NATIONAL CINEMA DAY CELEBRATIONS TO BOOST COLLECTIONS OF NEW AND HOLDOVER RELEASES

The Multiplex Association of India (MAI) has decided to celebrate National Cinema Day tomorrow, that is, Friday, September 23. As part of these celebrations, most of the multiplex chains will sell tickets for just Rs. 75. The tickets for the IMAX and 4DX versions will be available for only Rs. 150. The advance booking for tomorrow began on Tuesday, September 20, and the response has been fabulous. Brahmastra is the first choice and its shows are fast-filling or sold out. Surprisingly, even holdover releases like Sita Ramam, the Marathi film Boyz 3 and the Gujarati film Fakt Mahilao Maate have also managed to get a good response. And obviously, the new releases, too, are at an advantage. My analysis of the new releases:

1. CHUP: It is directed by R Balki and stars Sunny Deol, Dulquer Salmaan, Shreya Dhanwanthary and Pooja Bhatt. The film has been noticed due to the Guru Dutt element and also because it’s the story of a serial killer who kills film critics! The film looks niche but the marketing strategies have enhanced the hype. For instance, the makers held a free preview for aam junta in 10 cities on a Tuesday, 3 days before the actual release and one day before the press show. The response to these shows has been positive. Surprisingly, its advance booking has been solid and is the second preference for moviegoers after Brahmastra. As a result, its day 1 is expected to be Rs. 4 crores and might even cross the Rs. 5 crores mark. However, with so many people watching the film tomorrow, there’s a fear that the collections will be very low on days 2 and 3. But if the word of mouth is strong, the film can excel in the long run.

2. DHOKHA ROUND D CORNER: It marks the debut of Khushalii Kumar, Bhushan Kumar’s sister, and also stars R Madhavan, Darshan Kumaar and Aparshakti Khurana. It is the story of a terrorist who takes a woman hostage in her flat, not realizing that she’s not mentally well. The trailer is intriguing but the buzz for the film is limited. Yet again, it has become lucky due to the National Cinema Day offer. It’s expected to open around Rs. 2-3 crores.

3. AVATAR: The 2009 classic film is re-releasing tomorrow so that audiences can refresh their memory before they watch the sequel, which will be released in December this year. It was a much-loved film and deserves a big screen watch. Many didn’t see it when it was released the first time and few were not even born then. Due to these reasons and the offer, Avatar is expected to have around 75% occupancy in 3D versions and almost 100% occupancy in IMAX screens tomorrow. It can lead to an opening of Rs. 2-3 crores or even higher.

4. PREM GEET 3: This is the first Nepali film, which has been dubbed in Hindi. The first two parts of Prem Geet had a different story and were set in the present-day era. Prem Geet 3, meanwhile, is a period film. It has limited shows and is fast-filling, again due to the audience's hunger to watch a film at Rs. 75.

Lastly, there’s Babli Bouncer, starring Tamannaah Bhatia and directed by Madhur Bhandarkar. It’s an original Disney+ Hotstar film and would be released on their platform tomorrow. The plot is impressive and can make for a nice family watch, if made well. Due to Disney+ Hotstar’s wide subscriber base, it’ll definitely get a lot of views.

Production houses contemplate playing previous hit films to increase footfalls, should cinema halls reopen
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; August 2, 2020)

Taking a cue from countries that have resumed operations of theatrical screenings amid the Coronavirus pandemic, Indian production houses will also screen their previous blockbusters to lure viewers back to cinema halls.

A trade source tells mid-day, "Some multiplexes and single screen owners are in talks with distributors and studios like Warner Bros India, Yash Raj Films, and Reliance Entertainment, among others, to showcase their blockbusters."

Devang Sampat from Cinepolis says that with the Indian audience comprising viewers of Indian and international content, they have a large slate to play with. "For the first two weeks, Cinepolis plans to screen 3D films like Avatar, Gravity, and Titanic, and Oscar-winning movies. Regional films will also be aired in accordance with each state," he says, adding that a survey conducted by their team has revealed that 86 per cent of moviegoers are eager to visit theatres. "Once we decide which titles we want to play, we will work on acquiring the rights."

