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www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know Entertainment News India Times (April 12, 2025 - April 18, 2025) April 18, 2025 27 Missing The Wood For The Trees Again: New Petty Lure For Viewers T he Hindi film industry is in dire straits, and we homed in on the reasons that will be obvious to any calm and sane observer in a series a few weeks ago. But if there are still calm, sane and logical people within the trade and industry, they are either outnumbered—or silent. Swamped by the corporate honchos who can never fine- tune great business with fine cinematic quality but consider themselves all-conquering and all-knowing Alexanders, the film industry’s sorrowful state has a cascading effect with ad- ditional ills like paid media, manufactured collections and more. A prominent photographer who would tweet (to earn!) on a regular basis says he has now quit that activity because most tweets now are understood as being “paid” propagan- da in a “Wolf! Wolf!-like scenario! Scripts, mu- sic, universal appeal—there are compromises everywhere, but moneys are being splurged in wrong zones. …And moneys are also being splurged by the audience—to watch movies at killer rates, accompanied by exorbitant F & B, disallow- ance of taking personal food and drink from home in the name of cleanliness, and incred- ibly inflated parking charges (with no respon- sibility taken even for basic safety of your vehicle. And so now, after the cosmetic biennial ‘National Cinema Day’, the multiplexes in their all-pervading omnipotent and pretense at omniscience, have decided to dole out one more largesse to the cinema-loving buff—’Blockbuster Tues- days’, a specious premise that promises and “offers”—in reality—nothing! Look at the fine print: Tickets will be priced at Rs. 99 and Rs. 149 on Tuesdays (after the first weekend and cru- cial Mondays—which are a test of a film’s performance— are over), and these rates will be “applied all summer”! The exhibitors, in their self-exalted “wisdom” have already declared all such moves as “hits” and self-impor- tantly declare that all these (actually) petty sops “aim to boost footfalls, especially from younger, price-conscious audiences, and bring them back to theatres”! In a story in Bombay Times, they have claimed that the “National Cinema Day” saw an “overwhelming response even for early morning shows”, but omit the big- ger truth that one (or two days) in 365 matter less than an iota! What about the “underwhelming” response otherwise? Another hoax statement follows: “With a cu- rated (!!) mix of new releases and beloved classics, the initiative hopes to boost footfalls and rekindle the joy of watching films on the big screen.” (About a decade ago, I was sitting with a lead- ing music company’s honcho who, equally myo- pically, was exulting over the “comeback of LP records”. When I looked at whatever was released (at exorbitant rates like Rs. 899), they included some of the worst soundtracks in the preceding decades of films whose music had completely flopped! Very obviously, that “comeback” proved a decisive “go back” within less than a year and Long-Playing records once again disappeared). Why I deviated from the track here is to men- tion that many of these “curated and beloved” classics include hitherto flop or non-starter films (Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein, Laila Majnu with Triptii Dimri, Tumbbad and more such!) that are now touted as successes or even hits along with genuine blockbuster re-releases like Karan Arjun. So that is a similar situation in cinema just like the myopic music label! A masterpiece of a “generous” (?!?!) statement comes (in Bombay Times) by Kamal Gianchanda- ni, President of the Multiplex Association of India. He states, “This summer, cinemas are rolling out attractive mid-week prices for moviegoers. It’s our way of reminding the world just how thrilling it is to experience stories on the big screen. Block- buster Tuesdays (!!!!) is a bold (!!!!!), industry-wide initiative that reflects our deep (?!?!?!?!) commit- ment to making cinema accessible and enjoyable for everyone.” Statutory warning folks: This is only on Tuesdays, a working day. Why not have a BlockbusterWeekend all summer? Perhaps we might get to see some real block- busters! By RajivVijayakar Jatt is the latest movie you can watch at Rs 99 on Tuesdays. Dia Mirza in Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein, a 2002 flop claimed to be a hit on re-release. PHOTO:TrailerVideo Grab PHOTO:TrailerVideo Grab Neelima Sharma Crowned By Malaika Arora As Winner Of Nari First Beauty Pageant Season 2 I n a celebration of strength, grace and empowerment, Neelima Sharma was crowned the winner of the Nari First Beauty Pageant Season 2, held in Goa. The crown was presented by Malaika Arora, adding glamor to a night filled with inspiration and elegance. The grand event was choreographed by ace choreographer Sandip Soparrkar, whose direction brought energy and finesse to the stage. Hailing from Punjab and residing in Bangalore for the past 14 years, Neelima is much more than a beauty queen. She is a proud mother of two beautiful children, a loving wife and a woman of substance whose journey is rooted in dedication and compassion. Neelima holds a degree in Science and a post-graduate degree in Business Administration. After beginning her career at Lovely Professional University, is a private state university located in Phagwara, Punjab, she chose to devote herself to family life, becoming a full-time homemaker. Yet, her passion for service led her to join the Neonates Foundation of India, where she works as a volunteer helping fund treatments at NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) for critically-ill newborns from underserved commu- nities. Till date, she has contributed to saving over 120 lives. Her pageant journey began with a simple desire for new experiences, as she entered season 1 of Jewel of India by Narifirst. But her return for Season 2 came with a mission—to prove that dreams have no expiry date. “I want to tell every woman out there: no matter what your age or pro- fession, you can become whatever you dream of,” Neelima shared with a radi- ant smile after her crowning moment. As she now sets her sights on a ca- reer in modeling and aims to become a source of inspiration for women across the country, Neelima’s victory is a cel- ebration of perseverance, purpose and power. Her story is a shining example that with the right blend of heart and courage, one can rise to any occasion— wearing the crown not just on the head, but in spirit too. By a StaffWriter PHOTO:Pigeon PR Neelima Sharma crowned by Malaika Arora as winner of Nari First Beauty Pageant Season 2 in Goa.