‘REFUGEE’ POSTPONED YET AGAIN
The release of J.P. Dutta’s Refugee has been postponed once again. Instead of 23rd June, as scheduled, the debut film of Abhishek Bachchan and Kareena Kapoor will now hit the screens on 30th June. The producer’s office is to send telegrams to the film’s all-India distributors today, asking them to book cinemas for the film from 30th June onwards.
Although the producer’s office insists that the film will finally come on 30th June, there are strong rumours in trade circles that it may ultimately see release on 7th July. In the meantime, the film’s Delhi-U.P. distributors, P.P. Associates, on 2nd June issued a huge advertisement of Refugee in a national daily, announcing its release date as 23rd June. While some distributors had started booking their chain of cinemas for 23rd June release, some others were waiting and watching as a postponement was being anticipated. A couple of distributors, who claimed to have inside information, had earlier this week begun making cinema bookings from 7th July only. Rumours have it that Amitabh Bachchan considers ‘7’ as his lucky number. Will that prompt Dutta to actually release the first film of Amitabh’s son on the 7th day of the 7th month? Rs. 7 as prize money for the correct answer! Any takers?
FFI PICKS FOUR FOR NATIONAL AWARDS
The Film Federation of India (FFI) has recommended Taal, Sarfarosh, Kaho Naa…Pyaar Hai and Bindhast (Marathi) for the National Awards for 1999.
YOU ASKED IT
Do you think, Amitabh Bachchan has done the right thing by agreeing to host a television show?
– I don’t think that it’s a wrong decision at all.
Will Josh take a good start? Will it click?
– One can’t predict about the fate of the film because one hasn’t seen it. But will it take a good start? No — it will take a great start! The promotional trailers of the film are being loved. Also, the songs have become very popular.
Why do heroines of Hindi films act in Tamil and Telugu films also? Why not heroes?
– It becomes difficult for heroes because they have to allot more dates per film as compared to heroines.
SALES TAX ON FILM TRANSACTIONS IN MAHARASHTRA
Industry United In Its Fight
No Decision Yet On Closure
The film industry in Maharashtra has since last week been under a cloud of uncertainty and anxiety. It was a plain coincidence that the pre-monsoon clouds were also advancing in the state at the same time, making the atmosphere gloomy, both actually and figuratively.
Over the Maharashtra film industry, the gloomy cloud was that of the unwelcome sales tax proposed to be levied on film transactions in the state. All through the week that’s gone by, formal and informal meetings of the various trade associations with government officials as well as among their members were held to chalk out the course of action to be taken by the industry. A complete closure of the Maharashtra film industry is one possible course of action being deliberated upon and if this happens, the entire Hindi film industry, including in other circuits too, will grind to a halt. This is because releases of new films will have to be stopped. However, a closure (bandh) seems less likely as of today because there seems to be a ray of hope even now. All the sectors of the industry are scheduled to meet Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and his other cabinet colleagues on Monday, June 5, at 5 pm. It is only after this meeting that a clearer picture will emerge. But as of now, a closure from 9th June, as was being hinted unofficially, is ruled out. Josh will, therefore, be released as per schedule, on 9th June.
The commissioner of sales tax, Bombay, has, through a circular (no. 13.T of 2000 dated 3rd May, 2000), informed that in pursuance of announcements made by Maharashtra’s minister of finance in the legislative assembly while presenting the Budget for the year 2000-2001, the state government issued two notifications dated 28th April. By virtue of these notifications, copyright, as described in section 14 of the Copyright Act, 1957, has been added in the schedule to the Sales Tax Act, and tax at 4% is leviable on the turnover of sales in respect of transfer of the right to use the goods covered by new entries w.e.f. 1st May, 2000.
On 1st June, the Film Producers’ Guild passed a resolution of ‘non-co-operation’ with the government. On 2nd June, a meeting of some producers was held at Yash Chopra’s office. It was attended by Dilip Kumar, Surinder Kapoor, Tilak Raj Magan and others. “It was an informal meeting,” said Tilak Raj Magan to Information, adding that the decision to go on an indefinite strike on June 9 would be taken only after the meeting of all the Association heads with Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on Monday (5th June). Meanwhile, IMPDA president N.N. Sippy, CEAI president Pranlal Doshi, Satish Kulkarni and Nester D’Souza met with the deputy CM of Maharashtra, Chhagan Bhujbal, and apprised him of the perilous effect of the proposed sales tax on the Bombay film industry. Bhujbal told them that the state government had levied the tax in order to tide over its financial crunch. After deliberations, the deputy CM relented and agreed to put their case before the chief minister. Bharat Shah arranged a meeting of industry representatives with the state government earlier this week, where they made their unhappiness over the tax clear.
