PYAAR ISHQ AUR MOHABBAT
Trimurti Films Pvt. Ltd.’s Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat, inspired by the English film There’s Something About Mary, is an insipid drama right from the word ‘go’. The sensitivity of a love story is totally missing. The story is about a rich industrialist who loves a girl and wants to get married to her. She, however, spurns his offer because she wants to pursue her medical studies and, therefore, does not want to be tied down by marriage. The rich guy then hires the services of a model-cum-actor to get the girl interested in him (industrialist) and for this, he pays him Rs. 10 crore! The model follows the girl to Scotland where she goes for further studies. He woos the girl and uses all his charm to make her fall head over heels in love with him. After ensuring that the girl is madly in love with him (model), he breaks her heart with the aim of making her turn to the industrialist for solace. The girl does return to the man whose proposal for marriage she had turned down. But then, the model realises that he had, while wooing her for the industrialist, also fallen in love with her. Simultaneously, a young and handsome Indian, settled in Scotland, falls in love with the girl. So, there’s one girl and three guys in love with her. Ultimately, she marries the model whom she, too, had loved.
The story is quite ridiculous for Indian sensibilities and the treatment is very shabby. Several questions remain unanswered, perhaps, because the writers (Rajiv Rai and Shabbir Boxwala), and director (Rajiv Rai) didn’t themselves have any answers. For instance, why would any guy pay Rs. 10 crore to just get the girl in his arms when he should actually have sought a guarantee from the hired model that the girl would marry him (industrialist)? The deal between the model and the businessman is that the former will ensure that the girl gets interested in the latter and, in return, he will be paid Rs. 10 crore! What if the girl still does not agree to get married to the businessman? Further, why would anybody, in the first place, resort to such a ridiculous, preposterous and far-fetched way to win a girl’s heart is just not explained. The lack of explanation, needless to add, is jarring!
One would expect the girl to be extremely beautiful or terrific by nature for her to be desired by three eligible bachelors. But neither Keerti Reddy’s looks nor her characterisation fits the bill, thereby making the whole drama look unbelievable and contrived.
The film proceeds at a snail’s pace and becomes boring at many places. The boredom also creeps in because the incidents have no novelty whatsoever. The proceedings become quite tedious after a while. The youthfulness of a love story is missing.
If the story and screenplay are weak, the dialogues (by Naeem Sha) are too ordinary to be true. Climax is very silly, with the girl almost reduced to being a purchasable commodity.
Sunil Shetty’s characterisation of a sober businessman leaves him little scope to act. His slow and soft speaking style gets irritating after a point. Aftab Shivdasani is natural. Arjun Rampal makes an impressive debut. He has a fantastic physique and a superb voice. He acts quite well but he does not look very young for a newcomer. Keerti Reddy is a total loss. She acts very badly. Monica Bedi is also dull. All the four — Aftab, Arjun, Keerti and Monica — show no grace in dances. Isha Koppikar is so-so. Dalip Tahhil does an average job. His being referred to as ‘Lord’ makes no sense. Raza Murad, Harish Patel, Smita Jayakar, Anita Kanwal and Dinesh Anand pass muster. Priya Tendulkar looks horrendous in a wig that doesn’t suit her at all. Rest fill the bill.
Rajiv Rai’s direction is uninspired and it is difficult to decide what is worse — his scripting or his narration. Viju Sha’s music is good but the absence of even one hit song is sorely felt. The title song, ‘Apni yaadon ko’, ‘Chand ho ya na ho’, ‘Jab tujhe maine dekha’ and ‘Dono taraf’ are good. Song picturisations are unexciting if only because of the poor dancing by the lead stars. Camerawork is good; foreign locations are breathtaking. Background score is ordinary. Editing is weak.
On the whole, Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat is a dull and boring film with an uninteresting story. At the box-office, it will keep its distributors sad, bewildered aur poorer by lakhs.
