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Posts tagged distributors
Kajraare shifted ahead
Jul 27th
By Taran Adarsh, July 27, 2010 – 08:26 IST
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KAJRAARE has been pushed ahead! Initially slated for release on 6th August, the film will now release on Eid, on 10th September. That’s the buzz in the industry. The postponement has come as a surprise, since the promotion of the film is in full gear.
Bhushan Kumar, the producer of KAJRAARE, sheds light on the issue, “Yes, we are not releasing the film on 6th August. In fact, we haven’t taken a call on the new date yet.” The buzz is that the film will now hit the screens on Eid. Will it withstand the tough competition posed by DABANGG and WE ARE FAMILY? “It’s uncertain at the moment. We will arrive at a decision [on the new date] within a week or so,” he states.
Why this sudden shift? “Our distributors are of the opinion that we shouldn’t release the film during the holy month of Ramzan. Also, since we are planning to have a really big release in Pakistan, releasing the film during Ramzan would’ve hampered the business prospects. In view of the fact, we decided to shift the film to a latter date,” the head honcho of T-Series reveals.
BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COM
Top 5: Lamhaa 8.5 cr, TBL 5.61 cr, Udaan 2.5 cr, Inception 9.6 cr
Jul 24th
- By Taran Adarsh, July 24, 2010 – 08:46 IST
1. LAMHAA: Has been rejected outright. Collected approx. Rs. 6 cr. nett in its opening weekend and approx. Rs. 2.50 cr. nett from Monday to Thursday. The Week 1 collections stand at approx. Rs. 8.50 cr. nett on 922 screens, which is shockingly low. The film will entail huge losses
2. TERE BIN LADEN: Is a success story. Collected approx. Rs. 90 lacs nett on Friday, approx. Rs. 1.35 cr. nett on Saturday, approx. Rs. 1.49 cr. nett on Sunday, approx. Rs. 45 lacs on Monday, approx. Rs. 52 lacs on Tuesday, approx. Rs. 46 lacs on Wednesday and approx. Rs. 44 lacs on Thursday. The Week 1 total stands at approx. Rs. 5.61 cr. nett on 344 screens. The cost of investment to the distributors is approx. Rs. 7.5 cr. [incl. P. & A.] and the returns from theatrical and non-theatrical avenues should ensure profits to its distributors and also its producers
3. UDAAN: Collected approx. Rs. 1.25 cr. nett during its opening weekend and approx. Rs. 1.25 cr. nett from Monday to Thursday. The Week 1 total stands at approx. Rs. 2.50 cr. nett on 150 screens. The cost of production was around Rs. 3 cr. and UTV spent another Rs. 2 cr. on P. & A., so the total cost is around Rs. 5 cr. The Satellite rights have been sold [to Colors] for Rs. 3.5 cr., music [T-Series] and Home Video [Disney] together will fetch around Rs. 75 lacs. The theatrical revenue from India will be around Rs. 1.5 cr. and other rights and Overseas revenue combined will fetch another Rs. 50 lacs. The recovery is around Rs. 6.25 cr., which means a 25% return on investment
4. MILENGE MILENGE: Profitable venture for its producers, due to its low costs and returns from non-theatrical avenues mainly
5. I HATE LUV STROYS
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INCEPTION, released in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu versions simultaneously, collected approx. Rs. 5.60 cr. nett in its opening weekend and approx. Rs. 4 cr. nett from Monday to Thursday. The Week 1 total stands at approx. Rs. 9.60 cr. nett on 240 prints [271 sites] in India. It was the first choice of moviegoers last week.
BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COM
IHLS draws worse than Raavan and Kites?
Jul 11th
Thursday, July 08, 2010
Much as a lobby in media papers and some affiliated portals have been reporting bloated figures and occupancies for I Hate Luv Storys as a commercial grosser, comparing it to All India hits like Ajab Prem Ki Ghajab Kahani and what not, the reality on the ground is much different, even at the multiplexes. The Karan Johar film featuring Imran Khan-Sonam Kapoor has lower figures and occupancies than even last month’s disaster Raavan in India (Abhishek Bachchan-Aishwarya Rai), and less than Kites (Hrithik Roshan-Barbara Mori), which too was a disaster, and quite a lot worse than Prakash Jha’s Raajneeti which was a hit.
