(From our issue dated 13th August, 1994)
LATEST POSITION
All talks in the trade throughout the week centred around HUM AAPKE HAIN KOUN..!. Despite trade reports to the contrary, it has been accepted by the public with open arms. Its unconventional form, feared (by many in the trade) to be its minus point, has, in fact, turned out to be its biggest plus point. …..VIJAYPATH has also done very well.
Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! has been loved, especially by ladies and family audience, for its freshness and novel presentation. Reduction in its length due to editing is expected to improve collections of first shows which will now start a bit late. 1st week Liberty, Bombay 3,32,661 (100%); Ahmedabad 1,34,807, Gandhinagar 2,41,672, Baroda 1,76,841, record, Vapi 1,83,889, Rajkot 62,121; Pune 2,07,249, Solapur 91,365 (99.13%), Nasik 1,18,320, city record; Delhi 5,80,438 from 2 cinemas; Lucknow 2,23,467, Kanpur 2,06,314, Varanasi 1,29,613, Agra 1,48,741; Calcutta 3,55,279 (100%) from 2 cinemas; Nagpur 2,84,826, theatre records at both the cinemas, Amravati 1,12,729, city record, Akola 77,767, Bhilai 94,070; Jaipur 2,54,786; Bangalore 1,90,411 from 2 cinemas; Hyderabad 4,74,678, total 46,82,044 from 26 cinemas all over.
Vijaypath takes a very impressive start: 1st week Bombay 28,18,682 (91.64%) from 18 cinemas (13 on F.H.); Ahmedabad 8,47,527 from 9 cinemas, Baroda 100%, Bharuch (gross) 2,10,249; Pune 4,72,039 from 6 cinemas, Kolhapur 66,119, Nasik Road 93,620; Hubli 1,18,510 (84.09%) from 3 cinemas (1 in noon), Belgaum 1,11,187 (84.65%) from 2 cinemas; Delhi 28,88,905 (95.73%) from 14 cinemas; Allahabad 1,16,500, Meerut 2,52,855 from 2 cinemas, Gorakhpur 1,20,000, share 64,000; Chandigarh 1,55,000; Calcutta 19,19,656 from 26 cinemas; Nagpur 3,25,235 from 5 cinemas, Jabalpur 1,35,797 from 2 cinemas, Amravati 85,556, Raipur 1,10,383, theatre record, Bhilai 1,11,425 from 2 cinemas, Jalgaon 67,554; Indore 1,55,614 from 2 cinemas (4 cinemas on F.H.), Bhopal 2,78,427 from 3 cinemas, Ujjain 77,145; Jaipur 7,88,017 from 5 cinemas; Hyderabad 21,55,159 from 14 cinemas, share 10,88,291.
……
DO YOU KNOW?
* Naghma, who is a busy star down South, not only agreed to make a special appearance for a song-dance in Pahlaj Nihalani’s MR. AZAAD but she also insisted that she wouldn’t charge anything for the dance. Incidentally, the song (‘Lage garmi lage garmi’) is a hit number.
* While Shakti Kapoor plays a dreaded villain in AAG, released this week, he plays a complete comedian in the other release of this week, EENA MEENA DEEKA.
* Raman Kumar, the director of Zee TV serial TARA, has signed another TV serial director, Ravi Rai, to direct a soap opera for him. This new serial will be telecast from Sept. 15. Raman Kumar has now turned an actor as well. He is enacting the role of a film director in Raja Bundela’s TV serial, SCANDAL, being directed by Satish Kaushik.
* HUM AAPKE HAIN KOUN..! has created a district record by collecting 1,82,887/- (nett) in 1st week at Jayshree, Vapi. A lady among the audience on 7th August in the last show fell unconscious while seeing Renuka Shahane fall to her death. She had to be rushed to hospital for treatment.
