GAIR
Released all over (in Bombay thru Dilsa Distributors) on November 7 (Sunday), Prakash Chitralaya’s Gair (UA) is a family drama. An orphan, found in a temple, is adopted by a poor lady. He grows up to become a top industrialist and in reaching the enviable position, he is helped by a benevolent industrialist. The jealous son of the benevolent industrialist resents his father’s assistance to the orphan, and adding fuel to the fire of resentment is the son’s maternal uncle. The jealousy reaches its zenith when the son accuses his father of being the father of the orphan too. In the end, the true identity of the orphan comes as a shocking revelation. Ultimately, the uncle is punished for his evil designs.
The story is routine and the screenplay relies on clichés. The revelation of the orphan’s identity has no relevance to the earlier part of the drama and if it does have relevance, the same is not clear in the narration. The situations to further the drama are those that’ve been seen umpteen times in innumerable films earlier. The pace is slow. Dialogues are good at places. The film has taken a long time in the making and it shows.
Ajay Devgan does quite well. Raveena Tandon does a fair job. Amrish Puri is effective as the kind-hearted industrialist. Paresh Rawal plays the usual villain. Reena Roy is alright. Ajinkya Deo performs quite ably. Kiran Kumar, Satyen Kappu, Sulbha Deshpande, Rajesh Puri, Guddi Maruti, Sunil Rege, Anil Nagrath and Achyut Potdar lend average support.
Direction (Ashok Gaikwad) is very routine. Two songs — ‘Dil chura liya’ and ‘Aankhon mein mohabbat hai’ — have a bit of an appeal. Song picturisations are ordinary. Anwar Siraj’s camerawork is good. Action scenes should have been more thrilling.
On the whole, Gair is an ordinary fare, for ‘B’ and ‘C’ class centres.
TITANIC
(Dubbed)
Released on 8th November in Akola (at Manek Talkies), Twentieth Century Fox’s Titanic (dubbed) is an extraordinary love story. A multi-millionairess falls in love with a commoner on board a ship. The girl’s fiancé tries his best to stall the love affair and, towards this end, he even blames the young boy of stealing a costly necklace. The girl’s beloved is hand-cuffed in an isolated room of the ship when catastrophe strikes. The ship collides with a gigantic iceberg and slowly begins to sink. There aren’t enough life-boats to save the sea of humanity aboard the luxury liner. While all the passengers are in a scramble to escape, the multi-millionairess sets out to search her poor boyfriend and then tries to set him free. By the time, she succeeds, it is too late. All the same, the two manage to desert the ship but the ice-cold water ultimately claims the boy’s life!
The story is very Indian in flavour. Dubbing is lovely. The drama is superb and the climax, nail-biting. The scenes of the ship sinking are mind-blowing.
Leonardo DiCaprio, in the role of Jack Dawson, looks extremely handsome and endears himself to the audience with his looks and superb acting. Kate Winslet’s bewitching beauty complements her spontaneous performance beautifully. Gloria Stewart is excellent. All the other artistes lend admirable support.
James Cameron’s direction is too good to be true. Camerawork is fabulous. Computer graphics are so amazingly realistic that they don’t look like graphics.
On the whole, Titanic has extraordinary merits.
LATEST POSITION
After a shaky start, HUM SAATH-SAATH HAIN picked up phenomenally. Ladies and family audience seem to have taken to the film in a big way and this class of audience will ultimately make the film class ‘AAA’. Cinegoers are repeating the film, and its music sales have also gone up. Second week figures are expected to be excellent, looking to the craze the film has generated and the excellent word of mouth that’s spreading.
