‘Beti No. 1’ Refuses To Leave Maika
RELEASE CANCELLED AT ELEVENTH HOUR
After high-tension drama that lasted for a few hours on Wednesday, August 30, the release of Rajeev Kumar’s Beti No. 1 on 1st September was cancelled. The tension and drama were sparked off by a shortfall of funds because of which some financiers refused to let go off a part of their money. The shortfall arose due to two reasons — lack of coverage by the producer due to the film not finding buyers to cover its cost, and secondly, some distributors going back on the committed price.
One distributor, whom the producer claims to have sold the film for Rs. 1.11 crore, refused to pay a rupee more than Rs. 85 lakh. According to the distributor, the price at which he had struck the deal was 85 lakh and not 1.11 crore. In the absence of a written agreement between the producer and the distributor, it was a case of believe-at-your-own-risk.
Reportedly, the shortfall was to the tune of Rs. 75 lakh. Finding himself in a helpless situation, producer Rajeev Kumar landed in the ICU of a city hospital. The aggrieved financiers claimed that Rajeev had feigned illness and intentionally got himself hospitalised to avoid embarrassment to himself. AMPTPP president Pahlaj Nihalani was trying his best to bring about a settlement between the producer, his distributors, financiers and the laboratory owner (Girdharilal Seksaria, Ramnord Lab). The lab owner, too, had reported sick and did not come to office on 30th. Pahlaj and the others, who had intervened, were trying to prevail upon financiers to forgo part of their money and upon distributors, to pay more than the contracted price.
With no solution in sight, a couple of distributors announced on Wednesday night itself that the film would not be released on Friday in their circuits. The more hopeful ones kept the release issue hanging fire till Thursday afternoon. Some cinemas in Bombay did not know till as late as 1 p.m. on Thursday whether Beti No. 1 would be screened at theirs from the following day.
Even though the film has not been released this week, efforts to bring about a settlement were on even on Thursday afternoon and evening.
Finally, as a quip remarked, “Beti (producer ke) ghar se, bina dahej, nahin jaayegi!”
In the meantime, exhibitors who had booked Beti No. 1 were panic personified. Running programmes had to be continued in many cinemas due to the cancellation of Beti No. 1. Other cinemas desperately hunted for alternative programmes. Among the film’s distributors, it was probably the C.P. Berar distributor (Suresh Rathi, Vishnu Films) who proved to be the most gullible. Unaware of the impending tension, he paid the entire delivery amount to one of the financiers but had to suffer due to the release cancellation.
The new release date of the film is still not known.
LATEST POSITION
The pre-Ganpati festival has affected and the Ganpati festival continues to affect the box-office, adversely at many places and favourably at some.
Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai, as predicted last week, has met with mixed responses in the various circuits. Except in Gujarat and Saurashtra, where it is extraordinary, and in Bombay and Maharashtra (including some stations of C.P. Berar), where it is good, it could not pick up to appreciable levels in many of the centres of other circuits. Is particularly poor in Rajasthan, generally ordinary in Delhi-U.P. and Bihar, dull in East Punjab, West Bengal and C.I., and fair in Nizam. 1st week Bombay 52,35,525 (81.12%) from 12 cinemas (12 on F.H.); Ahmedabad 33,14,746 from 7 cinemas, Rajkot 2,45,660 (1 in matinee on F.H.), Jamnagar 2,04,637, Adipur 1,54,568 (70.55%); Solapur 2,45,873 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee); Delhi 60,27,276 (74.25%) from 12 cinemas; Lucknow 4,70,262, Agra 4,36,407, Varanasi 1,90,505, Allahabad 2,03,305, Meerut 2,07,630, Aligarh 2,23,948, Dehradun 1,86,017, Gorakhpur 1,79,837, Moradabad 1,55,617, Saharanpur 1,96,991, Jhansi (8 days) 1,37,293; Calcutta 25,19,055 from 23 cinemas; Nagpur 6,52,094 from 3 cinemas, Jabalpur (6 days) 1,18,614, Amravati 1,96,355, Akola 1,55,838, Raipur (6 days) 1,11,990, Jalgaon (6 days) 2,06,920, Wardha 90,002, Chandrapur 1,51,762; Indore 3,32,611 from 2 cinemas (2 on F.H.), Bhopal 3,32,989 from 2 cinemas; Jaipur 11,01,757 (58.47%) from 3 cinemas, Bikaner 2,02,024; Hyderabad (gross) 19,57,027 from 9 cinemas (1 in noon); Ongole (gross) 91,367.
