News Corner:
Irrfan Khan Makes It To Forbes List of Hollywod’s Most Valuable Actors!

Actor Irrfan Khan, who was recently seen in Billu Barber and the Oscar winning film Slumdog Millionaire, has made it to the list of “Hollywood’s Most Valuable Actors” compiled by Forbes. Other Bollywood actors to make it to the Forbes list include Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Hrithik Roshan. Irrfan has some interesting films lined up for 2009 which include Kal Kissne Dekha, Paan Singh Tomar, Right Ya Wrong, New York, Acid Factory and Hisss.The Forbes list, topped by Will Smith is based on the “bankability of actors around the world, voted by members of the globalentertainment industry.” Irrfan ranked at 825 on the list.Way to go, Irrfan!”

Films Releasing This Month: (May -2009) & Top Songs

Other Special Mentions: Kaash Yeh Pal (Pakistani Band Jal) Ho Jaane De (Pakistani Band Call)

Haafiz Khudaa((8x10 Tasveer) Gulon Mein(Sikandar) Dhadke Jiyaa(Aloo Chaat) Bin Tere (Kal Kissne Dekha) Aisi Sazaa(Gulaal) Tenu Le(Jai Veeru) Tere Bina (Kal Kissne Dekha) Ishq Ki Zaat (Ek Se Bure Do) Dhoop Ke Sikke (Sikandar) Aasmaan Odh Kar (13B)

Bollywood Producers On STRIKE!

Bollywood is undergoing a major crisis— Bollywood producers have been on strike since April 4. In fact, this edition of NRI Today does not even have a “Films Releasing This Month” section as it is uncertain when films will be releasing. What’s going on? Read away…

There is a dispute going on between the United Distributors Producers Forum (UDPF) and multiplexes— producers are demanding a 50% share of revenue earned from films, however, multiplex owners say they are willing to split the ticket revenue 50-50 only if a film does well at the box office. So, no new Bollywood films are being released at multiplexes at the moment.

Producers and distributors might go back to single screens and upgrade them with the help of corporate entities. Interestingly enough, in order to make the toilets at single screens hygienic enough for audience members, actor Aamir Khan has offered to clean them!

As the strike continues, both producers and multiplexes are suffering a lot. Multiplexes are suffering because obviously there are no new major Hindi films being released. And, since lots of films are being moved from their original release date, producers will also suffer—when the strike is over, many film release dates will clash, eating away at each film’s profits.

Some regional films, nonetheless, are being screened at multiplexes since not all producers are part of the UDPF association. Small producers might make some profit through releasing films at small screens since there aren’t too many options for film viewers at the time. There are about 13,000 movie screens in India— out of these, approximately 240 multiplex cinemas in India control a total of about 849 of these 13,000 screens. Multiplexes earn roughly 65% of the revenue since ticket prices are much higher there than ticket prices are at single-screen theaters.

Multiplexes are trying to secure rights to show cricket matches if an agreement is not reached with UDPF in a timely manner. Let’s see what happens…

BY AMANDA SODHI