First weekend performance of latest release

People have actually been asking two questions - a) Are there actually two films by the name of HARI PUTTAR - A COMEDY OF TERRORS and RAFOO CHAKKAR - FUN ON THE RUN, b) Have these two films actually released? Such low were the two films on hype and further low on substance (as claimed by the poor souls who actually gathered courage to watch them on their Friday release), that even before the film's first show ended, the writing was clear on the wall. The two films are as dead as dust and would find it difficult to survive beyond their opening weekend. With DRONA and KIDNAP seeing a Thursday release, the two films have failed to survive even a week's run. One wonders if even 10 lakhs apiece would be possible for these two films once the collections are out!

Last week's movies

A small film that has managed to gain some moolah, courtesy a bountiful opening weekend, WELCOME TO SAJJANPUR has gathered 6.5 crores from the box office in it's first week. The film had seen a medium level release though (over 400 cinemas) which made recovery even easier for this UTV film. The film has been excellent in Mumbai with 1.7 crores coming in while Delhi too has been good with excess of 85 lakhs. The film won't really do a WEDNESDAY at the box office since the word of mouth is just good (not terrific as was the case with the Neeraj Pandey thriller) and competition from DRONA and KIDNAP is immense as well. However, the movie has comfortably sailed through and is already an above average earner.

On the other hand SAAS BAHU AUR SENSEX is a major flop and hasn't done well for Tanushree Dutta who believed that this movie would find an audience. With a mere 1 crore coming from across the country, SAAS BAHU AUR SENSEX has failed miserably and is hardly being seen in it's second week. Chances are low that even DVDs would be able to salvage this poor movie which also suffered from bad reviews and negligible word of mouth. As for HULLA, it is a total downer and a colossal disaster. What else can one term a movie like this which in it's entire week run nets a pathetic 13 lacs from across the country!

From the past

Comparatively 1920 has managed to survive reasonably well in it's second week too when one thought that the film may do it's maximum business in it's first weekend, get return on investment and then say goodbye to the box office. However, the film fell by a reasonable 55% in it's second weekend and earned another 2.5 crores. With 8.5 crores already in it's kitty and 10 crores very much on the cards, 1920 is a comfortable above average runner at the box office.

Success story of A WEDNESDAY is akin to that of JAB WE MET and earlier VIVAH, both of which had managed to grow from strength to strength week after week. The film is doing rock steady business at the box office and taking minimal fall. In it's third week, the film saw only 20% drop, hence managing to earn another 2 crores for itself. A film made on shoestring budget, A WEDNESDAY has already earned more than 7.5 crores for itself and 10 crores doesn't look far away. With a HIT tag already bestowed upon it, one now waits to see if the film manages to survive till Diwali and reach 15 crores mark to earn a SUPERHIT tag for itself!

ROCK ON is another HIT of the season and after seeing less than 50% fall in it's 4th week, it saw another 2.5 crores coming in. At close to 25 crores, the film is a good HIT at the box office and is continuing to run at a few shows till date. If the makers play their game smartly and release the DVDs soon on the stands, the film would do bumper business on home entertainment as well since the movie is finding immense appreciation all over.

PHOONK is managing to survive as well and though not many would have given this Ramu film much of a chance before it's release, the fact is that it is continuing to rake in moolah even in it's 5th week. With 15 lakhs more coming in, the film is inching towards the 11 crores mark. Meanwhile BACHNA AE HASEENO is now eyeing 38 crores after being in the running for 6 weeks. The film collected 30 lakhs more in the week gone by. SINGH IS KINNG earned slightly more than that (35 lakhs) and has now crossed the 75 crores mark.

In the future

KIDNAP and DRONA release today and the verdict is already out (the film released on Thursday all over) that KIDNAP has taken a better opening than DRONA. However, the fact is that none of the two films has found appreciation (KIDNAP is average to below average while DRONA is already showing signs of rejection). By the time the first weekend is through, picture would be crystal clear. However, if one has to term the state of Bollywood for the moment, it is that it would have to wait for KARZZZZ on 17th October to bring back the smiles.