While the first six months of 2004 have ended on a grim note [the month of June was extremely disturbing, with four major setbacks - AAN, DEV, LAKSHYA and DEEWAAR], the first week of July didn't start on a positive note either.
Nothing to get alarmed about, mainly because the year 2004 has performed exactly the way the year 2003 did, in the first half at least.
While the first quarter of 2003 witnessed two hits TUJHE MERI KASAM [few circuits] and JISM, the second quarter [April to June] witnessed four hits in five weeks - ISHQ VISHK, ANDAAZ, BHOOT and CHALTE CHALTE.
Similarly, if there was a KHAKEE that fared well in a few circuits, an EK HASINA THI and AB TAK 56 that scored in Mumbai and HAWAS that emerged a success in North in the first quarter of 2004, it rained hits in the second quarter, with MURDER, MASTI, MAIN HOON NA and HUM TUM proving money spinners.
GIRL FRIEND was a moderate success - its business getting a boost thanks to the headlines that the film made a few days after its release.
Of course, the volume of flops in 2004 was huge, especially in the second quarter. But let's not lose hope. Let's wait and watch how the biggies, starting with GARV this week, fare at the turnstiles.
Coming back to the new releases, was anyone really expecting an earth-shattering initial from SHIKAAR, HYDERABAD BLUES 2 and THODA TUM BADLO THODA HUM? Of the three films, the opening of SHIKAAR was slightly better [the slick promos were aggressively promoted on television], but the remaining two films went unnoticed completely.
But, yes, GARV is one film to look forward to. All the same, it's akin to an acid test for everyone associated with it. For Salman, who is riding high after TERE NAAM [it took a massive start in 2003], it's a wait and watch situation. People are bound to draw parallels this Friday with his last release.
For Prem Kishen and Sunil Mehta of Cinevistaas, GARV could prove to be their ticket to the 'A' list of film-makers. Their passion for film-making was more than evident when they made SSSSHHH…, but when a film doesn't fare well, the best of efforts go unnoticed.
But GARV is most important for actor turned director Punit Issar. Will the actor create news once again [he hit headlines in the 1980s, while shooting with the Big B for M.K.D.'s COOLIE], only time will tell!
