Minutes into Tashan, the latest biggie from the Yash Raj banner, a lone voice in the theatre yawned: “Now that completes the trilogy of bad films from Yash Raj after Neal ‘n’ Nikki and Jhoom Barabar Jhoom.” I would say it was still quite accommodating, given the number of creative and box-office duds being churned by Bollywood’s numero uno moviemaker of late.

Is it a case of absolute power corrupts absolutely? In Bollywood’s family-based industry hierarchy, Yash Chopra and his banner have been topping all power lists for some years now: difficult-to-get stars readily drop other commitments to take on Yash Raj films, and the media blitzkrieg ensures good box office pickings.

But for Tashan, multiplex owners — wary of the banner’s consistent failures — refused to compromise on the high share being demanded as always by the producer and boycotted the film. After a dismal first week, the banner has bent backwards for a multiplex release on the multiplex owners’ terms. This was unthinkable earlier.

What it goes to show is that posturing and tashan is fine so long as you deliver: power and continuing leadeship come from empowering everyone in the process. In films, that means everyone from the production team, every cog in the commercial machine, even the man who sells tickets on the black market, and last but not the least, the viewer, for whom there should be assurance of a memorable movie experience. Big banners can recover costs, though, from satellite transmission and other rights.

... contd.