Despite the failures and disappointments in 2002, film producers and distributors are in a mood of serious introspection in order to better their chances in 2003. Fresh marketing strategies are being thought of, besides innovative promotional campaigns, though the bottomline continues to be novel scripts.
There is also a lot of optimism about the New Year's releases, TALAASH, TUJHE MERI KASAM and BOLLYWOOD / HOLLYWOOD. States Suneel Darshan, director of TALAASH, “It's an out and out commercial film. Akshay has delivered an amazing performance.”
Ritesh Deshmukh's debut vehicle TUJHE MERI KASAM also hits the theatres this week. This extensively publicized film is important for everyone associated with it, right from the fresh lead pair – Ritesh and Genelia – to its makers, who are back in the Hindi film arena after a hiatus.
Deepa Mehta's BOLLYWOOD / HOLLYWOOD, which won rave reviews in the international market, besides faring well at the box-office, is yet another film that should create ripples and set trends in the Indian market. Ashish Bhatnagar of iDream Productions is more than optimistic that the film will appeal to the Indian audiences.
Let's hope the New Year begins on a great note, with all the three releases setting the box-office on fire and cash registers jingling!
LOOKING FORWARD TO 'SATTA'
Madhur Bhandarkar is not exactly biting his nails. His third film, SATTA, is ready for release and he's anxious, though not overly so. After all he is the director of CHANDNI BAR, a film that broke rules, tackled a realistic subject, proved a winner and shot up the confidence quotient of the young director.
Some quotable quotes from Madhur:
“I am aware that people in the industry do expect more from me, especially after CHANDNI BAR and there are bound to be comparisons, but I would like to tell them that SATTA and CHANDNI BAR are two different films. The protagonists are different, their backgrounds, their beliefs, their personalities are different.
“If Mumtaz from CHANDNI BAR took life as it came, Anuradha in SATTA won't take things lying down. Mumtaz accepted everything that happened to her, but Anuradha is not a passive spectator. There are huge personality differences between the two – Mumtaz came from a small town, whereas Anuradha is an urban, middle class girl. Mumtaz resigns herself to life, while Anuradha battles on.
“I think Raveena has surpassed my expectations. It would be clich?to say that her potential is largely untapped. Ideally, I would have liked SATTA to release in December as I wanted the film to qualify for the popular awards, but it didn't happen. I know for sure that Raveena would walk away with the best actress award.
“After CHANDNI BAR, producers were willing to give Tabu and me great money to make CHANDNI BAR II. I couldn't have made it. I would have only repeated myself. I didn't want to cash in on the success of CHANDNI BAR. I had to move on and wait for a subject that would charge me and Tabu enough to work again.”
50 YEARS OF SAGARS – NOW ON VCD
On the occasion of Dr. Ramanand Sagar's 86th birthday on December 29, the house of Sagars have come up with a set of 2 VCDs, titled THE LIVING LEGEND, MEDIA MOGHUL, RAMANAND SAGAR. A biographical sketch, it takes you on a nostalgic trip down memory lane.
The 2-hour 40-minute VCD pack gives a glimpse of the work started by Sagar fifty years ago and the entertainment mission founded by the patriarch in a very humble way, which is continued by two subsequent generations of Sagars. The VCD has highlights from movies, besides showcasing the achievements of the man with a mission.
'MUNNABHAI MBBS' CAST FINALISED
Vidhu Vinod Chopra has finalized the cast of his new film MUNNABHAI MBBS, to be directed by Rajkumar Hirani. Besides teaming Sunil Dutt and Sanjay Dutt, Chopra has also signed Jimmy Shergill, Arshad Warsi, Rohini Hattangadi, Boman Irani and Gracy Singh.
Non-stop shooting commences from January 2 (today) till May 2003. It is scheduled for release in Diwali 2003.
