Abhishek and the art of self-control

Komal Nahta

A few thoughts that I would like to share with you.

Controversy and the Bombay film industry go hand-in-hand. Barely had the National Film Awards controversy died down than another involving Abhishek Bachchan erupted.

Whether Abhishek punched the photojournalist who clicked his pictures in Delhi on the sets of Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai or not is not the question here.

What is important is that Abhishek must be more in control of himself. He comes from such a high profile family. Not a tall claim, is it, considering the advantages that accrue from being a Bachchan.

It happens every Friday.

When a film flops, it hurts the people concerned with it. Yes. It also gladdens hundreds of industry hearts who wait for competition to fail.

Now, everyone in the industry wants a hit. No one really cares who delivers. All that matters is a hit.

One of the factors that could make or break a film is its promotional trailors.

A question often asked these days is what and how much should they reveal?

Make no mistake. The audience is smart. So it's best to take them into confidence. Let the trailors give them the exact feel of the film. If one tries to mislead the public with promos that have little to do with the content of the film, it will backfire.

To cite an example, if he chose to, Aditya Chopra could have lured the audience into cinemas by displaying Aishwarya Rai in the pre-release trailors of Mohabbatein. He didn't. Because Aishwarya did not have a lengthy role in the film.

The point is that Aditya didn't cheat his audience who, therefore, respected him for it.

The industry complains that our films lack good, original scripts. What I want to know, then, is why has no one ever thought of conducting workshops for writers?

Scream, shout, yell, brood, cry, complain, curse! But corrective measures? What's that?!

Multiplexes are facing rough weather. There aren't enough films to feed the cinemas. Yet, more and more multiplexes seem to be springing up.

Where will the software to service the cinemas come from? This is a clear case of lopsided growth, one which no one in the industry seems to be worried about.

After two to three years, when about 50 to 70 multiplexes will be functioning, exhibitors will cry in leisure. Currently, they are building in haste. Why, nothing could be more shocking than this: a new multiplex, Surmandir, opened on Friday (April 20) at Palanpur (Gujarat). The opening film at one of the three screens was Rahul and, believe it or not, one show on the opening day itself had to be cancelled due to lack of audience. This is the case of a brand new screen!

Meanwhile, Bhiwandi (a distant Bombay suburb) beckoned Sanjay Kapoor.

The actor visited Farhan cinema in the suburb on April 20 because his Chhupa Rustam has drawn unprecedented crowds. In fact, the rush on the first day of its 5th week at Bhiwandi was almost as much as the rush for Albela which opened on 20th at a cinema in the same compound!

Truth to tell, the industry is still very sceptical about the music of Aamir Khan's Lagaan.

But the fact is that the music is very popular. A R Rahman's tunes tend to grow on you. And so they have: Ghanan ghanan and Mitwa sun mitwa are already being touted as hits.

The music rights of Nayak - The Real Hero, meanwhile, remain with Super Cassettes.

The audio company had given indications of relinquishing the audio rights of a couple of films due to the slump in the music market. Terms between the makers of Nayak - The Real Hero and Super Cassettes have been renegotiated.

However, Aks and Dil Chahta Hai have been relinquished.

Few can match the business acumen of Vashu Bhagnani.

Three weeks ago, at the inauguration of Ramesh Sippy's new distribution office, Vashu seized the opportunity to personally distribute the newly-released audio cassettes and CDs of his Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai among all the invitees there.

Now, he is sending huge cartons to friends and distributors of the film, containing cassettes, CDs, MKKH diaries, MKKH writing pads, MKKH autograph books, MKKH mouse pads, MKKH address books, MKKH tapes and MKKH carry bags (plastic).

Every big producer says, he loves to make films. He is in this industry for the passion.

Yet, every producer prices his film so dispassionately. Unrealistic prices, which can break the backs of distributors if something were to go wrong with the film, should not be a passionate maker's claim to fame.

Still, the fact is that producers generally charge prices as if filmmaking is only their business, not at all a passion.

Why this insecurity? Distributors and exhibitors are part of this industry, too. Their interests need to be looked after, too.