(From our issue dated 6th August, 1994)
HUM AAPKE HAIN KOUN..!
Rajshri Productions Pvt. Ltd.’s Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! is an unconventional film in the sense that it is a conventional love story and a family drama but with 14 songs, which is unconventional in today’s time. The songs are interwoven in the story and, in fact, the film moves ahead in the songs.
It comes as a whiff of fresh air in these times when vulgarity and action in films are the topic of discussion all around. It is a clean film for the families, without any action – a solitary slap on Bindu’s cheek by her husband being the only action in the film. All the characters are noble-hearted, except Bindu, to some extent. But even she is more comical than evil.
The film starts as a light entertainer and goes on like that till the last 4 to 5 reels. It, for the first time, presents the customs and traditions in a Hindu marriage in the minutest detail. This may be found as irritating by some. But more will like its novelty. The real drama starts much after the interval and once it does, the fun-n-frolic film becomes a tear-jerker. There are immensely heart-rending scenes one after another, the best being the one in which the heroine picks up the telephone to tell her beloved that she must sacrifice her love for her duty. That scene deserves 100% marks.
Fourteen songs are on the excessive side and the producers would do well to delete a couple of them (which, one is sure, they will do).
If the story is not very substantial (it is on the lines of Rajshri’s own Nadiya Ke Paar), the presentation is fantastic. Sooraj Barjatya’s direction is almost flawless. His blending of emotions with fun is masterly. His expression of romance is exciting without being cheap. He has stuffed his narration with a lot of warmth. He once again proves that he knows his job too well.
Dialogues are simple, natural and also witty at places. One does feel, there should have been more dialogues. This, because there are too many songs.
Madhuri Dixit looks extremely charming and gives a performance that should be hailed. Her dances, as usual, are very graceful. Salman Khan is natural to the core and looks nice. His dance movements are also lovely. Renuka Shahane does well. Mohnish Bahl is restrained. Aloknath gets into the skin of the character and does a praiseworthy job. Anupam Kher is simply superb. Reema gives a moving performance. Laxmikant Berde is effective. Bindu is wonderful. Satish Shah and Ajit Vachani do their roles perfectly. Sahila Chaddha, Himani Shivpuri, Dilip Joshi, Dinesh Hingoo and Priya Arun lend formidable support. The dog has been well exploited and his ‘no ball’ scene is a highlight and clapworthy.
Of the songs (music: Raamlaxman), ‘Didi tera devar deewana’ is already a hit. Its picturisation is sheer fun. The ‘Samdhi samdhan’ song is heartwarming and a pleasure to watch. While some other songs are enjoyable, a couple of them (like the ‘Chocolate’ number) can be advantageously deleted. The ‘Joote de do’ song has a lively picturisation. ‘Pehla pehla pyar’ is beautiful to watch. Generally speaking, the film’s music does not have the ‘instant hit’ quality but the songs grow on the listener. Background music is appropriate.
Cinematography (Rajan Kinagi) is marvellous. Other technical values are also of a high standard. The Stereophonic optical sound enhances the impact. Mixing is perfect. The sets are rich and opulent.
On the whole, Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! has immense appeal and potential for families and ladies. Reduction of its running time (from the present 3 hours and 27 minutes) by editing will not only prove fruitful insofar as show timings are concerned, but will also help its box-office performance and can ensure the film a much longer run.
Released on 5-8-’94 at Liberty, Bombay thru Rajshri Pictures Pvt. Ltd. Publicity: very good. Opening: 100%. …….Also released all over except in East Punjab, Andhra and Tamilnadu. Opening was below expectations in other circuits (mainly due to odd show timings).
VIJAYPATH
Times Magnetics (India) Ltd.’s Vijaypath is out-and-out an action film. A child grows up with one mission in life – to avenge the murders of his father, friend and friend’s parents, his own blinding and the laming of his uncle. The first half is devoted to the hero hunting for the villain. After interval, there isn’t much by way of story. There are simply a series of confrontations between the hero and the villain and his men.
