Talking Business

ANOTHER LACKLUSTRE INITIAL
The poor opening response to Thakshak all over, has created a wave of disillusionment among distributors. More so because almost every second film released in recent weeks, has taken a setback at the box-office. Reportedly, some distributors are now doing a re-think on the kind of prices they would like to pay for the films currently under negotiation.

Last week, it was reported in this column that Thakshak was unsold in CI territory, for want of buyers. The last one heard was the film was yet to be released in the circuit. According to sources, after the original distributors, Bableshwar Films opted out, a leading distributor had reportedly offered to a price of Rs 12 lakh for the film and had even finalised the deal. But the producer changed his mind after he was offered double the amount by another distributor. The latter, however, backed out, too. At the moment, it is said the film is unlikely to be released in CI, especially after the poor opening it got elsewhere.

The response to Thakshak has also proved that even a star is no guarantee to a film’s success. Nor should a project be priced merely on the strength of the cast. Some time back, producers of Ajay Devgan starrers were believed to be quoting extraordinary prices for their films, after the row of successful Ajay movies, the last being Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.

SMALL IS IN IN A BIG WAY
Meanwhile, it is the low-budget, thought-provoking kind of cinema that is drawing a sizeable audience, particularly in the cities. The latest example is Tutu Sharma’s Rockford, which is running to packed houses at both Gemini and Movie Time even in its fifth week.

The film has also drawn a very good response in Delhi and Sharma is so enthused with the response that he has now decided to dub the film in Hindi. The dubbed version will be shortly introduced in the market, with an additional number of prints. “I have realised there is definitely a very big market out there for such films, provided you package and market them well,” Sharma recently revealed. Sharma who, hitherto, was a strong advocate of big budget commercial films, has now decided to venture further into such projects. At least three other projects are currently being planned, with known names. As for Nagesh Kukunoor, Sharma explains, he is currently preoccupied with another film. But the fact cannot be denied that Nagesh has been instrumental in getting him to make a foray into this different genre of cinema. Looking at the kind of interest he is showing in such films, Sharma is being approached by practically one new filmmaker every day. Sharma is also involved with two big budget films, one of them being Tere Ishq Mein Pad Gaya Re, directed by Harmesh Malhotra, which is nearing completion.

BANKING ON THE EXPRESS
Shrinagar Films is at it again, promoting low budget films. Last week, Shringar acquired the Mumbai rights of Mahesh Matthai’s much-acclaimed film Bhopal Express. The Shroffs took the plunge after the filmmaker invited them for a sneak preview of the film. Apart from the Shroffs, the Tatas, proprietors of Sterling, were also invited to the preview, and according to Shyam Shroff, so impressed were they that they expressed a keen desire to screen the film at their theatre.

Bhopal Express is the first Hindi film to be screened at Sterling in a long while. Prior to this, Jaya Ganga which was also distributed by Shringar Films, was also screened at the theatre, but that was an Indo-French production interspersed with French. Apart from Sterlng, where it will be screened in the late night show, the film will also be released in Gossip. Bhopal Express is scheduled to release on December 10, which also happens to be the first day of Ramzan. After all, there is an audience for such films, Ramzan or no Ramzan.

A LONE IDD RELEASE
It appears that the Idd week this year, will not have too many releases, unlike the last time, when there were four big releases in the RK’s Aa Ab Laut Chale, D Rama Naidu’s Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hai, Gulzar’s Hu Tu Tu and Shakeel Noorani’s Bade Dilwala.

The latest reports suggest that Boney Kapoor who had earlier scheduled his film Pukaar for a January 7 release (also Idd week) has now decided to postpone the same till February 4. Boney, reportedly wanted to devote more time for the music of the film to grow on the minds of the audiences. The Bobby Deol starrer, Badal is being tentatively scheduled for a January 21 release, which means that Mela will be the sole Idd week release this year, among the big films.

Coming back to Pukaar, the music-release of the film seems to have been a rather hush-hush affair. According to a leading distributor, the low-key music promotion is one reason why the music has not registered an impact yet, though some of the numbers are said to be good.

Not many people are aware that Pukaar will see Lata Mangeshwar once again appearing on screen after a long time. Reportedly, a bhajan in the film, Ek tu hi bharosa hai, which is extremely touching has been sung by Lata Mangeshkar and also picturised on her. Lataji is said to have set aside four days specially for the number which was shot in Hyderabad.

TITANIC IN 70 MM
The 70mm version of Titanic will be released on December 17 at Eros. The distributors, 20th Century Fox, are expecting an excellent response at the theatre and Eros is being geared up for the event. According to Rajkumar Bajaj, who controls the theatre, the film is likely to do extraordinary business at Eros, in keeping with the theatre’s reputation. Titanic has also been dubbed in Hindi, but the dubbed version is awaiting the right chain of theatres.

Meanwhile, Bajaj has also acquired Rakesh Roshan’s Kaho Na Pyar Hai for Eros. The film is scheduled to release on January 14.

Manisha Deshpande