This week’s topics:

KUMAR MANGAT TAKES THE WRONG WAY!

Two years back, when Kumar Mangat unveiled Omkara as the first movie of his production house Big Screen Entertainment, the industry and even the moviegoers were confident that this new producer would surely churn out some highly qualitative flicks in the future. This belief was because Omkara won appreciation from all sections of movie going audiences and critics.

Two years have passed. Post-Omkara, Kumar Mangat produced five movies. Unfortunately, all of them were either average or big-time flops. These five movies were No Smoking, Sunday, One Two Three, Haal-E-Dil and the recent Money Hai To Honey Hai. All of these movies were properly publicized and distributed by the reputed Eros International yet, all of them made low collections at the BO. The reason is simple-all the flicks either had weak scripts (in case of Sunday) or pathetic direction (One Two Three) or were not understood at all by anyone (No Smoking!)!!

Kumar Mangat was once Ajay Devgan’s secretary and he was fortunate enough to become a big-time producer. However, after the success of Omkara, he made all the wrong decisions because of which all the films have been flops. In Haal-E-Dil, he launched his own daughter Amita Pathak but Haal-E-Dil proved as a major disappointment inspite of having nice songs and wonderful cinematography. His latest flick, Money Hai To Honey Hai, had a bad opening at the BO inspite of having Govinda in the cast. Further, majority of the audiences have found the movie rubbish. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh says “I am surprised, how could the makers pass off such sub-standard stuff to the audiences?”!

Kumar Mangat’s forthcoming flick is Toonpur Ka Superhero. It’s the first Indian film with 3D and live action. It has Ajay Devgan and Kajol in leading roles. The film has an interesting concept and good star case and will fetch a good start at the ticket window. But the problem is the movie has a high budget. I don’t know about the exact figure but it’s said that its 40 crores! If this is true, then the movie will have a tough time recovering the costs. And if the film is a bad product, then it’ll fall like a pack of cards after the 1st weekend itself! Let’s just hope that Toonpur proves as a success for Mangat!

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THE MAGIC OF 08-08-08!

Tomorrow’s day is an auspicious one since the date will be 08-08-08! A lot of people feel that starting a new project or business on this day will bring them luck. The Olympics is going to be inaugurated on this ‘lucky’ day! And here in Bollywood, one of the most awaited flicks of 2008, Singh Is Kinng, is all set to release on 8th! The movie was earlier scheduled to release on August 15 but the producer (Vipul Shah) and Akshay preponed it since they feel that releasing their movie on 08-08-08 will be lucky for them!

It’s surprising and at the same time, funny as to our film industry believes in all this! There are some feel who feel that changing the spelling of their names or their film titles will prove to be extremely lucky. That’s why Sajid Khan’s debut flick was written as ‘Heyy Babyy’ instead of ‘Hey Baby’! A numerologist Neeraj Manchhada has made a fortune out of all this!!

In the midst of all this, a movie has come up with a novel idea of bringing success. ‘Good Luck’ directed by Aaditya Datt (director of Aashiq Banaya Aapne) and starring Aryeman, Sayali Bhagat, Ranvir Shorey had put up around 40 hoardings throughout the city but upside down (check the pic)! The astrologer of the film’s producer said that it will work for their film! And to add to it, Good Luck is releasing on 08-08-08! So we can say that they have ‘double luck’ on them! Do you feel that the movie, which no one is interested in, and which is released with the year’s biggie Singh Is Kinng, will prove to be a hit?

Work hard, make films with no-nonsense scripts, promote it properly and release it a right time and the film will have high chances to work at the BO than to putting up hoardings upside down throughout the city! Right guys?