.P. Dutta is going through a delicate phase in his career. Never before in his entire career has any film of his received such a backlash from people within the film industry. The loose talk indulged in by several producers/directors/stars in the industry would startle anyone.
“I really don't understand what wrong have I committed to invite the wrath. Why are people targeting me and my film? I've not cheated anyone, I've no liability on my head, I've used up the Fixed Deposits of my kids to make my film. They should encourage producers who break the norms of masala cinema and try to come up with daringly different stuff. Mera kasoor kya hain?” he asks me.
Your kasoor, in this writer's opinion, is, you've assembled a mammoth star cast, which many just dream of achieving but can't assemble.
Your kasoor is, you've managed to complete the film in a stipulated timeframe [starting in December 2001 and releasing in December 2003] without hiccups. With a cast like the one in L.O.C. and the genre of the film [war film], it would've been next to impossible to complete a film of epic proportions in such a short span. And, most importantly, within a fixed budget.
Your kasoor is, you've managed to sell the film at a record price, despite the fact that the film does not star the Khans or the Roshans.
Your kasoor is, you care two hoots for a P.R. exercise to remain in the news.
Your kasoor is, despite the loose talk, you're not retaliating or trying to blow your trumpet. Nor are you issuing any advertisements in trade mags, congratulating yourself on the overall business of the film.
You kasoor is, irrespective of the fate of your films, every actor wants to work with you. In an industry where you're known by your last film, your failures [YATEEM, KSHATRIYA, BATWARA] have had no effect on actors. Just one call from you and the actors walk in on the sets of your film without asking questions.
Your kasoor is, every time you make a film, you don't find problems selling it. The distribution fraternity picks up your film at your price. Clearly, you call the shots!
Obviously, this has upset people and it doesn't come as a surprise to know that more than half the industry is trying to pull you down. Like they say, a tree which bears fruits is always stoned!
Anyways, the latest on L.O.C. is –
J.P. has trimmed approx. 35 minutes of the film voluntarily. “There were two vital reasons for doing so,” J.P. tells me, “One, with theatres performing three shows a day, the ticket rates had been hiked to such a level that the common man was finding it difficult to enter the cinema hall screening the film. If the tickets are priced at Rs. 200 per person, a family of four will find it tough to shell out Rs. 800 to Rs. 1000 to watch a film.”
The second reason is that the length is affecting the show timings, mainly the night shows. “In Mumbai, the last show has been ending much after the last train moves away from the platforms, while in North India, the cold wave is keeping people away from staying awake till 1.30 or 2 a.m. [the last show ends at this time].”
However, what J.P. does find strange is that none of the distributors commented or complained on the excessive length of the film [4 hours, 8 minutes] when he told them about it before the release of the film. “But the same people have been talking about it after the release of the film. Why didn't they voice their reservations before?,” he thunders.
However, J.P. adds that despite the ill-talk, the distributors are ordering for additional prints of the film [additional prints are ordered only if there's a demand for the film]. “The distributors of C.I., Orissa and Nizam have already placed an order of 2 extra prints each,” he divulges.
So, what next? “Kuch bhi nahin! Am just trying to come to terms and gauge the situation before I start my next film,” he says.