…………..
Tera Jadoo Chal Gayaa crashes further. Will entail heavy losses to exhibitors (like those of Allahabad, Aligarh, Kanpur, stations of East Punjab and other circuits) who had booked the film at fantastic terms. 2nd week Bombay 23,43,830 (62.58%) from 7 cinemas (9 on F.H.); Ahmedabad 2,88,448 from 2 cinemas, Rajkot 1,98,000, Jamnagar (matinee) 16,247; Solapur 1,54,926 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee); Delhi 24,63,652 from 6 cinemas (4 on F.H.); Lucknow 3,86,582, Varanasi 98,341, Allahabad 1,32,500, Bareilly 57,868, Shamli about 30,000; Calcutta 2,86,739; Nagpur 2,07,679 from 2 cinemas, Jabalpur (6 days) 40,139, Amravati 1,06,557 (1st 2,28,576), 1st week Akola 1,50,595, 2nd week Raipur (6 days) 66,515, Jalgaon (6 days) 60,351, Chandrapur 97,998, total 3,42,594; Indore 1,15,000 (1 uncrecd., 1 on F.H.), Bhopal 70,000; Jaipur 3,25,652 (31.01%) from 2 cinemas, Bikaner 75,242; Hyderabad (gross) 4,04,582 from 3 cinemas (2 in noon).
Dhadkan 3rd week Bombay 5,81,591 (7 cinemas unrecd., 7 on F.H.); Ahmedabad 7,54,454 from 6 cinemas, Jamnagar 63,369; Solapur 1,09,122 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee); Delhi 12,57,395 from 6 cinemas (1 on F.H.); Lucknow 2,52,558, Varanasi 1,24,250, Allahabad 77,029, Bareilly (6 days) 87,544, Shamli about 25,000; Calcutta 4,38,968 from 3 cinemas; Nagpur 3,35,304 from 3 cinemas, 2nd week Jabalpur 1,71,569, total 4,35,159, 3rd week Amravati 1,14,977 (2nd 1,65,181), Akola 96,103, total 4,74,603, Raipur (6 days) 70,101, Bhilai (6 days, gross) 91,886, Durg 32,535, Jalgaon (6 days) 94,928, Sagar 48,225 (2nd 77,801); Jaipur 1,59,420 (31.01%), Bikaner 66,899; Hyderabad (gross) 7,37,624 from 3 cinemas (1 in noon, 1 on F.H.).
Deewane 3rd week Bombay 6,81,214 (39.59%) from 6 cinemas (7 on F.H.); Ahmedabad 4,54,062 from 5 cinemas, Jamnagar 43,398; Solapur (matinee) 20,813; Delhi 1,54,040 from 2 cinemas (1 on F.H.); 2nd week Lucknow 2,25,133, 3rd Varanasi 75,750, Allahabad 57,336, Bareilly (6 days) 48,963, Shamli about 10,000; Calcutta 1,06,066; Jabalpur (6 days) 34,831, Amravati 68,237 (2nd 1,25,470), Akola 48,218, total 3,48,418, Raipur (6 days) 72,054, 1st week Sagar (5 days) 52,193; 3rd week Jaipur 34,644 (12.78%).
Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega 4th week Bombay 11,56,325 (50.72%) from 5 cinemas (10 on F.H.); Ahmedabad 53,803; Solapur 82,747; 3rd week Bijapur 54,013, total 2,24,103; 4th week Delhi 86,587; Lucknow 1,32,788, Varanasi 55,550, Allahabad 56,000, Bareilly (6 days) 28,471, 3rd week Shamli about 11,000; 4th Calcutta 1,05,591; Nagpur 80,560, Jabalpur (6 days) 39,946, Amravati 87,346 (3rd 1,32,718), Raipur (5 days) 27,477; Jaipur 80,165 (16.35%); Hyderabad (gross) 4,93,446 from 4 cinemas (1 in noon).
