Showing posts with label PVR Juhu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PVR Juhu. Show all posts
I feel a movie theatre is not the appropriate place to shove nationalism down our throats-Shonali Bose
8:36 AM
After she was recently slammed for not standing up for the national anthem at a Juhu theatre, filmmaker Shonali Bose questions flawed idea of patriotism
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; May 13, 2023)
When director Shonali Bose went to watch Afwaah at PVR Cinemas in Juhu earlier this week, little did she expect a fracas for not standing up when the national anthem was played before the movie. The filmmaker says she was called “disgusting” and “unpatriotic” by a patron in the theatre.
Two days ago, she posted a video on social media, putting forth her response to the episode by quoting Rabindranath Tagore’s famous lines: “Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever widening thought and action, into that heaven of freedom, my father, let my country awake.”
When we reach out to Bose, the filmmaker emphasizes that she loves singing the anthem on days of national importance. “But I won’t do it in a theatre. That’s my government forcefully saying that this is how nationalistic fervour can be instilled,” she says, before going on to narrate her ordeal.
“I went to watch the film with my friends. All of them stood up for the anthem, I didn’t. A man behind me shouted that I am disgusting and unpatriotic. The woman next to him joined in. I turned around, and asked them to shut up. The lady was so uncouth that I could feel her legs on my chair. Though I was sure of what I was doing, my stomach had tightened. No one wants a panga.”
In 2016, the Supreme Court made the playing of the national anthem in cinema halls mandatory, stating that it instilled “committed patriotism and nationalism”. It ordered that people in the theatre must stand up to show respect for it. However, in January 2018, a three-judge panel formed by the government recommended the Supreme Court to reverse its order. The apex court then made it optional to play the anthem in theatres.
However, as part of the ruling, it also said that moviegoers will have to stand as a mark of respect in case the anthem is played. The court also clarified that the exception granted to differently-abled people from standing up during the anthem would remain in force on all occasions.
Bose argues that one does not need to wear his patriotism on his sleeve. “I am not protesting the anthem, or the government. I feel a movie theatre is not the appropriate place to shove nationalism down our throats. That is what I am protesting. It is disrespectful that people have popcorn in their mouths when they get up to show ‘respect’.”
The director adds that patriotism is working together towards building a country where diverse views co-exist and all are treated respectfully. “Patriotism is being able to speak your mind and having a conscience. It is about questioning the government at every step. I remember during the Emergency period, the government would play black-and-white propaganda films in theatres. This feels similar.”
John Abraham wanted theatrical run since December-Sanjay Gupta
8:29 AM
Stating that Mumbai Saga’s box-office run will be litmus test for the industry, director says he chose cinema over OTT release at Emraan, Abraham’s behest
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 3, 2021)
It was widely known in the industry circles that Mumbai Saga was nearly sold to Amazon Prime Video for a lucrative deal. But now, the John Abraham and Emraan Hashmi-led gangster drama is primed for a theatrical release. Ask director Sanjay Gupta what led to a change of heart, and he attributes the decision to his leading men. “John wanted a theatrical run since December. Emraan backed him. They gave us the faith to take the risk of a big-screen release,” he says.
Gupta, known for his massy entertainers, admits that Mumbai Saga has been designed for a community-viewing experience. “[When supervising] the sound design, I would imagine how it will sound in screen number 2 of Juhu PVR. My characters are mouthing one-liners that can’t be enjoyed on a smaller screen. If we were losing money, an OTT release would be preferred. But with theatres, we’re safe — we’re not making money, but we won’t lose either. Someone [in the industry] has to take the leap, so we are doing it. This film is a litmus test. In this competitive industry where people enjoy others’ failures, producers, for the first time, are hoping Mumbai Saga works so that other films have better scope.”
Even as he cherishes the big-screen experience, he asserts that audience safety comes first. “Wear masks, and watch the film only if you feel comfortable. I don’t want a packed hall.”
The tonality of crime dramas has changed in the OTT era with Mirzapur and Sacred Games deep-diving into the genre with long-format storytelling. Does he worry that viewers may not connect with his signature theatrics, having been accustomed to a different style of narrative? “The storytelling for big screens is different; here, you want quick payoff. The visual dynamics and music grab you. I have had innumerable offers to foray into OTT. I have refrained because I haven’t cracked that formula yet. Storytelling should never be at the mercy of harsh language or gory depiction. I remember the explicit scenes of Shootout At Lokhandwala had put off a section of my audience.”
