BAS ITNA SA KHWAAB HAI…

Rose Movies Combine’s Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai… (UA) is about the dreams and aspirations of a simple man living in a town in India and how he sets out to realise and achieve them. The young man idolises a media baron with political ambitions, and is thrilled to bits when the latter sets his eyes on him and takes him under his wings. From then on, life moves at jet speed for the simple lad who doesn’t realise the wily designs of the media man. It is only after his near and dear ones are affected by his changed lifestyle and by the dangerous path he treads that the guy realises his folly. He then decides to not just leave the company of the evil media tycoon but also exposes him in the public eye.

The story is very simple and devoid of novelty. It reminds a great deal of Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman. Screenplay is rather dull and the film turns out to be a flat narration. The media mogul is not shown doing anything vicious; he only sits in his palatial office, issuing orders and hatching conspiracies. How the evil guy is ‘using’ the simple man is not really made clear because what the simple man is made to do, anybody could have done. The concept of moulding public opinion through the medium of television makes the film more class-appealing than mass-appealing. What’s more, the climax, in which the hero exposes the baron on television, looks completely copied from Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani and Main Azaad Hoon. Even otherwise, the climax is quite childishly handled.

The first half is fair and, although much doesn’t happen, the audience interest is kept alive, if only barely. After interval, the story meanders aimlessly, and incidents and scenes come and go without creating much of an impact. The polished media tycoon’s PA breaking into dance sequences in parties, when he sings, looks funny.

Abhishek Bachchan does quite well but, in the latter half, he has not been able to rise above the script. The actor needs to improve on two counts fast — one, loosening up a bit and carrying a smile on his face, and two, his choice of costumes. Rani Mukerji looks pretty and acts ably. Jackie Shroff plays the suave media king with ease but is let down by a characterisation that gives him little scope. Sushmita Sen looks sexy and plays his PA in a natural manner. Gulshan Grover is impressive. Sharat Saxena is also good. Smita Jayakar and Himani Shivpuri leave their marks.

Goldie Behl makes his debut as a director with an uninspiring subject about politics. The stale topic of reservation, which he tackles, does not hold so much interest for the common cinegoer that he’d enjoy and appreciate a film based on it. Goldie, however, has extracted good performances from out of his cast. His narration is fairly smooth. Aadesh Shrivastava’s music is quite appealing. ‘Ye hawaaein’, ‘Kuch aisa’ and ‘Dil nasheen’ are the more appealing songs. Sameer Arya’s camerawork captures the foreign locations pretty effectively. Dialogues (Tigmanshu Dhulia) are okay. Editing is loose. Action (Bhiku Verma) is functional. Production values are of a good standard.

On the whole, Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai… is a tame film with little entertainment value. Its poor post-interval portion will mar its prospects at the box-office.

Released on 6-7-2001 at Liberty and 19 other cinemas of Bombay by Popular Entertainment Network thru Ethnic Enterprises. Publicity: good. Opening: fair. …….Also released all over. Opening was dull in many circuits.

LATEST POSITION

The tight cinema position is the topic of discussion in every trade gathering, whether formal or informal. 

………….

Lagaan is super-strong in cities. Overseas is superb. 3rd week (21 shows all over) Bombay 65,89,511 (89.98%) from 13 cinemas (7 on F.H.), total for 3 weeks 2,09,84,216; Ahmedabad 18,10,436 from 5 cinemas, Rajkot (14 shows) 1,47,000, Jamnagar 68,806, total 2,97,298; Pune 14,46,904 from 4 cinemas, Solapur 1,34,000, Satara (gross) 91,460; Delhi 56,98,030 from 12 cinemas (2 on F.H.), total for 3 weeks 2,31,36,673; Kanpur 2,94,869 from 3 cinemas, Agra 2,60,000, Allahabad 1,33,000, Bareilly (6 days) 32,545, Jaunpur 10,000, total 80,000; Calcutta 13,09,034 from 6 cinemas; Nagpur 5,41,134 from 3 cinemas, 2nd week Jabalpur (6 days) 1,23,414, 3rd week Akola 75,896, total 3,72,737, Raipur (6 days) 1,25,667, Jalgaon 1,14,269 (2nd 1,52,340), Wardha 59,344, Chandrapur 1,37,392, total 5,04,650; Indore 1,70,000 from 2 cinemas (2 on F.H.); Jaipur 4,10,551 (69.13%), Ajmer 77,866; Hyderabad (gross) 21,71,283 from 6 cinemas (2 in noon, 1 on F.H.). Total of 3rd week: 2,21,02,411 from 70 cinemas.