* HUM AAPKE HAIN KOUN..! is already being repeated by cinegoers. One Satish has seen it four times in five days at Liberty, Bombay. ….The licensed products (merchandise) of Archies, being sold on their counters at Liberty, Bombay are in good demand. The cinema has made an executive lounge with catering by Croissants. The idea has proved popular among youngsters and family audience.
* The mother of a Delhi-based distributor, Deep Jain, saw a film (HAHK..!) after 22 years!
* At Hind, Calcutta, about 200 persons gatecrashed (without tickets) into the cinema, which was screening HAHK..!, in the last show on one day. The exhibitor had to call in the police to control the situation. The show started at 9.30 p.m. instead of 8.45 p.m.
* At Maheshwari, Hyderabad, screening HAHK..!, ladies audience can be seen carrying their lunch boxes alongwith them. They eat their food in the cinema premises if they do not get tickets for one show and prefer to wait for the next show. Incidentally, no street publicity was done in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad – that is, not a single hoarding, banner, kiosk or poster was displayed in the twin cities. In spite of that, all the 28 shows were full in advance!
* Abhinay cinema, Aurangabad will hold special shows of HUM AAPKE HAIN KOUN..! for ladies only, every morning from 15th August onwards.
FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS
* Galaxy Pictures, Rajkot, leading distributor of Saurashtra, has acquired a film on MG royalty basis for the first time in 30 years. The film in question is Venus’ MAIN KHILADI TU ANARI which it acquired for Saurashtra after seeing its songs. Galaxy Pictures always releases films on commission basis.
YOU ASKED IT
If entertainment tax is reduced in Maharashtra, can the other state governments be expected to follow suit?
– Surely. Not only because Maharashtra is the nerve-centre of the film industry but also because reduction in entertainment tax has been recommended by the committee of state information ministers.
Too many songs were regarded as a minus point in a film. After Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, can producers and directors be expected to go in for more songs in their films?
– Everybody cannot be a Sooraj Barjatya.
How long will prices of films go on increasing?
– As long as there are distributors willing to buy them at those prices!
TWO SONGS CUT IN ‘HUM AAPKE….’
Two songs and two antras of a third song, totalling 1,100 feet, have been edited from Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!. The cuts were effected by the producers from 10th August in Bombay and thereafter at other places. The running time of the film is now 3 hours and 14 minutes as against the earlier 3 hours and 27 minutes.
The two songs that have been completely cut in the film are the ‘Chocolate’ and the ‘Mujh se judaa hokar’ numbers. Two antras of ‘Dhik tana’ song have also been edited.
NEW CINEMA AT GANDHINAGAR
A new cinema, Rajshri, opened in Gandhinagar last week with Rajshri’s Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!. It is owned by Ajay Chudasma. A press party will leave for Gandhinagar today (13th August) to see the cinema which is said to be spectacular.
‘AAG’ SCREENING DISCONTINUED IN AURANGABAD
A dialogue in Aag, referring to the daughter of a bhangi, irked a section of the cinegoers in Aurangabad so much that they broke the chairs and tore the screen of Apsara, Aurangabad, where the film opened on 11th August. The irate mob did not permit the 6 p.m. show to be held. The 9 p.m. show was, however, held. The print was being shuttled between Apsara and Anuradha cinemas, and the part containing the allegedly objectionable dialogue was forcibly seized by the mob and set on fire. This, after the management of Apsara cinema had already deleted the dialogue following the pandemonium in its auditorium in the 6 p.m. show. The police had to be called in to control the mob.
Both the cinemas had to discontinue the film’s screening fearing further violence. The film is being distributed in Nizam by Vandana Films.
SC REJECTS SANJAY’S BAIL APPLICATION,
REFERS MATTER TO CONSTITUTION BENCH
The Supreme Court on 12th August declined to grant bail to Sanjay Dutt who has been arrested under the TADA. The two-member bench consisting of Mr. Justice B.P. Jeevan Reddy and Mr. Justice N.P. Singh heard the appeal for three hours. They however, decided to refer the issues (relating to certain vital provisions of TADA) raised in the case to a constitution bench.
