A revolution at the BO Will Ajay or Bobby win? A pre-release trade update

Gautam Hegde

June 2001 saw Aamir Khan Productions' Lagaan and Sunny Deol's Gadar -- Ek Prem Katha, releasing on the same day and battling for the number 1 position at the box-office.

This summer, too, witnesses a heated competition between four films on the legendary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh at the collection turnstiles. 23rd March 1931 -- Shaheed, The Legend Of Bhagat Singh, Shaheed-E-Azam and Shaheed Bhagat Singh with Bobby Deol, Ajay Devgan, Sonu Sood and Tarun Khanna in the role of the martyr, all vie for audience approval.

Though Shaheed-E-Azaam, released May 31, fared abysmally at the BO, expectations are sky high on Rajkumar Santoshi's The Legend Of Bhagat Singh and Guddu Dhanoa's 23rd March 1931 -- Shaheed that clash at the marquee on June 7.

As far as who will emerge tops, veteran journalist Bharati Pradhan maintains, "Though Sunny Deol is not a good director [he directed Dillagi], the man is a very clever producer. He will leave no stone unturned to get his film (23rd March 1931 -- Shaheed), to the top. Also, Sunny and Bobby Deol have an edge as far as the northern territories [of India] are concerned."

Box Office editor Indu Mirani, however, has her money on the Ajaj Devgan starrer The Legend Of Bhagat Singh. "Ajay has a burning passion and intensity in his eyes which go into making a good Bhagat Singh. Devgan is a very good actor. As far as filmmaking goes, Rajkumar Santoshi is experienced and a senior craftsman," she reasons.

Mirani continues, "Though Lagaan and Gadar -- Ek Prem Katha were in a similar situation last year, both those films had different stories. That is not the case with this year's most popular martyr. A simultaneous release will affect the films negatively as far as profits are concerned."

Trade analyst Dinesh Raheja agrees, "The films will eat into each other's dishes and no single film would make the amount of profits it could have, had they come after a wider time gap."

Raju Hingorani, chief operating officer, Tips Cassettes [producers of The Legend Of Bhagat Singh], begs to differ. "What is important is that a buzz has been created with so many films being released on the same person. And that will drive people to the theatres.

"If there were only one film on Bhagat Singh, people might not have cared. Since there are so many and people are talking about them, this proves that they will come to see at least one film. That will help business," he states emphatically.

The showdown on Friday has analysts wondering if the public will bite. A spokesperson for Fame Adlabs, a Mumbai multiplex, says, "Though the consumer ridicules the fact that there are so many films on the same subject, he definitely will want to see one or all of the versions for a clear picture about why so many films were made. As an film buff myself, I will see at least two films for a comparative analysis."

Manoj Desai, owner of the G7 chain of theatres in Bandra, the northwestern Mumbai suburb, says all the shows for both Deol and Devgan's films are housefull for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Owing to the dearth of theatres, he has had to fit in both Bhagat Singh films in the same cinema hall --- Galaxy --- with two shows of each a day, instead of the usual four.

Tucked between the Bhagat Singh films is the Yash Raj Films family entertainer Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai, starring Uday Chopra, Jimmy Shergill and newfind Sanjana, directed by Sanjay Gadhvi. The film just might emerge the week's dark horse.