<span class=normal> I am making an issue based film which is so close to reality that it will shock the audience and make them wonder if this could happen to them one day<BR><BR><br><p class=clear>&nbsp;</p>Once a filmmaker makes this statement, rest assured it could well announce death kneel for the film there and then. Its as simple as that. Well, in most of the cases at the least. If a film is being pitched to audience as a commercial entertainer, the very prefix of issue based pretty much ensures that a wide segment is alienated. Especially in the current market scenario when an opening weekend not just decides but pretty much seals the fate of the film, as a filmmaker you dont really want to send out any signals that makes an audience get even an iota of doubt around what is in the offing. <BR><BR><br><p class=clear>&nbsp;</p>Ask the makers of I Hate LUV Storys and Red Alert - The War Within and they would give an answer, though with varied expressions. The former was a conventional love story but due to a catchy title and promotion, it fetched its audience despite mixed reviews. By the time audience actually realised that the film was just another love story despite an antithesis of a title, the investors were smiling all the way to the bank. The film did see a fall, especially by the time the second week begun and is today almost on the verge of being extinct par faraq kisse padta hai? Imran and Sonam got a hit, Karan merrily organised a success party while some quick money came in. <BR><BR><br><p class=clear>&nbsp;</p>On the other hand, the team of Red Alert had to be content with good reviews and thats about it. For the last couple of years, the film was being pitched as a tale that depicted Naxal issue. Of course the subject warranted that the right aspects of the film were put on display but then audience too had made up their mind. For them, an issue based film was a strict no-no, with or without any amount of international acclaim that it may have got. Good to excellent reviews came in home territory as well but ruthless audience was unmoved. Ananth Mahadevan, Suniel Shetty and rest of the team may well be thinking if they could have fetched better gains had they pitched Red Alert as an action drama rather than a serious Naxal issue based film!</span>