First weekend performance of latest release

As of today, there is no clear verdict on the box office performance of SARKAR RAJ. The trade is keeping it's fingers crossed to classify the status of SARKAR RAJ before the first week comes to an end. And all of this is happening courtesy the film's big release. Though one expected a 70%-80% beginning for the movie, it was mainly because films belonging to the genre of SARKAR RAJ usually open at around 500-600 prints. However, the point to be noted is that contrary to what was widely anticipated, the film wasn't given a mid-size release but instead opened on a huge print count (~800).

This means that the occupancy level was bound to be on the middle side since multiplexes with a house full indication (where 12-14-16 shows are running) would have been a little too much to ask. Reason being that SARKAR RAJ has a kind of subject which would certainly enthuse people to venture into theaters but not the way a RACE or a JANNAT did (both of which also boasted of chartbuster music).

On the other hand an advantage of a huge release meant that even a 50% opening (which obviously increased to 70-80% over the weekend) ensured that a recovery is certainly on the cards. Now due to average to good word of mouth (no one is calling it a bad film though the words 'must watch' are missing), the film is safe but it would be some sustaining power over the weekdays that would decide the fate in the long run for SARKAR RAJ.

If the film enjoys a healthy second weekend (something where competition does come in handy because of MERE BAAP PEHLE AAP carrying good reports), this Ram Gopal Varma film may manage to approach the HIT status. But again, it is a wait and watch situation!

What is definitely working in the favor of AAMIR is VERY POSITIVE word of mouth. And this is surprising since it is coming from not just those people who have watched the film but even those who haven't (a rarity)! How is that possible? Well, it is the 'There is this movie called AAMIR and it is getting a good response. Have you heard about it?' factor! The film has been appreciated on all counts and it would be criminal if exhibitors choose to ignore it in weeks to come.

It's my personal request to the multiplex-vallahs - 'Please Please Please give it a chance for at least another fortnight. I promise it will catch on for sure!'

What happens to HUMSEY HAI JAHAAN - the third release of the week? Well, fate of a film is known after very first show when let aside the 'aam junta', even critics give it a cold shoulder and don't even bother reviewing it. Get the picture? Well, it is going to be one of the Top-5 lowest first week openers of the year gone by!

Last week's movies

In the week gone by, two major films had released - HASTEY HASTEY and WOODSTOCK VILLA. Well, status is as follow: HASTEY HASTEY is a disaster while WOODSTOCK VILLA is a flop! Jimmy Sheirgill may be showing complete conviction to the best and the worst directors of the world but his films haven't been so kind to him in the past few months. HASTEY HASTEY has added on the list of his disasters but that may not really be bothering the young actor much who is fast getting rid of his backlog.

The film managed to earn a mere 75 lakhs and this is where the buck would stop. Call of the situation? Jimmy Sheirgill should now be doing only those projects which are big banners; even if that means that he is required to be a part of multi hero brigade!

Let's talk about WOODSTOCK VILLA now. There were newsbytes around how Sikandar Kher's entry alone had cost 1.5 crores for the film's producers. Well, if that's indeed true then the film should turn out to be a big flop since the first week collections read a mere 2 crores adds, just 50 lakhs more than what a single scene in the film had cost the makers. Neither Mumbai (35 lakhs) nor Delhi (25 lakhs) were impressive at all and the second week should witness heavy fall in collections too. However, the good news is that Sikandar has come in for appreciation which means that Bollywood (thankfully) gets a rugged hero in the mould of Sanjay Dutt.

From the past

While films have been failing left, right and center, JANNAT has been standing tall with more than 4.5 crores coming in the third week. This means that JANNAT has now made 30 crores in 3 weeks flat and is still counting. The film collected 50 lakhs each from Mumbai as well as Delhi. What is heartening though is that Emraan's fan base and Pritam's chartbuster music is ensuring steady collections from smaller centers as well which is contributing to very good total even in the third week for the film.

Single handedly Emraan Hashmi has managed to knock off the combined strength of Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Anil Kapoor. So much so that after 3 weeks of it's release, it is quite obvious that the box office performance of JANNAT would outshine that of TASHAN which is now living it's dying moments. While TASHAN has made close to 31 crores in 5 weeks and is now breathing it's last at the box office (it's VCDs are already out on stands at a dirt cheap price while the DVDs are expected to follow soon too), JANNAT is all set to outshine it.

With the kind of graph that this Mukesh Bhatt production is showing, gathering 2 crores in next couple of weeks is pretty much on the cards and the long term trending indicates that TASHAN's final total would be certainly left behind by JANNAT.

BHOOTHNATH is continuing to do well in the middle range and takes only 55% fall in spite of number of releases after it's arrival. The film is still dealing in crores and netted another 1.25 crores + in it's 4th week. At 25 crores, it is an above average success and the highest collector for an Amitabh Bachchan solo in the recent times.

In the future

Four films release this weekend - MERE BAAP PEHLE AAP, SUMMER 2007, DASHAVATAR and ZINDAGI TERE NAAM. While ZINDAGI TERE NAAM isn't even getting a respectable release and isn't expected to run beyond it's first weekend, it would be difficult for animation film DASHAVATAR also to find any takers. SUMMER 2007 looks interesting but would surely be marred by bad release and publicity while the only silver lining of the week is going to be MERE BAAP PEHLE AAP. Expect an opening on the middle range to grow quite well over the weekend for this Priyadarshan-Akshaye film which is all set to be a box office success.