Reality Bites

As reality TV takes over, it8217;s now time for Bollywood to go the reality cinema way.

As reality TV takes over, it8217;s now time for Bollywood to go the reality cinema way. While some like movies like Black Friday and Parzania are truly inspired, which are also wake-up calls on our society, Shootout at Lokhandwala mixes reality with commercialism. And then there are B-grade movies, announced only to gain mileage from news incidents. Trade analyst Indu Mirani says, 8220;A lot of these B-grade movies are just there to grab eyeballs and most don8217;t get made.8221;

PARZANIA: Rahul Dholakia8217;s movie with Naseeruddin Shah and Sarika playing a bereaved Parsi couple caught in the communal crossfire of the Gujarat riots, in search of their child was shot in 2003 but could find no interested distributors until now. Released on January 26, 2007.

BLACK FRIDAY: The release of Anurag Kashyap8217;s movie based on the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts was stalled in 2005 on a Supreme Court order, based on the fact that the verdict on the case had not been delivered. Releasing on February 9, 2007.

SHOOTOUT AT LOKHANDWALA: The Apoorva Lakhia movie starring Sanjay Dutt, Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and Vivek Oberoi is based on Aftab Ahmad Khan8217;s encounter with five members of Dawood Ibrahim8217;s gang and the true story behind these events. Release in April 2007.

ON NITHARI: Even as the case is still fresh, Bollywood has already announced a movie on the Nithari killings. Filmmaker Ashok Tyagi hopes to rope in Rajesh Khanna as Moninder Singh Pandher and Rajpal Yadav as Surinder Koli. Status not confirmed.

ON JESSICA LALL: This is one incident that has inspired several filmmakers. While Dev Anand announced Chargesheet, to be shot in Mahabaleshwar, docu-drama specialist Madhur Bhandarkar registered the title as a possible movie. Status not confirmed.

ANARA: FIGHT FOR JUSTICE: Fight for Justice: Based on the Anara Gupta pornography scandal, with Anara playing herself, the movie by KK Yadav is ready for release. Release date: February 23, 2007.

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MAIN MAHAJAN BOL RAHA HUN: Immediately after the Pramod Mahajan saga, filmmaker Ranjit Sharma announced a movie to be directed by Amjad Khan with a proposed cast of Raj Babbar and Anupam Kher as Pramod and Pravin Mahajan respectively. Announced in 2006, status not confirmed.

KANOON KO BADAL DALO: The film captures the rise of Abu Salem from a street vendor to a dreaded mobster to be directed by N Chandra and produced by Salem8217;s lawyer Ashok Sarogi. The filmmakers garnered interest in the movie by announcing their plans to rope in Abu Salem to appear in the movie. Status not confirmed.