Mumbai: Rakesh Roshan’s Krrish may be able to overcome all obstacles with his superpowers in the film, but in real life the movie’s allegedly run into trouble with the underworld. The film’s audio and video rights are with T–Series and since Krrish being one of the biggest budgeted films (around Rs. 500 million), it is alleged that the underworld are not happy with the anti-piracy drive.
The anti-piracy cell of T Series had finally managed to lay its hands on the Karachi-based Sadaf Video (said to be run by gangster Chhota Shakeel). The print reportedly worth Rs. 10 million, is being claimed by film maker and the anti-piracy team, led by its president, M.M. Satish. According to Satish, the consignment (TS57272983) on Indian flight (IC 165) from New Delhi had arrived in Mumbai on Sunday, June 25. It was in the name of Munna Khan. Likewise a similar seizure was affected at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose airport in Kolkata and Indira Gandhi International airport in New Delhi.
According to Satish, the anti-piracy business of Krrish was expected around Rs. 100 million. With these raids, the pirates have lost around Rs. 40 million. Much before the release of the film T-Series anti-piracy head, M.M. Satish had claimed receiving threatening calls. It is said that the caller was from Pakistan.
Satish further illuminates that the anti-piracy cell with Mumbai police had conducted a huge raid in Thane city last weekend. The team raided four stalls near Thane railway station, which led them to a godown with a huge cache of pirated material. They seized pirated DVDs, VCDs and audio CDs of various Bollywood films worth Rs. 4 million. The consignments included of latest blockbusters like Fanaa, Gangster, Pyaare Mohan, Thatastu, Taxi No. 9211 and Humko Deewana Kar Gaye and audio CDs of Krrish and Phir Hera Pheri.
“T-Series anti-piracy team has more than 100 men. 95 of them are based in Delhi while the Mumbai team headed by Shahbaaz Khan, Brandon, Ronald, D.K. Naik, Vijay Kamble, Leon Joseph and Kamlakar Shetty are with me. In the coming weeks, a series of raids have been lined up in Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad , Nashik, Ulhasnagar and Thane city, informed Satish.
Satish is upset at Krrish being the focal attraction. “I admit Krrish being a big film, has generated hype. T-Series holds large number of titles and has always been instrumental in fighting piracy. Last year in Budhwar Peth in Pune we had conducted a raid in 200 illegal shops. We had the audio – video rights of Mujhse Shaadi Karogi and reports streamed about a big supply of pirated substance hoarded over there. The raid yielded goods worth Rs. 240 million. Now the whole place has been demolished which has been existing past 15 years. Piracy has to be fought collectively. I’m sorry to say seniors like Vijay Lazarus and ex-super cop J. Rebiero have failed to fight this menace,” he claims.
Satish adds, “Buying pirated movies not only hurts the film industry, but also makes it difficult for movie makers to make a new film. Annually Bollywood loses Rs. 5 billion. In a couple of weeks I will be personally meeting Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and Home Minister R.R. Patil to discuss how to overcome piracy. I will table few things like Goonda Act to be imposed like Tamil Nadu government and regulation of handling power of attorney to handle piracy to private agencies. The 200-odd existing Copyright protection agency is just an eye-wash. Strong laws to support copyright acts and need for public awareness is a must.”
Director Priyadarshan has found a way to fight piracy. He has planned a film in association with Sahara One Motion Pictures and Percept Picture Company to highlight the issue. Titled as Pirate, the film will highlight piracy in the music world.
A lesser-known, but an enterprising filmmaker Kumar Raj has made a film on a budget of Rs. 250 million called Manthan – Ek Kashmakash. It stars Rajshri’s discovery Kradhikaa (a.k.a. Tina Rana in her debut film – Hum Pyar Tumhi Se Kar Baithe ) with debutant Sanjay Kumar, the 1st runner up for Gladrags 2002. The film also introduces late Parveen Babi’s nieces, Anisha Babi and Verona Babi in pivotal roles. Ranjeet, Aloknath, Ali Khan, Raza Murad, Bharat Kumar are also in the cast.
Except for song picturisation, the talkie portion of the film has been completed. The film is a drama and a thriller which deals with schizophrenia, underworld gang war due to film piracy. The hero who is studying in IIT Powai gets entangled in the underworld gang as he is involved in a project to stop film piracy. The movie highlights the 1985 – 1995 period during when video and film piracy was literally killing the film industry.
