(From our issue dated 15th April, 1995)

A function to celebrate the silver jubilee of HAHK..! at Sringar Cinema, Hubli was organised by the management this week.

LATEST POSITION

BOMBAY has created magic at the box-office all over India. The film as also the (positive) hangover it leaves on the viewer’s mind are being discussed. Its record-breaking collections have matched the tremendous appreciation from classes as well as masses. Heavy crowds have been reported in cinemas in every nook and corner of the country. There is a mad scramble for tickets everywhere. Muslims have also accepted the film with open arms. All fears of its fate at smaller centres and its repeat-value have proved to be unfounded. …The week was bountiful for the box-office due to extra holidays (Mahavir Jayanti, demise of Morarji Desai).

Bombay (dubbed) proves a blockbuster all over. Class AA. 1st week Bombay 7,29,828 (100%) from 2 cinemas (2 on F.H.), opens today (15th) at New Excelsior and 7 other cinemas of Bombay city and suburbs; Ahmedabad (6 days) 5,07,087 from 3 cinemas, Surat 73,711 (1 unrecd.), Baroda 2,04,900 (100%), record, Rajkot 1,39,916, Jamnagar 1,31,000; Pune 5,59,216 from 2 cinemas, Solapur 2,07,692 (100%), Nasik 1,18,216 (100%), record; Delhi 33,41,363 (99.08%) from 12 cinemas; Kanpur 3,10,145 (100%), Lucknow 1,59,796 (100%), Gorakhpur 1,55,724 (100%), Saharanpur (26 shows) 87,657, Ghaziabad 1,22,302, theatre record, Varanasi 1,42,065 (100%), Meerut (3 days) 54,478 (100%), Agra (3 days) 100%, Aligarh 1st day 100%, suspended for 2 weeks; Calcutta 20,28,125 (100%) from 19 cinemas; Nagpur (2 days) 92,856 (100%) from 2 cinemas, Jabalpur 1,05,372, Amravati (32 shows) 1,15,531 (100%), theatre record, Dhule 1,26,482, city record; Indore 4,99,535 from 3 cinemas (2 on F.H.), Bhopal 2,37,904 from 2 cinemas; Jaipur 4,98,377 from 2 cinemas, Jodhpur excellent. Total 1,07,49,278 from 63 cinemas.

……..

‘BOMBAY’ IN BOMBAY

Mani Ratnam’s Bombay, which was not permitted to be released in Bombay city and suburbs (within Bombay municipal corporation limits) last week, has been released today (Saturday, April 15). The police commissioner’s order for postponement was for 8 days (from April 7 to 14, both days inclusive) and was not renewed further.

Meanwhile, the agitating Muslim leaders in Bombay softened their stand mid-week. They decided to ask for deletion of some scenes from the film or for further postponement of its release, failing which they would not create law and order problems but would only call upon their members to boycott the film. The Muslim delegation has since called on the Maharashtra chief minister who has refused to grant their demand.

Security has been beefed up in the city to guard against any untoward incidents.

In the meantime, a Muslim delegation left for Delhi on 14th April to persuade I & B minister K.P. Singh Deo to delete certain scenes from the film as was done in Andhra Pradesh.

The screening of Bombay in the cities in which it was disrupted or discontinued last week is also being resumed gradually.

SNAPSHOTS

POTENTIAL POWER

Wonder why the Time-Venus people are not releasing Hum Se Hai Muqabla, the dubbed Hindi version of the Tamil super-hit Kaadhlan. The dubbing is complete and the film’s first copy is also out. The ‘Muqabla’ song in the Hindi version too should set the screen on fire. The music has that magical quality about it which will make people dance in cinema halls and ask for an encore. But that is, if the film is released soon. As it is, there have been so many copied versions of the song. This is not to say that the plagiarised versions are a threat to the original which is a class apart. But the similarity in tunes is definitely there.

***

MANISHA AFTER ‘BOMBAY’

Mani Ratnam’s Bombay is the best thing to have happened to Manisha Koirala. Not only does she look beautiful in the film but she has also given a first-rate sensitive performance. If Manisha doesn’t let the success of Bombay go to her head, she can hope to benefit a great deal from it. Because producers are now taking Manisha’s name with more respect and seriousness.

UNINTERRUPTED CRAZE

Such is the craze for Bombay in Amravati that the management of Vasant cinema was forced to hold 5 shows daily from Tuesday. There is no interval or interruption in any show and yet, all the shows are packed, with heavy rush outside. For security reasons, the police is issuing tickets at the cinema, checking the tickets and maintaining strict vigil during the show.

***

HIDE-N-SICK

The young dancing hero had better mind it. Although he is a fantastic actor, the word is spreading far and wide that he has been playing hide-n-seek with his producers again. He reports at the Santacruz (Bombay) airport but doesn’t board the aircraft or, at times, simply checks out of the hotel in Jaipur and returns to Bombay while his producer, director and unit are unaware of this and discover it only when he is sent for, for the day’s shooting. The actor had better wake up to the fact that he is here to act, not to play chhuppa-chhuppi. For, if he doesn’t stop this game of hide-n-seek, producers may simply decide to let him hide forever and not seek him whatsoever!

***

Zee’s Telecast Illegal: Dhirubhai Shah

There is nothing as “satellite rights” under the Copyright Act, and Zee Cinema is fooling the producers by buying from them or claiming to hold the satellite rights of their films. This, in effect, was the point sought to be hammered at the press conference called by Cable Video (India) Ltd. and ATN on 10th April at Hotel Guestline Days. The conference was addressed by Dhirubhai Shah of Time Video, Harish Hemdev of Indus Video and Siddharth Srivastav of ATN.

Dhirubhai had challenged the FMC and Zee TV to attend the press conference and have an open discussion on who was right and who was wrong in the battle of cable TV rights of films. Neither Zee nor FMC attended the press meet. Zee TV, however, vide a telex message, volunteered to attend a debate, provided it was arranged by an impartial body.

Dhirubhai explained at the press conference that the cable TV rights of more than 60% of the 118 Hindi films sought to be telecast on Zee Cinema’s pay channel from April 9 to May 20 vested with their consortium of Cable Video (India) Ltd. viz. Time, Gold, Bombino, Indus, Prism, VP etc. He added that Zee was infringing the provisions of the Copyright Act as also the agreements signed by the producers of the said films with the respective video companies.

It was pointed out that the Indian Copyright Act did not recognise the existence of satellite rights. According to Cable Video (India), satellite is just a vehicle for transportation of signals and, therefore, Zee’s claim of holding satellite rights was baseless and, in fact, an infringement of the cable TV rights of the consortium companies.

As far as video rights are concerned, as per the standard agreement, there are two categories of rights: (i) mechanical rights to make copies of the film, and (ii) communication-by-broadcasting rights which could be either by wireless diffusion or by wire. It was reiterated that Zee was, therefore, infringing the rights of video companies.

Zee was also blamed for using the FMC to combat the competition offered by ATN.

Dhirubhai also referred to the memorandum of understanding between himself and the FMC as regards the films telecast on ATN. Although he was not bound to pay anything to the producers since he would be telecasting on ATN the films of which he held cable TV rights, he said, he had agreed to pay them because “they are our brothers”. In return, the FMC had agreed to get producers to sign an undertaking that they would not give their films to any other satellite channels for a period of three years. In that case, Dhirubhai would also not show those films on cable TV for 3 years. According to Dhirubhai, producers refused to give the undertaking and, therefore, it is they who backed out of the understanding and not he, as being claimed by the FMC. “Even today, I am prepared to pay a producer according to the memorandum of understanding if he gives me the undertaking,” declared Dhirubhai.

Why was Dhirubhai afraid that producers would part with satellite rights when, according to him, no such rights existed and he held the cable TV rights? “I demanded such an undertaking only for the sake of caution because nobody understands the Copyright Act and I was scared, producers would double-sell,” answered Dhirubhai.

He also cautioned that Cable Video (India) would conduct raids on cable operators screening Zee Cinema’s films. “We may also launch criminal proceedings against producers who sell satellite rights of those films of which we hold cable TV rights,” he added. He decried the apathy of the Mulund (Bombay) police station which refused to register a case under the Copyright Act on 6th April against a cable TV operator who was “illegally screening” Andhaa Kanoon.

YOU ASKED IT

Is the success of Bombay because of the tremendous media coverage it has been getting?

– If only media coverage could make a film run, KISSA KURSEE KA would also have been a hit. But the fact is that the film had opened to dismal houses.

Has Subhash Ghai finalised the heroine for his Shikhar?

– He is still on the hunt for a new girl. There were rumours all through the week that Manisha Koirala had been finalised but Ghai has denied the news.

With the release of Bombay in Bombay city and suburbs having been postponed by eight days, what is the loss expected to be incurred by the distributor?

– The loss due to the postponement will be more than offset by the new craze that has been generated because of the postponement. In the long run, the delay will prove to be profitable.

COURT PERMITS ‘GAMBLER’ SHOOTING

Honourable judge Mr. Deshpande of the city civil court, Bombay, on April 13 passed an ad interim order, restraining the Film Makers Combine (FMC), Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA) and Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) from issuing “any orders, circulars, instructions, statements, directives etc.” directing any of their affiliates/associates to stop the shooting of Time Magnetics’ Gambler and Krishna and all other films, pending the hearing and final disposal of the suit.

The FWICE, vide its letter dated 21st March, had, at the behest of the FMC, asked its affiliate craft associations not to render any cooperation to Time Magnetics (India) Limited for the shooting of its two under-production films, Gambler and Krishna. FMC’s contention was that producer Dhirubhai Shah had not obtained permission from it to start the shootings for the above-mentioned films. The FMC also expelled Dhirubhai for this.

Gambler will now be shot in Mangalore.

Mix Masala

WEARING ‘PREM’

And Boney Kapoor’s obsession with Prem continues. The latest is that he has got special black T-shirts and caps made with the logo of Prem inscribed (in yellow) prominently on them. These T-shirts and caps are on sale in the market and there are prizes for lucky winners too!

SAD EXPERIENCE

South producer Ramnarayan, who has made Naag Devta in three languages — Gujarati, Marathi and Bhojpuri — was to have released the Gujarati version yesterday (14th April). But the release had to be postponed at the eleventh hour because the film was not granted 70% tax exemption due to the expiry of the government’s tax exemption policy on 31st March ’95. And to think of it, the producer shot the film in Gujarat to avail of the tax exemption. Incidentally, nine prints of the Gujarati version were taken out for the release and all of them are now lying unused.

ANDHRA HIGH COURT CLEARS ‘BOMBAY’
WITH THREE CUTS

The Telugu version of Bombay, which was discontinued from Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy district in Andhra Pradesh after three days of its release last month, has been released again. This follows the Andhra high court’s judgement.

Justice P.L.N. Sarma of the Andhra Pradesh high court on 7th April permitted the screening of the Telugu film Bombay in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy district, subject to the deletion of three scenes in the film.

The scenes are:

(1) The scene of Narayana Murthy going to Bashir and placing an order for a lorry-load of bricks with the inscription ‘Rama’ on every brick;

(2) The scene of lifting of the veil of the friend of the heroine by the hero, Shankar.

(3) The scene showing symbolic demolition of the top portion of the Babri Masjid.

DO YOU KNOW?

* BOMBAY has created an all-time record by collecting 2,50,362/- in 6 days (12 shows) at Drive In, Ahmedabad.

* BOMBAY has created a city record by collecting 1,31,000/- in 1st week at Amber, Jamnagar.

* BOMBAY has created history by drawing all 28 shows full and collecting 2,04,900/- in 1st week at Sadhana, Baroda.

* BOMBAY has created a theatre record by collecting 1,18,216/- in 1st week at Mamta, Nasik. All 28 shows were full.

* BOMBAY has created new records in 10 of the 11 cinemas of Delhi in 1st week: at Shiela by collecting 4,77,709/-, Chanakya 3,00,636/-, Jubilee 1,65,233/-, Savitri 2,73,105/-, Alankar 3,61,817/-, Aakash 2,78,201/-, Natraj 3,04,535/-, Rachna 2,80,162/-, Amba 3,17,983/-, and Sonia 1,95,300/-. All the shows at all the cinemas were full, with heavy crowds outside.

* BOMBAY has created a theatre record by collecting 1,22,302/- in 1st week at Urvashi, Ghaziabad.

* BOMBAY has created a U.P. record by collecting 3,10,145/- at Heer Palace, Kanpur. All shows were full.

* BOMBAY has created records by collecting 1,59,796/- at Anand, Lucknow, and 1,42,065/- at Vijaya, Varanasi. All shows at both the cinemas were full.

* BOMBAY has created records by drawing all shows full (1,55,724/-) at Raj, Gorakhpur and Venus, Saharanpur (87,657/- for 26 shows, 2 shows cancelled due to Ram Navmi).

* BOMBAY has created a record by collecting 100% (54,478/-) in 3 days of 1st week at Apsara, Meerut. The film was discontinued on 2nd day and resumed on 6th day.

* BOMBAY drew all shows full in the first 3 days at Sanjay, Agra. It was discontinued from 4th day and resumed from 8th day to packed houses.

* BOMBAY has created a theatre record by collecting 1,15,531/- (all 32 shows full) in 1st week at Vasant, Amravati. The film had to be screened in daily 5 shows later during the week due to heavy public demand!

* BOMBAY has created a city record by collecting 1,26,482/- in 1st week at Jyoti, Dhule.

* BOMBAY has created a theatre record by collecting 1,96,650/- in 1st week at Chandragupta, Indore. It has also created threatre records by collecting 1,86,958/- at Sangeeta, Indore, and 1,15,927/- at Alka, Indore.

* BOMBAY has created records by collecting 1,37,660/- in 1st week at Filmistan, Gwalior, and 88,000/- at Manmandir, Gwalior.

* BOMBAY has created theatre records by collecting 2,59,123/- in 1st week (26 shows) at Motimahal, Jaipur, and 2,39,254/- (26 shows) at Laxmi Mandir, Jaipur.

3-E
Education-Entertainment-Enlightenment

Blessing In Disguise

When it rains, it pours. Nothing could be more apt to describe the good fortune that has befallen producer Nitin Manmohan. When he acquired the distribution rights of Bombay for C.P. Berar, he took Harish (Glamour) and Mohan Kasat of Mohan Chitra, Amravati as 50% partners. Apprehensive about the film’s fate, he gave half of his 50% share (i.e. 25%) to another person. But no sooner was the Telugu version of Bombay banned in Hyderabad and Secunderabad than the 25% partner developed cold feet and asked Nitin to relieve him. As a result, Nitin again had a 50% share in the film. With Bombay going great guns, Nitin will now have a 50% share in the profits instead of the 25% he would have had, had it not been for his friend’s cold feet.

The Inspired Ones

Nitin Manmohan is not the only producer who is distributing Bombay. Besides him, Raju Mavani has acquired the film for Nizam. Raju was inspired to take the plunge, thanks to Nizam distributor Pramod of Maruti Film Distributors. It was on Pramod’s insistence that Raju Mavani acquired the Hindi version of Bombay for Nizam. Among the first in India to have expressed their fancy for the Hindi dubbed version were (besides Amitabh Bachchan, of course) the Pandeys of Jaipur. They acquired the film for Rajasthan, leaving the price open. “We’ll pay the price in proportion to its price for other circuits,” V.N. Pandey had said a couple of months back.

North Meets South

Not only has A.R. Rahman today become the hottest music director but his typical style of music has also come to be adored by music lovers (or aped by music directors). Although Rahman is scoring the music of Subhash Ghai’s Shikhar, the film will have none of his typical music. Rather than tunes of the South Indian flavour, Shikhar will have the music whizkid churn out North Indian folk music. “This is because Shikhar is a subject based in Kashmir,” says Ghai, adding, “I told Rahman to work hard on the music, to learn North Indian music for my film. And that boy is taking a lot of pains for it, he is a genius.”

Devgans In New Territory

Veeru Devgan and Ajay Devgan will soon be seen in a different role. The Devgans have decided to open a distribution office for Bombay circuit. They’ve already named their concern Devgan’s Entertainment. What’s more, they’ve also acquired a handful of films for distribution in Bombay. Among the films are Raj Kanwar’s Itihaas and Harry Baweja’s Diljale, both starring Ajay.

Money No Bait

K. Pappu’s Raghuveer is among the few Sunil Shetty starrers which were started when Sunil was not considered hot property. It was also sold at a ratio which today, considering Sunil Shetty’s market, would be counted as really cheap. Understandably, therefore, K. Pappu has been receiving offers by the dozen. The new distributors for various circuits express their willingness to pay double the price for which Pappu has sold the film. While many producers would have easily fallen prey to the bait, Pappu has refused to even consider these offers.

First Time Ever

Among the prestigious international magazines like Time, Cosmopolitan and Vogue is National Geographic. The latest issue of National Geographic carries an article ‘Bombay: India’s Capital of Hope’. In the article, mention has been made of the Hindi film industry. And there’s just one hero who has been interviewed by the mag for this part of the article. The hero is none other than Rishi Kapoor whose photograph in his beautifully done-up living room occupies a pride of place in the feature. Rishi’s quotes on the film industry are also reproduced. What is creditable is that Rishi is the first ever Hindi film hero — and probably, the first Indian star — to have made it to the pages of the prestigious publication.

Ensuring Peace

“This is a film which gives us the message of communal harmony. You are requested to abstain from hooting or clapping while watching this film. Please watch this film without comment and show your appreciation at the end. Co-operate with us in ensuring peace and harmony.” This announcement precedes every show of Bombay in Bhopal. The best part is that cinegoers heed the plea. This special announcement comes from the Bhopal police which has been monitoring the shows at both the cinemas of Bhopal ever since Bombay was released there on Friday last. This is because Bhopal had witnessed the worst-ever communal riots after the Ayodhya incident. About 137 people had been killed in the Bhopal riots. The city has a sizeable Muslim population. And if, in spite of this, Bombay is being screened peacefully, it is thanks to the efforts of the collector, N.L. Prajapati, superintendent of police Anand Kumar, addl. district magistrate Yogendra Sharma, home secretary Vijay Singh, and T.I. Mogham Singh. Likewise, in Indore, the film is running, thanks to the efforts of revenue commissioner A.K. Singh, collector Sudhir Ranjan Mohanty, superintendent of police Rustom Singh and addl. district magistrate Shailendra Singh.