The story and screenplay are more works of convenience than anything else. The angle of the hero wearing dark-glasses doesn’t have the desired impact. Although he doesn’t behave as if he were blind, some assume him to be blind while others never suspect him to be so. Action is stylised and some stunts are highlights. But excessive violence may not go down well with the ladies audience. Music is another plus point.
Ajay Devgan shines in action. He has little scope for performance, though. Tabu impresses very much in dances but she is too casual in her performance. Her expressions don’t change in keeping with the situations. Danny Denzongpa is good. Suresh Oberoi does a fine job. Gulshan Grover’s character is more irritating than comic. Reema, Vikas Anand, Ram Mohan, Gurbachan, Yajnesh Shetty, Anant Jog, Aparajita and the rest of the cast lend the desired support.
Farogh Siddiqui’s direction leaves a lot to be desired. The narrative part in the film is weak. Veeru Devgan’s action is superb, though it is in excess. Anu Malik’s music is hit. ‘Ruk ruk ruk’ is the best number for the masses. Its picturisation is also very eye-catching. ‘Raah mein unse mulaqat ho gayee’, ‘Aaeeye aapka intazar tha’ and ‘Sagar sang kinare hain’ are also very appealing songs. Their picturisations are rich and lavish. Camerawork is good.
On the whole, Vijaypath has action and music but not commensurate substance. It has very good initial value but not the power to sustain.
Released on 5-8-’94 at Maratha Mandir and 30 other cinemas of Bombay by Film Folks Combine thru Shringar Films. Publicity: extraordinary. Opening: excellent. …….Also released all over.
DO YOU KNOW?
* KRANTIVEER has created a theatre record by collecting 61,474/- (100%) in 2nd week at Rajlaxmi, Amravati.
* KRANTIVEER has created a theatre record by collecting 1,55,200/- in 2 weeks at Shalini, Akola.
* KRANTIVEER has created a theatre record by collecting 67,996/- in 2nd week at Chitra, Jalgaon.
* KRANTIVEER has created a record by collecting a total of 1,60,481/- in 2 weeks from Jyoti, Dhulia. 2nd week’s collection: 57,940/-.
YOU ASKED IT
Why have the Rajshris released Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! with only 30 prints all over India in the first week?
– It is an unconventional film in today’s times and they’ve also released it unconventionally. They plan to increase the prints in some weeks. Besides, they are holding back its video cassettes for a long time.
Is Vinod Khanna remaking an English film to launch his son, Akshay?
– One hears that he is remaking CLIFFHANGER. Incidentally, CLIFFHANGER is also being dubbed in Hindi.
Is it a fact that Nana Patekar does not want to play negative roles?
– Yes, it is.
SUBHASH GHAI’S EXPULSION FROM
FMC: A MYSTERY
Has the FMC expelled Subhash Ghai? Or has it not? Mystery surrounds the expulsion of Ghai, with two versions of the story making the rounds in industry circles. While one version is that he has been expelled, the second version has it that the expulsion has not been finalised so far – and may not be carried out after all.
According to FMC general secretary K.D. Shorey, “Subhash Ghai was expelled by the FMC at its meeting held on 26th July and this decision was unanimous. This was a consequence of his shooting with Sanjay Dutt for Trimurti without obtaining the FMC’s clearance.”
G.P. Sippy, however, says that he has learnt that Subhash Ghai has not been expelled. A letter was dashed by Sippy on behalf of the Film Producers’ Guild, of which Ghai is a member, to the FMC on 4th August, expressing shock that the FMC had chosen to expel Ghai. Although no reply has so far been sent to the Guild, it is learnt that the FMC has orally conveyed to the Guild that no such expulsion has taken place and that press reports to that effect were false.
When asked whether the FMC had received a letter from the Guild or from Mr. G.P. Sippy, Shorey told Information, “We have not received any such letter.” However, sources wishing to remain anonymous confirmed that a letter was received by the FMC from the Guild on 4th.
Subhash Ghai himself was perplexed on the expulsion issue. “How can the FMC expel me when I am not its member?”, he queried. “I am a member of the Guild and I have referred the matter to my Association for their doing the needful,” he concluded.