Exhibitor Akshaye Rathi, who runs 17 single-screens across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, adds, "Single screens have been at the forefront of these conversations. Reliance has Rohit Shetty-movies like Golmaal 3 and Golmaal Again, Singham, and Simmba. Warner Bros has gone a step ahead and created interesting packages and catalogues where the best of their comedies and action films can be sent to the exhibitors. The idea is to rebuild the habit of watching movies at theatres and earn the confidence of our audiences."

Move aimed to encourage moviegoers to return to cinema halls as country limps back to normalcy 
MID-DAY (March 26, 2020)

The Hollywood Reporter noted that in a bid to get Chinese moviegoers back in the habit — as theatres reopen after months of Coronavirus-related closures — all four Avengers movies will return to Chinese cinemas.

Other Chinese blockbusters like Wolf Warrior 2, The Wandering Earth, and Wolf Totem, and American biggies like Harry Potter And the Sorcerer's Stone, Interstellar and Inception, will also return.

Sci-fi movie Avatar will return too, and if the reissue of James Cameron’s film performs noticeably better than the reissue of Avengers: Endgame, Avatar may snatch back its global box office crown.

Reportedly, occupancy in the 500 odd cinemas that have reopened their doors after the lockdown, has been limited. A larger numbers of theatres are expected to re-open in next month as China re-emerges from national and state restrictions on movement.

Vinay M R Mishra (DNA; August 12, 2019)

Govinda appeared on a dance show recently, where he reunited with his ’90s co-star Raveena Tandon and shook a leg with her on their hit song Kisi Disco Mein Jaaye. “Raveena and I have never given a flop, and we are together again after a really long time and I hope it was the same as before (for the viewers),” he says.

The actor recently made headlines when he revealed that he rejected James Cameron’s Avatar. His confession on a news show didn’t go well with the masses and was trolled. But, the actor is unperturbed. “It is not about getting upset. I had to clarify it in my way. And I did it. The truth is that working 400 days with colour (painted on your body) is not easy. The shooting was even stopped for two-and-a-half years as far as my knowledge goes since everyone was falling sick. So, my thought (concern) of not doing it was not wrong. And I was doing various films at that time. They could have got stuck. And the producers and directors would have come on the road,” he shared.

FRIENDSHIP WITH SALMAN NOT FOR WORK
Govinda’s relationship with his Partner co-star Salman Khan has been a topic of discussion for years. But with the Hero No.1 star appearing on Nach Baliye 9 produced by Dabangg Khan, looks like all the speculations have been put to rest. However, Govinda reveals he did not speak to Salman at all about the show.

“My friendship with Salman has nothing to do with work. I started my career much before and I saw my best for 14 years. After Partner, he had offered me a movie, but I didn’t like the subject. He didn’t get offended. But people said I’m spoiling my relationship (with him) and I was like if it is on the basis of work, it is not a (personal) relationship, but a professional one. Salman is a cool guy. Now, it is his time.”

Of late, the actor has been visiting several reality shows — before Nach Baliye 9, he was seen as a special guest in a dance programme judged by Madhuri Dixit. However, he himself is not seen as a jury member on any reality show. The last time he did was in 2015, for a dance show featuring moms. To a query on why is he not judging one now, the actor said, “I haven’t been offered a reality show, yet.”

NO COMMENTS ON COOLIE NO 1 REMAKE
One of Govinda and David Dhawan’s most memorable collaborations is Coolie No. 1. The filmmaker is now remaking the movie with his son Varun Dhawan. When asked about his thoughts on it, Govinda refused to comment.

Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; August 4, 2019)

Govinda’s effortless dance moves, comic timing and flashy style set him apart from his contemporaries. His recent revelation of being offered James Cameron’s science-fiction epic, Avatar, set tongues wagging on social media platforms. In a heartfelt chat with Bombay Times, the actor reacts to being mocked, talks about his tumultuous film career, what caused his rift with David Dhawan and the lessons learnt from all of it. Excerpts:

Your revelation in a recent interview that you were offered James Cameron’s Avatar (2009) has become a matter of joke on social media. The memes have gone viral. Do you stand by your statement that you were offered the Hollywood blockbuster?
I am not active on social media, but my daughter Tina keeps me in the loop. I am fine with people wondering how someone like Govinda could refuse a James Cameron film. I can understand where they are coming from. I respect that thought. They are entitled to have that opinion, but to say how come Govinda got that offer in the first place, is wrong. It’s not like meri aukad nahi hai. It’s prejudiced behaviour. Chai wala aagey kaise badh sakta hain? TV actors films mein kaise aa sakte hain? This is that same elitist, superiority complex. Yeh galat hai. Aapko vishwas nahi karna hai toh mat kijiye, but don’t say things like this.