Hum Saath-Saath Hain has been loved for its light first half and the tear-jerking second half. Is all set to write history. Is not up to the mark in Delhi-U.P. in 1st week; 2nd week opening is also less in Delhi-U.P. than in other circuits. 1st week Bombay 1,03,14,963 (91.47%) from 16 cinemas (10 on F.H.), Vasai (gross) 5,60,717, Virar 3,16,020; Ahmedabad 39,82,382 (90.25%) from 9 cinemas, Baroda 6,44,003 from 2 cinemas, Padra 3,80,810, Valsad 3,82,920, Palanpur 4,38,172 (91.10%) from 2 cinemas, Rajkot 2,48,413, Adipur 1,42,793, Bhuj 1,38,639; Pune 25,62,025 from 7 cinemas, Kolhapur 2,75,196 (1 unrecd.), Solapur 5,34,779 from 2 cinemas; Hubli 3,47,165, Belgaum 2,54,758, Dharwad 1,65,380 (71.92%); Delhi 66,76,057 (77.57%) from 12 cinemas (1 on F.H.); Kanpur 7,64,937 from 3 cinemas, Lucknow 9,59,262 from 2 cinemas, Bareilly (6 days) 1,61,185; Calcutta 29,68,702 from 14 cinemas; Nagpur 10,36,340 from 3 cinemas, Jabalpur (gross) 4,82,528, Amravati (29 shows) 3,25,536, Akola (29 shows) 2,13,457, Dhule (29 shows) 1,70,132 (92%), Raipur (29 shows, gross) 3,50,948, Bhilai (29 shows) 2,03,604, Jalgaon 2,46,937, Bhusawal 2,09,073, Gondia (gross) 1,46,935, Wardha (6 days) 77,353, Chandrapur 3,06,727, Yavatmal 2,72,457 (64.93%) from 2 cinemas, Khandwa 2,43,725; Indore 2,08,695 (3 on F.H.), Bhopal 1,74,736 (2 unrecd.); Jaipur 13,01,871 from 3 cinemas, Jodhpur 3,87,000, Ajmer (27 shows) 1,56,996, Bikaner 2,44,800; Hyderabad (gross) 31,56,815 from 7 cinemas; Bangalore 22,21,170 from 4 cinemas, Mangalore 3,49,887; Madras 4,70,983; is fantastic in the USA (1st 3 days US $651,575) and very good in UK (it has found a place in the Top Hits of the USA and the UK).
Shool has not quite been appreciated except, to an extent, by the gentry audience. It, however, did benefit due to Diwali holidays. 1st week Bombay 54,35,485 (75.33%) from 11 cinemas (9 on F.H.); Ahmedabad 11,61,251 from 5 cinemas, Rajkot 1,45,390 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee), Jamnagar 78,458 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee); Pune 8,23,599 from 6 cinemas (1 in matinee), Solapur 1,76,052 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee), Barsi (gross) 1,22,737; Delhi 26,96,530 (45.83%) from 10 cinemas (1 on F.H.); Kanpur (3 days) 2,28,220 from 2 cinemas, Lucknow (3 days) 1,92,524, Varanasi (4 days) 1,26,973, Bareilly (3 days) 35,000; Calcutta 6,34,825 from 5 cinemas; Nagpur 4,84,080 from 4 cinemas, Jabalpur (4 days) 60,445, Amravati (3 days) 78,606, Akola (4 days) 65,184, Raipur (gross, 3 days) 1,33,782; Indore (4 days) 1,73,245 from 2 cinemas (2 on F.H.); Jaipur 3,22,204 from 3 cinemas, Bikaner 1,33,285; Hyderabad (gross) 10,38,354 from 5 cinemas.
Maa Kasam is dull. 1st week Bombay 15,20,557 (53.70%) from 9 cinemas (6 on F.H.); Ahmedabad 1,37,984 from 3 cinemas (2 unrecd.), Rajkot 65,980 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee); Pune 1,94,185 from 2 cinemas; Delhi 14,01,093 (27.89%) from 10 cinemas (3 on F.H.); Kanpur (3 days) 84,514 from 2 cinemas, Varanasi (4 days) 60,283, Bareilly (3 days) 21,636; Calcutta collections were not disclosed; Nagpur 1,32,089 from 4 cinemas, Jabalpur (4 days) 28,912, Amravati (3 days) 36,102, Akola (4 days) 36,382, Raipur (3 days) 20,011; Jaipur 1,87,124, Jodhpur 1,00,000; Hyderabad (gross) 5,05,588 from 8 cinemas (2 in noon).
