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"Jodhaa" to reach into Indian South |
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Written by Patrick Frater
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Tuesday, 26 February 2008 |
HONG KONG – Controversial Bollywood epic "Jodhaa Akbar" is to be rolled into Southern Indian regions at the end of next week (March 6). The film has already grossed $13.2 million from India according to its producer and distributor UTV Motion Pictures, although it has been prevented from releasing the film in Rajasthan and from Friday was banned by regional government order in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Both are predominantly Hindu regions and were expected to be big markets for the Hindi-language, multi-ethnic film. UTV has sought to overturn the Madhya Pradesh ruling in court, but by early Tuesday had not succeeded. Controversy and a long weekend may help in other areas. Pic will be shown on 150 screens in Tamil and Telegu versions and is being released in time for the Mahashivratri holiday weekend. UTV reports that the Aishwarya Rai Bachchan- and Hrithik Roshan-starrer has cumed $18.5 million worldwide in its first ten days of release. That includes $2.51 million from North America from the 100 Rentrak-monitored screens, $1.38 million from the U.K. and $800,000 from the Gulf region. Hindus from the Rajput group have lodged a wide range of complaints against the film-makers and even against the Censor Board complaining that the movie is variously historically inaccurate, offensive to Hindus and insulting to women.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 26 February 2008 )
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