FARZ
Vishant International’s Farz (A) is a routine action thriller. A young and fearless Punjab police officer (Sunny Deol looking older than the youthful character he plays) is posted in Bombay and he believes in eliminating crime from its very roots. His partner (Om Puri), however, believes in taking no risks. The young police officer takes on the responsibility of nailing a dreaded underworld don (Jackie Shroff) and his brother (Mukesh Tiwari). His girlfriend (Preity Zinta) opts to become an eye-witness to the murder of her best friend by the don’s brother. While the brother is killed by the young police officer, the don is arrested. However, the scheming, revenge-seeking don hatches a conspiracy and escapes from the clutches of law even as the world thinks, he is killed in a road accident. He then tortures the young police officer whom his seniors don’t trust when he says that the don is alive. Ultimately, the officer succeeds in killing the don in a fight-to-finish battle.
The story is of the variety seen in umpteen films earlier. Screenplay (by Sutanu Gupta and Raj Kanwar) only serves to highlight the mediocrity of the selected subject. No attempt seems to have been made to infuse the drama with fresh or novel incidents. Resultantly, the fare becomes boring after a while. The only thing on which money and efforts seem to have been spent is action. But alas! exploding cars flying in the air is not what the audience likes to see today, having already witnessed similar sights in films of three and five years back. Furthermore, fist-fights, which cinegoers enjoy seeing Sunny Deol involved in, are few whereas gun-fights, which don’t really impress or inspire, are aplenty. Some dialogues (Kamlesh Pandey and Raj Kanwar) are definitely very appealing.
The second half is unduly stretched, what with the don torturing the police officer when he can easily kill him.
Sunny Deol is effective in the out-and-out action role. But he looks a bit old and extra-stocky. His wig (patch) is a little weird too. Preity Zinta is cute and acts ably in the limited role she has. Jackie Shroff makes an unexciting villain in the role of a don who is more intellectual than fiery. His attire (kurta and trousers as also spectacles and a stubble) adds to the intellectual look. Om Puri is impressive although he has not been used to his full potential. Mukesh Tiwari is average. Johny Lever entertains at places only. His take-off on Kaun Banega Crorepati game-show has no relevance to his comedy track and is irritating. Farida Jalal does a fine job. Rest of the cast supports well.
Raj Kanwar’s direction looks dated. Known generally for having a good feel of the public pulse, he seems to have become lackadaisical. Tinnu Verma’s action is getting too repetitive to be true! Although a fortune has been spent on stunts and action scenes, it almost appears like wasteful expenditure. Music (Uttam Singh) is uninspiring. A couple of songs are fair but one or two songs can be safely shortened. Camerawork (Ishwar Bidri) is of a good standard.
On the whole, Farz has action which may appeal to the audience in Punjab and U.P. but in the rest of India, it will find it difficult to lure the audience in and, thereafter, to sustain audience interest.
Released on 12-1-2001 at Novelty and 21 other cinemas of Bombay thru Vishant International. Publicity: very good. Opening: good. …….Also released all over. Opening was dull in Bengal, C.I. and Rajasthan.
LATEST POSITION
It is trying times for the industry in more ways than one.
Galiyon Ka Badshah is a disaster. 1st week Nagpur 45,109 from 2 cinemas; did very poor in Hyderabad, discontinued mid-week from 3 cinemas.
Bindiya Maange Bandook 1st week Bareilly 31,740.
Raju Chacha faces a disastrous drop at most places. 2nd week Bombay 40,69,854 (62.58%) from 12 cinemas (6 on F.H.), total 1,03,17,682; Ahmedabad 13,81,901 from 7 cinemas, Rajkot 1,19,000, Jamnagar 46,776 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee); Pune 6,52,398 from 3 cinemas (1 in matinee), Solapur 1,03,736; Delhi 27,00,272 from 10 cinemas (1 on F.H.); Kanpur (6 days) 1,71,237 from 2 cinemas, Lucknow 3,26,118, Agra 1,58,000, Varanasi 1,06,430, Allahabad 74,142, Bareilly 55,900, Hardwar 35,000; Jabalpur 80,263, total 2,40,356, Amravati 1,06,352, Akola 69,528, Raipur (gross) 1,49,887, Bhilai 54,631; Indore 1,25,000 (1 on F.H.); Ajmer (gross) 1,16,408, Bikaner 1,02,704; Hyderabad (gross) 8,35,978 from 4 cinemas (2 on F.H.); Guntur (gross, 5 days) 53,236, 1st week Ongole (gross) 81,689.
