INTERNATIONAL KHILADI
D.M.S. Films’ International Khiladi (A) is a romantic-action-suspense thriller. But while the romance in the film is not too interesting, and the suspense, not very convincing, the action and stunts are quite exciting. The story is about an international don who falls in love with a journalist. But the journalist frames him in a rape-and-murder case because of which the don is sentenced to death. To prove his innocence in the rape and murder, the don escapes from custody with the connivance of the police. He confronts his girlfriend and, after exchanging notes, the two become friends once again. The real killer’s identity comes as a surprise rather than a shock which would have been more desirable.
The story is quite confusing and gets boring at several places. The first half is pretty lengthy. Judicious editing in the post-interval portion too could help keep a tight pace. There are some inherent drawbacks in the scripting. For instance, the killing of the journalist’s brother, which is so important in the drama, does not have the desired impact because of two reasons — he is not a known actor and his character is not too important in the film. The don’s activities are not shown and so, his ferociousness is just not established. The suspense is so long-winding that it begins to irritate towards the end, more so because it does not involve the audience in any guessing game. The heroine, to frame the hero, testifies in court that she has been raped by the hero, but she does not even have to undergo a medical examination (to establish the veracity of her statement) before the hero is sentenced to death! Screenplay is patchy; characters (like the don’s enemy and the journalist’s cameraman) disappear for reels together. Besides, there are too many turns and twists in the drama, not all of which are palatable.
Comedy punches, especially of Johny Lever, are entertaining. Action and some stunts are also enjoyable. But the computer graphics, especially in the climax, are weak and dilute the effect. Aadesh Shrivastava’s music is a major drawback.
Akshay Kumar looks handsome with a perfectly chiselled body. He acts quite well. Twinkle Khanna has slimmed down and looks beautiful. She does a fair job but needs to seriously do something about her gruff and unclear voice, especially in dramatic scenes. Rajat Bedi is okay. Vivek Shauq hardly impresses; his role required a far superior actor. Gulshan Grover acts ably but his dialogues in Hindi-English, although a novelty, will be difficult to comprehend, more so in small centres. Johny Lever is wonderful but he gets limited scope. Mukesh Khanna is impressive. Asrani, Avtar Gill, Shahbaaz Khan, Gajendra Chauhan and the foreign wrestlers lend fair support. Master Omkar Kapoor has been made to speak dialogues that don’t suit his age.
Umesh Mehra’s direction is alright, but a simpler narration and crisper editing would’ve helped. Music is a letdown. Except for ‘Lutiya gaya’ and ‘Chhookar mere man ko’, which are reasonably well-tuned, the other songs are pathetic. Camerawork (S. Pappu) is eye-pleasing and so are the foreign locations. Action (Bhiku Verma) deserves praise. Production values are of a good standard.
On the whole, International Khiladi has fantastic initial value because of the hype and hoopla but it has no sustaining power whatsoever. It will, therefore, prove to be an average fare, with better chances in circuits like East Punjab and C.I.
Released on 26-3-’99 at Minerva and 25 other cinemas of Bombay thru Dilsa Distributors Combine. Publicity: excellent. Opening: very good. …….Also released all over. Opening was fantastic everywhere. (1st day Jalandhar 1,16,000/-, better than Kachche Dhaage and Daag The Fire. Drop in collections was noticed at places on 2nd day.)
KAHANI KISMAT KI
Suchitra Films Enterprises’ Kahani Kismat Ki (A) is a routine family potboiler, depicting the travails of a grandson, who retrieves his ancestral property from the clutches of an evil business magnate, in order to save his ailing grandmother from dying. There is a sub-plot, which involves a womanising business magnate, his wife and the wife’s ex-lover. The ex-lover, who is also a lawyer, is defending the business magnate, framed for murdering his girlfriend. The identity of the actual killer provides a twist in the otherwise insipid courtroom drama of the sub-plot. However, the suspense angle remains uninteresting due to very poor scripting. The goings-on get complicated in the second half and the film becomes dull as the lengthy courtroom scenes drag the drama to boredom. In short, nothing interests the viewer.
