JAI HIND

Vishal International Productions (P.) Ltd.’s Jai Hind (UA) is a patriotic tale mixed with romance, revenge and terrorism. The film moves on too many tracks and therein lies the real problem because no track gets enough footage for due justification. Two retired colonels are at loggerheads with each other because one of them had been a traitor to the country. The grandson of the traitor and the grand-daughter of the other colonel fall in love but have to surmount a number of obstacles, including the one created by the girl’s grandpa, before uniting in matrimony. There is also a Brahmin’s daughter who loves the colonel’s grandson. There is another romantic track of a Muslim boy and a Muslim girl. The people of the various communities are like members of one large family but terrorists strike and create a sort of communal war between them. Ultimately, not only do the communities realise their folly and eliminate the villains, but the lovers also come together. The Brahmin’s daughter sacrifices her life to save her beloved’s. The traitor colonel also atones for his treachery.

Besides the different and too many tracks on which the film moves, what bogs down the drama is the lack of novelty, and incidents which appear exaggerated and/or unreal. For instance, the scene in which the colonel makes a fool of the militarymen in the pre-climax looks childish. Dialogues are quite good but not clapworthy. Emotions do not touch the heart anywhere. The romance, too, is not heartwarming.

Rishi Kapoor is alright but showing him as a terrorist in a part of the film appears quite ridiculous. Kunal Goswami does an average job. Shilpa Shirodkar’s is the best performance in the film. She stands out in a sacrificing role and delivers an absolutely sincere performance. She yet again proves that she has plenty of talent. Manisha Koirala looks disinterested in her work. Raveena Tandon gets less scope and is okay. Pran is quite impressive. Amrish Puri is average. Prem Chopra is loud at places. Mohnish Bahl is quite good. Shahbaaz Khan does a fair job. Bindu and Sadashiv Amarapurkar irritate more than entertain with their ‘comedy’. Master Krishna leaves a mark. Beena, Anjana Mumtaz, Rana Jung Bahadur, Monty Nath, Ajit Vachani, Yunus Perwaiz and the rest fill the bill.

Direction is handicapped by an unexciting script. Music is melodious and lyrics of the songs are meaningful but there’s no song which stands out. Song picturisations remind of Manoj Kumar’s earlier films. Photography is okay. Action scenes are fair. Production and other technical values are alright.

On the whole, Jai Hind has little to fall back upon except its tax-free tag in various states.

Released on 23-4-’99 at Minerva and 13 other cinemas of Bombay thru V.I.P. Enterprises. Publicity & opening: fair. …….Also released all over.

TIME AUDIO SELLS MUSIC REPERTOIRE TO TIPS

Tips has bought over the entire music repertoire of Time Audio. Henceforth, the Shah brothers (Dhirubhai and Pravin) of Time will not deal in audio rights of films. They will, however, continue to produce films and also deal in video rights.

NEW CINEMA TO OPEN AT MUZAFFARNAGAR

A new cinema, Saraswati Palace, is scheduled to open in Muzaffarnagar (U.P.) on 7th May with Kartoos. The cinema has 882 seats and its per show capacity is Rs. 9,980. Its capacity for 28 shows is Rs. 2,79,440. The cinema is controlled by Kanpur Films, Delhi.

SUNIL DUTT INJURED

Sunil Dutt was slightly injured after bumping into the windscreen of a vehicle he was travelling in when it suddenly screeched to a halt. The incident occurred on 17th April at Chitaun, south of Kathmandu. According to Sunil Dutt, when the driver applied the brakes, the impact threw his head right on to the windscreen and he received a slight cut on his forehead. Sunil Dutt is on a world tour for peace.

NEW CINEMA TO OPEN AT CHANDRAPUR

Shiv Chitramandir, a new cinema, is due to open shortly in Chandrapur (Maharashtra). Owned and controlled by Buradkar & Sons, who also own and control Rajkala Mandir, Chandrapur, the new cinema has a seating capacity of 859. The admission rates are: Private Circle (65 seats) Rs. 25; Balcony (322 seats) Rs. 20; Reserve (365 seats) Rs. 10; Front (107 seats) Rs. 7. The nett capacity per show is Rs. 7,235 and that for 28 shows is Rs. 2,02,606.