Catchline

What

Is

‘BOMBAY’?

MANI

MANI(SHA)

&

MONEY!

(From our issue dated 8th April, 1995)

Few films get as much pre-release publicity as Mani Ratnam’s Bombay has got. The publicity hype made people’s expectations about the film soar. The music of the film also became a rage, adding even more to the curiosity.

Aalayam’s Bombay (dubbed from the Tamil film of the same name) lives up to all sky-high expectations. Set against the backdrop of Bombay’s communal riots in 1992 and 1993, it is a love story of a Hindu boy and a Muslim girl who break the barriers of religion and family ties to get married. They have a family of their own and how the riots affect an innocent family like theirs has been narrated beautifully.

One of the biggest plus points of the film is the conviction and honesty with which it has been made. Everything seems so real, the audience moves with the characters. Yet another strong point is the emotional content of the drama, which moves the viewer.

The first half is full of fresh romance, wonderful songs and cute light scenes. The second half is devoted to the riots and the impact they have on common citizens. It is heavy and has been treated with a class touch. But if the audience doesn’t mind the tension or the elitist touch, it is only because of the family emotions after interval, which are oh so natural.

There are a number of scenes which create a positive and, sometimes, a lasting impact for their sheer simplicity or novelty. For instance, the hero and heroine passing love messages to each other via the kids in their room, the quarrels of the hero’s father and the heroine’s father, the heroine’s family going to the hero’s house (even though the families are not on talking terms), the heroine announcing that two Gods would protect her two children, the heroine simply breaking down on seeing her parents after six years, the heroine’s conversation with her father-in-law, the hero weeping on the burning street when his children get separated from him, the interval point when the two children are saved in the nick of time — these and several other scenes reveal the genius in writer-director Mani Ratnam.

Among the clap-worthy scenes are the eunuch coming to the rescue of the child, the child wiping off the tilak on the forehead of his grandfather, the Muslim father saving the life of the Hindu father, the hero’s tongue-in-cheek reply to this father that he cannot wait till his (father’s) death etc.

Arvind Swamy does a fantastic job. He is superb in romantic as well as emotional scenes. Manisha Koirala’s is an award-winning performance. She is extremely endearing in everything she does, and she looks very beautiful. Nasar and Kitty, as the two fathers, are natural and provide comic relief. Master Hriday and master Harsha are extremely cute. Tinnu Anand, Akash Khurana and the rest lend good support. Sonali Bendre and the male dancer do a good job in the ‘Humma humma’ number.

Direction is par excellence. Mani Ratnam has balanced the drama wonderfully. Climax looks a bit abrupt but there was little choice for an alternative. Dubbing is very good. A.R. Rahman’s music is first rate. All the songs are excellently tuned. Picturisation of ‘Tu hi re’ is remarkable. Locations are breathtaking. Camerawork is splendid, to say the least. Background score deserves special mention. Mob and action scenes (Ravi Dewan) deserve full marks.

On the whole, Bombay is a surefire hit. It deserves to be exempted from tax for its message of communal harmony.

Released on 7-4-’95 at some cinemas of Bombay (it could not be released in the city and suburbs due to the police commissioner’s order) by Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Ltd. thru Shringar Films. Publicity & opening: mind-boggling. ….Also released all over. Opening was extraordinary at most of the places.

Disturbing, Disgusting, Dangerous
Anybody Is A Censor Body

Whatever has happened and is happening to Mani Ratnam’s Bombay in Bombay is rather unfortunate. It should not have happened to any creative work, least of all to Bombay which has been duly certified by the Central Board of Film Certification. Suddenly, people have sprung up from nowhere to act as guardians of law. Bombay has not been permitted to be released in Bombay city and suburbs. It was released at other places in India amidst tension.

A lot of hue and cry is being raised over how the minority community has been depicted in the film. But in all fairness to Mani Ratnam, no community has been shown in bad light. If the objection of the minority community is to the Muslim girl falling in love with a Hindu boy, the objection is so silly and stupid that it needs to be ignored with the contempt it deserves. If the community has been hurt at the Koran being blown up in a blasting scene, it should not overlook the fact that it is a Hindu who tries to save the Koran and in doing so, he is also killed in the blast.

The objection that it is the Muslims who have been shown as starting the 1992 riots in Bombay holds no water. No cinegoer, unless he sits with a microscope, gets that feeling in the film and to the good fortune of the revolting community, nobody in India goes to the cinemas with a microscope.

There can be as many replies — or even more — as the number of baseless queries raised by anybody about the intentions behind Bombay. Only one clear intention emerges at the end of the purposeful film — and that is to spread communal harmony.

The suspension of the release of Bombay on the say of a handful of people is fraught with dangers. It questions the very standing of the CBFC. It jeopardises the freedom of expression given by the Constitution of India to every citizen. It makes a mockery of our entire legal and social system. It only exposes how uncertain things are in this country. It proclaims from rooftops the inefficiency of our police force. It only goes to show how anybody can make his own law in this land and get away with it. It is a bad precedent and needs to be condemned by every creative person in whatever field of art he may be.

If the minority community feels so strongly against the film, let it pass a fatwa prohibiting its members from seeing the film. That could be a good form of protest. But what is all this about threats of dire consequences if the film is allowed to be screened?

Bombay was burning as it never did, in December ’92 and January ’93 when the communal riots rocked the city. Every Bombay inhabitant’s heart should be burning today when the release of Bombay has not been permitted, only because some people did not like it.

And such senseless controversies are bound to not let the film get its worth. For, what it actually deserves is tax exemption. Let not a voice of dissent over its release make the authorities overlook objectively that the film is indeed one of the best films made on national integration. Nothing, I repeat, nothing short of 100% tax exemption can do justice to the creative and brilliant piece of work called Bombay. And not just in Bombay and Maharashtra but all over India.

– Komal Nahta

YOU ASKED IT

Has Mani Ratnam’s Bombay taken a bumper opening because of the publicity it got due to the controversy?

– Why do you forget the super-hit music also?

When does tax exemption not help a film?

– When it lacks any merits whatsoever. Also, when the film does not boast of face value, tax exemption may not be of any help.

What is essential for ensuring a good initial to a film?

– Popular music (not necessarily hit), a good star-cast and, most important, luck.

‘VIJAYPATH’ SONG IS VULGAR: HC

The Bombay high court has declined to include the deleted portion of the song, Kal saiyan ne aisi baat kahi, from Vijaypath, declaring that its picturisation was vulgar and the body movements and gestures, to say the least, were vulgar and obscene. Mr. Justice G.D. Kamat and Mr. Justice N.D. Vyas said, they had seen the video cassette and were in full agreement with the Tribunal’s findings that the deletions were absolutely necessary.

Time Magnetics, producers of Vijaypath, had filed a writ petition in the high court, challenging the deletion by CBFC, ordered by the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal.

The judges observed that the filmmakers should try to mould the views and attitudes of the society instead of defending themselves for such songs by saying that “the public wants it”. It was time, they realised their responsibility, they added.

Mix Masala

THE LIGHTER SIDE

Two Bals were in news on Friday (7th April) — Balkrishna Shroff (popularly known as Bala), the Bombay distributor of Bombay, and Bal Thackeray, the Shiv Sena chief. Both their names cropped up in all discussions about Bombay. Which made a quip remark, “Thank God, there was no communal tension breaking out in Bombay. Bal Bal bach gaye!”

Dream Merchant
Super-Censors

Last night, I dreamt on board the flight from Delhi to Bombay. I dreamt about my producer-friend. He had completed his maiden production and was in the process of finalising its release date.

I dreamt that he came to my house. He looked very nervous and I asked him whether he had signed Vinod Khanna for his next venture. “No, I’ve not signed him,” he replied. “But why did you assume that I had signed Vinod Khanna?” I just smiled and refrained from telling him that the nervous look on his face matched that of another producer-friend of mine who was making a film with Vinod.

Anyway, what was the matter then, I wanted to know. “I have to get my film cleared,” he panicked.

“You mean, you’ve got to get it censored?”, I queried.

“Yes, yes,” he nodded nervously.

“But you had told me that your film is neat and clean. Then why are you so scared of the censors?”

“Since my film has three heroes — a Hindu, a Muslim and a Sikh — I have to get it censored from the religious heads of all the three communities,” he began. “There is a scene in the film in which the Hindu guy and the Muslim guy, due to some misunderstanding, get into a fight. I’m scared, the Maulvi leader will object to the fight because I’ve shown that the Muslim hero uses his fists before the Hindu hero,” he continued, his voice quivering with fear. “You know, as the Muslims have objected to the scene in Bombay in which the Muslims are shown as starting the riots.”

I nodded in agreement.

“I am also scared about a comedy scene in which the Muslim hero disguises himself as the Sikh hero and wears a turban too. I’m afraid, the Sikhs may object to the Muslim fellow sporting a turban.”

“Yes, you have a point,” I told him.

“I am not sure about the Hindus too,” he started after a small coffee break. “I have Satish Shah playing a Hindu political leader. His name is H.K. Advani and he is shown travelling in a rath. His rath has a breakdown, and I’m afraid, the Hindus will revolt against this breakdown.”

“Yes, they can break your back in disgust,” I told him very matter-of-factly.

“I am also wary about the Parsi community,” he continued, now almost in tears. Dinesh Hingoo plays a Parsi chap in my film, and I’m terribly concerned about how the Parsis will react to his character. I shudder to think of the consequences because I have a gut feeling that the Parsis will call for a ban on the release of my film.”

“What does the Parsi chap do in your film to invite the wrath of the entire community?”, I asked him.

At this stage, my friend could not control his tears. As they rolled down his cheeks, he mumbled, “The problem is, he does nothing consequential in my film. He is always making people laugh because of his absent-mindedness.”

“Oh yes, I agree, the Parsis may react rather violently,” I told him.

My friend’s tears now began to flow faster. I offered him a glass of water and he thought, I was hinting that he should drown himself in it for having made such a harmless film. “This is for you to drink and steady your nerves,” I told him.

“I am also frightened about the women’s organisations,” he sobbed. “I feel, they will ask for the deletion of a song picturised on my three heroines because they have worn bikinis in it.”

“Where has the song been picturised?”, I asked him.

“In the swimming pool,” he wept, threatening to create a pool with his tears, right inside my house.

“Oh, then they will definitely ask you to delete the song,” I cautioned him. “How could you show the girls wearing bikinis in a swimming pool?”, I tried to talk like a representative of a Mahila Sanghathana.

“I’ve not yet told you about the policemen,” my friend said. “There’s no way, the policewallahs will let my film be released.”

“Have you shown the policemen as being corrupt?” I queried.

“No, I’ve shown them to be extremely honest people. And I fear, the police force will not like to see themselves in such good light,” he whispered.

“You must be a fool to show all honest cops in your film,” I scolded my friend. “How could you be so naive? Okay, stop howling now. You shouldn’t be crying over your own follies.”

Just as I thought, it was the end, my friend wiped all his tears and muttered, “There is also a scene of eunuchs in my film and I’m sure, the hijras of India will be up in arms if I don’t delete that scene. Some four eunuchs are shown travelling in the general compartment of a local train in Bombay. The community of eunuchs will raise its ugly voice to protest against their travelling in the general compartment instead of a ladies compartment.”

“You are in for trouble with the eunuchs, too,” I thundered. “God save you. Anyway, what about the Central Board of Film Certification? When will the CBFC censor your film?”

“The CBFC? It has already seen my film yesterday. I even collected the censor certificate this morning,” he smiled for the first time.

“Oh, good. Did the CBFC offer any cuts?”, I asked.

“Not a single cut,” he grinned.

“And where is your censor certificate?”

“I’ve thrown it in the dust-bin.”

“Are you crazy? Why did you throw it away?”

“I just heard somebody say, ‘These days, the censor certificate has no value. Even a censored film can be banned.’ So, I thought, why keep a worthless piece of paper even in my file!”

The aeroplane landed at Santacruz airport with a loud thud. And I woke up with a start. I was in Bombay — Mani Ratnam’s Bombay. Humma, humma….!!

– Komal Nahta

‘Bombay’ Released Amidst Tension
Release In Bombay Postponed

No film in the past must have been released in as tense an atmosphere as Mani Ratnam’s Bombay this week. So delicate was the situation in some places like Bombay city that the police commissioner had to give orders on Friday to postpone its release by a week. Bombay will be released in Bombay city and suburbs on 14th April now.

Bombay has been a controversial film right from the time it was submitted for censorship in Madras. Set against the backdrop of the communal riots that rocked Bombay city in December ’92 and January ’93, it was feared to ignite communal tension on release. Its clearance at the CBFC also took almost two months.

But even the CBFC clearance, after the deletion of some scenes, did not set the controversy to rest. The Muslim religious heads in Hyderabad strongly criticised the film when its Telugu version was released there last month. The police commissioner of Hyderabad and Secunderabad had to order the discontinuance of the film from all cinemas of the twin cities after three days of its running. It was also discontinued from some other sensitive parts of Andhra Pradesh and from Hubli (in Karnataka) after one week. The film has not been released there again since then.

The position of the Hindi version, released this week, in various circuits is as follows:

Bombay: The police commissioner of Bombay on Friday morning ordered its postponement for a week in the cinemas of Bombay city and suburbs. Leaders of the Muslim community saw the film at a special show at New Excelsior on Thursday and were reportedly not happy with it. The film was, however, released in Thane district and in various parts of Maharashtra. It was discontinued from Thane, Kalyan etc. after the matinee (12 noon) show. The screening started again at 6 p.m. after a Shiv Sena corporator assured the cinemas that nothing untoward would happen and that the police commissioner’s orders were for Bombay city and suburbs only. The film is being screened at Aradhana, Thane, and at Vasai. The Kalyan exhibitor, however, has stopped its screening. The film may be released at another cinema of Kalyan today (Saturday).

Bombay opened in Gujarat and Saurashtra to fantastic houses on Friday. No untoward incidents were reported.

In Bijapur, the district collector has issued notices to all exhibitors on the basis of a telex message received from the home ministry that prior permission from the district magistrate would have to be obtained for screening Bombay. If any exhibitor would be found releasing the film without permission, he would be liable for criminal prosecution.

Delhi-U.P.: The film opened in U.P. on Thursday to bumper response. It was, however, discontinued from Meerut on Friday. It is running in other centres of U.P. It opened in Delhi on Friday to packed houses.

Bengal: The film opened in Calcutta and Guwahati on Friday, as scheduled.

C.P. Berar: Except in Bhilai, where the exhibitor reportedly backed out at the eleventh hour, the film was released on Thursday in other centres of C.P. Berar. There was some tension (presumably, pre-planned) at Smruti cinema, Nagpur when some miscreants in the morning (9 a.m.) show got up in the second half of the film and, shouting slogans, broke a number of chairs and the glass doors of the cinema. They were joined outside the cinema by the miscreants who pelted stones at passing buses. One bus was badly damaged and so were several cars parked in the cinema premises. One person was also injured. There was slight tension in Amravati too, in the morning show, but it was brought under control. Nothing untoward was reported on Friday. The response to the film was extraordinary.

C.I.: The film opened in Indore in 5 cinemas, and in Gwalior in 2 cinemas on Thursday. The crowds in Indore had to be seen to be believed. It drew all shows at all the 5 cinemas full on the opening day, collecting 1,18,000/-, a record! A small bomb was exploded in Madhumilan cinema, where Bombay has been released, on Thursday but no casualties were reported. Friday passed off peacefully. The collector of Indore saw the film on Thursday and issued a press statement that the film was not objectionable at all. In Bhopal, the collector saw the film on Thursday but did not give the green signal till late Thursday night. The film was released on Friday amidst a lot of tension but to full houses.

Rajasthan: The collector of Jaipur saw the film at Moti Mahal cinema at 2 p.m. on Friday. The 9 a.m. and 12 noon shows at all the 3 cinemas — Moti Mahal, Laxmi Mandir and Samrat — where it was scheduled for release, had to be cancelled. Huge crowds had gathered at all the three cinemas for the morning show, and they returned home unhappy when the collector ordered the screening to be cancelled. The collector around 5.30 p.m. permitted the release at two cinemas in Jaipur — Moti Mahal and Laxmi Mandir. As a result, the 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. shows were held. In Jodhpur, the film opened at Kohinoor on Friday at 9 a.m. to fair houses. It was also released in Udaipur in the 12 noon show, as scheduled.

Nizam: Since even the Telugu version of Bombay has not yet been released again in Hyderabad, there was no question of the Hindi verison seeing the light of the day on Friday there. Inside reports have it that the film may not be released there in the near future, at least.

NTR INAUGURATES RAMA NAIDU’S
RECORDING THEATRE

Producer D. Rama Naidu’s recording and re-recording theatre at Rama Naidu’s Studio in Hyderabad was inaugurated on 1st April at the hands of Andhra Pradesh chief minister N.T. Rama Rao. The chief minister’s wife, Lakshmi Parvathi, lit the traditional lamp on the occasion. (Details of the inauguration will appear in our issue next week.)

STAR VOICES FOR ‘RAMAYAN’ DUBBING

Rajan Lall, who has acquired the Hindi dubbing rights of the Indo-Japanese animation film, Ramayan, has completed the dubbing in the voices of Shatrughan Sinha (who has narrated the Hindi commentary of the film), Arun Govil (who has dubbed Lord Rama’s voice) and Rameshwari (Seeta’s voice). Ramayan will be released in May all over.

MUKESH KHANNA AS SUPER-HERO

Mukesh Khanna launched Bheeshm International Pvt. Ltd.’s TV serial, Shaktimaan, on April 2 with a 2-day shooting stint at Central Library and other Bombay locales. Mukesh Khanna plays the title role of Shaktimaan, a super-hero with extraordinary yogic power, who fights the evils of society.

The serial is co-produced by Jatin Jani and is directed by Dinkar Jani. Kittu Gidwani is in the female lead. It is written by Ghalib Asad and Yatindra Rawat. Action: Amin Gani.

