(From our issue dated 25th June, 1994)
LATEST POSITION
It was a normal week at most of the places. Heavy rains, however, affected collections at some centres.
Aatish has done fantastic in the first week: Bombay 27,66,455 (92.77%) from 21 cinemas (11 on F.H.); Ahmedabad 6 days 6,68,285 from 7 cinemas, Surat 1,18,000 (100%), Baroda 2,34,335 (88.99%) from 2 cinemas, Rajkot 1,78,311 from 3 cinemas (1 in matinee); Pune 6,15,859 from 6 cinemas, Solapur 61,870 (100%), Nasik 84,190, record, Nasik Road 80,229; Hubli 1,14,039 (93.62%) from 3 cinemas, Belgaum 1,13,150 (86.15%) from 2 cinemas; Delhi 27,35,167 (90.16%) from 13 cinemas; Lucknow 2,12,144 (100%), Meerut 2,10,696 from 2 cinemas, Bareilly 80,727 (85.92%), Dehradun 81,113; Chandigarh 1,40,000; Calcutta 18,51,509 (87.80%) from 24 cinemas; Nagpur 5,51,420 from 6 cinemas, Jabalpur 1,75,105 from 2 cinemas, Amravati 1,56,866 from 2 cinemas, Akola 1,14,603, Raipur 1,32,563 (67.88%) from 2 cinemas, Bhilai 1,40,690 from 2 cinemas, Jalgaon 1,23,223 from 2 cinemas, Yavatmal (30 shows) 94,769 (gross), Bilaspur 1,11,442; Indore 2,38,073 from 3 cinemas (4 cinemas on F.H.), Bhopal 2,87,240 from 3 cinemas; Jaipur 6,65,361 from 5 cinemas, Jodhpur (gross) 3,80,000; Hyderabad 21,51,906 from 15 cinemas (2 cinemas for 6 days), share 10,50,906, excellent.
……
DO YOU KNOW?
* AATISH has created a record by collecting 1,15,209/- (against a capacity of 1,25,521/-; 91.78%) in 1st week at Sadhana, Baroda.
* AATISH has created a record by collecting 84,190/- in 1st week at Ashok, Nasik.
* AATISH has created a theatre record by collecting 94,769/- (gross) in 1st week (30 shows) at Apsara, Yeotmal. 2nd week 1st day: 6,227/-
* ANTH has given a handsome share of 1,02,000/- in 2 weeks from Vasant, Akola.
* RAJA BABU has created a record by collecting 68,000/- in 1st week at Dreamland, Bijapur, in spite of Moharram.
* HUM HAIN RAHI PYAR KE has created a city record for second-run films by collecting 41,730/- in a week (24 shows) at Talreja, Parbhani.
* POTLATCH (E.) has drawn all shows full in 1st week at Radha, Akola.
YOU ASKED IT
A non-star-cast film has been acquired by my friend for the South circuit. Will the producer release the film in the South, without releasing it in other circuits simultaneously?
– Producers generally prefer to release their film in at least one or two major territories first. If the film doesn’t find buyers, he may contemplate releasing it in the South only.
What is the reason for distributors paying fancy prices for 1942 A Love Story?
– The price is being paid without seeing the film and the main reason for it is the ‘Ek ladki ko dekha’ song. This song has generated unprecedented craze and can be expected to ensure a bumper opening to the film when released.
Is Twinkle Khanna under a contract with Dharmendra as regards her first release?
– Twinkle is free to have any film as her premiere release after 31st October, ’94.
NITIN MANMOHAN HOSPITALISED
Producer Nitin Manmohan had to be hospitalised on 21st June following a sudden ailment. He is better now and has been advised complete rest.
IMPPA GENERAL MEETING ON 11TH JULY
An extraordinary general meeting of the IMPPA will be held on 11th July at ISKCON, Juhu, Bombay, to consider proposed amendments to the Articles of Association of the IMPPA. The amendments, inter alia, provide for election of 17 Ordinary class members instead of 16 at present. It is also proposed to expressly provide that additional members (not exceeding two), appointed by the executive committee from Ordinary class in special cases, will not have any voting power.
RAMRAO ADIK’S REMARKS IRK INDUSTRY:
IFFI BOYCOTT ON THE CARDS?
The film industry has almost decided to boycott the International Film Festival of India 1995, scheduled to be held in Bombay. This follows the remarks made by Maharashtra finance minister Ramrao Adik at the meeting of the various state ministers with representatives of the film industry on 24th June at Vigyan Bhavan in Delhi. The meeting had been fixed to discuss, among other things, the issue of entertainment tax. The various state secretaries had, a while ago, opined that the industry needed to be given relief in entertainment tax.
While most of the ministers were sympathetic to the demand of the film industry, Ramrao Adik is reported to have taken a contrary stand. He criticised the industry and its people and said, it did not deserve any relief. This, obviously, irked the industry representatives present at the meeting which was inaugurated by prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao. Deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, Pranab Mukherjee, was present at the meeting.
The Madhya Pradesh chief minister announced at the meeting that he would grant 100% tax exemption to films shot in his state.
