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Cashing in on Dr Rajakumar

M D Riti in Bangalore

Theatre owners scheduled to screen Tera Jadoo Chal Gayaa and Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega are probably weeping into their already soggy kerchiefs, with theatres closed in Bangalore following the abduction of Dr Rajakumar by Veerappan.

It is common knowledge that new Hindi releases pull in as big, usually bigger, crowds than Kannada films in Karnataka, expecially in the metros. Distributors book Hindi films well in advance and enjoy the benefits of the extensive promotional activities that Bollywood can afford to undertake, unlike the small and relatively poor Sandalwood, as the Kannada film industry has taken to calling itself.

Now, with the Kannada film industry and the theatres closed, video libraries in Bangalore are doing brisk business, especially with the illegal trade of new Hindi films released all over the country. Topping the popularity list are Abhishek Bachchan's Tera Jadoo... and the Preity Zinta-starrer Har Dil Jo…

Of course, all this is under the counter -- these are illegal copies. All the better for the library owners, who're charging a cool Rs 20 per day to Rs 50 on holidays when the demand for new films is highest. Most libraries have multiple copies of these films.

"By the time the ban is lifted, almost all regular moviewatchers will have seen all the latest Hindi releases, and they will draw no crowds in the theatres," predicts a video library owner in Bangalore sagely, speaking to rediff.com on condition of anonymity, fearing penalisation for trade in illegal copies of new releases.

The Rajakumar abduction has benefited others, too. Daily pujas in all the popular and sought-after temples are conducted, sponsored by film associations, film stars, the Rajakumar family itself and cable operators, not to mention Rajakumar fans. Some temples have permanent, 24-hour pujas which will end only when Rajakumar returns.

Similarly, a whole range of small footpath vendors selling Rajakumar memorabilia are also doing brisk business in the crowded, commercial areas of the city like Majestic. Usually, sales of T-shirts, caps and posters of Rajakumar pick up only when a Rajakumar film is released. Now, within the first fortnight of his abduction, most petty vendors have increased their inventory of these small items and have made a clean killing. Now, though reports say that sales have slackened again, they admit they are better than usual.

But for the heavy police presence around Rajakumar's house in Sadashivanagar, there is no doubt that many of these itinerant vendors would have parked themselves there -- the small groups of fans gathered there through the day would have definitely given them good business.

It goes without saying that once the thespian is freed, priests expect another big round of pujas in thanksgiving. His sons themselves have been growing their beards ever since the abduction. And family friends say they have vowed to conduct pujas in a number of temples across Karnataka after their father returns.