ANNOUNCEMENT & LAUNCHING
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ Goes On Sets
Producer-director Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam was launched recently in Bombay with an initial 13-day shooting schedule. A song was picturised on Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai. A Jhamu Sughand presentation, the film is being made under the banner of Bhansali Productions and stars Salman Khan, Ajay Devgan, Aishwarya Rai, Zohra Sehgal, Vikram Gokhale, Smita Jayakar, Rekha Rao, Kenny Desai and Rajeev Verma. Other credits include cinematography by Anil Mehta, art by Nitin Desai, editing by Bela Segal, story by Pratap Karvat and Sanjay Leela Bhansali, screenplay by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Kenneth Philips, music by Ismail Darbar, lyrics by Mehboob, dialogues by Amrik Gill, sound by Jitendra Chaudhary, choreography by Bhushan Lakhandri, Ganesh Hegde and Vaibhavi, action by Sham Kaushal, and costumes by Neeta Lulla and Shabina Khan. Vikram R. Bangera is the executive producer.
RAM B.C. NO MORE
Bombay exhibitor Ram B.C. passed away in his sleep on 6th January at his residence in Bombay. He was 67 and was cremated the same day.
Several years ago, Ram B.C. used to be a leading Bombay distributor and exhibitor with his brother, Shankar B.C. His concerns, Deluxe Pictures and Bombay Pictures Circuit, used to be well-known distribution concerns. In 1963, he started a distribution office in Delhi with Mere Mehboob. The Bombay distribution business was started in 1959 with Yahudi. Among the films distributed by Shankar and Ram B.C. in Bombay and Delhi-U.P. were Amardeep, Dil Ek Mandir, Gunga Jumna, Aradhana, Kati Patang, Upkaar, Shor, Purab Aur Pachhim, Dus Numbri, Sanyasi, Raja Jani, Roti Kapada Aur Makaan, Talash, Dushmun, Dost and Majboor. The B.C. brothers had also produced Laila Majnu, Chhoti Bahu, Pyar Hi Pyar and Lahu Ke Do Rang. They used to also finance films.
Ram B.C. was born on September 22, 1930. He started his film career in 1948 as a representative. In 1952, he became the manager of Sippy Films. He started exhibition business in 1956 with Broadway cinema, Bombay. At one time, he and his brother controlled as many as 20 to 24 cinemas like Liberty (Bombay), Rupam (Sion, Bombay), Rupam (Ahmedabad), Deepali (Ahmedabad), Prakash (Ahmedabad) and Moti (Bombay) etc. He branched out into the hotel industry in 1969 and owned Hotel Hilltop at the time of his death. He was actively involved in social work and was also a member of the Telephone Advisory Committee.
His funeral on 6th was largely attended by the film trade. Marka on 8th at Warden Road was also very largely attended.
SAHADEV SHAH DEAD
Sahadev Shah, owner of Deepak Talkies, Delisle Road, Bombay, expired on 5th January in Bombay due to heart failure. He was 57.
He was on the advisory panel of the Central Board of Film Certification for many years. He was also a member of the Telephone Advisory Committee. Shah had been a member of the executive committee of the Theatre Owners’ Association. Shah was also associated with a number of other registered trade bodies in various capacities. He is survived by his wife, a son and two daughters.
TUTU SHARMA BEREAVED
Jagan Prasad Sharma, father of producer Pradeep (Tutu) Sharma, passed away in a hospital in Jaipur on 3rd January. He had not been well since a fortnight. He was 72 and is survived by his wife, son Tutu, daughter-in-law Padmini (Kolhapure), daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren.
Jagan Prasad Sharma had produced a film in 1961. Titled Char Diwari, it introduced Shashi Kapoor as a hero. He was the president of the Rajasthan Cricket Association and was popular in social circles. Rajasthan chief minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, reacting to the demise, said that the passing away of Jagan Prasad Sharma was a personal loss to him.
NASEERUDDIN SHAH BEREAVED
Farrukh Sultan Begum, mother of Naseeruddin Shah, passed away in the early hours of 7th January in Bombay. She was 84 and is survived by three sons, Zaheeruddin, Zamiruddin and Naseeruddin Shah.
3-E
Education-Entertainment-Enlightenment
Ramzan Rush!
