Monsoon package at the marquee Films worth Rs 1500 million due for release

Vashu Bhagnani is one relieved producer. His new release, the lavishly mounted Om Jai Jagdish now no longer competes with Devdas which has been postponed to July 12. Vashu's film now vies for June-end attention with Sanjay Chhel's frothy musical Kya Dil Ne Kahaa and the romantic Kuch Tum Kaho Kuch Hum Kahein.

Chhel had earlier scheduled his film for June 14 but scampered forward when the coast was cleared by Devdas. Vashu was always certain about his release date. "If I could have taken on the World Cup with my Biwi No 1 why not Devdas?" he reasoned.

Devdas remains the most anxiously watched release of the year. Films worth over Rs 1500 million will release in the next two months. 500 million hinges on Sanjay Leela Bhansali's opus Devdas, which has the film industry biting its nails in suspense.

Insiders say the success or failure of Devdas could make or break the trade. The question is, would enough people be interested in a obsessively selfdestructive lover-boy in the early 20th century who drinks himself to death?

"Yes, certainly," says Roshan Singh, a young film exhibitor in Bihar. "At first the audience was confused about the film. But with the songs playing on television, audiences are warming up to it."

According to distributors in several parts of the country, the film's opening could be as massive as Karan Johar's Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.

Yash Chopra's production team is counting on a collateral advantage for Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai which opens along with the two Bhagat Singh biopics -- Rajkumar Santoshi's The Legend Of Bhagat Singh and Guddu Dhanoa's 23rd March 1931 -- Shaheed on June 7.

According to analysts the spillover audience and those in search of cottoncandy entertainment would make a beeline for second-time director Sanjay Gadhvi's cute Uday Chopra-Jimmy Shergill-Sanjana starrer.

June 2002 is sure to be remembered as the month of the Bhagat Singh with two Bhagat Singh epics looming large on June 7. The aura of momentous happenings has been carefully built around Santoshi's The Legend Of Bhagat Singh and Dhanoa's 23rd March 1931 -- Shaheed. But with the abysmal opening of the first Bhagat Singh picture, Shaheed-e-Azam, it is obvious that only one of the two giants will make it to the finishing line.

Braving the odds, another lot filmmakers have lined up their films to catch the holiday fever. There is second-time director Sanjay Chhel (of Khubsoorat) directing second-time leading man Tusshar Kapoor in the musical Kyaa Dil Ne Kahaa. This film is crucial for the other star-child Esha Deol who hasn't had a hit yet.

Up for release on June 14 is Satish Kaushik's family film Badhaai Ho Badhaai featuring Anil Kapoor in an obese get-up, to match the inflated size of the cast.

Vikram Bhatt’s first comic caper Awaara Paagal Deewana is also producer Feroz Nadiadwala’s second attempt at a comedy after the successful Hera Pheri. The Hera Pheri trio -- Akshay Kumar, Sunil Shetty and Paresh Rawal are joined here by Aftab Shivdasani. The cast’s comic timing is said to be impeccable. Awaara Paagal Deewana, opening on June 21, could be the dark horse at the BO turnstiles.

Hyderabad’s Rama Naidu’s love story Kuch Tum Kaho Kuch Hum Kahein featuring debutante Richa Pallod (who played junior Sridevi so memorably in Yash Chopra’s Lamhe) opens on June 28. Fardeen Khan, who will also be seen in Om Jai Jagdish on the same Friday, now tries his luck with Richa. One hopes he is luckier for her than he was for Reema Sen in Hum Ho Gaye Aapke and Amrita Arora in Kitne Door Kitne Paas. Incidentally Arora is ready to make a second stab at stardom opposite Sunil Shetty in Awaara Paagal Deewana.

Four long–delayed films, Milan Luthria and A Muthu’s love triangles Chori Chori and Pyaasa, veteran producer Vimal Kumar’s comedy Suno Sasurjee and debutante Sushen Bhatnagar’s suspense thriller Soch, are also due in June.