RAMSWAROOP CHAUDHARY HOSPITALISED

Rajasthan distributor and exhibitor Ramswaroop Chaudhary was hospitalised in Delhi last week for jaundice and other complications. He is still in Delhi and his health is causing concern to his near and dear ones.

SON FOR SANJAY CHATURVEDI

Jyoti, wife of Bombay distributor Sanjay Chaturvedi (ABC Pictures Pvt. Ltd.), delivered a baby boy on 2nd April in Bombay. This is the couple’s first child.

3-E
Education-Entertainment-Enlightenment

Action Replay

Just a few years back, when Doordarshan used to telecast one and, later, two films a week, the industry had cried hoarse that it (the film industry) was doomed, that television was spelling the death-knell of the industry, that producers, distributors and exhibitors would have to down shutters soon. Today, with DD having started its movie channel — Movieclub — and Zee TV and ATN about to start their own Hindi film channels, each of which will screen more than 20 films a week, what does one say? That the industry is doomed, that television is spelling the death-knell of the industry, that producers, distributors and exhibitors will have to down shutters soon? Sounds like an action replay, doesn’t it?

‘Prem’ Pitch

The showman that Boney Kapoor is, he has advertised his Prem at a place where it is getting worldwide mileage. Attractive hoardings of the film have been put up in the cricket field at Sharjah where international matches are being played. What’s more, brother Anil Kapoor flew to Sharjah on 6th April and witnessed the cricket match. Television cameras captured Anil Kapoor who was asked by the commentator to give the running commentary for a while! Anil was also interviewed by the commentator for the television cameras, much to the delight of fans!

Security Checks For ‘Bombay’

The atmosphere outside the cinemas where special invitee shows of Bombay were held on 5th and 6th April in Bombay was as tense at the start of the film as the film itself inside the auditoria. Since the story is set against the backdrop of the Hindu-Muslim riots in Bombay in 1992 and 1993, it was feared that the film could spark off communal tension. So as not to take any chances, the Gaiety-Galaxy-Gemini cinemas on 5th, and the New Excelsior cinema on 6th had heavy police bandobast. The invitees were carefully whisked by security personnel with metal detectors before they entered the cinemas. The managements of the cinemas were on their toes alongwith the police all through the show to ensure that no untoward incident took place.

Comeback Fever

April 1 may be All Fools’ Day but the 1st of April in the industry this year was a day when several film personalities expressed a desire to stage comebacks in their respective fields. At the felicitation of Hrishikesh Mukherjee by the Indian Film Directors’ Association (IFDA) at Hotel Centaur in Bombay, veteran Hrishi-da was so moved by the glowing tributes paid to him by leading lights of the industry that it prompted him to say that he would make at least one more film before finally calling it quits. When it was Jaya Bachchan’s chance to speak at the felicitation function, the lady was emotionally moved as she went down memory lane and recalled her break in Hindi films in “Hrishi Kaaku’s” Guddi. And if Hrishi-da would make one more film, the Guddi girl would also make an exception and act in the film, declared Jaya. In Hyderabad, at the inauguration of D. Rama Naidu’s recording studio at the hands of star chief minister N.T. Rama Rao, Naidu Sahab, who had made his first film with NTR as the hero, said, it was his desire to make one more film with NTR in the lead. Upon this, NTR quipped, “I am ready.”

From Big Screen To Small Screen

After a long innings as an actor, Jeetendra is now busy producing software for television. He has formed a company, Balaji Telefilms, for making programmes for various satellite channels, and four serials are already being produced. Jeetendra’s daughter, Ekta, and wife, Shobha Kapoor, are actively involved in the production work. Hum Paanch is the first serial of Balaji to have gone on air (from 4th April on Zee TV). The other three serials being produced by Jeetendra are Mano Ya Na Mano, Captain House and Dhun Dhamaka. Of course, this is not to say that Jeetu has given up acting. The slim and trim Jeetendra continues to act in films also. So, it is acting for the big screen, and production for the small screen.

Family Special

Maratha Mandir cinema in Bombay has a new class since last week. Called the Family Circle, this class has a total of 298 seats. As the name suggests, this class has blocks of 2 and 3 seats with more space between the blocks. The 2-seat block is for couples, while the 3-seat block is for families. According to Manoj Desai, manager of the cinema, “The response to the Family Circle in the first week was amazing.”

(From our issue dated 1st April, 1995)

Govind Nihalani’s Drohkaal has been exempted from payment of entertainment tax in Maharashtra for a period of one year from 28th March. The film is scheduled for release on 5th May.

RELEASE OF HINDI FILMS IN KARNATAKA:
31ST MARCH FIXED CUT-OFF DATE

Kannada film producers have fixed 31st March, 1995 as the cut-off date for registration of Hindi films for simultaneous release in Karnataka. Films purchased or registered after 31st March will not be allowed to be released simultaneously in the state.

It may be recalled that the Kannada Film Producers’ Association had held a demonstration in Bangalore on 25th February to seek a control on release of language films other than those in Kannada in the state of Karnataka. The aim was promotion of Kannada films. The Association had demanded that films of other languages be screened in Karnataka only after 100 days of their run in the respective states.

Mix Masala

SUPER ZEAL

We’ve heard of enthusiastic heroes who like to do their own stunts without the use of duplicates. But it’s rare to hear about such zeal in a heroine. Sonali Bendre, on 30th March, jumped from a height of 40 feet alongwith Akshay Kumar for a scene of Vimal Kumar’s Tarazu which was being picturised at Madh fort. The breathtaking action scene was being directed by Akbar Bakshi.

ENTERTAINMENT TAX RAIDS IN GUJARAT

Entertainment tax raids were conducted simultaneously on several cinemas in various centres of Gujarat on 31st March. The cinemas raided were those which indulge in tax evasion. Some cinemas of Baroda had been similarly raided a couple of months back. The present raids were conducted in Nadiad, Anand, Baroda and other places.

IMPDA ON WARPATH WITH FDC
Shot In The Arm For AMPTVPP

The rejuvenated Association of Motion Picture & TV Programme Producers (AMPTVPP) got a shot in the arm when the IMPDA, the Association of Bombay distributors, on 31st March resolved to recognise it. At an emergency meeting of the Indian Motion Picture Distributors Association, it was decided to register all films irrespective of the Association to which the producer of the film belonged. This is in sharp contrast to the claim made by the Film Distributors’ Council (FDC), of which the IMPDA is an affiliate, that it would have nothing to do with the AMPTVPP and would ensure that its affiliates would not register films produced by members of the AMPTVPP.

The IMPDA also decided to inform the FDC of its resolution. According to IMPDA president N.N. Sippy, “If the FDC does not approve of our stand, we might have to even break ties with the FDC.”

The IMPDA decision has to be viewed in the light of what transpired in the meeting of a committee of the Film Makers Combine (FMC) on 29th March. The meeting took up the matter of N.N. Sippy’s Teesra Kaun? vis-à-vis his Delhi-U.P. distributors, Super Art International. It may be recalled that the Delhi-U.P. Association, MPA, had converted Sippy’s MG royalty agreement with Super Art Intl. into an advance agreement. This decision was taken unilaterally by the MPA because Teesra Kaun? came to be shown on cable TV in the first week of its release. At the FMC committee’s meeting on 29th March, Sippy appealed for a ban on Super Art Intl. But seeing G.S. Mayawala (of MPA), who was present in the meeting, take a soft stand, the FMC did not deem it fit to take the extreme step of banning the distributor.

This infuriated N.N. Sippy who also felt hurt at “being humiliated” by members of the committee in the meeting.

In the meantime, Sippy has moved the Bombay high court against the decision of the MPA, Delhi and against his Delhi-U.P. distributors, Super Art Intl. He has filed a notice of motion which is likely to be taken up early next week.

DOORDARSHAN’S NEW POLICY
FOR HINDI FILMS

There is a change in Doordarshan’s policy regarding Hindi films. It has now decided to accept films that are not more than ten years old, that is, Hindi features censored after January 1, 1985.

In the policy for the period June 1995 to May 1996, Doordarshan has also announced that commercial feature films accepted on sponsorship/royalty basis from the right holders will be entitled to only one telecast, and films telecast earlier are not eligible. (Doordarshan has stopped purchasing telecast rights for telecast of films.)

However, films that are taken for premiere telecast on Friday nights (blockbuster slot) will be entitled to two showings, one on Friday and another on a subsequent Saturday.

‘BOMBAY’ CHANGES HANDS
Amitabh Bachchan Relinquishes Rights
Release On Schedule * VIP Steps In?

Mani Ratnam’s Bombay has changed hands in Bombay. Amitabh Bachchan, who held the film’s distribution rights for Bombay circuit, has relinquished the rights. It is now expected to be released thru VIP Enterprises. Earlier, Shringar Films was to have released the film in the account of Amitabh’s new company, Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Ltd. (ABCL).

While the exact reason for the change at the eleventh hour is not known, there are at least three stories in circulation in the market. Repeated attempts to verify the authenticity of the story and the reasons for the change drew a blank. While Amitabh’s office refused to comment, saying “Mr. Bachchan is not in town,” Balkrishna Shroff and Shyam Shroff of Shringar Films were non-committal. The last one heard from them at 12.15 last night (Friday, March 31) was, “Nothing is certain now. Please check up with Amit-ji.”

It is believed that Mani Ratnam was in Bombay on Friday and had a closed-door meeting with Amitabh on the issue. Besides the two, Kirit Trivedi (a close friend of Bachchan) and Jhamu Sugandh, who was partner with Bachchan in Bombay, attended the meeting. Insiders reveal that the meeting, which started at 4.15 p.m., got over at 9.45 p.m. Mani Ratnam, who is putting up at Hotel Centaur, is likely to meet Bharatbhai Shah of VIP today (Saturday) before leaving for Madras tonight. It is rumoured that he had already sounded Bharatbhai of the impending change. Bharatbhai reportedly agreed to release the film in Bombay.

The change of hands is, however, not likely to result in a change in the date of release. Bombay will hit the screens on 7th April, as scheduled.

One story has it that Amitabh has relinquished the distribution rights at the behest of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray. The closeness of Bachchan and Balasaheb is too well-known. Apprehending tension from the minority community on the release of Bombay in Bombay, Amitabh called on Bal Thackeray on 29th March to request him to ask his government to take adequate security measures. Know-alls insist that it was in this meeting, which lasted well over an hour, that the Sena chief asked the superstar to “leave the film”. Whether Bal Thackeray liked the film or not has been a question mark ever since he saw its Tamil version in Bombay about a month back. Conflicting press reports have failed to indicate rather accurately his actual views on the film. Just yesterday, The Times Of India (Bombay edition) carried an interview of Thackeray in which he said, Bombay was a good film. If the story about Thackeray asking Bachchan to leave the film is correct, it would imply that the Shiv Sena leader was far from happy with the film. It may be mentioned here that Tinnu Anand plays the Sena supremo in Bombay, and Bal Thackeray had suggested some cuts in the dialogues spoken by Tinnu in the film.

Another story goes that Bal Thackeray has nothing to do with the relinquishment of rights by Amitabh. According to this story, Amitabh had sensed trouble to brew up after its release in Bombay, other parts of Maharashtra and Gujarat. As this could result in losses to him, he had had a meeting with Mani Ratnam, asking him to be relieved of the distribution obligations. A source, wishing to remain anonymous for obvious reasons, informed that Amitabh did not wish to take any chances where the name of his company was concerned, especially because a public issue of ABCL was in the offing.

Another story goes that the price of Bombay for Bombay territory had not been finalised. Although the deals of the Hindi version for all-India were concluded on behalf of Bachchan himself, the price for Bombay circuit had been kept open for negotiation. It is believed that Ratnam flew to Bombay on Friday for finalising the price, but no decision could be arrived at. According to this theory, Bharatbhai Shah was contacted by Mani Ratnam, only after talks with Amitabh failed. This story, however, lacks credibility as it is unlikely that a common price, agreeable to both the parties, could not be arrived at and even more unlikely that Amitabh would give up the rights on this count.

Whatever the reason or reasons, it is now almost certain that ABCL would not be distributing the controversial Bombay in Bombay. As Shringar Films was to release it for ABCL, even Shringar is now out of the picture.

The new Bombay distributor will honour the contracts entered into by Shringar Films with various cinemas. Mani Ratnam will now reportedly deal directly with the film’s all-India distributors as Amitabh Bachchan is no longer associated with the film.

And if you’ve come to this point, you should be ashamed of yourself. For, you’ve been taken for a royal ride. And why not? It’s April 1 — April Fool’s Day — today. Hope, you’ve enjoyed becoming an April Fool. Come on, don’t sulk. After all, this day comes only once a year. So carry on the good work — of fooling the world!

YOU ASKED IT

The FDC says that it will not recognise the rejuvenated association of producers — the AMPTVPP — since it has broken away from the FMC. Does it mean, films produced by members of the AMPTVPP will not be registered by distributors’ associations?

– Yes, it means so. But it seems impractical also, because a number of producers have become members of the AMPTVPP and so many films cannot possibly be left unregistered. It the FDC remains adamant, even it (FDC) might break — like the FMC.

Do song picturisations on scenic locations abroad help?

– They enhance the visual appeal of the songs. But the visual impact can only complement the audio value of a song.

‘PARAM VIR CHAKRA‘ TAX-FREE

Major Ashok Kaul’s Param Vir Chakra has been exempted from payment of entertainment tax in Maharashtra (for a year) and Delhi.

JUHI LOSES COURT BATTLE:
‘MAHASHAKTI’ TELECAST PERMITTED

A division bench of the Delhi high court on 24th March allowed the appeal filed by Saibaba International and set aside the order dated 10th March passed by a single judge of the court.

The single judge had allowed the prayer of Juhi Chawla and had restrained Saibaba International as well as Doordarshan from telecasting the teleserial Mahashakti. The division bench, while setting aside the order of the single judge, observed that Juhi Chawla had given her consent to the conversion of the film Vaada Hai Milan Ka into the teleserial Mahashakti, which was clear from the receipt she had signed and an interview she had given to a magazine.

PEOPLE
Are talking about

** The wrong choice of the main cinema in Bombay for Jai Vikraanta. The right cinema would have been Super. But not surely Metro.

** Govind Nihalani’s Drohkaal. Those who’ve seen the film’s trial are singing its praises.

PEOPLE
Are speculating about

** The reaction of the minority community to the Hindi version of Bombay. Will there be an agitation against its screening in Bombay and other places? Or won’t there be any agitation whatsoever?

** The response to the public issues of BMB Music and Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Ltd. (ABCL). The public issue of BMB will open on 2nd May. ABCL and Sridevi Securities Ltd. would follow suit.

PEOPLE
Are waiting for

** Bobby Deol and his Barsaat. Those who’ve seen the songs/rushes of the film are spreading the good word that Bobby is too dashing to be true.

MANSOOR BHAI PASSES AWAY

A. Mansoor, the seniormost action co-ordinator of the Hindi film industry, passed away on the night of March 25 at 9.30 in Bombay following heart failure. He is survived by his wife, two daughters and two sons.

Mansoor Bhai, as he was popularly known in the industry, started out as a fighter under veteran fight master (late) Azimbhai and later turned an independent action co-ordinator. He had executed action sequences in over 200 films including all films of B.R. Chopra, Harmesh Malhotra and Mehul Kumar and also some films directed by Manmohan Desai and Subhash Ghai (Karma, Vidhaata, Meri Jung). He was the guru of the Verma brothers, Pappu, Bhiku and Tinnu, who are today sought-after masters in the field. Among his films were Tirangaa, Krantiveer, Don, Marte Dam Tak, Aatish, Bobby, Nagina, Ajooba, Katilon Ke Kaatil, Kalabaaz, Sultanat and Kalinga.

Amiable and quiet by nature, Mansoor Bhai was always concerned about the safety of his fighters and actors doing hazardous action scenes. No actor or fighter had ever sustained injuries in the scenes executed by him, howsoever risky.

For the last two months, he had been directing action scenes for an international TV serial in Muscat. The serial, titled History of Oman, was his lifetime’s prized assignment. For the first time, an Indian action co-ordinator had been assigned an international project. He had also composed the action scenes of the epic serial, Mahabharat.

Mansoor Bhai was the president as well as general secretary of the Movie Stunt Directors Association.

His funeral on Sunday, March 26, at Marine Lines cemetery was attended by a large number of stuntmen, action directors and filmmakers including Ravi Chopra, Harmesh Malhotra and Mehul Kumar.

3-E
Education-Entertainment-Enlightenment

Each Case, An Individual Case

Increasing cinema admission rates of films which are eagerly awaited is a common practice in major cities like Bombay. But this system of hiking admission rates does not succeed everywhere, especially in small centres. Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! was released recently at Morena Talkies, Morena (C.I.). The cinema, which had acquired the film on payment of a fantastic MG, hiked the admission rates to Rs. 15 for balcony, Rs. 10 for First Class and Rs. 8 for second class. The new rates were found so high by the audience that the film did not draw a full house even in the opening show! The cinema had to bring the admission rates down after three days.

Why in small centres, even in a city like Bombay, Metro cinema had to bring down its admission rates in the second week of Jai Vikraanta due to lack of audience at the enhanced rates. The new rates are Rs. 41 (old rate Rs. 61), Rs. 31 (old rate Rs. 41) and Rs. 21 (old rate Rs 31). As against this, there is a heavy demand for tickets (priced at Rs. 150) of Bombay at Bombay’s New Excelsior cinema, such is the craze for this film.

Investing For Earning

With so many satellite channels opening up and with film-based programmes being made for them in large numbers, it would be in the interest of producers and negative rights holders of films to get their films transferred on U-matic and Betacam. Programme producers are ever in need of film clippings, and producers could earn revenue by supplying clippings from their films. Often, producers don’t have even a single print of their films (especially old films) and, therefore, lose out on the revenue. In the case of successful films, investing in a new print could also be profitable.

