(From our issue dated 11th February, 1995)
Nadeem Shravan are in top form in Indra Kumar, Ashok Thakeria and Vinod Doshi’s Raja. The film’s audio cassette, marketed by Tips, is a listener’s delight.
The first three songs on side ‘A’ – ‘Love you Raja’, ‘Kisi din banoongi main raja ki rani’ and ‘Ankhiyaan milaoon kabhi’ – are surefire hits. ‘Tum ne agar pyar se dekha’ is yet another good song.
‘Aankh teri chhalke to’ has immense lyrical appeal (Sameer) and establishes the bond of love between the two brothers in the film, Sanjay Kapoor and Paresh Rawal. ‘Phool mangoo na bahaar’ is quite nice. Two songs in the cassette — ‘Aankh milate darr lagta hai’ and ‘Ja sajana tujhko bhula diya’ — have been picturised but will not be included in the film.
All in all, the music of Raja should become a craze, a rage in the days to come. A chartbuster, it will prove to be a speedy money-spinner for Tips. Is that why the Tips boss, Ramesh Taurani, can these days be heard singing “Love you Raja………”?!?
SAJID NADIADWALA IN AJMER
The first copy of Nadiadwala Grandson’s Andolan was out on 9th February. Producer Sajid Nadiadwala left for Ajmer Sharif on 10th, with the print of the film. Andolan is due for ldd release (March 3).
DO YOU KNOW?
‘KARAN ARJUN’ SHINES IN 4TH WEEK
* Creates records in 4th week also at the following cinemas of Delhi: Odeon by collecting 2,92,143/-, Moti by collecting 1,97,830/-, Liberty by collecting 2,74,930/-, Natraj by collecting 2,49,831/-, Sonia by collecting 1,39,679/-, Savitri by collecting 1,98,079/-.
* Creates a record by collecting 84,000/- in 4th week at Choudhry, Ghaziabad.
* Creates a city record by collecting 5,51,000/- in 4 weeks at Saraswati, Varanasi.
* Creates a city record by yielding a distributor’s share of 2,34,145/- in 4 weeks from Vijay, Saharanpur.
* Creates a city record by yielding a distributor’s share of 1,90,245/- from Chandra, Muzaffarnagar.
* Creates history by collecting 77,425/- in 1st week at Prakash, Etawah (U.P.).
* Creates city records by collecting 68,245/- and 72,796/- in 1st week at Gopal, Budaun and Natraj, Mirzapur respectively.
* Creates a city record by yielding a distributor’s share of 1,25,000/- in 4th week from Kanpur. Also creates city records by yielding a share of 4.75 lakh in 4 weeks from Meerut and 5 lakh in 4 weeks from Lucknow.
* Creates history by yielding a share of 5.25 lakh in 4 weeks from Shree, Agra.
* Our Viramgam representative, Naresh Patwa, makes an interesting observation. According to him, if the name of the producer of a film as also its music director begin with ‘R’, chances are that the film will be a blockbuster. Examples: Raj Kapoor’s RAM TERI GANGA MAILI which had music by Ravindra Jain, Rajshri’s MAINE PYAR KIYA and HAHK..!, both of which had music scored by Raamlaxman, and Rakesh Roshan’s KARAN ARJUN, music of which is provided by Rajesh Roshan.
* Goldie Behl, son of late producer-director Ramesh Behl, who has started ANGAARAY, is only 20 years old!
* HAHK..! has created history by collecting 51,40,234/- in 25 weeks from Novelty, Lucknow. Entertainment tax collected in 25 weeks is a whopping 64,25,294/-!
3-E
Education-Entertainment-Enlightenment
For The Sake Of Publicity
The Bombay police sure have a way of troubling people. Why else would they disturb Bombay distributor Balkrishna Shroff the whole of one night earlier this week, asking him to immediately meet the calling police officer at Worli (Bombay) police station. Shroff’s ‘crime’, if one may say so, was that posters of Sauda, released by him, had been pasted all over Bombay. So what’s new? Well, the Maharashtra government has vide an ordinance (no. 1/95 dated 18th January, 1995), banned pasting of posters in public places etc., in the wake of the ensuing elections. The scope of the ordinance extends also to wall poster publicity in respect of films. Well, the police officer concerned almost made it appear as if Shroff had committed a murder. Shroff, accompanied by industry leaders U.A. Thadani and Indravadan Shah, went to meet the police officer concerned the following day and made him realise that what Shroff had done was not as serious as to warrant telephoning him all night, asking him to report immediately at the police station. The police officer probably saw reason in the film people’s argument and let Shroff go. And even while Shroff and the others were at the police station, they saw the Adhikari brothers — Gautam and Markand — cooling their heels there. Their ‘crime’: posters of their TV serial, Silsila, had been pasted on street walls!