Did James Cameron mention anything about seeing your work? How did your casting come about?
I was a superstar then. He must have seen my films, but I am not too sure about that. There was a sardarji, who knew me well, and belonged to the medical world. He was my senior, and Dev sahab’s (Dev Anand) friend. He was also one of the financers of the film (Avatar). James Cameron and he met me in London, where I was narrated the story of Avatar. In a way, while I was talking to him, I suggested the title to him. Mere muh se woh shabd (Avatar) nikal gaya aur unhone pakad liya. However, I refused the film. The sardarji even complained to Dev sahab that I had refused this big Hollywood film despite the massive money that I was offered for it. Dev sahab even called me and asked about it.

The film was being directed by one of the most celebrated filmmakers in the world. Why did you refuse the film?
When I heard the subject, I thought I won’t be able to match up to the physicality required to essay that character, that needed to be covered in body paint for over 400 days (Australian actor Sam Worthington played the role of Jake Sully, a disabled former Marine in Avatar, the part which was offered to Govinda). Iraada accha tha, but uss process ko sehne ki kshamata mujh mein nahi thi. I remember Yash Chopra ji had also offered me a similar role in Chandni (1989), which was eventually played by Rishi Kapoor. The character is physically challenged for a certain portion of the film. I had refused that one as well. Dates were an issue, plus, you need to be able to do justice to a role that’s physically demanding. Also, at that point, given the image that I had, I wasn’t sure if people would accept me in such a role.

Hollywood has a certain working pattern and casting process. Many believe that if someone like Irrfan would have spoken of turning down Avatar, it’s still believable since he has worked in American films. You didn’t have that kind of background (of working in films in the West) and perhaps, that’s why it was looked upon as a joke?
People making a laughing stock of me is not new. I was mocked even at the beginning of my career because I dared to become an actor. They thought, I am from Virar gaon, yeh kaise hero banega! Even after my films did well, a certain section of people believed iska success toh fluke hai. When I worked with legends and superstars, they said, ‘Govinda won’t be even noticed in their presence. Yeh mahaan logon ke saamne kya acting karega.’ When my films started doing well, I was conveniently labelled as a ‘comedy actor’ and not a ‘good actor’ and I would only get nominated for awards in the comedy category. When you don’t segregate other genres (romance, tragedy, drama, etc.) why make only comedy a separate category? The intention was to push me to a corner and restrict my reach. Eventually, I realised that this is how the industry treats you when you don’t have a Godfather. You have to find a way to survive. I became Govinda because of my hard work. I had to look after my entire family, so acting was more than just a passion for me. It was my means of survival. The struggle was to succeed with whatever limited means I had.

Why did you speak about being offered Avatar after so many years?
How is that no one wondered why Govinda was asked this question on that show? I did not tell the anchor (of the television show) about it before the show at all. He must have heard about it from someone. In fact, I was shocked when I was asked about it. I couldn’t have avoided the question, so I gave an answer, and whatever I said, is the truth. Jo sach hai, woh bola. Maybe people thought yeh uss layak nahi hai. Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, Taal, Devdas, Nayak, Chandni and Slumdog Millionaire… I have declined all these films, too. Why just Avatar, kya baaki films achhe filmmakers ne nahi banayi? All these films turned out to be huge hits.

What was your reason for turning down Slumdog Millionaire?
I was offered the role that Anil Kapoor played. Danny Boyle had come to meet me. I think this was right after Partner (2007) had released. Jab aapka bad patch chal raha ho and everyone is demoralising you, aapka khud par se vishwas thoda hil jata hai. I was surprised that he came to meet me. I didn’t do that film, but told him it will do well. I loved the thought of the film that you don’t have to be highly educated to make it big in life, you have to be streetsmart. However, I had two objections with that film… the poop scene in the beginning and the title. I wasn’t comfortable with the word ‘Slumdog’ and that scene.

