Now that the strike is finally behind us, one would think film-makers would be falling over each other to release their films.
Now that the strike is finally behind us, one would think film-makers would be falling over each other to release their films. But they are actually in a fix, because too many are ready for release, and too little time for publicity. So, a committee consisting of 8 film-makers, which includes representatives from UTV, Indian Films, Yashraj Films, Mukesh Bhatt and Ramesh Sippy, had a day long meeting on Saturday to decide which film will release when.
Traditionally, a big film looks for at least five weeks of print and television publicity before the release date. But the 60-day strike threw every thing out of gear, changing the entire arithmetic. as more than 40 films are ready for release (not counting the many B and C grade movies). "I think its nearly 100 movies which are waiting in the pipeline," says trade analyst, Amod Mehra.
The first to release is, of course, Vashu Bhagnani's Kal Kissne Dekha, as the publicity was already done, because it was meant to release in single sceen cinemas during the strike. Next in the line is Subhash Ghai's The Paying Guest which will release on June 19. Yash Raj Films' New York, is tentatively scheduled for June 26. But apparently Yash Chopra is not very keen on the June 26 release, as he thinks his film needs longer time for publicity. Ravi Chopra, whose Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai, is ready for release says, "We will go according to what the committee decides. I think they will decide the dates according to which film had announced the release date earlier (before the strike).
Meanwhile, some distribution companies like Eros have already decided on the tentative dates of the release of their films. Eros' small film, Sikander with Kashmir as the backdrop, is scheduled for a June release. Their film, Do Not Disturb, directed by David Dhawan is scheduled for a September release. Sajid Nadiadwala's mega production, Kambhaqt Ishq with Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor is scheduled for July 10. Saif Ali Khan's debut production, Love Aaj Kal, will release on July 31 and the animated film, Aladin is expected on August 14. Shree Ashtavinayak's biggie Blue is expected to release in December.
The rest of the films like Life Partner, Vishal Bharadwaj's much-awaited film, Kaminey and so on, are still waiting for a release date to be finalised by the committee, which was still in a meeting as we went into print.
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