Flying High

Kewal Suri is flying high these days. His Mahua (re-issue) is doing very well in Bombay. With the collections being as encouraging as they are (it collected 1,60,124/- in the first week at Maratha Mandir, Bombay), he is hopeful that distributors would come forward to buy the re-issue rights of other films too. Kewal Suri holds the negative rights of a total of 40 films including all films of Venus (except Suraj), Do Aur Do Paanch, Mera Rakshak, Aadmi, Mere Mehboob, Gunga Jumna and Shaheed. Interestingly, Bengal distributor Sanjay Roy had acquired the re-issue rights of Mahua three years back — and that too, for Bengal, Delhi-U.P., East Punjab and Rajasthan. But he has not yet released it anywhere. The results of Bombay have inspired him enough to plan its early release in the four circuits. By the way, Mahua stars Shiv Kumar and Anjana Mumtaz in the lead.

(From our issue dated 25th March, 1995)

Release of Mani Ratnam’s Bombay (Hindi version) postponed by a week — to 7th April.

* * *

Jai Vikraanta takes an unimpressive start in Bombay, East Punjab and Indore. Opens very well in centres of U.P. and Rajasthan. Takes a flying start in Bihar.

* * *

Shooting of Sapoot, starring Akshay Kumar and Sunil Shetty, starts without FMC clearance.

* * *

The Rajshris pay advance tax of Rs. 7 crore this month.

Shatru’s Impressive Performance

According to press reports, the performance of Shatrughan Sinha in the sensitive areas of Mithilanchal in Bihar on Sunday, March 19, was enviable. Shatru was there to campaign for the BJP in the ensuing assembly elections. He made brief speeches in all his meetings which were very largely attended. His speeches were punctuated with Urdu couplets which had the audience applauding him. Shatru told the crowds that he had “come here to shoulder my social responsibility as a Bihari”. He impressed the people when he declared that he had nothing to gain or lose as he was not even contesting the elections. After the BJP comes to power in the state, he announced, “I will not even be a durban.” Shatrughan devoted more time to narrating the sorry tale of the state than to projecting himself as a filmi hero of repute. In all his speeches, the name of chief election commissioner T.N. Seshan figured prominently for his cleansing of the electoral malpractices.

DO YOU KNOW

* Bappi Lahiri lent his voice to a song composed by his young son, Bappa. Satyanarayan Mishra rendered sargam. The song was recorded for a TV serial, MARIA.

GUJARAT GOVT.’S SUBSIDY POLICY
NOT RENEWED

The Gujarat government’s subsidy policy for Gujarati film producers, expired in August ’94 and has since not been renewed. The 70% tax-exemption policy of the Gujarat government is also due for expiry this month-end.

Following the expiry of the subsidy policy, at least three producers would lose their claim on the subsidy of Rs. 3 lakh each. The producers (and their films) are Govindbhai Patel (Radhiari Raat), Mukund Patel (Halo Aapna Malak Ma) and Rakesh Nahata and Nandu Jalani (Baba Ramdev).

SON FOR XAVIER MARQUIS

Preeti, wife of producer Xavier Marquis, delivered a baby boy on 12th March in Bombay. This is the couple’s second child.

Mix Masala

JAI HO!

So ‘inspired’ seems to be Bombay distributor Devendra Shah with the title Jai Vikraanta that he has started a new distribution concern by the name of Jai Girnar Films. Devendrabhai already has a concern called Girnar Films. Sultan Ahmed, who is distributing his Jai Vikraanta in Bombay, operates from Devendra Shah’s office.

TAKE TWO!

Producer-director Surendra Bohra had such a bad fall on the staircase of Naaz building on 20th March that he fractured his left leg and right hand. He was leaving Naaz to see his father, Shreeram Bohra, at Bombay Hospital. Shreeram-ji had been operated upon for a fracture of the hip. He had had a fall in his bathroom just a fortnight back and had fractured his hip.

KEEPING ALL COMMUNITIES HAPPY

Naajayaz has drawn house-full collections in the first week in three cinemas of Hyderabad, viz. Shama, Priya and Tirumalla. Of these three cinemas, one is owned by a Muslim, another, by a Hindu, and the third, by a Christian.

THOUGHTFUL BACHCHAN

Amitabh Bachchan who had to cancel the Holi celebrations at his bungalow at the eleventh hour due to the hospitalisation of his father, Harivanshrai Bachchan, not only had his staff inform the invitees of the cancellation, he also wrote each one a letter of apology for the cancellation. Too unusual for an industry man, isn’t it?

TRIBUTE TO HER TALENT

Padmini Kolhapure may have given up acting but there’s an acting institute in London that’s been named after her. It is called Padmini Kolhapure Acting School and it will be inaugurated on 31st March. And who will do the inauguration honours? Yes, you are right — Padmini Kolhapure herself. She has gone to London to formally open the school.

ON THE SLY

A couple of employees of the IMPPA are seeking favours in kind from producer-members of the Association, on the sly, of course. Obviously, for something in return. And there’s at least one employee who leaks confidential information at the drop of a hat. Surprising, the IMPPA and the FMC prefer to ignore such nonsense!

SNAPSHOTS

HIGHEST EVER FOR ‘BOMBAY’

New Excelsior, which will be the main cinema in Bombay for Bombay, will have admission rates as high as Rs. 150. There will be 25 seats at Rs. 150 per ticket in the executive class. The dress circle (536 seats) will be priced at Rs. 100 per ticket, and there will be 468 seats at Rs. 25 per head. To match the big difference in admission rates between the classes, there will be exclusive facilities for the top classes. There will be a waiter-in-attendance for the executive class where patrons will be allowed to order for eatables/drinks even while the film’s screening is on. There will be a separate entry and exit as also an exclusive canteen for this class. The seating will, of course, be very comfortable, with more leg-space. The dress circle will also have a separate canteen for its patrons only, where snacks will be sold at rates which are 25% more than in the normal canteen.

Incidentally, the nett weekly capacity of New Excelsior will be approximately a whopping 9.5 lakh! The film will be released in only 12 cinemas of Bombay.

* * *

3-WEEK DELAY

After a round of discussions with his all-India distributors, Sultan Ahmed has decided to delay the video cassettes of his Jai Vikraanta by three weeks from the date of its theatrical release. The video cassettes are being marketed by Shemaroo.

* * *

SPECIAL SOUND AND EFFECTS

The mixing of Tutu Sharma’s Rajkumar will be done in digital sound. Prem was to have been mixed in digital sound, but the plans were changed at the eleventh hour and its Dolby mixing is now on in Madras. Rajkumar will also boast of a lot of special effects.

* * *

DHIRUBHAI SHAH’S INVITATION TO FMC, ZEE

Dhirubhai Shah, on behalf on his consortium and ATN, has thrown an open challenge to the FMC and to Zee TV to come “face-to-face to address the press and come forward with whatever allegations they have against us”. Dhirubhai adds, “I am going to record complete press conference on video and shall distribute unedited copies thereof before the lunch time is over.” The conference has been fixed for 10th April at 10.30 a.m. at Hotel Guest Line Days, Juhu, Bombay.

* * *

RAHMAN GOES ‘PUBLIC’

Music whizkid A.R. Rahman who has always maintained a low profile (he shuns the limelight), will appear on Drishti India’s Chitrahaar programme on the national network of Doordarshan on 29th March. It will be the first national exposure for Rahman whose tunes have conquered hearts, not only nationwide but also across the border.

* * *

RAJIV RAI’S MUSIC COMPANY

Rajiv Rai has started a music company. He has reportedly acquired five to six films for the audio market. Among the films is Babubhai’s (Bombino) Veergati. Incidentally, one song of Veergati (music: Adesh Srivastava), recorded recently, is said to be a potential chartbuster.

* * *

HIT MUSIC

Just the sampler audio cassette of Tips’ Coolie No. 1 is indicative of what’s coming for music lovers. At least four songs of the film are racy numbers that will have guys and gals tapping their feet and swinging their hips. ‘Main raste pe ja raha tha’ and ‘Jeth ki dupahariya’ are the best songs. ‘Meri gali mein aa jana’ and Dil deewana’ will also soon become very popular.

YOU ASKED IT

Is the unabridged version of Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! being screened in any cinema in India?

– Rajshri of Gandhinagar is the only cinema in India which is screening the complete (unabridged) version of the film.

‘HAHK…!’ JUBILEE SWEETS

Sweets were distributed to all the cinegoers at Yadav Talkies, Gwalior, on 9th March, the day on which HAHK..! completed 25 weeks of its run at the cinema and entered 26th week. The cinema was well decorated on the occasion.

‘GUNEHGAR’ TAX-FREE IN MAHARASHTRA

Maan Singh Deep’s Gunehgar, produced by Kalyaani Singh and directed by Vikram Bhatt, has been exempted from entertainment tax in Maharashtra for one year.

A.P. HC JUDGE SEES ‘BOMBAY’

Bombay was seen by Justice A. Gopal Rao of the Andhra Pradesh high court on 22nd March. An early decision in the matter of writ petitions, filed by the film’s distributors, Raghavendra Films, Secunderabad, is expected.

‘BOMBAY’ DISCONTINUED IN HUBLI

Following communal tension in Raichur and Hubli, the police department has issued notices to exhibitors of the area that they would have to take police permission before screening Mani Ratnam’s Bombay which is the story of a Muslim girl and a Hindu boy. The Tamil version of the film, which was running in Hubli, was discontinued in its second week.

BABY BOY FOR RAVINDRA JAIN

Divya Jain, wife of music director Ravindra Jain, delivered a baby boy on 9th March at a nursing home in Bombay. This is the couple’s first child.

JATINDER ANAND DEAD

Veteran film distributor of C.I., Jatinder Anand, proprietor of Suchitra Distributors, Indore, passed away on the morning of 23rd March in Indore due to a heart attack.

ASHOK MAJNU NO MORE

Dialogue writer Ashok Majnu, son of late comedian Majnu, expired on 20th March at Holy Family Hospital. He was 42. He had written the dialogues for Jayanta Mukherjee’s short film, Pagal Kaun, and for the feature film Mazaaq.

FAREED REHMAN DEAD

Singer and commercial artist Fareed Rehman passed away on March 21 following a cardiac arrest. He was 54. He is survived by his wife and two children. He had cut two albums for Music India Ltd.

3-E
Education-Entertainment-Enlightenment

Papa Kehte Hain…….

Yash Chopra usually makes it a point to go on the sets of his son, Aditya Chopra’s Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge when he is shooting for it. Before you jump to the conclusion that papa Chopra must be helping/guiding Aditya in direction, let it be said that Yash-ji prefers to visit the set during lunch-hour. “I have lunch with my son and the unit because Adi likes me to be there during lunch,” revealed Yash Chopra. “I am there more as a production manager, to ensure that whatever Adi needs, is there on the sets. Beyond that, I don’t interfere in the film’s making. I have not seen a single frame of the rush print.” When asked whether he knew if Adi was doing a good job, the proud father replied, “He is not doing a good job, he is doing a fantastic job.” Dilwale Dulhania….. will be shot in London in May. It is not just songs which will be picturised there but “a major chunk of the film” which will be canned in London. After the shooting of Dilwale Dulhania….., Yash Chopra will also shoot his film in London in the same schedule. That will mark the rolling of his film, to be directed by himself. It has been titled Maine Mohabbat Kar Li and stars Shah Rukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit. One more leading lady is to be finalised.

Incidentally, Dilwale Dulhania….. will be released on Diwali this year.

The Lucky Sipahi

K.C. Bokadia’s Zakhmi Sipahi is serving like a testimonial for its director, T.L.V. Prasad. Although it is yet to be released, trade buzz has it that Prasad has signed three or four films after showing a few reels of Zakhmi Sipahi to producers. Rajiv Babbar reportedly took him on for his Jallad after seeing rushes of ZS. Producer Maan Singh Deep will soon be launching a film to be directed by T.L.V. Prasad and he, too, seems to have been inspired by what he saw of Zakhmi Sipahi. It is rumoured that Time has also signed Prasad for a forthcoming film. The interesting part is that all these films, like Zakhmi Sipahi, have Mithun Chakraborty playing the lead, and their dialogues are being written by Anirudh Tiwari. If that’s not enough, the cameraman common to these projects is Navakant.

Business Logic

Nizam, Delhi-U.P. and Bombay distributor Tolu Bajaj acquired this week the distribution rights of Satyen Pal Chaudhry’s Zulmi for Bombay and Delhi-U.P. What was his fancy for investing in the film for two major territories? Replies Tolu, “Satyen Pal is a decent producer, Kuku Kohli is a good director, and Akshay Kumar is a hotshot actor. I, therefore, decided to take the plunge and buy two major territories.”

Change In Cast

G.P. Sippy’s film, to be directed by Sanjay Gupta, has undergone a change insofar as its star-cast is concerned. It was to have starred Sanjay Kapoor and Aditya Pancholi, but the film will now have Jackie Shroff and Saif Ali Khan. While Aditya was replaced by G.P. Sippy of his own accord, Sanjay Kapoor and Sippy parted ways amicably. Kajol, of course, continues to play the female lead. The film, incidentally, has been titled Hameshaa and will roll very shortly.

Sweet Memories

The film splicer on which the first Indian feature film, Raja Harishchandra, was cut by Dadasaheb Phalke in 1912, has been presented to the national film museum and is on exhibit there. The equipment was given to the museum by Vrinda Pusalkar, the youngest daughter of Phalke. Vrinda recalled that her father was employed with the archaeological department. Interested in the visual arts, he saw the film, Birth Of Jesus Christ, in Bombay and decided to make a film on Lord Krishna. Towards this end, he started reading every possible book on photography and filmmaking, so much so that he almost became blind. His eyes had to be operated upon, after which he again started working on the project. For this, he collected money by mortgaging his insurance policy and his wife’s ornaments. His wife used to help in editing the prints of his films. Phalke was a very disciplined man. He used to also run a printing press, besides writing plays. He used to like the Western way of living.

(From our issue dated 18th March, 1995)

The executive committee of the IMPPA, at its meeting held on 13th March, took a serious view of the notice served by Super Art International, the Delhi-U.P. distributor of Teesra Kaun?, on producer N.N. Sippy. The notice has alleged that in defiance of the FMC-FDC regulation, N.N. Sippy had sold the cable TV rights of Teesra Kaun? before the expiry of six months of its theatrical release and the film had been shown on cable TV all over.

Sippy brought the notice of Super Art International to the notice of the executive committee and informed it of the unilateral decision of the FDC to convert his MG agreement with Super Art International into advance agreement.

The committee disapproved of the unilateral decision of the FDC and wondered how Sippy could be held responsible if his film was shown illegally on cable TV. It decided that the FMC should take up the matter with the FDC and, if need be, even ask all producers to refrain from co-operating with the distributor.

‘BOMBAY’ SCREENING SUSPENDED IN A.P.

The Telugu (dubbed) version of Mani Ratnam’s Bombay was discontinued from all over Andhra Pradesh from 14th March following protests by a section of the minority community. According to the Hyderabad police commissioner, V. Appa Rao, the film’s screening had to be suspended because of the fear that it might cause breach of peace and create religious animosity and communal disharmony.

Protests had taken the form of vandalism when Yadgiri cinema in Hyderabad was ransacked on March 10, the day the film was released. At another cinema, Devi, the night show on 11th was disrupted following a bomb hoax. At Menka, stone-throwing incidents were reported.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that the film’s re-screening will commence in a day or two.

In the meantime, Mani Ratnam met Andhra chief minister N.T. Rama Rao on 16th and pleaded for the revocation of the police commissioner’s order to suspend the film’s screening.

The film’s distributors, Raghavendra Films, Secunderabad, on 15th March moved the A.P. high court, filing two writ petitions. While obecting to the admission of the petitions, the state advocate general justified the government’s action in suspending the exhibition of the film in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad and in Rangareddy district. Justice A. Gopal Rao heard at length the admissibility of the two writ petitions, questioning the suspension. The counsel for the distributors argued that huge investment had been made and the film was released only after an appropriate certification by the appropriate authority. He also argued that the action of the police commissioner and district collector in suspending the screening was arbitrary and illegal and a violation of the fundamental right of expression. The matter has been posted for further hearing on 21st March.

AMPTVPP BREAKS AWAY FROM FMC

The Association of Motion Pictures & TV Programme Producers, which till now was an affiliate of the FMC, has broken away from the apex body of producers. The membership of the AMPTVPP had swelled recently when about 100 members resigned from the IMPPA and the Guild in protest against the functioning of the FMC. The Association has now severed ties with the FMC.

The FDC (Film Distributors’ Council) has, however, made it clear that it recognised and would deal with the FMC only. Reacting to the breakaway from the FMC, Santosh Singh Jain said on behalf of the FDC, “There are now two classes of producers — the disciplined under the FMC umbrella, and the indisciplined. If the breakaway group believes in the maxim, ‘Might is right’, the distributors’ associations have also got might enough to set them right.”

YOU ASKED IT

What is the proportion of films released to the films launched?

– About 60-65%. Two years back, it was 40-45%.

Who has completed the dubbing of Sanjay Dutt in Andolan and Jai Vikraanta?

– Chetan Shashital.

The kidney transplant racket was busted in Bombay a few days after the release of Suhaag which deals with the same subject. Shouldn’t the film be lauded by way of tax-exemption?

– You said it!

NO RELIEFS FOR INDUSTRY IN BUDGET

The film industry was completely sidetracked in the Union budget presented on 15th March. There were no reliefs whatsoever for the industry. There wasn’t even a mention of the film industry by the finance minster, Manmohan Singh.

The customs duty on magnetic audio and video tapes has, however, been reduced.

UPENDRA TRIVEDI, NARESH KANODIA TROUNCED

Both the heroes of Gujarati screen, Upendra Trivedi and Naresh Kanodia, lost in the assembly elections of Gujarat. While Upendra Trivedi lost from Bhiloda by over 6,000 votes, Naresh lost from the Jamnagar (rural) constituency by just about 1,700 votes. Naresh Kanodia had contested on a BJP ticket, and Upendra Trivedi on a Congress ticket.

ARMAN KOHLI INJURED

Arman Kohli injured his hand on 15th March on the set of his father, Raj Kumar Kohli’s Jeene Nahin Doonga when a gas balloon which was being used for the shooting, burst. He was advised five days’ rest.