On 2nd June, N.N. Sippy called a meeting at his IMPDA office, which was attended by AIFPC president Pahlaj Nihalani, CCCA president Santosh Singh Jain and many distributors and exhibitors. N.N. Sippy and the other leaders had a meeting with the state revenue minister, Ashok Chavan, who offered help in sorting out the problem.
Ealier, IMPPA president Shakti Samanta, in a letter to the Maharashtra CM, appealed for abolition of the sales tax and cautioned, “If you really wish that the film industry should not migrate to any other state of India, its survival in Maharashtra is very, very essential.”
The AIFPC, in a letter to the CM, has pointed out that the proposed 4% sales tax on the transfer of copyright would adversely affect all sectors of the film industry. It reminded the CM that sales tax, which was proposed to be imposed on film transactions in 1986, was abolished following a 1-month total strike by the film industry in Maharashtra then. The Godbole Committee, which was then set up by the state government, had stated in its report: “Films are not sold but only exhibition rights are transferred; under the Bombay Sales Tax Act, 1959, there should be no sales tax on transfer of copyrights by film producers.”
3-E
Education-Entertainment-Enlightenment
Disgusting Behaviour
Seems, there’s a new story about this hero every week. The guy’s frustration level (is it because his films are flopping?) has reached its zenith, it would appear. For, at a recent shooting, the hero did something which even a villain (real-life, not reel-life) would shudder to do. As is the general practice in many units, an aarti in a steel thali is circulated around for all unit members before the first shot of the day is canned. At one such shooting, when the aarti thali reached our hero, instead of taking the aarti, he took out a cigarette and lit it with the light of the aarti! Blasphemous!! Disgusting!!! If the hero doesn’t mend his ways, it won’t be long before his career goes up in smoke like the smoke rings he puffs out. For, no mortal till today has gotten away with insulting religion and God.
Upwardly Mobile!
Some more on this spoilt brat. This frustrated star is more eccentric than one can even imagine. He will go to any extent to draw people’s attention towards himself. Like, he always goes to the airport just five minutes before the flight’s departure time. He may actually reach the airport well in time, but will keep chatting with his chums even after the final call is announced. Thereafter, he will go to the security check counter casually, with all his starry airs, and walk leisurely. This has been his usual practice. One airline’s staff members one day gave him a royal ditch. Even while the plane was on the tarmac, the airlines staff told him that he was too late. The flight took off without the actor! …Another instance of his incorrigible eccentricity was witnessed by a lady associated with the film industry. She was seated on the same flight as him. The cabin crew had requested the passengers to keep their mobile phones off as their air waves would interfere with the signals from the control tower. The lady passenger dutifully shut off her mobile like all other passengers. Despite requests from the air-hostess, this show-off star, however, took out his mobile phone and kept chatting on it. Shameless, indeed!
Naraindas’ Sixer!
Rajasthan distributor Naraindas Mukhija is on a buying spree. He had acquired the distribution rights of Guddu Dhanoa’s Bichhoo a while ago. He has now acquired six more films, all exciting proposals. Take a look: Rajkumar Santoshi’s multi-starrer, Lajja, Tutu Sharma’s almost-complete Tere Ishq Mein Pad Gaya Re and his recently-launched Biwi I Love You, Venus’ Dhadkan, Ram Gopal Varma’s Jungle, and Keshu’s Khiladi 420. Except for Biwi I Love You, all the other films aforementioned should see release this year itself, beginning with Bichhoo on 30th June.
Senseless Censoring
In Dalaal No. 1, there was a scene in which Shakti Kapoor taunts a female character saying, “Yeh acting to achhi karti hai. Filmon mein jaati, toh Sridevi ki chhutti kar deti.” Is there anything objectionable in this line of dialogue? Even Sridevi would laugh it off, for, it is a compliment to her acting prowess. But the censors found it objectionable under a rule which does not allow such references unless a no-objection certificate is obtained by the producer concerned from the star referred to in the dialogue. The rule was, perhaps, laid down due to a previous incident in which an actor was referred to in a film in bad light. Under the same rule, the censors asked the producer of Dalaal No. 1 to delete the dialogue. Now, the censors are known to be sticklers for rules, but they stuck to the rule in letter rather than in spirit. Did you hear of that famous line: Chai se zyada bartan garam?!