But when these films that you refused, turned out to be blockbusters, did you regret it?
I have always trusted my instinct and though it has mostly benefited me, but of course, I also know that you can go wrong at times. You assume people want to see you a certain way, and so you avoid taking risks. When the screenplay writer read out the script of Gadar to me, I felt that it had too many gaalis (cuss words). I was later told that, ‘You didn’t do it, Sunny Deol did and it’s a huge hit. Aap darte ho.’ I told them Sunny Deol ji is Dharmendra ji’s son. Unkey parivar mein aadha dozen stars hai. Main toh Govinda hoon aur mujhe apni puri family ko dekhna hain, so it is difficult for me to take risks. Hum thodey se haath jodke hi nikley hain.

Why do you think people are finding it hard to believe that you were offered Avatar?
I thought about this a lot. I am a blessed child of my parents and of course God. I have never had a supporter or a Godfather, who showed me the way. I started looking for work at the age of 14 and managed to get it at 21. Where was the time to work on myself? I am neither educated enough, nor politically correct. There was no one to tell me how I could present myself or how to socialise with people. Fashion kya hoti hai, yeh maloom tak nahi tha. Today, actors have a team of stylists and PR, who tell them what to do, say and wear. In those days, these things didn’t exist. I was labelled as a massy entertainer and I had no issue with it as it suited me. That could be a reason why the thought of me rejecting Avatar sounds funny to people. Woh ek ‘massy’ (dance and comedy) image logon ke dil mein beth jaati hai. I was never called a superstar; I was always ‘Virar ka chokra’ in all the articles. When I was listed by a media house in the UK in 1999 among the Top Ten Most Popular actors in the world along with Mr Amitabh Bachchan, (we were the only Indian actors on that list), I couldn’t believe it.

David Dhawan and you gave multiple hits together. What went wrong between you two?
I haven’t spoken to him for over nine years now. On one occasion, he was talking to my secretary, who had put the call on speaker. David told him, “Govinda ko jo bhi chotey-motey roles miley, ussey kar lene chahiye. Ab woh hero nahi ho payega.” My secretary had called him after I couldn’t work with him on Chashme Baddoor (2013). I heard what he said on that call about me. We haven’t spoken since then. Hota hai film line mein yeh sab. I have learnt not to expect much from people when it comes to your profession. However, there are also those who acknowledge me. Rohit Shetty, Ranveer Singh, Salman Khan, Amitabh Bachchan sir, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan… I want to thank all of them and my fans who still believe in me.

You shot for certain portions of Jagga Jasoos, but those scenes were chopped from the film without you being aware of it. Did that upset you?
I look at the film industry as family and somewhere I was wrong in the way I thought. You should not have these expectations. Perhaps, these people are not wrong. I need to change myself and get more professional and practical in life. Time pe pohcho, time pe niklo, don’t immerse yourself in work beyond that. I am doing that now.

Your alleged lack of discipline and superstitious attitude were cited as the main issues according to many.
If I wasn’t efficient, I wouldn’t have done the number of films that I have. If you are doing your work sincerely, imaandari se kar rahe ho, you don’t look at work as a ‘number of hours’ thing. It’s not possible. I wasn’t so ruthless ke kisika paisa laga hai, but I will leave because mera time ho gaya hai aur ghar jaane ka. I will finish that and only then I will leave. But yes, times have changed for the better. Everything is more organised now, so I am working on being punctual, too. Payments happen on time. Having said that, back then the work atmosphere was more family-like, which isn’t the case today. As far as being superstitious is concerned, who in Bollywood isn’t?

You started working early in life. What are the lessons learnt?
If your films do well, everyone behaves like they are your children. If your films don’t do well, sab aapke baap ban jaate hain. After I quit politics, I signed some big films, but they got stuck and took years to release. Mani Ratnam’s Raavan, for instance, took a while to release. I figured you can’t plan anything in life. God is the ultimate planner. Usiki chalti hai. Yes, I regret not doing as many films, but now I am open to trying different kinds of cinema across platforms.