Released on 3-8-2001 at Liberty and 18 other cinemas of Bombay thru Modern Movies. Publicity: good. Opening: average. …….Also released all over. Opening in other circuits was alarmingly low!
HUM HO GAYE AAP KE
Venus Records & Tapes Ltd.’s Hum Ho Gaye Aap Ke (UA), remade from a Tamil film, is a love triangle. A handsome guy, son of a billionaire, does not believe in the concept of love and the institution of marriage. According to him, money can buy anything and everything. His friend, who works in his company, hails from a middle-class family. He believes in love but has his own insecurities. A girl comes in the lives of the two guys. She is young, sensible and traditional. She decides to get married to the middle-class boy but the latter, despite being madly in love with her, cannot convince his parents to let him marry her. Disgusted by his behaviour and disillusioned, she turns to the billionaire’s son although he is an alcoholic and a womaniser. Her entry in his life makes him realise the importance of love. He turns over a new leaf and decides to get married to her but there’s a hitch. She spurns his offer but he finally manages to get her approval.
The story (Ahathian) is too old-fashioned and the screenplay (Ahathian, again) is very poor. The romance between the girl and the rich guy is half-baked. The common problem about dowry, in the life of the girl as also the middle-class boy, has been very childishly and crudely handled so that the scenes are unintentionally hilarious when they should’ve been emotional. They are also overtly regressive in thought. Showing the rich boy permanently in an inebriated state is more irritating than impactful. The transformation of the billionaire boy looks contrived. Climax is terribly slow and stretched and tests the audience’s patience. Emotions are conspicuous by their absence. Comedy, too, is totally missing. Romance does not appeal. Dialogues (Sunil Kumar Agarwal) are too commonplace to be true.
Fardeen Khan fails to make a mark as the billionaire guy. His performances is unbelievably shoddy. His constant laughter before he utters any dialogue, in several scenes, is irritating. His dialogue delivery continues to be lifeless. The only silver lining is that he looks very handsome. Reema Sen makes a dull debut. She looks ordinary and acts routinely. Apoorva Agnihotri is bad. He needs to change his hair-style, besides his acting style. Suresh Oberoi does a fair job. Suman Ranganath gets no scope. Sadashiv Amarapurkar has been wasted. Neena Kulkarni, Achyut Potdar and Suhas Joshi, with outlandish characterisations in today’s times, are average. Mahesh Thakur, Ghanshyam, Shammi and the rest pass muster.
Ahathian’s direction is rather dull. He has failed to bring out any emotions of the story whatsoever. The subject needed sensitive handling but his narration is shockingly mechanical. Nadeem Shravan’s music is quite good. The title song (picturised on two junior artistes, unfortunately!), ‘Dekho ye deewana’, ‘Pehli baar’, ‘Der se hua’ and ‘Ishq hai kya’ are tuneful numbers. Camerawork (Ravi Yadav) is alright. Production values are appropriate.
On the whole, Hum Ho Gaye Aap Ke is a non-starter and a weak fare.
Released on 3-8-2001 at Novelty, Metro (matinee) and 18 other cinemas of Bombay thru Venus Records & Tapes Ltd. Publicity: good. Opening: dull. …….Also released all over. Opening was unimaginably poor everywhere.
LATEST POSITION
The disastrous opening of PYAAR ISHQ AUR MOHABBAT has only added to the miseries of the trade after the debacle of YAADEIN….