From Suraj With Love To Hrithik
He may not be able to speak and hear, but his heart speaks volumes about Hrithik Roshan and Kaho Naa…Pyaar Hai. That’s Suraj Ramteke of Chandrapur (C.P. Berar) who has seen KN…PH a dozen times at Jayant cinema, Chandrapur, despite his disabilities. Not just that, he has also made a colourful letterhead bearing the colour photographs of Rakesh Roshan, Hrithik Roshan and facsimile of a poster of KN…PH, and his own photograph (at the bottom of the letterhead). A letter (on this letterhead), addressed to Hrithik, expresses his appreciation for and best wishes to his screen idol. Surat, who describes himself as “deaf and dumb”, has also requested Hrithik for his photograph and the names of his forthcoming films. Hrithik will surely write a personal letter of thanks and send his fan not one but a bunch of photographs.
One More — Of A Different Kind!
This is about another KN…PH fan of Chandrapur, who is one of a kind. This young guy has been religiously seeing KN…PH in 3 p.m. shows at Jayant, Chandrapur, every single day in the last 19 weeks. The cinema management, impressed by this patron’s devotion for the film, offered to allow him to see the film on the house. But he refused the ‘free’ offer. This fan, who hails from a middle-class family, does not even want to reveal his name. He only says, “I am an ardent cinegoer. As long as I want to see the film, I will buy a ticket and see it.”
100 Days Of ‘Kaho Naa…Pyaar Hai’
…AND ONE DAY OF CELEBRATION
Rakesh Roshan, on his own admission, was never filled with so much euphoria, elation and excitement in his life as he was during his recent one-day visit to Nagpur and Chandrapur. As it is, as a filmmaker, Rakesh Roshan has been beside himself with joy for the past 20 weeks with the box-office records his Kaho Naa…Pyaar Hai has been shattering all over. The affection, admiration and adulation his son, instant star Hrithik, has commanded, has overwhelmed Rakesh Roshan as a star-father. Although Hrithik did not accompany his dad to Nagpur and Chandrapur, the euphoria for the new star sensation was all too evident in both, Nagpur and Chandrapur.
Rakesh Roshan had gone to Nagpur and from there to Chandrapur on 28th May upon being urged by the management and staff of Jayant Cinema, Chandrapur. The cinema management had been too pleased to announce a month’s salary as bonus to its staff (15 days’ salary from the cinema and 15 days’ salary from the C.P. distributor of Roshan’s Kaho Naa…Pyaar Hai, Laloo Kabra). But the cinema staff unanimously said that it would be more than pleased if Rakesh Roshan and Hrithik came down to Chandrapur to hand over the bonus to all of them. On the insistence of the staff and the management, the film’s C.P. distributor, Laloo Kabra (Vishwajyoti Films, Bhusawal), requested Rakesh Roshan. Since it was bonus ka sawaal, Roshan conceded the request and thereby obliged Laloo Kabra, Jayant Mamidwar (the owner of Jayant, Chandrapur) and the cinema’s insistent staff. Hrithik was unable to accompany dad as he had a busy shooting schedule. Rakesh Roshan left for Nagpur last Sunday, along with yours sincerely who was invited for the whirlwind trip.
NO TALKING IN THE AIR, THIS!
The Indian Airlines flight on Sunday takes off at 5.45 a.m. and the scene on it is as expected: Rakesh Roshan striking the attention of passengers and the staff on board. There are autograph-seekers, some of who advise him on taking care of his health, and there is one who expresses with concern, “May your son be blessed by the God and protected from the evil eye.” Rakesh thanks them all… The flight landing is announced. It is 7.10 a.m. when we touch base at Nagpur.
We step down to a grand welcome from C.P. Berar distributor Laloo Kabra, Pramod Munot, Dalipsingh Tuli (president of the Cine Exhibitors Association, Nagpur), his son, Karan, and many exhibitors. There is heavy police security. A band is already playing.