Even in overseas in North America where it released mid-week Wednesday itself looking to capitalize on 4th July holiday coming up there, IHLS the film’s collections were not upto expectation given it’s a Karan Johar production, collecting a subpar $375K over the 3 day weekend and $535k over the extended 6 day wednesday-monday period there. Raavan which was a disaster overseas also 2 weeks before fetched $482k over its 3 day opening weekend despite opening below expectations and crashing on Sunday. Rajneeti earlier in June did $850k in USA for its 3 day weekend despite supposedly being an Indian interiors themed film.
In India, contrary to opening average of 80-90% claims across all multiplexes last Friday for IHLS, the multiplex opening average for this ‘youth-centric’ fare was actually closer to 40%-50% opening average with single screens much much lower. And by Wednesday, with possible exception of Delhi metro, the same multiplexes were drawing hardly 10-20 people for this ‘multiplex hit’. This can be verified by visiting a multiplex like Cinemax in Andheri in Mumbai or Fame in Highland park in Calcutta. Coming up 2nd weekend too is equally shaky. The multiplexes have been asked to allocate large number of screenings again but the actual advance bookings are sad. Not even 1% in some cases.
The collections are barely over 26-27 crores (even less according to some distributors) with occupancies worse than the flops of recent past.
Next up this Friday, Shahid Kapoor-Kareena Kapoor make a comeback with Milenge Milenge. And also Red Alert a take on naxalism. The following week sees Sanjay Dutt’s Lamhaa and a comedy called Tere Bin Laden, apart from Udaan.
IBOSNETWORK.COM
RR Patil watches Red Alert, recommends it to other ministers
Jun 26th
By Subhash K. Jha, June 26, 2010 – 09:57 IST
The fact that Maharashtra’s Home Minister R. R. Patil doesn’t watch too many films is not so interesting as the fact that he viewed Ananth Mahadevan’s Red Alert – The War Within on Monday evening, a film about the genesis and consolidation of the Naxalite movement in the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh.
The film literally abuses the Establishment and lays the blame squarely on the government for fostering inequalities and injustice for the unprivileged classes thereby leading to the Maoist-Naxalite movement.
Says the director, “I was very apprehensive about Mr. Patil’s response to what is clearly an anti-establishment film. The language used against the Establishment is almost abusive. It shows my protagonist Suniel Shetty unwittingly becoming part of the Naxal movement just to feed and look after his family.”
Apparently, the Home Minister was completely swayed by the film and has recommended the film to P. Chidambaram and other important ministers. Significantly, unlike the other recently-released Naxalite film Raavan, Red Alert doesn’t flinch from calling a spade a spade.
Says the director Mahadevan, “With due respects to Mani Ratnam Sir whom I admire to death, Raavan seemed to be set in an indeterminate region and time zone. Was Beera really a Naxalite? Not once was he mentioned to be a Naxal. His politics seemed more personal than political. His vendetta was for wrongs done to him rather than against a socio-political system that fosters inequality and injustice.”
Mahadevan is unfazed by the lack of face value in the project. “Distributors were wary because the film stars Suniel Shetty. In fact, Suniel had himself questioned me when I had narrated the script to him. “Why are you offering me this film? I don’t sell solo.” But I was sure Suniel was right for Red Alert. From the way he has worked on his look and body language to his expressions, Suniel becomes the character of the reluctant Naxalite.”
BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COM
Ajay unhappy with Raajneeti?
Jun 5th
Things are so bad between director Prakash Jha and Ajay Devgn that the actor spent the night of the premiere sulking at his farmhouse. Here is why…
Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 05, 2010)
Prakash Jha might have made one of the more acclaimed films in recent times with Raajneeti. This acclaim though has come at a steep cost; he might just lose one of his closest friends, Ajay Devgn, in the bargain for Bollywood supremacy. Apparently Ajay is livid about being sidelined in this multi-starrer and this was evident when he gave the premiere of the film a miss.
A close friend of Ajay said, “Ajay is definitely unhappy with whatever has gone down. When Prakash Jha had spoken to him about the film, Ajay had asked him if he should do the film. Jha had told him that that he should trust him and do the film. However Ajay now feels cheated and that’s why he has distanced himself from Jha. That’s the reason he didn’t attend the premiere.”
