Hindustan Times (Patna) - Hindustan Times (Patna) - Live
RENAMING FILMS NO STRESS FOR MAKERS
Industry experts say that title change after controversies does no harm to a film’s business
Demand for a last-minute change in a film’s title, as it might hurt people’s sentiments, is becoming a trend of sorts — the latest example being Salman-Khan produced Loveratri. The film has been renamed Love Yatri after a petition filed by a lawyer from Aurangabad said that the original name was a distortion of the Hindu festival Navratri, and can offend the community celebrating it. The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court disposed off the petition after the court was informed of the title change.
Other films that met with a similar fate include Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat (2018), earlier titled Padmavati. After protests by Rajput groups, the Central Board of Film Certification ordered a name change, saying that “the filmmakers have attributed their creative source as the fictional poem Padmavat, and not [Rajput] history”. Another Bhansali film, Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela (2013), earlier titled Ramleela, faced opposition from religious groups who called the former title misleading, as the film had nothing to do with Ramlila (traditional enactment of the life of Hindu deity, Lord Rama). And much earlier, Jaffna was changed to Madras Café (2013) and Billu Barber to Billu (2009).
The question arises: Do these changes near the release of a film affect its prospects at the box-office? ‘No’, experts say unanimously, reasoning that what matters to cinema-goers is the film’s content, which is spread through the trailer, songs and other promotional avenues. “If the film is good, it’s always going to do well,” says film critic Omar Qureshi.
Film distributor Akshaye Rathi adds, “Title change does not make even a fraction of a difference. With due respect, Padmavati was to be a blockbuster even when called Padmaavat. People who wanted to watch Loveratri will still do.”
Love Yatri director Abhiraj Minawala admits that it was “disheartening” at first but is hopeful his film will still “connect with the audience”.
Trade expert Atul Mohan looks at the situation in an all positive way: “It helps in building hype; grabs eyeballs. People who weren’t aware would now be curious as to why the title was changed.”