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Pirated VCDs of Kaizad Gustad’s Boom surfaced in the market in the second week of September, spreading panic among the high-profile film’s distributors and the hundreds of exhibitors who were planning to screen it.
Although producer Ayesha Shroff lost no time in issuing press statements that the counterfeit VCDs circulating in the market were of the rush print and did not have the dubbed dialogue, those who’ve seen the copies have found them of good quality.
A distributor-exhibitor who saw the film’s VCD said: “The dialogues are very clear and the copy is of good quality. 75-80% of the dialogue are spoken in English, while the Hindi dialogue are sub-titled in English.”
Not just the general public, but trade people too made a beeline for video libraries to rent out the illegal VCDs once news about their availability spread. VCD shows of the film were held in distribution offices in various circuits, which were attended by the trade. The general public and trade reports of the film about the underworld and the fashion world are not too positive.
Meanwhile, several distributors of Boom have rushed official letters to the producer, claiming inability to take deliveries now, in view of the pirated VCDs having jeopardised the theatrical business prospects.
Delhi-UP distributor G.D. Mehta is reported to have sent a letter of relinquishment to Ayesha Shroff and a copy of the same to the Film Makers’ Combine (FMC). He has asked Mrs. Shroff for a refund of his monies given as under-production instalments. Several other distributors are contemplating similar steps.
Just about 10 days back, Amitabh Bachchan, one of the lead men of the film, had dragged the producer to court for his balance remuneration. While that matter was soon settled out of court, this unfortunate incident seems to have almost sealed the film’s fate at the box-office.
It may be added that several release plans have been finalised and announced for the film in the past few months, only to be cancelled later!
India Syndicate
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