Images: Nimrat Kaur watches a movie all alone at a Mumbai theatre
7:55 AM
The actress says she was the only person who booked tickets for two shows, and adds that it was a surreal experience for her
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; December 22, 2020)
‘CINEMA HALLS ARE TAKING ALL PRECAUTIONS’
Nimrat shares, “Theatres are taking ample precautions. They are thoroughly sanitising every nook and corner, taking care of hand hygiene and social distancing. If you wear your mask and are careful, I don’t see visiting a theatre to be a health hazard.” The actress adds, “I was being very vigilant and was looking at everything through the safety lens. I was really impressed with the kind of care that was taken. I had made up my mind that if I felt uncomfortable, I will walk out, but that wasn’t the case.”
Nimrat says that going for the movie for the first time since lockdown felt like taking the first flight amid the pandemic. “Initially, you feel a bit strange, a little vulnerable, but I feel the human mind is so remarkable that you quickly adapt. Given the fact that all precautions are being taken, you will soon relax and feel okay visiting a theatre. Then you can immerse yourself in the world of fantasy.”
‘WATCHING A SCIENCE-FICTION OR BEING ALONE IN A THEATRE, I DIDN’T KNOW WHICH WAS MORE SURREAL’
Nimrat was the only one watching the movie in the hall. Sharing her experience, the actress tells us, “It was surreal. It was so strange to be alone in such a huge theatre all by myself. I was really a bit overwhelmed.
I had booked myself a 12.30pm show at PVR Juhu theatre. But I woke up early, so I decided to go for the 10am show instead. At 12.30, while I was still watching the previous show — all alone in the hall — I got a call and the person calling said, ‘Madam, hum show shuru kar rahe hain, aap aa rahe ho?’ He said that they have a ticket booked against my number. That was the moment I realised that I was the only one who had booked the other show, too. It was so sad! I realised they were not going to start the show unless I was there. It was such an unfortunate reality of these times.” Talking about watching a film alone in a huge theatre, Nimrat shares, “I had gone to watch a sci-fi film, and I was watching the film all alone, wearing a mask and taking all the precautions. It made me wonder which was more surreal — the science fiction I am watching or the reality I’m experiencing!”
Why are they scared of a two-hour film?-Sandip Ssingh
8:41 AM
Asks Modi biopic producer, who fought controversies and court cases in the last 20 days before it was stalled by the EC; argues there were no objections to Lalu Prasad’s autobiography
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 12, 2019)
With the Election Commission on Wednesday staying the release of PM Narendra Modi till after the Lok Sabha elections, arguing that it could disturb the level-playing field, your plans for your ambitious project have been hit for a six. How much do you stand to lose?We had a premiere planned at PVR, Juhu, to which over 1,500 guests had been invited, along with a media screening, when the news of the EC’s decision reached us. We cancelled Thursday’s screenings and the media went crazy. My team and I were with our lawyers till 10pm. We read the EC notice repeatedly, with my lawyers wondering what to do. We eventually decided to follow the law, like I always have.
My losses as a producer started the day my release was moved forward by a week from April 5 to April 11. Tell me, the release of which other film has been pushed twice? We fought legal battles in the Bombay, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh High Courts and were cleared for release. The Supreme Court dismissed a plea seeking a stay on the film. Then came the EC notice, a day before the release, and stopped us in the tracks. My distributors are being questioned by exhibitors who were going to release PM Narendrea Modi with a lot of prints, in India and overseas.
Will you need to do some reshooting now depending on the poll verdict? Will the word ‘chowkidar’ which was added in the film’s poster after Modi announced it as a Twitter campaign in March, stay?
Nobody has said we are releasing the film after the elections. No dates have been announced by us or anyone else. Nobody has the authority to decide the release date of our film. We are still trying to understand why we are in this situation. We only request that our film be allowed to release because a lot of money is invested in it.
But why coincide the release with the elections and invite questions on your motive for making the film?
Even before a film rolls, the Khans, Salman, Shah Rukh and Aamir, announce a date, whether it’s Christmas, Diwali, Holi or Independence Day, and no one questions them. They are stars and need their films to do well. As a producer, I thought April 5 was a good date for better box-office collections. Elections come once in five years, festivals every year. People should understand that an individual producer is risking crores on this project.
Was it meant to be a propaganda film for BJP and Modi?
I don’t know why people think this film was a part of BJP’s election campaign. It is not. If that were the case, every party would be making films and would stop doing rallies. Senior leaders should be confident of the work they have done, only that can influence voters and not a film. Why are they scared of a two-hour film?
