Is the glass half full or half empty? That's a common expression used occasionally to indicate an optimistic [half full]/pessimistic [half empty] situation in life. This idiom is generally used -- more so in the film industry -- to discuss varied issues. Okay, so why am I beginning Business Talk with a phrase? That's because it seems the most appropriate way to explain the weekend business of the widely discussed biggie AGNEEPATH.
Having amassed a solid Rs 67.5 cr nett in its 4-day opening weekend, AGNEEPATH finds itself in the record books of Bollywood. The opening day figure [Rs 23 cr] is a new high, while the 4-day total places the film amongst the biggest openers ever. That's looking at it optimistically. But there's a flipside as well…
A section of the film industry feels that AGNEEPATH has underperformed after an astounding start on Thursday. The opening weekend figure should've been higher. The pessimism stems from the fact that the film collected a massive Rs 23 cr on its opening day [Thursday, 26 January] and everyone was anticipating that the film would hit the magical figure of Rs 75 cr + nett in its 4-day opening weekend.
The business fell sharply on Day 2 [Friday] and that was one of the reasons why so much negativity started floating around. Suddenly, the mood changed from optimism to pessimism. What we need to understand is that Thursday was a national holiday, while Friday wasn't. It was a normal working day and one can't -- and shouldn't -- expect a film to have a repeat performance on a working day.
Yes, the reactions have been extremely mixed, but what's new about it? Every biggie encounters mixed reactions. Be it BODYGUARD and READY [Salman], RA.ONE and DON 2 [SRK] or ZINDAGI NA MILEGI DOBARA [Hrithik]. Eventually, what matters is how the film performs at the ticket window and will the investors recover the investment?
That brings me to the economics of AGNEEPATH. Irrespective of how it fares on weekdays [it's holding very well, though] or in its subsequent week, the fact is that the film is a money spinner, a lottery for Dharma. Yes, you read it right! Let me explain…
Total cost [inclusive of making and promotion expenses]:- Rs 75 cr
Money recovered:- Sale of Satellite rights: Rs 37 cr + Music rights: Rs 10 cr + Overseas & Home Video: Rs 12 cr.
The producers had to recover approx Rs 16 cr from India theatrical and the amount has *already* been recovered in the first weekend itself. In fact, the profits have begun already, since the share after the opening weekend itself is close to Rs 35 cr. As things stand today, Dharma is expected to reap profits to the tune of Rs 30 cr +.