In the meantime, the FMC is expected to meet on 8th August when the matter of Ghai’s expulsion is likely to be taken up. Insiders believe, there may be fireworks over the expulsion issue.
The Guild is also to meet on 13th August to discuss the issue.
FILM CITY, ADLABS COLLABORATE
FOR LAB AT FILM CITY
The Maharashtra Film, Stage and Cultural Development Corporation Ltd., in collaboration with Adlabs, will set up a modern film processing laboratory at Film City. The bhoomi poojan of the new laboratory was performed on 4th August. Amitabh Bachchan was the guest of honour.
Estimated to cost approximately Rs. 7.5 crore, the laboratory will have a built-up area of 45,000 square feet. It is expected to start functioning in the second half of 1996 and will have state-of-the-art equipments to process 35mm, 16mm, reduction prints and blow-up prints in all types. Among other things, the lab is also expected to have a modern preview theatre with magnetic and optical Stereophonic sound, print quality control facilities, electronic colour analysers and high-speed printing processing machines. All this is in keeping with Film City’s expansion programme of providing all facilities to producers, under one roof.
The lab project has been made possible due to the efforts of Vilasrao Deshmukh, minister for culture, Maharashtra, and Arun Divekar, minister of state for culture, Maharashtra. Both the ministers were also present at the pooja. Vasanji Mamania of Adlabs welcomed them. Govind Swarup, managing director of Film City, welcomed the guests. Sachin was the master of ceremonies. The pooja was well-attended by industry bigwigs.
The new laboratory will charge 50% concessional rates for Marathi films in keeping with Film City’s policy of encouraging the Marathi film industry. Manmohan Shetty of Adlabs, who also spoke on the occasion, remarked that he himself did not know that Mr. Govind Swarup would announce a concession of 50% for Marathi films. “But now that it has been announced, we will honour the commitment, but I don’t know how,” he said amidst laughter.
SHANKAR PATIL DEAD
Marathi film writer Shankar Patil died in Pune on 30th July due to kidney failure. He was on dialysis since a week before the end came.
Shankar Patil had bagged the government of Maharashtra’s award for best writer in 1980 for Hiralal Shah’s Marathi film, Haldi Kunku. He was also writing the screenplay and dialogues for Hiralal Shah’s Hindi-Marathi bilingual, Sandhi Sadhu. While the screenplay is complete, the dialogues have not been written.
GOVT. TO SET UP COMMITTEE
I & B minister K.P. Singh Deo, in an informal meeting with a delegation of the Film Federation of India in Delhi on 4th August, assured the industry that a committee would be set up to go into its grievances. The committee would consist of 10 to 15 members from the industry and another 10 to 15, from the bureaucracy.
‘1942’ TAX-FREE IN DELHI, U.P.
Vinod Chopra’s 1942 A Love Story has been granted tax exemption in Uttar Pradesh from 4th August. It is also being screened at tax-free rates in Delhi from last week.
LIBERTY, BOMBAY HIKES ADMISSION RATES
The admission rates at Bombay’s Liberty cinema, screening Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, have been hiked. The rate for dress circle (130 seats) is Rs. 50, and for balcony (257 seats), Rs. 40. There are 741 seats in upper stall, at Rs. 20, and 68 seats in lower stall, at Rs. 10. Its capacity per show is Rs. 32,280, while its weekly (nett) capacity for 21 shows is Rs. 3,38,940.
RICH TRIBUTES PAID TO V.P. SATHE
At a condolence meeting held to mourn the demise of V.P. Sathe, on 1st August at Blaze Minute, rich tributes were paid to the departed soul. Among those who spoke on the occasion were Gulshan Rai, Udaya Tara Nayar (president of Film Journalists Society), Kiran Shantaram and Vijay Bahl (of Cine Advertisers Association), Jagdish Aurangabadkar (of Society of Freelance Film Press Photographers), veteran film publicist Vajubhai, and Mohan Siroya (of Freelance Film Journalists’ Combine).
The proceedings were conducted by Vinod Sharma, president of RAPA.
