'Corporate' is not a remake of 'Kalyug': Bhandarkar

Mumbai, July 4 (IANS) Two warring corporate houses and a spillover of human links between enemy camps sounds familiar. The buzz is that Madhur Bhandarkar's "Corporate" that releases Friday is actually a remake of Shyam Benegal's 1980 drama "Kalyug".

"By some coincidence both the old and new 'Kalyug' by Shyam-ji and Anurag Basu are among my favourite films. I am a great admirer of Shyam-ji's work. When I met him recently, I couldn't stop gushing. His 'Kalyug' may have been at the back of my mind when I decided to make a film on a corporate war. But 'Corporate' is not a remake of 'Kalyug'," Bhandarkar told IANS.

"Moreover, his film had big stars like Shashi Kapoor and Rekha. My film has only one star, and that is Bipasha," he added.

Is the star-system finally collapsing' Going by the way Bhandarkar's career as a filmmaker is going, it would seem he is unconsciously ready to demolish the star culture.

Bhandarkar's career-making film "Chandni Bar" had been made at an estimated budget of Rs.20 million and it made sizeable profits in every territory.

His "Page 3" surprised everyone, including the film's ailing production company Percept Pictures smarting under several box office blows until then, by garnering great reviews and making a turnover profit.

With "Corporate", Bhandarkar is expected to perform a hat-trick of path-breaking box office hits.

The film made on a budget of Rs.40.25 million has been sold to every major territory in India at an estimate price of Rs.10 million per territory.

This means "Corporate" is already a success on the table.

"What can I say' I am delighted. For a film that stars mostly unknown or little-known stage actors, I guess it's an indication of the trust the trade and distributors have in me. It is very reassuring to have this faith shown in my film.

"Among my colleagues, I'm still looked on as a small filmmaker. I don't mind that reputation as long as I am able to deliver a neat profit for my producers and make the film without compromises. I have made 'Corporate' just like I made 'Page 3', without any compromises."

As he sees it, there are no fixed formulas or magic potions to ensure a success, so it is better to make your films the way you want to rather than the way you are expected to.

"Corporate" is the story of two warring corporate houses headed by Rajat Kapoor and Raj Babbar.

"I don't think audiences have seen such a film since Shyam-ji's 'Kalyug'. But I repeat, 'Corporate' is not a remake."

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