First weekend performance of latest release

Was it 'unrealistic' for Abbas Mustan to make a film that had it's theme based on 'reality'? That's the theory making the rounds in the industry which is mighty surprised with the sub-par response that NAQAAB has generated on it's opening. Promos were looking good, casting was perfect and touch of the master director duo was visible all over. Still, the film just didn't open to a kind of response that a biggie like this deserved. One of the reasons being stated is the film's title that didn't really go down well with the audience. Perhaps the word 'naqaab' was too massy to woo multiplex audience. Sounds silly, but when things go wrong, blames come in heaps!

If just around 50% opening wasn't bad enough, further trouble came in the form of an overall 'thanda' word of mouth that was generated. No, I am not talking about the kind of SMSs and whisper-calls that were made by people from within the industry. In fact they were plain negative with obituaries being written once the first show was over. I am talking about the 'aam junta' which was just not kicked about the film at all! Result? The movie is looking hard pressed to make any profits and should face massive challenge in the form of PARTNER and CASH on subsequent weekends.

Last week's movies

Just around the time when BOMBAY TO GOA was getting ready for release, there was just a slight indication (read intuition) that the comic film may manage to break even. First week billing of the film has made it possible as it has garnered as much as 2 crore, which is certainly respectable considering the budget, cast, credentials and target audience for the movie. Primarily a film for the single screen audience, it collected as much as 60 lakhs from Mumbai, which is quite good. Ahmedabad was second best with 15 lakhs while Delhi+NCR too got home 10 lakhs plus. On the other hand remaining part if India too contributed with more than 1 crore which means that as expected, the film did reasonably well in the interiors.

The film has worked for its actors like Raju Srivastava and Sunil Pal and will prove to be an earner. Add to it the good business it is expected to do on DVD circuits (yet again, primarily in interiors) and the film should prove to be a profit making preposition for all.

Same cannot be said about MY FRIEND GANESHA though which neither had good promotion too boast, nor took a decent opening at the box office. Collections were in the tune of just 65 lakhs with Mumbai contributing 30 lakhs. Neither was there any buzz surrounding the film now was the word of mouth considerable enough to make it pull through the first week comfortably. The end result was that majority of country saw the prints of MY FRIEND GANESHA being returned, hence adding on the part-live-part-animation film into the list of 2007 flops.

From the past

When AAP KAA SURROOR was gearing up for release, not many were giving it a chance to stay on at the theaters for beyond a week. The tune changed when the film opened to house full boards and the reverse trend began. Nevertheless, the movie came and made money once the opening weekend was through. Speculations were being made that the hit status of the movie was primarily due to a bumper opening and the film would eventually go downhill from thereon.

Well, as it has turned out, yet again it has been plain speculation at work with reality being completely different. The reason being that after making a healthy 10 crore plus in its first week, the film has stayed on considerably well even in the second week with only 45% fall.

AWARAPAN did manage to hold on considerably well with a 55% fall resulting in 2.25 crore coming in but that wasn't good enough. A 2 week total of 7.25 crore with not many hopes of mega bucks in the coming weeks means that statistically Emraan Hashmi would now have 3 flops in a row - GOOD BOY BAD BOY, THE TRAIN and AWARAPAN. Still, fact cannot be denied that AWARAPAN is the best film of Hashmi's career with the young actor giving his everything to it.

The film performed best in Mumbai with more than 50 lakhs coming from the city but that wasn't good enough. Director Mohit Suri may have a commercial failure to his name but that shouldn't deter film makers to rope him in for the sheer range he has demonstrated in ZEHER, KALYUG and WOH LAMHE.

JHOOM BARABAR JHOOM has crashed in a manner which has not happened to the biggest of rejected films like JAAN-E-MANN or SALAAM-E-ISHQ. Even these films saw a massive fall week after week but not in the same manner as JHOOM BARABAR JHOOM. The film has been seeing a way out of theaters like none of Yash Raj Films in the past have (even KABUL EXPRESS fared better w.r.t. acceptance and stay at theaters) and has collected mere 25 lakhs in it's 4th week! Unbelievable.

The film has made 26 crore and this is the total that should eventually turn out to be the final total. Has the film impacted any careers? Not really. Abhishek Bachchan and Preity Zinta have a loyal following and number of upcoming projects to back up this flop. On the other hand Bobby and Lara have only benefited from JBJ with appreciation coming for their spirited performances.

CHEENI KUM continues to find an audience of itself in spite of being in theaters for more than 50 days. Collecting close to 15 lakhs in the week gone by, the film is a steady earner with 15.5 crore already in it's kitty. The film may just about manage to stretch towards the 16 crore mark. Now that's a mark which LIFE IN A METRO has already reached but still 10 lakhs more came in from the limited theaters (20) it is still playing.

In the future

PARTNER - the film which releases this Friday - should easily take the best opening of the year. While GURU, SOAL and JHOOM BARABAR JHOOM are the biggest hurdles required to be crossed, PARTNER should well manage to beat the record and prove to be a earner for everyone. The hype is tremendous while the buzz is quite positive. Govinda-Salman-Dhawan combo is expected to rock in a big way and ensure that audience has their weekend full of entertainment.