Khiladi 420 loses the game. 2nd week Bombay 13,82,261 (26.78%) from 9 cinemas (9 on F.H), total 49,70,393; Jamnagar 60,419 from2 cinemas (1 in matinee); Pune 1,92,124, Solapur 91,049 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee); Delhi 4,11,585 from 4 cinemas (1 on F.H.); Kanpur (6 days) 1,11,040 from 2 cinemas, Lucknow 2,38,002, Agra 1,75,000, Allahabad 39,986, Bareilly 48,978, Hardwar 20,000; Calcutta 2,89,819 from 2 cinemas; Nagpur 85,969 from 2 cinemas, Jabalpur 43,741, total 1,38,254, Amravati 84,577, Akola 52,816, Dhule 57,742, total 1,97,329, Raipur 65,709, Bhilai 22,830, Jalgaon 77,252, Bilaspur 27,586; Ajmer 1,19,297; Hyderabad (gross) 4,29,287 from 2 cinemas.
Hari Bhari (TF) 2nd week Bombay (14 shows) 94,860 (93.05%).
Champion is on its way out everywhere. 3rd week Bombay 5,33,358 from 4 cinemas (9 on F.H.), total 73,18,096; Ahmedabad 1,34,388 from 2 cinemas; Pune 2,57,410 from 3 cinemas, Solapur 1,15,465; Delhi 1,66,775 from 2 cinemas (3 on F.H.); Kanpur (6 days) 86,945 from 2 cinemas, Lucknow 1,30,298, Agra 62,000, Varanasi 59,297, Allahabad 55,500, Bareilly (6 days) 28,729, Hardwar 20,000; Calcutta 1,14,644; Nagpur 52,289, Jabalpur 27,909, 1st week Kamptee 56,355, 3rd week Amravati 76,348, Akola 31,000, Raipur (6 days) 20,667, Bhilai (6 days) 16,303, Jalgaon 44,671, Yavatmal (nett) 1,16,130; Bhopal 36,342; Bikaner 51,336; Hyderabad (gross) 4,83,283 from 3 cinemas; 1st week Mangalore 1,57,865.
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar (dubbed, TF) 4th week Bombay 9,79,112 from 4 cinemas (1 on F.H.), total 47,89,299; 2nd week Ahmedabad 90,812; 3rd week Pune 2,77,407; 4th week Nagpur 1,96,521 from 2 cinemas, Amravati 1,56,399, total 5,50,000, share 3,80,000, Akola 86,400, total 5,81,100, 1st week Jalgaon 87,954, 3rd week Chandrapur 73,400.
Mohabbatein 11th week Bombay 23,06,350 (64.67%) from 10 cinemas (5 on F.H.), total 4,23,30,269; Ahmedabad 2,56,020 from 4 cinemas (2 unrecd.); Pune 2,53,254 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee), Solapur (matinee) 38,325; Delhi 8,87,483 from 6 cinemas; Kanpur (6 days) 1,22,887 from 3 cinemas, Lucknow 3,56,044, Agra 2,15,000, Allahabad 88,224, Bareilly (6 days) 17,093; Calcutta 3,65,025; Nagpur 1,44,913 from 2 cinemas, Jabalpur (6 days) 76,607, total 16,92,782, 2nd week Balaghat 65,170, total 1,60,153, 11th week Amravati 1,06,525, total 19,94,880, 3rd week Kamptee 37,675, total 1,62,327, 11th week Akola 73,664, total 13,43,889, Dhule 47,214, total 11,19,251, Raipur (6 days, gross) 74,447, Bhilai 18,698, 6th week Durg 23,239, 11th week Jalgaon 90,139; Indore 86,433 from 2 cinemas; Ajmer (21 shows) 37,136; Hyderabad (gross) 5,89,304 from 2 cinemas (1 in noon).