O.P. RALHAN DEAD

Veteran producer-director-actor O.P. Ralhan died at his residence in Bombay on 20th April following a massive heart attack. He was 71.

O.P. Ralhan became the talk of the industry when he directed Phool Aur Patthar, starring Meena Kumari and Dharmendra. After that, he made a number of films including Hulchul, Talaash, Gehra Daag, Pyaas, Paapi and Bandhe Haath. He played the comedian in several films including his own. He had a dream of making a film on the life of Ashoka The Great. But the dream, nurtured for years, remained just that.

Chautha was held on 23rd April in Bombay. O.P. Ralhan is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.

MULTIPLEXES IN JAIPUR TOO

The concept of multiplexes seems to be catching on. After Maharashtra, where several multiplexes are being planned, at least two multiplexes are in the offing in the pink city of India.

Navratan Kothari has decided to construct a multiplex with four cinema screens, in Jaipur. Rehmat Khan of Ankur cinema, Jaipur, is also planning to build a multiplex with two screens.

The Rajasthan government has so far not devised any policy to encourage multiplexes in the state, but efforts are on to persuade the government to announce one soon.

‘SHAKTIMAAN’ MATTER ON 13TH JULY

Retired judge H.L. Anand has been appointed in place of Justice Ms. Seth to decide on the impact of Mukesh Khanna’s television serial on Doordarshan, Shaktimaan, on children. The appointment was made by the Delhi high court on 23rd April. The matter has been adjourned to 13th July. It may be mentioned here that from the 3-member committee appointed by the high court, Justice Ms. Seth had asked to be excused.

NANABHAI BHATT DEAD

Veteran producer-director Nanabhai Bhatt passed away on 23rd April at Nanavati Hospital in Bombay due to a massive cardiac arrest. He was 87 and is survived by one of his two wives, Hemlata, besides four sons viz. Robin Bhatt, Mahesh Bhatt, Mukesh Bhatt and Parmesh Bhatt, and four daughters.

Nanabhai Bhatt had directed over a hundred films. Notable among them were Sindbad The Sailor, Mr. X, Lal Quila, Balak Aur Jaanwar, Zimbo Comes To Town, Bekhabar, Kangan, Madam XYZ and three Gujarati films, Gajra Maroo, Dharti Mata and Jaya Parvati. Among the actors and actresses who had worked with him in most of his films were Ashok Kumar, Pran and Nirupa Roy, whom he also considered as close friends.

Mahesh Bhatt told Information, “My father belonged to the breed of filmmakers, like Homi Wadia, who believed in simple story-telling and entertaining the audiences. I had the privilege of writing the story and screenplay of his Jeevan Rekha which starred Tabrez and Farida Jalal in the lead, while I was associated with Raj Khosla. He started the trend of directing films over the telephone, which I followed.”

CENSOR NEWS

Cinematt Pictures’ Sarfarosh (revised) was given C.C. No. CIL/3/20/99 (A) dt. 20-4-’99; length 4562.17 metres in 16 reels (cuts: 2.83 metres).

Satya Sai Films’ Khooni Ilaaka – The Prohibited Area was given C.C. No. CIL/3/21/99 (A) dt. 22-4-’99; length 2572.38 metres in 14 reels (no cut).

Raaj N Raaj Combines’ Shikaar has been passed for adults, with cuts.

Shiv Shakti Production’s Benaam, seen on 20th, has been passed for adults, with cuts.

Sachi Arts’ Kavita Oh My Love (length 3685.37 metres in 14 reels), applied on 20th, was seen on 22nd.

Sai Baba Films’ Aaya Yauwan Jhoomke was seen on 23rd.

Nishu Art’s Phool Bani Phoolan (length 3298.58 metres in 14th reels) was applied on 23rd.

