LATEST POSITION
The public holiday on Republic Day helped boost the collections. KAHO NAA…PYAAR HAI is still going strong, but PHIR BHI DIL HAI HINDUSTANI dropped as the week progressed.
Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, suffering partly due to unplanned publicity (that it has a patriotic flavour never came across in its pre-release promotion), will entail losses to its distributors. 1st week Bombay 59,74,635 (93.29%) from 10 cinemas (6 on F.H.); Ahmedabad 23,48,548 from 8 cinemas, Padra 1,89,780, Rajkot 1,46,677 (1 unrecd.), Jamnagar (mat.) 15,658 (1 unrecd.); Pune 15,64,625 from 5 cinemas, Solapur 1,98,677; Delhi 70,70,232 (74.09%) from 13 cinemas (1 on F.H.); Kanpur 3,84,564 from 2 cinemas, Lucknow (6 days) 4,17,686, Agra 3,25,000, Allahabad 2,17,400, Bareilly (6 days) 1,00,897, Dehradun 1,90,236; Calcutta 21,38,299 from 12 cinemas; Nagpur 7,56,963 from 4 cinemas, Amravati (6 days) 1,68,183, Akola 1,72,695, Raipur (6 days) 1,43,306, Jalgaon (6 days) 1,61,654, Dhule 1,47,575, Chandrapur 1,05,324; Indore 3,27,948 from 2 cinemas (2 on F.H.), Bhopal 3,98,953 from 3 cinemas; Jaipur 7,28,510 (57%) from 3 cinemas, Ajmer (gross) 2,27,409, Bikaner (gross) 2,38,205; Hyderabad (gross) 43,89,092 from 19 cinemas, share about 21 lakh. It has done fairly well in Overseas (collections adversely affected in and around Manchester due to the informal boycott of the film by the Muslim audience there).
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Kaho Naa…Pyaar Hai is A1 in Bombay and South. 2nd week Bombay 38,55,656 (99.67%) from 9 cinemas (6 on F.H.), super-strong in 3rd week too; Ahmedabad 10,35,047 from 3 cinemas, Baroda 2,39,492 (97.02%), Jamnagar 1,04,000; Pune 10,71,071 from 3 cinemas, Solapur 1,88,442; Delhi 36,58,120 (68.20%) from 8 cinemas (1 on F.H.); Kanpur 4,84,936 from 2 cinemas, Lucknow 5,92,368 from 2 cinemas, Agra 2,62,000, Varanasi 2,32,159, Allahabad 1,54,500, Bareilly (6 days) 1,00,000 (1st 1,60,000), Dehradun 2,50,000; Nagpur 7,04,733 from 4 cinemas, Jabalpur (6 days) 1,46,652, Amravati 1,58,683, theatre record, Akola 1,48,211, Raipur 2,00,125, Jalgaon (6 days) 1,36,181, 1st Chandrapur 2,52,456; 2nd week Bhopal 2,35,500; Jaipur 3,06,473 (61%), theatre record, 3rd week 1st day 29,657; 2nd Hyderabad (gross) 8,49,863 from 3 cinemas, share about 5,40,000.
Mela is very good in ‘B’ and ‘C’ class centres of U.P., Bengal, C.P. Berar, Rajasthan and Nizam. It will definitely earn commission in some of the above circuits. 3rd week Bombay 23,86,640 (48.06%) from 9 cinemas (5 on F.H.); Ahmedabad 3,23,602 from 3 cinemas, Rajkot 68,000, Jamnagar 39,154; Pune 4,79,225 from 3 cinemas, Solapur (14 shows) 70,614, 1st week Barsi 68,839, 3rd Bijapur 90,000; Delhi 17,40,112 from 9 cinemas (1 on F.H.); Kanpur 2,75,516 from 2 cinemas, Lucknow 2,83,219, Agra 1,40,000, Varanasi 1,34,226, Allahabad 1,34,445, Meerut 1,96,169, Bareilly (6 days) 79,865 (2nd 1,39,016), 2nd Dehradun 1,21,000, 3rd Hardwar 25,000; Calcutta 6,45,824 from 5 cinemas; Nagpur 1,39,462 from 2 cinemas, Jabalpur (6 days) 1,10,323, Amravati (6 days) 96,877, Akola 62,712, Raipur (6 days; gross) 1,54,940, Jalgaon (6 days) 78,173, Wardha 56,286, 2nd Yavatmal (gross) 98,050, 3rd week Bilaspur 47,212; Indore 71,060 (1 on F.H.); Ajmer (gross) 1,15,580, Bikaner (gross) 93,483; Hyderabad (gross) 4,92,192 from 4 cinemas.