Yaadein… has bombed. Collections nose-dived everywhere from the second day onwards. Had to be discontinued mid-week from some cinemas due to lack of audience. It did well during weekends in UK (no. 7 with a gross of 133,000 pounds) and US ($646,880) but dropped thereafter. 1st week Bombay 72,95,061 (88.65%) from 15 cinemas (8 on F.H.); Ahmedabad 8,72,986 from 4 cinemas, Rajkot 1,13,780 (1 unrecd.), Jamnagar 1,82,541 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee); Pune 23,70,952 from 6 cinemas (1 in matinee), Solapur 2,96,263 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee), Sangli 2,10,327 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee); Bijapur (6 days) 1,74,477 from 2 cinemas (1 cinema 3 days); Delhi 99,57,390 (67.42%) from 16 cinemas (1 on F.H.); Kanpur (6 days) 5,15,200 from 2 cinemas, Lucknow 8,63,955 from 2 cinemas, Agra 2,97,265, Bareilly (6 days) 1,76,439, Jaunpur 65,000; Calcutta 24,52,098 from 6 cinemas (other cinemas undisclosed); Nagpur 8,51,139 from 4 cinemas, Jabalpur (6 days) 2,59,498, Amravati 2,70,827, Akola 2,17,050, Raipur (gross, 6 days) 2,98,635, Wardha 93,312, Rajnandgaon (6 days) 63,185, Chandrapur 1,86,532, Yavatmal 1,21,352; Indore 2,40,000 (3 on F.H.), Bhopal 1,91,214 (2 unrecd.); Jaipur 13,30,768 (50.55%) from 4 cinemas, Jodhpur 2,24,868, Ajmer (gross) 2,59,854; Hyderabad (gross) 53,05,738 from 19 cinemas (1 in noon, 5 on F.H.). Total 3,57,57,706 from 102 cinemas.
…………
Lagaan (21 shows all over) 7th week Bombay 36,53,023 (68%) from 10 cinemas (9 on F.H.), total for 7 weeks 4,20,30,037; Ahmedabad 1,60,767 from 2 cinemas; Pune 8,27,133 from 4 cinemas; Delhi (TF) 21,35,611 from 7 cinemas; Kanpur (6 days) 64,367, Lucknow 2,24,949, Agra 80,000, Bareilly 28,743; Calcutta 5,63,507 from 3 cinemas; Nagpur 1,97,243 from 2 cinemas, 6th week Jabalpur (6 days) 32,875, 7th week Amravati 79,716, Akola 7 weeks’ total 5,54,295, 7th Raipur (6 days) 45,825, Jalgaon 47,094, 5th week Yavatmal 22,245; 7th Indore 58,000; Jaipur 1,98,606 (33.44%); Hyderabad (gross) 5,81,129 from 3 cinemas (2 in noon, 2 on F.H.). Total 95,55,128 from 43 cinemas.
Gadar Ek Prem Katha continues to rule even in 7th week. 7th week Bombay 38,00,096 (59%) from 13 cinemas (8 on F.H.), total for 7 weeks 4,65,68,248; Ahmedabad 6,03,972 from 7 cinemas, 1st week Himmatnagar 3,64,422 from 2 cinemas, Godhra 1,97,625, 7th week Jamnagar 58,982 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee); Pune 12,51,788 from 7 cinemas (1 in matinee), Solapur 1,51,918 from 2 cinemas (1 in matinee); Delhi 40,25,137 from 14 cinemas (3 on F.H.); Kanpur 3,26,240 from 2 cinemas, Lucknow 4,57,275 from 2 cinemas, Agra 3,08,000, Bareilly (6 days) 62,043, Jaunpur 35,000; Calcutta 5,37,938 from 3 cinemas; Nagpur 3,49,165 from 3 cinemas, Jabalpur 1,28,111, total 8,99,066, city record, 5th Balaghat 76,106, 7th week Amravati 1,55,110, Akola 1,32,820, Dhule 81,416, total 13,16,893, Raipur (6 days) 96,057, Jalgaon 1,60,772 (6th 1,95,441), Wardha 42,450, Rajnandgaon (6 days) 38,703, Yavatmal 63,952; Indore 1,44,547 (1 on F.H.), Bhopal 1,71,060; Jaipur 2,89,355 (49.45%), Ajmer (gross) 1,96,420, Bikaner 1,68,214; Hyderabad (gross) 4,70,810 from 2 cinemas. Total 1,49,32,393 from 78 cinemas.