Mithun Chakraborty does a fair job as the grandson. Asha Singh is good in the role of his grandmother. Milind Gunaji, as the womanising business magnate, is quite good. Ayesha Julka, as his wife, acts well. Sharad Kapoor’s portrayal of her ex-lover is fair. Deepshikha, in the role of Milind Gunaji’s girlfriend, fails to impress. Shama Deshpande, Mohan Joshi, Laxmikant Berde, newfind Roma, Rajoo Shreshtha and Anil Nagrath lend ordinary support. Naghma, in a special appearance, has been wasted.
Farogh Siddiqui’s direction is no better than the script. The subject had scope for dramatic and tense moments but they are almost totally missing. Musically, fair. The film does not have a single hit number. The picturisation of songs is poor and routine without any discernible expense or an eye for visuals. Production and technical values are okay. Action scenes in the climax are good but not thrilling enough.
On the whole, Kahani Kismat Ki is a poor fare and will disappoint its distributors.
Released on 26-3-’99 at Alankar and 11 other cinemas of Bombay thru Raj Enterprises. Publicity & opening: poor. …….Also released in Bengal and C.P. Berar.
KARNATAKA FILM INDUSTRY BANDH FROM APRIL 2
The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, in its general meeting held on 25th March in Bangalore, gave a call for a total bandh of the Karnataka film industry from 2nd April. The call for the bandh has been issued in protest against the state government’s “step-motherly treatment towards distribution of non-Kannada films in Karnataka”.
The Karnataka government has imposed a 2% turnover tax and 4% sales tax on film distributors with effect from 1987. Although notices were being issued by the sales tax authorities to film distributors, the recovery proceedings have been initiated now, with retrospective effect. This means that each distributor of non-Kannada films in the state will have to fork out accumulated turnover and sales taxes from 1987. In some cases, the tax may amount to over a crore of rupees! Thus driven to a no-option situation by the government, the distributors have announced a complete trade closure from April 2.
NARENDER NATH DEAD
Character actor Narender Nath, brother of Prem Nath, Rajender Nath & Mrs. Krishna Raj Kapoor, died after a prolonged illness at his residence in Jabalpur on 24th March. He was 56. He had acted in over 50 films such as Jawani Diwani, Khote Sikkay and Sawan Bhadon.
R.V. ISHWAR NO MORE
R.V. Ishwar, ex-secretary of the Film Producers Guild of India Ltd., passed away on 19th March at his residence in Bombay.
Ishwar was secretary of the Guild for 40 years and contributed his mite to the film industry.
A condolence meeting will be held on 31st March at IMPPA House at 5 p.m.
TAX-FREE SERVICE CHARGE OF RE. 1 PER TICKET IN M.P. TOO
The Madhya Pradesh government has permitted cinemas in the state to levy Re. 1 per ticket as a tax-free service charge with effect from April 1. The CCCA had been pleading for the charge since a long time. The M.P. government has finally acceded to the demand and brought the state at par with states like Maharashtra, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.
All cinemas in cities with a population of 1 lakh or more are entitled to levy the tax-free service charge.
SHARAD ACHARYA DEAD
Sharad Narayan Acharya, the owner of Amar and Sharad cinemas in Chembur, Bombay, expired on 25th March. The cinemas remained closed for the day. He was the ex-mayor of Bombay.
Although being affiliated to the ruling Shiv Sena party in Maharashtra, Sharad Acharya’s fair-play came to the forefront when he accompanied a delegation of the film industry in Maharashtra, as an exhibitor and not as a partyman, to appeal for reduction in entertainment tax in the state in 1997.
ENTERTAINMENT TAX ON CABLE OPERATORS
The Madhya Pradesh government has imposed entertainment tax of Rs. 25 per cable connection, on cable TV operators in the state. The tax is effective from April 1, 1999.
GRANT INFRASTRUCTURE STATUS TO EXHIBITION SECTOR: CCCA TELLS GOVT.