Jaanwar is exceptional in ‘B’ and ‘C’ class centres of U.P., East Punjab, Bengal, Bihar, C.P. Berar and C.I. 5th week Bombay 12,22,548 (50.58%) from 7 cinemas (3 on F.H.); Ahmedabad 55,000; Pune 1,80,229 from 2 cinemas, Solapur (matinee) 32,619; 2nd week Bijapur 62,228; 5th Delhi 88,628 (1 on F.H.); Kanpur 90,032 (1 unrecd.), Lucknow 1,64,030, Agra 1,06,353, Varanasi 1,38,848, Allahabad 1,09,152, Meerut 96,282, Bareilly (6 days) 42,261, 3rd Hardwar 30,000; 5th Nagpur 75,272 from 2 cinemas, Jabalpur (6 days) 43,659, Amravati (6 days) 62,486, Akola 58,748, total 4,85,769, Yavatmal (gross) 31,401, record; Bhopal 42,000; Jaipur 56,356; Hyderabad (gross) 2,08,122 from 2 cinemas.
Hum Saath-Saath Hain entered 13th week at Liberty, Bombay; 12th week Ahmedabad 97,826, Rajkot (7 shows) 31,290; Pune (matinee) 65,120, Solapur (14 shows) 1,24,642; Belgaum 55,946, 8th Bijapur (7 shows) 44,034, 3rd week Karwar 24,348; 12th Delhi 1,10,015 (2 on F.H.); Kanpur 93,395, Lucknow 2,01,379, Agra 71,568, Allahabad 46,043, Bareilly 39,389, Dehradun 41,546, 8th Hardwar 18,647, total 3,84,299; 12th week Calcutta 1,32,002; Nagpur 1,21,030, Jabalpur (6 days; gross) 1,04,812, Amravati 91,756, Akola 68,958, share 13,40,409, city record, Raipur (6 days) 93,239, Jalgaon 72,874, 1st week Sagar 72,804, 12th Dhule 38,318, 3rd week Kamptee 54,120, total 2,05,176, city record; 12th Indore 79,000 (3 on F.H.); Jaipur 4,70,972; Hyderabad (gross) 6,01,995 from 3 cinemas.
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Gaam Ma Piyaryu Ne Gaam Ma Sasaryu (Gujarati; TF) is excellent. 2nd week Ahmedabad 9,51,332 from 4 cinemas, Jamnagar 99,352.
Maa Baap Ne Bhulsho Nahin (Gujarati; TF) 6th week Ahmedabad 3,39,860 from 4 cinemas, 5th Rajkot 1,40,406, excellent.
NEW KOHINOOR CINEMA IN JODHPUR INAUGURATED
New Kohinoor, one cinema of the first twin theatre of Jodhpur, constructed by Noor Mohamed, was inaugurated on 25th January by Mrs. Badrunissa, wife of Noor Mohamed. The day also marked the twentieth anniversary of Kohinoor cinema, also owned by Noor Mohamed.
The new cinema was thrown open to the public on Republic Day with the screening of Kaho Naa…Pyaar Hai (which was already running at Kohinoor for the last two weeks).