Apart from allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct during the polls, why else has the film invited so much criticism?
Nobody is talking of Lalu Prasad Yadav’s just-released autobiography, From Gapalganj To Raisana, when his party, Rashtriya Janta Dal, has an alliance with the Congress. Why is everybody only attacking a film on Modi? Are they scared of him? Vivek (Oberoi, lead actor), Omung Kumar (director) and I have been a part of this industry since the last two decades, yet no one has come forward to support us. Everybody says the industry is one big happy family. Where are these people now?
How did you manage to complete the film and get it censored in record time?
We were struggling for a censor certificate and got it on April 9, just two days before the release. It was a smooth 38-day schedule but the last 20 days have been a nightmare. There were so many controversies, then strong opposition from DMK, NCP, Mamta Banerjee, Omar Abdullah, Prashant Bhushan with all of them wanting the film banned. There were allegations that we belong to BJP and the party has funded the film. I hope after this people realise this is not a propaganda film. We have been running from pillar to post for justice.
Why did you cast Vivek Oberoi as Modi? He hasn’t played a lead role in a while...
He is one of the finest actors we have and has delivered hits in Hindi, Malayalam, Telugu and Tamil over 18 years. He was in Saathiya and Company in the same year and was a superstar. And even though destiny didn’t side with him, he continues to be a perfectionist. He allotted a year for this film which is why we could make it in 38 days. He had a call time of 7am and since prosthetics would take him seven hours, he would start his make-up at 2am and was never late. Till the time he took the make-up off, he could only sip water and juices through a straw. Vivek was my spotboy, actor, director and writer.
Writer?
Yes, he’s worked on the screenplay and dialogue with my writers Aniruddh Chawla and Harsh Limbachiyaa.
Veteran lyricists Javed Akhtar and Sameer were upset to find their names in the film’s poster when they haven’t officially written any of the songs. Were their names included to give credibility to the project? Why weren’t they informed about being given credit for “Suno Gaur Se Duniya Walon” from the film Dus and “Ishwar Allah” from 1947: Earth?
One shouldn’t react immediately to anything, we all belong to the same industry. “Ishwar Allah” from 1947: Earth and the Dus song were penned by them and since both are legendary lyricists, we gave them credit as is the norm.
The queen is secure; Padmaavat opens without any incident in Mumbai
4:18 AM
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat opens without incident; despite a slow start is expected to pull crowds over long weekend
Avinash Lohana, Natasha Coutinho, Nishi Tiwari, Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 26, 2018)
While the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s period-drama Padmaavat on Thursday was marked by sporadic violence in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, Mumbai witnessed an incident-free opening largely due to heavy police bandobast.
On Wednesday, the 6 pm paid previews at Thane’s Korum and Viviana malls were cancelled owing to security concerns after which the police sprang into action to facilitate the 7 pm show, which began on time and ran without glitch. “Checks were in place and there was no damage to property. The 6 pm show was cancelled due to threats,” an employee informed Mirror while a cop at the venue added that security will continue through the threeday weekend.
On Thursday, the pre-emptive move proved effective as the law and order situation appeared to be more streamlined than in other cities. In Chembur’s K Star mall which houses the Fun Republic multiplex on its fourth floor, Padmaavat opened to a 60 per cent turnout, with college students constituting the majority of the morning footfall. However, turnout at the neighbouring Movietime was abysmal amidst unprecedented security at both theatres. “In the RCF (area) an extra 15–20 policemen have been brought in from nearby stations to ensure there is no trouble. We have been on duty since the Wednesday show but there was no trouble whatsoever,” a cop told Mirror even as a particularly inquisitive gent enquired if his gun was loaded.
Despite its A-list star cast and the hype generated by the raging controversy, the film has got off to a slow start. A staff member at a Santa Cruz multiplex on conditions of anonymity — “we have branches in Rajasthan and Gujarat and don’t wish to cause trouble there” — revealed that 102 bookings were made for the 9.30 am show on Thursday and 148 for the 12.45 pm slot. With five screenings a day, the 420-seater theatre clocked in a little over 507 bookings on the first day.
Chandan Cinema in Juhu which has given Padmaavat four shows, wore a deserted look. Viewers were scant at the adjacent PVR theatre, which is screening 20 shows a day (the only other notable film at the multiplex currently is Steven Spielberg’s Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks-starrer The Post), with 2D and 3D versions alternating every 45 minutes. “The first show at 8 am on Thursday saw 32 per cent occupancy which swelled to 86–90 per cent for shows after 5 pm,” a PVR Communications official informs, adding that the slow start was to be attributed to the fact that the film had opened on a weekday and not to the controversy. “It will pick up significantly as indicated by advance bookings for the weekend. We didn’t ask for extra protection but given the multiplex’s prime location, the Mumbai police have deployed security. On our part, we have removed queue managers inside the premises as they are often used to break glass during agitations,” the source informs.
