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June 6, 2000

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Send this column to a friend Bichhoo, Refugee to be released together?

Komal Nahta

Abhishek-Kareena Is this the beginning of a new controversy? Producer-director Guddu Dhanoa fixed June 30 as the release date for Bichhoo, after his Delhi-UP distributor (who is also distributing Refugee) assured him the latter would not open on that day. In fact, Refugee was first scheduled for release on June 9. It was then postponed to June 16 to June 23 and, now, June 30.

And Guddu, who had desperately worked at avoiding releasing his film with
J P Dutta's mega-starrer, cannot believe that is exactly what is happening now -- and that Bichhoo and Refugee may release on the same day!

Talking of Refugee...

Refugee's release has been postponed once again. Instead of June 23 as scheduled, Abhishek Bachchan and Kareena Kapoor's debut film will now hit the screens on June 30.

Although the producer's office insisted the film would definitely release on June 30, there were strong rumours in trade circles that it may ultimately be released on July 7. While some distributors have already started booking their chain of cinemas for a June 23 release, others had already anticipated another postponement of this much postponed film.

A couple of distributors who claimed to have inside information had, earlier this week, begun making cinema bookings from June 30-July 7 only. Rumours have it that Amitabh Bachchan considers seven his lucky number. Will that prompt Dutta to actually release Abhishek's film on the seventh day of the seventh month?

Speculations apart, it is almost certain that the film will be released on June 30.

It's Govinda all the way

Govinda The coming months will see the release of four Govinda films in quick succession. The films are Joru Ka Ghulam, Kunwara, Chalo Ishq Ladaaye and Shikari. It is for the first time that four Govinda starrers will be releasing so close to each other. Three of these films -- Joru Ka Ghulam, Chalo Ishq Ladaaye and Kunwara -- also star Kader Khan. While Aadesh Shrivastava provides the music for Joru Ka Ghulam, Kunwara and Shikari.

Senseless censoring

In Dalaal No 1, released this week, there is a scene in which Shakti Kapoor taunts a female character saying, "Yeh acting to achhi karti hai. Filmon mein jaati, to Sridevi ki chhutti kar deti (This girl sure knows how to act. Had she been in films, she would've given Sridevi a run for her money)!"

Is there anything objectionable in this dialogue? Even Sridevi would laugh it off. But the censors found it objectionable under a rule that does not allow references to stars unless a no-objection certificate is obtained by the producer concerned from the star referred to in the dialogue.

The rule was, perhaps, laid down due to a previous incident in which an actor was distastefully referred to in a film. Under the same rule, the censors asked the producer of Dalaal No 1 to delete the dialogue. Isn't this an example of sticking to the letter, instead of the spirit, of the law?

Taal, Sarfarosh, Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai, Bindhaast...

Sarfarosh The Film Federation of India has recommended Subhash Ghai's Taal, John Mathew Matthan's maiden directorial venture, Sarfarosh, Rakesh Roshan's box-office bonanza, Kaho Naa...Pyaar Hai and the Marathi super-hit, Bindhaast, for the national awards for 1999.

A look at the week

**Ratings based on box office collections and cost of the film**
Rating Film Production House Verdict Position Last Week No Of Weeks Since Release
1 Kya Kehna Tips Films Overflow 1 3
2 Kaho Naa...
Pyaar Hai
Filmkraft Superhit 2 21
3 Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge Baba Films Average (Losing in
some circuits)
5 11
4 Chal Mere Bhai Neha Arts Loser 4 5
5 Hadh Kar Di Aapne R R Productions Loser (Average in
some circuits)
6 8
6 Hum To Mohabbat Karega KPS Films Disaster 3 2
7 Sabse Bada Be-Imaan Vijay Films Syndicate Flop New New
8 Dalaal No 1 Ablaze Entertainers Flop New New
9 Hera Pheri A G Films (P) Ltd Loser (Overflow in
Bombay, South)
7 10
10 Jung Satish Tandon Productions Loser (Average in
Delhi-UP, commission
earner in Punjab)
8 4

Komal Nahta edits the popular trade magazine, Film Information.

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