Vikram Bhatt gets another winner in '1920 - Evil Returns'; LSTCK stays in business
- IndiaGlitz, [Monday,November 05 2012]
The predictions pretty much came true to the T as '1920 - Evil Returns' didn't just manage to take a lead over many other films that released along with it, it also took a head start and took an all-India opening of around 50% on it's opening day This is a good occupancy for a film which was basically targeted at single screen audiences and interiors (where it scored) and not really multiplexes (where it was expectedly slow).
However, it is the moolah that counts and this Vikram Bhatt production had a lot to smile as around 13 crores came in the first weekend; is a very good number considering the film's budget and cast.
Let's look at some statistics here. The kind of opening that this Aftab Shivdasani and Tia Bajpai starrer has taken is equivalent to 'Kahaani', 'English Vinglish' & 'Ferrari Ki Sawaari' and much better than the likes of 'Vicky Donor' and 'Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya'. Now each of these is a film that went on to do good business and it would be interesting to see the kind of distance that Bhushan Patel directed '1920 - Evil Returns' covers.
More so since it now enjoys as good as two open weekends for itself (there is no notable film before the arrival of 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan' and 'Son of Sardaar' till Diwali) which is a blessing by all means.
'Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana', which only had celebrity testimonials to make up for the lack of any substantial marketing or promotion , suffered from poor awareness and managed an opening weekend of around 5.5 crores.
Given the fact that its opening day was a mere 1.25 crores, courtesy 20%-25% occupancy, this was still a decent recovery that it managed to score. Though reviews ranged from average to good, audience reactions are mixed and poor opening has further been a cause of worry.
The film would have to be super-strong during the weekdays to end anywhere over the 10 crores mark.
Third release of the week, 'Ata Pata Lapata', was a case of being 'lapata' on its very day of release. There was no buzz, it was released very sparsely too, there were hardly any critics who watched it either (leave aside the audience) and ultimately it was the case of a film just arriving and going without even making it's presence felt, leave aside being panned or appreciated.
Worse was the fate of films like 'Future To Bright Hai Ji', 'Le Gaya Saddam' and animation film 'Sons of Ram' which couldn't even stand on their feet and had absolutely nothing going in their favour. Each of these four films is a box office disaster!