Shoeb Shaikh, duty manager at PVR ECX, Andheri, is even more optimistic. The first show at 8.15 am at his multiplex witnessed 80 per cent occupancy and an overall footfall of 60–65 per cent. The neighbouring Cinepolis multiplex however opened to just 35 per cent occupancy. The central suburbs clocked in lesser bookings as compared to its western counterpart. The first show at Carnival Cinema in Bhandup was cancelled due to zero turnout, while Cinepolis saw 23-30 per cent occupancy. However, the slow start hasn’t dampened spirits in the area. The staff is confident that the cash registers will ring over the next three days. Unlike the suburban theatres, most South Mumbai screens refrained from displaying posters and hoardings of the film. Regal was an exception but Sterling didn’t even put out show timings. INOX, Nariman Point announced the film only on the BO ticker.
Trade analyst Amod Mehra offers a more
holistic view of the situation, pointing out that Padmaavat is bound to
lose 30 per cent of its collections as it has not released in four
states, but is quick to add that the unwarranted attention to the film’s
story has only fuelled the moviegoers’ curiosity. “The only problem is
the mixed response from the audience, which ranges from good to boring.
The 3D format has backfired because it renders the film dark while
moviegoers want historicals to look vibrant. But the film will be
unstoppable over the long weekend with highly priced tickets. The
official verdict though will be determined only on Monday,” he says.
He is expecting the film to rake in between Rs 100–150 crore over the next three days. “If it crashes on Monday, it will only manage to recover costs, but the satellite deal can be renegotiated and that should help it bring in profits,” he signs off on an optimistic note.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh follow suit
Padmaavat release was glitchfree in West Bengal too, with the exception of Asansol district’s Kumarpur, where members of the Viswa Hindu Parishad and Rajput Kalyan Samiti burnt an effigy of Bhansali in front of Manoj movie hall. The situation was quickly brought under control.
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana also witnessed a largely peaceful first day save for a token protest at Tivoli theatre last Sunday. BJP MLA from Goshamahal Raja Singh, also did a U-turn on his call to damage the theatres, asking people to watch the movie and protest only if they find anything objectionable.
— Jatari Nag and P Pavan
While the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s period-drama Padmaavat on Thursday was marked by sporadic violence in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, Mumbai witnessed an incident-free opening largely due to heavy police bandobast.
On Wednesday, the 6 pm paid previews at Thane’s Korum and Viviana malls were cancelled owing to security concerns after which the police sprang into action to facilitate the 7 pm show, which began on time and ran without glitch. “Checks were in place and there was no damage to property. The 6 pm show was cancelled due to threats,” an employee informed Mirror while a cop at the venue added that security will continue through the threeday weekend.
On Thursday, the pre-emptive move proved effective as the law and order situation appeared to be more streamlined than in other cities. In Chembur’s K Star mall which houses the Fun Republic multiplex on its fourth floor, Padmaavat opened to a 60 per cent turnout, with college students constituting the majority of the morning footfall. However, turnout at the neighbouring Movietime was abysmal amidst unprecedented security at both theatres. “In the RCF (area) an extra 15–20 policemen have been brought in from nearby stations to ensure there is no trouble. We have been on duty since the Wednesday show but there was no trouble whatsoever,” a cop told Mirror even as a particularly inquisitive gent enquired if his gun was loaded.
Despite its A-list star cast and the hype generated by the raging controversy, the film has got off to a slow start. A staff member at a Santa Cruz multiplex on conditions of anonymity — “we have branches in Rajasthan and Gujarat and don’t wish to cause trouble there” — revealed that 102 bookings were made for the 9.30 am show on Thursday and 148 for the 12.45 pm slot. With five screenings a day, the 420-seater theatre clocked in a little over 507 bookings on the first day.