VASHU, ABHISHEK VISIT LUCKNOW, KANPUR
Producer Vashu Bhagnani and hero Abhishek Bachchan last Friday (25th August) went on a whirlwind tour of two cities of U.P. to promote their film, Tera Jadoo Chal Gayaa. The duo made an appearance at a screening of the film at Nishat, Kanpur. Both received a tumultuous welcome from filmgoers. Later, they visited Novelty, Lucknow, where another grand reception was planned for them. The duo was accompanied by MP Amar Singh at both the places.
AUSTRALIAN DIGNITARY VISITS IMPPA
Ms. Gayle O’Brien, senior trade officer — emerging markets — trade division, Queensland, Australia, visited the IMPPA House at Bandra, Bombay on 25th August. She invited Indian filmmakers to explore the virgin locales of Queensland for their films’ shootings. O’Brien assured the producers of all possible help including concessional rates for hotels, transportation, availability of local technicians, equipments etc. A detailed brochure and video cassettes of some of the locations were handed over to the IMPPA.
Gayle O’Brien later also met Film Information editor Komal Nahta to know more about the functioning of the film industry in Bombay.
‘ANOKHA MOTI’ FOR IRAN FILM FESTIVAL
Gaurang Films’ Anokha Moti has been selected for the 15th Isfahan International Festival of Films & Video for Children & Young Adults of Iran. The festival will be held in Iran from October 14 to 20. The film is directed by Tapan Sinha, and produced by R.A. Jalan.
B.N. TIWARI ELECTED WIMPTSEA PRESIDENT
B.N. Tiwari was elected president of the Western India Motion Picture & Television Sound Engineers Association for 2000-2001 at its annual general meeting held on 13th August at Empire Audio Centre. The other officer-bearers and executive committee members elected are: S.C. Bhambri, hon. general secretary; Dinesh Chaturvedi, vice president; Madan Prakash and J.C.V. Rao, joint secretaries; E. Rudra, treasurer; A.K.Biswas, Tahir Khambati, Ramanand Prasad, J.P. Sehgal, Dilip Sawant, Buta Singh, Vinod Potdar, Ashat Kapoor and M.G. Dalal.
CINEMAS REOPEN IN KARNATAKA
Cinemas in Bangalore and all over Karnataka state reopened on 1st September. They had downed shutters before more than four weeks following the kidnapping of Kannada film matinee idol Dr. Rajkumar by forest brigand Veerappan on 30th July. The entire film industry of Karnataka had, in a show of solidarity, remained closed for a month.
CBFC, BOMBAY GETS NEW R.O.
Virendra Kumar Singla has been appointed the regional officer of the Central Board of Film Certification, Bombay. Singla, who was with the All India Radio, Jabalpur, took charge as the R.O. on 14th August.
IMPPA AGM ON SEPT. 22
The 61st annual general meeting of the Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA) will be held on Friday, 22nd September at 3 p.m. at ISKCON Auditorium, Juhu, Bombay.
As is customary, five veterans of the industry will be felicitated at the annual meet, for their contributions to the Indian film industry. The veterans chosen for the honour this year are Amjad Khan (posthumously), Rajesh Khanna, J. Om Prakash, Gaffarbhai Nadiadwala and Hema Malini.
MAHAVIR SHAH DIES IN ROAD ACCIDENT
Actor Mahavir Shah died following a road accident in the USA on the night of 31st August. He was 48 and is survived by his wife, a daughter and a son.
Mahavir had gone to the US to stage his Gujarati play, Saathi, in different countries. He was the producer of and was also playing the male lead in the play which is the adaptation of the famous Hindi play, Salgirah (Anupam Kher and Kiron Kher). Sarita Joshi was Mahavir’s co-star.
The small unit of the play was travelling in a van from New York to Chicago where the play was to be staged, when the van collided with a truck. While all the others travelling in the van, including the driver, escaped with minor injuries, Mahavir sustained grievous injuries. He was rushed to hospital in a helicopter but succumbed to his injuries in a short while after admission. He passed away following haemmorhage.
