You're as good or bad as your last Friday... A statement echoed within the corridors of the film industry since decades. Since the stakes are extremely high these days, every film starring an A-lister is awaited with bated breath. And scrutinized very, very minutely. Your ranking and remuneration is correlated to the business of the film. The opening day, opening weekend and opening week numbers are of paramount significance.
For Saif Ali Khan, who has had an erratic and inconsistent career of late [AARAKSHAN - flop, AGENT VINOD - flop, COCKTAIL - Hit, RACE-2 - Hit, GO GOA GONE - flop], the super start and success of BULLETT RAJA was most crucial. Enacting the title role, teaming up with an accomplished director [Tigmanshu Dhulia] and a well-established leading lady [Sonakshi Sinha] for the first time and a genre [masala] that continues to dominate the BO for decades, BULLETT RAJA had everything going in its favour. But the film never took off.
What went wrong? Sure, the lack of popular soundtrack proved a roadblock. Agree, there has been an overdose of masala films this year. But the combo of Saif and Tigmanshu should've ensured a decent start at least. The tepid start at the ticket window sent shock waves and makes you realize, yet again, how unpredictable this business is.
The BO collections of BULLETT RAJA did escalate over the weekend, but not to the optimum capacity. After a rather lackluster start, the film should've witnessed a massive jump on Saturday and Sunday, but the growth was clearly missing. It clearly indicates that the audience mandate is lacking for this biggie.
As we step into the final month of 2013, one only hopes that the scenario improves and the year ends on an ecstatic and euphoric note. R... RAJKUMAR, directed by the king of masala entertainers, Prabhu Dheva and DHOOM-3, one of the most-awaited films of 2013 should enliven and rejuvenate the industry, besides attracting footfalls in hordes. Fingers crossed!