A condolence resolution was adopted at the meeting, describing Sathe as a pioneer in giving definite direction to the concept of film journalism, press publicity and public relations. Furthermore, the resolution also stated that Sathe was instrumental in establishing a socially-oriented trend of entertaining film scripts either in association with the late K.A. Abbas or individually. Apart from the above-mentioned Associations, the Association of Film and TV Publicists also collaborated in convening the meeting.
The gathering stood in silence for one minute as a mark of respect.
APPEAL AGAINST ‘KHAL-NAYAK’
SONG IN DELHI HIGH COURT
Justice Mohammed Shamim of the Delhi high court ordered issuance of fresh notices to producer Subhash Ghai and the Central Board of Film Certification on an appeal challenging a lower court’s refusal to ban the ‘Choli ke peechhe’ song of Khal-nayak. The appellant, advocate R.P. Chugh, has urged the high court to reverse the judgement, as the song is “vulgar, indecent and against the norms of public morality”.
‘KRANTIVEER’ DIALOGUES:
RAJKOT LAWYERS FILE COMPLAINT
Some lawyers of Rajkot have filed a complaint against Dimple Kapadia, Mehul Kumar, Dinesh Gandhi and writer K.K. Singh for some dialogues in Krantiveer, which equate lawyers to prostitutes, and refer to judges as being corrupt. The court has sent the complaint for investigation, with instructions to issue notices to the concerned persons if any evidence was found.
NEW CINEMA OPENS
IN AURANGABAD
The new mini cinema hall, Abhineet, opened in Aurangabad with Vijaypath on 4th August. It is situated in the premises of Abhinay cinema.
Abhinay, installed with Dolby Stereo sound system, started screening Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! from 5th. A function was held on the occasion and it was largely attended by Nizam distributors, and exhibitors of Marathwada. The cinemas are owned by Ravi Machhar.
TAMIL FILM ACTRESS PASSES AWAY
Veteran Tamil film actress of yesteryears, Angamuthu, died in Madras on the night of 1st August due to old age. She was 83 and a spinster.
Angamuthu had acted in over 300 Tamil films as a comedienne and character actress, in a career spanning almost 40 years.
‘HAHK..!’ IN A BIG WAY FROM 26TH
The Barjatyas, who have released only 30 prints of Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! all over India this week, will substantially increase the number of prints from its 4th week, that is, from 26th August onwards.
FRENCH AWARD FOR SIVAJI GANESAN
Veteran Tamil film actor Sivaji Ganesan has been bestowed the title Chevalier by the French government, for his contribution to Indian cinema. The thespian is expected to visit France in October or November to receive the award.
3-E
Education-Entertainment-Enlightenment
Wise, Gutsy And Economical
The Rajshri plan of releasing Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! with just 30 prints has met with mixed reaction in trade circles. While some feel, it is a wise and gutsy move, there are others who feel, it is not the best thing to have been done. But whatever one might feel about it, it must be mentioned here that by so doing, the Rajshris have saved almost a crore of rupees for a couple of weeks. For, it would cost approximately a crore to take out about 150 to 175 more prints of the film. The economics behind the gutsy move should make more people see sense in it.
Coins Galore
While on HAHK..!, it has been reported from various cities that the audience showers coins on the screen in the ‘Didi tera devar deewana’ song. In Indore, youngsters began to dance in the ‘Joote de do’ song on the opening day. In Hyderabad, there was heavy black-marketing of tickets. At Liberty, Bombay, the Barjatyas have installed special moving lights all around the screen. The lights are switched on in the ‘Didi tera devar deewana’ and ‘Joote de do’ songs.
5-Star Studio
South’s press baron and film producer Ramoji Rao is setting up a huge studio complex in Hyderabad, and its construction has been on since more than a year. Reportedly, Ramoji Rao proposes to have a 5-star hotel too in the studio which is being planned to be the best in Asia. Incidentally, art director Nitish Roy has been appointed consultant for the studio.
‘Hum’ In Tamil
One has heard that Rajinikanth will soon be remaking Hum in Tamil. And he himself will be playing Amitabh Bachchan’s role. His own role will, obviously, be essayed by another star. Rajini is also contemplating acquiring the Tamil remaking rights of Chacha Bhatija and Desh Premee.
