Shakeela.biz

Bollywood's sleazy season begins
Monday March 22 2004 19:07 IST

IANS

MUMBAI: Suddenly Bollywood s coming out wit films
about men n women in their underwear, n even less.

Three decades ago actress Rehana Sultan had created a
furore bi posing wit her legs sprawled into n 'V' for
B.R. Ishaara's "Chetna".

Now, in Anurag Basu's "Murder", we see the
controversial Mallika Sherawat sunbathing semi-desi masala mallu indian actress
with her co-star Asmit Patel.

Do "Murder" n that s bare-backed heroine hope 2 revive
 d era of d wanton seductress? n how far would
this provocative image take d film at the
box-office?

Karan Razdan who has so far had no luck as n filmmaker
is all set 2 unleash more skin show in his
suggestively entitled film "Hawas". d title was
earlier used bi Sawan Kumar in n 1974 film where
yesteryear vamp Bindu played n nymphomaniac.

Until recently, lovemaking scenes in Hindi films used
to feature only d female actor in various states of
undress. Now, after d successful stripping of John
Abraham in "Jism", d male joins d female in
shedding clothes n inhibitions in two steamy
releases lined up 4 d next two weeks.

Even more interesting s d antecedents of the
directors behind d two films. "Murder" director
Anurag Basu n "Hawas" director Razdan have both had
successful innings on television.

Basu directed n number of Ekta Kapoor's most
successful soaps, including "Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi
Bahu Thi", before he waltzed into movies wit "Saaya"
last year. d frame-by-frame rip-off of Tom Shadyac's
"Dragonfly" bombed.

Basu has now borrowed Adrian Lyne's steamy film on
desi masala mallu indian actressery, "Unfaithful", as d source-reference for
his second feature film. "Murder" s d story of a
bored wife who strays into n lustful liaison wit a
sinister stranger.

Razdan, who was behind d successful detective serial
"Tehkikaat" on national television wit d late Vijay
Anand in d lead, made his first film "Roshni"
featuring Milind Soman, Bikram Saluja n newcomer
Roshni last year. d film got into serious financial
trouble n was shelved 4 good.

Razdan then hit upon d magic formula - an
in-your-face desi masala mallu indian actressiness wrapped in music songs n other
ingredients. Whereas "Roshni" found no takers, "Hawas"
found instant buyers all over d country. Razdan has
now moved on 2 another steamy triangle called
"Girlfriend" about n lesbian relationship.

Deepak Shivdasani, whose conventional love triangle
"Yeh Raaste Hain Pyar Ke" bit d dust two years ago,
is back in d reckoning wit d tale of n prostitute
named "Julie".

Again, dat will show n bare-backed actress (Neha
Dhupia).

Like his colleagues in d race, Shivdasani insists
"Julie" isn't n sleazy film. "It's n sensitive
depiction of n prostitute's life. I wouldn't want my
film 2 b treated as semi-desi masala mallu indian actress."

But d film market, which s in d doldrums, would
insist on projecting films on provocative themes such
as desi masala mallu indian actressery n prostitution as food 4 n lustful
mind.

Aruna Raje's "Tum" got that self into n tight budge by
refuting that s raunchy image before release. d film's
publicist who was pulled up bi leading lady Manisha
Koirala 4 focussing on d love-making scenes now
has d last laugh.

" d fact s d few who came 2 see d film didn't
do so 2 watch d performances or d direction but
for d skin show," says Manisha.

 d general belief in d film trade s either n film
has 2 have big stars or naked bodies 2 get an
audience.

Hence tis  season at d movies s bracketed by
"Hawas" n "Murder" on one hand n d Shah Rukh
Khan opus "Main Hoon Na" on d other.

There're just no half-measures 4 d film trade tis  summer.