It's black on black along with a comedy this week... preceding the big "Black" Sanjay Leela Bhansali opus which opens next week.

Anurag Kashyap's "Black Friday", detailing the events that culminated in what's now known as the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts, kicks off at the turnstiles this week.

Director Kashyap whose first film "Paanch" is unlikely to be released found unexpected media support for his cause-driven new film.

There are reports in media circles about Kashyap's life being "threatened" apparently by those who don't want the truth in "Black Friday" about the serial bomb blasts to be revealed.

The courts have ordered certain things to be deleted from the film.

Hard facts rub shoulders with run-of-the-mill masala stuff with this week's other release. "Blackmail" bears no resemblance to Vijay Anand's film of the same name in the 1970s.

Ajay Devgan who's directed by his cousin Anil Devgan in "Blackmail" had a great 2003.

But his films in 2004 and now Rituparno Ghosh's eagerly awaited "Raincoat" and the here-today-gone-yesterday "Insan" in 2005, haven't exactly covered themselves in glory.

Though it stars the hot-and-happening Priyanka Chopra, "Blackmail" might not be able to consolidate its position among the biggies of the season. Audiences are up to their neck in action flicks, especially those that look stale and pale.

Moreover, Ajay being directed by one of his relatives is a strict no-no at the box-office. Both "Raju Chacha" and "Hindustan Ki Kasam", which Ajay produced and which were directed by his cousin and father respectively put him in the red by millions.

Suniel Shetty, who features alongside Ajay in "Blackmail", is also part of the long-delayed comedy "Padmashri Laloo Prasad Yadav" which opens during the week when Shah Rukh Khan has been nominated for a Padma Shri award.

The Mahesh Manjrekar film is a take on the hit British comedy "A Fish Called Wanda". The four words in the title refer to the four principal characters played by Masumeh, Suniel Shetty, Mahesh Manjrekar and Johnny Lever.

Audiences aren't exactly clamouring to see Lalu Yadav's big-screen debut in "Padmashri..." The comedy is unlikely to get a sizeable audience outside the cow belt.

It's Kashyap's "Black Friday" which could turn into the cult hit of the season. With another hard-hitting expose, "Page 3", turning into the surprise success of the season and the first hit of 2005, it's Kashyap's film that looks appealing to the formula-satiated audience.

With its cast of theatre actors and other unknown players, "Black Friday" could well beat the two other "star-studded" films at the box office.