Rachit Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; November 28, 2018)

Reinvention has been the story of Akshay Kumar’s career so far. He’s gone from being an action hero to pulling off comedy roles and social dramas with ease and conviction. But through his diverse career, he has never done a film like 2.0 and by his own admission, he’s never experienced the grist and gruel of a CGI and make-up heavy movie. In a chat with BT, the actor talks about the travails of being trapped in multiple layers of make-up and the hours spent getting out of his costume and character. But he agrees that epic films like this need that much sweat and blood to go into it. Excerpts...

2.0 has been in the making for three years, it has a mammoth budget, too. How do you feel about the expectations around the film?
It is the biggest film of my career and it is India’s biggest film to date. It has a budget of Rs 510 crore and that’s huge. There’s a lot of nervousness and excitement, because the sheer magnitude of the project makes it a big risk. But the good thing about 2.0 is that it will release in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi, so it has a very good scope for earning money across diverse markets not just in the country, but around the world. Another thing that will work in favour of the film is that the publicity and promotions of the film haven’t really revealed the true story. Everything has been kept under the wraps, so the audiences will have something to look forward to.

The audience also hasn’t really seen you playing a villain before. Were you looking forward to playing a character with grey shades?
I have played bad guy roles before, so this wasn’t really about the chance to play an antagonist. What I really liked about the film was the screenplay and my character in particular. I’m not the sort of actor who thinks about these things too much. It doesn’t matter if I am playing the villain, what matters is that it’s an engaging character. And what really got me going was the fact that 2.0 is a social film. It has a strong message to give to audience around the world. People will realise the impact of that message once they have watched the film. I had never worked with Shankar sir before, so the chance to be directed by him was another aspect that drew me to the film. And to top it all, this was my chance to work with Rajini sir as well. As I have said before, it was an honour for me to be punched by him.

How difficult is to work in such a VFXheavy film? Surely, the process of acting in a movie that largely depends on the CGI to take it on to a different level must be distinctly different...
You have to feel and assume so many things that aren’t really happening to you. While you’re in front of the camera, you have to actually assume that you’re being punched, because in reality there’s no one punching you. You are made to stand in front of a fan and you have to pretend to fly. As an actor, I prefer to work on my instincts, so that helped me during the process of this film. I trust my director and I do everything that he asks me to do. I take his inputs, I take the inputs of the VFX guys, the camera man, and then I just go with my gut and impulse. Main actor hoon, mujhe kucch sochna nahi hai, mujhe sirf acting karni hai. Sochne ka kam director aur uski team ne already kar diya hai. My job is to focus on their instructions and bring my best to the table.

A part of gearing up for this character was the tedious process getting the look right with the heavy, detailed makeup and the prosthetics. How did that experience turn out?
My makeup was handled by professionals from LA and they told me that the makeup that they used in 2.0 was by far one of the most detailed and toughest ones they had done in their career. They summed it up like third degree torture, because the layers of makeup that was put onto my face and body was actually thicker than a sweater. One of the most challenging experiences of being inside this shell of silicone, plastic and rubber was that I would sweat a lot, but there was no way the sweat could escape from the suit. The costume used to hold all the sweat for as long as I wore it, which was usually all day long. We have shot in Delhi and Chennai during summer and in temperatures as high as 45 degrees. I remember, every time they would get me out of the suit, I would smell of sweat and I felt terrible. I couldn’t even go to the washroom for hours together and I was only allowed a liquid diet while I was wearing the suit. It was an exhausting experience. I would be sitting in a chair inside a compact room that had wheels. They would take that room around to wherever the camera was set up. I would be asked to step out of my chair and that room only after the entire setup was ready and there was pin drop silence around me. And then, I would emerge from this small cabin to give the shot. I really felt like a bird in a cage. They would open the cage door and ask the bird to come out, peck on the seeds and then go back in.

Does it get tough to focus on the performance in the process of getting into the look of the character becomes so tedious and time consuming? How does an actor deal with such a situation?
Getting the makeup on was such a tedious task that it really tested my patience. I consider myself as a very patient guy, but what the prep and makeup for 2.0 really pushed the limits of my patience as well. Thankfully, I succeeded in going along with that ordeal and I didn’t blow my top or have an episode of throwing tantrums and hitting somebody. I would sit quietly in the room as the makeup team would do their work for hours at end. Beyond the physical ordeal, it’s the mental challenge that is the hardest. The makeup is essentially stuck to your face and body using a gum. It’s quite a yucky feeling to say the least. But I have to thank Shankar sir’s entire crew and team. They took such good care of me during this phase. Their number one priority was to make me comfortable. Once the makeup is on, you just have to go with your cues and lines. Then it’s all about your dialogues and performance.

