First weekend performance of latest release
SPEED never had much chance to begin with when it released last week. In spite of being a solo release, the buzz was clearly missing with the audience being divided. One section thought that it was yet another Vikram Bhatt release this year (after RED, LIFE MEIN KABHIE KABHIEE and FEAR). Another section thought that it was a stale film since the film had come near to release on at least 3 instances in last 6-7 months. In spite of some last minute publicity drive, the film didn't even take an opening.
It wasn't as badly made a film as many reviews indicated but sometimes a product looses out completely due to disinterest of everyone involved. The same happened with SPEED. This one will be a two week runner at maximum, hence adding on the long tally of Vikram Bhatt and Aftab Shivdasani box office flops.
Last week's movies
Success of BHOOL BHULAIYAA has now made Akshay Kumar THE hottest property today. And why not? After BHAGAM BHAG, NAMASTE LONDON, HEYY BABYY and now BHOOL BHULAIYAA, he can expect guaranteed successes in the form of WELCOME, TASHAN and SINGH IS KING. He is simply unstoppable today, as indicated by the 26 crore opening that the film has taken.
This Proyadarshan directed film has accumulated huge moolah from all major centers while doing good business across the A, B and C centers of the country. Mumbai has been terrific with collections crossing the 4.5 crores mark. Even in Delhi, the film has broken the 2.5 crores barrier with NCR further contributing more than 1 crore. Even in Ahmedabad, another major center for Bollywood biggies, the film did very good business by netting more than 1 crore.
With huge number of shows even in the second week of the film's running, expect bountiful collections to continue before four new releases of the new week arrive. Though Vidya is not paired opposite Akshay, this is their second big success in a row after HEYY BABYY. Amisha Patel gets her second success after HONEYMOON TRAVELS PVT. LTD. while Shiney Ahuja benefits as well. As for Priyadarshan, he now sits right up there in the top bracket when it comes to making successful movies for the masses.
LAAGA CHUNARI MEIN DAAG was in any case an ordinary product. BHOOL BHULAIYAA further proved to be too much of a competition. It's case didn't improve with poor reviews coming it's way and a barely 'theek-thaak' to 'what was this' reaction from audience meant that the film had to be content with a 12 crore first week total. Now this is the weakest ever opening for a Yash Raj film ever since one can remember. Mumbai brought home 2.5 crores while Delhi was only average with 1.5 crores as the net figure. While Delhi NCR held on reasonably well with collections reading approx 70 lakhs, Ahmedabad was clearly a lot behind with 42 lakhs.
The film hardly seems to be in survival mode in the second week and it's acceptance in this duration would pave it's way for the future. As of now it seems that the film may have the quickest home entertainment video launch for a Yash Raj film.
From the past
In the battle between BHOOL BHULAIYAA and LAAGA CHUNARI MEIN DAAG, all the other films in the running suffered in a big way. Such was the combined impact of both the films at the box office that other films completely fell at the box office.
While ITS BREAKING NEWS and 50 LAKH couldn't survive beyond a week, GO and CHODDON NAA YAAR crashed more than 90% as well to record collections in the tune of 2 and 1 lakh respectively. Both the films are box office disasters with unmentionable final totals.
DIL DOSTI ETC, after enjoying it's stay at the theaters for two good weeks, saw an unceremonious exit too as the collections showed more than 80% decline with 16 lakhs coming in. At 2.5 crore plus, the film is a decent earner and should be available on DVDs soon.
JOHNNY GADDAAR couldn't sustain itself in the third week and lost it's breath by earning 15 lakhs more. At 4 crores, it hasn't lost money for it's investors though it deserves to make amends in the home video circuits. However, the find of the film is Neil Mukesh while the next project of Sriram Raghavan too would be looked at keenly.
With BHOOL BHULAIYAA being the first choice of cine goers, DHOL completely crashed in the third week with a 80% fall. Still, 31 lakhs more coming in meant that the film closes as a semi-hit with a 18 crore total. Collections are not expected to improve any further since the film is hardly running in any shows currently. DHAMAAL too fell by more than 70% with it's 40 lakhs coming in the fourth week making the total collections surpass the 30 crores mark. The film is now out on VCDs with the DVDs expected to be out soon.
VCDs of CHAK DE INDIA are out as well as the film completed a 10 week run at the theaters. For the first time in it's entire run, it fell by more than 50% as 33 lakhs more resulted in the film crossing 63.5 crores. The film is now nearing it's theatrical run and has now turned out to be the biggest ever box office earner for Yash Raj Films after DHOOM 2.
In the future
One doesn't need to be an Einstein to know that which of the four films - JAB WE MET, NO SMOKING, MUMBAI SALSA, BAL GANESH - would take the biggest opening. JAB WE MET is all set to be the top choice for cine goers for numerous reasons and a 70% opening is the minimum one expects from this Shahid-Kareena starrer. The film seems all set to be a success. On the other hand both NO SMOKING and MUMBAI SALSA are quite a distance from JAB WE MET though the former is expected to take better opening due to Anurag Kashyap-John Abraham factor. This is a kind of film which could go either way though a universal success is ruled out. BAL GANESH doesn't even appear to be on radar and would be lucky to find an audience.