Archive for jayshah

Note all numbers are from Trade Guide

Reporting Methodology

1) New films most of the time where possible will be benchmarked against other films ‘in the same range’. The gross used for the older films will be either one’s I have computed or a BOI gross or a gross from Joginder’s column
2) Films currently playing – I will always do some trending analysis. This is always against the ‘week before’
3) To compute subsequent week grosses I will always benchmark against ‘the first week’. Before it was always the preceding week, but Week 1 is always the best base because it gives maximum centres to use
4) Going forward I will show ONE example in FULL and show the results of the remaining scenarios

New Releases

Mr White Mr Black

Its not surprising Mr White Mr Black took such a poor start at the box office and only racked up around 2.0-2.3Cr over the week. The film looked rather dated and the promos were quite un-inspiring. The film’s been flat out rejected.

Mumbaimirror

Ram Gopal Varma’s Sarkar Raj has been mired in controversies right from its inception. The story of Sarkar Raj is based on the Enron issue and the Nagre family (Amitabh’s family in the film) is said to be inspired by Bal Thackeray’s family. In fact Ramu had even gone on record to say that Amitabh’s character has been inspired by Bal Thackeray.

Now there are reports that one of the key characters in the film is modelled after Raj Thackeray. The character is played by TV actor Rajesh Shringarpure and he plays a fiery politician in the film who is against the Nagre family. Our source confirms that his mannerisms, his look and the aggressiveness has been modelled after Raj.

When contacted Rajesh Shringarpure denied that he plays a character similar to Raj. He said, “My character is called Sanjay Somji and he is fiery and ambitious, he tries to get his foothold in politics. However, I am not supposed to give you any more details about my character in the film. The audiences can judge if my character is close to any real life person or a fictitious one.”

DNAINDIA

MELBOURNE: The Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to scrap the $five million cap on the players’ salaries from next season onwards, a move that could see top cricketers earn as much as a whopping $15 million (Rs 61 crore approx).

The IPL had put a cap of $five million (just over Rs 20 crore) for the franchises this year to prevent the very rich team owners from splurging too much.

But with the inaugural edition turning out to be a major success, the players are set to reap the rewards in the next season.

“If we hadn’t done that, I can tell you that our players would already be the highest-paid across any sport in the world,” IPL chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi was quoted as saying in ‘The Daily Telegraph’.

Mumbaimirror

Shah Rukh Khan had called off the sci-fi Robot with South director Shankar owing to creative differences. Afterwards, Shah Rukh had said “Yes, we have called it off. We were not happy with a few things; Shankar’s take on the film was completely different from mine. We had worked very hard on the film and it is sad that we had to call it off. Both Shankar and I decided that we won’t make it together.”

However, no one said what exactly the creative differences were. Shah Rukh had loved the script and was all set to produce the film under his banner Red Chillies Entertainment. So what went wrong?

Shankar
Apparently, Shah Rukh and Shankar parted ways because Shah Rukh wanted the special effects of the film to be done in his SFX studio in Khar, but Shankar wanted to do the same in Chennai. According to our well-placed source in the film industry, “Robot had a lot of special effects. For the whole exercise of special effects to be completed, Shankar would have had to stay in Mumbai for six months at least. Shankar didn’t want to stay so long in Mumbai. Shankar argued, but Shah Rukh was adamant.”

[Please click on image for readability]

Timesofindia

On his character in Bhoothnath…
“I play the title role. It’s about a man, who even after he is dead, wants his space, and is scared of giving it up. Yes, first my intentions are not-so-good, but then I gradually metamorphose into a good ghost, and become friends with this little boy.”

On his look…
“I’m made to look unkempt…I have dirty long nails, unwashed and uncombed hair, filthy clothes…But during the course of the film I do get neater and cleaner, as I’m made to have a bath. So I evolve into a cleaner spirit.”

On working with kids in Bhoothnath…
“They’re unbelievable! It’s very difficult at this age to match a young kid. But they are a delight to work with – they’re so free and unselfconscious, so gullible and yet so intelligent. They surprise you with their knowledge, intelligence, and the ability with which they can grasp a situation. It’s just fantastic! And as far as energy levels are concerned, you just can’t match them. They can give even wrestlers a run for their stamina, which really goes to show that child is the father of man!”