‘MAJHDHAAR’ TELECAST: COURT RESTRAINS PRODUCER, DD

The Bombay high court on 16th March restrained producer Pravin Thakkar, Durga Pictures, Popular Entertainment Network and Union of India (Doordarshan Kendra) from telecasting Majhdhaar on 17th March on Doordarshan’s channel I. The injunction was granted by her Ladyship Mrs. Justice Baam in the notice of motion filed by P.M. Govani’s Zarine Enterprises in suit no. 961 of 1995.

Zarine Enterprises holds the commercial and non-commercial rights of the film in 35mm, television, video, satellite and 16mm for Bombay circuit. Pravin Thakkar was planning to hold the film’s premiere release on DD on 17th. Govani moved the court for an injunction order. It was argued on his behalf that since he held the television and other rights for Bombay circuit, Pravin Thakkar could not telecast the film on DD. The court restrained the defendants from telecasting the film without Govani’s consent.

As a result, DD telecast Mere Saath Chal on 17th in place of Majhdhaar.

S.H. Karim appeared on behalf of Zarine Enterprises.

In the meantime, the delivery of the film for Overseas has reportedly been effected.

JUHI OBTAINS INJUNCTION ORDER
FROM DELHI HC

The Delhi high court on 9th March restrained D.N. Productions, producer Nita Sharma, Rauko Cine Laboratory, the director-general of Doordarshan and Saibaba International from telecasting the teleserial Mahashakti or any other serial under any other name, giving to understand and portraying Juhi Chawla as an artiste or character thereof, leading or otherwise. The order was passed in the application no. 1340 of 1995 in suit no. 389 of 1995, made by Juhi Chawla.

Juhi had alleged that she had acted in a feature film produced by Nita Sharma but the producer had released the film in a serial form on the small screen under a new title, Mahashakti, without her consent.

HARIVANSHRAI BACHCHAN HOSPITALISED

Well-known poet and Amitabh Bachchan’s father, Harivanshrai Bachchan, was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital on the night of 16th March after he reported sick. Following the hospitalisation, the Holi celebration at Amitabh’s bungalow on 17th was cancelled.

VISHWAS PAUL BHATIA NO MORE

Still photographer Vishwas Paul Bhatia expired on 14th March at a private nursing home in Bombay following a heart attack. He was 52.

Bhatia had his own photo studio at Dadar, Bombay. His three sons, Kuldeep, Pradeep and Ratan, are also still photographers in their own rights. Vishwas Paul had also produced a film, Black Shadow, in 1957. He is survived by his wife, three sons and a daughter.

ARUN CHOWDHURY DEAD

Noted director, actor and story writer of Bengali films, Arun Chowdhury, died of a massive heart attack on March 14 in Calcutta. He was 74. His first film as a writer-director-actor, Pasher Bari, was re-made as Padosan in Hindi. His other noted acting assignments were Satyajit Ray’s Paraspather and Kanchenjunga.

3-E
Education-Entertainment-Enlightenment

“I’m A Filmmaker, Not A Proposal Maker”: Chakki

While producers are divided over the issue of ceiling on star assignments, Pramod Chakravorty has a unique problem. Akshay Kumar was introduced by Chakki-da in Deedar and the maker had signed him for not one but three films. After Deedar, Chakki-da was on the lookout for a good subject for Akshay who was always willing to work in his film. But now that he has got the right subject, Akshay is not being cleared by the FMC as he already has 12 films on the floors. Says Chakki-da, “Till I did not have a subject, how could I apply for the clearance of my film (which never existed) by the FMC? I am not a proposal maker. Now that I have a subject and an artiste who is ever-willing to work in my film, the FMC won’t clear it. What am I to do? Is it fair? I am being penalised for being a sincere filmmaker instead of a proposal maker.” Maybe, FMC can clarify on this point.

No Regrets

Tinnu Anand doesn’t one bit regret his decision to quit direction and take up acting. So busy is he as an actor today on the big screen as well as the small screen that he has made up his mind never to go back to direction. In fact, his diary is so full that he had to say “no” to his favourite director, J.P. Dutta, for Border. And the paradox is that Tinnu was yearning to act under Dutta’s direction. It is not just Hindi films and TV serials in which Tinnu is busy. He has also invaded the South and is currently acting in a Telugu, a Malayalam and a Kannada film. His first South film is of course, the controversial Bombay in which he plays Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray. Where does all this leave the recent announcement that Tinnu Anand would be directing a film for producer Daulat Fulwadhya? “The news is incorrect,” clarified Tinnu. “It is being spread by the producer without my consent. I would like to clarify that I am not directing any film for Daulat Fulwadhya or, for that matter, for anybody.”

Inspired By Mamashri

There’s a story behind the title of producer Vinod Talwar’s under-production Phool Bane Patthar. Besides the fact that the script demanded the title, Vinod was also inspired by his maternal uncle, O.P. Ralhan’s Phool Aur Patthar. Before registering the title, Vinod went to Ralhan under whom Vinod, incidentally, also learnt direction, and told him of his new film and what he desired to title it. “Your career got a boost with Phool Aur Patthar,” said Vinod to his uncle, “and I wish, the phool and patthar also prove lucky for me.” Ralhan could only smile and give his blessings to Vinod. As for the film, it is fast nearing completion and Vinod is confident, it will bring him good returns as well as name and fame. He is particularly excited about the dog in his film, which has performed “every conceivable feat”. He is also excited that his film, though does not boast of top names in its cast, is closed for all India except Bombay, Overseas and parts of South. This itself is no small feat! Says Vinod Talwar, “I intentionally did not conclude the deals for Bombay and Overseas because I want to show the film to the prospective buyers and then sell it. I am confident of getting good prices for Bombay and Overseas.”

(From our issue dated 11th March, 1995)

The Tamil and Telugu (dubbed) versions of Mani Ratnam’s controversial film, Bombay, were released yesterday (10th March) in Madras, Hyderabad (in 21 cinemas), Vijayawada, Hubli etc. to full houses. In Hubli, the crowds in the first show at Sangeet cinema got so unruly that they damaged the cinema when they were not given tickets. The film (Tamil version) has also been released at Apsara (noon), Hubli.

Besides Mani Ratnam’s name, the hit music (A.R. Rahman) has ensured full houses.

The Hindi dubbed version of Bombay will be released all over on 31st March. Its first copy will be out this week in Madras. Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, who saw the film, is reported to have suggested some cuts in it. Tinnu Anand plays Bal Thackeray in the film which deals with the Bombay communal riots of 1993. There were rumours that Thackeray had also suggested that the film’s title be changed from Bombay to Mumbai. While some dismiss the rumour of suggested change in title as baseless, there are others who say that the suggested change has not been accepted by Ratnam since it is too late for the change. It is certain that the Hindi version will be released as Bombay and not Mumbai.

In the meantime, a Muslim organisation, Raza Academy Tai Ibrahim, has threatened to call for a boycott if scenes which hurt the community’s religious sentiments were not deleted.

You Never Know….

** Bombay distributor Balkrishna Shroff who had decided to release very few prints of Bombay in the city and suburbs, has now revised his plans and increased the number of cinemas to 13. Such is the response from exhibitors! The number may go up further by the time the film finally hits the screen on 31st March. You never know!

** Sultan Ahmed’s Jai Vikraanta was offered ‘UA’ without a single cut but he preferred to accept some cuts and opt for a ‘U’ certificate instead. He wants to apply for tax exemption to the film and a ‘U’ certificate will make the film’s case stronger. Sultan Ahmed also wants to apply for the national integration award. The film might just get the exemption and the award. You never know!

** The high price for which Andolan was sold and the steep decline in its collections all over from mid-week have made distributors and sub-distributors sit up and think. Are the prices unreal and too high? Is this the beginning of a more cautious buying atmosphere? You never know!

SHREE RAM BOHRA HOSPITALISED

Producer Shree Ram Bohra was admitted to Bombay Hospital on 9th March for a fracture in his thigh. He had a fall in the bathroom, which caused the fracture. He was rushed to the hospital and might have to be operated upon.

‘HUM SE HAI MUQABALA’: SENSATIONAL SONGS

Venus and Time held a screening of the songs of their Hum Se Hai Muqabala on 5th March at Sumeet. Two songs — the by-now rage ‘Muqabala Muqabala’ and ‘Urvasi, take it easy’ — are not only excellently tuned but also superbly picturised. The other songs are also a treat for the ears and eyes.

The film, dubbed from Kunjumon’s Kaadhlan (Tamil), is due for release in April. It stars Prabhu Deva and Naghma and is directed by Shankar. Its audio cassettes were released at the cocktail-dinner party that followed the songs screening, at Hotel Centaur.

DO YOU KNOW

* Before his MAJHDHAAR is premiered on Doordarshan on 17th March, producer Pravin Thakkar will have to settle the claim of Bombay distributor P.M. Govani who holds the commercial and non-commercial rights in 35mm, television, video, satellite and 16mm for Bombay circuit. The IMPDA, on a complaint by Govani, passed the award on 8th March. Pravin Thakkar, who was himself present in the IMPDA meeting, was directed not to telecast the film without the written consent of Govani.

Breakaway Producers’ Meeting Well-Attended

A meeting of the breakaway members of IMPPA was held on 9th March at Guestline Hotel, Juhu, Bombay under the aegis of the Association of Motion Pictures & TV Programme Producers which the breakaway group has joined. Although no policy decisions were made, there were a lot of discussions and speeches in a “healthy atmosphere”.

Almost all the producers, who’ve resigned from the IMPAA/Guild or who are contemplating resigning due to their dissatisfaction over the working of the FMC, attended the meeting. Among those who were present were Shabnam Kapoor, Dhirubhai Shah, Pravin Shah, Yash Chopra, Subhash Ghai, Pahlaj Nihalani, Yash Johar, G.P. Sippy, Ramesh Sippy, N.N. Sippy, Pramod Chakravorty, N. Chandra, Jain brothers (Venus), Ramesh Taurani, Mukesh Duggal, Sudhakar Bokade, Dinesh Patel, Dinesh Gandhi, Nitin Manmohan, Boney Kapoor, Sajid Nadiadwala, Jimmy Nirula, Shomu Mukerji, Jawaharlal Bafna, Harry Baweja, Sujit Kumar, Harmesh Malhotra, Salim Akhtar, Basu Bhattacharya, Bombay exhibitor U.A. Thadani, Satish Kulkarni etc.

The meeting discussed whether the Association should break away from the FMC or not. While no final decision was taken, the majority opinion seemed to be in favour of severing ties with the FMC. Shabnam Kapoor made a fervent appeal to think of all the pros and cons before breaking away from the FMC. Many of the members present opined that Shabnam should be their spokesperson in dealing with distributors and the Film Distributors’ Council.

Subhash Ghai called upon the Association to learn from the mistakes of IMPPA and not repeat them. He said, professional management of their Association was the only answer to the problems of producers.

The members questioned Dhirubhai for showing films on the ATN channel without making payments to producers. Dhirubhai said that he always was and is still prepared to pay producers, provided those producers whose films’ video rights were held by him and who did not wish that their films be shown on ATN satellite channel gave a written undertaking to him that they would not sell the satellite rights to any other channel for three years.

‘BOMBAY’: PRODUCERS TURN DISTRIBUTORS

Mani Ratnam’s Bombay (Hindi dubbed version) has prompted at least two producers to take up its distribution rights. While Nitin Manmohan has acquired its C.P. Berar rights (release thru Mohan Chitra, Amravati), Raju Mavani has bought the rights for Nizam.

‘BANDIT QUEEN’ BAN LIFTED

Following a compromise between Phoolan Devi and producer Bobby Bedi in the Delhi high court, the court lifted its ban on Bandit Queen on 10th March. Channel Four, the London-based television company which had commissioned the film, paid Phoolan Devi 40,000 pounds (about Rs. 19,40,400). In India, the film will be released after four scenes, found objectionable by Phoolan Devi and agreed to be deleted by the producers, are deleted. It will be released abroad without any cut.

REVOLUTION IN FILM EDITING

The latest technology in America for both, film and video editing, is the digital non-linear editing. And this technology will now be made available in India through the offices of Real Image Pvt. Ltd. which is marketing the products of Avid Technology, U.S.A.

What is this system all about? It is a more simplified system which eliminates the process of getting a rush print. The entire editing job is done to a high level of perfection on a video format. The video editing system is a full-fledged edit suite. All it needs is one recorder. The entire editing — including digital video editing effects — is done completely inside the disk-based system. The picture quality offered by Avid is on par with that of Betacam SP.

To give a better insight into this technology to producers and directors of the film and television industry, Real Image will be hosting a seminar, ‘Introduction To Digital Editing’, at Hotel Ramada Inn on March 12.

SNAPSHOTS

BUYING SPREE

Bombay distributor Bharatbhai Shah is on a buying spree. After the Hindi dubbed version of Kaadhlan (Hum Se Hai Muqabala), he has acquired both films of Tutu Sharma — that too at fantastic prices. While Tutu’s Raaj Kumar is nearing the completion mark, his Hum Tum Aur Woh has just gone on the sets.

* * *

NO DEAL

The Gujarat sub-distributor of Angrakshak (Bindiya Enterprises) has reportedly backed out of his commitment. Not having fulfilled his payment (signing amount) obligations, the Bombay distributor (Niraj Manchanda) has cancelled the deal with the sub-distributor. And so the bodyguard (Angrakshak) is for sale once again. Interested, anybody?

* * *

EXCEPTION BECOMES RULE

Delaying the release of video cassettes by one, two or more weeks from the date of theatrical release has now become the rule. It was the exception in the case of Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!. But the successful results of HAHK..! made people sit up and realise the advantages of delaying video release. The exception has now become the general rule. And the industry is benefitting from this — at least, in the case of big and successful films.

* * *

DELIVERY PROBLEM? DIAL FDC!

Producers who are in the habit of increasing the prices of their films at the time of delivery had better watch out now. A circular (dated 1st March, 1995) of the CCCA in this regard says:

‘It has been reported by many of our distributor-members that they had to undergo a lot of tension in addition to the last-moment financial burden at the time of taking delivery of prints from the producers, often due to illegal demand of enhanced price.

‘This matter was discussed at length at the recent meeting of the Film Distributors Council held on 23rd February, 1995 in Delhi and after giving a serious thought to the issue, it has been decided by the FDC that if any of our distributor-members apprehends any such problems likely to be faced, he is advised to bring this at least seven days in advance to the notice of our Hon’ble Presiden,t Shri Santosh Singh Jain, and Shri G.S. Mayawala, who are authorised to look into the problem and help the members in difficulty.’

* * *

VISA PROBLEMS

The Philippines government will reportedly confiscate the visas of the ATN people following complaints by the FMC that ATN was telecasting films illegally on its channel and was operating from Philippines for this purpose. The government is said to have taken a serious view of the matter, according to the cultural secretary in the Philippines embassy in Delhi.

PEOPLE
Are talking about

** The superb publicity campaign of Boney Kapoor’s Prem which commenced last week with the film’s gatefold cover of Film Information and a complimentary calendar of 1995. Both, the calendar and cover, are being discussed in trade circles for their concept, richness, printing and paper. Conceived by Boney, the job was excellently executed by Himanshu and Rahul Nanda, sons of late writer Gulshan Nanda.

** The superb and entirely novel picturisation of the super-hit ‘Muqabala’ song from the Tamil Kaadhlan. The Hindi version of the song from the film’s Hindi dubbed version, Hum Se Hai Muqabala, is already on air on the ATN channel.

** The mistake Keshu made by releasing his Paandav on Id alongwith big films like Andolan and Surakshaa. He should have waited for a week and released it on 10th March when no other film was due for release. The results would have been better, feel people.

People
Are Confused about

** Whether 31st March will see the release of Mani Ratnam’s Bombay or Bal Thackeray’s Mumbai. Thackeray has reportedly agreed to the title Bombay.

YOU ASKED IT

How many prints of Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! are in circulation?

– A total of 457 prints of the film have been taken out from the laboratory so far!

What is the use of giving ‘UA’ certificates to films when such films are seen by children unaccompanied by parents?

– Yes, it is a futile exercise.

Why do Hindi filmmakers not generally attempt making films based on best-selling novels?

– Maybe, our filmmakers believe that what is good in print may not necessarily be good when on print.

ENTERTAINMENT TAX REDUCED
IN WEST BENGAL

The government of West Bengal, through an ordinance, has reduced entertainment tax on Hindi and English films from 80% to 70%, and for Bengali films, from 50% to 30%. This has come into effect from March 1. Though no permission has been given to fix the admission rates, some exhibitors have already hiked the admission rates to counter their recurring losses.

To help the industry further, the government has decided to reduce sales tax on raw stock from 11 per cent to 4 percent.

Mix Masala

MUQABALA OF MUQABALAS

For Dhirubhai Shah, it is a competition between two muqabalas. Dhirubhai and the Venus people are together presenting Hum Se Hai Muqabala (dubbed) which has the chartbuster, ‘Muqabala Muqabala’ song. And Dhirubhai’s own film, Sabse Bada Khiladi, also has a ‘Muqabala Muqabala’ song with the same A.R. Rahman tune.

Jalal Agha: Id Mubarak, Then Alvida

Well-known Hindi film actor-director-producer, television personality and stage compere Jalal Agha telephoned from Calcutta to wish his mother in Bombay on Id, and asked her not to go out of Bombay since he would be reaching here on 6th March via Delhi. He did keep his promise to be in Bombay on the 6th, but what actually reached was only his lifeless body. A massive heart attack he suffered in Delhi took him away on the morning of 5th March.