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Raju (Marathi, TF) 1 week Bombay (matinee) 35,459 (25.79%).
Mor Chhainha Bhuinya (Chhattisgarhi) 11th week Raipur (nett) 1,21,027, total 20,69,165, Chhattisgarh record, 7th week Rajnandgaon 93,476, total 10,09,694, 9th week Bhilai (6 days) 51,400.
CALCUTTA POLICE ARREST GULSHAN KUMAR’S ASSAILANT
The Calcutta police nabbed one Abdul Rauf Daud Merchant, a Dawood Ibrahim hitman, on 8th January in Calcutta where he was holed up with his wife. He confessed to having killed Gulshan Kumar in Bombay in 1998. The hit man and his wife, Minhaz, were produced before the court in Calcutta the following day. They have been remanded to police custody till January 20.
The Bombay police on 10th January obtained a warrant from the Esplanade court to seek custody of Abdul Rauf.
Known by different names to his acquaintances, he had obtained a passport in the name of Bimal Das about a month back.
The hitman confessed to having received Rs. 1 lakh as the first instalment after killing Gulshan Kumar.
The 29-year-old Abdul Rauf was to arrive in Bombay to execute another killing.
CALCUTTA CINEMAS TO CLOSE FOR 3 DAYS
Nearly 750 cinemas in Calcutta and other places in Bengal will remain closed for three days, from January 19 to 21, due to cinema employees’ strike for a revision in pay scales. The Bengal Motion Picture Employees’ Union has demanded a 70% hike in basic pay. The Union has threatened to go on an indefinite strike if the three-day strike fails to elicit any response to their demands. According to Swadhin Aloke Mukherjee, joint secretary of the Employees’ Union, the wages of the cinema employees have not been revised since 1996.
GURDAS MAAN INJURED
Leading Punjabi singer and film actor Gurdas Maan suffered head injuries when the car he was travelling in collided with a truck at Korali village (Ropar district) in Punjab on 9th January. He, alongwith his driver, Tejpal, 38, was admitted to Chandigarh Medical Institute where Tejpal succumbed to his injuries. Gurdas Mann is out of danger.
SHAKTI KAPOOR HURT IN ROAD ACCIDENT
Actor Shakti Kapoor was badly injured in a road accident on the morning of 7th January about 70 km. away from Nasik. He was returning after performing in a show in Nasik. The accident took place when the driver of Shakti Kapoor’s car swerved to avoid a truck coming from the opposite direction and rammed into a tree. The car was completely mangled due to the impact. While the driver and the spot boy (who was also travelling by the same Honda City car) escaped unhurt, four of Shakti Kapoor’s ribs were broken. He also complained of breathing problems. Fortunately, timely help from two passers-by saved his life. Shakti was rushed to a nearby hospital and treated immediately. The actor is recuperating at home.
PRODUCTION NEWS
‘Ajnabee’ On Cruise Liner
Directors Abbas-Mustan started an 11-day shooting spell of Film Folks’ Ajnabee aboard Ocean Majesty, a cruise liner, on Jan. 3. Some scenes and the climax are being picturised on Akshay Kumar, Bobby Deol, Kareena Kapoor, Bipasha Basu and Sharat Saxena. Being produced by Vijay Galani, the film also stars Johny Lever, Narendra Bedi, Amita Nangia, Sheela Sharma, Dalip Tahhil and Mink (guest appearance). Music: Anu Malik. Lyrics: Sameer. Story: Shyam Goel, Neeraj Vora, Sanjeev Duggal and Robin Bhatt. Editor: Hussain Burmawala. Art: R. Varman. Action: Kaushal Moses. Sound: Jitendra Chaudhury. Cinematographer: Rajan Kinagi. Venus Records & Tapes presents the film.