Having experienced these challenges, would you do a similar, makeup and VFX-heavy role again?
I wouldn’t do it at the moment. Going through the experience of having gum on and off my body has been a little overwhelming for me. Kabhi kabhi aisa lagta hai, I still have some of that silicone adhesive attached to my skin (laughs!).

Rajinikanth is a superstar and he is loved and worshipped by his fans. People who have worked with him have also spoken about his aura as a star. How did your interactions with him pan out?
He was always nice to me and he is such a humble human being. But it is very interesting to work with him because he has such a unique style and his mannerisms on screen and in front of the camera really entertain you. He says a simple line like, ‘Hello! How are you?’ with such charisma that you feel mesmerised. His persona and his ability to charm you are really unique.

This is also the first time that you were working with director Shankar. He’s known to be a filmmaker who creates visual epics. What are your views on his style of storytelling?
Shankar sir is a visionary. Getting to know his thought process alone can be overwhelming. When you watch a film made by him, you feel ‘Wow! How does he even do this?’ It’s the same sort of feeling when you watch James Cameron’s Avatar or Michael Bay’s Transformers. Movies like 2.0 make you question, ‘How is that even possible?’ and that thought is what entertains you. That’s what I like to tell viewers, critics and fans alike, when you watch these high-concept movies, it’s important to acknowledge the fact that you’re watching something out-of-the-box, something that has been created to engage your imagination and creativity. And I feel, Shankar sir does a fabulous job of telling such stories.

2.0 is being billed as India’s most expensive film.The Baahubali movies, were also projected in a similar fashion. Do you feel South films have surpassed the scale and production values of Hindi cinema?
Filmmakers and producers down South can dare to make a movie with a 510 crore budget because they know they have those kind of markets that offer them the opportunity to earn the big numbers. In Hindi cinema, we’ve managed to reach numbers like 250 and 325 crores, too. Slowly but steadily, we’re getting there as well. The markets for Hindi films are growing as well. Today, a market like China contributes a major amount to the box office numbers of Hindi films as well. So, as these new territories open up, Hindi films too will be able to scale up their budgets and production standards. Honestly, a few years ago, no Hindi film producer would have ever thought of making a film with a 300 crore budget, but now we’re doing that and hopefully, those numbers will only get bigger and better.

Do you think Indian filmmakers and films are now competing with Hollywood films around the world?
In fact, our concepts and subjects are far more evolved and detailed than Hollywood’s films. They have bigger budgets, better technology and they are more advanced in terms of their filmmaking technique, but when it comes to depicting human relationships in high-concept ideas, I feel Indian films and filmmakers are far ahead of Hollywood.

Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 21, 2017)

In the late 1890s, four Englishmen on a visit to Luxor came across the mummy of the Princess of Amen-Ra and bought it. One of them carried it up to his suite. A few hours later, he walked out into the desert and was never seen again. The next day, his friend was accidentally shot at by an Egyptian servant and his arm had to be amputated. The third returned home to bankruptcy while the fourth fell seriously ill, lost his job and ended up selling matches in the street.

The mummy reached London and entered the home of another businessman which caught fire soon after. Three members of his family were also injured in a road accident and these misfortunes prompted him to donate the mummy to the British Museum. While the coffin was being unloaded, a workman broke his leg and another died two days later. Afterwards a night guard complained of sobbing from the ‘Egyptian Room’ and frantic hammering on the door. The child of a disdainful visitor died suddenly and a journalist who'd photographed the casket killed himself after seeing the developed pictures. The ‘unlucky mummy’ was then banished to the basement. The supervisor who oversaw the transfer died, and the museum, in a hurry to get rid of the exhibit, was happy to sell it to a private collector who after a series of accidents, locked it away in his attic till an archaeologist bought it from him and boarded a luxury liner sailing to America with it. On the night of April 14, 1912, the ship hit an iceberg and sunk to the bottom of the Atlantic with 1,500 passengers. The ship was the H.M.S. Titanic.