BRAHMACHARI DEAD
Well-known character actor Brahmachari expired on 1st August in New Delhi. He was 62. He had started his career in Devendra Goel’s Dus Lakh.
Brahmachari had acted in more than 75 Hindi films. He is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters.
‘NAYAK’ PASSED WITH ‘U’ CERTIFICATE
Sri Surya Movies’ Nayak, seen by the CBFC’s examining committee in Madras on 2nd August, has been passed with a U certificate. Written and directed by Shankar for producer A.M. Ratnam, the film stars Anil Kapoor, Rani Mukerji, Pooja Batra, Amrish Puri, Johny Lever, Paresh Rawal, Shivaji Satam, Saurabh Shukla and, in a special appearance, Sushmita Sen. It has music by A.R. Rahman and lyrics by Anand Bakshi.
Nayak is slated for release on 24th August all over.
RAJASTHAN GOVERNMENT’S INCENTIVES FOR FILM INDUSTRY
The Jaipur Development Authority will develop a Film City on land admeasuring 1,300 bighas, situated about 15 kms. away from Jaipur. The site development work will start by 15th of this month. Land in the Film City will be allotted to film people for establishing studios, film processing laboratories, sound recording studios, residential blocks, hotels, restaurants etc. A committee, chaired by minister for urban development, will be in charge of the allotment. The minister for tourism, art and culture (presently, Bina Kak), secretary, urban development, and secretary, tourism, art and culture will be the members of the committee. The commissioner, Jaipur Development Authority, will be its member secretary.
To boost film activities in Rajasthan, the state government has also decided to grant 100% exemption from payment of entertainment tax for one year to those films which are shot at least 75% in the state. The period of 1 year will run from the date of first release of the film. Such exemption will be available to films with ‘U’ certificate.
New multiplexes, drive-in cinemas and water sports-based tourism units will be exempted from entertainment tax to the extent of 75% in the first year, 50% in the second year, and 25% in the third year.
Land upto 2,000 sq. yards in rural Rajasthan will be allowed to be automatically converted if it is to be used for construction of tourism units, cinemas, hotels or institutes.
ANOTHER HONOUR FOR ‘BAWANDAR’
Jagmohan Mundhra’s Bawandar (Sandstorm) was screened as the inaugural film of the 6th International Trivandrum Film Festival on 27th July. This year’s fete marks the silver jubilee of Chalachitra Society which was founded by filmmakers Shaji Karun and Adoor Gopalakrishnan.
VED GOSWAMI NO MORE
Punjabi and Hindi film, television and dubbing artiste Ved Goswami expired on 29th July at his residence in Bombay. He was 62. He had started his career in the seventies as the main villain in Maa Da Laadla. His serials currently on air are Jamane Ko Dikhana Hai, Nikinu, Fite Mooh, Dupatta and Badda Kaun.
Ved Goswami is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters.
SHAH RUKH KHAN VISITS DALAI LAMA
Shah Rukh Khan recently visited the Bylakuppe Tibetan Settlement near Mysore and called on the Dalai Lama to seek blessings for his under-production film, Asoka, made under his home banner. The Tibetan spiritual leader blessed the producer-actor and offered him a traditional shawl. Shah Rukh Khan also said that he wanted the Dalai Lama to see Asoka as it included the teachings of Buddha. Shah Rukh later announced plans of dubbing the film in Tamil. He said, the Tamil version would be released simultaneously with the Hindi version.
ZEE’S MULTIPLEX IN AHMEDABAD
A 6-screen multiplex, owned by Zee group, opened on 27th July in Ahmedabad on Satellite Road. The inauguration was attended by Subhash Chandra of Zee, Gujarat chief minister Keshubhai Patel and governor Sundar Singh Bhandari, all three of who lit the auspicious lamp to mark the opening. Yaadein… (in two screens), Aks, Gadar and Lagaan were the opening attractions. The multiplex with a shopping mall, food courts etc. is called Fun Republic.