Gair reaped the benefit of Diwali holidays and then the collections plunged. 1st week Bombay (5 days) 29,31,608 (77.16%) from 14 cinemas (2 on F.H.); Ahmedabad (5 days) 3,99,537 from 4 cinemas; Pune (5 days) 4,27,520 from 5 cinemas (2 in matinee), Kolhapur (5 days) 95,093, Solapur (5 days) 1,70,934 from 3 cinemas (1 in matinee); Lucknow (3 days) 1,32,430, Varanasi (3 days) 87,553; Jabalpur (3 days) 73,528, Akola (4 days) 78,093, Raipur (gross, 3 days) 1,33,890, Durg (4 days) 38,378, Jalgaon (3 days) 62,000; Indore (4 days) 35,000 (3 on F.H.), Bhopal (4 days) 1,01,695 from 2 cinemas; Jaipur (5 days) 5,51,226 from 4 cinemas.
Vaastav continues to do excellent in Maharashtra. 4th week Bombay 25,43,934 (81.30%) from 8 cinemas (6 on F.H.); Ahmedabad 78,000; Pune 4,94,192 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee), Solapur 1,45,226, 1st week Barsi (gross) 94,000; 4th week Delhi 2,04,560 (1 on F.H.); Kanpur 1,92,208 from 2 cinemas, Lucknow 1,45,078, Varanasi 1,40,676, Bareilly 48,703; Calcutta 1,77,765; Nagpur 1,62,992 from 2 cinemas, Jabalpur 71,918, total 3,19,142, Amravati 92,264, Akola 67,441, Raipur (gross) 95,422, 1st week Jalgaon 2,83,556, Chandrapur (3 days) 1,00,100, 3rd week Yavatmal 19,211 (2nd 18,344); 4th week Indore 32,000; Hyderabad (gross) 3,10,039.
………
‘BIWI NO. 1’ CELEBRATES SILVER JUBILEE
Puja Films’ Biwi No. 1, produced by Vashu Bhagnani and directed by David Dhawan, entered its silver jubilee week at Pratap, Thane (Bombay) in matinee shows on 12th November. Based on a story by Kamal Haasan, the film stars Anil Kapoor, Salman Khan, Karisma Kapoor, Tabu, Sushmita Sen, and Himani Shivpuri and Saif Ali Khan (both in guest appearances). Music: Anu Malik. Lyrics: Sameer. Screenplay & dialogues: Rumi Jafri.
THEY TOO OFFER TICKETS VIA INTERNET
Refuting the claim of Shyam Talkies, Raipur, that it had become the first cinema in C.P. Berar to book and offer tickets on internet, Prakalp Rathi of Smruti and Jayshree cinemas of Nagpur has stated that both his cinemas have also been offering tickets on internet on www.searchnagpur.com since the last 6-8 months.
INDORE NEWS
♦ Sanjay, a new cinema, opened on 8th November with Gair.
♦ Kastur and Astha cinemas have started advance booking of tickets on internet for Hum Saath-Saath Hain.
♦ Madhya Pradesh experienced power cut for four hours, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., on 11th November.
♦ Prem Chopra’s purse was flicked by a pickpocket at the Indore airport this week. He lost Rs. 5,000/-!
♦ Gopal Sharma, a local film agent of Mhow, passed away on 10th November.
DO YOU KNOW?
* B.R. Chopra’s mega mythological TV serial, MAHABHARAT, has made it to the Guinness Book of World Records as the “longest-running religious soap opera”. The most popular epic serial is mentioned in the year 2000 edition of Guinness World Records, according to a confirmation letter written by Guinness’ Amanda Brooks to B.R. TV.
* HUM SAATH-SAATH HAIN has become the first film ever to have crossed Rs. 1 crore mark in collections from Bombay city & suburbs alone (excluding Thane district). It has collected 1,03,14,963/- from 16 cinemas — an all-time high figure!