Fact or fiction? No one is sure, though the story seems more rooted in fantasy, like that of 17-year-old Rose DeWitt Bukater and penniless artist Jack Dawson, the ill-fated lovers of the Titanic, which was a figment of writer-director James Cameron’s imagination. His co-producer, Jon Landou, on a visit to India in 2012, admitted that more than the doomed ship, it was the love story that had struck a chord with him because Rose was so like his spirited mother Edie who, when other women were producing babies, was producing films like Long Day’s Journey Into The Night, The Pawnbroker and The Chosen with husband Ely.

Rose and Jack also made Jon believe that someone somewhere was waiting for him. That ‘someone’ turned out to be a colleague working with him on Beach Street. “For a year, I’d drop Barbara off on her dates. Then, I took her out to dinner and for the last 27 years there’s been no one else,” said the genial American, his eyes turning misty at the mention of his wife and mother, as I cradled the Oscar statuette he carried in his backpack.

This was just one of the 11 Oscars Titanic bagged. I remember James on stage booming, “I’m the king of the world” while Jon who had grabbed the mic ahead of him, thanked 53 cast and crew members in a winning speech that went on and on. He later admitted it was used the following year to show nominees what “absolutely not to do” on stage.

Twelve years later, ahead of the release of his Avatar which opened in the US on December 18, 2009, James, in an interview, confided he'd been creating spacecrafts, creatures and distant worlds in his head for a long time and the ‘blue film’ might have followed Titanic which opened on December 19, 1997 had it not been for the logistics involved.

Avatar grossed over $2 billion and broke Titanic’s box-office records to become the highest grossing film of all time, as also the bestselling film of 2010. It was nominated for nine Oscars and won three, but when it came to the Best Picture Award, James could only watch as his ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow (right) became the first woman to walk away with the coveted statuette for her little big film, The Hurt Locker. As she went up, he mouthed, “Yes, oh yes!” even as his hopes of an Oscar drowned. Fact, as they say, is stranger than fiction, and love the strangest of all emotions.

In a candid chat, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan, who stars in the upcoming MSG 2, tells us about the film, motivating the youth and future plans
MID-DAY (September 16, 2015)

MSG 2, the sequel to MSG: The Messenger, which released earlier this year, is all set to hit theatres this Friday. Directed by Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan and Jeetu Arora, the film is based on a series of true events that kickstarted when MSG took it upon himself to reform the tribal community. From murdering the innocent to feeding on raw flesh, the project captures the brutality of their life. As the story moves forward, a devastating drought in the area leaves these souls to deal with the situation on their own. At this point, Saint Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan, who plays himself, enters as the real life, selfless social reformer. 

In his pursuit to change the law of the jungle, he soon realises the task isn’t a cakewalk. And that triggers a conflict of epic proportions. Also, these folks’ grudge against the civilized lot only strengthens by the day, owing to an age- old secret, which is shrouded in suspense. However, Saint Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan is determined to bring life into the heartless place and has his devotees supporting him to achieve his goals. After a huge battle, things settle and the uncivilised undergo major soul and behavioural makeovers. In addition to the above, the enemies who are bigger and way powerful jump into the fray and keep the action and drama alive in this racy and musical flick. Excerpts from the interview:

What makes MSG 2 different from the first part?
The story and the fight sequences are quite different and new. We have incorporated yoga and a few new techniques which the audiences are going to love. Apart from that, there is also a social message about superstition and the adivasi community. The film which talks about the transformation of the tribal community due to the Gurumantra questions the fact that if the adivasis can be transformed then why not the youth of this country. The film will entertain the audience along with giving them a social message.

How did you come up with the idea of a making a film?
We do a lot of concerts and during one such concert we noticed a young group of people who were regulars to our concerts missing from the front row. On asking them the reason for their absence the next time, they replied saying that they went to see a film. This gave us the idea of making a film with a social message to reach out to a wide audience.

A lot of people were opposing MSG 1. What problems did you face back then?
When MSG 1 was in post production we had already started shooting for the sequel. One day our company was told that the film wouldn’t be certified. A letter was issued saying that the Censor Board didn’t understand the film and hence it was referred to higher authorities. The film was then sent to the High Court and it is from there that we got the film censored. Later, the people who saw the film thanked us for making it as it had a social message. In fact, MSG 1 inspired a lot of people to give up their harmful habits.