Following the adoption of a resolution passed by the executive committee of the Central Circuit Cine Association last week, CCCA president Santosh Singh Jain has urged the prime minister as well as ministers for finance, industries and information & broadcasting, to grant the status of ‘infrastructure’ to the film exhibition sector by bringing it within the purview of section 10(23)G of the Income-Tax Act. Such a step is ‘an inevitable must’ after the acceptance of the film industry as ‘industry’ by the government, says Jain. Moreover, according to him, since the film exhibition sector forms the infrastructure for the film industry, it was only logical to include it in the definition of ‘infrastructure’ as enlarged in the Finance Acts of 1996, 1997 and 1998. Such a move will facilitate more investment in the exhibition sector and lead to maximisation of exhibition facilities and increase the availability of cinema seats to the growing population of India, feels Jain.
JATIN LALIT GRANTED BAIL
Music directors Jatin and Lalit, who were on 9th March remanded to judicial custody till 23rd March in a criminal case against them, were granted bail on 19th March.
DADA KONDKE’S BIOGRAPHY
Dev Anand recently released the biography of late Dada Kondke. Titled ‘Ekta Jeev’, it is in Marathi. The book is a narration by Dada himself, in which he talks about his life’s journey as a man and as an actor. It has been penned by Anita Padhye and published by Majestic Prakashan.
STATIC-CUM-MOBILE DISPENSARY FOR CINE WORKERS
Union labour minister Dr. Satyanarayan Jatiya on 16th March inaugurated the first static-cum-mobile dispensary at Ujala Sewa Sadan Committee, Andheri (East), Bombay. The dispensary is exclusively for the benefit of cine workers. Shatrughan Sinha was the chief guest on the occasion. Chandrashekhar presided over the function.
The dispensary has been started by the Welfare Commissioner, Labour Welfare Organisation, Nagpur region, Nagpur, which comes under the ministry of labour.
YOU ASKED IT
Don’t you think, too many films pairing Govinda and Ranee Mukerji have been announced?
– I also think as you think. Let’s now see, how many of these are completed!
With so many Mithun starrers waiting to be released, what will the scene be like in the coming months?
– This week’s Mithun starrer has opened to dismal houses. It hasn’t even opened in more than half the country. The going won’t be smooth for his forthcoming films. If you remember, we had forewarned the trade several months back in our editorial on the glut of Mithun starrers.
Do you have any information about producer A. Purnachandra Rao? Isn’t he planning a film now?
– A. Purnachandra Rao has quit the film industry. He is now leading a retired life in Ooty.
IN & OUT OF BOMBAY
Directors Aditya Chopra and Karan Johar are in London and will be back on 30th March.
Mr. Shyamsunder Jalani of Marudhar Cine Movies, Jaipur, currently in Bombay (536-1525/1684), will return to Jaipur on 28th March.
Mr. Lakhpat Bhandari and Mr. Sandeep Bhandari of Shri B.C.B. International, Jaipur are at Hotel Evergreen (386-3489/4214) and will return to Jaipur this evening (27th March).
PRODUCTION NEWS
90-Day Schedule Of ‘Refugee’ Progressing
The 90-day marathon shooting schedule of J.P. Films’ Refugee, being produced and directed by J.P. Dutta, will be completed on April 15. With this, 90% shooting of the film will be complete. The film was shot in Bhuj and Bombay and thereafter in Jaipur (from March 16 to 22). The unit will shift to Indore where shooting will be held from April 1 to 15. Introducing Abhishek Bachchan and Kareena Kapoor, it stars Jackie Shroff, Sunil Shetty, Anupam Kher, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Reena Roy, Sudesh Berry, Padmini Kapila, Punit Issar, Ashish Vidyarthi, Mukesh Tiwari, Shadab Khan, Vishwajeet Pradhan, Arif Zakaria, Avtar Gill and Amit Ghanshyam. It has music by Anu Malik and lyrics by Javed Akhtar. Dialogues: O.P. Dutta. Cinematography: Bashir Ali. Action: Bhiku Verma. Choreography: Saroj Khan. Sound: Buta Singh. Editor: Deepak and Vilas.
