The Hindu : Like it or not, the show goes on

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Sep 14, 2002

National

National

Like it or not, the show goes on

By Mandira Nayar

NEW DELHI SEPT. 13. For a film, it has everything — media hype, political pressure, steamy scenes and a high-profile heroine. And now the controversial `Ek Chhoti Si Love Story' has one more week to keep the cash registers ringing — till the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister, Sushma Swaraj, takes a decision.

From the jurisdiction of the Mumbai High Court to Balasahib Thackeray's court and now to Sushma Swaraj, this "chhoti si'' story has really been stretched too long. Summoned to Delhi to present their side of the story, Manisha Koirala and Shashilal Nair met the I&B Joint Secretary (Films), Anjuly Duggal, on Friday morning.

The meeting was not without its share of high drama. With most Shastri Bhavan employees crowding the fifth floor to catch a glimpse of the actress, it was an endless wait for mediapersons outside Room 515. The meeting went on for three hours even as the Mumbai High Court issued contempt notices to both of them for seeking an extra-constitutional way out for a legal issue.

While all Manisha had to offer was, "What should I say?'', trying to make her escape from the shutterbugs who mobbed her, Nair was not so restrained. "She has blown this out of proportion, there is nothing much to it. I came here to present my side of the story, the Ministry should send its reply next week.''

For an obscure low-budget film, it has set off a chain of events bigger than the film-maker can handle. Nair's team propagating his side of the issue to scribes outside insisted that it was all a media hype more out of "coincidence than design''. But they don't seem to mind as long as it spells

``House Full'' outside theatres. For Manisha, however — who says she did the film for free — there is much more at stake besides money.

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