Dharmendra Signed
Producer Nitin Mittal has signed Dharmendra to act in Parijat Films’ Shiva Ka Insaaf. A 15-day shooting schedule of the film commenced on Jan. 7 at Surve Farm, Nasik, Mahabaleshwar and Esel Studios. The film co-stars Shakti Kapoor, Mohan Joshi, Hemant Birje, Deepak Shirke, Raza Murad, Joginder, Shehzad Khan, Anil Nagrath, Sapna, Satnam Kaur, Saheba, Vijay Solanki and Rajesh Rajput. All the songs were recorded till Jan. 2 by music director Ghulam Ali at K.K. Studios. Director: Ramesh Lakhiani. S.C. Mittal presents the film.
‘Mastana’ Nears Completion
A 5-day shooting stint of United Films Combines’ Mastana will begin on Jan. 15 at various bungalows and locales of Bombay. Govinda, Jackie Shroff, Mahima Chaudhry, Arun Govil, Jaspal Bhatti, Anjan Srivastava, Tiku Talsania, Avtar Gill and Upasna Singh will participate in the picturisation of pre-climax scenes. Rambha makes a special appearance. The film, now 95% complete, is being produced by Vasant Doshi and directed by Parto Ghosh. Executive producer: Kamlesh Doshi. Story-screenplay: Ranbir Pushp. Dialogues: Anwar Khan. Lyrics: Maya Govind, Dev Kohli, Ibrahim Ashq and Nitin Raikwar. Music: Rajesh Roshan. Cinematographer: Sameer Reddy. Dances: Rekha Chinni Prakash and Ganesh Acharya. Art: Ajit Dandekar. Sound: Prakash Bhatia. Editor: Sanjay Verma.
YOU ASKED IT
When big producers already earn big money from sale of music rights, why do they allow the music companies to come up with remixed versions? Isn’t it unethical or an act of sacrilege?
– Technically speaking, remixed versions are unethical. But producers must be doing it after taking permission from music directors.
In addition to announcing the ‘Bests of 2000’, why don’t you also give awards by organising a function?
– Awards functions are becoming a joke, wouldn’t you agree? And it’s always better to enjoy a joke than to become a part of it!
Is it true that producers shoot films in foreign countries so that they can sell them for higher prices for Overseas?
– For your information, neither HUM AAPKE HAIN KOUN..! nor HUM SAATH-SAATH HAIN was shot abroad. Yet, they got the price they deserved for Overseas.
Industry Shaken By Bharat Shah’s Arrest
“Shocking!” “Unbelievable!” These are the only reactions that came from people in the Hindi film industry when news broke that the no. 1 film financier and diamond merchant, Bharat Shah, had been arrested by the crime branch of the Bombay police on the morning of 8th January. Disbelief was writ large on most faces even as details about the arrest trickled in. Bharat Shah was arrested under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime (MCOC) Act — an Act generally used by the administration to deal with the underworld — for his alleged links with gangster Chhota Shakeel. The police believe that Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, produced by Nazim Rizvi and presented by Bharat Shah, has been, in fact, financed by Chhota Shakeel. Claiming to have “clinching” evidence against Shah, the police produced him in the sessions court, Bombay and secured a remand for him till 18th January. The police claimed that Rizvi, too, had confessed about Bharat Shah’s underworld connections. Shah’s lawyers, Shirish Gupte, Amit Desai, Shiraz Rahimtoola, M.L. Ranjit and Vibhav Krishna, applied for a bail which was denied by the court.
Speculations about Shah’s arrest had begun almost immediately after Nazim Rizvi, the producer of CCCC, was arrested on 13th December, 2000. The day after Rizvi’s arrest, the crime branch had interrogated Bharat Shah over the issue. Shah had denied having any links with the underworld. He had categorically said that he had financed Rizvi to the tune of Rs. 12.7 crore for the film. Several others involved with the film, including Salman Khan, Preity Zinta and Rani Mukerji, were also summoned for questioning. The artistes have since been given a clean chit by the police on the ground that they work for remuneration and are not involved with the film’s making. Shah was summoned for questioning one more time.
A week later, on 20th, the police seized the negatives of the film.
