'Holiday' postponed: Is it superstition?

Mumbai, Jan 4 (IANS) The release of Pooja Bhatt's new production "Holiday" has been postponed and she has been advised to release it as a Valentine special.

The film, featuring Dino Morea and newcomer Onjolee Nair, was scheduled for this Friday with Aparna Sen's "15 Park Avenue" and Babloo Pachisia's "Jawani Diwani".

It has been yanked out suddenly. What happened? Is it because of the feeling that films released in the first month of a new year are doomed?

"Nothing of the sort," chuckles Dino Morea. "The producer (Pooja Bhatt) just decided we needed to give time to the film to grow. There just wasn't enough buzz about the film."

The question is how much of a buzz can there be for a film that seems to be take-off on "Dirty Dancing" and features Dino with the debutante doing salsa, a dance form that would interest a very small section of the movie-going audience?

Says Dino: "'Holiday' isn't only about dancing. It's essentially a love story between a dance instructor and his protégée. The guru-shishya (teacher-disciple) theme is very hot after 'Black' and 'Iqbal'.

"'Holiday' is of course far more romantic in mood. That's why we decided to move the film forward to a Valentine release. Both Pooja and I feel 'Holiday' is a very Valentinian film. We'll go into several tie-ups for the occasion and market the film as a seasonal special. 'Holiday' is my most romantic film to date."

But the view about the film's postponement is different in other quarters.

According to a dependable source: "Pooja pulled out because she couldn't afford another dud after 'Paap' and 'Rog'. Both these were released at the beginning of the year. She has been advised to go for February release. In February 2002, the superhit 'Raaz' released at the box office. In February 2005, there was 'Black'. She's hoping 'Holiday' would be given a similar welcome."

But do postponements augur favourably at the box office?

The release of two of the surprise hits last year - "Page 3" and "Black" was repeatedly postponed.

Will "Holiday" ultimately do the trick?

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