Ashok Mehta’s Film Progresses
Ashok Mehta Visuals’ Prod. No. 1 was shot for 12 days recently in Bangalore at the race course and on locales. The film is being produced, directed and cinematographed by Ashok Mehta from his own story. It stars Arjun Rampal, Manisha Koirala, Danny Denzongpa, Suresh Oberoi, Mohan Gokhale, Shubhangi Gokhale, Sushma Seth, Kiran Kumar, Farida Jalal, Paresh Rawal, Saurabh Shukla, Kamal Chopra and Sonali Bendre in a guest appearance. Screenplay: Raj Marbros. Dialogues: Hriday Lani. Lyrics: Javed Akhtar. Music: Rajesh Roshan. Dances: Saroj Khan. Action: Amin Ghani.
‘Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega’
Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment’s Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega will be shot from April 2 to 10 at Filmistan Studios on a set erected by art director Sharmishta Roy. Director Raj Kanwar will picturise scenes on Salman Khan, Preity Zinta, Neeraj Vora and others. Ranee Mukerji also plays the female lead in the film which co-stars Shakti Kapoor, Paresh Rawal, Himani Shivpuri and Sushma Seth. It is being produced by Sajid Nadiadwala. Screenplay: Rumi Jafri. Scenario: Rakesh Mandotra. Dialogues: Javed Siddiqi. Lyrics: Sameer. Music: Anu Malik. Action: Abbas. Cinematography: W.B. Rao. Editor: A. Muthu.
‘Biwi No. 1’ Stint Complete
Puja Films’ Biwi No. 1 was shot in a 15-day stint till March 23 at Mehboob Studios and St. Andrews School. Two songs and scenes were picturised on Anil Kapoor, Salman Khan, Karisma Kapoor, Sushmita Sen and a crowd of 500 children. The film is being produced by Vashu Bhagnani and directed by David Dhawan. Writer: Rumi Jafri. Dances: Ganesh and B.H. Tharun Kumar. Lyrics: Sameer, Dev Kohli and Sukhwinder Singh. Music: Anu Malik. Art: R. Verman. Sound: Jagmohan. Editor: A. Muthu.
DO YOU KNOW?
* West Bengal distributor Bijay Bagadia has released 20 prints of INTERNATIONAL KHILADI in 35 cinemas.
* Heer Palace, Kanpur has had a face-lift during the past year. A central air-conditioning plant became operational at the cinema from 15th March ’99. Moreover, two Kirloskar-Cummins generators have also been installed there in order to ensure that there is no interruption in the viewing pleasure of the patrons in case of power failure. The existing Dolby Ultra Stereo sound system at the hall is slated to be further upgraded with the installation of DTS equipment in the near future. The toilets at the cinema have also been renovated, and plans are afoot to add an exclusive canteen for the patrons of balcony/dress circle class. The cinema, established by late B.P. Singh, is looked after by his sons, N.K. Singh and S.K. Singh.
* Sunder F. Rai is once again getting into Overseas distribution in a fairly big way. He has acquired the rights of HYDERABAD BLUES and two forthcoming films of producer Mukesh Bhatt.
THREE DAUGHTERS AND A SONG
* Rajeshwari (daughter of late music director Laxmikant), Antara Chowdhary (daughter of late Salil Chowdhary) and Reema Lahiri (daughter of music director Bappi Lahiri) sang a song together for Kamarindo Films’ BOMBAY GIRLS recently. The music was scored by Bappi Lahiri.
CENSOR NEWS
Karishma International’s Jaanam Samjha Karo was given C.C. No. CIL/1/17/99 (U) dt. 24-3-’99; length 4482.62 metres in 17 reels (cuts: 50.02 metres).
Chaudhry Enterprises’ Zulmi was given C.C. No. CIL/3/15/99 (A) dt. 25-3-’99; length 4144.33 metres in 15 reels (cuts: 36.88 metres).
Wellmake Films’ Putlibai was given C.C. No. CIL/2/6/99 (UA) dt. 25-3-’99; length 4022.17 metres in 16 reels (cuts: 159.50 metres).
Satya Sai Films’ Khooni Ilaaka – The Prohibited Area was seen by the revising committee on 22nd.
