KAHO NAA... ONLY SUPERHIT OF FIRST HALF

Of 89 releases, only a dozen recover costs
By MSM Desai
Rakesh Roshan’s Kaho Naa... Pyar Hai has emerged as the lone smash hit in the first half of 2000, providing the film industry with a fresh lease of hope and a new, promising superstar, Hrithik Roshan. Though JP Dutta’s Refugee, released at the fag end of the half-yearly period under review, has registered 100 per cent collections all over India, following an hitherto unprecedented publicity blitzkrieg, it’s too early to say how it will fare at the turnstiles in the long run. Its performance businesswise can now be ascertained only in the second half of the year. But with the film, JP Dutta has provided us with two new stars who’re sure to be around for quite some time, in Abhishek Bachchan and Kareena Kapoor.

During the first six months of 2000, 89 films, including dubbed ones, were released but only a mere 12 of them managed to recover investments. The surprise hits during this period were Tips’ Kya Kehna and Suneil Darshan’s Jaanwar, which did better in the interiors than elsewhere. Other hits were Josh, Hera Pheri and Pukar. Hadh Kar Di Apne did very well in the Hindi belt while Halo did good business in Mumbai.

Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge, Joru Ka Ghulam, Daku Rani and Split Wide Open were the films that brought in overflows. Hadh Kar Di Aapne and dubbed film, Devi remained average fare. Since Pranlal Mehta’s Tarkieb was released almost at the fag end of the half-year, it’s fate at the b-o cannot be predicted right now.
Unfortunately, several big budget films failed to do the expected business during the first half, including Shah Rukh Khan’s Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, Kamal Haasan’s Hey! Ram, the Sanjay Dutt starrer, Jung, Chal Mere Bhai and Khauff.

The most important event for the film industry was the two-day International Conference on the business of entertainment industry held recently in Mumbai. The follow-up action in the spheres of music, films, broadcasting and television is being done by the film industry and other media.