Close on the heels of Udta Punjab appearing online two days before it opened, Indra Kumar's adult comedy is in a similar fix with the entire movie out on the web three weeks before its release
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 6, 2016)

Twenty days ago, the producers of Udta Punjab — Anurag Kashyap, Madhu Mantena, Vikramaditya Motwane and Vikas Bahl—along with Balaji Telefilms' Ekta Kapoor lodged a complaint with Cyber Police Cell in Mumbai on June 15, alleging that their film had been leaked online, two days before its release. The Abhishek Chaubey-directorial, which was in a running battle with the Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) over its depiction of the drug problem in Punjab, was eventually cleared by the Bombay High Court with one cut and three disclaimers. It went viral via two separate links of the website Torrent.com. On downloading the movie, one learnt that the first censor copy had been stolen and uploaded on the site by user robby007.

Screenshots of the film's first 40 minutes were shared by the media and fans immediately. Four hours later, a leaked copy with the runtime of two-hours-20-minutes, the full length of the film, was discovered online. A day later, the Bombay High Court restrained cable TV operators and internet service providers from airing or circulating pirated copies but the damage was done and it lost some audience.

On Monday, a censor copy of the third instalment in the Masti series, Great Grand Masti was leaked online. The Riteish Deshmukh-Aftab Shivdasani-Vivek Oberoi-starrer is supposed to hit screens on July 22. Three weeks before, a high-definition print of the complete film's censor copy, of two-hours-14-minutes, along with full credit titles, has been leaked online and prints made available on several piracy sites.

Just a week ago, producer-director Indra Kumar in an interview to Mirror (June 29) had revealed that the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) had cleared his adult comedy with minor cuts and an 'A' certificate after it had been rejected by the Examining Committee of the CBFC. Pointing out that the 1952 Cinematograph Act has become outdated, he asserted that he is all for certification over censorship as it's more in tune with the Gen X that has access to all kinds of content online.

While Kumar did not respond to our calls or texts, and neither did coproducer, Balaji Telefilms CEO, Aman Gill, trade analyst Amod Mehra described the leak as "alarming", pointing out that since it had happened three weeks before the release, distributors who'd bought the film could refuse to take delivery if reports were unfavourable. "In such cases even the partner producer can refuse to pump more money into print and publicity," pointed out Mehra, who had confirmed the leak with somebody who had downloaded a copy.

Refusing to attribute it directly to the censor office, Mehra pointed out that earlier there were only UFO prints being made, but now with the many formats the chances of piracy are growing and anyone up to mischief can put a print online. "Already audio pirates in our neighbouring countries have closed down the music CD business, now they are targetting our movies," he rued.

Censor Board member Nandini Sardesai uses a line from Hamlet to describe what is happening, "Something is rotten in the Censor Board." She points out that even after a film is cleared by the FCAT in Delhi, it has to go to the censor office in Mumbai for the signature of the Chairperson and final certification. "These DVDs can be lying for hours, even days, unsealed, waiting, and there is many a slip between the cup and the lip with everyone from clerical staff and disgruntled employees having easy access," she reasons.

Advocate Samruddhi Porey, producer-director of the Marathi biopic Dr Prakash Baba Amte—The Real Hero, reveals that she had submitted her film to the censors twice after somebody raised objections to certain scenes. She sent back a copy with minor changes a second time which was known only to her and her editor. It was leaked online three weeks after the film's release.

"I'm sure it was leaked from the CBFC office, I have no idea why. I lodged a compliant with the police but nothing really came of it," she informed Mirror. Interestingly, even this leaked copy was a censor print while both leaked Hindi films are Balaji co-productions.

A source from the police added that when a complaint is filed with Cyber Police Station, the investigation progresses depending on leads. This can be a time-consuming process and the producer stands to lose a lot of money.

Mirror had earlier reported (March 17) that the highest-grossing Marathi film to date, Nagraj Manjule's Sairat, which had earned over Rs 50 crore in its second week, was leaked online in its third-week, another censor print. It's obviously happening in a narrow channel between the producer submitting the copy and the censor office sealing it.

Nittin Keni, one of the three producers, admitted that it affected business by at least 10 per cent as those who did not get tickets could download it. Also, non-Maharashtrians suddenly curious to see the film were lost to them. Keni had said that the only way out was encryption.

Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt informs that all DVDS are watermarked depending on which department they go to, whether it's editing, dubbing, background, VFX or a censor copy. He agrees that an encrypted file on a pen drive which only the regional officer has the password to is the way to curb this menace with immediate effect.

"There's money to be made on underground sites like Torrent which get a lot of the wrong kind of advertising. Someone has found a loophole in the process and is exploiting it. We will require sustained efforts from the film associations or a specially formed committee to deal with the crisis," he signs off.
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After Udta Punjab, Great Grand Masti falls prey to piracy three weeks before release
MID-DAY (July 6, 2016)

Great Grand Masti, part three of Indra Kumar’s adult comedy franchise Masti, was leaked online yesterday, three weeks ahead of its big screen release. The two-hour-something film is available on various movie downloading websites in highdefinition print along with credit titles.