Mahavir Shah had acted in many Hindi and Gujarati films, besides some television serials too. Among his better-known Hindi films are Tezaab, Tirangaa, Krantiveer, Ankush and Hum Dono. He generally played villainous roles. On the small screen, he shone in serials like Dastaan. He had been active on Gujarati stage for the last 28 years. He had turned a drama director last year.
VED PRAKASH MEDIRATTA ELECTED CINE CLUB PRESIDENT
Ved Prakash Mediratta was elected president of the Cine Club of Indore at the first meeting of its new executive committee, held after its elections recently. He bagged 63 votes at the election. Sandeep Jain, who bagged the highest number of votes (74), was elected secretary; Sunil Choudhary was elected vice president (66 votes); Chandulal Goyal, treasurer (67 votes); Ashish Goel, joint secretary (53 votes); and Harish Janiani, games secretary (37 votes). Shyam Rajpal, Ashok Choudhary, Hemant Vyas, Girdharilal Agarwal and Raj Kumar Kapoor were the other members who were elected to the executive committee.
Pulkit Narsaria, Sunil Udani and Rajesh Agarwal were co-opted to the committee.
Ninety members, out of the total 120, cast their votes in the election which was keenly contested by two groups — one led by Ved Prakash Mediratta, and the other, by Ashok Choudhary. While nine members of Mediratta’s group were declared elected, only two of the second group found a place on the committee.
Those vanquished were Ratanlal Garg (35 votes), Jagdish Advani (34), Manoj Jain (34), S.N. Gupta (32), Anwar Khan (31), Arun Patel (27), Jagdish Sharma (23), Rajesh Tharani (21), Bharat Jain (19) and Kamal Agarwal (13).
YOU ASKED IT
For how many years are the satellite rights acquired by buyers?
– It varies. Sometimes, it is for five years, sometimes two to three years, sometimes for more years. There is also often a restriction on the number of telecasts within that time period.
Is there any written rule under which a producer cannot announce his film’s release date in public until he gets the censor certificate?
– Not at all! But producers fear announcing the release date prior to getting the censor certificate lest the censors act tough.
Just a few years back, you used to give a ‘post-mortem’ of unsuccessful films. Why don’t you do it now?
– What our filmmakers require today is not post-mortems of films but pre-release corrective measures for their films because today, stakes are very high and the debacle of just one film is enough to destroy a person. Once a film is complete, everybody is in a hurry to release it. If green trials are held, corrective steps could be taken or changes effected before the film comes in front of the public and gets rejected.
SIGNED
Raj Kumar Kohli Signs Technicians
Producer-director Raj Kumar Kohli has signed Tinnu Verma to execute action scenes, and Thomas A. Xavier to cinematograph Shankar Movies’ Prod. No. 25. He has also signed story writer Aatish, art director Sunil Singh, editors Kuku and Cuckoo, and sound recordist J.P. Saigal. The film stars Sunny Deol, Akshay Kumar, Sunil Shetty, Manisha Koirala, Rambha, Aftab Shivdasani, Aditya Pancholi, Mohini Sharma, Arshad Warsi, Rajat Bedi and Munish Kohli. Lyrics: Sameer. Music: Anand Milind. The film is presented by Nishi.
PRODUCTION NEWS
‘Nayak – The Real Hero’ 25-Day Spell Complete
The 25-day initial shooting schedule of Sri Surya Movies’ Nayak – The Real Hero in Bombay, Mysore, Madras and Ladakh was completed this week. Written and being directed by Shankar, and produced by A.M. Ratnam, the film stars Anil Kapoor, Rani Mukerji, Amrish Puri, Pooja Batra, Johny Lever, Paresh Rawal, Shivaji Satam, Saurabh Shukla and Sushmita Sen in a special appearance. Music: A.R. Rahman. Lyrics: Anand Bakshi. Dialogues: Anurag Kashyap. Editors: B. Lenin and V.T. Vijayan. Cinematographer: K.V. Anand. Art: Thotta Tharani. Action: Kanal Kannan.
