First weekend performance of latest release

From sheer release timing, it was the best that CHAIN KULLI KI MAIN KULLI could have expected. JHOOM BARABAR JHOOM wasn't exactly setting box office on fire and to add to the fun, CK2MK was the sole release of the week. In spite of these two factors going in it's favor, CK2MK took a no-show start at the box office. Reason was simple - poor promotion and near-zilch awareness.

Ok, so agreed that Rahul Bose doesn't have a standing that he can pull a movie completely on his own. But give him just the right platform, an able promotional campaign and some good visibility and one can be rest assured that his fan following would help do some talking. Unfortunately none of that happened in case of CK2MK which just released suddenly and is not expected to sustain beyond a week.

Last week's movies

JHOOM BARABAR JHOOM released a week earlier and while it was widely expected that the film would take a very good first week opening (considering the fact that none of the films prior to it's release got much positive feedback and it was the sole release of the week), it wasn't the case to be. The film got extremely mixed reviews, something which also happened in the case of Shaad Ali's last BUNTY AUR BABLI, but this time around audience's feedback wasn't much positive either.

The film did make 19.5 crore in the first week which on the face value is a very good number. But if one looks at the print count (it was more than 600) and one realizes that it was sheer bombarding factor that helped achieve this number. While Mumbai was close to 4 crore and Delhi was at 2.5 crore, NCR added up to 1.5 crore hence making majority of moolah coming from these major cities.

The film is safe, no doubt, but to be called as a decent success, its fall over the weeks should be as per 50% industry standard. It could be so for one more week since CK2MK is the only release that challenges it but going is tough next week as APNE, AWARAPAN, AAP KAA SURROOR and DIE HARD 4 should prove to be major roadblocks on its way.

From the past

THE TRAIN took a massive fall in it's second week and if not for a decent first week collections of 4.5 crores, it could have been an out and out flop. After a near 90% fall [miserable] and only 5 crore in it's kitty, THE TRAIN has followed an almost similar pattern as Raksha-Hasnain's debut venture THE KILLER. An unfortunate venture for the director duo since everyone went hammers and tongs for the DERAILED rip off rather than looking at the time-pass value that the 'masala' entertainer brought with it.

MERA PEHLA PEHLA PYAAR should now be seen on DVD shelves since the film has been out of theaters in 2 weeks flat after a near 90% second week fall. With only 75 lakhs as the total collections, the film is a box office disaster in spite of some decent reviews. Robby Grewal has been second time unlucky after a well made SAMAY and a decent MP3 and it would be interesting to see the genre that he adapts for his next film. Newcomers Ruslaan and Hazel also have something to look forward to since the two have garnered good reviews and have been appreciated for their performances.

Ahmed Khan should be thanking his producer Firoz Nadiadwala for ensuring that not only he allowed a holds-no-bars expenses for his film, he also pumped in good chunk of money into promotion of FOOL N FINAL to ensure that it turns out to be at least coverage at the box office. This is what enabled good first week followed by a decent second week that ensured that this action comedy hung on to get money back for it's investors.

The writing was clear on the wall in the third week with barely 1 crore coming after 80% fall but 18.5 crore in 3 weeks meant that Ahmed Khan would live to make another film. Shahid Kapoor would hardly consider FOOL N FINAL as an ideal follow up to VIVAH while Sunny Deol has yet another coverage success after BIG BROTHER. Ayesha Takia though would have to seriously consider the kind of roles she wants to do!

SHOOT OUT AT LOKHANDWALA continues it's hit run and gets another 1.5 crore to it's name in the fourth week. Yet again Mumbai has contributed most with near 40 lakhs while Ahmedabad is second best with merely 9 lakhs. At 32 crore and now nearing it's box office run with a plethora of releases round the corner, the overall collections aren't quite spectacular considering the fact that the film's opening was more than 18 crore.

Nevertheless, if one wishes to let aside this factor, a final total in the vicinity of 33-34 crore should be considered quite good since in Bollywood, films with realistic themes have hardly made this kind of money. Though Apoorva Lakhia has indeed made a good product, just like Ahmed Khan even he should thank his producers [Sanjay Gupta, Ekta Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor] for giving his product such a push at the box office through excellent promotion.

CHEENI KUM has held on well too with more than 1.25 crore to it's name in spite of running at far lesser prints than SOAL. The film is showing good box office response though yet again, it will have limited run from this moment on due to flurry of films vying for space at the box office. With Mumbai contributing 40 lakhs and Delhi another 20 lakhs in the 4th week, the film is standing pretty at 14 crores and should end up in excess of 15 crores. This is now the biggest sole success for Amitabh Bachchan ever since one can remember!

Meanwhile METRO is chugging along fine with good collections of 35 lakhs even in it's 6th week. At 15 crore +, the film is very good hit and is now en route to be a smash hit success in the DVD circuit too with the original software out on the stands. Anurag Basu has now established himself as a director par excellence and it would be interesting to see the genre he picks for his next film. Ditto for Siddharth Anand whose TRRP is now breathing it's last with 8th week bringing on 10 lakhs. At 37 crore, the film is a HIT and YRF have already released the film's VCDs on the stands.

In the future

Four major films release this weekend - APNE, AWARAPAN, AAP KAA SURROOR and DIE HARD 4. While DIE HARD would have a market of it's own, it is not expected to eat into the collections of any of the Bollywood flicks. Out of the three Hindi films, AAP KAA SURROOR is expected to take the best start due to sheer curiosity factor. Also, one cannot underestimate the pull that Reshammiya may manage to bring on in the B and C centers where his songs have proved to be mega successes. On the other hand hardcore Deol fans up North may just about go ballistic once again though in the rest of the country, it is expected to grow more in the power of word of mouth. AWARAPAN should have a middle of the road path, just like the way all Bhatt films behave in their first weekend. The film looks promising though and looks like the most polished product of Mohit Suri till date.