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Tag: Sanjay Dutt

  • Telugu film Dhee remake in offing with Sanjay Dutt in lead role

    Telugu film Dhee remake in offing with Sanjay Dutt in lead role

    MUMBAI: Producers Sanjay Ahluwalia and Vinay Choksey have bought the rights of the 2007 Telugu blockbuster Dhee and have signed Indra Kumar to direct the project.

    The film, that will have Sanjay Dutt in the lead, will be co-produced by his business manager Dharam Oberoi and close friend Rafi Kazi.

    All this started with original screenplay writer Kona Venkat narrating Dutt the story, after which he got interested.

    Dutt will play the role of Mangal Bhai–the heroine‘s elder brother, the character that was played by Srihari in the original.

    The makers have asked Kona Venkat, who penned the story for Dhee to also write the script for the Hindi version.

    Meanwhile, it is learnt that Cinemax has filed a legal suit against Vinay Choksey and Sanjay Ahluwalia, the production partners of Dutt.

    The suit demands a stay order on the release of their film Rascals that is slated to hit theatres on 6 October. Choksey and Ahluwalia had taken Rs 20 million from Cinemax in 2008 to make a film that never got made. But they never returned the money.
     

  • Rajnikant to make appearance in RA.One

    Rajnikant to make appearance in RA.One

    MUMBAI: Scores of Rajnikant fans who were dejected by the stars health problems will jump with joy by the news that he is to do a guest appearance in the Shah Rukh Khan film RA.One.

    Rajinikant will shoot for a sequence that has been set in his honour in Hyderabad. Besides the first-ever pairing of the two greats, the cameo will also mark the star‘s return to form. Sources close to the production house revealed that the South superstar will shoot for the special sequence on 4 October at Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad.

    It is said that Khan, who is seen fighting a gang of villains, faces another threat from a gang armed with deadly weapons. At this critical point, Rajini makes an entry.

    The super powered vehicle immediately sucks up all the weapons from the villains prompting Khan to ask Kareena, who that man in the car was. That‘s when Rajinikanth steps out and delivers his super- hit dialogue.

    Rajinikanth is not the only one playing a cameo in the Shah Rukh Khan film. Sanjay Dutt and Priyanka Chopra have also made guest appearances.
     

  • A love story not worth telling on screen

    A love story not worth telling on screen








    Producer: Sunil Bohra, Shailesh R Singh, Kiran Kumar Koneru
    Director: Ram GopalVarma
    Cast: Mahi Gill, Deepak Dobriyal, Ajay Gehi, Prableen Sandhu, Zakir Hussain, Darshan Jariwala


    Mumbai: Love, adultery, jealousy and the resultant crime are factors as old as the puranas. Then why wait for a real life incident that created a major scandal and grabbed headlines in all the media?


    May be the idea was exactly to cash in on all that publicity the said scandal generated and also to avail of a ready story. Unfortunately, that is the major drawback of Not A Love Story.


    Not A Love Story is a cinematic narrative of the infamous Neeraj Grover murder, the media judgements and the court case that followed on a Kannada actor wanting to make it big in Hindi films and her boyfriend.


    Mahi Gill, aspiring to be a film actress, descends in Mumbai after convincing her overzealous boyfriend, Deepak Dobriyal, that if she fails to make it, she will return in a few months. And if she succeeds, he could also join her in Mumbai.


    After some mandatory struggle, she bags a lead role, thanks to the production company‘s head, Ajay Gehi, who roots for her. The two with other friends hit a pub to celebrate her break, after which Gehi lands up at her house for ‘one for the road‘. Intoxicated, he has a personal sob story to tell Gill, and, as a drunk and emotional woman would do, she lends him a shoulder, eventually both ending up in bed.


    Next morning, before they could gather themselves, her boyfriend, Dobriyal, is at her door and sees a naked man on her bed. To absolve herself she cries rape and, on an impulse, Dobriyal kills Gehi. The law catches up and the film ends sans final court verdict.
     
