A year of challengers
ANUJ KUMAR
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A sneak peek at the Bollywood bouquet in 2007.
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BUZZING BS With half a dozen films between them, it could well turn out to be a year of the Bachchans. A still from "Guru".
After a stupendous 2006, Bollywood must be hoping that the dream run will continue in 2007 as well. To start with it's going to be a year of directors who make films they like rather than what the market dictates. The phrase is best expressed by Mani Ratnam whose "Guru" is the first major release of the year. Loosely based on the life of Dhirubhai Ambani, amidst the confusion over Aishwarya-Abhishek chemistry, on and off screen, the media has failed to highlight that it's the first time a director has dared to profile a businessman as a hero. It is easier to find charisma in the making of an underworld don or a freedom fighter, let's see how Mani charms with the rustic ways to mint money.
Close on the heels is Vidhu Vinod Chopra's return as a director after "Mission Kashmir" with "Eklavya". The film is about a royal guard played by Amitabh Bachchan whose family has been guarding the royalty of Devigarh for nine generations. Starring Sanjay Dutt and Vidya Balan the film will also bring mother-son Saif Ali Khan and Sharmila Tagore together on screen. Apart from the cast, another highlight of the film is Rajasthan.
History lessons
Later in the year Ashutosh Gowarikar will have a fresh look at history with "Jodha Akbar". "Dhoom-2" got Aishwarya and Hrithik full marks, so the expectations are high. It is going to be Hrithik's first period saga and might well decide whether he is worth the multi-crore deal he has signed with Adlabs. Also speculations are rife that it could be Aishwarya's last film before she settles for matrimony. Known for his extensive research, this love story between the Moghul emperor and his Hindu wife, is also expected to keep the historians and hooligans busy.
Amitabh Bachchan as Gabbar Singh in "Ram Gopal Varma Ki Sholay".
Another love story that's making news is Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Saawariya". Scheduled for a Diwali release, it will mark the debut of Rishi Kapoor's son Ranbir Kapoor opposite Anil Kapoor's daughter Sonam and test Sanjay's ability to create magic without stars.
Meanwhile, even after a dreadful year Ram Gopal Varma continues to take what he knows best: risks. After a long wait this year we might come to know whether his casting coup of shuffling Jai as Gabbar Singh in his remake of "Sholay" was worth a risk. Amitabh Bachcan steps into Amjad Khan's shoes as Gabbar this time! Farhan Akhtar's "Don" showed that if you choose the right (read popular) film to fiddle with people flock theatres just for comparison sake, and we all know Ramu is master at generating hype. He has been sharing pictures of individual characters to the media even before the film has gone to the sets. But before that we will see his take on "Lolita" as "Nishabd". In the cans for a while, here a 60-plus Big B will be seen falling for the charms of a 16-year-old.
With six films between them, the Bachchans are expected to catch the maximum eyeballs in 2007.
In the offbeat category, mavericks Gautam Ghosh, Mira Nair and Rituparno Ghosh will give box office a try with "Yaatra" "Namesake" and "Sunglasses" respectively. If "Yaatra" marks the return of the reclusive Rekha, "Namesake" will give Tabu fans something to cheer about. Then there is Madhur Bhandarkar's "Traffic Signal", Anurag Basu's "Metro" and Farhan Akhtar's production "Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd". Also in line is the much delayed Jagmohan Mundhra's "Provoked" starring Aishwarya Rai.
Among the young Turks, Nikhil Advani will try to repeat the success of "Kal Ho Na Ho" with "Salaam-e-Ishq" releasing by the end of this month. A story about six couples, the film's huge star cast which includes Salman Khan, Priyanka Chopra, John Abraham, Vidya Balan, Govinda and Akshaye Khanna has almost a guaranteed good opening. It will be followed by Meghna Gulzar's "Just Married", a story of love after marriage.
Not young, but a Turk in his own right, Pradeep Sarkar's "Choodiyan" is also one of the most anticipated films of the year. With Rani Mukerji in the lead, here Jaya and Abhishek Bachchan will share the screen space for the first time. After "Salaam Namaste", Siddharth Anand will address the audience with "Tara Rum Pum" featuring Rani Mukerji and Saif Ali Khan. Shaad Ali is rapping up "Jhoom Barabar Jhoom". Like "Bunty aur Babli" here again we will get to see both the Big and Chhota B, Preity Zinta. He has Bobby Deol, the first Deol to do a Yash Raj film after Sunny's fracas with the banner during "Darr". A successful year behind them, the banner is fast turning into a factory with Shimit Amin's "Chak De India" where Shah Rukh Khan plays a coach of the women's hockey team also scheduled to hit the screens this year.
Talking of sports as a genre, Vivek Agnihotri's football-based "Goal" is also due in 2007. Shah Rukh's own production "Om Shanti Om" directed by Farha Khan might also make it to theatres by the year-end. The film will mark the long-awaited debut of top model Deepika Padukone, who is already being touted as the next big thing to have happened to Bollywood after Vidya Balan.
A still from "Salaam-e-Ishq".
In between there is Vipul Shah's "Namaste London" which seems to be inspired by Manoj Kumar's "Purab aur Paschim", Firoz Nadiadwala's "Fool and Final" and Anil Sharma's "Apne", where Dharmendra and his two sons Sunny and Bobby will be seen together for the first time. The surprises of the year include Himesh Reshammiya's "Aap ka Suroor" where the singer will be seen as an actor and without a cap and Madhuri Dixit's return to sets with Anil Mehta's yet to be named film.
At stake
There are billions at stake, but it is no longer just about releasing a film. Every film is a product now courtesy numerous tie-ups and the latest addition is the Internet-based franchise. Producers are going for more prints and the word houseful is fast becoming obsolete for multiplexes are going for as many as 13 shows of a film in a day to squeeze in the moolah as early as possible.
With new vistas opening up, according to reports, Bollywood revenue is growing by 20-25 percent a year but it is still significantly lower than that of companies like Infosys.
May the Mani mantras work!
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