradha, Nasik Road.
* GADAR has created theatre records in 1st week at the following cinemas of Nagpur: Smruti by collecting 4,72,418/- (all 28 shows full); Jaswant (3,21,045/-, all 28 shows full); and Sangam (3,56,675/-, all 28 shows full). One more cinema, Ashirwad, has been added in the 2nd week. 8th day was 100% at all the cinemas of Nagpur.
* GADAR has created a theatre record by collecting 3,02,927/- in 1st week at Anand, Raipur.
* GADAR has created a theatre record by collecting 3,30,634/- in 1st week at Panchsheel, Amravati.
* GADAR has created a theatre record by collecting 2,45,953/- (100%) in 1st week (30 shows) at Vasant, Akola.
* GADAR has created a city record by collecting 1,83,448/- (nett) in 1st week (28 shows) at Arati, Wardha.
* GADAR has created a theatre record by collecting 3,72,461/- in 1st week at Anand, Jabalpur.
* GADAR has created a city record by collecting 2,87,064/- in 1st week at Vasant, Bhilai. An extra show had to be conducted on the 7th day due to uncontrollable crowds.
* GADAR has created a theatre record by collecting 1,78,756/- (100%) in 1st week at Shyam, Yavatmal. 2nd week 1st day: 24,656/-, full, record.
* GADAR has created a city record by collecting 95,600/- in 1st week at Shyam, Paratwada.
* GADAR has created a theatre record by collecting 2,35,430/- in 1st week at Shiv, Bilaspur.
* GADAR has created a district record by collecting 1,76,392/- in 1st week at Kamal, Burhanpur.
* GADAR has created a city record by collecting 2,93,168/- in 1st week at Jyoti, Dhule.
* GADAR has created history by collecting 1,88,693/- in 1st week at Meenakshi, Hoshangabad.
* GADAR has created a city record by collecting 3,57,382/- in 1st week at Chitra, Jalgaon.
* GADAR has created a Khamgaon district record by collecting 3,66,584/- in 1st week at Gajanan.
* GADAR has created a city record by collecting 1,44,633/- (nett) in 1st week (28 shows) against a capacity of 1,58,256/- at Silver, Katni (C.P. Berar).
* GADAR has created a city record by collecting 93,657/- in 1st week at Hanuman, Malkapur.
* GADAR has created a theatre record by collecting 2,12,928/- in 1st week at Anand, Nandurbar.
* GADAR has created a city record by collecting 2,19,374/- in 1st week at Rajkamal, Pusad (C.P.).
* GADAR has created a theatre record by collecting 2,02,000/- in 1st week at Gopi, Raigarh (C.P.).
* GADAR has created a theatre record by collecting 1,60,000/- in 1st week at Kamal, Rajnandgaon.
* GADAR has created a city record by collecting 1,43,600/- in 1st week at Yogiraj, Seoni.
* GADAR has created a city record by collecting 1,08,100/- in 1st week at Vijay, Sagar.
* GADAR has created a city record by collecting 1,70,819/- in 1st week at Veerani, Wani.
* GADAR has created a city record by collecting 3,14,713/- in 1st week (29 shows) at Rajkala Mandir, Chandrapur.
* GADAR has created a theatre record by collecting 2,65,507/- 1st week at Sapna, Indore. It has also created theatre records at Chandragupt and Devshri cinemas of Indore.
* GADAR has created history in 1st week in Bhopal. 8th day’s collections are better than 1st day’s!
* GADAR has created history by collecting 3,75,399/- in 1st week at Lily, Bhopal.
* GADAR has created history by collecting over 2 in 1st week at Lokendra, Ratlam.
* GADAR is the first film to have opened (last week) in two cinemas of Ujjain, which are in one compound, viz. Swarg and Sunderam. The film collected historic figures at both the cinemas.
* GADAR has created a city record by collecting 8,46,860/- (100%) in 1st week at Raj Mandir, Jaipur.
* GADAR has created theatre records at Gem and Saroj cinemas of Jaipur by collecting 5,83,277/- and 3,36,014/- respectively in 1st week.
* GADAR has created a city record by collecting 4,40,846/- (gross) in 1st week at New Majestic, Ajmer. All shows were full.
* GADAR has created a city record by collecting 5,70,808/- (gross) at Minerva, Bikaner.
* GADAR has created a city record by collecting 3,86,709/- (gross) at Gopal, Alwar.
* GADAR has created theatre records in 1st week at the following cinemas of Delhi: Plaza (10,05,150/-, full); Golcha (5,92,550/-, full); Milan (10,33,825/-); Sapna (8,54,538/-); Anupam (9,16,593/-); Sangam (10,14,444/-); Virat (5,12,718/-); Palace (5,27,028/-); Lokesh (3,95,295/-); Janak (4,87,313/-); Urvashi, Ghaziabad (4,36,279/-, full).
* GADAR has created a city record by collecting 4,05,281/- in 1st week at Payal, Dehradun.
DO YOU KNOW?
* LAGAAN has created a city record by collecting 13,31,681/- in 1st week at Priya, Delhi.
* LAGAAN has created a record by collecting 69,000/- in 1st week at Dreamland, Mhow (C.I.). Better than MOHABBATEIN.
* LAGAAN has created a theatre record by collecting 5,50,220/- in 1st week (22 shows) at New Kohinoor Lower, Jodhpur. It was also screened at Kohinoor cinema of Jodhpur in the first 3 days to bumper houses.
* At Kishangarh, a small centre of Rajasthan, LAGAAN has created a city record by collecting 1,32,027/- in 1st week. People are coming in trucks and tractors from nearby villages to Shivam Talkies which is screening the film. The response inside is so fantastic that the excited audience even broke some chairs. But the cinema owner is not complaining.