    So what is so inspiring about this story, real or otherwise, to base a film on? Are people interested still in that beaten to death story? Does not seem so looking at the attendance at cinema halls on day one, show one. In that case, should one conclude that Ram Gopal Varma may have felt that his ‘treatment‘ backed with a powerful background score would elevate the story to dramatic heights? On the first count, that of treatment, the answer is no, it is still a documentary on a real life event; as for the powerful background score, it has been wasted on this film. Performance wise, Deepak Dobriyal and Zakir Hussain are the only ones to make an impact; rest are okay.


    Not A Love Story is a love story which was not worth telling on a screen by any name. There is nothing or no one you empathise with in this film.


    Chatur Singh Two Star is poor in all respects









    Producer: Mohamad Aslam
    Director: Ajay Chandhok.
    Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Ameesha Patel, Anupam Kher, Gulshan Grover, Shakti Kapoor, Satish Kaushik, Rati
    Agnihotri,Mushtaq Khan,Vishwajeet Pradhan.


    Mumbai: It must have seemed like a bright idea adapting the bumbling French police detective Jacques Clouseau of the famous Pink Panther series. The makers may even have wondered why no one thought of it when they decided to model Chatur Singh Two Star on this popular theme which went on for 11 film or TV versions.


    Sanjay Dutt is a two star police detective inspector with bumbling ways and foolish notions; in short he is anything but Chatur (smart) a la detective Clouseau. His sidekick, Suresh Menon, is Clouseau‘s Chinese major domo.


    Sanjay Dutt earns a two-week suspension for his detection abilities leading to putting a tycoon‘s son behind bars. However, when an ailing politician, Gulshan Grover, opts for hospital instead of jail after faking a heart attack, his boss, Anupam Kher, recalls Sanjay Dutt for the simple task of guarding him in hospital. But Dutt continues his foolhardy ways sniffing around like a spy he has read about in cheap paperback fictions.


    The writer and director feel the need to bring in some sort of story at this juncture. The politician, Gulshan Grover, is shot dead by a sniper from across the hospital room. His secretary, Ameesha Patel, is suspected of being the killer and escapes to South Africa thanks to Sanjay Dutt‘s help, and on him falls the job to trace her and bring her to book.


     
    The scene moves to South Africa locales where some more funny characters are introduced in the form of Satish Kaushik, an ex-don gone bananas, his side kick, Shakti Kapoor, who has now taken over as the new don and speech impaired cabbie, Mushtaque Khan. The idea is to trace Rs 5 billion worth of diamonds Gulshan Grover has placed in the custody of Satish Kaushik. What follows is utterly predictable with climax being the kind seen in half a dozen films in recent times.


    Having chosen a totally performance-based subject requiring an actor of immense talent who can make people laugh without making any conscious effort, the makers add to their blunder by casting Sanjay Dutt who is expressionless rather than deadpan. He resorts to ineffective buffoonery.


    Ameesha Patel has no contribution to make. As for other capable actors, Anupam Kher, Satish Kaushik, Shakti Kapoor, Mushtaque Khan and Suresh Memon, who have carried off comic roles ably earlier, are unable to do
    much in the absence of funny scenes or dialogue. In fact, the writing is banal and juvenile. Direction is below par. Musical score is a liability and adds to the tedium.


    Chatur Singh Two Star is poor in all respects.

  • News as trivial pursuit

    News as trivial pursuit

    We have been rising to majestic heights in our indignation over the proposed Broadcast Bill. Control us? The mature, responsible, credible Indian media? Curtail our freedom? Nonsense! And then we are outed by the police. A fake ‘sting operation’ by Live India (née Janmat) TV ‘exposed’ Delhi schoolteacher Uma Khurana supplying schoolgirls for prostitution. A lynch mob attacked Uma and the police clapped her in jail. The drama was dutifully recorded by the media. Uma was swiftly sacked. A week later, we hear that she had been framed.

     

    How shocking, said the media, but it’s an exception. We still don’t need your content code, thanks, we know what’s best. Keep your blipping Broadcast Bill away from us.