Gadar Ek Prem Katha continues to create history with earth-shattering collections. 3rd week Bombay 81,23,225 (90.82%) from 16 cinemas (9 on F.H.), total for 3 weeks 2,40,62,340; Ahmedabad 20,13,105 from 7 cinemas (1 unrecd.), Jamnagar 1,99,950 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee); Pune 24,71,366 from 8 cinemas (1 in matinee), Solapur (6 days) 3,16,584 (100%) from 2 cinemas, 1st week Barsi 1,39,567 (100%) from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee), 3rd week Satara 1,11,157 from 2 cinemas, Nasik 3,98,445 (98%), total 12,11,565, Nasik Road 2,00,000, total 6,56,594; Hubli 2,49,387; Delhi 94,12,756 from 17 cinemas (3 on F.H.), total for 3 week 2,87,79,230; Kanpur 8,59,328 from 2 cinemas, Lucknow 5,10,658 (100%), Agra 5,59,140 (100%), Allahabad 2,80,000, Bareilly (6 days) 1,58,995, Jaunpur 1,50,000, total 5,25,000; 2nd week Calcutta 28,60,802 from 14 cinemas, total for 2 weeks 66,39,570; 3rd week Nagpur 10,62,678 from 4 cinemas, Jabalpur (6 days) 2,99,210, 1st week Balaghat 1,26,644 (100%), 3rd week Akola 2,28,250 (99.43%), total 7,03,760, Dhule 2,27,015, total 8,05,885, Raipur 2,63,825, total 8,58,089, Jalgaon 2,52,260 (2nd 2,94,483), Wardha 1,67,897, total 5,36,657, Rajnandgaon (6 days) 1,00,920, Chandrapur 2,58,548, total 8,78,953,  share 7,55,000, Sagar 79,000, total 2,90,309, 2nd week Khandwa 1,77,491 (86.45%), total 3,70,897; 3rd week Indore 2,64,000 (2 on F.H.), Bhopal 2,89,876 (1 unrecd.); Jaipur 13,62,359 (95.14%) from 2 cinemas, Ajmer (gross) 3,99,046 (98.61%), Bikaner 3,62,627, city record; Hyderabad (gross) 16,48,868 from 4 cinemas (1 on F.H.); 1st week Davangere (4 days) 97,814, Mangalore 1,87,218; Vijayawada 1,50,366. Total of 3rd week: 3,70,20,377 from 108 cinemas.

‘GADAR’ SCREEN SET AFIRE IN SOLAPUR: FILM STILL GOING GREAT GUNS

The screening of Gadar in both the cinemas of Solapur, where it was running, viz. Meena and Chitra (daily matinee and morning shows), had to be suspended on Sunday (1st July) because an irate mob set the screen of Meena on fire in the night show of Saturday. The film, however, recorded full houses on the other six days.

In fact, looking to the pressure of the public, the film has opened this week at Gentyal (daily 4 shows) too. Therefore, in its 4th week, it is running at Meena, Chitra (daily 2 shows) and Gentyal.

BHARAT SHAH, NAZIM RIZVI FURTHER REMANDED

The special court in Bombay on 6th July further extended the judicial remand of incarcerated financier Bharat Shah till 9th July. The court also deferred until 9th July Shah’s plea for a medical check-up in a private hospital. It extended till 9th the custody of Chori Chori Chupke Chupke producer Nazim Rizvi and his assistant, Abdul Rahim Allah Baksh.

Meanwhile, the dean of J.J. Hospital, where Bharat Shah was admitted on 21st June following complaint of uneasiness, filed a report stating that Shah’s condition was normal.