The two judges will pass their “reasoned order” on 18th August when the reasons necessitating an adjudication by a five-member constitution bench would be given.
The judges assured expeditious disposal of the matter but declined to grant interim bail.
MAHARASHTRA GOVT. TO REDUCE ENT. TAX?
IFFI BOYCOTT DROPPED
The film industry has assured the chief minister of Maharashtra that it would withdraw its boycott of the coming International Film Festival of India (IFFI) to be held in Bombay in Jan. ’95. A delegation of the industry met the CM, Sharad Pawar, at Mantralaya on 8th August.
Mr. Pawar gave them a patient hearing. He assured them that their demands for reduction in entertainment tax and hike in service charge would be considered sympathetically. It is reported that a substantial relief in entertainment tax in the state is in the offing.
The CM also promised to look into the remarks of the finance minister, Ramrao Adik, which had annoyed the industry to the extent of prompting it to boycott the IFFI.
‘1942’ TAX-FREE IN RAJASTHAN
Vinod Chopra’s 1942 A Love Story has been granted tax exemption in Rajasthan for a period of three months.
‘JURASSIC PARK’ 100 DAYS IN JODHPUR
Jurassic Park (dubbed) completed 100 days of its run at Olympic, Jodhpur on 31st July. The film ran for 11 weeks in regular shows and thereafter in morning shows.
Sweets were distributed by the proprietors, Adeshwar & Co., among the cinegoers on the 100th day. This is the first film in eight years to celebrate 100 days in Jodhpur.
25TH ANNIVERSARY OF ALANKAR, BIJAPUR
Alankar Theatre, Bijapur will celebrate its silver anniversary on 15th August.
VARSHA USGAONKAR TENDERS
APOLOGY TO COURT
Varsha Usgaonkar on 9th August tendered an unconditional apology to the court of the additional chief metropolitan magistrate, Andheri, Bombay, for her allegedly adverse remarks “against the country’s judicial system” published in the magazine Film City.
The actress is being prosecuted under section 6 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986, and section 292 of the Indian Penal Code for her allegedly obscene picture in the film glossy, Stardust.
Her controversial interview given to Film City was published even while the obscenity case against her was pending before the 44th metropolitan magistrate’s court at Andheri. In the interview, Varsha allegedly made certain unfavourable references to the Indian legal system.
A complaint, charging the actress with contempt of court, was filed before the magistrate’s court by Alka Pandey, who is also a complainant in the original obscenity case against Varsha. In her complaint, Ms. Pandey accused the actress of making “adverse comments on the judiciary.”
I & B MINISTRY RECOMMENDS INDUSTRY STATUS
FOR FILM INDUSTRY
The I & B ministry has recommended to the ministries of finance and industry to accord industry status to the film industry. The recommendation follows the reports submitted by the core committee of state information ministers which met in Delhi on 24th June.
The committee has made four recommendations to the I & B ministry:
(1) reduction in entertainment tax on cinemas;
(2) introduction of compounding system of entertainment tax;
(3) imposition of tax on video parlours and cable TV networks; and
(4) grant of industry status to the film industry.
3-E
Education-Entertainment-Enlightenment
Producers Beware!
The new registration form of Motion Pictures Association, Delhi, has a clause which producers would do well to read carefully! It provides that the producer should give 10% of what he receives from Doordarshan for telecast of his film (after five years of premiere theatrical release), to his Delhi-U.P. distributor. If the film has not recovered its MG royalty till the date of telecast, the registration form provides for proportionate sharing of the telecast revenue. This is not what was decided by the FMC and the FDC jointly. Will the FMC look into the matter?
Considerate Pahlaj
Few producers must be as considerate as Pahlaj Nihalani is. Realising that his distributors would suffer losses in Andaz mainly because of its high price, Pahlaj refunded/adjusted part of the money received in Andaz account. The “excess” amount received from distributors who are also distributing his forthcoming Mr. Azaad was adjusted towards the under-production amount receivable from them in that film’s account. And to those distributors who are not releasing Mr. Azaad, Pahlaj returned the money.
