Mass closure of Mumbai cinema halls next week

          Mumbai, May 8: More than 100 cinema houses in this city plan to down their shutters indefinitely from next week to protest against a host of taxes levied by the state government. The strike will also close more than 850 cinemas across Maharashtra from May 16 if the government does not lower the taxes in a business already hit by a sharp fall in audiences. The president of Cinematograph Exhibitors' Association, Nester D'Souza, said the tax would cripple their operations completely. "We have decided to close down our operations for one simple reason. The taxes are so heavy that we cannot run our operations and it is not economical for us to carry on in this manner. We have been asking the government for the last one to two years to give us relief and meet our genuine needs, but apparently they don't listen. We have decided enough is enough," said D'Souza addressing the reporters in Mumbai.

           The government levies an entertainment tax of 60 per cent, which exhibitors say is too steep at a time when the industry is facing losses. They want the tax to be cut by half. Cinema owners who are burdened with a range of taxes including show tax, advertising tax and property tax may have to suffer a loss of Rs 600 crore per week with the closing of halls. Theatre owners said that with almost all the mega budget movies falling flat at the box office, the industry has exhausted all means of getting revenues. "In 2001 in the first eight months, the film industry suffered an overall loss of Rs 100 crore and in the 2002 from January to August it suffered a loss of Rs 200 crore. This is as per the industry media reports. Now just think how far one can bear this loss," said RV Vidhani, owner of New Excelsior theatre. Indian film industry lost Rs 300 crore on a gross revenue of Rs 3900 crore during 2002.

          The films that will be affected include Amitabh Bachchan-Anil Kapoor starrer 'Armaan', Abhishek Bachchan starrer 'Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost' and 'Pyar Kiya Nahin Jaata' due to release on May 16. 'Andaz' (Style) featuring Akshay Kumar, Lara Dutta and Priyanka Chopra releasing on May 9 will also be affected to some extent. Though the strike has been called only in Maharashtra, films will not be released in other territories as well. The theatre owners' other demands include supply of electricity to cinemas on industrial rates and abolition of tax on box office collections. They have also been demanding that the government stop charging property tax on the box-office collections and instead levy it on the theatre premises.

Amitabh among the greatest

          Mumbai, May 6: Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan has been voted as one of the greatest 100 film stars of all time by Britain's Channel 4. The list includes Hollywood stars Al Pacino, Harrison Ford, Anthony Hopkins, Michael Douglas, Evan McGregor, Tom Hanks and Sean Connery. Actresses Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Jane Fonda and Elizabeth Taylor also made it to the list of the greats. Bachchan, who was voted as the star of the millennuim by an online poll conducted by BBC earlier, is listed as 92nd among the top 100 stars of all times.

          Manoj Desai, film producer and president of Bachchan's fan club, calls him "the man of the time". "There was a vast difference in the older generation like Prakash Mehra and now when he is working with people like Karan Johar and Aditya Chopra. There is a lot of difference. But this man changes himself according to the circumstance. There is a saying in Hindi that one who changes direction with the wind will never fail. He is a man of the time," said Desai.

          Commonly known as 'Big B', or the 'King of Indian Cinema', Amitabh Bachchan forayed into Bollywood with a flop 'Saat Hindustani'. But he made a mark for himself with films like 'Zanjeer' and 'Deewar' which introduced the role of 'Angry young man' in Indian cinema. The 61-year-old actor, currently a brand ambassador of popular soft drink Coca Cola and a private bank, has a national award and slew of popular awards to his credit. Bachchan's fans in New Delhi had a reason to rejoice. "It's great, he is an Indian we've grown up with Amit saab's movies and cheers to him and we should be proud of it," said Nidhi Khanna, an avid Bachchan fan.

          Meenakshi Arora, another Bachchan fan, was not able to hide her excitement. "He's been acting since ages and all sorts of roles suit him. He's done it very well." "He's too good, he's excellent and I think that nobody can beat him. He truly deserves the award," said Pritha Roy, another Bachchan fan. Having acted in over 70 films, including superhits from mid-1970s and 1980s like 'Silsila', 'Kabhie Kabhie', 'Coolie', 'Amar Akbar Anthony' and the recent ones like 'Aankhen', 'Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gham' and 'Kaante', Bachchan, an icon of the crazy millions of Indian fans, also has a wax statue installed at London's famous Madame' Tussauds. Bachchan will also be seen in upcoming movies like 'Lakshaya', 'Khaki', 'Dev', 'Armaan' and 'Ab Tumhare Havale Watan Sathiyo', all to be released next year.

'Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon' music released 

          Mumbai, May 5: Anu Malik's music in Hindi film 'Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon' was released in Mumbai with much fanfare. Directed by Sooraj Barjataya, known as the man with a midas touch, the film stars Hrithik Roshan, Kareena Kapoor and Abhishek Bachchan in the lead roles. Malik has decided to maintain two different singers for the two leading men for 11 songs of the film. Malik, who bagged National Award for his scores in Abhishek- Kareena starrer 'Refugee', considers himself lucky to have worked under the Barjataya banner. "I have worked very hard. There have been tough moments, tough situations. But never did he (director Sooraj Barjataya) make me feel that when he doesn't like a tune he made a face. No. He just moved on to the next song. And tunes flown out of me," said Malik. Malik said the script of the film was an inspiration for the music.

          As of now Malik has his kitty full with films like JP Dutta's 'Line of Control', Vidhu Vinod Chopra's 'Munnabhai MBBS', Apoorva Lakhia's 'Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost' and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's home production 'Main Hoon Na'.

          'Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon' is the story of Sanjana, played by Kareena Kapoor, a girl of today's generation full of life and vibrant ecstacy. It is a story that unfolds the beauty of love in the manner that is intense. Made with a mega budget of 600 million rupees, this passionate love story has been completely shot in Australia and New Zealand.

          Ranjit Barot, an internationally acclaimed musician, used live orchrestra for the background score of the film. Speaking at the music launch, Barot said the music of the film was very rich and cinematic. "It was very clear. Sooraj wanted a big film. He wanted the whole sonic canvas to be big. So I've done it like a Hollywood film. Just live orchrestra, strings and themes that were relevant to the film but which sound very very rich and very cinematic. He expected something big and I think I was able to deliver and am very pleased with the product," said Barot.

          Barot and Malik have earlier worked together in Bollywood hits like 'Fiza', 'Filhaal' and 'Aks'. Barjataya's earlier films like 'Maine Pyar Kiya', 'Hum Apke Hain Kaun' and 'Hum Saath Saath hain' were runaway hits at the box office. What response would his fourth film evoke at the box office will be seen when 'Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon' is released next month.

Honey Irani now directs film on doctors

          Mumbai, Apr 26: For filmmaker Honey Irani, making movies is about showing the audience the world - through her eyes. For her directorial venture, 'Armaan', Irani took inspiration from a cross-section of people, including her ex-husband, lyricist Javed Akhtar, to create a film based on medical background. Irani, a former child-artiste, who debuted in scriptwriting with the superlative 'Lamhe' , said her film had all the emotional elements that the audience expected from a good movie. "There is a very very strong story of the film. There is drama, very very good emotional moments. It is a very emotional film. Again the combination of Amitji (Amitabh Bachchan) and Anil (Kapoor) together for the first time these are things they (public) would want to see. They won't be disappointed. Its not a nonsense film. I definitely think that they will see the film and they will like it," said Irani.

           Much like the hit American sitcom 'Chicago Hope', 'Armaan' is the story woven in and around a hospital, shown through the eyes of Dr Akash Sinha, played by Anil Kapoor, a respected neurosurgeon, and how he tries to fulfil his father's dreams until fate weaves a different pattern for him. The story leads to an unusual and unconventional climax where Irani tires to explore the intricacies of human relationships. The movie is set against a medical backdrop and explores the dynamics of the profession and revolves around the lives of doctors and their 'Armaan'.

           'Armaan' has movie icon Amitabh Bachchan and Anil Kapoor sharing the screen for the first time after the late 70's hit 'Shakti' (Power) in which Kapoor had a miniscule role. Sixty-year-old Bachchan said Honey displayed the skills of a veteran director though it was her debut. "Nowhere during the making of the film did we feel the absence of a male director. Honey is a very poweful director and writer too. The way she has managed the whole film with professionalism and perfection - this has become a big example in our life and I feel for the forthcomiung films this is a great example," said Bachchan.

           Anil Kapoor, who has a slew of movies releasing this year, said he was quite happy with his performance in the film. "The entire script was ready. It was one of the easiest roles I have performed and done. This was really easy. That does not mean that I have not done my best. I have done my best. It was an easiest experience doing this film," said Kapoor.

           Co-starring Preity Zinta and Gracy Singh, 'Armaan' with a budget of 300 million rupees is shot in sync-sound and exquisite locales of Mauritius. Can Honey Irani recreate the same magic with her directorial debut that she had created 12 years ago as a scriptwriter with 'Lamhe'?

India Overseas