The much-awaited BILLU opened to a tepid response of 25% to 35% at various screens across the nation. However, the silver lining is that the film is enjoying positive reports and the next two days [Saturday and Sunday] will be crucial. Most exhibitors aren't surprised with the slow start, since it was evident from the promotion that the story revolves around Irrfan and that it wasn't the conventional SRK film, like OM SHANTI OM.The other two releases, THE STONEMAN MURDERS and JUGAAD, have also opened with dull collections.
Post RAAZ - THE MYSTERY CONTINUES and SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, the business continues to go downhill. Last week's LUCK BY CHANCE and VICTORY opened to dull and dismal houses, respectively and this week's DEV D had a 25% - 35% start at select screens, while the opening was much lower at others. The reports are negative and a decline in business was noticed on Day 1 itself. The general feedback is that the film is not likely to sustain.
The two new releases, LUCK BY CHANCE and VICTORY, had a slow start on Friday in India. What comes as a surprise is the fact that the two films were well-publicized prior to their release. LUCK BY CHANCE started on a 25% - 30% note at plexes, while VICTORY was 10% to 20% at several screens.
It could've been a hat-trick, but it isn't. RAB NE BANA DI JODI worked. So did GHAJINI. Had CHANDNI CHOWK TO CHINA not bit the dust, the industry would've continued its winning streak. We enjoyed the starters [RAB NE BANA DI JODI], we enjoyed the meal [GHAJINI], but the dessert [CHANDNI CHOWK TO CHINA] left a bitter taste.
The much-awaited CHANDNI CHOWK TO CHINA was expected to fetch a stupendous start, but producer proposes, audience disposes. The paid previews were below the mark at several screens, while the Friday numbers were best in North, Delhi-NCR specifically, but average at best at several places.
The year 2009 has kick-started on a thanda note, what with the two Hindi openers, KAASHH... MERE HOTE! and BAD LUCK GOVIND, opening to dull houses. The films were released at select screens of select stations and the response was extremely poor... All eyes are on the biggie that opens next week -- CHANDNI CHOWK TO CHINA. The Akshay Kumar starrer is expected to fetch a hurricane-like start everywhere.
GHAJINI is smashing all previous records. The film is emerging the biggest opener of all times, grossing a whopping approx. Rs. 20 cr. nett in its first two days. The film collected approx. Rs. 1.6 cr. nett in paid previews [on Wednesday], approx. Rs. 8.25 cr. nett on limited screens and shows [on Thursday] and approx. Rs. 10.15 cr. nett [on Friday], according to its all-India distributors Studio 18. The collections are simply earth-shattering.
The keenly-anticipated GHAJINI fetched the biggest start ever, shattering the record held by SINGH IS KINNG and GOLMAAL RETURNS, the two big openers of 2008. The paid previews were packed to capacity on Wednesday night and the film ran to almost 100% response throughout the country on Thursday.
Subhash Ghai's ambitious fare YUVVRAAJ started well in the morning shows. The shows in parts of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and NCR were almost packed, but the noon shows showed a decline as the film performed in the 40% - 60% range. The film picked up during the evening shows, but it remains to be seen where it tilts on Saturday and Sunday. YUVVRAAJ is crucial for both, Ghai and Salman Khan, who've been facing rough weather professionally.
Karan Johar's eagerly awaited DOSTANA opened to a heartening response at multiplexes across the country. The youth brigade turned up in full force for a Hindi film, after a gap. A similar trend was noticed during JAANE TU... YA JAANE NA, BACHNA AE HASEENO and ROCK ON!!. While the opening was 80% + at plexes, with night shows running to packed capacity, the response at single screens was dull at several places. The business was in the 40% - 60% range, at places even lower. However, at some single screens patronised by classes, it was at par with the multiplex business. That has been the trend with Karan's previous films like KAL HO NAA HO and KABHI ALVIDA NAA KEHNA as well. The revenue should be strong from multiplexes mainly.
Happy Diwali! It's that time of the year when everyone hopes and prays that the festival of lights spreads light in our lives. This year, I sincerely and genuinely wish, from the bottom of my heart, that the gloomy scenario fades and Diwali brings in cheer and prosperity to everyone within and outside the industry.
The sole release of the week, KARZZZZ, has opened to mixed houses. The opening was best in U.P. and parts of Rajasthan. Single screens, in several circuits, were also good. However, the multiplexes sported a different picture completely. The opening at plexes was below par almost everywhere, taking the trade by complete surprise. In fact, the trade was unanimous that the opening would be huge, but that wasn't the case at all. Too many prints and too many shows are being attributed to the below the mark occupancy. Will things improve on Saturday and Sunday? Let's wait-n-watch!
The two major releases this Eid, KIDNAP and DRONA, have proved disappointments, although KIDNAP is better in U.K. On face-value, the 5-day weekend figure of KIDNAP [£ 2,43,309] may seem impressive, but the fact remains that given the festival period and a long 5-day weekend, everyone was expecting the film to touch approx. £ 3,50,000, but the negative reports have hit the film hard. On the other hand, DRONA is a debacle of epic proportions in U.K.
The horror genre seems to be fast catching up. Few weeks ago, PHOONK took the industry by complete surprise by fetching a very good start all over. Now 1920 has taken an encouraging opening at places. The opening was 40% to 60% in Mumbai and Delhi. At other places, the opening was lower. The reports are decent and the trade expects the business to pick up on Saturday and Sunday.
The lull has finally ended! Mahesh Bhatt and Mukesh Bhatt's JANNAT, directed by debutante Kunal Deshmukh, has fetched an excellent start. At places, the occupancy was 100%, at places 70%-80%. Inox, PVR and Velocity, Indore had a 100% start in the first show, Fame Surat was 100%, Inox Baroda was 100%, Prasad Hyderabad was 100%, Satyam Delhi was 100%.
The two new releases, BHOOTHNATH and JIMMY, opened to a lukewarm start at most places. While BHOOTHNATH was better with a 25%-30% opening, the film has an advantage because the audience response is encouraging. The traders are hopeful that the film would gather steam with word of mouth by family audiences.