VINAY KUMAR SINHA ON CBFC’S FILM ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Producer Vinay Kumar Sinha has been appointed a member of the film advisory committee of the Central Board of Film Certification. He is also on the telephone advisory committee of Mumbai Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd.

AUDIO PIRATES RAIDED

Acting at the behest of the Music Association of India, the Punjab police conducted two separate raids, one each at Sirsa and Dabwali Mandi recently and seized a large quantity of fake inlay cards, pirated audio cassettes and duplicating equipment. Four persons were arrested under the Copyright Act.

PRODUCER PAYS RS. 8 LAKH TO AVTAR GILL’S BEREAVED SISTER-IN-LAW

New World Enterprises, producers of the Govinda starrer, on the sets of which Avtar Gill’s brother died in an accident, paid a sum of Rs. 8 lakh to the deceased’s wife, Kuldeep Kaur, on 15th June. New World have denied that late Kuljinder Singh Gill was ever engaged as assistant director or actor in their film. According to them, he had gone on the set as a visitor, when the accident occurred.

YOU ASKED IT

What must the all-India business of Gadar in 3 weeks be?

– About 17 crore! It is the fastest money-spinner of all times!!

How will so many films, lined up for release in July and August, make it when there are no cinemas available?

– Some will get postponed, some others will have haphazard releases. Most of them can’t be postponed because producers and distributors would not like to release their films in September (Ganesh festival).

Has any film been financed by the IDBI so far or are names being uttered just like that?

– D. Rama Naidu’s under-production film, KUCH TUM KAHO KUCH HUM KAHE, is being financed by the IDBI to the tune of Rs. 5 crore. 

DO YOU KNOW?

* The preview theatre at Ramnord Lab has been equipped with Dolby digital and DTS sound. This week’s release, BAS ITNA SA KHWAAB HAI…, has been processed at Ramnord which has done a fine job of it.

* Producer Ramdayal has urged Pakistan president General Pervez Musharraf to institute a film award in the memory of his father. Ramdayal’s father, Sardarilal-ji, had, many many years ago, produced Pakistan’s first film, TERI YAAD, as also GALAT FAIMEE, in Lahore.

* GADAR has created a city record by collecting 3,98,445/- (98%) in 3rd week and 12,11,565/- in 3 weeks at Mahalaxmi, Nasik. It has also created a record by collecting 2,00,0000/- in 3rd week and 6,56,594/- in 3 weeks at Anuradha, Nasik Road. Three weeks’ total from the two cinemas: 18,68,159/-. Share: 13,64,418/-, city record.

* GADAR has created history by collecting 1,50,782/- in 3rd week at Anupam, Jamnagar. Three weeks’ total is 5,30,073/-. It has also created a theatre record by collecting 49,168/- in 3rd week in matinee at Galaxy, Jamnagar. Total for three weeks: 1,41,892/-. Total for 3 weeks from 2 cinemas: 6,71,965/-.

* GADAR has created a city record in Chandrapur in 3rd week, too, by collecting 2,58,548/- at Rajkala Mandir. 3 weeks’ total: 8,78,953/-, city record. Share: 7,55,000/-, city record.

* GADAR has created another record at Panchsheel, Amravati by collecting 3,15,728/- (100%) in 3rd week.

* GADAR has created a city record by collecting 3,38,417/- in 3rd week and 10,80,372/- in 3 weeks at Anand, Jabalpur.

* GADAR EK PREM KATHA has created another Raipur city record by collecting 2,63,825/- in 3rd week at Anand. Total: 8,58,089/-. 

* GADAR has created a city record by collecting 1,67,897/- in 3rd week and a total of 5,36,657/- in 3 weeks at Arati, Wardha.

* GADAR has created a record by collecting 1,77,491/- (86.45%) in 2nd week at Abhishek, Khandwa. 1st week’s collection was 1,93,406/- (93.76%).

* GADAR has created a city record by collecting 2,28,250/- (99.43%) in 3rd week at Vasant, Akoka. Total for 3 weeks: 7,03,760/-, city record. A total of 85 shows were full in 3 weeks.

