Al্ল Arjun and Deepika Padukone's film 'Raka' compared to 'Avatar'

In 1956, the film 'Bedari' was screened in Pakistani cinemas. It achieved enormous success, filling all halls. This film, directed by Rafiq Rizvi and starring Ragini and Santosh Kumar, became a blockbuster thanks to its songs, especially the song 'Ao Bachcho Seir Karen Tumko' performed by Salim Razi. The song became extremely popular among children across Pakistan.

However, the film was soon banned. Some viewers felt a strange sensation, as if they had seen this film before, and discovered that not only the plot but also the melodies of the songs were familiar to them. It soon turned out that 'Bedari' was an exact copy of the Indian film 'Jagriti', released in 1954, and 'Jagriti' itself was a remake of the Bengali film 'Parivartan'.

The most interesting connection in this story relates to Ratan Kumar. His real name was Syed Nazir Ali Rizvi, and he was considered a popular child actor in the Bombay film industry. Born in 1941, he began performing at the age of just five. Family friends and writer Krishna Chander gave him the role of a child actor in the film 'Rakh'. After this, Ratan Kumar worked in several famous films, such as 'Boot Polish' and 'Baiju Bawra', before getting the role of Shakti in Satyen Bose's film 'Jagriti'.

When 'Jagriti' was released in 1954, Ratan Kumar was about 13 years old. Two years later, in 1956, he moved to Pakistan with his family. Many relatives of his family had already settled in Pakistan after the partition. Limited job opportunities in India also contributed to the family's decision to move to Pakistan.

After arriving in Pakistan, Ratan Kumar's elder brother, Wazir Ali Rizvi, founded a production company called 'Hayat'. The first film of this company was 'Bedari', and it was here that the story took an unexpected turn. The film 'Jagriti', in which Ratan Kumar himself acted, was recreated in Pakistan under a new title and in a new context.

'Bedari' featured Ratan Kumar in two roles. He played Ajay, whose name was changed to Jaffar in the Pakistani film. Furthermore, the character Shakti from 'Jagriti' was renamed Sabar Ali. Notably, despite the change in names, the essence of the characters was preserved: both Ajay and Jaffar mean 'victory' in Hindi and Urdu, respectively.

However, the similarity between the two films was not limited to the plot and characters. The most striking similarity was in the songs. In 'Bedari', the original melodies and harmonies were largely retained, but the lyrics were altered. Instead of Indian nationalist references, Pakistani nationalist motifs were added.

For instance, the famous song from 'Jagriti' sounded like: 'Ao Bachcho Tumhen Dikhaen Janki Hindustan Ki'. In 'Bedari', this song was changed to 'Ao Bachcho Seir Karen Tumko Pakistan Ki'. Similarly, where the original featured 'Vande Mataram', 'Bedari' used 'Pakistan Zindabad'.

Another song from 'Jagriti' contained the lines: 'De Di Hme Azadi Bina Kadg Bina Dhaal, Sabarmati Ke Sant Tune Kar Diya Kamal'. In 'Bedari', these lines were replaced with 'De Di Hme Azadi Ki Duniya Hui Haran, Ai Kaide-Azm Tera Ehsan Ha Ehsan'. Thus, instead of Mahatma Gandhi, Muhammad Ali Jinnah appeared.

This process was not limited to a couple of songs; in many songs of the film, the original melodies were preserved while the lyrics were changed, replacing the Indian context with a Pakistani one. How was the truth about 'Bedari' revealed?

Initially, the similarity between the two films might have gone unnoticed because there was a ban on the public screening of Indian films in Pakistan at the time. Consequently, most of the Pakistani audience could not see 'Jagriti'. Later, a member of the Pakistani censorship board informed Donna about this situation, noting that Lahore filmmakers created 'Bedari' in 1956, which was a carbon copy of 'Jagriti' in terms of plot and songs, utilizing the ban on the import and public screening of Indian films.

Initially, 'Bedari' enjoyed great commercial success in cinemas. However, after some time, viewers began to realize its true nature, understanding that the film they were watching bore a resemblance to a previously existing Indian film in terms of plot and melodies. Following this, protests against its public screening began, and the situation escalated to the point where the Pakistani censorship board immediately banned 'Bedari' and restricted the screening of its songs.

