"Bhool Bhulaiya is not a comedy" - Bhushan Kumar 
By Subhash K. Jha, October 9, 2007 - 17:56 IST
Strange are the ways of show world. While the Hindi chant ‘Hare Krishna Hare Rama’ in Bhool Bhulaiya had some fundamental elements incensed, another song ‘‘Allah Haafiz’ seems to be targeted at a Muslim audience to coincide with Eid.
Producer Bhushan Kumar completely denies this. "We had the catchy phrase ‘‘Allah Haafiz’ ’ in mind for a long time. You know how these lines like ‘Mashaa Aallah’ and ‘Ya Ali’ are working with the younger generation. So there was a situation for a road song in Bhool Bhulaiya where ‘Allah Haazif’ worked fine. That the film is being released on Eid and the Muslim audiences would like that number is just a coincidence."
As for the ‘Hare Rama’ chant Bhushan explains, "Yes there was some objection to the visuals of a Buddha statue and some glamour elements. We removed them. Even then some people objected to the song. But since it was approved by the Censors there isn't much that anyone can do."
Though the promotional clippings of Bhool Bhulaiya give the impression of being a comedy Bhushan outright denies the film a place in the genre of hilarity. "Of course Bhool Bhulaiya has a lot of funny moments. But those moments are combined with a supernatural element. This is a supernatural comedy, something never done before."
The T Series head honcho feels the days of the ouch-and-ouch comedies are numbered. "Partner did well. But Dhamaal and Dhol were not the hits they were expected to be. I think the audience is looking for a twist in their comedy. Bhool Bhulaiya provides that twist."
There's no funny stuff in Bhushan Kumar’s two forthcoming films. "We have Nagesh Kukunoor's Aashayein and the other project tentatively titled Eight By Ten. Both are serious films."
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