Cinema: Reach for the Stars

India Today
Sep 21,1998

CINEMA: PREVIEWS
Reach for the Stars

Despite a dismal year at the box office so far, expectations of a winter bonanza soar unreasonably high in Bollywood.

By Anupama Chopra

Reach for the stars It was going to be a blockbuster. Mani Ratnam's Dil Se.., boasting a white-hot hero, Shah Rukh Khan, an achingly beautiful heroine, Manisha Koirala, and some thumping A.R. Rahman tunes -- the savviest director in the business had it all. Except for a script. Two weeks after release, distributors, who panting with anticipation had paid a reported Rs 2 crore per territory, are still reeling under massive losses. In circuits like central India and Bihar, collections started nose-diving from day three. Rumour has it that Gujarat distributors started repeating the hit Chhaiyaan chhaiyyan number after the interval, hoping some relief might keep the audience on their seats. But even the super-sophisticated viewers of Mumbai rejected the reporter-terrorist love story. Collections nosedived from 90 per cent to 61.3 per cent in the second week. While Dil Se.. financier Bharat Shah insists that it's too early to tally losses, trade analysts estimate that distributors stand to lose 40 to 60 per cent of their investment. And a recent issue of the trade magazine, Film Information, suggests only half-jokingly that Dil Se.. distributors and exhibitors are now singing, "Jiyaa jale...jahan jahan chale" -- a take-off on the popular number in the film.

Eighty per cent of the time, Bollywood crap shooters, including the brightest and the best, miss their target. But even by the industry's abysmally low success standards, 1998 has been a dismal year. Eight months later, the blockbuster with a capital B, which had spirits soaring, prices spiralling and the trade buzzing with crore-speak, continues to elude the box office. And Mumbai film industry denizens are seeking succour like drought victims waiting for rain.

Jhooth Bole Kauwa Kaate What has come instead are drizzles that threaten to develop into heavy showers but never make good on the promise. Moderate hits and successes like Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya, Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai, Ghulam, Satya, Dulhe Raja and Pyar To Hona Hi Tha have kept Bollywood engines oiled this year. Pundits estimate these films will do a business of Rs 10 to 15 crore each but that is small change compared to last year's Rs 25-crore plus hits like Border and Dil To Pagal Hai and the Rs 50-crore plus mega hits like Raja Hindustani. Bollywood business, always unpredictable, has become even more erratic. Coming on the heels of the hit Dulhe Raja, Govinda's Maharaja opens to a disappointing 84 per cent in Mumbai and the Arshad Warsi-Mukul Dev starrer to a disastrous 26.5 per cent -- a showing so bad that even the pundits were caught unawares. "There has been no multi-crore dream so far," says Pankaj Kharbanda of Star Management Group.

Reach for the Stars As the money crunch hits hard, buyers are becoming scarce. Bollywood is introspecting on Rs 2-crore prices -- "Business prudence should not have permitted distributors to pay the fancy money demanded by Mani and presenter Shah," insisted one angry trade magazine editorial. The number of A-grade film launches have fallen by an estimated 50 per cent to 15-odd films. And the trade is brimming with dire predictions and lamentations. "There is no excitement," says director David Dhawan. "We aren't making any good films. There is really nothing to talk about." After Dil Se..'s poor showing, Bollywood has set its sights on the winter collection. Coming after the September Shraddh period -- traditionally considered inauspicious for release -- is a flurry of films: comedies, romances, action sagas, even small-budget suspense that might break the jinx.

The buzz is hottest around debutante director Karan Johar's romantic saga, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (KKHH), which releases on Diwali. Sony Music reportedly paid an astounding Rs 3 crore to make their film music debut with KKHH and distributors, despite the introspection, are queuing up to pay Rs 2 crore per major territory. Why all the fuss over an untested director? Because Johar assisted whizkid Aditya Chopra through the blockbuster Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (DDLJ) and here he repeats the award-winning, box-office busting DDLJ team: actors Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, music directors Jatin-Lalit, art director Sharmishta Roy and choreographer Farah Khan. "Aati kya Khandala" star Rani Mukherjee also plays a pivotal role. Chopra, who also markets KKHH, has personally supervised the project, down to making the film's promos himself. The film has all the Yashraj trademarks: rich, beautiful people, glamorous foreign locations and lots of love. And the trade is hoping that the DDLJ magic will repeat itself. Johar, meanwhile, is trying to play down the hype. "It's just a simple story told in a simple way," he says.

