Candid Camera 
By Mahesh Bhatt, July 2, 2007 - 11:06 IST
He is the irrepressible rebel who isn't afraid to speak his mind in one form or the other. Be it his films like Zakhm, Saransh or Arth as a director, or his unconditional support to film fraternity in its war against underworld, or his earnest plea for the improvement in cross border relations between India and Pakistan, Mahesh Bhatt says what he feels is right. Mr Bhatt writes regularly for IndiaFM and today he brings forth his candid views on the simultaneous release of three big films in Apne, Awarapan (his own production) and Aap Ka Surroor. The views expressed by the author belong to him and are not the viewpoint of IndiaFM.
In this time of bluff and bluster, where it's become impossible to separate the truth from the lie, there is a sea of people out there which is thirsting for a real story, be it in the world of politics, business or entertainment. Bollywood has been like a fortress. It allows very few to penetrate its inner sanctum, where the real action takes place or where the real truth lies buried.
Let me try and give you an inner view of what has happened and is happening to me and my folks in Vishesh Films since the release of our latest film, Awarapan. This may leave you with a taste of the kind of high stress life we film makers are forced to live.
We film people are most vulnerable at the time of the release of our films. The state of our being is like that of a student waiting for his or her final results of a life changing exam. Except that this doesn't happen once in a life time but every time we have a release! At such moments, most of us, barring a few like me, who do not believe in the efficacy of prayer, prostrate ourselves in front of any available deity, in order to seek his divine intervention to ensure a great opening weekend. World over, the opening weekend for filmmakers has become a nightmare that they dread but cannot escape from. A Hollywood film producer says 'sell your mother, shoot your girlfriend, do what you want, but make sure that you get bums on seats when the picture opens in the cinema hall on opening weekend.
My brother Mukesh and my nephew Mohit Suri who are devotees of Lord Ganesha began their day with a pre-dawn visit to the world famous Siddhivinayak shrine. I, who have seen more than fifty releases, felt like an old war-horse, ready for the unexpected to descend at any moment. If my life has taught me one thing about this business it is that in the film business you just never know….
And of course, the unexpected did happen. Contrary to the projections and predictions made by all the exhibitors and distributors and trade analysts, Aap Ka Suroor opened to mind blowing houses. "Compared to Apne which has also opened this week, our film Awarapan is slightly better in some territories, but there is no getting away from this discomforting fact that Himesh has got a head start" said my brother Mukesh who is my ears and my eyes to all inside trade information. I amplified this news to my director and to Emraan Hashmi, who too was waiting to hear how his film had opened. In spite of all the posturing of being calm and tranquil, I knew that for him, a lot depended on how Awarapan performs at the box office.
The mood darkened. All the euphoria which the pre-release shows had whipped up receded in a trice. And then the wait began, to hear what were the reports of all the films, at the end of the first show.
"I've seen the film myself with the audience, and it has put my fears to rest" said Mohit Suri after seeing two shows back to back in Mumbai's Galaxy cinema. The manner in which Mohit communicated his verdict to all of us brought the rays of hope back to us and lifted our somber mood. As the day deepened, reports from various states of India reached us through phone calls and sms's. One thing was clear: Awarapan was being liked by the consumer.
As night descended and Awarapan's first day in theatres was coming to an end my writer Shagufta Rafique and my director Mohit Suri, sat riveted in front of the television set sampling audience responses and bracing themselves for the critical analysis of Awarapan Film bashing has always been a lucrative business and a tool of power. The capacity of a critic to hurt and wound the vanity of the entertainer ironically contributes to him being cultivated by the who's who of the trade in order to get a favorable review whenever their film releases. Most of us in Bollywood, by now know, that a film critic is like a billboard that you can "buy" for love or for money to get the kind of review you hope for plastered on it. Finally it was time for us to part. I could see that Mohit Suri the director was sinking deep into a quagmire of depression. The gap between what the heart longs for and the hand life deals you has always been unbridgeable. I could see that he was angry that the film had been released with two other films, but then such is life. Nobody expected, least of all Mohit Suri, that Himesh Reshammiya would steal the thunder of both, the Deols as well as Emraan Hashmi.
The next morning when the heavens came down and incessant rain lashed down on Mumbai I woke up and discovered that although the critics had not raved about Awarapan, they had unnamimously raved about the birth of an actor called Emraan Hashmi. Emraan had succeeded in demolishing his 'Serial Kisser' image, and making his presence felt to his worst detractors. "This is a triumph for you Mohit and for us" I said playing the role of a leader to lift the sagging morale of my demoralized unit. Despite of heavy rainfall Awarapan held on and the collections at places began to climb.
As the curtains come down on the second day of Awarapan in theaters and its fate at the box office is still unclear. I'm beginning to see one undeniable truth - that no matter how hard you try it is finally word of mouth that makes or breaks a film and not the critics or your advertising budget. The truth of Emraans performance was outshining the lie of the Aap Ka Suroor marketing team. If the lie can supercede the truth then I want to scream "Hey, stop the world. I want to get off!"
PS: On the third day the 'miracle' was beginning to unfold. Awarapan's collections began to to climb. The word of mouth was beginning to turn the tables in our favour. As I sign off a reader's poll in Mumbai Mirror says 90% of people felt that Awarapan rocked. Truth seems to have won.
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'Awaarapan': Bhatts' most expensive film
