Mohabbatein scores in UK
YASH Chopra’s Mohabbatein is in the ninth position in the UK box-office charts. During its three-day weekend October 26-29, the film grossed 31 per cent, collecting 355,751 pounds, which is the highest for any Indian film released in UK till date. According to Pahlaj Nihalani, president of the Indian Film Exporters Association, Yash Chopra has proved his Midas touch once again inspite of mixed reports not only in domestic market but also in overseas market. In North America, Mohabbatein was in the 17th position grossing 570,000 dollars from 53 Spotlights during its three-day Spotlighting. “The sucess of Mohabbatein in UK and USA shows the future is bright for Indian films and one day our films will even cross the figures of Hollywood films,” he said.

Mission on low key
In contrast to the record breaking Mohabbatein, Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Mission Kashmir, which also opened in UK in the same period, could not muster its strength. Its three day collections were 129,370 pounds during the corresponding period from 27 Spotlights.

Diwali to Diwali
A total of 3311 Hindi films (including dubbed) were released between 1975 Diwali to 2000 Diwali. Though the figures appear big, the number of releases have varied from year to year. For instance, in 1975-76 Diwali, only 93 films were released where as in 1999-2000 Diwali 197 films were rleased. Though the graph varies from year to year, touching 137 in 1981-82, 141 in 1984-85 and 166 in 1990-91 the figures slid to 111 in 1996-97.

Mumbai collections
Speaking of figures again, though there are 12,387 cinemas in the country, the total seating capacity in all the cinemas comes to 1,90,372. If Mumbai’s 111 cinemas alone fetch Rs 500,65,850 per week on 28 shows (if they go housefull), imagine how much other metros must be fetching.Multiplex opens
nAjay Sinh Chudasama’s three Spotlight multiplex, R World, was inaugurated on October 27 in Gandhinagar with Mohabbatein and Mission Kashmir. Ajay owns Rajshri and Shalimar in Gandhinagar, Rajshri in Bhavnagar and Dharam in Rajkot.

City Gold
Another multiplex with five Spotlights will open in Ahmedabad, on Ashram Road on November 17 with Kaho Na Pyar Hai. Three cinemas will open now and two more under contruction will open in December.

According to Nandu Bohra, Zee’s multiplex near Drive-In cinema in Ahmedabad will have four Spotlight and due to open next year. In addition two more multiplexes are being built.

Gada buys Giridhar Mandir
Jayantilal Gada has bought Jodhpur’s Giridhar Mandir which he plans to convert into a multiplex, adding two more cinemas and shopping complex in the premises.

Multiplex for Kutch
A three-Spotlight multiplex will come up at Gandhidham in the Kutch district of Gujarat, next year. This is the first multiplex in Saurashtra and is owned by Sanjay Sorathia, Sanjay Jagesia and Arjun Jagasia. The multiplex will have a total seating capacity of 1350.

Mohabbatein CDs, VCDs seized
The Alwar police raided a unit at Bhiwandi Industrial Estate and seized more than 40,000 pirated VCDs and CDs of Mohabbatein and Mission Kashmir as also equipment specially imported from Germany worth Rs 3.5 crore.
The owner Balbir was arrested. If Alwar police had not swooped on this illegal joint, the owner would have duplicated more than lakhs of CDs and VCDs within a week, to be smuggled out of the country, the police said.

MSM Desai

TOP