Dhawan's Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (BMCM), also aiming for Diwali week, will give KKHH a run for its money. The ultimate entertainer, BMCM has two of Bollywood's finest comic actors, Amitabh Bachchan and Govinda, teaming up for the first time. If that wasn't enough, both are in double roles. Raveena Tandon and Ramya fill in the bimbo slots and Madhuri Dixit makes a special appearance. Dhawan describes the film as "a colourful, Diwali, 70-mm entertainer". "The performance level is just too good," he says. "Both have incredible comic timing. And they brought out the best in each other. Jaise talent ki dukan khol di ho (As if they've opened a talent shop). As a director, I couldn't ask for more."

Audiences asking for more can turn to Raj Kumar Santoshi's China Gate, a Seven Samurai-inspired saga of 10 armymen who defend a village against a bloodthirsty bandit. Eight hundred unit members, 250 locals, 70 horses and 125 stuntmen toiled for 110 days in Hampi, Karnataka, to create this curry Western. With a Rs 14 crore budget, China Gate is Bollywood's most expensive film ever. It's a mega movie except that its heroes are 50-plus non-stars and there isn't even an overt love angle. Earlier there weren't even songs but Santoshi recently capitulated and Urmila Matondkar has been pencilled in for a special dance number. So, is Santoshi making India's most expensive art film? "Of course not," he says, quoting his inspiration, the late Akira Kurosawa: "China Gate should be so entertaining that you can eat it."

Winter '98 also marks the return of veteran director Hrishikesh Mukherjee. Mukherjee, who created memorable cinema like Abhimaan, Khubsoorat and Anupama, returns after 12 years to complete the Gol Mal, Naram Garam trilogy with Polygram's Jhooth Bole Kauwa Kaate. At 77, Mukherjee was understandably hesitant to step back into the studios but Polygram's Vijay Lazarus convinced him. The Clearasil crowd, Bollywood's key consumers who equate comedy with Dhawan's more low brow adventures, now have a chance to discover a more genteel style. "It may not have technical finesse," says Anupam Kher, who stars in it, "but it has life."Pundits are anticipating that Jhooth Bole ... will be strictly class audience fare.

Ram Gopal Varma's Kaun? is also niche audience material. Bollywood sniggered when Varma, still smarting from the Daud drubbing, launched a low-budget, three-character, songless, suspense film. But after Satya's success, Varma is considered the miracle man. "I don't follow any rules," says Varma, "because I don't know them. I don't think about box office results. I enjoy the process of filmmaking rather than the result." Kaun? repeats Varma's favourite actors, Matondkar and Manoj Bajpai. And if it works, it might jump-start the small-film movement.

Viewers with a yen for romance can check out the latest Khan entrant: Feroz Khan's son Fardeen, who makes his debut with Prem Aggan. Though the college love story sounds familiar, Khan insists that "their relationship is very different from the ones we've seen in the past", and despite Khan's many flops, expectations are high. Those looking for action can wait for thriller specialists Abbas-Mastan's Soldier. Also, tentatively scheduled for late-November is Gulzar's Hu Tu Tu, an "entertaining yet serious comment on modern times", starring Gulzar's favourite Tabu with Sunil Shetty and Nana Patekar, and music by the Maachis man, Vishaal. After nearly a year-long break, Bollywood's most promising newcomer, Akshaye Khanna will return in December with Laawaris and Priyadarshan's Doli Saja Ke Rakhna. And for diehard Rekha lovers, director Sawan Kumar Tak has created the ultimate tribute: Mother '98, in which Rekha is wooed by three geriatrics -- Randhir Kapoor, Rakesh Roshan and Jeetendra.

Clearly, Bollywood's winter bouquet offers something for everyone. Two blockbusters can jump-start the lukewarm atmosphere. "We are all trying to make things that work," Dhawan says. "Entertainment cannot die. By year-end, business will be back on track." And Dil Se.., another statistic in the record books.

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