The incident has evoked a sense of déjà vu — this is the second instance of a film making its way to the e-space within a space of just 20 days. Controversial Shahid Kapoor-starrer Udta Punjab had also fallen prey to piracy two days before it hit theatres. The makers had immediately registered an FIR and the culprit, a Delhi- based tech junkie, was arrested a week later. Call it a co-incidence or quirk of fate, Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji Motion Pictures is the co-producer of both films. At the time of going to press, no police complaint had been registered. The makers remained unavailable for comment.

DNA (July 3, 2016)

That the biggest Marathi hit Sairat — it made Rs 80 crores at the box-office — is being remade in all the South languages is known. The latest is, it will be remade in Punjabi too. Also, Salman Khan had evinced an interest in making it in Hindi, but right now, the producers are not too keen on it. Says Nittin Keni, “We haven’t decided yet. It will be difficult to make it in Hindi because these kind of stories have already been made (in Bollywood). Also, it would mean completely wiping out the nuances that are specific to a region. From north to south, east to west, the nuances get lost. Hindi is not the appropriate language for the film. It will become a bland Romeo-Juliet story. Salman had at one point discussed about making a Hindi remake, but we decided unless we get a great script, we should not do it.”

BOMBAY TIMES (June 15, 2016)

Producers of the film are feeling super-generous as film crosses Rs 60-cr mark
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 20, 2016)

It is appraisal season, after all. And why should film stars be any different? The leading lady and man of the biggest blockbuster in Marathi cinematic history, Sairat, have been awarded a bonus of Rs 5 crore each by its benevolent (and delighted) producers.

The film itself is being seen as a landmark in Marathi film history. Cinemas to meet with the demand have opened 12 am and 3 am slots in rural Maharashtra, a phenomenon never heard of in the hinterland. But so astounding has been the word-of-mouth for the blockbuster that the film has garnered Rs 60 crore at the box-office.

The actors, who had been signed on for a meagre Rs 4 lakh, will now be given Rs 5 crore each, as announced by producer Nittin Keni, CEO-Founder of EsselVision Productions, and co-producer Nikhil Sane, who pulled off the modern classic on a shoestring budget of Rs 4 crore. "Yes, we are planning this as a small gesture of goodwill for the cast and it is not only the actors who will be receiving certain amounts of money, but also the extended cast and crew. We are finalising the paperwork, but at the same time are hoping that we do not have to close our accounting books soon, since the shows are still going houseful. Last week, there were three shows of Captain America: Civil War, three of Azhar and eight of Sairat in Mumbai suburbs," Keni laughs.

The career-defining roles have come to both Akash Thosar, 22, and Rinku Rajguru, 15, with the sort of serendipity that rustic fairytales are made of: eight months ago, filmmaker Nagraj Manjule spotted Akash Thosar, a local pehelwan, at the Jeur railway station as the youngster prepared to board a train to his hometown, Solapur. Manjule had written a story about a young boy falling in love with a girl, set against the backdrop of caste discrimination. He instinctively felt that if this beefed-up lad lost his bulk, he'd be great for the part. Akash, who lives in Pune's Aundh area with his parents and four younger siblings - two sisters and two brothers - was headed to the Jeur Kushti Akhada for a state-level championship. His father is a retired accountant and his mother a housewife. Akash supported his large family with the money he won at kushti matches, each victory bringing in Rs 1,000. Life was hard.

"I went up to him and said that I wanted to cast him as the hero of my next film. He thought I was joking, so I told him that I was the director of Fandry (the 2014 National Award winner for First Film of a Director). We exchanged numbers, I told him that I'd be back in three weeks and that he'd be perfect for the role if he wasn't so muscular. He showed up at the station three weeks later, eight kilos lighter," recalls Manjule, who had already finalised Rinku Rajguru, a local from Akluj village in Solapur, who loved to dance, for the female lead.

Rinku's journey to tinsel town is equally fascinating: she hails from one of the more well-to-do farmer families of Akluj in Solapur district. Rinku was prepping up for her ninth standard exams at the Jijamata Kanya Prashala and confesses that she did even not know "audition" meant. "Nagraj dada told me 'Tu acting karsheel?' I said yes, dancing a bit and spouting a few lines. He gave me the role. I had only 15 days to study for my final exams and I still scored 81 per cent," she says proudly.

The process to stardom was rigorous to say the least: for two months, the cast was holed up at Manjule's Pune home, reading the script and prepping for the role. Six months later, Sairat released on February 17 with English subtitles in 400 theatres. At the end of the second week, the total number of shows went up from 8500 to 14,000. "The Sairat craze has taken all of us by surprise. Who would've thought a Marathi-speaking Romeo and Juliet would eventually hit a 60-crore mark, a first in Marathi cinema. It's gone out of hand with midnight and 3 am shows being introduced at a hall in Satara," informs producer Nitin Keni.

