SAATHIYA:
Vivek Oberoi Acts Well, Shah Rukh
Too Is There etc etc...
MUMBAI:
With two big-banner Hindi films hitting
theatres on December 20, the film industry
is hoping for box office magic to end
its most disastrous year on a good note.
Ninety six per cent of the Hindi movies
released in 2002 failed miserably, leaving
the world's largest celluloid industry
grappling with losses close to a whopping
five billion rupees. Distributors and
exhibitors have now pinned their hopes
on 'Kaante' (Thorns) and 'Saathiya' (Soul-mate),
two multi-million dollar movies, to bail
them out.
Opening in the midst of the holiday season,
the films are made at a total cost of
Rs 700 million (14 million dollars) and
are banking on the festive spirit to attract
audiences. The much hyped Kaante, in particular,
which was premiered here on Thursday,
is expected to be a blockbuster. Shot
entirely in Los Angeles, its biggest USP
is the phenomenal cast. The "who's who"
of Bollywood, from legend Amitabh Bachchan
to action hero Sunjay Dutt star in the
thriller. Adding to it is the sleek technical
wizardry and exoctic locales. Kaante opened
to a 100 per cent advance booking all
over India. But critics are still sceptical.
On the other hand, 'Saathiya', a poignant
look into the minds of a happily married
couple whose life turns topsy-turvy after
a nearly-fatal accident, has, however,
not picked up that well Kinjal, a film-goer,
says the movie does not go beyond mere
"time pass". "Vikek Oberoi has acted really
well, and then there is the big star Shah
Rukh in it, so the package is good, but
I dont' think too well. It's just time
pass," she said. For almost a century,
Bollywood has survived on a staple diet
of fantasy-driven melodrama in which heroes
and heroines dance around trees, sing
umpteen songs. There are also scores of
hip-shaking dancers.
Though the two films attempt to break
the stereotype, how far they will succeed
still remains to be seen. While the usual
ratio of hits is about 15-20 per cent,
this year only 5-6 per cent of films managed
to generate any business. Even big names,
super-stars and a big cast could not lure
the audiences. The only consolation was
the tragic love story 'Devdas', which
managed around Rs 4.5 billion for the
distributors.
December 20, 2002