Little wonder then that the IMPDA, after these incidents, quickly released a circular for its members, asking them to refrain from pasting posters on walls in public places till the duration of the ordinance.
Hit In Telugu, Flop In Hindi
Last year, when Indecent Proposal was released in India, several producers made up their minds to remake it in Hindi. In Bombay, Sudhakar Bokade made Sauda, and in Hyderabad, Krishna Reddy adapted the story in his own style and made it as Shubhlagnam in Telugu. While Sauda has not made any mark at the box-office, Shubhlagnam is a hit and has already completed 120 days of its run! But Krishna Reddy made a dramatic change in the story. While Indecent Proposal — and Sauda for that matter — is the story of a girl and two boys, Shubhlagnam is the story of two girls and a boy. In it, one of the girls sells her husband for the sake of money. And the film itself is raking in money at the box-office.
Chhotu And The Big Crimes
Remember Chhotu Bihari who had made Professor Pyarelal? Chhotu is now absconding and it is feared, he may have run away to the USA. Although it has nothing to do with films, Chhotu’s story would interest film people — and, maybe, inspire some writer for a script! Chhotu (real name: Anoop Masand) promoted a company called All Seasons Foods Ltd. (ASFL) and used the company to do all the frauds under the sun. The company had Mahesh Jethmalani, the noted criminal lawyer, on its board. It had Sunil Gavaskar and Tarla Dalal plugging its products like a health drink and sauces. Chhotu had been arrested for a murder but Jethmalani helped him out of the mess. The finance ministry and the Controller of Capital Issues bent backwards for the company of Chhotu Bihari for whatever reasons. The company made false declarations, held fake annual general meetings, showed false accounts and indulged in a whole lot of criminal activities under the Companies Act. Resultantly, the company is now under liquidation, and Chhotu Bihari has fled!
First MKD Film At Filmalaya
Manmohan Desai had made a number of films under the MKD banner but, believe it or not, not a single film of his was ever shot at Filmalaya Studios. The studios once belonged to Man-ji’s father, Kikubhai Desai. Ketan Desai, who is now making Deewana Mastana under the MKD banner, will shoot the film at Filmalaya in March. Which will make Deewana Mastana the first MKD film to be shot at the studio!
Nana: Man With A Golden Heart
Nana Patekar who is very selective about the films he signs, has signed Rahul Rawail’s next. For a price of 45 lakh. While this may not be surprising, the form in which he has already taken his remuneration definitely is. Only 5 of the 45 lakh will go in Nana’s pocket. The balance 40 lakh have been accepted by him in the form of four cheques of Rs. 10 lakh each in favour of Mother Teresa, Baba Amte, Medha Patkar’s Narmada Bachao Andolan and Chief Minister’s Earthquake Relief Fund. A true krantiveer (revolutionary) indeed! In return, Nana has allotted Rahul Rawail dates for two months at a stretch.
For His Ears Only
Anupam Kher received a number of compliments for his ‘Changing Times’ mono act at the Screen Panasonic awards function. But the best compliment he got was from veteran actor K.N. Singh. The ageing actor telephoned Anupam and told him that although he could not see (he has lost his eyesight since two years), he enjoyed his item by only listening to it on Doordarshan. Anupam, needless to add, cherishes this as the best compliment.
True Lies!
There are rumours in the air. But these are no ordinary rumours. Know-alls say, they are as authentic as the fact that Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! is the biggest hit of Hindi cinema in 100 years.
* That the young son of a hero, who has signed a number of films as the lead man, is being replaced by a producer-director in his film starring several heroes.
* That Rishi Kapoor has opted out of a two-hero film. This news, informs an insider, is more sachcha than jhootha.
* That the action-dancing hero got engaged to the jinxed-turned-lucky heroine recently at a producer and close buddy’s (of the hero) residence.
* That a reunion between the estranged actor-producer-director and his actress-wife is on the cards. The good Samaritan is none other than the star-daughter of the star-parents.