     

    However, voluntary self-regulation is tricky. Maybe the Press Council of India should be expanded to include TV and radio and given some teeth – dentures would do – to effectively regulate the media. For as a mortified media professional I have to admit that this scam is not an isolated example of the media’s bad behaviour. Our determined move from news as information to news as entertainment has blurred both our vision and the once inviolable line between reality and drama. Now we offer gossip, titillation, trivia and unreal aspirations as news, brushing aside boring issues of social concern, trampling sensitivities, infringing privacy, tossing aside ethics and humanity in our effort to be the hottest honey-trap available.

     

    Media as a trivial pursuit erodes public trust
    _______________****__________________

    Take some big stories of the recent past: Uma is framed, ex-model Gitanjali is re-discovered as a beggar, athlete Santhi Sounderajan apparently attempts suicide, freed Sanjay Dutt goes to Vaishno Devi, freed Salman Khan goes home, and MPs and journalists continue to pick bones with Ronen Sen’s ‘headless chicken’. Meanwhile, floods claim almost 700 lives and affect millions in Bihar, and displace over 70 lakh in Assam; farmers continue to kill themselves in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala. We gave them short, customary coverage like brief, dutiful visits to elderly aunts, and returned quickly to our riveting game of trivial pursuits.

     

    Unfortunately, the freedoms we enjoy are for our role in educating and informing our audience, for helping them make informed choices that sustain democracy. Media as a trivial pursuit erodes public trust.

     

    We urgently need self-regulation by a representative body like the Press Council to get back to being a responsible and ethical media
    _____****_____

    And Live India’s scam is not even journalism, it is a criminal act of misrepresentation, using media as a weapon for personal vendetta, fabricating footage to wilfully defame and destroy a victim and incite violence. It doesn’t merit another debate on sting operations, this was not one. It needs to be dealt with as a crime.

     

    But the other examples represent bad journalism. Former model Geetanjali Nagpal is spotted begging in Delhi. Instantly, she is headline news, portrayed as a drug addict. The media rips the last vestige of dignity off the unfortunate woman, invading her privacy, sensationalising, offering details of her private life, presenting speculation as fact. She turns out to be mentally ill, not an addict. We cannot look beyond gossip value, cannot discuss larger issues of mental health, social security or homelessness. (We have an estimated 18 million street kids, plus possibly as many adults as street dwellers, but they aren’t sexy enough.)

     

    Santhi Sounderajan’s attempted suicide is gossip, too. Headlined as ‘Tainted athlete’ or ‘Sex-test failed athlete’ Santhi’s identity as an excellent sportsperson is erased by that of a curiosity of unspecified gender. After her failed gender test robbed her of her silver medal at the Asian Games last year, our media had shown no sensitivity. Even now, we don’t go beyond the curiosity factor to look at the third sex’s lack of rights and opportunities.

     

    Ronen Sen’s fowl story illustrates irresponsible journalism again. Getting your source into trouble for the sake of a delicious quote harms the atmosphere of trust and openness essential for constructive journalism. And then, larger issues of strategic partnership were obfuscated as we lost our head over a chicken. It didn’t help citizens to take informed decisions on the nuclear issue. Such frivolous frenzy reduces democratic decision-making to taking sides based on ignorance and muscle-flexing. Besides, it showed an embarrassing ignorance of English idiom. ‘Running around like a headless chicken’ means thoughtless rushing about; it doesn’t imply you’re a chicken. Like ‘as cool as a cucumber’ doesn’t accuse you of being a cucumber.

     

    Leading you through an exciting maze of trivia and gossip, the media confuses your priorities. So when a lowly constable hugs Sanjay Dutt he is instantly suspended, but no action is initiated against the policemen and politicians accused in the Bombay riots even after 14 years.

     

    We are losing our grip. We urgently need self-regulation by a representative body like the Press Council to get back to being a responsible and ethical media. We cannot protect our own freedoms unless we protect the freedoms and rights of others.

     

    (The Author is Editor, The Little Magazine. She can be reached at sen@littlemag.com)

     

    This article was first published in DNA (Daily News & Analysis) on 11 September 2007.