‘Deewangee’: Fifth Song Recorded
Music director Ismail Darbar recorded the fifth song of Neha Arts’ Deewangee at Octavius Recording Studio on Aug. 27. Penned by Salim Bijnori, it was rendered by Sunidhi Chauhan. The film is being produced by Nitin Manmohan, and written and directed by Anees Bazmee. It stars Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgan, Karisma Kapoor and Raveena Tandon. Cinematographer: Piyush Shah. Action: Bhiku Verma. Art: R. Varman.
‘Chandni Bar’ 20-Day Spell In Hyderabad Complete
Shlok Films’ Chandni Bar was shot in a 20-day schedule, till Aug. 29, in Hyderabad. The film stars Tabu and Atul Kulkarni in the lead with Shrivallabh Vyas, Rajpal Yadav, Vinay Apte, Abhay Bhargav, Preeti Kar, Vaarun Vaardaan, Ananya and Suhas Palshikar in supporting roles. Being produced by Mrs. R. Mohan, and directed by Madhur Bhandarkar from his own story, it has screenplay by Mohan Azad, and dialogues by Masood Mirza. Cinematography: Rajeev Rai. Choreography: Kishore Oreskar. Art: Prasanna and Yashwant Patil.
Tips Industries To Go Public: Bid Opens 5th September
Floor Price Rs. 325
Tips Industries Limited, one of the leading music companies with a consistent growth in turnover and profitability for the last 10 years, will enter the capital market with an initial public issue of 30,00,000 equity shares of the face value of Rs. 10 each at premium of Rs. 315 (floor price is Rs. 325). The issue includes book-building portion of 27,00,000 equity shares (90% of the issue) and fixed price portion of 3,00,000 equity shares (10% of the issue). The bid opens on 5th September and closes on 12th September. The fixed price portion opens on 26th September. The issue is to part-finance the company’s expansion plans — to set up a studio for recording music, a plant to manufacture CDs, expand the existing cassette manufacturing capacity, acquire audio rights, augment long-term working capital, and to meet issue expenses.
The audio-visual of Tips’ growth over the years, screened at its press conference on 30th August at The Taj, to brief the media about its future plans, was pretty impressive.
Tips has a vast repertoire of film and non-film albums (totalling over 8,000) and has a number of super-hits to its credit. Tips has also acquired the entire music catalogues of Time Audio, Weston, Oriental, Swaran Sudha and Rajshri (Gujarati). Besides, the company has already acquired audio rights of 57 forthcoming films which are under different stages of production, for which the company has already paid around Rs. 31 crore. Almost all the audio rights are outright purchases.
Tips manufactures and markets pre-recorded audio cassettes, blank audio cassettes and replicated CDs. It has a capacity to manufacture 744 lakh audio cassettes per annum at its plants at Silvassa and Palghar.
Tips plans to increase its market share through acquisitions of more audio rights and forging alliance with overseas companies for distribution of its music in international markets.
For the year ended 31st March, 2000, Tips Industries recorded a profit after tax of Rs. 23.32 crore on sales of Rs. 115.82 crore. It expects to end the current year with a net profit of around Rs. 35 crore on a total sales of around Rs. 159 crore. The company has had an average return on net worth (RONW) of over 50% in the last 5 years. The estimated EPS for the year ending 31st March, 2001 on a post-issue capital of Rs. 12 crore works out to Rs. 29.36 as against Rs. 25.91 for the year ended March 31, 2000 on an equity of Rs. 9 crore. The company has a conservative accounting policy where payments for purchase of all audio rights and marketing expenses are written off fully in the year of release of music.
Promoted by the Taurani family, its chairman and managing director is Kumar Taurani. Prominent names on the Board of Directors are Shiv Abhichandani, Boney Kapoor, David Dhawan and Shyam Lakhani. Anand Rathi Securities Pvt. Ltd. is the book-running lead manager to the issue. The shares are proposed to be listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange.
DO YOU KNOW?
* Now that both, Yash Chopra’s MOHABBATEIN and Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s MISSION KASHMIR, are definitely scheduled for Diwali release, Babloo Pachisia will postpone his FARZ by two to three weeks thereafter. He had always maintained that he would bring his film to the sound of fire-crackers only if one of the two films would be postponed. So finally, it would be Chopras ki Diwali this year!