Releases during Ramzan are usually few. But this Ramzan month, there’s a spate of releases — almost all of which are small films. For such small films, it is a choice between the devil and the deep sea. Either they come in opposition of big films or avoid oppositions and come during the dull Ramzan period when big films are generally not released. Many of the small film producers have opted for avoiding big film oppositions and, therefore, are getting their films during the lax Ramzan month. Have a look at the ‘Releases’ column in this issue and you will agree with us.
Trailer Tattle
There are at least five trailers being currently aired on the various satellite channels, which are catching the fancy of viewers. The trailer of Vicky Kumar and Sanjay Tolani’s Zor makes a zordaar impact, and shows Sunny Deol breathing fire. Salman Khan, Kajol and Arbaaz Khan come as a whiff of fresh air in the musical trailer of Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya (the song goes thus: Od lee chunariya maine tere naam ki). The trailer of ABCL’s Saat Rang Ke Sapne is as colourful as colourful can be. The rural atmosphere has been created beautifully. Suspense is the catchword in the trailer of 2001 which, incidentally, boasts of very good music. Ravi Dewan’s maiden directorial venture, Vinashak, gives a ‘good first impression’ through its trailers. And on radio, it is the songs of K.C. Bokadia’s Lal Badshah, which are being liked by listeners.
Happy Shooting Year
While many might consider 1st January a day for relaxation (after the New Year’s eve party?), Karisma Kapoor is pretty superstitious about the first day of the year. She makes it a point to shoot on the New Year’s day every year, whatever the situation, because she considers it to be a good omen for the rest of the year. This year, it was the shooting schedule of N.N. Sippy’s Silsila Hai Pyar Ka which she was participating in from the last week of December, and she requested Sippy to ensure that she faced the camera at least for one shot on 1st January. In 1997, Karisma shot for Dil To Pagal Hai on 1st January. And on 1st January 1996, she shot for Raja Hindustani.
Canteen 420?
The contractor running the canteen at Eros cinema, Bombay, needs to put a check on a couple of his canteenwallahs. For, they don’t hesitate in fleecing the gullible customers who rush for snacks and cold-drinks during interval. As it happened earlier this week with one of the family members of Film Information. He had gone to see Chachi 420 at Eros alongwith his family and ventured (in the crowded foyer) to buy a packet each of vegetable samosas (Rs. 10) and Uncle Chipps (Rs. 15). On giving a Rs. 50 note, he was returned Rs. 20. Not a word was uttered by the guy who gave him the snacks and returned the change. What’s more, the guy had even started attending to other customers. The Information person was about to move from there when he realised, he had got Rs. 5 less. He checked the rates (displayed on a board in the canteen) and again checked the change he had got from the canteenwallah and only then asked him for the balance Rs. 5. It is then that the guy on the counter told him that he didn’t have Rs. 5 change and asked him if he had Rs. 5 so that he could take that and return Rs. 10. Why did the man not say this earlier? Why did he have to wait for the customer to ask for the balance Rs. 5? Your guess is as good as ours. Since Eros has a large clientele of affluent people, there are many who don’t even count the change before putting it into their pockets. It’s really sad that such an incident should have taken place at a prestigious cinema like Eros.
While on Eros, its air-conditioning plant was not working even that day. It’s been in a non-working condition for quite a few days now. Considering that the balcony ticket rate is Rs. 75, isn’t it too much for the air-conditioner to remain switched off — for whatever reasons — for days together?
Political Parodies
Come elections and it’s time for the politicians to use the latest hit film songs to woo voters and to run down their opponents. This time, even hit pop songs are being used by the BJP to poke fun at the Congress. Political parties usually make special audio cassettes of these parodies of hit numbers and distribute them free of charge among voters. The BJP this time is using Altaf Raja’s super-hit qawwali, Tum to thehre pardesi from the album of the same name, to tease Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. The parody goes thus: Tum to thehre pardesi/Saath kya nibhaaoge/Pehli flight se Italy chale jaaoge. Another BJP song that’s tipped to be an instant hit (like the film from which it has been inspired) is Dilli to pagal hai.
How’s This Title?
And this one to keep you smiling through the week.
Govinda’s pet name, as everybody knows, is Chi Chi. It is also common knowledge that Govinda’s Aunty No. 1 is inspired from Mrs. Doubtfire, on which is also based Chachi 420. So what should have been the title of Aunty No. 1?
Rattle your brains for a while. If you can’t think of the answer, read this last line:
It should be Chi Chi 420. Howzatt?!?