     

    (The views expressed here are those of the author and Indiantelevision.com need not necessarily subscribe to the same)

  • Balaji Telefilms forms movie business subsidiary

    Balaji Telefilms forms movie business subsidiary

    MUMBAI: In a significant move, Balaji Telefilms Ltd. has decided to set up a wholly owned subsidiary company to manage its movie business.

    The company has tentatively been titled Balaji Motion Pictures. “The entire business related to movies will be transferred to the subsidiary company,” a company statement says.

    Balaji Telefilms has so far taken a cautious approach to the movie business and has no releases this fiscal. The company produced two films in the last fiscal and raked in a revenue of Rs 104 million, incurring a minor loss. While Kya Kool Hai Hum was a success, the second film Koi Aap Sa didn’t fare well in the box office.

    The leading TV content company then decided to venture into co-production deals as a de-risk strategy. Balaji tied up with White Feather Films, a company started by Sanjay Dutt and Sanjay Gupta, for producing Shoot Out at Lokhandwala at Rs 120 million which is expected to release in the next financial year.

    Balaji Telefilms has posted a 49.26 per cent jump in net profit to Rs 214.76 in the third quarter ended 31 December. Income from operations rose 21.49 per cent to Rs 850.30 million.

    Revenue mix from commissioned and sponsored programing

    Commissioned category continues to drive Balaji’s revenues.

    How the channels stack up

    The channel-wise revenue distribution during the third quarter of the current fiscal is as follows:

     

    Programming split

    The hour wise programming distribution during the quarter breaks up in favour of the commissioned category.

     

    Change in Programming during the quarter 
    The following serial/s went off air during the quarter ended 31 December 2006.

    Serials on air

    As on 31 December 2006 the following 15 serials were on air on various channels.

  • Zee News announces wrap up content for the year

    Zee News announces wrap up content for the year

    MUMBAI: Zee News bids adieu to 2006 with a set of programmes which will focus on major happenings of the year that made to the headlines.

    The year, the channel notes, has pocketed some historical moments like decisions on Jesica Lall murder case, Parliament Blast Case, Priyanka Mattoo, Rahul Mahajan and so on.

    To cherish the memories of the going year and to welcome the New Year, the channel has lined up some programmes like Naqli No.1, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, Astrology Show, Ramrajya 2007 and Little Champs ka New Year. Naqli No 1 is a mimicry show where a competition of chosen mimicry artistes across the country will happen. It will be shown in two parts. Judges will select the winner, who will be called Naqli No. 1 of the year. He will be awarded with a trophy and a prize.

    Jo Jeeta Wo Siqandar is about the famous personalities of the year who, by persevering in their lives, inspires many people. There are going to 4 personalities who will be showcased namely Sourav Ganguly, Mahajan’s family, Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt.

    The channel’s astrological show will have two astrologers who would predict the future of famous politicians, cricketers and film stars for 2007. Ramrajya 2007 will be a stand up comedy show by Laughter Challenge runner up Rajiv Nigam. He will present a stand up comedy on bringing Ramrajya in today’s world. To welcome 2007, Little Champs are going to sing songs with a futuristic appeal. It will also show an exclusive recording of a special Little Champs event in Mumbai.

    The programming mix of Zee News for New Year will also cover various celebration parties happening in different parts of the country on the night of 31 December

  • Mauj launches its debut music album ‘Asha and Friends’

    Mauj launches its debut music album ‘Asha and Friends’

    MUMBAI: Wireless solutions provider Mauj Telecom has announced the launch of a music album – Asha and Friends.

    Asha Bhosle, has got in tune with some known achievers from various fields to come up with a music album called Asha and Friends. Her friends in the album include Sanjay Dutt, Brett Lee, Urmila Matondkar, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil’ Champs and many more. The songs are being distributed by Virgin Records (India) Pvt Ltd, asserts an official release.

    Commenting on the launch of the new music album, Mauj CEO Arun Gupta said, “Mauj has always been an innovator in the arena of entertainment and digital lifestyle. We are extremely happy to partner with a legend – Asha Bhosle – to produce an exciting and fun album.”

    Asha Bhosale said, “I thought of Sanjay Dutt after seeing Munnabhai MBBS. I realised there were some portions in the songs which he sang himself. He has a bass voice, which is important for male singers. He has the right sense of tune and melody.”