New Kohinoor has 500 seats divided into five classes. The break-up (with admission rates in brackets) is as follows: Maharaja, 180 seats (admission rate Rs. 45); Platinum, 180 seats (Rs. 35); Diamond, 92 seats (Rs. 30); Golden, 24 seats (Rs. 22); and Silver, 24 seats (Rs. 15). The cinema is equipped with Westrex projection equipment and Dolby Digital SR sound system.
The other cinema of this twin theatre complex will be inaugurated shortly.
RAKESH ROSHAN UNDERGOES HEART SURGERY
Rekesh Roshan underwent an emergency by-pass surgery of the heart on 26th January at Cumballa Hill Hospital in Bombay. He is recuperating at the hospital and is reported to be doing well.
Roshan had been admitted to Nanavati Hospital on 21st January after he sustained a bullet injury outside his office when two unknown assailants fired at him from point blank range. The bullet had to be removed from his arm by surgery. Rakesh Roshan, who has a history of heart problem, was recovering at Nanavati Hospital and was due to be discharged, but he suddenly complained of chest pain on 26th and had to be shifted to Cumballa Hill Hospital. His heart condition was diagnosed by leading heart specialist Dr. S.K. Mathew who flew from Madras. Dr. S. Bhattacharya, another leading heart specialist, operated on the blocked arteries. The operation lasted four hours. Roshan is likely to be discharged from the hospital in a few days.
‘TAAL’ CELEBRATES JUBILEE
Producer-director Subhash Ghai’s Taal entered its combined silver jubilee week on 28th January at Novelty (matinee), Bombay; City Pulse, Ganghinagar; and at Maheshwari (noon), Hyderabad. Starring Anil Kapoor, Akshaye Khanna, Aishwarya Rai, Alok Nath and Amrish Puri in the main lead, the film has music by A.R. Rahman and lyrics by Anand Bakshi. Subhash Ghai penned the story and co-wrote the screenplay with Sachin Bhaumick and also co-wrote the dialogues with Javed Siddiqi. Ghai edited the film.
VARIETY, NAGPUR CLOSED
Variety, the oldest cinema of Nagpur, owned by N.J. Naidu & Co., Nagpur, closed down permanently on 28th January as the government has ordered its demolition for the purpose of widening of the road. A new building may come up in its place in future.
N.S. BHALLA NO MORE
Veteran film agent N.S. Bhalla breathed his last at Nanavati Hospital in Bombay on 23rd January. He was 66 and is survived by his wife, Anu Bhalla, two sons (director Gurdev and Suraj) and daughter-in-law, Sudha Bhalla.
Bawa Naranjan Singh Bhalla had been keeping unwell since the past several months. His condition deteriorated on the afternoon of 23rd and he was rushed to the hospital. All attempts by the doctors to save his life proved futile and he was declared dead after less than half an hour of admission.
Bhalla was cremated on 25th at the Vile Parle crematorium.
DO YOU KNOW?
* The all-India distributors of KAHO NAA…PYAAR HAI have ordered for a total of 33 extra prints after the first week. The break-up of additional prints: Bombay, 5 prints; Delhi -U.P., 6; C.P. Berar, 4; C.I., 2; Rajasthan, 1; East Punjab, 4; West Bengal, 3; Bihar, 1; Nizam, 4; Mysore, 1; and Andhra, 2.
* As is customary with Subhash Ghai, he was to announce his YAADEIN with fanfare on his birthday (January 24) and introduce the film’s lead pair, Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor, to the press. But he had to cancel the event due to Rakesh Roshan’s hospitalisation. Similarly, Super Cassettes had scheduled a function last Friday (21st January) for the presentation of platinum discs to the unit of producer Salim’s BADAL. But hours before the party, the industry was under a cloud of doom as Rakesh Roshan had been injured in a shootout incident and had to be hospitalised. Super Cassettes and Salim, therefore, cancelled the party.
* Bhajan Rathor and Munia Rathor opened a twin cinema — Shri Rammandir and Jyoti — at Shivpuri (in Madhya Pradesh) on 26th January. The two cinemas opened with films made by two brothers. While the opening attraction at Shri Rammandir was Suneel Darshan’s JAANWAR, that at Jyoti was Dharmesh Darshan’s MELA.
