'World Cup will make no difference to movies'

Movies and cricket will go head to head these coming weekends.

The February 8-9 weekend itself sees four films -- Khushi, Baaz -- A Bird In Danger, Satta and Freaky Chakra -- at the marquee.

Khushi director S J Suryah dismisses the theory that the World Cup will prove a hindrance at the box-office. "My film will break the jinx which Bollywood presently finds itself in. Even producer Boney Kapoor feels the same," he says. Khushi, a remake of his Khushi (Tamil and Telugu), is a love story which has its lovers at loggerheads and stars Fardeen Khan and Kareena Kapoor.

"The producer knows I have a winner on my hands," says Satta director Madhur Bhandarkar. "Like Chandni Bar, I have made a strong film which will compel the public to see it. I cannot tell you what will happen in my life tomorrow, but I can certainly vouch for my film. Remember interest in cricket waned after the betting scandals. Besides, people can't sit at home all the time and watch cricket."

Satta dwells on what happens when a young, middle-class woman is forced to enter politics. It stars Raveena Tandon, Sameer Dharmadhikari, Atul Kulkarni, Vallabh Vyas and Govind Namdeo.

Tinu Verma, producer-director of Baaz -- A Bird In Danger, is away on a pilgrimage at Vaishno Devi. Baaz has three men in love with the same girl, one of whom is an obsessive psycho. The film has Karisma Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Suniel Shetty, Dino Morea and Preeti Jhangiani playing the principal characters.

As for Kaash... Aap Hamare Hote, slated to release February 14, producer Nadira Babbar says, "The World Cup will not make any difference to my movie. I am prudent enough to know this. My daughter Juhi is making her debut and I know how important a debut is. Movies have their own charm and audience, cricket is a different ball game."

Kaash... Aap Hamare Hote stars Sonu Nigam and Juhi Babbar.

Sixteen more films, including Love At Times Square, Stumped, Bas Yun Hi, Khullam Khulla Pyaar Karein, Dhund -- The Fog, Chori Chori, Escape From Taliban, Paanch, 3 Deewarein and Ek Hindustani, are lined up for release during the six weeks of the tournament (February 9 to March 23).