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Ok,

Maybe I am in a slumber and I am dreaming this (call it dreams cause it is definitely not a nightmare). In the big bad world of Hollywood an unusual scenario is unfolding. A film with an Indian American and a Korean American, is making $36,750,091. 43 cents as of midnight Sunday, May 25th.

If that is not a big deal, then consider this.

The film is made and distributed by the big, bad studios (not some independent).

If that is not a big deal, then consider this.

When I went to see Indiana Jones at the Universal AMC in LA, last Sunday, the movie with the Indian American and the Korean American was still going strong and had a considerable line too.

If that is not a big deal, consider this.

The two lead actors were probably signed for approx a joint cost of $2 million. The film was probably produced for $10 million. THAT MEANS, IT HAS DONE WHAT FEW FILMS DO FOR WARNER- GIVEN A NET PROFIT IN THEATRICAL ITSELF. DVD, CABLE AND MORE THEATRICAL WILL BE SUGAR ON THE PIE.

If that is not a big deal, consider this.

This is not the first film that has these two actors, the experimentation is done folks, this is pure business, a repeat strategy based on the moolah, not the critics, not the festivals,….nothing….only for pure business…and who do they cast?????

Given that, as my brother in law who runs India Sweet and Spices, in Venice, LA says “Only three years ago Kalpen Modi (Kal Penn) would be hanging out at my shop having chai” and given that in his debut film, he was the hero’s (Deep Katdare) sidekick, Harold and Kumar - Part 2, IS SPINNING HOLLYWOOD IN  A DIRECTION NOT TAKEN SINCE IT’S INCEPTION (I.E. HOLLYWOOD’S INCEPTION)

HOLLYWOOD TRENDS ARE BECOMING ….NEED I SAY….SLIGHTLY SOUTH ASIAN!!!

And honestly I don’t give a rat’s behind what the critics, etc, feel of the film, I don’t care, cause they don’t count. Business counts, ROI counts, and like it or not, success counts and Harold and Kumar are giving a very $$$ oriented statement, as opposed to an IT IS DIFFERENT statement, and the former statements are always heard loud and clear.

BUT THERE IS MORE TO THIS DREAM

Let’s leave the Malibu, Redondo, Huntington, Newport side of the Pacific and continue on to the next Ocean, the Indian Ocean and no, forget the Artsy Bay of Bengal side, that does not pay the bills, let’s go to the Arabian Sea and the “commercial, cause that is very important for anything to be around” side. Let’s go to Juhu, Chowpatty, Madh, Alibaugh side. DRASTIC CHANGES ARE HAPPENING THERE TOO.

Non Typical Bollywood films are now becoming very typical. Although the film was bad, the fact remains, that person who is setting up the Television department of SRK’s Red Chillies, is making films with Rahul Bose, Kay Kay Menon and Javed Jaffrey. Rajat Kapoor is coming as a leading guy (none of the side hero please , given that in most cases he anyway overpowers the hero) with Neha Dhuphia. Big, bad and commericial Sanjay Gupta is planning to make Chitra Devakurni’s novels into films. AB is coming in movies directed by Leena Yadav (as opposed to the regular folks he works with). Allegedly folks such as Rajpal Yadav, Vinay, Ranvir are asking for and getting a crore….and more power to them for that…while I can’t pay them that…it feels good that they are getting their market dues and that due is not linked to you being a star bachcha or relative. The “old” school of RGV is still star obsessed, but there is a whole world of “old RGV sensibilites” that has sprung up and is boldly going where others feared. Add to this the alternative, but still commercially lucrative world of films that Rajat/Naseer/KayKay/Madhur/Bhavna, etc make……DRASTIC CHANGES ARE HAPPENING THERE TOO.

PFC get ready….your are about to change your status from being the outsiders looking in, to the next Yash Raj. The outsiders are now becoming the norm….and this trend is not going away…cause India and the World has changed and it happened right in front of our eyes!!!!

IT SEEMS I NEED TO AWAKE FROM THIS DREAM….BUT GUESS WHAT I AM AWAKE AND IT AIN’T A DREAM!!! Aapan yaaala pahilat ka (did you find these missing folks) —– The Traditional Order in Bollywood and Hollywood!!

Sincerely,

Vivek “suddenly there is a bigger ahem smaller scoop in Bolly and Holly, than M. Night’s next and that smaller one is the more lucrative one” Kumar