I am shocked…
In view of the fact that three top names – Mukta Arts, Satish Kaushik and Anil Kapoor –couldn't garner a face-saving opening for BADHAAI HO BADHAAI.
I am stunned…
In view of the fact that the opening of BADHAAI HO BADHAAI was shockingly low throughout the country. At places, as low as 10% to 15%.
I am distressed…
In view of the fact that BADHAAI HO BADHAAI has added to the woes of the industry that is already reeling under heavy losses and flops.
It's a known fact that Anil Kapoor starrers don't take a historic/cent per cent start, but pick up gradually with word of mouth publicity if the film is strong in merits. Even his last few films that didn't fare well – NAYAK and PUKAR – opened to a decent response.
But the opening day figures of BADHAAI HO BADHAAI flummoxed not just me, but the entire film industry.
Why didn't the film open to a decent response despite an aggressive publicity campaign before it release? Why did cinegoers ignore the film despite a fresh cast (Anil, Shilpa, Keerti have been teamed for the first time)? Despite two successes to their credit (HAMARA DIL AAPKE PAAS HAI, HUM AAPKE DIL MEIN REHTE HAIN), why didn't the Anil-Satish combo work magic this time? Most important, why was the opening so low throughout the country?
Various theories are being circulated within the film industry…
Theory 1: The film should've been released during the vacations. Releasing it after the schools and colleges have re-opened was erroneous.
If one goes by this theory, GADAR and LAGAAN, released in the same week last year, would've been failures as well!
Theory 2: The obese look did not gel with the audience. The kids weren't amused either.
This is definitely debatable. For, wherever Anil and Satish went, as part of their promotional strategy, almost everyone was interested in knowing about the fat character in the film.
Theory 3: The film wasn't appreciated. It stood on a weak foundation – the script.
But that can be judged only after the audience goes to the theatres. But why didn't the audience throng the theatres in the first place?
Whatever the reasons, the dismal opening of BADHAAI HO BADHAAI has dampened the spirits of the industry further. It has proved an eye-opener, yet again, that the biggest of set-ups can bite the dust.
Let's take a look at the mid-week box-office performance of BADHAAI HO BADHAAI. An IndiaFM exclusive.
MUMBAI, GUJARAT, MAHARASHTRA
The opening in Mumbai city-suburbs was ok, but not befitting a big film. However, the collections started sliding downwards from Day 2. The opening at key stations of Gujarat was around 50%, but here too, the collections have dropped from the second/third day itself. In Pune, the opening was so-so and the reports aren't encouraging either.
DELHI, UTTAR PRADESH
Released with approx. 35 prints, the opening was dismal in Delhi city. The collections in Uttar Pradesh aren't encouraging either.
WEST BENGAL, BIHAR
At several centres of Bihar, the opening was around 50%. The film lacks in merits. In Kolkata city-suburbs, the film started on a decent note at the main theatres, but the collections dropped from the second day itself. They further dropped on Monday.
PUNJAB
The film opened to a poor response here. Not appreciated.
C.P. BERAR (PARTS OF MAHARASHTRA, MADHYA PRADESH)
The opening in Nagpur was shockingly low. It started with approx. 36% on the first day, collected approx. 30% on the second day. It is likely to run for a week or two.
C.I. (PARTS OF MADHYA PRADESH)
In Bhopal, the first show collections at both the theatres were approx. 18%. At Gwalior, the first show figures were approx. 10%. In Indore, the film opened to a 40% response at one of the theatres, but dropped on the second day itself.
RAJASTHAN
The opening day in Jaipur was approx. 30%. On Day 2, the collections were approx. 20%.
