‘Corona’ Virus Scare-A Quirky Inspiration For Romantic-Movie Titles

Chaitanya Padukone

Disaster, deadly disease epidemics, destructions , fatal attacks whipped up with a mix of romance, drama, music  and tragedy has quite often  inspired Bollywood movies.  Which is known for cashing in on the trending, viral, or burning issues of the season. As was evident,  with nearly half-a-dozen feature films made on the same subject -—an action-replay of the shocking 26/11 mayhem-attack by sadistic terrorists killing and injuring large number of  innocent Mumbai citizens. Even as our Bollywood industry stands to lose a whopping Rs 800 crore plus financially, due to the pan-India shut-down of movie-theatres, indefinite postponement and delays  in releases and stoppage of shooting schedules--- all as a stringent preventive measure to curb the Corona outbreak . However there is a funny flip side to this as well.  In view of the viral panic-scare of the dreaded Corona Virus disease,  a production house ( Eros) has apparently registered this catchy title ‘Corona Pyar Hai’ a  funny spin-off of Hrithik Roshan’s landmark movie ‘Kaho Naa Pyar Hai’  (2000).   Producer Krishika Lulla has confirmed the news stating that it is ‘a love-story with the backdrop of the epidemic. Currently, the script is being fine-tuned and they are waiting for the panic-situation to normalize. Thereafter the project would be kick-started’. Whether the movie will have newcomers in the leads or popular celeb-stars is not yet figured out. The film-trade body IMPPA  has also disclosed that various other producers have also. rushed to register ‘Corona-centric’ film titles including one called ‘Deadly Corona’. Other film-producers are considering registering quirky titles like ‘Mask Mein Mohabbat’, ‘Rukh Sey Zaraa Yeh Maask Uttaaro’ , ‘Itnaa Corona Mujhse Pyaar’  and ‘Kuchh Corona—Nahi Darrona’ etc.    Outspoken senior cine-trade analyst, film critic and anchor-host Komal Nahta feels that,  possibly it “seems to be more of a knee-jerk reaction of  such topical titles being registered, I don’t think these films will ever be made.”