The Hindu : New Delhi News : A film remembered for trouble with smoke

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

A film remembered for trouble with smoke

This literally is a "no-smoking" celluloid zone. Getting the Big B to stub out his controversial cigar in the home version of the "Family'', cassette manufacturing company Shemaroo has decided to censor the cigar in the small screen version.

The National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE) had strongly objected to showing Amitabh Bachchan smoking a cigar on its promotional posters on the large screen when the film was to be released.

Failing to leave its mark on the box office, the movie seems to be remembered more for its trouble with smoke rather than its performances. While Bachchan apparently apologised for these posters publicly as they had upset the sentiments of some sections, the smoke seems to have lingered on in public memory.

Determined to stay far away from this association, Shemaroo got rid of the smoking cigar from its Video Compact Disks (VCD) and the Digital Video Disks (DVD).

The movie, which fashioned the Big B in a Marlin Brando sort of role in "Godfather'', stars Akshay Kumar and Bhumika and has been directed by Raj Kumar Santoshi. The movie was released soon after the Big B was hospitalised, but couldn't capitalise on the sympathy vote.

Now those who want to see whether Bachchan managed to pull off the larger-than-life Godfather image can go out and buy the movie. The DVD has sub-titles in English, Tamil and Telugu to reach out to a wider audience. -- Mandira Nayar

-- Mandira Nayar

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