Nirmala Movietone’s Tower House (length 2939.98 metres in 13 reels), applied on 23rd and seen on 25th, has been offered A certificate, with cuts.
Octroi Department Unearths Mini Scam In Bombay Film Industry
Raw Stock Dealer’s Not-So-Clean Deals Exposed
The Octroi department of the Bombay Municipal Corporation on 23rd March unearthed a mini scam in the film industry. A dealer in film positive has been found to have evaded octroi duty on the raw stock, running into a couple of crores of rupees. The same dealer is also reported to have evaded excise duty of several crores of rupees on the raw stock ‘manufactured’ by him in Pondicherry.
The interesting part of the scam is that the dealer has played quite safe because the invoices for the film positive were made in the names of individual distributors who purchased the raw stock from him. However, since he used to charge the distributors the lumpsum (final) price, they (distributors) often did not ask him for the octroi receipts. Taking advantage of this situation, the dealer avoided paying octroi in many occasions.
The octroi department, after unearthing this scam, swooped on Adlabs on 23rd March when the deliveries of International Khiladi were about to be effected. The octroi department’s officials stopped all deliveries and asked the dealer, on whose stock octroi had not been paid, to produce the octroi receipts. The dealer reportedly presented old octroi receipts but couldn’t succeed in his game plan. Following this, an army of octroi officials visited Adlabs on Tuesday night.
It required the intervention of Bharatbhai Shah to ensure that deliveries of the prints were effected. Bharat Shah reportedly spoke to the mayor and promised that the dealer would pay up all the dues.
Ramesh Arote, superintendent inspection, vigilance, in a chat with Information, admitted that an enquiry had been started against the dealer. He refused to divulge any more information as, according to him, investigations are on.
In the meantime, the octroi department is contemplating taking legal action against all those distributors who purchased their stock from this dealer but on which octroi was not paid. Obviously, there is widespread panic among such distributors. Some of them, however, are still unaware of what transpired in Bombay on Tuesday.
Films Today: Bodies Without Backbones
Filmmaking has become more risky today than it ever was. Production costs have increased manifold, star prices have defied all economic calculations to reach the sky, post-production activities too now take away a heavy packet. While all this may be fine, what isn’t is that our stories are not good enough to keep pace with and so justify the spiralling costs. That is to say, our film scripts, generally speaking, are deteriorating. Even if they aren’t worse today than, say, two years ago, they definitely haven’t improved — again, generally speaking. And so with costs having increased so much, when scripts haven’t improved, the situation is worse than what it was a few years ago.
While producers are busy in making bigger and bigger projects, directors are interested in showing more and more gloss on the screen, choreographers are concentrating on style, sound is being updated, nobody seems to be even concerned about what is actually the backbone of a film — the script.
Our writers, with a very very few exceptions, seem to be taking a nap that could put the legendary Kumbhkaran to shame. Their eyes are only open for the latest Hollywood films. And their minds — well, they are almost always permanently shut. Perhaps, even they aren’t aware of the importance of a good story for a successful film. Or, if they are aware, they find themselves ill-equipped to deliver the goods. But, unfortunately, nobody has the time to question them. Producers are in a hurry to make proposals. Directors can’t afford to waste time on story-sittings because they have other projects in the pipeline.
Quite sadly, the script, which should be the concern of every single person associated with a film, has actually become the concern of nobody, not even the writer! Today, it is an unfortunate situation. Tomorrow, when even bigger and bigger films are made and released, it will not merely be an unfortunate situation. It will be CALAMITOUS. And this is no empty threat. For, the writing is on the wall.
To say that our writers, directors and producers need to pull up their socks would be the understatement of the decade. They need to now open their eyes to the realities and shut their eyes to foreign films. They need to take out their thinking caps from their attics where they’ve been gathering dust for years now. They need to become serious.
Producers and directors also need to introduce fresh writers into the stream. New blood would bring in new ideas — hopefully.
More importantly, all of us need to think for a while. Even if one film producer/director/writer is convinced of the seriousness of the current situation and takes corrective action after reading this piece, it will be worth the pain I’m experiencing while writing it. If not…
…If not, we all will shed tears together. And I promise, that day is not far.