Later, on 8th January, 2001, the crime branch arrested Bharat Shah under the MCOC Act and took him to the crime branch office at Colaba. A tape of the conversation between Chhota Shakeel and Bharatbhai was played. The police claim that Bharatbhai admitted that the voice in the tape was his. Soon thereafter, Shah was produced before the sessions court where judge A.P. Bhangale issued an order remanding him to police custody till 18th January. He was taken to the crime branch office at Colaba in Bombay from where he was taken to J.J. Hospital on 8th at 8.30 p.m. after he complained of chest pain. The doctors there admitted him to the ICU. He was discharged the same night after treatment and taken back to the crime branch lock-up. Bharatbhai was once again admitted to hospital on 9th morning after he complained of uneasiness. He was discharged from hospital in the night. The crime branch also conducted searches at the residence and offices of Shah (offices of B4U, VIP Enterprises at Naaz, his office at Charni Road) and seized some documents. The offices have not been sealed, as rumoured. The crime branch has now solicited the cooperation of the customs department, the Enforcement Directorate, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and other central agencies to probe into his past dealings.
The diamond trade in Bombay was quick to react. All diamond and jewellery firms in Bombay, Gujarat and some parts of the world downed shutters on 10th in protest against Shah’s arrest. Bharatbhai’s diamond company, B. Vijaykumar & Co., has been the recipient of several awards for recording the highest export earnings for the country. Slow on the uptake, the Indian Motion Picture Distributors’ Association called for an industry closure on 12th, but later withdrew it, realising that the solidarity move would serve no practical purpose as the matter was in court. Soon after circulars calling for observation of a bandh were sent out on 11th, the IMPDA issued new circulars, calling off the closure. Still, several distribution offices observed a closure on 12th and Naaz building, which houses distribution and exhibition offices, wore a somewhat deserted look on Friday.
Shah’s lawyers, including senior counsel V.R. Manohar and Ramrao Adik, besides the abovementioned, moved the Bombay high court on 11th, challenging his arrest under the MCOC Act for using slush funds to finance Bollywood films. The petition was, however, adjourned to January 15 by Justice S.S. Parkar after public prosecutor Vidya Kapse-Tahilramani sought time to “seek instructions” in the matter. Shah pleaded for regular bail while keeping the option of interim bail on medical grounds open.
Shah’s lawyers also made an oral plea for medical examination of the accused by a team of doctors in view of his poor health. The judge directed the prosecutor to consider the plea and inform the court so that it could pass suitable orders.
HEARING ON ‘CCCC’ NEGATIVES ADJOURNED TO JAN. 15
The hearing of an application filed by Bharat Shah, seeking the release of the negatives of Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, has been adjourned to 15th January by a special court. The application was adjourned as special public prosecutor Rohini Salian sought time to file her say in the matter on the grounds that the police could not sufficiently interrogate Shah.
Bharat Shah claimed through his lawyers, Shiraz Rahimtoola and Vibhav Krishna, that his company Mega Bollywood P. Ltd., has financed the film by paying Rs. 12.7 crore by cheque alone. Shah’s application states that the monies have been pumped into the company from his personal account. He also said that by an agreement with producer Nazim Rizvi, his company Mega Bollywood held the world rights and perpetual copyrights of the film and the police had “no jurisdiction” to attach the negatives of the film. However, prosecutor Salian said that the police suspect the film to be financed by underworld and, therefore, the police was within its rights to seize the film’s negatives.
The financier said that if the film was not released, there would be a multiplicity of proceedings against him since third party rights of several distributors had already been created. He therefore prayed for an injunction restraining the police from interfering with the release of the film.
Clouds Of Confusion
Panic struck the industry on January 8 when topmost financier and diamond merchant Bharat Shah was arrested under the MCOC Act by the crime branch of Bombay police and charged with having underworld links. The industry continued to be in a state of panic and confusion all through the week.
Progress of films presented by Bharat Shah, like Devdas and Lajja, is bound to be stalled, at least for a while. There is also a question-mark on the commitments of B4U in which Bharatbhai is a major partner. For instance, B4U had acquired the satellite rights of Subhash Ghai’s released films and are yet to pay a good part of the committed price.