ANNOUNCEMENT & LAUNCHING
Subhash Ghai To Direct Hrithik, Kareena In ‘Yaadein’
Subhash Ghai announced his new venture on January 24 (his birthday). Titled Yaadein, the film will star Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor with Jackie Shroff in a stellar role. To be made under the banner of Mukta Arts International, it is being produced by Ashok Ghai.
Subhash Ghai is the film’s writer and director. Anu Malik will score music to lyrics penned by Anand Bakshi. Cinematography: Kabir Lal. Art: Sharmishtha Roy. Some more names are being finalised in the list of cast and credits. The film will roll in April and is scheduled for completion by the year-end.
YOU ASKED IT
Did these Rajesh Khanna-starrers — Raja Rani, Andaz, Anand, Roti, Daag, Ittefaq and Aan Milo Sajana — celebrate silver jubilee?
– Except RAJA RANI, all the other films celebrated jubilees.
When India became a Republic 50 years ago, states in the country were reorganised on linguistic basis. But for the purpose of film distribution, the film trade follows the pre-1950 division of territories. Isn’t it an anomaly?
– India is one country, yet, films these days click in some parts and flop in the others. Isn’t that an anomaly too? Jokes apart, the industry is averse to change. And so, what prevailed 50 years ago, continues to prevail today also. And, tell me, if circuits were re-defined on linguistic basis, would that change the fate of films?
If the drama ‘Maa Retire Hoti Hai’ is made into a feature film, will it click with the audience?
– It may not, because it moves on a single track.
3-E
Education-Entertainment-Enlightenment
No Cuts: The Biggest Compliment
Director Rajkumar Santoshi was quite tense during those three hours when his Pukar was under ‘military surveillance’ on January 24 in Delhi. The defence personnel were viewing the film since it is set against a military backdrop. After the show was over, producer Boney Kapoor and Rajkumar Santoshi felt relieved and rewarded. Relieved, because the defence personnel, while complimenting both, the producer and the director, told them that they had so far never seen such an authentic film on military background. One of the defence chiefs complimented Rajkumar Santoshi, saying that he (the director) had even animated the uniform of an army man. He further said that it did not seem like the characters in the film had merely worn military costumes; the film also showed an armyman’s psyche when he puts on the military uniform. Santoshi felt rewarded too. That’s because the defence personnel invited Santoshi to be the guest of the defence authorities in Delhi to enable him to make another authentic film on the army background. And that says a lot for the director’s sense of authenticity.
The same kind of tense situation prevailed for both, Boney and Santoshi, when the CBFC examining committee was watching the film at Liberty preview theatre in Bombay on January 27. The director was apprehensive that the censors would suggest some cuts in the action scenes. But when the members of the examining committee came out of the preview theatre after the show, they complimented Santoshi. And before Santoshi could enquire about the cuts, Boney Kapoor arrived on the scene, and the committee declared, “Congratulations, Mr. Kapoor, there are no cuts!”
Topical Film Advertisement
Baap (Rakesh Roshan) sher, beta (Hrithik Roshan) savva-sher. This is the catchline in the advertisements of Kaho Naa…Pyaar Hai appearing these days in the dailies of Akola. The text further says that while Rakesh Roshan braved the bullets, his son, Hrithik Roshan, has won the box-office ballot and despite being a debutant, he has proved that he is no less than today’s young stars. The advertisement has been drafted by A.V. Gawande, a local representative of Akola, and also our Akola representative.
Haay Ram!
Watching a number of kissing and passionate scenes in the promotional trailers of Hey Ram on television, a C.P. distributor’s wife almost fainted, saying, “Haay Ram”!
One reporter, who saw excerpts of the songs and some scenes at the music release function of the film, quipped about the passionate scenes, “Kamal had better change the title of Hey Ram to Hey Kaam!