– Komal Nahta
APRIL FOOL JOKES
What’s April Fool’s Day if without April Fool jokes? So here are some jokes which our folks can play on the industry on 1st April.
Govinda: Should report before time on the sets.
Mithun Chakraborty: Refuse a film offer.
Dev Anand: Announce his retirement. From acting as well as direction.
Jackie Shroff: Announce the release date of Grahan.
Boney Kapoor: Launch a quickie with Rajkumar Santoshi.
Jawaharlal Bafna: Start a film with Mithun Chakraborty and call it Bhaag Hi Bhaag. No, he shouldn’t run away after its release!
Anu Malik: Promise to give only original tunes — that is, tunes which have been heard originally.
Subhash Ghai: Announce a film with Salman Khan, to begin after Taal and titled Gaal Ho Gaya Laal.
Juhi Chawla: Announce to the world that she is still not married to Jai Mehta.
Manisha Koirala: Declare that she is off drinks forever.
Bobby Anand: Refuse to buy a film because it is high priced.
Ram Gopal Varma: Announce yet another horror film after Raat, Drohi and Kaun and call it Gone. Because it is bound to go like his earlier horror films.
Rajkumar Santoshi: Launch a film which will not be presented by Bharat Shah, not take years to complete and will not be reshot at all. But call it China Gate.
Akshay Kumar: Tired of playing ‘Khiladi’ again and again, he should prompt Keshu to launch Billadi (meaning ‘Cat’ in Gujarati). Like a cat has nine lives, Akshay may get at least a second lease of life with Billadi.
Shekhar Kapur: This International Khiladi should join hands with Sibte Hasan Rizvi to make a sequel to Joshilay. Behoshi? Le!
Mukesh Bhatt: Should spring a surprise on friends by speaking no lies on April 1.
Saawan Kumar: After Mother 98, announce Father 99 and Child 2000 — the former to star Ajay Devgan and the latter, his child-to-be-born.
Rishi Kapoor: Live up to the title of his film, Aa Ab Laut Chalen, and announce his return to what he knows best — acting.
Ketan Desai: Announce a quickie with Sanjay Dutt (!) and Salman Khan — and title it Yeh Hai Halwa.
Ramesh Taurani: Sign Chandrachur Singh again for his next, after Friends, titled Foes.
– Komal Nahta
3-E
Education-Entertainment-Enlightenment
Dedication, Barjatya Style
Even though there are more than seven months to go before the Barjatyas release their Hum Saath Saath Hain (on November 5), preparations for the same have begun in right earnest. Ajit Kumar Barjatya undertook a trip to several ‘A’ class centres of Uttar Pradesh earlier this week and, accompanied by his wife, visited cinemas there. They were at Novelty cinema of Lucknow for two hours. They also visited Kanpur, Allahabad and Varanasi with a view to be updated about the cinemas there and the facilities offered by the cinemas. That’s what one calls dedication!
New Media Moghul?
L.N. Mittal, the richest Indian on earth, has teamed up with Hindi film exporter Kishore Lulla to launch a new Overseas Hindi movie channel for the British, USA and Canadian markets. Lulla holds the Overseas rights of nearly 1,000 Hindi films. The new Hindi channel will go on air in the U.K. in July this year and will begin its operations in the USA and Canada by next year. Mittal is reportedly financing a number of Hindi films, currently on the floors, through a holding company, LMB Associates. London-based L.N. Mittal’s main business is steel, and he heads the Ispat International Group.
Hit Music Score
The music of Rakesh Roshan’s Kaho Naa…Pyaar Hai is a surefire hit. Besides the title song, two others numbers rendered by Lucky Ali are sure to climb the popularity charts rapidly once the film’s album is released. In fact, so beautiful are Rajesh Roshan’s compositions that people at HMV had a tough time deciding which song should be the first on the film’s audio cassette! Inspired by the lovely music score and because the film is the launching pad of his son, Hrithik, dad Rakesh Roshan is not sparing any efforts nor saving any money to make the songs a visual treat too.