Script Tease

3 Idiots though is not the first film to have a script book published. The market has already seen the launch of script books of classic films like Awaara,Mughal-E-Azam,Taj Mahal,as well as recent hits like Munna Bhai MBBS and Twilight. But it’s only now that the sales are showing an upward trend. “The USP of script books is that it appeals not just to cinema buffs but to film-making institutes as well. A lot of the youth are moving away from the typical MBA jobs and are looking at filmmaking,scriptwriting,dubbing and dancing as new avenues for work,” says Ajay Mago,Om Books International. Mago is behind the success of the Munna Bhai script books that apparently were the highest selling in its category. “We sold a few copies of

The Dialogue of Awaara and Mughal-E-Azam and one of Taj Mahal. One can hardly say they have done well,but the Munna Bhai series sold most,” says Priyanka Malhotra director of Full Circle. Although the fan following was great for the Twilight series,the script book,which displayed a greater graphic approach and high production value,had lesser takers.

 Mago explains that keeping the price affordable,between Rs 395 to Rs 500,is what appeals to the mass market. “We have upped the production and this time we have interviews with the star cast and an archive of backstage images and production notes,” he says,talking of his plans to launch the entire Munna Bhai series in three languages — English,Hindi and Hinglish.

Bikash Niyogi of Niyogi Books explains that the approach to Awaara was to create a collector’s item and it was not geared towards the mass market. The book,researched and authored by Nasreen Munni Kabir,took a while to produce. “It takes time to translate the dialogues into three languages — English Hindi and Urdu. It was important to get the dialogues correct since this is also a record for posterity for the younger generation and those who may want to do research,” says Niyogi. While the look of the book left much to be desired,it did provide the reader with all three languages on one page. The next script book scheduled is on one of Bimal Roy’s films. “This project will take at least a year,” says Niyogi. Hopefully,the wait will be worth it.