    Commenting on Bret Lee’s involvement she added, “He was very excited about singing with me, and couldn’t believe I was more than double his age”

    Aussie pace bowler Brett Lee who was down in India for the Champions Trophy also agreed to sing with her even though he had earlier refused other offers in India. “She is phenomenal. For her age of 74, she sings like a youngster,” said Lee.

    The project has been conceptualised and composed by Shamir Tandon. The original idea was to have seven voices singing with her, further to which Ashaji shared her idea of having seven voices from different walks of life of people who can sing, but are not known for their singing.

    The album will be followed by several other albums which are cut and ready with the videos directed by some of India’s well known filmmakers.adds the release.

  • Balaji Telefilms takes co-production route for films; plans to enter distribution

    Balaji Telefilms takes co-production route for films; plans to enter distribution

    MUMBAI: Balaji Telefilms Ltd. is venturing into co-production deals as part of a strategy to de-risk its movie business.

    The leading TV content company has tied up with White Feather Films, a company started by Sanjay Dutt and Sanjay Gupta, for producing Shoot Out at Lokhandwala at Rs 120 million which is expected to release by March-end or the first quarter of the next financial year.

    Two other movies are planned which will be co-produced and released only in FY08. Balaji is in talks with several producers including Neeraj Vohra. “By co-producing, we will be limiting our risk. Besides, the partner will bring in its filmmaking expertise,” says a source in the company.

    Balaji is also planning to foray into film distribution. The company may take the territory of Mumbai for distributing Shoot Out at Lokhandwala.

    “The movie with Gupta is estimated to cost Rs 120 million and will have a multi-star cast. We are part-financing this film. We have plans for two other co-produced movies but the budgets are yet to be finalised,” the source says.

    Balaji Telefilms produced two films in the last fiscal and raked in a revenue of Rs 104 million, incurring a minor loss. While Kya Kool Hai Hum was a success, the second film Koi Aap Sa didn’t fare well in the box office.

    The company is adopting a cautious approach and will not be releasing any movie this year. “We expect Shoot Out at Lokhandwala to happen only next year,” says the source.
    Balaji Telefilms saw a robust growth in FY06 with topline increasing 43 per cent to Rs 2.8 billion. Net profit rose 44 per cent to Rs 594 million on the back of a rate revision from Star and an increase in programming hours.

  • ‘Maine Pyar Kyon Kya’ producer to raise Rs 500-550 million via IPO

    ‘Maine Pyar Kyon Kya’ producer to raise Rs 500-550 million via IPO

    MUMBAI: Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd (SACVL), a film production and distribution house, is tapping the capital market. The company plans to raise Rs 500-550 million through an initial public offering (IPO) to ramp up its film production business. 

    SACVL, which produced Maine Pyar Kyon Kya along with Sohail Khan productions, has appointed Allianz Securities to lead manage the issue.

    “We have a business plan to increase our production pipeline from three to five films a year. The size of the IPO should be in the range between Rs 500-550 million. We are awaiting the regulatory approvals,” says Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision chief financial officer Shyam Sunder.

    The company will offer a public issue of 37,28,000 equity shares of Rs 10 each at a premium to be decided through the book building process. The price band will be fixed later.

    The IPO proceeds will be used towards film production and purchase of equipment. SACVL has earmarked Rs 459 million for production of three films while Rs 141 million will be for equipment buying. “We have a movie by Abbas Mastan on the floor with Ajay Devgan, Sanjay Dutt and Bipasha Basu as the lead cast. The other two movies are at the pre-production stage,” says Sunder.

    The company distributes 10-12 movies a year. SACVL will be distributing Golmaal which is slated for release on 14 July. Main Hoon Na, Garv, Mujse Shaadi Karogi and Aitraaz are among the movies distributed by the company.

    The promoters’ holding will come down from 74.14 per cent to 50.85 per cent. The company’s turnover for the nine months ended 31 December 2005 stood at Rs 469 million with Maine Pyar Kyon Kya accounting for Rs 320 million while income from distribution stood at Rs 140 million.