Chandan Cinema in Juhu which has given Padmaavat four shows, wore a deserted look. Viewers were scant at the adjacent PVR theatre, which is screening 20 shows a day (the only other notable film at the multiplex currently is Steven Spielberg’s Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks-starrer The Post), with 2D and 3D versions alternating every 45 minutes. “The first show at 8 am on Thursday saw 32 per cent occupancy which swelled to 86–90 per cent for shows after 5 pm,” a PVR Communications official informs, adding that the slow start was to be attributed to the fact that the film had opened on a weekday and not to the controversy. “It will pick up significantly as indicated by advance bookings for the weekend. We didn’t ask for extra protection but given the multiplex’s prime location, the Mumbai police have deployed security. On our part, we have removed queue managers inside the premises as they are often used to break glass during agitations,” the source informs.
Shoeb Shaikh, duty manager at PVR ECX, Andheri, is even more optimistic. The first show at 8.15 am at his multiplex witnessed 80 per cent occupancy and an overall footfall of 60–65 per cent. The neighbouring Cinepolis multiplex however opened to just 35 per cent occupancy. The central suburbs clocked in lesser bookings as compared to its western counterpart. The first show at Carnival Cinema in Bhandup was cancelled due to zero turnout, while Cinepolis saw 23-30 per cent occupancy. However, the slow start hasn’t dampened spirits in the area. The staff is confident that the cash registers will ring over the next three days. Unlike the suburban theatres, most South Mumbai screens refrained from displaying posters and hoardings of the film. Regal was an exception but Sterling didn’t even put out show timings. INOX, Nariman Point announced the film only on the BO ticker.
Trade analyst Amod Mehra offers a more
holistic view of the situation, pointing out that Padmaavat is bound to
lose 30 per cent of its collections as it has not released in four
states, but is quick to add that the unwarranted attention to the film’s
story has only fuelled the moviegoers’ curiosity. “The only problem is
the mixed response from the audience, which ranges from good to boring.
The 3D format has backfired because it renders the film dark while
moviegoers want historicals to look vibrant. But the film will be
unstoppable over the long weekend with highly priced tickets. The
official verdict though will be determined only on Monday,” he says.He is expecting the film to rake in between Rs 100–150 crore over the next three days. “If it crashes on Monday, it will only manage to recover costs, but the satellite deal can be renegotiated and that should help it bring in profits,” he signs off on an optimistic note.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh follow suit
Padmaavat release was glitchfree in West Bengal too, with the exception of Asansol district’s Kumarpur, where members of the Viswa Hindu Parishad and Rajput Kalyan Samiti burnt an effigy of Bhansali in front of Manoj movie hall. The situation was quickly brought under control.
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana also witnessed a largely peaceful first day save for a token protest at Tivoli theatre last Sunday. BJP MLA from Goshamahal Raja Singh, also did a U-turn on his call to damage the theatres, asking people to watch the movie and protest only if they find anything objectionable.
— Jatari Nag and P Pavan
Varun Dhawan saves Jacqueline Fernandez from twins who tried to get cosy at Judwaa 2 trailer launch
7:55 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; August 29, 2017)
A well-planned promotional gig for David Dhawan's upcoming comedy, 'Judwaa 2', turned awry when two members of a group of 100 special invites misbehaved with Jacqueline Fernandez.
The group, comprising 50 pairs of real-life twins from across the country who had been selected following a Twitter contest, were hosted at a suburban five-star hotel a day prior to 'Judwaa 2' trailer launch. One of them, on condition of anonymity, told mid-day that they were meant to be a part of the launch, and were even promised 30 minutes with the star cast, including Varun Dhawan, Taapsee Pannu and Jacqueline Fernandez.
The contestant said, "The plan was amended after a few male contestants from the group crossed the line of decency. An over-enthusiastic pair barged past the security, nudging aside the bodyguards, and got to Jacqueline. They wanted to click selfies with her and tried to get uncomfortably close. She tried to oblige, but, their aggression must have put her off."
Varun Dhawan is said to have taken matters into his own hands. "The two were asked to leave and our original plan of activity, cancelled. The rest of us were disappointed, but we understood that the call that was taken was an essential one."
However, the actors didn't allow the unfortunate incident to dampen spirits. They entertained, and Dhawan even danced for his fans, replicating a step from the rehashed song, 'Tan Tana Tan'.
To ensure that the other twin contestants did not get the short end of the stick, the trio met them at the hotel. A production unit hand said, "They didn't want the others to feel dejected and thus, all the activity scheduled at PVR Juhu was shifted to Novotel, where the winners were put up. The actors spent quality time with fans while shooting for digital promos."
The unit decided against taking legal action against the miscreants, who, a source said, were immediately booked on a flight home.
mid-day reached out to Fernandez and producer Sajid Nadiadwala for a comment, but they remained unavailable till the time of going to press.
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