* GADAR has created a city record by collecting 1,26,644/- (full) in 1st week at Shyam, Balaghat.

* THE MUMMY RETURNS has created a record by drawing all shows full on 1st day at Manek, Akola. Collection: 53,000/-.

* So immense is the craze for LAGAAN in Hyderabad-Secunderabad that it is being screened in regular shows at Ramakrishna 70mm in 4th week. It was being screened in noon shows only at the cinema in 1st, 2nd and 3rd weeks.

* Yet another Chhattisgarhi film to have clicked is MAYA DE DE MAYA LE LE (Cinemascope). It is doing very well in Chhattisgarh. At Dhamtari’s Prabhat cinema, people from nearby areas are flocking in large numbers to see the film. They come in trucks, jeeps and tempos. It is also doing extremely good business at Babulal, Raipur, Sapna, Bhilai, Sharda, Durg, Satyam, Bilaspur, Trimurti (Dolby), Champa and Ganesh, Balod.

* For the first time in the history of Hyderabad, a Rajasthani film, BABA RAMDEV, was screened simultaneously at Santosh 70mm (6 shows), Kumar 70mm (10 shows) and Vimal 70mm (4 shows). It ran successfully at all the three cinemas. 

* MUJHE KUCCH KEHNA HAI has created a theatre record by collecting a total of 29,27,194/- in 6 weeks at Novelty, Lucknow. Share: 20,41,122/-.

* MUJHE KUCCH KEHNA HAI has created a theatre record by collecting a total of 12,73,487/- in 6 weeks at Movie House, Kanpur. Share: 8,44,388/-.

* MUJHE KUCCH KEHNA HAI has created a theatre record at Vijay Picture Palace, Gorakhpur, by collecting10,81,885/- in 6 weeks. Share: 8,26,885/-.

* MUJHE KUCCH KEHNA HAI has collected a record 14,15,253/- in 6 weeks at Nandan, Meerut. Share: 10,90,616/-.

* MUJHE KUCCH KEHNA HAI has collected a record 14,27,026/- in 6 weeks and fetched a record share of 11,04,084/- at Shah, Agra.

* MUJHE KUCCH KEHNA HAI has created a record by collecting 10,17,157/- in 6 weeks at Vishwamitra, Allahabad. Share: 7,71,657/-.

* MUJHE KUCCH KEHNA HAI has created a theatre record by collecting1,00,187/- in 6th week at Uday, Akola. Total for 6 weeks: 9,90,650/-, theatre record.

HALF-YEARLY CLASSIFICATION: 2001

(Total Releases: 112 Films, including 35 dubbed films)

AAA (Super-Duper Hit)

GADAR EK PREM KATHA

AA (Super-Hit)

–

A1 (Hit)

LAGAAN (‘AA‘ in Bombay & South,
‘B1‘ in East Punjab and
‘BB‘ in Bihar & C.I.)

A (Semi–Hit)

MUJHE KUCCH KEHNA HAI
(‘A1‘ in C.P. Berar)

BB (Overflow)

–

Commission To Overflow

Jodi No. 1 (‘A‘ in Bombay, ‘B‘ in some circuits)

Chori Chori Chupke Chupke (‘B‘ in some circuits)

Kasoor (‘B‘ in some circuits)

B1 (Commission Earner)

Chhupa Rustam (‘BB‘ in some circuits, ‘B‘ in some circuits)

Coverage To Commission-Earner

Ek Rishtaa The Bond Of Love
(losing in some circuits, ‘BB‘ in Bihar)

Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya…
(losing in some circuits)

Coverage 

Farz

Mayavi Talwar (dubbed)

Devi Maa (dubbed)

The Rest

100 films

Forewarned Is Forearmed

That Gadar, Lagaan and Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai have made the first half of 2001 very exciting is old story now. What seemed to be the worst half of a year till six weeks back, now looks like one of the best in recent years. Gadar is a sensational hit, smashing records everywhere. Lagaan, despite running in only three shows daily, is doing fantastic business in Bombay, Delhi, South and, of course, Overseas where it has elevated the position of Indian cinema. Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai has given a new hero to the industry.