Not An Opportunist
If Pahlaj is considerate, he is also a conscientious producer. He had announced two films with Sunil Shetty but while one never got started, the other had to be shelved mid-way. Another project with Sunil was always in his mind but for some reason or the other, it never got to be launched. It was very recently that Pahlaj decided to start a new film with Sunil Shetty. But his son pointed out to him that he had delayed the project all along and was launching it as soon as Sunil Shetty had become a star (Mohra, Dilwale, Anth). This hit Pahlaj so badly that he postponed the project immediately. “If my son can tell me this, the world can also tell me so. I don’t want to look like an opportunist,” explained Pahlaj.
Tale Behind The Title
Making the film may not be as difficult for director David Dhawan and producer Ketan Desai as getting the title has been. Or so it would seem. They had a tough time tracking down a producer who had registered the title Deewana Mastana which they wanted (at any cost) for their venture, starring Anil Kapoor and Govinda. They finally traced him in Delhi and managed to get him to relinquish his claim on the title. Shabnam Kapoor was next in queue, having applied for the same title. It took a couple of hours for Govinda and David Dhawan to convince Shabnam to give them the title. Finally, Shabnam gave in, much to the joy of Govinda and David.
Discontinued Due To Show Timings
The length of Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! did adversely affect its collections in the 10.30 a.m. shows. In Bombay, however, there was no question of the collections being affected since the film was released at Liberty in 3 shows daily (1 p.m., 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.). Jurassic Park was being screened in the matinee show (11 a.m.) but because of the length of HAHK..!, the show timing of Jurassic Park had to be advanced to 10.30 a.m. Since it was too early in the day, collections of JP dropped rather steeply. As a result, JP has been discontinued from this week – after a 17-week run at the cinema.
Perfect Planning
Producer N.N. Sippy has been right on schedule in the making of his Teesra Kaun?. Started in June ’94, he had planned to complete it in August. With 90% of the film in the cans and shooting of the balance 10% on, the target is not difficult to reach. Obviously then, Sippy is thrilled to bits. He has spared neither efforts nor money to make the film. Why, he has spent some lakhs, only by way of insurance premium for a train hired in Madras. The train plays an important part in the film. That is why he had to renew the insurance cover for an additional day of shooting. But not the one to cut corners, he booked the train over again even if that meant shelling out many thousands as insurance premium.
Waiting For Roles Worth Her While
People in the trade were beginning to get the impression that Sangeeta Bijlani was not interested any longer in pursuing acting as a career. But it is not so. The girl is serious as serious can be, about acting. She has been receiving offers but is waiting for more worthwhile roles to come her way. And going by Sangeeta’s new-found enthusiasm, it may not be long before she does bag some lucrative roles.
Cinema-Going A Pleasure
The Barjatyas and Liberty cinema, Bombay have ensured that cinema-going is a pleasure for the public. People going to Liberty to see Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! come out praising not only the film but also the cinema. The air-conditioner works continuously. The foyer is clean, the stalls put up are neat and tidy. The sound system is wonderful. As Rakesh Roshan, who saw the film at Liberty earlier this week, says, “For once, I felt, I was watching a film in a cinema abroad.”
Weighing Bananas & Oranges In A Tarazu?
Believe it or not but Raaj Kumar wanted Anu Aggarwal to play his leading lady in Vimal Kumar’s Tarazu! And if Anu would have been signed for the role, she would be playing Akshay Kumar’s mother!! This is one of the several reasons why Vimal Kumar preferred to drop Raaj Kumar from the project. Amrish Puri has now come in his place. Incidentally, Raaj Kumar prefers putting down everything in black and white. And that includes his hours of sleep (in the afternoon) on the sets, and also the number of bananas and oranges the producer is supposed to provide him with when shooting. Can’t believe it? Some facts of life are such.