* HUM SAATH-SAATH HAIN has created a theatre record by collecting 11,04,539/- in 1st week (23 shows) at Liberty, Bombay.
* HUM SAATH-SAATH HAIN has created a theatre record by collecting 9,02,728/- in 1st week at Satyam, Bombay.
* HUM SAATH-SAATH HAIN has created a theatre record by collecting 11,56,191/- in 1st week at Chandan, Juhu.
* HUM SAATH-SAATH HAIN has created a theatre record by collecting 7,39,078/- in 1st week at Pinky, Andheri.
* HUM SAATH-SAATH HAIN has created an all-India record by collecting 15,00,283/- in 1st week at City Pulse, Gandhinagar. The film was simultaneously released at Rajshree, Gandhinagar, where also it is creating havoc.
* HUM SAATH-SAATH HAIN has created theatre records at 2 cinemas of Palanpur in 1st week: City Pulse 2,45,200/- (capacity: 2,48,000/-) and Roop 1,92,972/- (cap. 2,33,000/-). Total of two cinemas is 4,38,172/ (against a capacity of 4,81,000/-); 91.10%.
* HUM SAATH-SAATH HAIN has created a theatre record by collecting 3,85,601/- in 1st week at Aradhana, Baroda.
* HUM SAATH-SAATH HAIN has drawn all shows full on 8th day at Dreamland, Valsad. Collection on 8th day: 69,072/-. 1st week’s collection: 3,82,920/-.
* HUM SAATH-SAATH HAIN has created a theatre record by collecting 1,16,270/- in 1st week at Shivalaya, Anand.
* The management of Swaroop, Sangli has replaced the mirror and the front and back lenses of both the projectors with brand new ones for the projection of HUM SAATH-SAATH HAIN. The cinema building was also fully illuminated throughout the first week of the screening of HS-SH.
* The management of Novelty cinema in Lucknow organised a lucky draw in every show of HUM SAATH-SAATH HAIN on November 5, 6 and 7. The winners were presented a Tanishq gold locket of Lord Ganesh. The cinema’s sound system was upgraded for the film (7 nos. QSC amplifiers THX approved of 3,000 watts each) and other renovation work was also carried out.
* HUM SAATH-SAATH HAIN has created a circuit record by collecting 4,87,727/- in 1st week at Smruti, Nagpur. It has also created a theatre record at Panchsheel, Nagpur by collecting 3,45,561/-.
* HUM SAATH-SAATH HAIN has created a theatre record by collecting 4,82,528/- in 1st week at Vandana, Jabalpur.
* HUM SAATH-SAATH HAIN has created a theatre record by collecting 3,25,536/- in 1st week (29 shows) at Chitra, Amravati.
* HUM SAATH-SAATH HAIN has created a theatre record by collecting 2,13,457/- in 1st week (29 shows) at Vasant, Akola.
* HUM SAATH-SAATH HAIN has created a city record by collecting 3,06,726/- in 1st week (28 shows) at Jayant, Chandrapur.
* HUM SAATH-SAATH HAIN has created a theatre record by collecting 1,70,133/- (92%) in 1st week at Rajkamal, Dhulia.
* HUM SAATH-SAATH HAIN has created an all-time district record by collecting 1,46,935/- in 1st week at Prabhat, Gondia.
* HUM SAATH-SAATH HAIN has created a district record by collecting 2,43,725/- in 1st week at Abhishek, Khandwa (C.P. Berar).
* HUM SAATH-SAATH HAIN has yielded a distributor’s share of 5,25,000/- in 1st week from Kalpatru, Jodhpur. All 28 shows were full. This is the highest ever share from a single theatre in Rajasthan! …Kalpatru cinema has now acquired a new look. Equipped with a Dolby SR sound system, the cinema’s exterior boasts of three sprawling lawns and a spacious car park. Baba Ramdeo, who controls the cinema, is quite excited at the euphoria created by the film at his cinema.
* HUM SAATH-SAATH HAIN has created a record by collecting 8,88,104/-, the highest ever, in 1st week at Tarakarama 70mm, Hyderabad.
