|
|
|
|
|
| HOME | MOVIES | BILLBOARD | |||
|
January 9, 1999
QUOTE MARTIAL
|
1998 belonged to Kajol and Salman Khan. But in terms of sheer number, the biggest name of the year was Mithun Chakraborty. He had 15 releases in 1998. Below we present the position of the heroes, heroines and some notable directors in the year just done. In arriving at the success ratio of each actor, the following formula has been used: On a scale of 0 to 10, a superhit gives the actor/director/producer 10 marks, a hit or semi-hit eight marks, an overflow film six marks, a commission-earner four marks, an average film two marks, and a loser 0 marks. The average of the aggregate marks of all the release of each artiste in 1998 multiplied by 10 is judged as the success ratio. For example, Kajol has a success ratio of 65. She gets 10 marks for Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, eight for Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya, eight for Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha and nothing for Dushman -- a total of 26 marks for four films. The average (26/4), therefore, comes to 6.5. Multiplied by 10, that's 65. The sole criterion for this analysis is how audiences reacted to the film.
Success ratio: 65 Kajol began the year with a bang with Pyar Kiya to Darna Kya in March. As the year progressed, her memorable performances in Dushman, Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai made her the darling of critics and audiences alike. She looks all set to sweep every award this year, especially for her endearing performance in KKHH. Moreover, with a success ratio of 65 (with only Dushman failing to find box-office success), Kajol has found great favour with both producers and distributors. However, her scheduled marriage with Ajay Devgan in February 1999 has put a big question mark on her career.
Success ratio: 33 Obviously, you can never write off Shah Rukh Khan. With two super-duds in Duplicate and Dil Se... earlier this year, Shah Rukh was panned by almost everyone. The tongues began to wag. Maybe he should change his act or bring some variety in his performances, people said. And then Kuch Kuch Hota Hai shut their mouths. With the blockbuster, Shah Rukh bounced back to the top slot again. Now the same people who criticised him are saying he will eventually achieve the same heights of popularity that Amitabh Bachchan once did. People, we tell you.... Suggestion: Shah Rukh, there's no denying the fact that you are the darling of the masses, not just in India but abroad too, but do guard against getting repetitive in your performances. That will ensure the longevity to your career.
Success ratio: 80 Salman remained in the limelight throughout this year, both professionally and personally. On the professional front, Salman emerged the most successful hero of the year with his much-appreciated antics in Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya, Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai and Bandhan, the last named film having found great fans in small centres. Later, his charming special appearance in KKHH was the icing on the cake. On the personal front, however; Salman managed to stay in the news for all the wrong reasons. His illegal shooting of blackbuck in Rajasthan and his subsequent arrest became a national controversy. Just as this controversy was dying down, Salman found himself in another, following a physical altercation with Subhash Ghai at a private party. Suggestion: Clean up your act, dude! This is the time to make bucks, not hunt them! And this is the time to give people more hits, not hit more people!
Success ratio: 22 Raveena's strategy of signing films left, right and centre, irrespective of her role, resulted in a spate of new releases this year. She remained the business actress with nine of her films hitting the screen. As many as three of her films with Govinda -- Dulhe Raja, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and, to a limited extent, Aunty No 1 -- found favour with the masses. Her Gharwali Baharwali was average in some circuits. However, her roles in each of these films were nothing to rave about. The rest -- Vinashak, Salaakhen, Keemat, Barood and Pardesi Babu -- were nothing to talk about. Suggestion: Take it easy Raveena, unless you want to go the Mithun way. You shouldn't be going that way because there is no need for such desperation.
Success ratio: 23 Govinda has had a sort of mixed year. On the one hand, he scored a bull's eye at the box-office with Dulhe Raja and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan. On the other, he missed the mark completely in a string of flops like Banarsi Babu, Achanak, Maharaja, Pardesi Babu and Naseeb. Aunty No 1, though, was a face-saver. The David Dhawan-Govinda combination failed for the first time ever this year (Banarasi Babu). His maiden pairing with Manisha Koirala also failed in Achanak, and the team delivered another flop in Maharaja. In fact, the last two films, besides Naseeb, were much touted as films based on sound stories as opposed to the typical Govinda films containing the usual Govinda capers and gimmicks. Suggestion: Give up the thought of acting in sensible and meaningful films, Govinda. Your brilliant talent is loved in crazy comedies. So continue dancing into people's hearts with your dances, comedy, emotions, histrionics -- but all this in comedies only. For no one can touch you there. Ah yes, report on time on the sets and give up the habit of being late. No one can touch you there too!