REGIONAL FILMS

Abbasi Films’ Chhel Chhabili Chhori (Rajasthani) was given C.C. No. CIL/1/21/99 (U) dt. 22-4-’99; length 3689.26 metres in 15 reels (cuts: 155.45 metres).

Koneru Films’ Gudachary 001 (Telugu; dubbed version of Knock Off), seen on 19th, has been issued C.C. No. CFL/3/36/99 (A) dt. 22-4-’99; length 2501.07 metres in 5 reels (no cut).

Priyasi Films’ Biah (Bhojpuri), seen on 19th, has been passed with U certificate, with cuts.

Saras Chitra’s Bhai Maro Rakhwalo (Gujarati, revised; length 4093.18 metres in 14 reels), applied on 19th and seen on 21st, has been passed with UA certificate, with cuts.

Mehndi International’s Meera Dataar (Gujarati; length 3895.86 metres in 14 reels) was applied on 22nd.

TRAILERS

Trailer of Cinematt Pictures’ Sarfarosh was given C.C. No. CIS/3/20/99 (A) dt. 20-4-’99; length 100.35 metres (cuts: 0.23 metres).

Trailer of Koneru Films’ Main Hoon Baazigar (dubbed) was given C.C. No. CFS/3/24/99 (A) dt. 19-4-’99; length 57.15 metres.

IMPORTED FILMS

Venus Films International’s African Thrills has been passed with U certificate, with cuts.

American Vision International Ltd.’s Dr. Butcher M.D. was seen on 19th.

Columbia Tristar Films’ Cruel Intentions, applied on 19th, was seen on 21st.

Accord Tele Cells’ Swedish Love Story, applied on 20th, was seen on 21st.

Zackria Films’ Foreign Bodies (revised) was applied on 21st.

Film India’s 11 Days 11 Nights (revised) was applied on 21st.

3-E
Education-Entertainment-Enlightenment

History Repeating Itself?

It had happened in the case of Vashu Bhagnani’s Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and it is happening once again in the case of Vashu’s Biwi No. 1. When the audio of BMCM was released, the trade had dismissed if off as an average album although some weeks later, those who said so had to eat humble pie because the music caught on with the masses. This time over too, the trade people seem to be a little sceptical about the music of Biwi No. 1. But let it be said that in a few weeks from now, the music of Biwi No. 1 (Anu Malik; Sameer, Dev Kohli and Sukhwinder) is bound to grow and pick up. Besides the title song which, incidentally, is already coming on people’s lips, there are other numbers too which have what it takes to make songs popular. ‘Sona sona’ is a lovely racy number that may soon go ahead of the title song in popularity. Its picturisation (on Salman Khan and Sushmita Sen) on foreign locales is eye-catching not just because of the beauty of the locations but also because the choreography (Ganesh) is simple yet wonderful. The ‘Chunnari Chunnari’ song is also very tuneful. The ‘Mehbooba’ song is another catchy one, this picturised on Anil Kapoor and Tabu, in snow-laden Switzerland. The ‘Jungle’ song has Karisma Kapoor looking wow, and the ‘Mirchi’ song, as expected, is a fun song, but with an underlying current of tension. Then there’s a song which can move the womenfolk to tears. The ‘Om Sai Ram’ number, picturised on children performing on stage in a school function, makes Salman Khan cry and Karisma Kapoor sob in the film. It can be expected to make the audience weep too, such is the lyrical value. All in all, the songs of Biwi No. 1, directed by David Dhawan, have it in them and are also a treat for the eyes.

On 28th May

While on Biwi No. 1, Vashu Bhagnani had planned to release 500 prints of the film in its first week but that, according to Vashu, “seems impractical”. Still, if all goes well, a total of 400 prints might be taken out for the premiere release of the film in India and Overseas. In the meantime, Vashu is thrilled with the chain of cinemas booked in Delhi and U.P. by his distributor, Brijesh Tandon, who is a leading cinema controller of Uttar Pradesh. And yes, unlike other films directed by David Dhawan, this one has a running time of 2 hours and 35 minutes and isn’t too short. Biwi No. 1 will now come on 28th May, as originally planned, and not on 11th June, as had been rescheduled last week.