When asked what the issue was, the friend said, “Ajay worked with Jha when Prakash Jha was making non-commercial films. He believed in him and knew that Jha had immense talent, but needed someone to back him. This is why he did Gangaajal and Apaharan with him. Both the films worked and the director-actor rapport spelt success. Ajay being a part of Raajneeti was further assurance that the team was together and that Jha could pull off such a big budget film. It was ensured that distributors would put in the money on the winning combination.
However, Ajay was unhappy that the film was promoted as a Ranbir-Katrina film and a romantic song was used, when the film was not romantic at all. Ajay was also upset that in spite of being such a good friend, he was taken for granted; he deserved more respect. Ajay kept wondering why Jha did this to him.”
The friend further said, “In spite of this Ajay did promote the film on his own end in both the electronic and print media. Ajay is a professional guy and he won’t let this affect the film and that’s why he is quiet about the whole thing.”
Ajay Devgn remained unavailable for comment. Prakash Jha said, “I have no such information and all the reviews everywhere have praised Ajay’s work. I have no idea that he is upset.”
When asked why he didn’t come for the premiere, Prakash Jha said, “I don’t know and I believe that he was out of town, probably at his farm house. All these things are not true and the rumours are adding fuel to an imaginary problem between us.” Incidentally Ajay is scheduled to do Jha’s next film Arakshan. Hope Jha isn’t dangling a carrot with this one.
Sudhir Mishra forms cartel; will distribute small and out-of-the-box films
May 24th
Sudhir Mishra forms a cartel to distribute films which are not blockbusters; dedicates the new unit to his late wife Renu Saluja
Subhash K Jha (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 24, 2010)
History won’t remember you by what you attempted to do, but by what you succeeded in doing,” says Sudhir Mishra. Tired of watching his films going to waste or languishing for the want of distributors, Sudhir Mishra has now gotten together with like-minded filmmakers who don’t have the clout or access to multi-chain releases.
Though at the moment the project is under wraps, Mishra reveals, “Yes I’m forming a cartel only to distribute and market films that don’t fit the ‘blockbuster’ bill. I’ve spoken to several filmmakers like Ketan Mehta who are sailing in the same boat as me. We’re like those old fashioned storytellers sitting under the tree in the village. Our utility doesn’t end because corporate giants have taken over the business.”
The first film to benefit from Mishra’s creative cartel would be Dill Dar-ba-Dar which he has just completed. He plans to release and distribute it through his own means via the newly-formed association on October 1.
This is the day when Sajid Nadiadwala’s biggie Anjaana-Anjaani also hits the theatres. But Mishra isn’t buckling under pressure. “I think it’s wise to release a small film alongside a proposed blockbuster. Audiences are more enthused to step out of their homes and see the films released that week,” he says.
Sudhir Mishra plans to dedicate the cartel to his late wife Renu Saluja. He says, “When I decided to make Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi my wife Renu Saluja was still alive. Though she was seriously unwell she took my script to a few big stars who said it was my worst script ever. I dedicated Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi to Renu. Today when I’m in the process of forming a cartel to release films of like-minded storytellers, saurbI remember Renu’s support. I dedicate this cartel to her.”
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| Sudhir Mishra with Saurabh Shukla |
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| Chitrangda Singh in Dil Dar-ba-dar |
KFCC bans Kites screening in Karnataka
May 21st
By Raymond Ronamai (MAY 21, 2010)
Bollywood’s most-awaited film Kites has run into trouble in Karnataka even before seeing the light of day. This time, it’s not the political outfits or moral police but the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) that has come down heavily on it. The association has banned the screening of the film in the state for violating the rules of the local film industry.
President of KFCC Basant Kumar Patil has directed the exhibitors not to screen the movie, as the distributors, Big Pictures, has broken the norms of the local film industry by planning to release it in 46 theatres as against 24 theatres allowed.
“As per norms of the KFCC, non-Kannada movies can be released in only 21 theatres. The distributors approached us and requested us to relax the norms and grant permission to screen in 24 halls. We agreed. But now, they are releasing it in 46 theatres. Besides, they are also planning to screen it in another 10-12 theatres. Rules can’t be different for different people,” The Times of India quoted Patil as saying.