An entertainment programme by Falguni Pathak preceded the extravagant dinner at the inauguration.
NCB FILES CASE AGAINST FARDEEN KHAN
Fardeen Khan and two others were charged under section 28 read with section 21 and 8(c) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (possessing, buying or selling drugs) in a complaint filed by the Narcotics Control Bureau in a special court in Bombay on 2nd August. If convicted, the actor could face a minimum of ten years’ rigorous imprisonment. If, however, Fardeen can prove that he was buying the drug (when he was nabbed by the police on 5th May) for his personal consumption, he can escape with lesser punishment, ranging from one day to one year in jail.
NEW MULTIPLEX IN DELHI
A new 3-screen multiplex was inaugurated on 26th July in Delhi at Naraina. Called PVR Naraina, it is owned by Priya Village Roadshow. A premiere of Yaadein… was held on the inauguration day. The multiplex has not yet been thrown open to the public.
PRODUCTION NEWS
‘All The Best’ Is Now ‘Aankhen’
The title of V.R. Pictures’ All The Best has been changed to Aankhen. Being produced by Gaurang Doshi and directed by Vipul Shah, the film stars Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Sushmita Sen, Arjun Rampal, Paresh Rawal, Bipasha Basu and Aditya Pancholi. Writer: Aatish Kapadia. Cinematographer: Ashok Mehta. Action: Abbas Ali. Editor: Shirish. Art: Jayant Deshmukh. Vinod Doshi presents the film.
DO YOU KNOW?
* Beginning this week, there will be a lucky draw in each and every show of LAGAAN at Regal, Indore. A lucky ticket counterfoil will be drawn and the holder of the corresponding foil will be presented a cricket bat, signed by an artiste of the film.
* Home Minister L.K. Advani saw DIL CHAHTA HAI in Delhi on 2nd August.
* Udit Narayan was so impressed with the 12-minute song which he sang for B.S. Shaad’s Punjabi film, KHALSE DI SIRJINA, recently that he volunteered to lend his voice over again to the song because he felt, it needed to be sung with more emotions. This, after music director Vidya Sagar had okayed the song.
* YAADEIN… has created a record by collecting 8,85,419/- in 1st week at Metro, Calcutta (at increased admission rates for part of the week). It has also created a record by collecting 6,28,528/- in 1st week at Priya, Calcutta.
* GADAR has created a theatre record by collecting 1,97,625/- in 1st week at Moonlight, Godhra (Gujarat).
* GADAR has created a theatre record by collecting 1,89,422/- in 1st week at Himmat, Himmatnagar (Gujarat). It has also created a theatre record by collecting 1,75,000/- in 1st week at Neelam, Himmatnagar.
* GADAR has created a record by collecting 4,03,614/- in 7th week at Hans, Delhi.
* GADAR has created yet another record by collecting 1,32,880/- in 7th week at Payal, Dehradun. Total: 20,09,682/-.
* GADAR has created another record at Panchsheel, Amravati by collecting 1,55,110/- in 7th week.
* GADAR has created city records by collecting 1,69,850/- in 6th week and 1,32,820/- in 7th week at Vasant, Akola. Total for 7 weeks: 14,01,741/-, record.
* GADAR has created a city record by collecting a total of 8,60,767/- in 7 weeks at Arati, Wardha. 7th week’s collection: 42,450/-.
* GADAR has created yet another record by collecting a total of 4,97,490/- in 5 weeks at Shyam, Balaghat. 5th week’s collection: 76,106/-.
* MUJHE KUCCH KEHNA HAI has created a theatre record by collecting 12,22,743/- in 10 weeks at Uday, Akola. Share: 8,51,405/-.
* THE MUMMY RETURNS has created a record for dubbed films by collecting 5,05,797/- in 3 weeks at Manek, Akola.