First weekend performance of latest release

2006 has seen a splurge in films turning successful at box office. Some have become hits with a passage of time while some have been hits on the first week basis with collections sliding down after a while. But seldom has there been a film that has found utmost solidarity from both within and outside the industry, from regular junta as well as Page 3 regulars, from single screens to multiplexes, from Amritsar to LA, from Bhatinda to Birmingham. That's 'Lagey Raho Munnabhai' for you! "Go watch it", is the common phrase heard from folks and such a comment is deadly when a film has already taken a great start.

As expected, the film opened to 80% plus and is on its way to become a big hit. The team has struck once again and this is the first time ever in the history of Bollywood sequels when audience has unanimously hailed a movie to be better than its prequel! The film had some issues related with its release at multiplexes but by the time the weekend was through, the prints started reaching to all multiplexes. There has been a certain loss due to this but in the final run that shouldn't be an issue because even at centers where the film reached on late Sunday or Monday, it was showing housefull sign for shows as late as 11:45 PM, something that is quite rare on a dreaded Monday when even a film with a 100% opening weekend takes a 30-40% fall!!!

'Jaane Hoga Kya' was simply crushed by the might of Munnabhai and Circuit and its a miracle that theatres are still screening it after a disastrous first weekend. A good concept gone awry due to late release, near to negligible promotion and some patchy treatment, Bollywood would have to now wait for another day to witness a true blue sci-fi cloning flick!

Last week's movies

'Aap Ki Khatir' opened to a below average response over the weekend but Monday onwards the collections came completely crashing down and the film was termed as a flop. With zero word of mouth, near to negligible post release promotion and extraordinary response for 'Lagey Raho Munnabhai' as the major deterrents, this seen-this-seen-all kinda film by Dharmesh Darshan had no takers. One had expected the film to at least sail through as a coverage given its huge starcast and good music but a 6 crore first week total means that it would hardly touch even 10 crores! With 20 crores being a norm for a film of this grandeur, 30 crore being a parameter for a hit and smaller films making 10 crores with ease, the writing is clear on the wall for AKK.

'Sandwich' was a non-starter even 2 years back and the dated movie just came and went just like numerous other stuck films starring Govinda that have released in last couple of years or so. Govinda should in fact be extremely pleased that a) the film has released much before his comeback films [Bhagam Bhaag, Partner] start coming on screen and b) the film had had such a low profile release that even his fans won't even realize if it ever came. Even for director Anees Bazmee, the failure of the film shouldn't matter at all since he has some very interesting big budget films coming up starting next year. Released on just 100 prints, 'Sandwich' collected just about 35 lakhs and should ideally wrap up at 50 lakhs. Disaster!

From the past

There have been falls and there will be falls, but the way 'Ahista Ahista' fell would make even a cynical look at amazement. The film came 'ahista ahista' but is now on its way to be extinct 'jaldi jaldi' as it took nothing less than a 90% fall. Shocking! The question of audience rejection doesn't arise at all since the film wasn't even seen by any! A 10 lakh 2nd total would melt the strongest of hearts and the film wrapping up at close to 1.25 crore is simply heartbreaking. The film is a disaster and talented Abhay Deol must indeed be wondering about his next steps from hereon. The guy deserves to stay on and now it's just a matter of right directors and big banners to catch hold of him.

While KANK fell by 60% in its second week, the story was somewhat similar even in the 3rd week, though in the process it still ended up making around 4.5 crore. Karan Johar's target audience has watched the film and though the reaction may have been mixed, the fact is that they DID see the film, which is the bottom-line from the trade perspective. Yes, if the film would have boasted of a universal theme it may have done better for itself but still the film is already eyeing 45 crores by crossing the 43 crore mark. Contribution from both Mumbai [60 lakhs] and Delhi [50 lakhs] was not too healthy but collections have trickled from other centers hence enabling the film to sail through.

'Anthony Kaun Hai' added another million in its 4th week but still a 7.5 crore total can by no means be termed as healthy. Though Raj Kaushal may be disheartened about the film's fate, it should not make much difference to Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi since both are now basking in the glory of 'Lagey Raho Munnabhai'. Moreover Warsi also has 'Golmaal' going strong for him which makes it 2 hits out of 3 films for him!

'Omkara' held on amazingly well in its 5th week to boast of third highest collections [70 lakhs] of the week gone by. A film that was titled as a flop in its first week is at least below average with total crossing 22 crores. Though it would fail to touch 23 crores, it is still good money to be earned for this well made film by Vishal Bhardwaj. 'Golmaal', the other release of Devgan, has now crossed 50 days at the box office while collecting 35 lakhs last week. The total have now crossed 28 crores which makes it a 50 crore + sum total for two Devgan films in the running, a fact which media has chosen to ignore largely. Collections of 'Krrish' remain consistent again and a 35 lakhs 10th week has now enabled the film to cross 64 crores. 65 crores in a long run is clearly in the anvil which should make it the 2nd biggest money spinner of the current decade after 'Gadar’

In the future

Two diverse films release this week - 'Naksha' and 'Dil Diya Hai'. Out of the two, one feels odd that 'Naksha' hasn't been promoted as aggressively as it deserved to be. Though there have been press conferences, news bytes and interviews galore, the punch expected from this Sunny-Vivek-Jackie-Sameera seems to be missing. This is surprising because after a long time comes a film like 'Naksha' that truly seems to giving enough meat in the role for Sunny to chew on while the promos have looked interesting too. Songs have started picking as well and though the opening is expected to be on an average side [60-70%], it has a potential to go further up if this action/adventure is indeed thrilling.

On the other hand 'Dil Diya Hai' seems to be on a wrong foot already since the pre-release buzz is absolutely missing. Unlike 'Aashiq Banaya Aapne' that pulled in the crowds in the basis of Himesh Reshammiya's songs, DDH doesn't have the same going for it. The talkie promos are boring and do not have any retention powers and the opening is expected only to be below average!