C.V.K. SASTRY NO MORE
Producer C.V.K. Sastry passed away on 10th February around noon at his residence in Bombay. He had been unwell for the past one month. Besides being diabetic and having heart problem, his kidneys failed recently. He died of a cardiac arrest. He was 67 and is survived by his wife and three married daughters.
C.V.K. Sastry, besides being a producer in his own right, was a pillar of B.R. Films. Not only was he a close associate of B.R. Chopra, he was also the general manager of B.R. Films. His association with B.R. Films spanned 50 years. In fact, he used to look after its business aspects almost completely. Sastry also used to be a prominent exporter of Indian films till six to seven years ago.
He had undergone bypass surgery some years back.
C.V.K. Sastry had produced Joru Ka Ghulam, Naya Nasha, The Great Gambler and Tumhari Kasam under his banner of Associated Films & Finance Corporation. He made Nazrana under the Filmovision banner. He had also co-produced Baaton Baaton Mein and Pasand Apni Apni with Basu Chatterji, and Yeh Nazdeekiyan and Ek Naya Rishta with Vinod Pande.
He was a thorough gentleman and jolly by nature. He had a very good command over the English language. He also had a legal bent of mind and was legally very knowledgeable. Another noteworthy attribute of Sastry was his terrific memory. Little wonder then that people used to often say that his very short height belied the big brains he possessed.
His funeral on the evening of 10th was well attended by industry people.
Chautha will be held on Monday, February 13 between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Arya Samaj, Linking Road, Santacruz.
SHARAD GALVANKAR NO MORE
Leading distributor of Marathi films, Sharad Lakshman Galvankar of Sri Datta Films, Bombay, passed away on 5th February in Bombay following high blood pressure. He was 61 and is survived by his wife and a son.
Sharad started his career with the Censor Board. He then took to film distribution and came in the limelight with such Marathi films as Sakhu Ali Pandharpura, Shirdiche Sai Baba and others. He was a devout follower of Sai Baba and often visited Shirdi.
PUNJABI FILM PIONEER K.D. MEHRA DEAD
Producer K.D. Mehra who made the first Punjabi film, Punjab Di Kudi, in the thirties, died in Bombay on 6th February. He was 88 and was called the father of Punjabi cinema.
K.D. Mehra also made the Punjabi films, Heer Syal and Mera Punjab, the latter in Lahore. He was a very close friend of B.R. Chopra and visited the latter’s office regularly till the end. He even took part in crucial decisions made at B.R.
He introduced Noor Jehan in Heer Syal. She later went on to become the singing legend. The film itself had a golden jubilee run. After Partition, when he came to Bombay, he made Posti and other films.
K.D. Mehra used to often visit Film Information’s office too and spend time with the Information family.
IFTEKHAR BEREAVED
Sayeeda Sheikh, daughter of actor Iftekhar, died on 7th February in Bombay due to cancer. She was 46 and is survived by her husband, a son and a daughter.
YOU ASKED IT
What are the chances of a heroine, who had been in the big league before fading out, making it to the top again?
– The chances are dim. Heroines usually don’t get a second chance. Yes, if a heroine accepts character roles, the chances of a successful career again are not ruled out.
Are the releases of Govinda starrers going to be affected due to his interrogation under TADA?
– Not at all. Govinda was interrogated for only a day and allowed to go thereafter.
How did the Tamil and Telugu versions of Aladdin fare?
– While the Telugu version did not do well at the box-office, the Tamil one was successful. The English version has also done quite well. But the Hindi version bombed.
COURT ATTACHES PROPERTIES OF RAJEEV KUMAR
The Bombay high court on 6th February attached properties of producer-director Rajeev Kumar. The court proceeded against Rajeev Kumar on the basis of consent terms decree passed by it and on a suit filed by Mansingh Deep.
Kranti Kshetra was started in partnership between Rajeev Kumar and Mansingh Deep, but due to disputes, the two separated and Rajeev Kumar undertook to pay up the entire investment of Mansingh Deep before the release of the film. A sworn declaration to this effect in terms of consent terms was lodged before the court. In this connection, the court passed a decree on the said consent terms. Not having received the money, Mansingh Deep moved the court and obtained an injunction against the release of Kranti Kshetra unless Rajeev Kumar discharged his financial liability to pay the agreed sum pursuant to the consent terms. But Rajeev Kumar released the film without making the agreed payment. Aggrieved, Mansingh Deep again moved the court against Rajeev Kumar for flouting the consent terms decree passed by the court. The court issued an attachment warrant on Rajeev Kumar’s property on 6th February.