Did this affect Ratan Kumar's career? For a long time, there have been speculations that after moving to Pakistan, Ratan Kumar sought to establish himself in the local film industry, and perhaps that is why he participated in creating a film similar to 'Jagriti' in a new form. Nevertheless, Ratan Kumar, being a very popular child actor, could not achieve the same level of success as a leading adult actor.

Bollywood stars Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan will once again appear on the big screen in the film 'Havan,' which is scheduled to be released in theaters on September 11. Despite the impressive cast, there is a lack of the usual hype surrounding films featuring these actors ahead of the premiere. Although the film's title and stars are major draws, initial box office data may suggest a different development scenario.

Preliminary data on advance sales for 'Havan' shows a positive sign: before its release, the film collected approximately 24.45 million rupees in gross revenue. Currently, about 9,956 tickets have been sold in Hindi 2D format out of 3,133 screenings available. While this figure may seem small, it is viewed as a positive indicator that audiences are not completely indifferent to the film. However, the question remains whether this initial momentum can translate into a real box office success after the official launch.

'Havan' is releasing during a period when two major projects already dominate the market. On one hand, there is 'Hanuman Ansh,' which achieved significant success on a very modest budget. This film's budget is estimated at only 1.80 crore rupees, yet its collection in India reached approximately 180.95 crore rupees. The net collection in India was 153.13 crore rupees, and the global collection is also approaching 180.95 crore rupees, granting the film blockbuster status. Furthermore, the international release of 'Hanuman Ansh' is also set for September 11, meaning its influence has not yet waned.

An additional factor is the continued popularity of 'Mirzapur Movie.' According to reports, on its seventh day, the film is showing in 87 screenings, and its collection in India has reached about 164.43 crore rupees, with a net collection in India of 137.65 crore rupees; the final collection in India has not yet been announced. Thus, 'Havan' will not have an open field for maneuver, as it launches amidst fierce competition from two already successful films that capture the attention and wallets of viewers.

This raises serious questions, considering that a film featuring such major stars as Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan usually attracts enormous interest before its release. Nevertheless, social media and public excitement around 'Havan' are not yet reaching the level expected from a film with such a cast. The main reason cited for this is a limited advertising budget and the dominance of already released films at the box office. In modern cinema, the mere name of a big actor is no longer enough to guarantee a high opening; viewers make their ticket purchase decisions based on trailers, plot, action, reviews, and recommendations.

Consequently, the first day of screening is critically important for 'Havan.' The main question arises: can 'Havan' halt the collection pace of 'Hanuman Ansh' on September 11? Can the Akshay-Saif duo reduce the influence of 'Mirzapur'? It is difficult to give a definitive answer at this moment. Advance sales offer hope for a strong start, but the true test awaits after the release. If the film receives a positive response from the audience, it is capable of achieving great success at the box office despite a small budget. However, if the plot and content fail to retain the viewer, the film will struggle to survive given the presence of the blockbuster success of 'Hanuman Ansh,' the popularity of 'Mirzapur,' and changing public preferences.

Actor Manoj Bajpayee, known for his outstanding acting skills, is preparing to play the significant role of Mahatma Gandhi in an upcoming film. He will embody the image of Mahatma Gandhi in a new project by filmmaker Sudhir Mishra.

Bajpayee's first portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi garnered significant attention among fans. The actor bears a striking resemblance to Mahatma Gandhi, dressed in a white dhoti, with a cane and glasses, making his appearance difficult to distinguish.

Bajpayee has not only replicated Gandhi's appearance but has also meticulously recreated his mannerisms. This role is considered the biggest and most important in the actor's career, for which he lost 10 kilograms.

The film is based on a crucial event during India's independence, and it will shed light on the key decisions made by Gandhi at that historical moment, as well as their impact on the country.

According to a report by Hindustan Times, filming for Sudhir Mishra's movie has already begun. The crew started shooting outdoors in Lucknow. Divya Datta and Saurabh Shukla will also participate in this film.

The first phase of shooting took place in an area near the Lucknow zoo, where the crew filmed an important scene from Gandhi's mass movements featuring a young girl.

The creators paid close attention to the details of that era. To give authenticity to the atmosphere of the 1940s, vintage cars, period clothing, and antique signs were used.

Sudhir Mishra's feature film is produced by Anubhav Sinha Productions. Fans are extremely excited about the possibility of seeing Manoj Bajpayee in the role of Mahatma Gandhi and await the release of the picture, which many believe could be a big success.