With SUR opening to a shockingly poor response all over, exhibitors are keeping their fingers crossed about what the business of films will be like in the coming few weeks. In the case of SUR, a prominent exhibitor feels that the film is too class-oriented for the masses to identify with. "The music is extra-ordinary no doubt, but it is not the kind of film that the masses can relate to," he says.
The director of SUR, Tanuja Chandra, isn't disappointed, nor does she consider the box-office collections an index of the film's failure. "I agree, the collections have been quite low, but the film hasn't crashed as is being made out. It is picking up with every subsequent show, which is creditable considering the on-going cricket matches. What matters is that those who have seen the film have appreciated it immensely," she says.
'YEH KAISI MOHABBAT' – TRIMMING DOESN'T HELP
The second release of last week – YEH KAISI MOHABBAT – has also met with a lukewarm response. Producer Ashok Kotwani deleted two songs from the film – 'Jhol' and 'Pyar Hain' – from day 2 itself, but that didn't boost the business. "The cricket matches made a dent in the collections. Also, people were not too keen on paying high ticket rates to watch a non-star cast film," he admits. Kotwani is all set a star cast film now.
AMITABH, RANI IN ADNAN'S NEW VIDEOS
The music scene may not seem very promising vis-?is film music, but as far as pop music goes, the sky seems to be the limit. Take for instance Super Cassettes, which signed Adnan Sami for an exceptional amount for his new album TERA CHEHRA, which is due for release shortly. Going by reports in music circles, the price offered to Sami is the highest offered to any pop singer so far.
But the more interesting aspect is the video picturisation of four of the songs, one of which has already been shot with Rani Mukherji and directed by Bela Segal, sister of Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Apart from Rani, Super Cassettes is said to have signed on the Big B for the second music video, which will feature Adnan Sami as well.
Mukesh Desai of Super Cassettes Industries Ltd., however, prefers to keep it a tight secret. "All I can say is that the videos will be lavishly mounted and something to look forward to. The seven songs in the album are a treat to the ears, but the four that are being picturised will take the music market by storm," he says.
