Celluloid sleaze rises to new heights

Celluloid sleaze rises to new heights
M S M DESAI

March 14: It doesn't matter what the blushing information and broadcasting minister thinks. Or, for that matter, the celuloid-sniping censor board chief. Bollywood, the world's largest dream factory, still churns out the largest number of no-holds-barred, sex-and-sleaze flicks every year. And the number is on the rise, states the Central Board of Film Certification's (CBFC) annual report for 2000 submitted to the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting recently. Of the 197 films certified as `Adult' in 2000, 70 per cent were C-grade, against 50 per cent in 1999 and 30 per cent in 1998.

So, if images of the near-naked human form sashaying down the ramp almost nudged Fashion Television off the small screen a couple of months ago, what would Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj say to the following films that are about to hit the big screen? Deep Fire, Biwi Naram Padosan Garam, Saali Gharwali Aur Baharwali, Ghar Mein Ho Saali To Pura Saal Diwali, Main Hoon Kunwari Dulhan, Hi Baby and Kuch Kaho Na.

If cinema halls and video parlours on the outskirts of Mumbai cheer screenings of Yeh Hai Pyar Ka Mausam, many in Kerala are partial to I V Sasi's Her Nights and Sexy Dreams.

But consider what trade newspaper Complete Cinema (March 10) has to say about the penchant for pornography in the northern states. The newspaper's Jallandhar edition states: ``O P Badani's Main Hoon Pyasi Suhagan has done exrtremely good business. He has another ace up his sleeve in Bistar for East Punjab and Delhi-UP, which is also a hot proposition.

Andheri Raaton Mein is hot in East Punjab. It has been released by R K Films and has fetched the highest share, especially in Ludhiana.''

It adds: ``Distributors Bablee and Bittu are irrepressible indeed. They released Hot Women at Manju, Ludhiana, to a thumping response. This success was preceded by their earlier film, Prem Ki Pyasi and here's a sampling of their forthcoming films: Kaam Ras and Kaam Karedu.

``Machalta Husn opened at Yamuna talkies, Yamunanagar, and also at Urang, Bhatinda, and it has managed to entice the crowds. Next release at the theatre is Angel of Heat, retitled Garmi Ka Shaitan. Vatsayana Kamasutra, which was released on March 9 has turned out to be a jackpot for traders. There were swelling crowds at Sangeet, Ludhiana, Batra, Chandigarh, Lal Ratan, Jallandhar, Inder Palace, Amritsar, etc. The publicity is good and coupled with this are the bedroom scenes.''

Industry sources say the fact that the market for such films is ever-expanding should not come as a surprise. It provides employment to the second-rung of heroes and heroines, who have given up hope of making it to filmdom. It also offers jobs to some veteran actors, who are no more in big-budget films.

How, then, do such films sneak past the censors? The modus operandi is simple. The producers merely shoot extra portions, which are withheld from the censors but are later interpolated before the movie's release. Another method is the random insertion of `bits', a method mainly adopted by touring cinemas.

Producers hire newcomers on a daily wage basis, thereby spending barely Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh per film. One such shooting hot favourite in Mumbai is Essel Studios at Trombay. Three months down the line, the film is released. Distribution rights are sold for Rs 1 lakh to Rs 3 lakh per territory and profits for producers range between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 5 lakh. Such films have no overseas market. But that is no deterrent. The audience always clamours for more.