* Encouraged by their partnership which resulted in the completion of their FIZA in 10 months, Culture Company (I) Pvt. Ltd. and UTV Motion Pictures have decided to continue their association with two mega film projects shortly. The cast and credits of the two big films are being finalised.
3-E
Education-Entertainment-Enlightenment
What A Craze!
The eagerly-awaited music album of Yash Chopra’s Mohabbatein finally arrived in the market on 30th August. HMV, sensing the craze for it, released a whopping 15 lakh units on day one. And if you think 15 lakh is too big a number, think again. For, there were repeat orders on the first day itself! Needless to add, HMV welcomed the new orders with joy. As for young director Aditya Chopra and music directors Jatin Lalit, they are smiling from ear to ear.
Mission Panorama!
Though Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Mission Kashmir is scheduled for release in Diwali, it has already been seen by the censors. That is, seen nearly two months before its release date! The censors saw the film in its video format. But then, why so much in advance? Well, there is a ‘mission’ behind it. The producer-director wants the film to be entered in the Indian Panorama section of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2001. And since only films certified on or before 31st August, 2000 are eligible for entering the Panorama section, Chopra, without losing any time, encapsulated the film in the video format and applied to the CBFC for certification, on 29th August. The CBFC saw the film on 31st August.
Record Number Of Prints?
Mission Kashmir might set a new record where the number of release prints is concerned. In C.P. Berar alone, the film will be released with a record number of 40 prints! Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega so far holds the record in C.P. for the maximum number of prints (33) released on premiere. When asked whether his film would open with about 450 prints all over India, producer-director Vinod Chopra revealed, “The number of prints, including Overseas, might even go up to 500!”
Aiming For The World Record
Well-known Telugu and Hindi filmmaker Dasari Narayana Rao has staked a claim for an entry into the Guinness Book of World Records as the person with the most multi-faceted jobs done in the cinema industry. Dasari, who is also a member of the Rajya Sabha, has already dispatched a detailed account of his exploits in a career spanning nearly three decades. He has already directed 144 films since starting out in 1973! This, in addition to acting in 54 films and producing 24! As if these many jobs weren’t enough, Dasari has penned the dialogues, lyrics and stories of every film he has made. A record-breaking feat, indeed! If Dasari gets a mention in the Guinness Book of World Records, he may well become the second South Indian film man to be given the honour, after D. Rama Naidu.
Among the many Hindi films directed by Dasari are Swarag Narak (1978), Jyoti Bane Jwala (1980), Pyaasa Sawan (1981) and Aaj Ka MLA Ramavtar (1984).
Udaipur From Ghai’s Eyes
The unit of Subhash Ghai’s Yaadein returned from Udaipur last week after the hotshot director picturised a song and scenes at the panoramic locales. One has heard the song and is sure of it becoming a major hit and highlight of the film. This number has Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor dancing atop a sailing boat in the middle of the famous Pichola Lake of Udaipur. In order to make the song a visual treat, Ghai even transported, all the way from Bombay, his brand new remote-operated crane (jig) that can make the camera rotate at 360 degrees and which does not need the cameraman to be perched on the crane. Perhaps, Bina Kak, the Rajasthan tourism, art and culture minister, who was in Bombay a few weeks ago to exhort film producers to shoot in Rajasthan, could begin granting the promised tax-exemption to films shot in the state, with Yaadein itself. For, Udaipur must’ve never looked as beautiful on screen as it will look in Yaadein. The song, penned by Anand Bakshi and tuned by Anu Malik, has been set to a catchy rhythm by percussionist Sivamani. Choreography was by Saroj Khan.
Musical Prelude To ‘Fiza’
Shringar Films, which is handling the distribution of Fiza in Bombay territory, has hit upon two musical ideas for the film’s promotion. The first one is a medley of four songs of the film, mixed in 6-track Stereophonic sound. This 10-minute musical medley will be played at all cinemas where Fiza will be released next week. The second idea is an edited version of the taandav music of the film, which will be played before the start of the film in every show. The edited version is of 2½ minutes (it lasts for 4½ minutes on the screen).