Son of noted film comedian Agha, Jalal was born on 11th July, 1945 in Bombay. He was a diploma holder from the FTII, Pune. But he had started acting in films much before he even joined the FTII. He was only 12 when he acted in Mughal-E-Azam as child Prince Salim. He acted in about 80 films, including Saat Hindustani, Do Boond Paani, Saaraa Akash, Garm Hawa, Julie, Sholay, Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani and Chorni. Two songs for which he gave lip movements were big hits of their times. One was the ‘Mehbooba Mehbooba’ song from Sholay, and the other, ‘Sama hai suhana suhana’, from Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani. Few must be aware that Jalal Agha was the hero of the Hindi film, Bambai Raat Ki Baahon Mein which was selected for the Tashkent Film Festival. Rock Dancer, in which he plays a role, is due for an early release. Jalal was co-director of the film Aadhaa Din Aadhee Raat and he had also directed Goonj independently in 1988. He was also a member of the jury of the International Documentary Film Festival held in 1988.

Recipient of many awards, Jalal produced a TV serial, Mr. Yaa Mrs. and directed another serial, Kahkashaan. He also took active interest in advertisement films. He used to compere stage shows all over the world. Ready with a witty reply to any question, Jalal was known for his lively compering, both, in Hindi and English.

In spite of his busy schedules and travelling in connection with television and stage shows, Jalal had observed ‘roza’ on all days during Ramzan last month, and never showed any sign of sickness. He was regularly working for the TV serials Albeli and Ek Duje Ke Liye for which he was the anchorperson. Though he himself was a divorcee, he used to do a good job in anchoring Ek Duje Ke Liye which presented married couples. In fact, he had gone to Calcutta for the shooting of this serial.

Generally, people took Jalal Agha to be only a comedian, but, in fact, he was an all-rounder. At his work, he was never careless, but he was not very careful about his health.

Jalal Agha had made a film, Nirvaan, in 1982, which he considered to be his life’s dream project. He had introduced his brother-in-law, Tinnu Anand, as an actor in this film, which had Naseeruddin Shah, Amol Palekar and Sarika in the main roles. But in spite of his hard work and devotion, the film could not be released. Not many may be aware of the fact that Jalal was actively involved in the controversial film, Bandit Queen, in the beginning. He had recently started shooting two of his television serials, Taqdeer and Khana Khazana.

Jalal met a model in Delhi and married her in 1976. He divorced his wife in 1983. Jalal loved both his children very much and used to send them greeting cards on their birthdays in a special manner. He would send as many cards as the years of age of his children.

Jalal played a noteworthy innings of half a century and never showed to anybody that he was a broken heart. – Kishan Sharma

UNCANNY

Jalal Agha’s marriage was conducted both, in Muslim and Christian styles, on two days. And what a sad coincidence — he was married in Delhi on 5th March, 1976 in Muslim style, and he died in Delhi on 5th March, 1995. His marriage was performed in a church followed by a reception in Bombay on 6th March, 1976, and he was buried in Bombay on 6th March, 1995.

PRADEEP JAIN SHOT DEAD

Producer-director Pradeep Jain was shot dead in his Juhu (Bombay) office on the evening of 7th March. After making one film, Sapnon Ka Mandir, Pradeep had gone into construction business. Dispute over some property was reportedly the reason for his murder. Pradeep’s brother, Sunil Kumar, was injured in his leg but is out of danger. Three arrests have been made by the police so far.

Pradeep and Sunil used to also distribute films in Bombay. Pradeep is survived by his wife and three daughters.

NAZIR HEREKAR DEAD

Writer-producer-director-actor Nazir Herekar expired on 10th March at 3.30 p.m. at Habib Hospital, Dongri, Bombay. He had suffered a severe heart attack on 9th. He was in his late forties. He is survived by his wife and a daughter.

Nazir Herekar had written, produced and directed Jeene Ki Saza. His Dhuan Hi Dhuan has been censored and is due for release. It has been granted tax exemption in Maharashtra. His Dayalu, starring Naseeruddin Shah and Madhavi, is nearly complete.

AJOY BISWAS DEAD

Director Ajoy Biswas died in a Calcutta hospital on 5th March. He was 48. He had directed Samjhauta.

Ajoy had been married to Raakhee but was divorced subsequently. He had started his career as a sports journalist and later joined the film industry. His first film was the Bengali Pratham Prem. He had also directed and acted in Badhu Baran and Bhagyachakra, both Bengali films. Ajoy was also a script writer.

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Education-Entertainment-Enlightenment

The Sound Of Music, The Sigh Of Relief

Debut-making producer Rahul Gupta may have had more than his share of problems (Divya Bharti, the heroine of his Kartavya, died while the film was under-production, Dimple Kapadia walked out of the film midway, Moushumi Chatterji refused to complete her work and now refuses to dub for the film) but if he looks somewhat relieved today, it is mainly for two reasons. One, his film, being directed by Raj Kanwar, is soon nearing the completion mark, and two, the response of the public to the musical trailer of his film on Zee TV has been very good. Dilip Sen Sameer Sen have come up with a truly racy music score in Kartavya and the ‘I love you’ song is a potential hit which should soon inch its way upwards on the popularity charts. At least three more songs have it in them to linger in the minds of the listeners once they’ve heard the music cassette of the film, which, incidentally, was released by Tips this week. Maybe, it is because of the number of ups and downs he has had to see during the film’s making that Rahul Gupta does not now react to anything the way he used to (excitedly) a year ago. When asked, what he would do about Moushumi’s dubbing, he replied coolly, “Has she said, she will not dub? I wonder, why. She has been so co-operative during the film’s making. I’m sure, she will dub for it.” Rahul plans to release Kartavya in June, which would mean that it would be Sanjay Kapoor’s third release, after Prem (in April) and Raja (in May).

After Ten Years

Pran and Manoj Kumar first came together in Shaheed. The two actors thereafter worked together in a number of hit films like Do Badan, Gumnam, Aadmi, Upkar (with which Manoj Kumar made his debut as a director and changed Pran’s image from a bad man to a good man), Purab Aur Pachhim, Patthar Ke Sanam, Sawan Ki Ghata, Sanyasi, Dus Numbri, Yaadgaar and Beimaan. Now, Pran and Manoj Kumar have come together again after a gap of ten years. Manoj Kumar is directing the veteran actor in his home production, Mera Hindustan.

For A Friend, Not For Money

Subhash Ghai, who is busy with the ‘Chitrahaar’ programme on the small screen these days, was touched by the big gesture of Shekhar Kapur the other day. Not only did Shekhar shoot as a celebrity for his ‘Chitrahaar’ programme on 6th March at Ghai’s Madh Island bungalow, he also refused to accept the cheque which Subhash Ghai’s company, Drishti India, sent to Shekhar the following day for his shooting. And the cheque was for Rs. 50,000 which Shekhar returned, saying that he had shot for the programme for a friend and not for money.

(From our issue dated 4th March, 1995)

Nadiadwala Grandson’s Andolan (UA) is the usual story about corrupt politicians and police officers and how a revolution by even a lone honest citizen can rid the society of corruption. Two brothers, brought up by a principled and honest father, adopt two different paths in life after the murder of their father. While one continues to live on the ideals of his dad, the other adopts the wrong path, making easy money by unfair means. Finally, the two come on a common platform to wipe out the villains.

The film offers nothing new by way of story or screenplay and reminds of a number of earlier hits like Deewaar. In fact, writer Anees Bazmee seems to have taken the scripting rather too lightly, not even doing justice to defining the characterisations. He, however, is in top form in the department of dialogue writing. A number of dialogues are clapworthy. Some light scenes are enjoyable. Climax is too lengthy.

Sanjay Dutt looks handsome and does a very good job. His dubbing is appropriate. Govinda is sincere but his subdued character doesn’t go too well with his bubbly image. Mamta Kulkarni is alright. Somy Ali has no scope. Ishrat Ali is fantastic, aided a great deal by sharp and sarcastic dialogues. Dalip Tahhil, Deepak Shirke and Mohan Joshi are fair. Rami Reddy is quite effective. Vikram Gokhale has done a good job. Madan Jain is nice. Asha Parekh, Vinay Sapru, Farida and the rest lend average support.

Aziz Sejawal’s direction is not very promising. He does not rise above the mediocre script except in a few scenes. There is no hit song although two numbers — ‘Dil to khoya hai’ and ‘Nazar mein tu’ — are fairly good. Song picturisations are dull. Action scenes are very well composed by Ravi Dewan. Camerawork is fantastic. Foreign locales have been beautifully captured. Production values are rich.

On the whole, Andolan has terrific initial value but not the power to sustain for a long run. Its high price will come in the way of its distributors’ and exhibitors’ earnings.

Released on 3-3-’95 at Novelty and 24 other cinemas of Bombay thru Pinky Films. Publicity & opening: excellent. ….Also released all over.

DO YOU KNOW?

* Lata Mangeshkar did not accept any remuneration for a song she rendered for B. Subhash’s VAADIYAN on 28th February because she was very impressed by the romantic and melodious duet. Raamlaxman is the film’s music director. Lata’s co-singer was Udit Narayan.

YOU ASKED IT

Why has the career span of artistes reduced these days?

– What else do you expect when the artistes have invaded the living rooms of people and can be seen all day long on one television channel or the other at the flick of a button?

What is required for a filmmaker to become a legend?

– Besides other things, what is of utmost importance is that he makes films with passion and dedication.

On what basis do new heroes get paid fantastic prices even before a single release?

– The film industry is a speculative industry. Producers, distributors and exhibitors, all play blind here.

NAXALITES BURN SCREEN PROTESTING
AGAINST OBSCENITY

About 60 members of a Naxalite group stormed into Bidhushree cinema in North Calcutta in the matinee show and set the screen ablaze after splashing kerosene on it, in protest against an obscene English film being shown there. They shouted slogans against the screening of obscene plays and films. The hall was emptied immediately. Nobody was arrested. The fire brigade personnel, who rushed to the spot, put off the fire. Damage to the property was not heavy.

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Education-Entertainment-Enlightenment

Towards A Hat-Trick?

Director Shankar of the Tamil filmdom, who is only too well-known in Bollywood too, thanks to the popularity of the music of his Gentleman and Kaadhlan in Bombay, will direct Kamal Haasan in his next film. It is called Indian and is being produced by A.M. Rathnam. Paired with Kamal in this Tamil film is Manisha Koirala. It goes without saying that the music of this film will be scored by A.R. Rahman who had provided the musical score in the earlier two films too. Will music history and box-office history repeat themselves?

Busybee Bungalows

With the boom in production of TV serials, bungalows available for shootings suddenly find themselves overbooked. There is such a great demand for bungalows that hiring charges for them have shot up. In spite of that, they are all heavily booked. One more woe in the long list of woes of filmmakers!

Canada Calling

Enough of Mauritius, London and South Africa. The audience now needs a change. They’ve seen enough of the above places in our films. At least two producers are contemplating shooting portions of their films in Canada soon. The two producers are N. Chandra and Gava and the two films, Beqabu and Karobaar.

‘Mera Hindustan’: Of Contemporary India

It is after a gap of several years that Manoj Kumar has returned to his first love — making films. In a brief chat on the set of his Mera Hindustan, the veteran filmmaker said, “It is not just important to make a film, what is more important is what you are making. All these years, I was not satisfied with the subjects I came across. I have a certain commitment towards my audience and I cannot dream of cheating them. A film may or may not click at the box-office but it must, at least, be an honest attempt.” Manoj Kumar may have also made a TV serial with nationalist flavour but for the powers-that-be at Mandi House. “I realised that Mandi House is not a clean place and I did not feel like dealing with Doordarshan,” lamented the maker. Talking of Mera Hindustan, he said, it deals with contemporary India. But that does not necessarily mean, the recent communal tensions and bomb blasts that shook various parts of the country. Not wishing to reveal the story, written by Rajiv Kaul and Praful Parekh, the veteran merely said, “By contemporary, one could mean the state in which the families of martyrs of yesteryears are today.” The film stars Rishi Kapoor, Kunal Goswami, Raveena Tandon, Manisha Koirala, Pran, Amrish Puri, Beena, Anjana Mumtaz and others.

The All-Rounder Writer

With Javed Akhtar having bagged this year’s Filmfare award for best lyrics for 1942 A Love Story, he has become the first writer to have won awards in all the departments of writing. Zanjeer and Deewaar had won the awards for the best story. This was when Salim and Javed worked as a team. The duo also bagged three Filmfare awards for screenplay writing — for Zanjeer, Deewaar and Shakti. Salim Javed were also given a Filmfare award for the best dialogues for their work in Deewaar. Javed won the award for his dialogues again in Main Azad Hoon. Lyrics-writing was the only department of writing in which Javed had no Filmfare trophy. That trophy came to him last Saturday.

Man Of All Seasons

Babubhai Thiba has come a long way in the film industry. Starting out as a film journalist, he graduated to story-writing in Gujarati films. Soon he became executive producer. From there, he tried his hands at secretaryship and managed the affairs of quite a few stars. Not satisfied at remaining a secretary all his life, Babubhai produced a film too. Although it bombed, the man is keen on making another and is putting a project together. That’s not all. Thiba now also has an audio cassette duplicating plant at Goregaon in Bombay. It has a capacity of churning out 30,000 cassettes per day.

Music companies like BMB, Aftab and Royal get their cassettes duplicated at Thiba’s plant. Babubhai is not alone in the cassette duplicating enterprise. Swaraj Paneri and Sunil Khanna are his partners.

Strengeth In Length?

After Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, there’s another film coming, which has a running time of more than 3 hours and 15 minutes. It’s Jai Vikraanta. The film has a total length of 5,837.20 metres in 21 reels. The length of HAHK..! (unabridged version) is 5,895.13 metres in 20 reels, while of the abridged version of the film, it is 5,669.58 metres.

Thinking At One’s Risk!

The owners of Mehboob Studios must be having a vague sense of humour. A notice, prominently displayed at the entrance of the studio, announces that the studio property is not for sale. It goes on to add that anybody who thinks otherwise shall do so at his own risk as to costs and consequences!! Heavens! Since when has anybody begun to have control over somebody’s thoughts? It is all very understandable that the owners are peeved at newspaper reports that the studio is up for sale, but how can one dream of setting the records straight by warning people not to think something?

(From our issue dated 25th February, 1995)

Satellite television viewers in Bihar recently saw Shola Aur Shabnam, Raja Babu, Sir and other latest films on TV. They were telecast by Nepal TV which is beamed in Bihar in India as well as some countries abroad.

The film industry has termed as an unfair trade practice Nepal TV’s forays into India.

FMC, FDC REAFFIRM FAITH IN
STAR-CEILING SCHEME

Following the resignations of a number of producers from the IMPPA last week over the issue of star-ceiling, the FMC and the FDC have resolved to strictly implement their joint resolution in respect of the ceiling on star assignments.

At a joint meeting of the Film Makers Combine and the Film Distributors Council held in Delhi on 23rd February under the chairmanship of Prabhat Bhushan, the following three resolutions were passed:

(1) That the agreement dated 10th June, 1994 entered into between FDC and FMC will be strictly adhered to and implemented by both parties.

The June ’94 agreement provides for a 2-week delay in the release of video cassettes of films from the date of premiere theatrical release, 6-month delay in telecast through cable TV, and 5-year delay in the telecast on DD and satellite channels.

(2) That the resolution in respect of restriction on assignments of cine artistes will be, as agreed, strictly implemented jointly by FMC and FDC. Persons who will violate or infringe, directly or indirectly, the said resolution will be sternly dealt with by FMC and FDC. The spirit and purpose of the said resolution is reaffirmed and the FMC and FDC will implement the same effectively. It is agreed to circulate for information of the producers and distributors that no picture will be registered by any Association affiliated to FDC unless the same is cleared in writing by FMC.

(3) That the committee also discussed about further measures to be taken against the violation of the said resolution and also against those who are directly and/or indirectly associated with those persons. The committee also decided to meet in Bombay on 1st March, 1995 to discuss and finalise further line of action, to maintain unity and discipline.

MUKESH BHATT WITHDRAWS RESIGNATION

While some more producers have resigned from the IMPPA in addition to the 45 who had resigned last week, at least one producer, Mukesh Bhatt, has withdrawn his resignation and rejoined the IMPPA.

It may be recalled that the resignations of producers from the IMPPA started last week following their dissatisfaction over the working of the present executive committee in general and the continuance of the star-ceiling scheme in particular.

KANNADA FILM PRODUCERS TO
STAGE DEMONSTRATION

The Kannada Film Producers’ Association will hold a demonstration in Bangalore today (25th February) to seek a control on release of language films other than those in Kannada in the state of Karnataka with a view to promote Kannada films. The Association has demanded that the films of other languages be screened in Karnataka only after 100 days of their run in the respective states.

In a press statement, Association president C.V.L. Shastri said that there was no demand for Kannada films in other states, and Karnataka was their only market, but other language films were in high demand in Karnataka also, thereby cutting into the Kannada film market.

In the meantime, leaders of Kanna Chaluvali have decided not to allow non-Kannada films to be released in Karnataka from 1st May if other states did not screen Kannada films.

PEOPLE
Are talking about

** The fantastic price for which Time’s Sabse Bada Khiladi has been sold for Bombay. The deal has been struck separately for Bombay city-suburbs, Maharashtra and Karnataka (Dilip Dhanwani of Dilsa Distributors) and Gujarat-Saurashtra (Suresh Vora). The Thane sub-territory has already been sold by Dilip, again for a phenomenal price.

** The extraordinary price paid by Bharatbhai Shah (VIP Enterprises) for the Bombay distribution rights of the Hindi dubbed version of the Tamil blockbuster Kadhlan.

PEOPLE
Are surprised

** That as many as six films are slated for release on Idd (3rd March) while there’s no film scheduled for release the following week (10th March). The Idd advantage will be offset by the disadvantage of oppositions, at least in the case of smaller films.

PEOPLE
Are waiting for

** Mani Ratnam’s Bombay to be released. After being held up at the censors for about two months, the film will be cleared soon now. It should be released next month. In the meantime, its music is growing in popularity day by day and is a rage today.

** The outcome of the assembly election results and the consequent opinion on TADA, which will decide whether or not Sanjay Dutt will be freed on bail soon.

PEOPLE
Are in the dark about

** A.R. Rahman’s style of working, about his price, about his music sittings and about the time he takes for composing songs.

You Asked It

While Bombay cinemas are downing shutters, foreign companies are planning to build new cinemas in Bombay. Why is it so?

