Here's taking a look at films that showed promise but never had a theatrical release
Not all films that are made get a theatrical release. Some are not screened at all while others are restricted to film festivals. Take for instance, Kamal Swaroop’s Om-Dar-Ba-Dar. Twenty-six years after its completion, the film is finally getting its due as it releases on January 17. However, not all cinematic endeavours have been equally lucky. HitList brings you a lineup of few such films that made a lot of noise but somehow couldn’t make it to the cinema halls.
'Zamaanat' (1998)
Director: S Ramanathan
Lowdown: Starring Amitabh Bachchan along with Karisma Kapoor and Arshad Warsi, this film’s director passed away after the film’s completion. The latest development is that his son, Subish, is keen on releasing the film as soon as possible.
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'Rang Rasiya' (2008)
Director: Ketan Mehta
Lowdown: After a not-so-successful biopic on Mangal Pandey, the director turned his attention to celebrated painter Raja Ravi Varma. Randeep Hooda played the protagonist while Nandana Sen essayed his muse. It’s been six years since the project’s completion, but there’s no word yet on the release date.
'Chor Mandali' (1984)
Director: Sanjay Khanna
Lowdown: It was supposed to be Raj Kapoor’s last film but it didn’t up being so. Starring Kapoor alongside fellow veteran Ashok Kumar, the plot revolved around a heist. But the film never got released as it got mired in financial tangles.
'Chemistry' (2011)
Director: Sai Kabir
Lowdown: Kabir claims that upcoming film Revolver Rani is his directorial debut but the fact is that he had first started work on the film Chemistry. But this movie never made it to the theatres due to several obstacles. It was produced by Shreyas Talpade and also starred him opposite Soha Ali Khan.
'Kissa Kursi Ka' (1977)
Director: Amrit Nahata
Lowdown: If there was a film that came close to depicting the harsh realities of the Emergency, then this was it. But the movie paid a price for being excessively satirical. Though praised for its brave imagery, it was banned in the country.
'Ladies Only' (1997)
Director: Dinesh Shailendra
Lowdown: Kamal Haasan made a guest appearance in the film -- interestingly, he played a dead body - while Randhir Kapoor, Seema Biswas and Shilpa Shirodkar summed up the lead cast. An official remake of Magalir Mattum, the film never had a theatrical release for reasons still unknown. The film was also in news because as Randhir Kapoor was making a comeback to Bollywood with this film.
'Percy' (1989)
Director: Pervez Mehrwanji
Lowdown: Offering a wonderful peek into the world of middle-class Parsis through a character named Percy (played by Kurush Deboo), the film did the rounds of the festival circuit and was widely appreciated. But the movie didn’t see a theatrical release.
'Khabardar' (1984)
Director: T Rama Rao
Lowdown: This feature film based on euthanasia was supposed to feature Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan together for the first time. Touted as an ambitious project, the film never saw the light of day.
'Paanch' (2001)
Director: Anurag Kashyap
Lowdown: It’s difficult to miss the irony in the fact that a filmmaker, whose debut venture never got released is today launching younger filmmakers. Paanch faced several problems due to its heady depiction of violence, drug abuse and explicit language. Despite cuts, it never managed to hit the big screen.
AT LAST!
Films that released after a prolonged delay:
'Yaar Meri Zindagi' (1971)
Director: Mukul Dutt
Lowdown: Thirty-seven years after its completion, this film -- starring Amitabh Bachchan and Shatrughan Sinha in lead roles -- released in the year 2008.
'Love in Bombay' (1975)
Director: Joy Mukherjee
Lowdown: Completed in 1975, this Joy Mukherjee and Waheeda Rahman starrer faced several problems that came in the way of its release. It was finally released last year.
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