'1994: Key Events

• The Janata Dal splits and George Fernandes is elected president of the breakaway ‘Samata’ group.

• The agitation in Karnataka against the telecasting of news in Urdu turns violent, following which the Election Commission announces a stay-order on Urdu news telecasts from Bangalore Doordarshan.

• The Cable Television (Regulation) Ordinance is an- nounced.

• Plague hits the city of Surat claiming 47 victims; five more die in Delhi of pneumonic plague.

• Real-life ‘Bandit Queen’ Phoolan Devi is released from prison after 11 years.

• Murdoch announces a new ‘pay-TV’ channel in Hindi, among several other ventures.

• Jurassic Park (1992) is dubbed in Hindi and grosses Rs 12 crore. It is followed by Speed (1993), Cliffhanger (1992) etc., Aladdin (1992), True Lies (1994), Twister (1996) etc. , intensifying the new practice of dubbing Hollywood products into Hindi and other languages.

• The ‘sarkailo khatia’ song in Raja Babu causes a scandal leading to the announcement of amendments in the Censor Code.

• Hum Aapke Hain Koun is declared the biggest hit in the history of Indian cinema, reintroducing the ‘family’ entertainment genre.

• Bandit Queen is virtually banned by the Indian Censor Board, but wins at at the Supreme Court and is released