– The foreign companies are planning to build not just cinemas but multiplexes, which will house 4 to 6 cinemas in one premise, besides restaurants and other recreational facilities. Besides, the new cinemas will be mini cinemas with the latest sound system.

Will the ever-increasing film prices (ratios) never come down?

– Not so long as there are gamblers in the distribution trade, who are willing to pay fancy prices.

Why are other regional language film industries not flourishing as the South language industries?

– In the South, filmmaking is treated like an art and business, while in other regions, the standard of filmmaking, generally speaking, is low.

If a producer does not sell the Overseas and India video rights of his film at all, would his distributors increase their prices by 20%?

– It all depends on the film in question. If the film is big with a good star cast and is carrying good reports and seems to be a potential hit, distributors wouldn’t mind paying 10 to 15% more.

WEDDING BELLS

Marriage of Sandeep, son of Daleep Khanna and nephew of Vinod Khanna and Satish Khanna of Kanpur, with Ruby will be solemnised on 26th February in Chandigarh. A reception to celebrate the marriage will be held on 28th in Kanpur.

SONALI HURT IN FREAK ACCIDENT

Sonali Bendre had a miraculous escape in a freak accident on the sets of Raj Kumar Kohli’s Jeene Nahi Doonga at Chandivali Studios on 21st February. While participating in a chase scene where the villain’s jeep was following Arman Kohli and Sonali, the latter fell down and was run over by the jeep. Luckily for Sonali, she escaped safe. Her head, chin and cheek were, however, injured.

‘HUKUMNAAMA’ DELIVERY

Soubhagya Films, Secunderabad, the Nizam distributors of Hukumnaama, have initiated legal proceedings against its producers for not giving them the film’s delivery. The distributors have alleged that the producers have defrauded them. According to them, they had scheduled the film’s release on 17th February in Nizam and had also deposited the raw stock for two prints, with the laboratory.

FILM EDITOR WAMANRAO DEAD

Well-known film editor Wamanrao Mengle passed away in a private hospital at Dahisar, Bombay on 20th February after a brief illness. He was 62 and is survived by his wife, two daughters and five sons. His funeral was held the same day.

Wamanrao had edited a number of films including Noor Jehan, Victoria No. 203, Don, Damaad, Chori Mera Kaam, Aansoo Ban Gaye Phool, Adhikar, Anubhav, Dus Lakh, Jhansi Ki Rani, Sau Din Saas Ke etc. Wamanrao used to be the regular editor of all films produced under the banner of Goel Cine Corporation till Dus Lakh.

He had completed the editing of the Marathi film Premachya Sultya Bomba before he passed away.

BAHAR, BOMBAY DOWNS SHUTTERS

Bahar Cinema at Vile Parle, Bombay, closed down for good on 24th February. Just two weeks back, another cinema — Bandra Talkies — in the western suburb of Bombay downed shutters.

COVER VERSIONS: T-SERIES WINS
CASE IN DELHI HC

The Delhi high court has ruled that Super Cassettes Industries (T-Series) can continue to come out with version recordings so long as they change the manner of presentation of the inlay cards. The court held that the audio cassettes of Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, which T-Series was producing as version recordings, were not infringing copies.

The Gramophone Co. of India Ltd. (HMV), which is marketing the original cassettes of HAHK..!, had gone to court seeking a ban on the cassettes of T-Series. The court allowed T-Series to sell their cover version cassettes provided they sufficiently distinguished their products from those of HMV through a declaration.

It was also held by the court that Super Cassettes shall give notice of intention and payment of royalty to HMV and not to Rajshri Productions P. Ltd. since it was HMV which was prima facie shown to be the owner of the copyright.

Kapil Sibal, assisted by Pravin Anand and advocate N.K. Bhardwaj, appeared for Super Cassettes. Arun Jaitley and Lal appeared for HMV.

Raj Kanwar Turns Producer, Launches ‘Itihaas’

Director Raj Kanwar turned producer with the launching of Inderjit Films Combine’s Itihaas with a song recording on Feb. 24 at Sahara India. The song was penned by Sameer and rendered by Alka Yagnik and chorus under the baton of music directors Dilip Sen Sameer Sen.

The film stars Ajay Devgan, Twinkle Khanna, Aroona Irani, Shakti Kapoor, Amrish Puri and Raj Babbar. It is being produced and directed by Raj Kanwar and is based on a screenplay by Robin Bhatt and Akash Khurana. It has dialogues by Kamlesh Pandey, cinematography by Harmeet Singh, art by R. Verman and editing by A. Muthu.

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Education-Entertainment-Enlightenment

And Now, DTS Digital Sound

After Dolby and Ultra Stereophonic sound, what? DTS digital sound. DTS digital sound system is a product of Digital Theater Systems, California. It is a 6-track digital system designed to produce the best sound replication possible in a cinema hall. The system was launched on June 11,1993 with the release of Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park. Since then, the number of DTS installations all over the world has grown to 3,000. So far, nine major studios and producers, including MGM, Paramount, Universal, Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, Amblin Entertainment, Miramax, Castle Rock Pictures and New Line Cinema, have released about 80 films in the DTS format.

In India, Prem will be the first film to be released in the DTS format. Two technicians will be flying from California specially for the DTS mixing of Prem in Madras next month. According to Boney Kapoor, DTS differs from other sound systems in that its digital sound-track is not contained on the film itself but on separate CD-ROM discs. The six tracks of digital audio data that are stored on the CD-ROM disc are read by the DTS-6 Playback Unit. The DTS-6 is a reasonably priced sound system and is compatible with the Ultra/Dolby sound systems. It is being promoted in India by Real Image Pvt. Ltd., Madras.

Here’s what the great Steven Spielberg, who, incidentally, is a partner in Digital Theater Systems, has to say about the DTS-6 sound system:

“Since the introduction of DTS, I have spoken to many sound mixers, producers, directors and studio executives who are all in agreement that DTS provides the finest sound reproduction possible. I firmly believe that the range of sound that this digital system provides on 35mm print gives us the same highs and lows that were previously only available on 70mm print. The feedback I have received firsthand from motion picture exhibitors has also been very positive. From their standpoint, the ease of system operation, technical support provided, the number and calibre of films released in DTS, and the very affordable price of a system, all make DTS the overwhelmingly popular choice. DTS truly has revolutionised motion picture sound reproduction, and I can’t imagine a filmmaker or exhibitor not wanting to take advantage of the newest and best technology available.”

Sachin’s Innings

Sachin Bhaumick, the prolific script-writer of many a hit film, has been around for as many as 34 years. And he continues writing scripts after scripts with a secret mission, or rather passion — to make it to the Guinness Book of World Records.

His first film was Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Anuradha which, released in 1961, won the President’s gold medal. This film made it to the Berlin film festival, and Sachin-Da had the honour of visiting the festival as a delegate. Till now, Sachin-Da has written more than 140 films, including the latest blockbuster, Karan Arjun. More than 100 films have been successes, including Jugnu (75 weeks), Aradhana (100 weeks) and Hum Kisise Kum Nahin (50 weeks). Perhaps, no other Hindi film writer, living or dead, can boast of such a track record. His ready-for-release films include Saajan Ki Bahon Mein, Kanyadaan and Bewafa Sanam. On the sets are Sujit Kumar’s Daraar, Gava’s Karobaar and Pitrachhaya Productions’ Karam Bandhan. Ready to go on the sets are, among others, B.R. Chopra’s two films, Yash Chopra’s two, and the new films of Venus, Sanjay Roy, Rakesh Roshan (Koyla). He is also scripting TV serials of B.R. Chopra (Kanoon), Hrishikesh Mukherjee (Agar Aisa Hota), Yash Chopra (Karm) and Romesh Sharma (Usool). He is also writing B.R. Chopra’s next serial, Bada Aadmi. If the Indian cricket team has a prolific Sachin Tendulkar, the Hindi film industry has its own Sachin — Sachin Bhaumick.

Cinema Shortage

If more cinemas in Bombay close down at the rate at which they are downing shutters now, the shortage of cinemas is soon going to be felt rather acutely. Bandra Talkies closed down two weeks back, followed by Bahar Talkies this week. It is rumoured that three more cinemas — two in the Western suburbs and one in the Central suburbs — will soon be demolished. Reportedly, the properties of the three cinemas have been sold to a common party.

Diverse Experiments

While the Barjatyas are yet to release the video cassettes of Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, few may remember that the same Barjatyas had released the video cassettes of Maine Pyar Kiya one day before its theatrical release. That is to say, while the film was released theatrically on 28th December, 1989, its video cassettes were out a day earlier, on 27th December. Like the experiment about delayed release of video cassettes with HAHK..!, the early release of MPK cassettes was also an experiment. Since MPK was the first Indian film in 4-track Stereophonic sound, the Barjatyas were confident that the public would like to see the film in the theatres to enjoy the sound. They, therefore, felt that its video cassettes would serve as the film’s trailer and hence the simultaneous (or rather, early) release.

(From our issue dated 18th February, 1995)

Maharashtra home minister Ashok Chavan saw Mani Ratnam’s Bombay (Tamil) at a special screening at Eros, Bombay on 16th February.

PRODUCTION SECTOR HEADING FOR A SPLIT

FMC Expels Dhirubhai Shah

The production sector in Bombay is in the midst of a crisis. Producers are divided over major issues, prominent among them being the star-ceiling issue. Differences between two sections — one which is in favour of the ceiling and the other which advocates no restrictions on star assignments — had surfaced a while ago but they now threaten to create a divide in the community of producers. A total of 45 producers have resigned from the IMPPA. If grapevine is to be believed, some more resignations will follow in the days to come. Likewise, there is a move to get a number of producers to resign from the Film Producers’ Guild of India. So far, only Pahlaj Nihalani has resigned from the treasurership of the Guild as also from its executive committee.

Among those whose resignations have been received by the IMPPA are:

Ordinary members (total 32): Manish Arts, Amit Arts, Jayraj Productions, Prince & Prince Intl., United Seven, United Seven Intl., United Seven Creations, Sonu Films Intl., Nadiadwala Grandson, Nadiadwala Theatre Prods., Sneh Shakti Pictures (I), D.M.S. Films, Roopa Films, Meghdoot Films Intl., Seven Mountain Movies, Mateshwari Films, Dashaka Films, Vishal Enterprises, B.B. Films Combine, Time Magnetics (India) Ltd., Siddhi Vinayak Movies, Shivalaya Production, Sainath Films Intl., Film Folks Intl., Shree Durgalaxmi Ents., Right Image Intl., Shivam Chitrya (Bombay), Ketan Mehta Films Pvt. Ltd., Shree Durgalaxmi Prods., Vishesh Films, Anas Films, Maa Sherawali Prods.

Associate Class I members (total 6): United Seven Combines, Venus Records & Tapes, Yashish Enterprises, Milan Movies, Saamna Films, Leo Films Intl.

Associate members (total 7): Tips Cassettes & Records, Weston Components, Nadiadwalas, Nikita Films, Chitra Sansar, Baba Films, Siddhi Vinayak Creations.

The producers who have resigned or will resign from IMPPA/Guild will become members of the Association of Motion Pictures & TV Programme Producers. Ironically, this Association had been nicknamed in production circles as a toota-phoota Association as it did not have too many members. But with so many active producers joining it, it would no longer remain toota-phoota. Incidentally, at least one producer, Vimal Kumar, has decided to withdraw his resignation from IMPPA. “I was pressurised to resign and I shall take back my resignation,” he said.

Dhirubhai Shah, Pravin Shah, Pahlaj Nihalani, Shabnam Kapoor and Mukesh Duggal are reportedly garnering support of producers to resign from the IMPPA/Guild and to become members of the new Association.

“SORE POINTS”

The main bones of contention, according to the producers who have resigned, are:

(i) the star-ceiling scheme;

(ii) expulsion of Dhirubhai Shah from the FMC;

(iii) Pahlaj Nihalani’s “humiliation” at the hands of the FMC and the CCCA;

(iv) dictates by distributors’ associations like the FDC and the CCCA, in matters relating to production.

The star ceiling scheme was tightened a while ago by the FMC when it made it compulsory for producers to seek its (FMC’s) clearance for every new film started, irrespective of whether or not it starred actors/actresses having more than the specified number of films. While the FMC leaders feel, this was necessary to bring in a sense of discipline among producers and artistes, those not in favour of the star-ceiling opine that this is tantamount to harassment of producers. According to them, there is no sense in continuing the star-ceiling scheme as the FMC had not been able to monitor it properly.

DHIRUBHAI AGITATED

Dhirubhai Shah was expelled from the FMC at its meeting held on 14th February for not having sought FMC clearance for his Gambler and Krishna, starring Govinda and Sunil Shetty respectively. Both the artistes had more than the specified number of films (12) on the sets when the aforesaid two films started. The expulsion seems to have agitated the Time boss no end. Dhirubhai blamed the FMC for “not behaving as it should have”. He added, “The FMC has different rules for different producers. It takes them so many months to reply to a letter seeking clearance that a producer could just wait and wait. The FMC has done grave wrong by expelling me. I will move the court and the MRTP Commission for justice. They (FMC) have chosen to declare war. Now, see what we are capable of doing. All those who’ve resigned are active producers who have one or more films on the sets.”

PRODUCERS OR SLAVES?

What seems to have made Pahlaj unhappy is the fine of Rs. 1 lakh he had to pay to the CCCA before the release of his Mr. Azaad for having given his Aandhiyan for telecast before 5 years of its theatrical release. “Are we the slaves of CCCA president Santosh Singh Jain?,” he asked. “If there will be injustice, there is bound to be a revolution,” he explained. The FMC had, at its annual general meeting a few months ago, temporarily suspended the membership of the Association of Motion Pictures & TV Programme Producers of which Pahlaj is the president. This, it is learnt, was interpreted by Pahlaj as “humiliation”. “The FMC has not been able to protect the interests of the producers,” he sighed. “Are we the producers or the servants of artistes, workers and distributors?” Pahlaj also felt that those at the helm of affairs in the IMPPA/FMC were mostly producers who had not made films for several years. “How can they be expected to safeguard our interests?”, he asked.

J. Om Prakash, president of the Guild and FMC chairman, described the entire resignation movement as “unfortunate”. This would weaken the unity of the organisation, he lamented. He blamed it on some vested interests like Dhirubhai Shah and company.

FMC FOR GOOD OF PRODUCERS

IMPPA president Sultan Ahmed was more sarcastic in his views. “The same group of people who have now resigned from the IMPPA, including Shabnam Kapoor, Mukesh Duggal etc., were on the executive committee of IMPPA last year but they couldn’t do a thing for the production sector. They took up the case of producer Rahul Gupta (Kartavya) versus Dimple Kapadia but could do no justice to Gupta. Nor could they get Dhirubhai Shah’s ATN to pay anything to producers for showing their films and songs on the channels. And now they expect to help the producers. Or so they claim. I wish them good luck!” Sultan Ahmed reiterated that whatever was being done by the FMC was for the betterment of the production sector, and it was foolish to think otherwise.

SELFISH PEOPLE

CCCA president Santosh Singh Jain opined, “Those who’ve resigned don’t just want the star-ceiling to go, they also don’t want discipline. Most of the producers who’ve resigned have either started a film or want to start one with the ceiling-stars, Sunil Shetty or Akshay Kumar. Let them break away from their parent association. The FDC is there. How will they release their film without the distributors’ associations registering them? Those breaking away from the producers’ associations are selfish people who are only concerned about their personal gains, they don’t have the good of the production sector at heart. Like, for example, the Venus people who have started films without the FMC clearance.”

NOT ACCEPTED

While the IMPPA has so far received 45 resignations — 32 in Ordinary class, 7 in Associate class I and 6 in Associate class — it is yet to accept the resignations. That is to say, no resignation is yet accepted by the IMPPA.

PUBLIC ISSUE OF BMB IN APRIL

The public issue of producer-director K.C. Bokadia’s BMB Music And Magnetics Ltd. will open on April 13. A state-of-the-art plant for the manufacture of audio tapes and component discs has reportedly been installed in Jaipur, and production will commence on April 13. For this Rs. 17-crore project, Rs. 9 crore is to be raised from the public issue. The issue is priced at Rs. 35 per share which includes a premium of Rs. 25 per share.

YOU ASKED IT

Why is the issue of price rise by producers at the time of delivery taken so casually by distributors?

– If a film is good, distributors don’t grudge increasing the price. If not, there are hassles, and not all distributors raise the price. Each case is an individual case and an association (of distributors) can’t do much about it.

In spite of so many flops, why is Mithun Chakraborty still a sought-after star?

– Because he allots dates at a stretch and is very professional.

With so many English films being dubbed in Hindi, who are the most adversely affected?

– Our writers, because they wouldn’t know where to pinch story ideas from, and our action directors for they won’t have secret films to pinch action scenes from!

JUHI MOVES COURT: HC NOTICE TO
DD, PRODUCER, LAB

On a petition filed by Juhi Chawla alleging fraud against her by producer Neeta Sharma (D.N. Productions), the Delhi high court has issued summons to D.N. Productions, Rauko Cine Laboratory and the director-general of Doordarshan.

Juhi alleged in the petition that D.N. Productions had fraudulently got a full-length feature film, Vada Hai Milan Ka, in which she was the heroine, to be telecast on Doordarshan as a teleserial titled Mahashakti. She has sought the court’s intervention to permanently restrain the telecast of the teleserial on DD under any name, which incorporates her work from the feature film. The serial is telecast every Friday, and four episodes have already been telecast.

Justice Devinder Gupta, before whom the matter came up on 16th February, issued summons to producer Neeta Sharma, Rauko Cine Lab and to the D-G of DD for 21st February. The court also ordered the defendants to furnish before the court all video cassettes of the serial.

According to Juhi, a sum of Rs. 75,000 was payable as her balance remuneration for her role in the film which was earlier titled Jannat. On 1st December, 1994, the producers approached Juhi with the balance payment and told her that they intended to again change the film’s title, this time to Mahashakti. They also asked her to sign a declaration that she had no objection to the release of the film in any form. Not sensing that the film would be released in a teleserial format, Juhi signed the papers.

