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May 9, 2000
5 QUESTIONS |
The Refugee mystery
Komal Nahta
Another factor that's given rise to these rumours is the rescheduled release of Mansoor Khan's Shah Rukh-Aishwarya starrer, Josh, from June 2 to June 9. Of course, there's nothing to prevent both Josh and Refugee from releasing together on June 9. But, somehow, that scenario seems rather unlikely. One may also remember that Vashu Bhagnani, whose Tera Jadoo Chal Gayaa also stars Abhishek Bachchan, had maintained all along that he would ensure a six week gap between the releases of Refugee and TJCG. If Refugee releases on June 9, Vashu should premiere TJCG on July 21. But, all of a sudden, Vashu has announced his release date as August 18. Does it mean that Refugee has been postponed? Though all the factors point otherwise, the people associated with Refugee maintain the film will be before the public on June 9. All we can say is... only time will tell. The battle for Rishta The title registration committee of the Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association has accepted that it committed a blunder in registering Rishtaa -- The Bond Of Love in favour of producer-director Suneel Darshan. This, when Rishta was already registered by Indra Kumar and Ashok Thakeria's Maruti International. Indu and Ashok were quick to act when Suneel Darshan launched Rishtaa - The Bond Of Love with Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Juhi Chawla and others last week. They informed the title registration committee that Rishta was already registered in their concern's name. They also informed the committee that they were about to launch Rishta with Anil Kapoor and Aishwarya Rai. The committee realised its mistake and informed the duo that Rishtaa -- The Bond Of Love would be deregistered. "If this is the way titles are going to be registered," says Ashok, "nobody can make a film. Imagine me registering Yaadein -- The Memories or Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham -- The Family Saga or Josh -- The Passion." It remains to be seen how Suneel will react to the act of the title's deregistration. Considering he is a reasonable person, it doesn't seem likely that a controversy would flare up. Yet, it seems that before Indu and Ashok approached IMPPA, they did try to reason it out with Suneel, who refused to change the title of his film. But a bit of persuasion by people who believe in fair play would help. After all, if it has happened with Indu and Ashok today, it could happen to Suneel tomorrow. Fardeen's second chance?
The songs, like Ramu's earlier films (Rangeela, Daud, Mast), are racy. A couple of them are even foot-tapping. After all, it's Sandeep Chowta's music. Jungle co-stars Sunil Shetty (on whom there's no song picturised!) and Urmila Matondkar. Calcutta swoons over Hrithik
Appalled by the Hrithik mania, principals of several Calcutta schools got together and urged Hrithik to appeal to his fans to exercise restraint. The principals conveyed their appeal to the young heartthrob through Mithun Chakraborty. Hrithik lost no time in faxing a reply, "The girls need not come to Bombay. I will be in the city (Calcutta) for them." He kept his word by going to the city last month. Principals of some reputed Calcutta schools were even thinking of putting the Hrithik mania to some constructive and educative use. One school principal felt students would understand history, geography, biology and other subjects better if they were linked to film stars! "For instance, students could be told that the capital of Maharashtra was Bombay, from where Hrithik hails, or the longest bone in Hrithik Roshan's body was the femur!!!" Star singer
Before you make some wild guesses, we'll let the cat out of the bag. It's Sonu Nigam! But Sonu cannot work in any other film until the release of Tips' own film. It will be directed by Manoj Punj, who had directed Shaheed-E-Mohabbat Boota Singh. Stuart is no li'l mouse Stuart Little and its Hindi version, Chote Miyan, have created a record over the weekend (April 28 to 30) by collecting Rs 5.8 million from 41 screens of the country! And the reason for the Little mouse's grand box-office achievement? According to Uday Singh, managing director, Columbia Tristar Films (who have released the film in India), "The marketing strategy of positioning Stuart Little as this summer's treat helped establish the film as a brand in the minds of the core target group. The decision to expand the market by dubbing the film in Hindi also paid off. Also, the name of Manoj Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense) in the credits helped." Madame Tussaud turns to India An Indian film star will soon be immortalised at the Madame Tussaud Museum in London. As to who the actor will be, that will be decided on the basis of votes received at catchuslive.com. The name of the actor will be announced during the International Indian Film Awards to be held in London on June 24. So, whose wax shoulders will rub against those of international celebrities in the hallowed museum? Will it be a six-foot plus wax model of an actor who stood much, much taller than his six-foot plus persona for many, many years? Or will it be a newfound heartthrob who is now the rage across the nation?
A look at the week
Komal Nahta edits the popular trade magazine, Film Information. Do tell us what you think of this column
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Rumours are rife that J P Dutta's Refugee will be postponed. Instead of the scheduled release on June 9, the film, apparently, will now premiere on June 23 or June 30. What lends credence to the rumour is the fact that the background music is just being recorded. And then, the post-production work (which is now in progress) may take over a month.
Here's some news for those who had written off Feroz Khan's son, Fardeen, after his debut film, Prem Aggan, bombed. The boy is promising in Ramgopal Varma's new film, Jungle. Glimpses of the film's songs at the music release function gave the impression that Fardeen bids fair to prove himself this time -- with a vengeance at that.
There were reports that many Calcutta school girls were trying to sneak out of their homes and fly off to Bombay to catch an eyeful of the most idolised star today. The Calcutta police are reported to have caught at least a dozen teenagers trying to take a flight or a train to Bombay after Kaho Naa...Pyaar Hai created a storm in the city's cinemas.
Tips, the music people, will introduce, in their next film, a young man who is too well-known for an introduction! He has been much heard. And, even much seen, albeit on the small screen. And he is now being groomed to face the movie camera.