Earlier, while inaugurating the 21st conference of state ministers of information and cinematography, Narasimha Rao said that the film industry would have to impose self-regulation to check increasing obscenity and violence in films, failing which the government would have to resort to other measures. Referring to complaints of high entertainment tax in some states, he said, the states were required to augment their resources. He also added that the problem could be looked at in all its dimensions.
JAVED RIAZ DEAD
Producer Javed Riaz died on 20th June at Hinduja Hospital. He had been shot at by unknown assailants two weeks back at Versova and succumbed to his injuries on 20th.
Javed Riaz had produced two films, Jaan Ki Kasam and Yudhpath. He was currently producing Tu Vish Main Amrit.
ORIYA PRODUCER DEAD
Oriya filmmaker Subhas Mishra died after a cardiac arrest on June 17 at Cuttack. He was awarded the Silver Lotus for his film, Swandana, in 1983.
MAHARASHTRA STATE POLICY ON WOMEN
Vice president K.R. Narayanan announced on June 22 the policy of the Maharashtra government on women for their overall development. The 29-point policy includes a demand from the Central government to amend the Cinematograph Act to check atrocities on women in films, to issue clear censor guidelines, to give 50% representation to women on the CBFC and to allot a minimum of 36 hours on TV for programmes concerning women’s problems.
I-T AMENDMENT COVERS CINEMA BUSINESS?
The Income-Tax Act has been amended with effect from 1st June, ’94 to provide for tax deduction at source (TDS) at the rate of 20% from rent payments of all kinds if the annual rent payable is more than Rs.1,20,000.
The new section, 194-I, of the I-T Act makes it obligatory for a person (other than an individual and HUF) paying rent, to deduct tax at source.
This section is likely to affect cinema business as cinemas screen films on rental basis. Third parties also take over control of cinemas on rental basis. Opinion is divided on whether the section covers cinema business at all.
ATMARAM NO MORE
Producer-director Atmaram breathed his last on 24th June in Bombay. He was 63 and had not been keeping well since a couple of years. He is survived by his wife and a daughter, besides two brothers, Vijay and producer Devi Dutt. Late Guru Dutt was also Atmaram’s brother.
Atmaram had just completed a 6-day shooting stint of a TV serial, Bhai Humne To Suna Hai, which he was making for the Junior Artistes’ Retirement Fund. He had been shooting at home for the serial, giving instructions from his bed as he had been advised rest. He packed up around 8.30 p.m. on 24th. He felt uneasy at 11 p.m. and was rushed to Arogya Nidhi Hospital where he was pronounced dead due to cardiac arrest.
Atmaram had produced and directed seven films under his banner of Atmaram Films. They were Kaise Kahun, Shikar, Chanda Bijlee, Umang, Yeh Gulistan Hamara, Aarop and Qaid. He had also directed Resham Ki Dori and Yaar Mera for outside banners.
Atmaram had recently also made a serial, Vividha, for Doordarshan. He had given up making films since many years.
He was actively involved in the Association work of the industry, having remained on the executive committees of the Guild, Association of Motion Pictures Studios etc. He was a partner in Natraj Studios. Atmaram did a great deal for the economic upliftment of junior artistes.
His funeral took place this morning (25th June).
L.V. PRASAD NO MORE
An Institution Passes Away
Veteran producer-director L.V. Prasad died in Madras on the afternoon of 22nd June due to a respiratory ailment. He had been ailing for some years. He was 87 and is survived by his son, Ramesh, and a daughter.
An institution in himself, L.V. Prasad was a doyen of the Indian film industry. He made a number of films in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. He also acted in several films and had the distinction of working in the first talkie films in Hindi (Alam Ara), Tamil (Kalidas) and Telugu (Bhaktha Prahlada). He had left acting years ago but made an exception in the eighties for Kamal Haasan’s Tamil film, Raja Parvai, in which he played a key role.
The famous Prasad Laboratory and Prasad Studios in Madras were L.V. Prasad’s creation. The biggest 70mm dubbing theatre is also housed in Prasad Lab. He had also set up the L.V. Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad.
Akkineni Lakshmi Vara Prasad Rao had no proper formal education in his village in Andhra Pradesh. He quit school because he was fascinated by cinema.
His stint with the celluloid world started when he got a job of an errand boy for Venus Film Company. He had also done the job of a gate-keeper. He did bit roles in Tamil and Telugu films before he came to Bombay and joined Prithvi Theatres in 1946.
Besides directing Tamil and Telugu films like Grihapravesham, Drohi, Mana Desam, Shavukar, Samsaram and others, L.V. Prasad also made a number of hits in Hindi. In fact, he was adept at remaking South language hits into Hindi. Among the hits made by him were Sharda, Milan, Sasural, Chhoti Bahen, Dadi Maa, Beti Bete, Jeene Ki Raah and Ek Duuje Ke Liye. He had also made Jay Vijay, Mere Ghar Mere Bachchey and Shaadi Ke Baad. Naag Panchami, which is the latest blockbuster of Bengali cinema, is also made under the banner of Prasad Productions (P.) Ltd. He directed a total of 60 films. His banner has produced 50 films.