While the diamond industry, in a touching show of solidarity, observed a day’s closure on 10th January, the film industry did nothing to that effect. The reasons for the film industry (production sector) not observing a bandh were:
(a) it was felt that no practical purpose would be served by the bandh as law would now take its own course; and
(b) it was also felt that since it was the film industry which had requested the Maharashtra government to cleanse it of underworld elements, the bandh would send wrong signals to the police and may, perhaps, antagonise the police officials.
Therefore, even though the industry is by and large rallying around Bharatbhai and feels, he is innocent, there was no show of solidarity. Several people feel, his arrest is the result of brewing rivalry between NCP leader and Maharashtra deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal and himself.
While what course the law will take, only time will tell, it is being increasingly felt in trade circles that Bharat Shah may now not like to continue in the film financing business after what happened to him on Monday.
Subhash Ghai’s Plea
It is really very unfortunate that film industry of creative people is in the grip of witch-hunting and is being maligned by certain sections of the media. We see it as a deliberate attempt to prevent the efforts we made for corporatising the industry and protecting it from outside pressures. We all filmmakers fully support this government action (albeit late) of cleaning up the dust prevailing in any industry, including film industry in Mumbai.
Police did give us physical protection but not the mental security. I can understand that a few might have succumbed to the outside power to save their own lives. But that’s not the whole industry, they are just a small section of it.
We at Mukta Arts have put all our sincere efforts to corporatise the entertainment industry for the last 21 years and have successfully gained the confidence of income-tax department, banks, insurance, financial institutions and, lastly, even the capital market including all the people who invested in our company. We have been doing our best to institutionalise the film and entertainment business as a whole.
I’m shocked and sad about Mr. Bharat Shah’s arrest and refuse to believe that a man who conducted his life and business with so much respect and dignity for the last 20 years came under pressure to deal with the underworld — as claimed by the police. Anyway, the court will be the best judge to decide the truth.
To clear up the rumours that Mukta Arts has been financed by Mr. Bharat Shah, I must state that Mr. Bharat Shah is a non-executive director on the Board of Mukta Arts Limited and has neither financed the company in any manner whatsoever nor taken part in the management and day-to-day working of the company. However, I may add that we have high regards and respect for him. I hope and pray that he comes out of the eclipse.
MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS
* The media (print and electronic) has been generalising that Bollywood has an underworld nexus. Stories of the Bollywood-underworld links give the impression that almost every producer borrows finance from underworld dons. This is a fallacy as hardly 4 to 5% of the producers may be so linked.
* At least one satellite channel is giving the impression to people that it is more enthusiastic than even the crime branch to nail Bharat Shah. Long news bulletins on the arrest and its aftermath have been found to be too heavily slanted against the Bombay film industry in general and Shah in particular. Due to the channel’s wide reach, people are being misled into believing the worst about the film industry. And to think of it, the channel survives on films, film-based programmes and film artistes! Is the Bollywood-bashing because the channel did not succeed in getting satellite rights and music rights of the latest films, having been outsmarted by a rival channel?
* At least one producer, who is a veteran industry leader, made a childish comment in the press after Bharat Shah’s arrest. Said he: “Stars were asking for too much. Who else can give that much except the underworld?” The leader seems to be living in the 18th century! A star-cast project fetches such fabulous prices for Overseas, satellite and audio rights (besides Indian territorial distribution rights) that the producer’s margin is big, really big. Stars get paid hefty fees from out of these profits, Mr. Leader!
Observations.com
The arrest of noted financier Bharat Shah has put the entire film industry in jeopardy. Producers are panicking and distributors are in such a dismal state of mind that they are avoiding Bombay like the plague. Exhibitors, even otherwise, had been experiencing the worst because their business had been jeopardised much earlier. With no film sustaining at the box-office, with a small part of Bollywood under the underworld influence and the large part of it under police surveillance, things couldn’t have gotten worse.
* * *
On the one hand, the run of films is declining constantly. On the other, new cinemas are springing up all over. Result: cinemas are going abegging to the audience just as cinema owners and controllers are going abegging to distributors for playing programmes.