Success ratio: 0 1998 may well go down in Santoshi's career as his unluckiest year. Vinashak, for which he wrote the screenplay, was his first work in 1998 and it failed the public test. His production venture, Doli Saja Ke Rakhna, did not meet people's tastes. And his only directorial venture of the year -- China-Gate -- also proved a loser. Suggestion: Forget 1998 like a bad dream, Raj. Welcome 1999 with hope. And yes, don't overshoot because excess shooting increases costs that increase the price of your film that increases your distributors' risk which...
Success ratio: 0 The failure of all three of her films released this year -- Saat Rang Ke Sapne, Duplicate and Jhoot Bole Kauwa Kaate -- stole the famous smile from her face. She obviously needs a hit very badly. Suggestion: Don't you worry, Juhi. Now that you have turned a producer too, with Shah Rukh Khan, you will be counting big bucks soon.
Success ratio: 50 Amitabh Bachchan, despite what his critics may say, managed to remain among the most popular stars this year, too. That he will commands a huge draw was evident from the super-opening of Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, which turned out to be far better than the initial of any of David Dhawan's solo Govinda starrers. Of course, not to forget that it was released on Diwali. Amitabh's first release of the year, Major Saab, in which he was appreciated in a role that suited his age, also proved a success all over. So both his films were positive. Suggestion: We won't say play your age. Everybody is saying that. What we'll definitely say is, sign films with successful directors. Like a good film needs a good cinema, a good actor also needs a good director to bring out the best in him.
Success ratio: 0 Akshay Kumar carried on his lean trot from the previous year all through 1998. Not even one of his three films released this year, viz Keemat, Barood and Angaaray, found favour with the masses. Little wonder, distributors are scared to touch Akshay's films. His future now depends on the fate of director Umesh Mehra's International Khiladi, due in February. Its songs seem to be good. Suggestion: You have exposed your body Akshay, and now it is time to expose your talent. But as someone said, you can expose only what you have! Prove him wrong, Akki. And, yes, all the best.
Success ratio: 53 1998 saw the rise of this promising heroine. After dancing into people's hearts inGhulam, Rani firmly established her position with the bumper success of KKHH. Even Mehndi -- her only damp squib this year -- couldn't cause any harm to her standing and popularity. Suggestion: You look pretty, you act well. Just take care that your voice sounds just as good.
Success ratio: 60 The choosiest of all actors, Aamir Khan gave a hit in his solitary release, Ghulam, this year. His singing debut, Aati Kya Khandala, from the film became the national anthem and increased the tourist traffic to the tiny hill-station near Bombay. His performance too received great appreciation, although the chocolate hero also provided action in the film. However, one did feel the need for more Aamir releases this year too. Suggestion: You can be choosy and you can be miserly. But surely, two or even three releases a year is not asking for too much. You owe that to your fans, Aamir.
Success ratio: 8 Obviously, Mithun believes in quantity, not in quality. His tally of fifteen releases could put even a round-the-clock working machine to shame. But the quality of most of his films left a lot to be desired. His performance too, rarely stood out. No wonder, just three or four of his films fared well, that too not universally. And it's quite understandable, what with Mithun Chakraborty insisting on minimum retakes and maximum okays. If Mithun realises that his films have to compete with those of other actors and not just his own, he'll perhaps concentrate more on his performance. Suggestion: Do few films but do good work, Mithun. It will not only give you a break, but also give the audience the much-needed break.
RELATED FEATURE:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Tell us what you think of this feature
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
HOME |
NEWS |
BUSINESS |
SPORTS |
MOVIES |
CHAT |
INFOTECH |
TRAVEL
SHOPPING HOME | BOOK SHOP | MUSIC SHOP | HOTEL RESERVATIONS PERSONAL HOMEPAGES | FREE EMAIL | FEEDBACK |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
