Behind the Scene

BASHEER ALI
Refugee’s Debutant No 3!
His first film as cameraman, Muzaffar Ali’s bilingual, Zooni, is yet to see the light of day. But Basheer Ali finally makes his debut, along with Abhishek Bachchan and Kareena Kapoor with JP Dutta’s forthcoming movie, Refugee...

Celeb Chat

RAMBHA
Coming Up: More Excursions Up North
So far, I’ve been doing every Hindi film that’s come my way, without any set goals. By God’s grace, all the offers I’ve got thus far, have been good ones. I’ve been happy doing the occasional Hindi movie, and that’s how I’d like to remain.

Review

Joru Ka Ghulam
Rib-tickler all the way
The title and star cast of Noorani Films Corporations’ Joru Ka Ghulam may lead viewers to believe that the film is a family drama laced with hilarious comedy. But it turns out to be fare meant for the front benchers and B and C class centres.

Ask Anupam

Anupam Kher on Acting
Yes, this is just the kind of story I wanted to tell all you young strugglers and hopefuls, aiming for the stars above, a story frightening, an absolutely alarming and sickening story straight from the police files.

Short Takes

GEORGE, THE GENTLE TYRANT
OM PURI’s soon to wow Mumbai and other centres, with his sensitive performance in East Is East, as the gentle tyrant, George Khan, the proud Pakistani chip shop owner based at Salford, England.

Notes And Crosses

MONTH OF WATERSHED
It seems as if June has brought good luck to the film industry. Venus’s Josh has the makings of a hit. Not merely have the first week’s collections been 100 per cent, the second week’s have hovered therebouts, as well.

News Flash

Tutu’s Paanch is complete
Producer Tutu Sharma and writer-director Anurag Kashyap have completed the entire shooting of Paanch. Tutu Sharma is introducing Tejaswini Kolhapure as the leading lady in the film with Kay Kay.

Editorial

RAJASTHAN GETS MOVIE-FRIENDLY
IT’S like day and night. A picture of stark contrasts. Maharashtra, cinema’s native state may be seeped in movie history, and the creme de la creme of India’s showbiz glitterati may still call Mumbai home.

People's Verdict

Josh brings josh
to slumbering trade
There is a new euphoria in the film market. After Kaho Naa... Pyar Hai, there has been no super hit film, and the film industry has been hoping against hope for a hit.

Focus

EXPORT MARKET DOES THE SHRINKING ACT
Blame it on the rampant DVD piracy
Starved of releases of good Indian films, coupled with the rampant piracy of Digital Video Discs (DVD), the overseas market of Indian films has been steadily losing ground and has shrunk considerably.

EVV FINDS A NEW WAY OUT

AMITABH BREAKS ONE MORE RECORD
In the morning he was in Srinagar with a group of stars from Mumbai, performing at a show. The show goes off without any hassles, contrary to the fears instilled in the minds of the organisers and the star participants.

Trend Watch

THE CHANGING FACE OF BENGALI CINEMA
Gone are the days when Bengali cinema placed India on the world cinema map. There was also a time when Bengali films made it to Cannes, Karlovy Vary, Moscow and other prestigious international film festivals and brought home the best awards.

Industry seeks IT benefits with retrospective effect

Film exporters want the 100 per cent penalty charged with interest on export earnings by the income tax department waived with retrospective effect from 1995. The exemptions were given under 80HHC on export earnings prior to 1995.

Rajasthan offers fresh inducements

A high level meeting was held here, last week, to discuss the issue relating to granting the status of industry to filmdom and encourage film shoots in Rajasthan.