Meerabai out for a bouncer?
When India was ousted from the Cricket World Cup there was a section of Bollywood, which celebrated while another which mourned.
India's exit meant more audiences in theatres but for some filmmakers it spelt doom as there were three cricket-based films hoping to encash on the World Cup mania – Hattrick, Say Salaam India and Meerabai Not Out.
The first two films released and bombed miserably and the third one has apparently been postponed. So, it seems the producers of Meerabai Not Out are hoping Team India performs well in Bangladesh and then they could strike lucky.
However, Creative Director of Pritish Nandy Communications, Rangita Pritish Nandy insists, "India's exit from the World Cup has not affected the release of the film. Meerabai Not Out was never about Team India at the World Cup. It is about India's love for the game and a character, Meera Achrekar."
The film starring Anil Kumble as Meera's idol evidently has another hitch – Kumble's retirement from the game.
Nandy, of course, does not see this as a problem either. She adds, "Anil Kumble is an institution in himself. His retirement from ODI will never hurt the film because he retired like a star."
Nandy suggests that Meerabai Not Out was scheduled for a summer 2007 release and things are going as per schedule.
"The exact dates will be announced after all the release formalities are cleared. Our movies don't ride on events. They are about people, their lives and stories. Meerabai Not Out is the story of a woman who's married to the game,” she says.
Ironically, Pritish Nandy Communications’ official website presents this film as a World Cup release!