3-E
Education-Entertainment-Enlightenment
Raman’s ‘Ravan’ Observation!
While those who have seen (and those who haven’t) Hum Saath-Saath Hain have termed the film as ‘Modern Ramayan’, Raman Maroo of Shemaroo has made an additional bit of observation. He has described the film as ‘Ramayan without Ravan’! Rare observation indeed, Raman.
Generation Next
It was in 1979 that Ramesh Behl had made his debut as director with Kasme Vaade, starring Amitabh Bachchan. And now, twenty years later, it is the generation next in the same roles with Goldie Behl, son of late Ramesh Behl, making his directorial debut with Bas Itna Sa Khwab Hai, starring Abhishek Bachchan in the lead.
‘Taal’ Still Record-Holder In USA
Hindi films are slowly but surely making a mark in the international markets. Dil Se.., KKHH, Biwi No. 1, Taal and now HS-SH have all made it to the Top 10 or 20 charts in the USA and the UK. Why, HS-SH was on the 20th position in the US charts at the end of the first 3 days with a total collection of US $651,575 on 59 prints and a per-screen average of $11,043. This per-screen average was higher than even the average of any Hollywood film in the last weekend. But still, the per-screen average of Taal in its first weekend in the USA has not been surpassed by HS-SH. Taal had collected US $591,289 on 44 screens in the first weekend, thereby registering a per-screen average of US $13,438.
The Rajshri Experiment
The Rajshri experiment of flooding the market with the prints of Hum Saath-Saath Hain seems to have misfired, at least initially. Thankfully, the experiment was more pronounced in Bombay circuit although it was carried out in some centres of other circuits too. So, despite great appreciation for the film, the collections were extremely shaky in the first three days.
The Barjatyas must have been spurred on by the super-success of their previous Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! to have decided on an over-saturated released for HS-SH. In all fairness to them, anybody in their place would have been equally, if not more, over-confident. Then, there was also the fear of illegal VCDs of the film flooding the market and cutting into the theatrical business. But in their understandable enthusiasm, the Barjatyas failed to appreciate some things in ultimately arriving at a decision that has, in hindsight, shocked the trade.
The first thing the Barjatyas overlooked was the lacklustre publicity and lack of hype for the film. Perhaps, they assumed that after the runaway success of HAHK..!, there was no need to really go all out on the publicity front. Many in the industry had assumed likewise. But the assumption was erroneous. It would not have been a wrong assumption had the number of prints been limited. But, the publicity was so low-key as to befit a release of, say, 30 to 40 prints in the whole of India. However, in fact, the total number of prints released in India was 321. As if that wasn’t enough, the admission rates in a number of cinemas were hiked — at places, the hike was steep.
The second factor overlooked was that the music had not become a craze before the film hit the screens. The power of hit music cannot be under-estimated. The youth among the audience like to see a film in the initial days if its music is a rage.
Yet another point not considered was that the film, after all, is a family drama and not a youthful romantic tale. Family dramas, by their very nature, rarely take a flying start. More the number of prints, lesser the chance of a great start. A love story or an action drama would not have opened to as dull houses as the family drama opened.
The fourth factor was the pre-Diwali days which are known to be the dullest days of the year. The collections on the first three days of the week were dull not only because of too many prints, low publicity etc. but also because of the truly dull days.
Filmmaking is one aspect. But for fruitful business, a proper publicity and release strategy are also very important, as borne out by the case of Hum Saath-Saath Hain. The Barjatyas must take quick corrective action if they would like to see steady collections in the coming days. Pulling out the extra prints would be one step. BRINGING DOWN ADMISSION RATES TO MORE REASONABLE LEVELS WOULD BE THE OTHER. And yes, even now, the publicity needs to be spruced up. Post-release publicity is also very very important and we have the recent examples of Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha and Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai to prove the point. Both the films benefitted a great deal at the box-office due to sustained publicity campaigns.
The faster the Barjatyas act, the bigger the hit Hum Saath-Saath Hain will ultimately prove.
– Komal Nahta
