Bollywood producers brave shradhh

Are filmmakers in Mumbai learning to be less superstitious? Or has the desperation to beat a crowd of releases got the better of their judgement in superstitious or spiritual terms?

The 'shraddh', traditional Hindu period to show respectful feelings for the dead, which begins this week was always considered an unsafe period for film releases.

No longer so. This year, filmmakers are going right ahead releasing films defying the decree of destiny.

Romesh Sharma Friday went on with his son's prestigious launch on "Dil Jo Bhi Kahey" fearlessly. The fact that the film was the only release this week offers some kind of a safety in solitude to the hyped product.

Says Romesh: "I firmly believe that what has to happen will happen, no matter when you release. If Karan (son) is destined to succeed, nothing can stop him. There's nothing like right or wrong time for a release."

Producer Guddu Dhanoa who's unleashing his controversial "Siskiyan" on Sep 30 alongside Jahnu Baruah's maiden Bollywood venture "Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Maara," agrees. "There's nothing like inauspicious time for movies. Audiences love to go for movies any time."

Interestingly both "Dil Jo Bhi Kahey" and "Siskiyan" were earlier scheduled for release in the first week of September but had to be delayed for various reasons. "Dil Jo Bhi Kahey" didn't want to clash with "No Entry" while "Siskiyan" didn't want to coincide with its twin 'other' "Dansh."

The case of "Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Maara" is even more peculiar.

"It was designed as a Gandhi Jayanti release," informs its leading lady Urmila Matondkar.

"If Gandhi Jayanti coincides with another event it doesn't mean we should run scared. There're so many films every week that are released after consulting every astrologer and numerologist. Still they don't get an audience. I think the fate of a film is entirely dependent on intrinsic merit."

No matter what the reason, the elimination of the superstitious instinct, at least for now, is a positive sign.