Yusuf Shaikh Filmmaker Distributor recalls “Gadar: Ek Prem Katha” transformed lives
Yusuf Shaikh Filmmaker Distributor recalls “Gadar: Ek Prem Katha” transformed lives
Yusuf Shaikh Filmmaker Distributor recalled how the Sunny Deol -Ameesha Patel starrer Gadar: Ek Prem Katha changed lives
One week to Gadar2. Time to extol the biggest blockbuster Indian film ever.
Filmmaker-Distributor has am anecdote to narrate and he is for sure lot of people especially his exhibitor/ distributor friends from the Hindi Film Industry who too have loads of stories around this EPIC saga of love, which broke all time records whereever released.
His story blossomed much before it’s release.
Gadar released on 15th June 2001, but for an exhibitor in Gujarat (he was one of the leading chain holders of Gujarat cinemas with 41 cinemas on lease), the biggest ever tragedy struck them amidst the Gujarat earthquake on 26th January 2001.
26th January 2001 morning 9 am, they all woke up to the worst Earthquake ever. The entire state was hit by the inconsolable tragedy, destruction and death all around. Unimaginable how nature can change things in fraction of minutes. People lost their loved dear and near ones and many lost everything they had.
The cinema exhibitors were left in dire straits and had to forget the business. Who would enter a cinema hall when people were finding even a basic survival so difficult?
No audience in cinemas/ no revenue to pay salaries and electricity bill/ the high lease rentals of these cinemas. All around it was a pal of gloom!
Before the earthquake, the business was at its peak. Happy days and happy times, they all had a Dream run, as they say. All dreams were shattered. None were aware how to manage!
Come 15th June 2001, the day GADAR released.
Who would have anticipated … the exhibition sector, which was plunged into darkness for so long, had a glimmer of hope – hope in the name of Tara Singh. Gadar turned out to be blockbuster hit! Happy days blossomed again… every show went Houseful.. every cinema were overcrowded. First time ever, we were screening shows round the clock. In one cinema print I was screening 4 cinemas and still each cinema was full. Not for a day or days but for weeks.
One film changed their fortunes and wiped out their losses of 6 months. Can’t express how Yusuf sobbed in each show when the audience went berserk whistling and clapping for Tara Singh and Sakina.
The phenomena of Gadar Ek Prem Katha – Those who watched were blessed. This is not a film, it’s history. It’s an emotion. It’s a life line, it’s God’s marvel to all those who had suffered and never gave up hope. For Yusuf it was a life changing moment. Cinema for people like the exhibitor distributor is an absolute phenomena. Yusuf had many such stories. Some good and some shockingly bad ones. Will share them someday.
As they say ‘bhagwan ke Ghar der hai par andher nahi’( In God’s abode there is light no darkness).
But today is the time to celebrate this EPIC film and wishing the entire team of Gadar2 super success. May it create more life changing stories. The first surely changed Yusuf’s life.
Let’s create a chain of stories and impact of Gadar Ek Prem Katha in our lives. Everyone can contribute.
Gadar 2: Sunny Deol, Ameesha Patel and Utkarsh Sharma brings back the nostalgia of ‘Main Nikla Gaddi Leke’
News Edit K.V.Raman
