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UK SPECIAL: DIWALI
Pushed Over
Circumspect filmmakers are rescheduling their new releases
as Diwali and Ramzan coincide
By Himanshi Dhawan
If only the lady in question wasn't
so fickle. Filmmakers, superstitious at the best of times, wait with bated
breath this Diwali for an audience verdict that must overcome not just
the current gloomy scenario but the vagaries of the Goddess of wealth.
For the compulsive gambler with an eye on higher stakes this year could
be disappointing.
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| FIGHTING FIT: Kamal Haasan with an adversary
in Abhay |
Diwali, traditionally considered to be an auspicious
time for releases, has seen Bollywood roll out its version of the stretch
limousine in the past. Giants like Raja Hindustani, Dil To Pagal Hai and
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai have been some films that have hit bulls-eye at the
box office.
However, this year, since Diwali coincides with
the beginning of Ramzan, filmmakers have postponed their releases to later
in the month. Like Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham which was slated for a Diwali
release has now been postponed to December 14. And Esha Deol's debut film,
Koi Mere Dil Se Pooche, has been pushed for a November-end release.
Diwali offerings 2001 are what director Tanuja
Chandra calls "small movies that are big on ideas''-that is emotional
dramas or romantic pairings that directors hope will draw families to
the cinema hall.
Of the five releases, not one film has generated
extraordinary hype or anticipation. Low expectations might be what bails
them out. For die-hard romantics, there is a return to the college campus
and candyfloss culture with N. Chandra's Style. Shot extensively in Hyderabad
and Goa, "lovable dirty rotten scoundrels", Chintu and Buntu
(no pun intended), played by newcomers Sharman and Sahil, pair up with
Ria and Shilpi in a story where the quartet fool around once too often.
No serious overtones, just plain mush judging by the promos that have
the nubile babes prancing in capris and hot pants.
After the average opening of Rehna Hai Terre
Dil Mein, Mr Moneybags, Vashu Bhagnani, with first-time director Ashu
Trikha, will release Deewaanapan. History and the box office have been
kind to fresh pairs and Trikha offers "an electric chemistry between
the co-stars" besides stunning action. Starring current heart-throb
Arjun Rampal and Diya Mirza attired stylishly in Rocky S and Gabbana,
the film follows on the oft-trodden path of the "romantic love story".
Kareina was initially slated to act in Mirza's role as the pretty Kiran
who is torn between her love for her father (Vinod Khanna) and lover.
Dominating paternal roles are aplenty with Gulshan
Grover playing Tanuja Chandra's Yeh Zindagi Ka Safar. Amisha Patel is
an aspiring rock star and Mohabbatein's cute face, Jimmy Shergill, a tabloid
journalist who prints a sensational article about Patel's true parentage.
If Pooja Bhatt ran away from her father in Dil Hai Ke Maanta Nahin for
true love, Patel flees to seek her mother's identity. Both embroil the
tabloid journalist in their search. Patel finds some horrible truths about
her past and Shergill is chastised for his behaviour. Besides enforcing
a distinctive chocolate look for male journalists (first Aamir, then Jimmy),
Yeh Zindagi ..., written by Mahesh Bhatt, introduces music director Daboo
Malik, Anu Malik's brother. Made on a budget of Rs 3.5 crore, the film
hopes to score with minimal risks.
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| COSY QUARTER: Style has a youthful theme
of fun and frolic |
Abhay, on the other hand, is the biggest gamble
that director Kamal Haasan has taken so far. Despite his irrefutable status
down south, Bollywood's magical fairy lights have so far eluded Haasan.
His debacle with Hey Ram! has been blamed on bad marketing. This time,
however, Haasan has left no stone unturned with Abhay or Aalavandaan (in
Tamil). The Rs 32-crore bilingual film is based on a book written by Haasan
17 years ago. Described as a psychological thriller, the film is a story
of twins-the first one Major Vijay, a commando who is trained to kill,
and the other Abhay, a paranoid psychopath who enjoys killing. Special
effect technicians from Australia, complicated action sequences synched
with animation, six-hour make-up sessions for Abhay's tattooed torso and
a crash course at the National Security Guards for Major Vijay's role
... there has been little left to chance. Raveena Tandon and Manisha Koirala
play the love interests in the film. The ladies, however, have little
defining characteristics with Haasan's penchant for self-absorption.
Director Mahesh Manjrekar, though, promises
that several relationships will be explored in Tera Mera Saath Rahe. Starring
Ajay Devgan, Sonali Bendre and Namrata Shirodkar (all of whom badly need
a hit) the Rs 10 crore-project is "not a love story'' but focuses
around Devgan and his relationship with his cerebral palsy-affected 15-year-old
brother. The film takes a look at brotherly dependence and social pressures
that the middle-class faces. "This film will not be easily forgotten,''
prophesies Manjrekar known for choosing unconventional films like Astitva
and Vaastav. The film though is not entirely dreary. It offers a glimpse
of foreign locales and song 'n' dance capers in Scotland and Austria.
Manjrekar's Ehsaas (realisation), originally
also slated for a Diwali release has been postponed to November-end. It
is a semi-autobiographical account of the director's childhood and casts
Sunil Shetty in the role of a father. The story weaves around Shetty's
relationship and conflict with his 10-year-old son. Ehsaas's postponement
could be to avoid a serious overdose of the relationship genre.
But for the Govinda-Preity Zinta starrer Khullam
Khulla Pyar Karenge and Deol's Koi Pooche Mere Dil Se dividing the spoils
with six other releases was obviously not an attractive proposition. The
year has its share of big banners but heavy weight stars or even a clear
winner are missing. This might take away some of the thrill from the speculator
but that's too bad. Bollywood would much rather play superstitious and
safe.
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