First weekend performance of latest release
Saying of 'lull before the storm' was proved once again when there was not a single notable release on the Friday gone by. 'Utthaan' came but saw a meager release with a disastrous opening to match. In fact multiplex exhibitors were clueless about what to show on the screens in spite of 4+ movies releasing every week for last one month. Result was that it was only 'Lage Raho Munnabhai' that continued to hold on well with 90% of films failing to do anything worthwhile.
Last week's movies
One fails to recollect if sum total of films released in 5 consecutive weeks would have ever given so many flops in the history of Bollywood! Not content with 15-20 flops that have already been witnessed since the beginning of September, the week gone by took the cake as it gave the industry as many as 6 major flops, with majority of them boasting of a 'disaster' status. Sushmita Sen's major film 'Zindagi Rocks', on which she must have pined a lot of hopes, has flopped miserably with mere 1.25 crore coming in the first week. Mumbai was best with around 25 lakhs while Delhi contributed around half of it. With poor reviews and absolutely zero word of mouth to match, the film should soon be seen on the DVD racks. Shiney Ahuja gave his all once again but it seems Tanuja Chandra's bad run has just not stopped over the years. The film can only take solace from the fact that amongst all the films it released with, it has the maximum collections.
Now let's come to the disasters of the week. Surprise-surprise as least known film of the week, 'Gafla', took the second best collections amongst the latest releases. It collected a princely sum of near 10 lakhs in its opening week and hence goes down as a certified disaster. The film collected 1.5 lakh in Mumbai, the city where this film about stock markets scam is based on. 'Iqrar - By Chance' got home a little above 5 lakhs from the entire country and hence is a dream gone sour for newcomer Amarjeet who made his debut. Shatrughan Sinha's first home production, 'Mera Dil Leke Dekho', Rehan Khan's debut film 'Jaana-Let's Fall In Love' and Jackie Shroff's 'Bhoot Unkle' had such poor collections that none of them managed to even cross the 5 lakhs barrier at an all-India level. At majority of centers, each of these films collected just about a few thousands rupees. Supreme disasters! The question is "Would the fate have been any better if they were timed better and came at some gap from each other?" The answer is NO.
From the past
'Woh Lamhe' hasn't really set the box office on fire and would go down as the second film by Vishesh Films after 'The Killer' which has managed to do just an average business at the box office. Though 'The Killer' was promoted lightly, Bhatts had gone all out to keep 'Woh Lamhe' in news since its inception. Hence one is disheartened by the fact that this well made film fell by about 60% in its second week and roped in just a little over 1.5 crore. Sitting at 5.5 crores, the film would wrap up below 7 crore and would go down as an average box office runner. Nevertheless, the entire team of 'Woh Lamhe' has proved their mettle once again and should keep them all in business for long.
While 'Jai Santoshi Maa' is literally out of theatres in 2 weeks flat with its original DVDs and VCDs already out, its going to be the same route for 'Krishna' too as it crashed by over 85% to wrap up around 65 lakhs. A big looser for everyone involved. In comparison 'Dor' has done remarkably well to show a minimal fall [just ~20%] for any film in the week gone by. It has sustained quite well to reach a respectable total of 2 crore and should now be at least a coverage for its investors in the long run. Even if there are losses, they would be minimal though producers can have good chances of some more revenue coming in from the DVD/satellite circuits!
'Khosla Ka Ghosla' has been doing amazing business with hardly a fall in its 3rd week. Word of mouth has helped this above average flick gain an additional 80 lakhs as it finds its own audience amidst dozens of other films coming and going. A heartening hit that has brought back Anupam Kher into the limelight once again. All eyes are now set on his next 'Apna Sapna Money Money' where one would see him in vintage comic act. Meanwhile 'Pyaar Ke Side Effects' is enjoying its stint at the theaters with the film continuing to be patronized even 4 weeks after its release. There were another 70 lakhs added to bring the film closer to 8 crore mark and now boasts of being one of the rarest films to be released in the 'shraddh' days and still being successful.
A 3.5 crore+ week means that 'Lagey Raho Munnabhai' has now crossed the 64 crore barrier too! The film is now just a few lakhs away from the 2nd [Krrish] and the 3rd highest [K3G] grossers of the year. Since it's an open week with no release, it is the magic of Munnabhai that is destined to make its presence felt all over again. Coming week should throw in numbers that would make it sit just next of 'Gadar-Ek Prem Katha' in the current decade.
In the future
'Don' and 'Jaaneman' - Is there anything left to say about these films? Gigabytes must have been dedicated world over over this clash of the decade and the only thing which is sure is - BOTH THE FILMS ARE GOING TO OPEN HUGE! While a record is surely going to be created for the total first week gross ever, the sky is the limit if the films justify the hype. With an entire fortnight open for the two flicks before 'Umrao Jaan' arrives on November 3rd, both the films are destined to make major moolah at the box office.