Keni though also insists that the fantastic story and the score by composer duo Ajay-Atul is behind the film's dream run in theatres. "The rough cut was complete and we decided to gamble another Rs 60-70 lakh by sending Ajay-Atul to the US to record live music with 100 instrumentalists and musicians performing at the Sony Theatre in Los Angeles. Guess that paid off too," the producer explains, pointing out that the makers will not be selling the remake rights of the film, even if the largest production house in the country offers them a deal. "We are rolling with the Telugu remake of the film first, followed by a Gujarati version, and, of course, Hindi. The idea is to not make a sequel, but replicate this success in different regions," adds Keni.

Keni hosted a grand success bash at a Juhu five-star on Saturday night, which began at 11pm, when the teenagers who turned superstars overnight walked in. "If one year ago, someone had told me that I would be a superstar, I would have laughed," says Akash, who confesses that he is more used to being called Prashant, his Sairat character's name by now. "Mere parents and friends khush hai and sab mere saath selfie chahte hai, main isi main khush hoon. Aamir Khan and Irrfan Khan ne bhi meri taarif ki. Jin logon ko screen pe dekhkar main taaliyan bajata tha, voh mujhe aaj screen par dekh rahe hai," he says. Ask him on his signing amount of Rs 4 lakh and what he plans to do with his five crores, he says, "Nahi, starting main toh koi contract nahi tha..." and the phone is taken away by the film's publicist, who says that contracts cannot be discussed with the media at this moment.

Rinku, on the other hand, reveals via her publicist that she does not want to discuss her contract or the money she is going to receive. "I have not gone home since the film started and have been living in Pune and Mumbai. I want to continue studying and go home," confides the 15-year-old, who bagged a Special Mention at the 63rd National Awards for her performance as Archana 'Archie' Patil. But she is instantly happy when asked about what she'll remember about Sairat for the rest of her life. "When we were shooting, "Zing Zinghat" played for three days, and all we did was dance. That is what I want to do for the rest of my life," Rinku beams.

MUMBAI MIRROR (May 17, 2016)

Nitin Keni who is also one of the many producers of the Akshay Kumar-starrer period drama, Rustom, also insists that despite recent speculations, they have not moved the release date of the film to avoid a clash with Hrithik Roshan's period romance, Mohenjo Daro. “As of now it's still August 12. We announced the date first. Yes, we have been talking to Ashutosh Gowarikar (producer-director of Mohenjo Daro) but there's been no decision taken on changing the date. They haven't even begun their promotions yet.“

Producer doesn't blame the board, says it could have happened anywhere down the line; reveals the highest grossing Marathi film will be remade in Telugu and Gujarati
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 17, 2016)

BOMBAY TIMES (May 13, 2016)

Anirban Das (MID-DAY; May 9, 2016)

After hitlist reported about unit hands of Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Bullett Raja awaiting their dues three years after the film’s release (Wage-ing a war, on May 5), a few people associated with Sanjay Gupta’s last directorial, Jazbaa, have brought forth a similar complaint.

Sources suggest dialogue writer Kamlesh Pandey, screenplay writer Robin Bhatt, choreographer Ahmed Khan, director of photography Sameer Arya and a few others have not received full payment for working on the film, which hit theatres on October 9 last year. Unlike Bullett Raja, which misfired at the box office leading to losses for the makers, Jazbaa starring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Irrfan did fairly well.

“The total amount due is more than Rs 20 lakh. They had reached out to Gupta and he has assured them that the dues will be cleared once he receives the payment from Essel Vision (which produced the film),” says a source.

However, those awaiting their remuneration are in a fix since there is no clarity over who is supposed to clear the dues. Pandey says, “I have not received the last instalment of my pay. We spoke to Gupta and he told us that all payments will be made once he gets a certain amount from Essel Vision. Essel Vision, on the other hand, has informed us that it is the responsibility of Gupta’s company.”

While Gupta remained unavailable for comment, Nittin Keni, CEO-Essel Vision, says, “Essel Vision was supposed to give the production and direction cost to Sanjay Gupta’s company, White Feather Films. We had made payments to him to make the film. He was supposed to enter into an agreement with all actors, writers, technicians and other members, and make the payments to them from the production cost we had given him. If he has not made the payments, then he should be questioned. We have informed the members, who have not received their payments, about this.”

BOMBAY TIMES (May 3, 2016)

BOMBAY TIMES (April 17, 2016)

BOMBAY TIMES (January 25, 2016)

BOMBAY TIMES (October 8, 2015)

Hiren Kotwani (BOMBAY TIMES; March 29, 2015)