Gujarat’s R World, the swankiest and also the latest multiplex in India, has had to reduce its admission rates in the morning shows to just Rs. 30. City Gold, another multiplex, located in the heart of Ahmedabad city, has not just cut down its admission rate in the 12 noon shows to Rs. 70 in all its five screens, it has also suspended its 6 p.m. shows due to thin audience. City Pulse, the first multiplex of Gujarat, has had to cancel shows due to lack of audience. All this may be due to the severe cold wave sweeping Gujarat and the cold business in pre-Makar Sankranti days, but these are not the only causes.
With few films and too many cinemas, this will soon become the norm. More and more exhibitors will have to bring down their admission rates. Show cancellations will become the rule rather than the exception, at least in places where there is a surfeit of cinemas.
Not more than a year back, City Pulse at Gandhinagar used to be a distributor’s delight because it gave unheard of shares. But the scene has changed dramatically after R World and City Gold came up at Adalaj and Ahmedabad respectively.
Believe it or not, a full week’s collections of one of the above three multiplexes were a meagre Rs. 16 lakh against a capacity of Rs. 1.30 crore. Yes, less than even 15%! The condition of the other two multiplexes must be only a shade better.
The poor quality of films is to be blamed. While the exhibition sector has kept pace with technological advancements the world over and has brought the latest equipments to India, filmmakers are lagging behind. Scripts are stale, the narration is sub-standard. Writers are a demoralised lot. Little wonder then that the entertainment-hungry audience is turning to television. TRPs are rising, figures in the DCRs are declining.
Will the multiplexes turn out to be ‘multiple problems’ for their owners?
* * *
If distributors of some recent releases in some circuits have managed to sail safe, it is partly because they got good MGs and FHs from exhibitors who have no films to show. But those exhibitors lost in the process. A case of robbing Peter to pay Paul.
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The debacle of Raju Chacha is another pointer to the trend that emerged in the recent times. Actors, who turn producers, have been failing with alarming regularity. Shah Rukh Khan burnt his fingers rather badly in Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani. Sunny Deol lost heavily in Dillagi which was also directed by him. Salman Khan’s experience with Hello Brother was disastrous. Kamal Haasan delivered a bomb in Hey! Ram. Jackie Shroff has not been able to release his Grahan even three years after it is complete and ready. Jackie, however, proved lucky with Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hai because he managed to make money out of it. Rishi Kapoor had to return to acting after his directorial debut, Aa Ab Laut Chalen.
There’s a famous Hindi saying which goes thus: Jiska kaam, usiko saaje.
– Komal Nahta
3-E
Education-Entertainment-Enlightenment
On The ‘KBC’ Bandwagon
The Hindi dubbed version of House On Haunted Hill has been titled Kaun Banega Crorepati Bhoot Bangle Ke Andar. One is apt to think that this is merely an attempt to use a phrase which has gained national popularity. But it is not so, if one goes by the film’s storyline. In brief, the story tells of five characters who are lured by a business tycoon to spend a night in a haunted house atop a hill. The one who succeeds in braving the unknown terrors in the haunted house would win Rs. 5 crore from the tycoon. Who ultimately wins the crores is what the film is all about. So, the title is more than justified in this case. It is a different matter that it is due to the popularity of KBC that the three magical words, Kaun Banega Crorepati, have been appended to the earlier title, Bhoot Bangle Ke Andar. Kaun Banega Crorepati, however, jells well with the title of the dubbed version.
The title of the Amitabh-hosted game show has also been cleverly used in the wall-posters of the repeat-run Amitabh starrer, Coolie. The wall-posters scream, ‘Kaun banega crorepati? Kal ka Coolie banega aaj ka crorepati!’
Another tribute to Kaun Banega Crorepati comes in the form of a song in O Meri Jaan (Bombay Girls). Even after the film was censored, its producers Thakur Bherwani and Kumar Manwani got an additional song picturised in the film. The song, Kaun banega crorepati, was recently picturised by choreographer Habiba Rehman.
But this most popular title has been done to death in Farz. Immediately after commencement of the second half of Farz is a scene showing Johny Lever hosting the Kaun Banega Crorepati show. The participants comprise a group of kids. This scene has no connection with the film’s story at all. It is forced on the audience, perhaps, as an excuse for in-film promotion of Pepsi. The scene has a backdrop of huge Pepsi banners.