Starwar slated for Diwali
To what extent the colourful festival of lights will be more joyous for the film industry will depend on the box-office performances of two big-budget, multi starcast and big banner films - Yash Chopra’s Mohabbatein and Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Mission Kashmir. If Mohabbatein stars Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai and directed by Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge fame Aditya Chopra, the other one by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Mission Kashmir, boasts of Sanjay Dutt, current hearthrob Hrithik Roshan and Jackie Shroff. Understandably, both these films have led to a flurry of activity among the exhibitors, who are vying with each other for grabbing the oppurtunity and are offering unheard of amounts as advances since they expect a terrific opening for both. Sensing the pre-release response of the cinegoers, the admission rates of some of the cinemas, which will screen Mohabbatein in Mumbai and suburbs, have hiked their admission rates and in some cases even jacked upto Rs 150 which is quite exhorbitant from any standard. This film will have two intervals due to its running time of 3 hours and 40 minutes.

But right now, the business community in Mumbai is too depressed as none of the films ushered in the kind of success in comparison to the super success of Kaho Na...Pyaar Hai in the first quarter. Films like Kya Kehna, Dhadkan and Hadh Kardi Apne did good business in certain circuits but was not a universal hit. The recent releases like Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke, Aaghaaz, Astitva, Shikari and Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar could not take even a decent opening despite a good star cast. Normally, pre-Diwali is considered a dull period for the box-office because of the preoccupation of the cinegoers preparing themseleves for the festival. This dull period was further fueled by the one-day cricket matches in Nairobi.

Ramesh Sippy (BRA Enterprises)
“The entire film industry is praying for the success of Mohabbatein and Mission Kashmir and hoping that Diwali will be much brighter and happier,” says Ramesh Sippy, of BRA Enterprises, who has put in more than two decades in the field of distribution. “We have seen a series of debacles after the success of Kaho Naa...Pyar Hai. Shikari, Jish Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hai, Aaghaaz and Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar have proved to be disasters with audiences losing confidence in films. They feel cheated again and again. We were blaming cable piracy for inadequate audience response. However, new films are not telecast simultaneously on these networks because the Government has amended the cable network rules. Yet, there is no improvement in the situation and the audience response is steadily on a decline. Astitva is a good film but there is no audience for such films. It appears that the audience is on a self-imposed exile. When the audience loses confidence, it is very difficult to re-establish and raise its curiosity for watching a film in theatres. Exhibitors are the worst affected by this strange reaction of the audience. Since there is no market for second run films, they are finding it very difficult to fill in the gap as there is a shortage of films,” he added.

Talking about the cinemas in Surat, Ramesh Sippy pointed out that at least 15 out of the 29 cinemas in the city will have no new releases for Diwali. Even if two theatres screen Mohabbatein and another two Mission Kashmir, most of the remaining cinemas will be starved of new films. A new Drive-in cinema opened in Surat with Dhai Akshar Prem Ke, and the problem is the same for it too, he added.

Amitabh Bachchan still sells
Amitabh Bachchan is rising like the Phoenix. A couple of months back, not only his company had become sick but even his comeback films failed to resurrect his stature as the most saleable star. The super success of the TV show Kaun Banega Crorepati, which he anchors, has changed the whole scenario. It is said that his new avtar as the anchor has revitalised the popularity of the superstar of 70’s and 80’s and will bring more cinegoers to the theatres and contribute to the success of Yash Chopra’s Mohabbatein. For the sake of record, it should also be mentioned that Amitabh’s old films which were released recently are doing excellent business all over.

Will Rupam cinema re-open?
The Naaz cinema building in Mumbai, the trade hub of film distribution in Mumbai, is abuzz with rumours that the Rupam cinema of Sion Circle, is being briskly renovated with all the modern facilities and sound system. It is said that in all probability it will re-open on Diwali day. But about the opening attraction it is anybody’s guess as ours.

Its time for rethinking
According to prominent exhibitor, DY Pattani, there is only 25 per cent occupancy in the cinema hall and of the total population, only 5 per cent patronises films. In his opinion, the prime reason is the lack of quality in the making which is making them fall like a pack of cards. “There was a time when good films were made but the theatres lacked quality. Now the quality of theatres has improved but there is no flow of quality films. This is because the filmmakers are eyeing more on the overseas, satellite and audio markets than the doemstic theatrical market. They are covering 80 per cent of the cost from these markets. But, he feels, the prices of films meant for screening in domestic market were never reduced by the same percentage. On the contrary, they have gone up disproportionately. That is the reason why distributors and exhibitors are losing heavily, says Pattani. When a film is released, the producers go abroad but a distributor returns to his home town, with his family in tow, after losing everything.

Devgan’s next offerings
Devgan Enterprises is all set to release Kahin Pyar Na Ho Jaye on November 17 and Raju Chacha on Idd day, December 28 in the Mumbai circuit.


MSM Desai

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