Of mind games and sour lemons

FILMS: Sahara One Motion Pictures signs on Sagar Ballary "" but can he recreate the magic of Bheja Fry?

While much has been written about the success of Bheja Fry, the sleeper hit of 2007, its director, Sagar Ballary, is now in the news for other reasons as well.

Ballary has been signed on by Sahara One Motion Pictures to direct and creatively produce films for the com-pany. Though Ballary refuses to go on record, sources say that the deal is anywhere between Rs 40-50 crore for the three films. It's clearly a big leap for someone whose first film was made on a shoestring bud-get of Rs 60 lakh.

Post-Bheja Fry, Ballary had, admittedly, been getting offers, including those from some of the biggest production houses of India. "I desired two things: freedom and money. Sahara One Motion Pictures promised just that, thankfully."

The biggest USP of this deal, according to Ballary, is the fact that he can work for other production houses as well. In addition, the three films for Sahara One will be directed over a period of four-five years, "a time span and flexibility" that, Ballary says, "is crucial for creativity, especially for those in the direction space".

The script of the first film under this arrangement is already in its final stages, and the project should be on the floors in the next few months. In the meantime, the plots for the other two projects have already been discussed and finalised by Sahara One Motion Pictures and the scripting should start soon.

The first film, called, Kaccha Limboo, says Ballary, is the story of a fat, goofy, 13-year-old boy who is caught amidst the conflicting worlds of peer pressure, puppy love and high-school dilemmas.

"Unable to cope, this boy rebels and runs away from his world to carve out a special identity for himself," says Ballary, confirming that the film is a complete family entertainer." I would like to direct a love story too."

According to Seemanto Roy, head, Sahara, media and entertainment business, "For the past year, we have been working on remodelling our motion pictures business. By the first half of the next year, audiences will see many great movies from the stable of Sahara One Motion Pictures."

The company, which in the past, has been associated with films like Corporate, Page 3, Hanuman and Dor, to name just a few, has, according to sources, split with Shailendra Singh's Percept Pictures, and is therefore going solo in its efforts to consolidate its position in the business of making films independently.

For now the company has found Ballary whose humble effort, Bheja Fry, has already raked in Rs 12 crore. Can he strike gold at the box office for Sahara One Motion Pictures? That's something we'll have to wait and watch out for.