Posts tagged MKD Films

I sold my house for Ankush-N Chandra

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7 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

As told to Subhash K Jha (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 16, 2012)

 

Ankush changed my life. I had to struggle to make the film. I sold my house. I sold my wife and sister’s jewellery since the producer had run out of money. But once it released, it was an instant hit.

For eight weeks, the film ran to full houses non-stop. The poster that showed four angry boys running through the streets of Mumbai with chains in their hands, sent a strong message across. The anger that the characters felt was infectious. The era of plastic cinema was coming to an end.

Audiences were looking for a change. They were fed up watching a make-believe world of fancy clothes, glamorous women and faultless heroes. That’s where Ankush came in. The violence of the jobless youth caught on and the film clicked immediately. Without a single star in the cast, my film opened to packed houses.

I remember slumping to the ground on the pavement outside one of the theatres on Friday when the film opened. I was saved from financial ruin. Every major producer right from Manmohan Desai to Puranchandra Rao approached me to make a film. Manmohanji even signed me for a film and he told me I’d direct a film for his ‘MKD Films’. He told me I’d be the first outside director to make a film for his MKD . But it didn’t materialize.

Ankush changed my fortune. I had kept the film’s Mumbai distribution with myself. Ankush did a business of Rs 95 lakh when I had made it in Rs 12 lakh. It was a blockbuster in the true sense.

Nana More >

Manmohan Desai’s banner to be revived

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in
Noyon Jyoti Parasara (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 20, 2011)

 

MKD Films, the banner under which Manmohan Desai, the father of Bollywood masala entertainers had produced hits like Amar Akbar Anthony, Naseeb, Coolie and Toofan is all set to make a comeback.

Son Ketan Desai and granddaughter Pooja Desai will be reviving the banner after almost a decade of slumber. As the first step, the banner will produce a Marathi film, disclosed Ketan’s close source.

After Manmohan Desai’s demise in 1994, the prospering production house slumped with just two releases, Deewana Mastana in 1997 and Yeh Hai Jalwa in 2002.

Ketan Desai will revive father Manmohan Desai’s banner, MKD Films. A poster of Toofan, Coolie and Amar Akbar Anthony made by MKD Films

When we spoke to Pooja, she admitted that they are indeed bringing the banner back to life. “Yes that’s true. But the right person to give you complete details is my father,” she said over the phone.

“The film stars Ashok Saraf and Subodh Bhave. Sonali Kulkarni who had acted in Natarang is the female lead. Rajesh Deshpande is directing it and I will be the creative director,” revealed Ketan.

So what urged him to revive the banner with a Marathi film? “It was my father’s dying wish to make a film in Marathi as he owed everything that he was to Maharashtra,” replied Manmohan Desai’s son.

“The mahurat will take place on April 25. And if health permits, Shammi Kapoor will be giving the first clap to kickstart the film,” informed More >

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