The hot topic in Bollywood this week was “Ra.One” number-crunching. As the dust settled on Shah Rukh Khan’s ambitious video game-romance-revenge movie, the question remained: is it a hit or a flop? Kishore Lulla, CEO of Eros International, which co-produced and distributed the film, said that the film was a profitable venture from the first week itself. “The film’s budget, including prints and acquisition is approximately $20 million,” Mr. Lulla said, “and we have already made more than that. Next year, we will be taking it to non-traditional markets such as South Korea, Vietnam, Russia and Egypt.”
Mr. Lulla admitted that the film faced “resistance” in India. “It was a new experiment. At least we tried something different.” The movie’s domestic collections fell by more than 70 percent in the second weekend and a few distributors in territories such as Rajasthan are likely to lose money. On his Web site koimoi.com, trade journalist Komal Nahta said that “Ra.One” is “neither a hit or a flop.” That is, “it’s a successful film but not big enough to be referred to as a hit.”
The last-minute-lawsuit seems to have grown into a thriving industry in Bollywood. In the past few months, several producers have found themselves defending their films in court, usually a few weeks prior to release. The latest target is “The Dirty Picture,” produced by Balaji Motion Pictures Limited. The film, which will release on Dec. 2, was widely publicized as a bio-pic of actress Silk Smitha, who allegedly committed suicide in 1996. Her brother, V. Naga Vara Prasad, has sent a legal notice alleging that “The Dirty Picture” is obscene and was made without the family’s consent. This prompted Balaji to issue a clarification saying that the film is not based on any one star’s life and is in fact, a work of fiction.
This week’s release, “Rockstar,” also faced a potential lawsuit. Writer Muzzam Beg said that he had not been given due recognition by the producer and would sue if his name was not in the credits. Meanwhile, writer Shyam Devkatte has filed a petition against “Desi Boyz,” which releases on Nov. 25. He claims to have copyright on the story and the title.
“Ra.One” faced a similar lawsuit with writer Yash Patnaik claiming that he created the concept of the film. The Bombay High Court found that was enough evidence to support the claim and directed the co-producer, Shah Rukh Khan, to deposit one crore of rupees, or $200,000, with the court before the film could be released. “These lawsuits have become an occupational hazard,” said a leading studio executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “Just before the release of a film, people hankering for money and publicity show up. It’s extremely stressful.”
“Immortals,” the $75 million Hollywood fantasy film that released around the world this week, has a strong India connection. The leading lady is Mumbai girl Freida Pinto, who plays a virgin oracle. The film is directed by Tarsem Singh Dhandwar, a graduate of New Delhi’s Hans Raj College.
Tarsem, as he prefers to be known, rose to fame with music videos (R.E.M’s “Losing My Religion”) and commercials with companies such as Coca-Cola and Nike. His first two films, “The Cell” and “The Fall,” established him as a master of visuals. Critic Roger Ebert said that “The Fall” was “one of the most extraordinary films” he had ever seen. With “Immortals,” Tarsem ramps up the scale. The film features gods, men and mythical creatures embroiled in an epic battle.