Prasad-ji was a much revered man in the industry and a father figure. He was a multifaceted personality and a genius in the true sense of the word. He made a humble beginning but rose to dizzy heights by sheer dint of hard work and intelligence. In 1982, he received the Dadasaheb Phalke award for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema. He also bagged the Udyog Patra award from the president of India in 1980. L.V. Prasad had been president of the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce. The office of the Chamber remained closed on 23rd June as a mark of respect.
Garma-Garam
** After the resounding success of Khal-nayak in the Overseas, the craze for Subhash Ghai’s Trimurti there is unprecedented. Ghai has offers of unimaginable prices for the film’s Overseas rights, but he is not in a hurry to finalise the deal.
** More and more exhibitors are showing interest in installing the Dolby Stereo sound system in their cinemas. With Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! and 1942 A Love Story releases round the corner, the number of cinemas that’ve installed the sound system and those that’re in the process of installing it is increasing week by week – sorry, now it is, day by day. To the list printed in our issue last week can be added the names of the following cinemas which have placed the orders for the sound system: (1) Raj Mandir, Jaipur, (2) Maheshwari, Hyderabad, (3) Vasant, Akola, (4) Sujata, Ranchi, (5) Rajkamal, Mysore, (6) Sangam, Mysore, (7), Taksal, Varanasi, (8) Satyam, Delhi, (9) Sapna, Delhi, and (10) Manjushri, Kanpur. By August, there should be about 75 to 80 cinemas with this sound system. In the coming months, at least three films are sure to be made in Dolby sound system – Trimurti, Prem and Ram Shastra. Their number will also increase.
** There’s a laboratory in Bombay that charges producers for liquid-gate printing although it also has one dry-gate high-speed machine for which the charges are lower. As a smart Alec remarked, “What does this lab do? Processing and duping!” Note the pun in ‘duping’.
** The industry is pleading for abolition of entertainment tax. But why doesn’t someone challenge the very basis of the tax, in court? And its relevance when there’s no tax on films shown on Doordarshan and satellite channels? We may succeed in the court. Who knows?
** There’s news from Ahmedabad’s Drive In that the audience goes berserk when the trailer of Mohrais screened. At Navsari, the excited cinegoers are showering coins on the screen in appreciation of the trailer. This is mast mast reaction, indeed!
3-E
Education-Entertainment-Englightenment
Great Hopes
Hopes are soaring high. After the fantastic initial that Aatish commanded, the trade is hopeful of bumper openings to Mohra and 1942 A Love Story. Both the forthcoming releases have, among other things, at least one song each, which has become a rage.
Another Song Too
That there was objection from the CBFC to the ‘Raat saiyan ne aisi bowling kari’ song of Vijaypath is well-known. Not so well-known is that the censors also objected to some parts of the picturisation of the ‘Ruk ruk ruk, arre baba ruk’ song. Reportedly, the objection stemmed from the showing of nuns and saints in the song. The Time people (producers) have since reshot the relevant portions.
Sippys’ ‘Bible’
It shouldn’t be one bit of a surprise if N.N. Sippy completes his Teesra Kaun? by August, as scheduled. It was started on 16th June, and a non-stop shooting spell is to start before the month draws to a close, in Madras and Ooty. The entire script is ready and is on the sets in a bound book form. It is referred to (jocularly, of course) by the unit members as the Bible and when associate producers Pravesh Sippy and Prem Pillai proudly show you the bound script, they say, “Look, we have what hardly anybody would have before their film rolls and many wouldn’t even have after the film is complete – a complete script.” As the title suggests, Teesra Kaun? is a suspense drama. It stars, among others, Mithun Chakraborty, Chunkey Panday (whose costumes in the film are chic), Somy Ali, newfind Rituparna, Philips Top 10 Shah (that’s Satish Shah) and Rakesh Bedi. Somy Ali should thank K.C. Bokadia for Teesra Kaun? because it is after seeing a very sexy song of Bokadia’s Aao Pyar Karen that Sippy signed Somy. Information has also seen that song (‘Ooui maa, yeh kya ho gaya’) and Somy deserves distinction marks for her uninhibitedness and free performance. And so does writer K.K. Singh for his new style of working. Incidentally, Singh is off drinks.
Sharing Switzerland
Switzerland had become a meeting ground for producers of Sunny Deol starrers recently. Sajid Nadiadwala shot his Jeet for 15 days there. Besides Jeet, the two other Sunny starrers which were shot in Switzerland were Suneil Darshan’s Ajay and Anand Mama’s Himmat. And this was no coincidence. It was planned like that by Sunny. In the bargain, several costs got divided between three producers.
Chain Reaction
Raaj Kumar, who had been signed to act in an untitled maiden venture of Pitra Chhaya Productions (director Raj Sippy), has walked out of the project. It is whispered that the other hero, Rishi Kapoor, too, will not be working in the film since Rishi had signed the film mainly because it would give him a chance to work with Raaj Kumar.