Vijay starrer Shankar IPS and Nagathihalli Chandrashekar’s Nooru Janmaku, which are releasing today would suffer if theatres are reserved for Kites. “Due to Kites, Prakash Rai’s Naanu Nanna Kanasu has been removed from theatres and the two films set for release on Friday have no halls. Who will protect our films?” Patil added. “If they screen this film now, we will not allow them to screen any more later,” he warned.
Kites featuring Hrithik Roshan and Barbara Mori is releasing worldwide today in over 2, 300 screens. It is produced by Rakesh Roshan and directed by Anurag Basu.
ENTERTAINMENT.ONEINDIA.IN
Vivek will be the new ‘Prince’ of Bollywood-Kumar Taurani
Apr 6th
By Taran Adarsh, April 6, 2010 – 08:52 IST
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At a time when most actors believe in multi-hero films, Vivek Oberoi has had the courage to accept PRINCE, a film that’s riding on his shoulders. It’s a risky situation. If PRINCE works, Vivek would be the new Prince of Bollywood. God forbid, if it doesn’t, it would affect Vivek’s standing in the industry.
“That’s true,” PRINCE producer Kumar Taurani admits it’s a big gamble, but the veteran film-maker is extremely confident that PRINCE would strike a chord. Says Taurani, “Vivek is an extremely hard-working actor and people will see a new Vivek in PRINCE. He was co-operation personified all through the making of the film. And when I look back, I think Vivek was the right choice for the role.”
The film is made on a massive budget of Rs 40 crores. Taurani has left no stone unturned to give his best to PRINCE. Besides being aggressive on the promotional front, Taurani is also giving the film the best possible release – approx. 1200 screens. “The distributors have indicated that there’s tremendous excitement for the film and hence, they’ve decided to give it a wide release. They feel PRINCE has the potential to strike it big, hence the extensive screens,” Taurani reveals.
BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COM
SRK’s cell not working
Feb 22nd
With his only cellphone on the blink, the actor is having a tough time keeping up with friends and associates
By Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 22, 2010)
This is for anyone who is wondering why Shah Rukh Khan, who usually replies promptly to text messages, seems not to be responding these days. No, he hasn’t forgotten his manners – his phone is giving him a lot of trouble. Apparently, his handset is acting up and remains inoperable for hours at a stretch.
A source close to him said, “Shah Rukh is known to reply to each and every message he gets barring those from press people he doesn’t want to interact with. But his phone has almost conked off for the last few days.
He is busy promoting his film My Name Is Khan and very tied up, but he will get it repaired in a day or two.”
The source reveals, “He has been getting feedback about the film from distributors, exhibitors, people from the media and his friends in the industry. His message box is choked with over 1500 messages.
This is also one of the reasons his phone has hung. He is also missing out on the collection readings the distributors are sending him. He has to constantly use a staff member’s phone to call Karan Johar to find out the box office progress of the film.”
Ranbir-Sarah won’t do a Hrithik-Barbara on the net
Feb 17th
REEL SHOW: Ranbir Kapoor and Sarah Thompson
SUBHASH K JHA Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; February 17, 2010)
It the buzz is to be believed, Prakash Jha is being bombarded by demands from distributors and marketing strategists to “leak” a steamy scene from his film Rajneeti onto the net. This, they are telling him, will create for the film the kind of hype Kites got when a hot trailer featuring Hrithik Roshan and Barbara Mori made it “accidentally” to the net recently. Bollywood, incidentally, thinks the Kites trailer was deliberately put on the net to create a curiosity about the film.
Jha’s film reportedly has steamy love-making and kissing sequences featuring Ranbir Kapoor and his American co-star Sarah Thompson. Those who have seen rushes of the film which releases two weeks after Kites, say Ranbir and Sarah in Rajneeti are many steps ahead of Hrithik and Barbara. Jha, however, will not yield to the temptation of selling his film on the strength of sex. Such gimmicks, the filmmaker believes, are for those films which are weak in content.
Ranbir, who is shooting in the US, is anxious to know about the fate of the love-making scenes. The young actor shares his director’s view that audiences should not be enticed to theatres on the promise of sex. Ranbir plays the meanest, most manipulative character of his entire career in the film. Rajneeti stars Katrina, too. But the sex scenes are with Sarah, unfortunately.
