Can Bollywood biggies defy the January ji

It is New Year and Bollywood, the biggest movie-making industry in the world, is hoping to deliver a robust box-office report card in January breaking an age-old jinx.

Over the years, the first month of the calendar has always proved to be a cruel month for the tinsel-town. Films released during this month routinely die at the box-office and trade watchers display an almost weary resignation to the fact that the January jinx is stronger than any product the industry comes up with.

Even January 2005 saw a lull after the storm brought on by end-2004 releases like 'Veer-Zaara', 'Mughal-e-Azam' and 'Hulchul'. It took the combined prowess of Sanjay Leela Bhansali-Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukerjee in 'Black' to perk up spirits in last year's first couple of months.

It was the only silver lining for an industry reeling under the shock of a mega flop by Subhash Ghai, Hindi filmdom's most successful showman, whose 'Kisna' sank without a whimper.

The dream merchants of Mumbai-based film industry are now hoping to get a good start in 2005. Giving credence to their hopes is the fact that the last big film of 2005 - 'Dosti: Friendship Forever' - has set the cash
registers ringing and more action is slated for the days ahead.

The film based on the age-old Indian box-office friendly formula of male bonding is doing brisk business in theatres starving for good old melodramatic masala flavour. The film starring Akshay Kumar and Bobby Deol is archetypal Bollywood fare and has crowds cheering in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Though the other release of the last week of December 2004 was yet another box-office failure for Mahesh Manjrekar. His fairy tale movie, 'Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi', could not find favour with teenyboppers and saw poor openings.

But the industry is more upbeat about Abhishek Bachchan's 'Bluffmaster' which is still packing in crowds, though it was dismissed by critics. In addition to the growing popularity of 'Bluffmaster', the year-end has brought Abhishek another good news in for of the complete recovery of his father and megastar Amitabh Bachchan.

The film is doing brisk business in North America as well and much credit is also due to its other stars Riteish Deshmukh and Nana Patekar. Much like Abhishek, the year has ended on a good note for Aishwarya Rai who found herself among the world's top 10 sexy celebrities, listed by a leading magazine.

Besides the good run of films released at the fag end of 2004, the new ones slated for January 2005 are equally exciting. 'Shikhar' that released Friday has all the ingredients of making it.

This is the second film by John Mathew Matthan whose debut - 'Sarfarosh' - was one of the best directorial debuts ever. John has teamed up with Ajay Devgan, Bipasha Basu, Natasha, Shahid Kapoor, Amrita Rao, John Abraham and Pakistan-based actor Javed Sheikh in the film.

Though film critics have criticised the director for a loose narrative but the film has all the prerequisites like great star cast, dance numbers and topicality to make it a hit in single-screen theatres.

Not much is expected from the other release this week - 'Anjaane - The Unknown' and 'Mr Prime Minister'. While 'Anjaane' with fading star Manisha Koirala in the lead is a remake of Hollywood flick 'The Others', 'Mr Prime Minister' is yet another failed attempt by actor-producer-director Dev Anand.