Crorepati show hits box-office
Cinema in the metropolis and other cities are faced with poor collections during the 9 pm shows, Monday to Thursday, because Kaun Banega Crorepati has caught up with television viewers like wild fever. The fever’s been akin to the kind witnessed when Ramayan and Mahabharat were shown.

Distributor-exhibitor Vinay Choksi of VIP Enterprises, and Tolu Bajaj say that attendance in the last shows has come down by 50 per cent and 70 per cent in the case of weak films.

Stymied: Rs 100 crore
If 99 of 196 completed films are not sold for any territory, it means more than Rs 100 crore is effectively blocked in unsold films. The remaining 97 completed films have not sold for all territories either. Each film is yet to be sold to at least two or three territories, which means their release prospects all over India are far from bright.

Ramesh Chandra Dubey, a saree retailer from Calcutta, accepts his winnings of Rs 50 lakh from Amitabh Bachchan on Kaun Banega Crorepati. This is the highest amount to have been taken on the show so far.

As against this, in June, 74 films of the 168 completed films were open for all territories. This does not augur well for an industry which has high potential revenue considering various outlets are opening up other than the theatrical and television circuits. If cable and video parlours are made to screen films legally, producers would have a windfall. But then, that is another story.
185 films are under production as on July 31, as against 177 films on June 30. It means the production of films is on the rise but the buyers are fewer.

ET: Off with the demon
Noted distributor Tolu Bajaj feels that if the state government reduces entertainment tax further, the tax revenues will still go up because more viewers will be induced to go to cinemas. “Prices of all commodities have gone up during the last four years but the price of tickets has remained static for the last two years. If entertainment tax collections have gone up for the last two years by Rs 20 crore, it is because the attendance has gone up,” he said.

The government should realise that cinema ticket prices were not hiked after the government reduced the tax. On the contrary cinemas are reducing the ticket rates. Two years ago the balcony tickets were Rs 50. It is the same even now. The freeze on ticket rates is voluntary so that more people come to the cinemas. It is in this context that more multiplexes should come up so that not only the industry is benefited but also the state government. “I do not know why the Government is delaying the announcement of its policy towards multiplexes as they want to see that the collections in the existing cinemas are not affected,” adds Bajaj.
Tolu Bajaj is all set to release Dhadkan on August 11 and Hamara Dil Aap Ke Paas Hai on August 25.

Sholay’s anniversary bash
Veteran producer GP Sippy and his Sippy Films will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Sholay, at Gabbar’s Den at Hotel Regent on August 12. “We have invited the entire film industry to the bash. Chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and deputy chief minister Chaggan Bhujbal are also attending the dinner, as chief guest. Brisk activities are on to make sure that the party becomes an event the industry will remember, because Sholay is one film which still attracts big crowds wherever it is released. Though the film was released on August 15, 1975, the dinner’s been fixed for the 12th instant,” says Shasha Sippy, son of Vijay Sippy, who is looking after the entire arrangement with cousin Shaan.

Matter of sponsorships
Producers need no longer worry about the huge publicity expenses they have to incur, because many corporate houses are coming forward to foot the bills. Dhadkan’s entire publicity costs have been met by Allwin. Earlier, Sab TV had publicised Harry Baweja’s Deewane, while Crest Communications had funded Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega.

Swiss honours for Yash, Shakti
India may be yet to recognise their contributions to tourism in India. But Switzerland which survives largely on tourism, has recognised the contributions of filmmakers Yash Chopra and Shakti Samanta. They were recently invited by the governments of Switzerland and given honourary citizenships, for boosting the tourism trade in the country. THey were not only given citizenships, but also 10 days’ free stay at Swiss hotels and mementos and gifts. While Shakti Samanta shot his films An Evening in Paris, Great Gambler and Ankhon Mein Tum in Switzerland, Yash Chopra shot extensively in Switzerland for films like Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge and Dil To Pagal Hai.

Compare this with states like Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh whose Governments are now wooing filmmakers to shoot in their states, yet do nothing to recognise those who do.

New cinemas
Cinemeg Cinema is opening at Bhiwandi with Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega. Last week, new cinema Rupali Magic Hall opened at Panvel, near Mumbai, on July 28 with Kunwara. The 302 seater cinema is fitted with Dolby SR sound and its admission rates vary from Rs 28 to Rs 33. DY Patni runs the cinema.

MSM Desai

TOP