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May 16, 2000
5 QUESTIONS |
Will Josh break the jinx?
Komal Nahta
Refugee is another film which is much sought after in the Delhi-UP belt. In the case of Josh though, there is one small matter that's causing some concern. The main characters in Josh are Christians -- Rosy (Aishwarya Rai) and Mac (Shah Rukh Khan). The concern arises because films with Christian backgrounds have not done too well in the past. A recent example is HMV's Bada Din. Some of the other films in this genre which did not score well at the ticket windows are Baaton Baaton Mein, Pukar (Ramesh Behl's film starring Amitabh Bachchan and Zeenat Aman) and Khamoshi. The exception, of course, was Bobby. The film, in which Dimple played a young Christian girl, was a huge hit. And there was Julie, in which the popular southern star, Laxmi, played a Christian. But then, we mustn't forget that many of the other characters in Bobby and Julie, including the heroes, were Hindus. Does that mean we are getting communal here? Not really, because this is about analysing what runs at the box-office and what doesn't, without taking sides in the matter. The next hit? There's despair and despondency all around in the trade. No film after Kaho Naa...Pyaar Hai has done well in all the circuits. There have been some successes like Badal, Pukar and Hera Pheri, but neither were they hits nor were they universally successful. The only question on the trade people's minds and lips these days is: What is the future of this trade? With films flopping one after the other, the situation is going from bad to worse. Distributors are panicking, exhibitors are going abegging. The situation created due to the lack of sustaining power of films has become so bad that exhibitors find themselves booking films at their cinemas even though they know they are not worth the price being paid to book them. But if they don't book these films, what will they play? That's their dilemma.
Picture this. It's battle time, but many of the soldiers are missing. This was the situation, more or less, on Friday (May 12) when the prints of Jung did not reach many of the cinemas in Bombay and Delhi in time. In Bombay, the late arrival of the prints led to the cancellation of matinee shows at four suburban theatres. In Delhi, the film was scheduled for release at many theatres, but 10 of them had to make do with half the number of prints (five in this case) throughout Friday as some prints did not reach them in time (they were slated to reach Delhi on Friday night). At Delhi's Kalamandir, the 3 pm show had an interval of one hour due to delay in the shuttling of the reels. The cinegoers became so restless that they demanded a refund. And the management had no option but to relent! As for Bihar, the distributor refused to take delivery of the prints. He obviously wanted a reduction in the price. Hrithik is No 1 in London as well The Hrithik Roshan mania continues. While in London some time ago, the current heartthrob of millions made an appearance at a couple of theatres screening his debut film, Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai. The crowd, as expected, went wild with excitement. Kisses came by Hrithik's way like the wind against a speeding car. Excited girls tore off Hrithik's coat; bodyguards who were escorting Hrithik, all of 6 feet 4 inches tall and very, very well-built, were flung to the ground. One over-excited girl even fell off a balcony and broke a leg. But she refused to be taken to the hospital till she had kissed Hrithik, the pain notwithstanding!
Boney Kapoor and production delays are synonymous with each another, thanks to films like Pukar, Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja, Prem and Mr India. This, despite the fact that he has made films like Judaai, Sirf Tum and Loafer in reasonably short time frames. Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai, though, has been completed in less than a year! Well, nearly completed, actually. After the current shooting spell in Delhi, which will conclude on May 21, only one and a half songs remain to be picturised to complete the film. In the meanwhile, the dubbing process has already begun. Even before Hamara Dil.... is complete, Boney will start shooting in the US for Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe. While it is in the making, another film will roll -- the same film with which Sridevi was to have staged a comeback. Now that the lady has changed her mind, the film will star Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan.
The new Pepsi ad leaves a bad taste in the mouth. This is what an angry Hrithik must have thought before dashing off letters to Pepsi, ad film-maker Prahlad Kakkar and Shah Rukh Khan, who modelled for the new Pepsi ad and, in the process, made a jibe at Hrithik through his look-alike. Even before the Pepsi ad could go on air, Hrithik dashed off a letter to the Pepsi people, expressing shock that they had poked fun at a newcomer like him. Copies of the letter were also sent to Shah Rukh and Kakkar. One fails to understand the rationale behind Hrithik's ire. He has had the marvellous fortune of generating mass adulation for his great performance in Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai. According to Rakesh Roshan, "Such an ad would be detrimental to his (Hrithik's) image." Does he really think so?! Will an ad really affect Hrithik? Even if he had not reacted angrily, his fans would have dismissed the ad for its bad taste and for humiliating their idol. Or Coke could have come out with an equally naughty reposite. Carry on, Hrithik, and don't sulk. A sulky image might prove more detrimental! Jackie faces continuity problem In some scenes of Jung, Jackie Shroff, who plays a top police officer, appears a little too flabby. But, in others, he is his usual fit self. Which is a clear indication that the film has taken time in the making, during which Jackie put on weight and then lost weight. The continuity jerk is sought to be circumvented in a scene where Jackie's senior remarks on the size of his body ("Aaj kal tum bahut mote ho gaye ho"). Did someone say size doesn't matter? Come on, our audiences are smart enough not to be bullied by such contrived dialogue. Refugee postponed As we mentioned two weeks ago, Refugee's release has been postponed. As of today, the Abhishek Bachchan-Kareena Kapoor launchpad will now hit the marquee on June 16 instead of June 9. But one never knows, it may still be postponed by a couple of weeks!
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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Venus's Josh has generated much excitement among the Delhi-UP exhibitors. And they are displaying their josh by offering the distributors very good terms to book the film at their cinemas!
Jung's prints reach theatres late
Boney on the rampage
Hrithik ko gussa kyon ata hai?