We get into the car. Pramod Munot takes us on a rapid round of Nagpur’s landmarks. On the way, he points out to a huge building complex and informs, “Yeh hai hamaari chhoti si building.” Rakesh is amused by the words, “chhoti si”!
BREAKFAST NEWS
We move to Tuli International Hotel, owned by Dalipsingh Tuli, who is also the owner of Jaswant Cinema, Nagpur. At Tuli International, the welcome accorded is traditional, complete with aarti, tilak, the works.
It is 8 a.m. We are led to Panchsheel cinema and into the house of its owner (and distributor) Pramod Munot who had distributed Rakesh Roshan’s previous super-hit, Karan Arjun. Pramod stays a floor above his cinema (Neeche dukaan, upar makaan, you see!). Breakfast is being served. Now, what is the breakfast news? What else, but the topic of 4% sales tax on film transactions in Maharashtra. The other exhibitors present describe this one more tax as a further axe on film business.
MOONING & SWOONING OVER ROSHAN IN CHANDRAPUR
It is 9 a.m. and we leave for Chandrapur. It is a 150 km. drive, but a smooth one as there is no traffic. It takes us a little over two-and-a-half hours.
We are now at Kundan Plaza (hotel), a little away from the main town of Chandrapur. We straighten our tired limbs.
At Jayant Cinema, the scene is as expected: uncontrollable crowds waving, cheering, pushing, jostling. It’s excitement at its peak despite the soaring temperature.
Inside the office of the cinema, a press get-together has been hosted during the film’s interval. There are the expected queries for local cable channels, except for a few interesting ones:
In reply to a query, Rakesh Roshan admits, “Before I decided to make this film, my friends expressed scepticism and doubts. ‘How can you make an expensive film with a new boy and a new girl at a time when even films with big stars don’t run?’, they asked.”
One scribe asks the usual question, ‘Did you expect this film to become such a big hit?’ Roshan replies: ‘To tell you frankly, I never expected this kind of appreciation for the film. I took it as a challenge to make a good film with a new pair. And I put all my efforts to make it look good on the screen. It was with total dedication that I made KN…PH. I had put the same amount of effort and dedication in Koyla, but the film did not run as much as I had expected it to. With Kaho Naa…Pyaar Hai, I did not have big expectations. But the cinegoers made it big, and God was kind to me and my son.”
RAJAT JAYANTI AT JAYANT CINEMA ONLY
Inside the cinema hall, the crowd stands and waves while the cinema management manage to bring about a semblance of order. When Rakesh Roshan is about to address the audience, they demand, ‘We want Hrithik’. Rakesh assures them that Hrithik would be there if the film celebrated a silver jubilee. “I know, you will see this film through to celebrating a jubilee here, but… (pointing out to the cinema owner, Jayant Mamidwar), please see that it celebrates the jubilee at your cinema only, because Laloo Kabra might come up with his other film, Refugee“, says Roshan.
Laloo butts in to say, “The film will definitely celebrate a jubilee in Chandrapur and at this very cinema. Refugee can wait for two weeks, at least in Chandrapur.”
Roshan addresses the audience with inspiring words: “Itna pyar, sammaan aur swagat dekh kar, mujhe yeh kehne ki zaroorat nahin, kaho naa… pyaar hai.”
Speech over, gifts are distributed to the staff of the cinema. Bonus is declared.
MEETING PLAZA
We are back at Kundan Plaza. It is 1.30 p.m., lunch time, now. Meeting Roshan are the administrative officials, police personnel and Chandrapur’s creme de la creme and, of course, exhibitors of Chandrapur: Jeetu Seth of Shree cinema, Raju Buratkar of Shiv Chitra Mandir, and Abhay Potdukhe of Abhay Talkies.
EACH RUN, A BETTER RUN
It’s 3 p.m. Time to go back to Nagpur. And we set out. The temperature is an almost unbearable 46°C. A while later, it rains. Welcome showers! In two hours, we are back to Tuli International in Nagpur. An hour’s rest and a refreshing shower later, we are back to one more function: a function organised by the Cine Exhibitors Association (CEA), Nagpur, to felicitate Rakesh Roshan.
Once again, bouquets, flowers and showers of praises. Dalipsingh Tuli, during his welcome address, informs that KN…PH is now in its 3rd run at his Jaswant cinema in Nagpur. “When it was screened in 1st run, it ran well; in the 2nd run, it did better than in the 1st run. And in the 3rd run, despite having been screened continuously at Alankar (main cinema) and Natraj, it is doing better than even the 2nd run at Jaswant. That speaks for the film. What more can I say?!”