The surfeit of new releases is already creating problems for their distributors. Due to lack of availability of cinemas, it is exhibitors who are in a commanding position. Till recently, when films were failing and falling at the ticket-windows, distributors were dictating terms; today, the tables have turned on them. The upside, however, is that because of the euphoric mood in the industry, exhibitors are offering handsome terms to forthcoming films like Yaadein, which hold promise.

Business in the coming weeks will be adversely affected not only because of so many releases cutting into one another’s earnings but also due to lack of proper cinemas. Gadar and Lagaan have cornered the best cinemas in every circuit and they aren’t likely to be available for some more weeks. There are at least nine or ten big-budgeted films due for release in the coming six or seven weeks but there are hardly any cinemas for them.

The only way out is for some of these films to be postponed. Except for Yaadein and Dil Chahta Hai, all the other big films have had uncertain release schedules. Their release dates have been changing faster than the costumes of heroines in song sequences. It is such films which should be pushed back till cinemas become available. Otherwise, there’ll be chaos. Forewarned is forearmed.

– Komal Nahta

3-E
Education-Entertainment-Enlightenment

Making Hay While The Sun Shines

The tight position of cinemas, thanks to the success of Gadar and Lagaan, has affected the release of Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai… and is likely to affect the forthcoming films too. In one major city, BISKH… has had to be screened at a couple of cinemas which generally go abegging all the year round for films. What’s more, these cinemas, which boast of huge false capacities, have for the first time in ages charged theatre rentals. Know how much are the weekly rentals? Double the usual weekly collections in these cinemas since years!!

Oh God!

Amitabh Bachchan is surely a welcome addition to the over-crowded list of deities — remember, Hindus have 64 crore Gods! — of India. At least, his Calcutta fans think so. Which is chiefly the reason why they deified him this week at the Calcutta suburb of Dum Dum. A wax idol of Amitabh Bachchan was installed at a make-shift temple by pious devotees of the superstar. The rituals lasted four hours and comprised an elaborate puja of the matinee idol, aarti and anjali. The ceremony concluded with the distribution of prasad among the believers. The deification of the superstar was conceived by Shatrugan Prasad Kamath who is an ardent admirer of the star as also the secretary of the 10,000-strong Amitabh Bachchan Fans Association. The puja also marked the beginning of a 3-month festival, Amitabh Bachchan Utsav 2001. It will conclude on 11th October, Amitabh’s birthday.

The deification of the superstar, however, is not really a ridiculous stunt, as it may appear to non-believers. The fans insist that it has greater purpose. Rajarshi Dasgupta, who won Rs. 25 lakh in the Amitabh-hosted television game show KBC recently, said, “We want to do something good for the society…. Amitabh is the guiding force, the motivation, the inspiration behind us.” To prove this, the Fans Association fed 200 poor people on 5th July. It has also roped in 800 people for a blood donation camp to be held on 8th.

Another Money-Spinner From Rathnam?

Producer A.M. Rathnam is born lucky, it would seem. He minted money in Indian (the Tamil original of Hindustani). His next, Mudhalvan, also proved a blockbuster. Then, he dubbed the Tamil super-duper-hit, Khushi, in Telugu and that, too, is a huge hit. Rathnam has now remade Mudhalvan in Hindi as Nayak. A screening of two songs of the film was held on 4th July at New City Light Cinema in Bombay at the start of the 6 p.m. show of Gadar. Both the songs are not just beautifully composed (by A.R. Rahman) but have also been picturised excellently by director Shankar. An indication that the songs will be loved by the masses was this: the sound system failed during the screening of the second song and by the time it was set right, it was a whole five minutes during which the crowds could’ve hooted to their hearts’ content, because they had come to see an established blockbuster like Gadar, no less! But no — they waited quite patiently for the technical snag to be corrected.

Anil Kapoor has managed to look young enough opposite Rani Mukerji too. She, on her part, has looked bewitching. …..The film’s music was released by Super Cassettes the same evening at The Regent.