You have always tried to inspire the youth of this country through your films. What other projects are in the pipeline?
Yes, we have always tried to motivate the youth and now, we are planning a special show on freedom fighters. The show aims at motivating the youth that gets depressed and is addicted to abusive substances. Apart from that we are planning a film that will showcase our culture, teaching of our religious scriptures and Vedas

What kind of films do you like? Who is your favourite actor?
I have watched only one film in my life and that too because the children promised me that if I watch a film, they will quit their addiction. It was way back in 1982-83 and I remember it was an Amitabh Bachchan film. Keeping their word, the children actually quit their harmful habits.

There have been rumours about you signing big actors for your upcoming films. How is true is it?
The next film will be made on a huge scale and will be bigger then Avatar. It obviously will have a lot of creativity involved. Also the production of the project will be at par with Hollywood. We are considering some big names and Hrithik Roshan has assured us that if need be, he will come on board. Once the script gets locked, we will finalise other things.

The film’s release is just around the corner. Are you planning anything special for its release?
No plans as such but yes we are planning a grand premiere of the film in Delhi where many known people are invited.

People talk about your fashion statements and we hear that you design your own clothes.
Yes, I had designed clothes for kids during their wedding and they liked it. Now the fashion line is so much in demand that I am planning to start a store for the same.

Apart from films, what are the other ways in which you motivate the youth? What plans do you have for them?
Apart from being a part of films and filmmaking, I am an international coach and we help kids develop their skills. The kids who trained under us have won the roller skating hockey competition for four times in Asian championships and apart from this there are many other sports where the kids have made the country proud. We always try and motivate them for a better future. We are also giving self-defense training to girls so that they can defend themselves in any situation.

How do you handle criticism and the opposition from people?
I remain relaxed and normal and concentrate on my work. We don’t have to fear anyone as we doing good work and God is with us.

Priya Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; November 6, 2014)

Master of digital after-effects, Merzin Tavaria, who played a key role in converting the Oscar-winning Gravity from 2D to 3D, sheds light on the world of visual and special effects
Nilesh Rao (MID-DAY; May 7, 2014)

How did you end up in this profession?
I have always been a movie buff since my college days and interested in games and graphics. I wanted to do something related to computers and took up a course in graphics. My fellow student, Namit Malhotra, who is the owner of Prime Focus, floated the idea of setting up an editing studio then. About four years later, we started doing special effects.

What was your breakthrough point?
We started with popular TV shows and then ventured into commercials. At one point of time, I was handling projects for tele serials and films as well as commercials. I would go to a theatre and find the ads on which I had worked were playing back-to-back. I remember we had just one-and-a-half months to work on Harry Potter, Green Lantern, Transformers and a couple of Hindi films besides a South Indian one.

What are the pre-requisites for this profession?
One has to be patient as well as passionate and have a basic understanding of technology and softwares being used. You also have to be hardworking. This industry is growing by leaps and bounds. Employment opportunities are opening up in a big way.

Gravity was a visual treat. How challenging was the project? 
There were crazy shots. Another team in London team was working on the project. It was completed within 1.5 to two years. We converted around 30 minutes of the film from 2D to 3D.

What has been the most challenging project till date?
The definition of challenging keeps changing every minute! Working on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film have been quite a challenge. Same goes for Aamir Khan’s Ghajini, not so much for its visual effects but because he is a perfectionist. Then there was Avatar and Clash Of The Titans. Right now, we are working on Sin City 2 as a whole. We are coordinating with the teams in Vancouver. Every year you get one or two projects which suck your blood but the result is always gratifying.

Where does Indian filmmakers’ sensibility stand in terms of special effects?
In 1976, when Hollywood was venturing into space and making Star Wars, we were moving back to the village with Sholay. That was the divide then and it exists now too. There is tremendous potential in the visual effects and animation genres here but they need to be fully exploited.

Which is your favourite film?
Godfather. I also enjoyed Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Rock On. There are many Hollywood films where the story is a big, fat chocolate cake and visual effects are the icing on it. Many characters who do not exist during the shoot, are created through visual effects. 3D or stereo is a part of it. You take every frame of the movie and add depth and volume, giving it an immersive touch.

Subhash K Jha (DNA; May 1, 2014)