S.B. Patil, secretary of the CEA, in his speech, makes a personal request to Roshan. “Please come to my cinema in Jalgaon (Ashok Talkies) with Hrithik at the film’s silver jubilee there. It will be a momentous day for me and the cinema-loving janata of Jalgaon.” He also enumerates the achievements of Roshan as a filmmaker.
K.K. Sawhney, Prakash Rathi and S.B. Patil then fete Roshan with a shawl and a shreefal while S.M. Sorathiya presents a memento (a portrait of Sai Baba embossed on a 24-carat gold plate). A similar memento is presented by B.M. Deewan to yours sincerely.
Roshan thanks the CEA members and the press corps for the felicitation.
Cable operators, who have so far been the bane of the cinema owners, are now the honoured guests at the function. And that’s because of the gesture towards cinema owners displayed by the operators at a meeting held on 19th May in Nagpur, when a landmark decision was arrived at. The cable operators, conceding the exhibitors’ demand, had agreed to not telecast any new film on cable channels for the first eight weeks of the theatrical release. Rakesh Roshan expresses great appreciation for the cable agencies’ gesture. He presents special mementos to each cable operator of Nagpur on behalf of the CEA.
‘K’ KEHNA!
Roshan is now on to the last item on the day’s agenda: a press conference once again. And while he was a little formal and restrained during the press conference in Chandrapur, he is free and frank now to field any questions. Sort of Roshan Unplugged! Roshan’s replies are peppered with humour and revelations.
To a query whether Hrithik will star in his next, the star-father chuckles: “Yes, if he gives the dates” (laughs). The scribes react likewise.
On titling his films with ‘K’, Roshan reveals the story behind his being keyed to ‘K’. When I made Jaag Utha Insaan, which didn’t to well, a fan of mine wrote a letter to me, asking, why I did not try making a film with a ‘K’ title? He pointed out that ‘K’ was a lucky alphabet for me as Khatta Meetha, Khandan, Khubsoorat, Khel Khel Mein, Kaamchor and other ‘K’ films of mine were successes. I read the letter but soon forgot about it. Later, I made Bhagwan Dada, which also did not do well. Thereafter, I made Khudgarz which was, incidentally, a ‘K’-titled film. It clicked. This was also my first film as a director. The same fan then wrote a letter stating, ‘At last, you agreed to start your film with a ‘K’ title by making Khudgarz. Now, you have seen the result.’ Even though the title of Khudgarz was coincidentally ‘K’, I got keyed to ‘K’ ever since.
Another question: ‘Who gave the title Kaho Naa…Pyaar Hai?’
“My wife, Pinky. I agreed to her suggestion because I never disagree with her!” (That makes everyone laugh heartily. Loyal pati!)
Upon being asked, ‘What if Hrithik just remains a one-film wonder and his forthcoming films flop’, Roshan states, “Hrithik is prepared for any shocks. He has seen my ups and downs as an actor and also as a producer. He will take even the failure in his stride.”
‘How many films will he do at a time?’ Roshan replies, “Not more than three in a year.”
‘Why did the film run so much — due to you or due to your son, Hrithik?’
Roshan replies, “The credit is due to the team. It is teamwork that made KN…PH a runaway success. After all, it is the film which made Hrithik a star, which got me laurels and which gave my brother, Raju (Rajesh Roshan), scope to provide great music.”
The scribes go on and on with their queries in the manner of yeh press maange more, but the CEA puts a halt to the interview session as if to convey, ‘Jo chahe ho jaaye, now enjoy the snacks.’
We are then taken by Karan Tuli in his car to the three cinemas of Nagpur, screening KN…PH, on a short visit. But the short visit is hardly short, because each of the three cinemas — Jaswant, Natraj and Alankar — are quite a distance away (3-4 kilometres) from each other. The waiting crowds greet Roshan at all the cinemas.
We now rush to the airport. And we are seen off by Pramod Munot and Karan Tuli.
For Rakesh Roshan, the flight to Bombay is no different from the brief tour of Nagpur and Chandrapur. For, just as in Nagpur and Chandrapur, the proud papa of Hrithik and the super-successful filmmaker is on the clouds in the aeroplane too. Only difference — it was Cloud Nine there!