Gujarati film-makers woo youngsters with posters
Gujarati film director Abhishek Jain was, in fact, the first to release his film Kevi Ritey Jaish (How will I go forward) on as many as 80 screens in Gujarat multiplexes that are obsessed with Bollywood movies.
Remember the legendary '70s Bollywood movie Naya Din, Nayi Raat where veteran actor Sanjeev Kumar, originally Hariprasad Jariwala from Surat in Gujarat, played out nine roles? This is what established Sanjeev as the master actor who could essay any role without being the stereotypes of the thespians. Though largely publicised as a remake of Sivaji Ganesan's Navarathri of 1964 and Akkineni Nageswara Rao's Telugu version Navarathri of 1966, few know that it was actually an adaptation of a '70s version of a play Abhinay Samrat anchored by the Amitabh Bachchan of Gujarati movies, Upendra Trivedi.
More recently, Bollywood hit Baghban-starring Bachchan himself along with dream girl Hema Malini-was emulated from Gujarati blockbuster Maa-Baap Na Ashirwad (Parents' Blessings) but the latter never got acknowledged for the same. However, these are only stray instances of the Gujarati film industry striking up a pose vis-a-vis the regional counterparts. Otherwise, it was generally written off. "It was largely a rustic themes-based industry but now we are gearing up," Gujarati film director Abhishek Jain, who is to release his latest Bey Yaar (Two Friends) on August 29, told MAIL TODAY.
Jain was, in fact, the first to release his film Kevi Ritey Jaish (How will I go forward) on as many as 80 screens in Gujarat multiplexes that are obsessed with Bollywood movies. Influx of new ideas, talent and positioning has brought new hope for the Gujarati film industry.
"We are now making some 75 films a year and are trying to ramp up quality," says Gujarati film producer Jackie Patel. Jain said he is also changing posters of his films with English script to woo young audiences and it is paying off. Once Gujarati film superstar and former legislator Naresh Kanodia has a different take. He told MAIL TODAY, "There is a dearth of good directors. This is the reason the Modi government in Gujarat stopped subsidy to Gujarati films."