JOIN US"Yes, we saw the film in the theatre. Please don't ask about the quality of the movie. We went to see the howling and tamasha created by the audience inside the theatre. The theatre was full and audience was abusing the film non-stop," said a Class XII student, who came with his friends to watch the drama.
It seems Lady Luck is smiling on Santhosh Pandit, who has beocme a star despite making a bad film. From social media to television channels to newspapers - everybody is talking about him and how bad the film is.
Various TV channels conducted talk shows on the phenomenon called Pandit, while leading local dailies published articles on him. When asked why has he wasted time and money to make the film, Pandit said: "Did I ever come to your house to ask you to see my film? Those in the industry, who criticise me, have no right because their films bomb at the box office, my first film is drawing huge crowds!"
Top notch directors are also criticising him. But Pandit is unfazed. "See, directors like Lal Jose do only direction, while in my first film I handled all the departments single handedly. So, what right a director who handles only one aspect of a filmmaking has to criticises me?"
Prior to film's release Oct 21, the eight songs of the film were quite hit on YouTube and by Nov 10, according to Google Trends, Pandit became the 10th most popular searchable name from India.
And, surprisingly, India stood fifth in the countries that searched for him. Pandit has announced his second and third film and just like his debut film, he will do everything himself in his next ventures.
Thanks to his so-called hit movie, Pandit has become a sought-after name and he is cashing in on his 'popularity'. He is asking for Rs.3,00,000 to be a chief guest at an event.
"We are negotiating with him to bring down his rate and if he agrees, he will be the chief guest and launch our online newspaper early next month. He says now he has to move around with his bodyguards and since he is based out in Kozhikode, he has to drive down with his bodyguards and it is an expensive affair," said the consulting editor on the condition of anonymity.
"We decided to invite him because currently he is the most viewed online personality from the state," he added.