On his fetish for videogames…
“I became conversant with videogames many years ago, much before they actually appeared in such fast numbers in this country. And I used to be a regular player on them. Then something went wrong somewhere. I think they became so advanced that it went beyond my mental capacity and so I gave it up. Then when I met the younger generation, people like Shah Rukh, my son Abhishek and others, they always spoke to me about these ‘wonderful gadgets’, so I started taking interest in them again. Yes, Shah Rukh presented me a game. He said, “This is a fantastic thing, and you must play it!” That was about four-five years ago, and it’s still lying packed. I’m not so sure how to operate it. Shah Rukh has promised to come over and explain it to me…”

Note all numbers are from Trade Guide

Reporting Methodology

1) New films most of the time where possible will be benchmarked against other films ‘in the same range’. The gross used for the older films will be either one’s I have computed or a BOI gross or a gross from Joginder’s column
2) Films currently playing – I will always do some trending analysis. This is always against the ‘week before’
3) To compute subsequent week grosses I will always benchmark against ‘the first week’. Before it was always the preceding week, but Week 1 is always the best base because it gives maximum centres to use
4) Going forward I will show ONE example in FULL and show the results of the remaining scenarios

New Releases

An opening week that was meant to be historic turned out to be a nightmare for most concerned with Tashan. The huge multi-star comedy/actioner riding on the success of the recent box office exploits of its stars; Akshay Kumar (a run of 5 successes in a row), Saif Ali Khan (substantial success from Race), Kareena Kapoor (accolades and box office success from Jab We Met) and Anil Kapoor (supporting acts in Welcome and Race) AND with one of the biggest production houses calling the shots, Tashan had all the pieces in the jigsaw in place to potentially annihilate opening week records. Unfortunately, the stubbornness of Yashraj and the ‘squeezing out’ of multiplex owners causing a revenue sharing row meant Tashan failed to release in most multiplexes for the whole of the week. In this age of huge multiplex revenues, the loss is likely to be greater than 10Cr nett revenues for the week.

There really hasn’t been much good fortune for Tashan from any quarters. The reviews have by in large ripped the movie apart and comparisons to films last year have been less than complimentary. The opening in small centres too lacked the frenzy and buzz seen for big releases. The pre-release publicity was lackluster; was this a disaster waiting to happen? The one bit of good news the film has received is that it will release in multiplexes in week two. That it could be all too late is a near a bang on certainty, but it could help to repair some damage.

Mumbaimirror

Now here’s a legitimate inspiration. Nikhil Advani has tied up with Warner Brothers to remake of 2005 Hollywood superhit, Wedding Crashers, in Hindi. Reportedly the producers are speaking to two major stars. This is the first time that Bollywood has tied up with Hollywood producers to remake a film, officially.

Mukesh Talreja, Nikhil’s partner, Orion Pictures Pvt Ltd., confirms the news and says, “I have seen Wedding Crashers and it is ideal for being made into a Bollywood film. In India marriage is a big event, and that’s what the film is all about. It has all the emotions that a Bollywood potboiler needs.

I first spoke to Blaise Fernandes who is here in India from Warner and then I met Richard Fox, head of Warner Brothers. I will start talking to the actors after I receive an official letter. We have some major stars in mind, but we are yet to finalise them.”

Timesofindia

Yash Raj Films’ hit Chak De! India, a gritty tale about an Indian women’s hockey team, has bagged The Billie Awards in the US, named after legendary tennis player Billie Jean King.

The award honours media excellence in the portrayal of girls and women in sports and physical activity and is given in four categories – breakthrough and innovation, entertainment, journalism and outstanding journalist.

The film was declared the best in the entertainment category. “The film continues to pay back the faith we had reposed in it even when conventional wisdom would have dictated otherwise. To win accolades like this from around the world, especially from places where depictions of women’s sport has had a long and established tradition is heartening,” said Yash Chopra, chairman Yash Raj Films.

IndiaFm

By now its common knowledge that Ranbir Kapoor’s next release Bachna Ae Haseeno directed by Siddharth Raj Anand borrows its title from his father Rishi Kapoor’s evergreen number from Hum Kisise Kum Nahin. But now the latest heartthrob will even move his feet to a song called Bachna Ae Haseeno for the film.

Bollywood Hungama got in touch with ace choreographer Ahmed Khan who would be choreographing the Saawariya lad in this film, “Yes, we are having a song called ‘Bachna Ae Haseeno’ and it will feature Ranbir along with the 3 girls- Bipasha, Deepika and Minissha. It will be mainly used as promotional number for the film. Since Rishi-ji’s number is still a cult hit, they decided to have Ranbir also perform to a song which has similar lyrics. Vishal and Shekhar have composed the music for the song,” he adds.

So how has been the experience shooting with tinsel-town’s latest pin-up boy, “It has been great. I shot a song with him in Mumbai at Yashraj studios. It’s a commercial Indian song which we did. He is a brilliant dancer. In Saawariya, baring a number or two, he didn’t really get much of a chance to showcase his dancing skills but he has got that rhythm in his genes. His father and uncle Shammi-ji have all been brilliant dancers and even Ranbir has his own style. I would be going to Switzerland and Venice now to finish 3 songs for the film and after we return we would shoot the ‘Bachna Ae Haseeno’ number,” says the choreographer-turned-director.

We also asked Ahmed on the status of his next film Paathshala, “The post-production is currently on. We would start the dubbing of the film sometime next month. We are planning a Children’s Day release (Nov 14th) so we have ample amount of time on our hands”, he smiles.