BANDRA TALKIES DOWNS SHUTTERS

Bandra Talkies at Bandra, Bombay has closed down for good from 10th February. The property has been sold and the cinema will reportedly give way to a shopping complex.

A.R. RAHMAN TO WED

Music director A.R. Rahman got engaged to Saira Banu recently in Madras. Saira is the sister of Meherunissa, wife of actor Rehman.

TEJ NATH ZAR’S DAUGHTER WEDS

Anjana, daughter of producer-writer Tej Nath Zar, got married to Shankar on 15th February in Bombay at National College Hall.

RAMESH SIPPY BEREAVED

Gopal H. Sippy, father of Bombay distributor Ramesh Sippy (B.R.A.) and father-in-law of Jeetendra, expired on 15th February in Bombay. He was 79. Marka was held on 17th at Tulsi Niwas, Churchgate.

ARUN NIGAM DEAD

Cinematographer Arun Nigam expired on 12th February at Nanavati Hospital, Bombay due to a prolonged illness. He was 47 and is survived by his wife and three daughters.

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Education-Entertainment-Enlightenment

Corporate Structures

Corporatisation seems to be the order of the day in the film and TV industry. Amitabh Bachchan has already formed a company, Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Ltd. K.C. Bokadia will be coming up with a public issue of his audio company, BMB Music, in April ’95. Zafar Hai, who is into TV and video software production, has already gone public. And so has computer wizard Shyam Ramanna. Among other film people who are planning to raise money from the public are Mukul Anand, Nitin Manmohan, ace still photographer Shantanu Sheorey and the Tatas (Marg Publications). The Tatas will be entering the film industry in a big way shortly. Buena Vista will also open a public issue in the near future.

Price Hikes

A little bird tells us that the lady producer whose film is complete, has plans of increasing its price by 15 to 20 per major territory. The prices of two releases of March are also tipped to be in the revision stage.

Rumours “Baseless”: Subhash Ghai

Rumours are rife in Bombay as well as in Madras that Subhash Ghai and music director A.R. Rahman have parted ways and that Laxmikant-Pyarelal are now providing the music score of Shikhar. When contacted, Subhash Ghai dismissed the rumours as baseless. He laughed, “When I spoke to Rahman over the telephone recently, he told me of these rumours circulating in Madras. I told him, such rumours would be heard more often as I have a lot of ‘well- wishers’ in the industry. Jokes apart, there is no question of parting ways. I am very happy with Rahman.” Ghai plans to start the shooting of Shikhar by mid-April or May, after Trimurti is complete.

Tuesday, The 14th

Sultan Ahmed, who never makes more than one film at a time, launched a new film even before his Jai Vikraanta has been released. He recorded a song for the new film, as yet untitled, on 14th February. The decision to launch it on 14th was quite sudden. According to Sultan Ahmed, the combination of Tuesday and 5 is lucky for him and since 14th totals up to 5 numerologically and it was a Tuesday on 14th February, he thought of starting the film. Aadesh Srivastava recorded the song in Kumar Sanu’s voice. The cast and other crew of the film are yet to be decided.

Beyond Limit

Producer-director N. Chandra has a potential hit in his hands in the ‘Khatra khatra’ song of Beqabu. He seems to be lucky with songs which have numbers in their lyrics. His ‘Ek, do, teen, chaar’ song of Tezaab had become a sensation in its time. The ‘Khatra Khatra’ number also has numbers 1 to 16 in it. Its racy music (Anu Malik) is bound to make it a craze, especially among school and college students. And Chandra knows this too well. He is, therefore, sparing no efforts in its picturisation which is currently in progress on a palatial set at Filmistan Studios. After this song, only two-and-a-half more songs and very few scenes would remain to be shot to complete the film. Asked about the significance of the title Beqabu, Chandra replied, “Beqabu is a romantic film. In love, there is no limit to one’s passion. Love can make one do anything. This is what is sought to be conveyed by the title. There is also another angle to it. Sanjay Kapoor plays a street-boy in the film, having been deprived of his parents’ love and care since childhood. He, therefore, does not know what culture is. When parents teach their children culture, they tell them their limits beyond which they should not go. Beqabu also means going beyond limits in that sense.” Whatever the connotations of the word, Chandra and Tips (the film’s presenters) would only wish the film’s business crosses all upper limits when it is released.

Games Of Tension

Financier and Rajasthan distributor Naraindas Mukhija has turned producer and will be starting two films shortly. What prompted him to take the plunge in production? Says Mukhija, “I used to finance other producers and invite tension. So I thought, why shouldn’t I produce films myself? If I had to take tension, why not by making my own films? At least, that way, my money would be under my control.”

Busy Character Artistes

The boom in production of TV serials has made some film artistes, who don’t mind working for the small screen, busier than the proverbial bee. A big-screen character actress, known for her mother roles, is currently working in 21 films and is also committed to doing 28 TV serials, four or five of which are already on the air!

New Titles

Over to some new and interesting titles registered by the title registration committee in its meeting held on 6th February:

Hum Aapke Hain Ghulam, Main Hoon Tajmahal, Pavithra Tawaif, Mrityu Chumban, Do Kadke Chale Film Banane, Ladkee Achchi Hai, Kakaa, 210 Jama 420, Bandook Ki Nauk Pe, Main Deti Tumhe Pyar Ka Nimantran, Bombay Ka Don, Bombay Love.

(From our issue dated 11th February, 1995)

Nadeem Shravan are in top form in Indra Kumar, Ashok Thakeria and Vinod Doshi’s Raja. The film’s audio cassette, marketed by Tips, is a listener’s delight.

The first three songs on side ‘A’ – ‘Love you Raja’, ‘Kisi din banoongi main raja ki rani’ and ‘Ankhiyaan milaoon kabhi’ – are surefire hits. ‘Tum ne agar pyar se dekha’ is yet another good song.

‘Aankh teri chhalke to’ has immense lyrical appeal (Sameer) and establishes the bond of love between the two brothers in the film, Sanjay Kapoor and Paresh Rawal. ‘Phool mangoo na bahaar’ is quite nice. Two songs in the cassette — ‘Aankh milate darr lagta hai’ and ‘Ja sajana tujhko bhula diya’ — have been picturised but will not be included in the film.

All in all, the music of Raja should become a craze, a rage in the days to come. A chartbuster, it will prove to be a speedy money-spinner for Tips. Is that why the Tips boss, Ramesh Taurani, can these days be heard singing “Love you Raja………”?!?

SAJID NADIADWALA IN AJMER

The first copy of Nadiadwala Grandson’s Andolan was out on 9th February. Producer Sajid Nadiadwala left for Ajmer Sharif on 10th, with the print of the film. Andolan is due for ldd release (March 3).

DO YOU KNOW?

‘KARAN ARJUN’ SHINES IN 4TH WEEK

* Creates records in 4th week also at the following cinemas of Delhi: Odeon by collecting 2,92,143/-, Moti by collecting 1,97,830/-, Liberty by collecting 2,74,930/-, Natraj by collecting 2,49,831/-, Sonia by collecting 1,39,679/-, Savitri by collecting 1,98,079/-.

* Creates a record by collecting 84,000/- in 4th week at Choudhry, Ghaziabad.

* Creates a city record by collecting 5,51,000/- in 4 weeks at Saraswati, Varanasi.

* Creates a city record by yielding a distributor’s share of 2,34,145/- in 4 weeks from Vijay, Saharanpur.

* Creates a city record by yielding a distributor’s share of 1,90,245/- from Chandra, Muzaffarnagar.

* Creates history by collecting 77,425/- in 1st week at Prakash, Etawah (U.P.).

* Creates city records by collecting 68,245/- and 72,796/- in 1st week at Gopal, Budaun and Natraj, Mirzapur respectively.

* Creates a city record by yielding a distributor’s share of 1,25,000/- in 4th week from Kanpur. Also creates city records by yielding a share of 4.75 lakh in 4 weeks from Meerut and 5 lakh in 4 weeks from Lucknow.

* Creates history by yielding a share of 5.25 lakh in 4 weeks from Shree, Agra.

* Our Viramgam representative, Naresh Patwa, makes an interesting observation. According to him, if the name of the producer of a film as also its music director begin with ‘R’, chances are that the film will be a blockbuster. Examples: Raj Kapoor’s RAM TERI GANGA MAILI which had music by Ravindra Jain, Rajshri’s MAINE PYAR KIYA and HAHK..!, both of which had music scored by Raamlaxman, and Rakesh Roshan’s KARAN ARJUN, music of which is provided by Rajesh Roshan.

* Goldie Behl, son of late producer-director Ramesh Behl, who has started ANGAARAY, is only 20 years old!

* HAHK..! has created history by collecting 51,40,234/- in 25 weeks from Novelty, Lucknow. Entertainment tax collected in 25 weeks is a whopping 64,25,294/-!

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Education-Entertainment-Enlightenment

For The Sake Of Publicity

The Bombay police sure have a way of troubling people. Why else would they disturb Bombay distributor Balkrishna Shroff the whole of one night earlier this week, asking him to immediately meet the calling police officer at Worli (Bombay) police station. Shroff’s ‘crime’, if one may say so, was that posters of Sauda, released by him, had been pasted all over Bombay. So what’s new? Well, the Maharashtra government has vide an ordinance (no. 1/95 dated 18th January, 1995), banned pasting of posters in public places etc., in the wake of the ensuing elections. The scope of the ordinance extends also to wall poster publicity in respect of films. Well, the police officer concerned almost made it appear as if Shroff had committed a murder. Shroff, accompanied by industry leaders U.A. Thadani and Indravadan Shah, went to meet the police officer concerned the following day and made him realise that what Shroff had done was not as serious as to warrant telephoning him all night, asking him to report immediately at the police station. The police officer probably saw reason in the film people’s argument and let Shroff go. And even while Shroff and the others were at the police station, they saw the Adhikari brothers — Gautam and Markand — cooling their heels there. Their ‘crime’: posters of their TV serial, Silsila, had been pasted on street walls!

Little wonder then that the IMPDA, after these incidents, quickly released a circular for its members, asking them to refrain from pasting posters on walls in public places till the duration of the ordinance.

Hit In Telugu, Flop In Hindi

Last year, when Indecent Proposal was released in India, several producers made up their minds to remake it in Hindi. In Bombay, Sudhakar Bokade made Sauda, and in Hyderabad, Krishna Reddy adapted the story in his own style and made it as Shubhlagnam in Telugu. While Sauda has not made any mark at the box-office, Shubhlagnam is a hit and has already completed 120 days of its run! But Krishna Reddy made a dramatic change in the story. While Indecent Proposal — and Sauda for that matter — is the story of a girl and two boys, Shubhlagnam is the story of two girls and a boy. In it, one of the girls sells her husband for the sake of money. And the film itself is raking in money at the box-office.

Chhotu And The Big Crimes

Remember Chhotu Bihari who had made Professor Pyarelal? Chhotu is now absconding and it is feared, he may have run away to the USA. Although it has nothing to do with films, Chhotu’s story would interest film people — and, maybe, inspire some writer for a script! Chhotu (real name: Anoop Masand) promoted a company called All Seasons Foods Ltd. (ASFL) and used the company to do all the frauds under the sun. The company had Mahesh Jethmalani, the noted criminal lawyer, on its board. It had Sunil Gavaskar and Tarla Dalal plugging its products like a health drink and sauces. Chhotu had been arrested for a murder but Jethmalani helped him out of the mess. The finance ministry and the Controller of Capital Issues bent backwards for the company of Chhotu Bihari for whatever reasons. The company made false declarations, held fake annual general meetings, showed false accounts and indulged in a whole lot of criminal activities under the Companies Act. Resultantly, the company is now under liquidation, and Chhotu Bihari has fled!

First MKD Film At Filmalaya

Manmohan Desai had made a number of films under the MKD banner but, believe it or not, not a single film of his was ever shot at Filmalaya Studios. The studios once belonged to Man-ji’s father, Kikubhai Desai. Ketan Desai, who is now making Deewana Mastana under the MKD banner, will shoot the film at Filmalaya in March. Which will make Deewana Mastana the first MKD film to be shot at the studio!

Nana: Man With A Golden Heart

Nana Patekar who is very selective about the films he signs, has signed Rahul Rawail’s next. For a price of 45 lakh. While this may not be surprising, the form in which he has already taken his remuneration definitely is. Only 5 of the 45 lakh will go in Nana’s pocket. The balance 40 lakh have been accepted by him in the form of four cheques of Rs. 10 lakh each in favour of Mother Teresa, Baba Amte, Medha Patkar’s Narmada Bachao Andolan and Chief Minister’s Earthquake Relief Fund. A true krantiveer (revolutionary) indeed! In return, Nana has allotted Rahul Rawail dates for two months at a stretch.

For His Ears Only

Anupam Kher received a number of compliments for his ‘Changing Times’ mono act at the Screen Panasonic awards function. But the best compliment he got was from veteran actor K.N. Singh. The ageing actor telephoned Anupam and told him that although he could not see (he has lost his eyesight since two years), he enjoyed his item by only listening to it on Doordarshan. Anupam, needless to add, cherishes this as the best compliment.

True Lies!

There are rumours in the air. But these are no ordinary rumours. Know-alls say, they are as authentic as the fact that Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! is the biggest hit of Hindi cinema in 100 years.

* That the young son of a hero, who has signed a number of films as the lead man, is being replaced by a producer-director in his film starring several heroes.

* That Rishi Kapoor has opted out of a two-hero film. This news, informs an insider, is more sachcha than jhootha.

* That the action-dancing hero got engaged to the jinxed-turned-lucky heroine recently at a producer and close buddy’s (of the hero) residence.

* That a reunion between the estranged actor-producer-director and his actress-wife is on the cards. The good Samaritan is none other than the star-daughter of the star-parents.

C.V.K. SASTRY NO MORE

Producer C.V.K. Sastry passed away on 10th February around noon at his residence in Bombay. He had been unwell for the past one month. Besides being diabetic and having heart problem, his kidneys failed recently. He died of a cardiac arrest. He was 67 and is survived by his wife and three married daughters.

C.V.K. Sastry, besides being a producer in his own right, was a pillar of B.R. Films. Not only was he a close associate of B.R. Chopra, he was also the general manager of B.R. Films. His association with B.R. Films spanned 50 years. In fact, he used to look after its business aspects almost completely. Sastry also used to be a prominent exporter of Indian films till six to seven years ago.

He had undergone bypass surgery some years back.

C.V.K. Sastry had produced Joru Ka Ghulam, Naya Nasha, The Great Gambler and Tumhari Kasam under his banner of Associated Films & Finance Corporation. He made Nazrana under the Filmovision banner. He had also co-produced Baaton Baaton Mein and Pasand Apni Apni with Basu Chatterji, and Yeh Nazdeekiyan and Ek Naya Rishta with Vinod Pande.

He was a thorough gentleman and jolly by nature. He had a very good command over the English language. He also had a legal bent of mind and was legally very knowledgeable. Another noteworthy attribute of Sastry was his terrific memory. Little wonder then that people used to often say that his very short height belied the big brains he possessed.

His funeral on the evening of 10th was well attended by industry people.

Chautha will be held on Monday, February 13 between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Arya Samaj, Linking Road, Santacruz.

SHARAD GALVANKAR NO MORE

Leading distributor of Marathi films, Sharad Lakshman Galvankar of Sri Datta Films, Bombay, passed away on 5th February in Bombay following high blood pressure. He was 61 and is survived by his wife and a son.

Sharad started his career with the Censor Board. He then took to film distribution and came in the limelight with such Marathi films as Sakhu Ali Pandharpura, Shirdiche Sai Baba and others. He was a devout follower of Sai Baba and often visited Shirdi.

PUNJABI FILM PIONEER K.D. MEHRA DEAD

Producer K.D. Mehra who made the first Punjabi film, Punjab Di Kudi, in the thirties, died in Bombay on 6th February. He was 88 and was called the father of Punjabi cinema.

K.D. Mehra also made the Punjabi films, Heer Syal and Mera Punjab, the latter in Lahore. He was a very close friend of B.R. Chopra and visited the latter’s office regularly till the end. He even took part in crucial decisions made at B.R.

He introduced Noor Jehan in Heer Syal. She later went on to become the singing legend. The film itself had a golden jubilee run. After Partition, when he came to Bombay, he made Posti and other films.

K.D. Mehra used to often visit Film Information’s office too and spend time with the Information family.

IFTEKHAR BEREAVED

Sayeeda Sheikh, daughter of actor Iftekhar, died on 7th February in Bombay due to cancer. She was 46 and is survived by her husband, a son and a daughter.

YOU ASKED IT

What are the chances of a heroine, who had been in the big league before fading out, making it to the top again?

– The chances are dim. Heroines usually don’t get a second chance. Yes, if a heroine accepts character roles, the chances of a successful career again are not ruled out.

Are the releases of Govinda starrers going to be affected due to his interrogation under TADA?

– Not at all. Govinda was interrogated for only a day and allowed to go thereafter.

How did the Tamil and Telugu versions of Aladdin fare?

– While the Telugu version did not do well at the box-office, the Tamil  one was successful. The English version has also done quite well. But the Hindi version bombed.

COURT ATTACHES PROPERTIES OF RAJEEV KUMAR

The Bombay high court on 6th February attached properties of producer-director Rajeev Kumar. The court proceeded against Rajeev Kumar on the basis of consent terms decree passed by it and on a suit filed by Mansingh Deep.

Kranti Kshetra was started in partnership between Rajeev Kumar and Mansingh Deep, but due to disputes, the two separated and Rajeev Kumar undertook to pay up the entire investment of Mansingh Deep before the release of the film. A sworn declaration to this effect in terms of consent terms was lodged before the court. In this connection, the court passed a decree on the said consent terms. Not having received the money, Mansingh Deep moved the court and obtained an injunction against the release of Kranti Kshetra unless Rajeev Kumar discharged his financial liability to pay the agreed sum pursuant to the consent terms. But Rajeev Kumar released the film without making the agreed payment. Aggrieved, Mansingh Deep again moved the court against Rajeev Kumar for flouting the consent terms decree passed by the court. The court issued an attachment warrant on Rajeev Kumar’s property on 6th February.