Fasten your seats belts and get ready to embrace the festive season. Starting Diwali, which witnesses the release of three biggies -- KYON KI…, GARAM MASALA and SHAADI NO. 1 -- the flow of biggies will continue unabated right till March 2006. With college and school examinations in March/April, the box-office graph may recline for two/three weeks, before business sprints again during the summer vacations [April to June].
The excitement is difficult to conceal. If the last few weeks saw the Bollywood box-office take a complete dip, the graph should soar upwards from November onwards. As things stand today, I expect the three biggies to embark on a flying start. Of course, after the initial euphoria settles down, the content will be the deciding factor.
Here's hoping [and praying] that the festival of lights only spreads brightness in the industry!
Has Diwali always proved to be a lucky period? Well, most of the times! That explains why a majority of producers don't think twice before scheduling their films in Diwali. Let's go down memory lane and find out the audience reception to the Diwali releases…
2004: VEER-ZAARA [hit], AITRAAZ [hit], NAACH [flop], MUGHAL-E-AZAM [hit].
2003: PINJAR [flop], SSSSHHH… [flop], INTEHA [flop], RAJA BHAIYA [flop].
2002: JEENA SIRF MERRE LIYE [flop], WAAH…! TERA KYA KEHNA [flop], ANNARTH [flop], LEELA [flop].
2001: TERA MERA SAATH RAHEN [flop], DEEWAANAPAN [flop], YEH ZINDAGI KA SAFAR [flop], ABHAY [flop].
2000: MOHABBATEIN [hit], MISSION KASHMIR [above average].
1999: HUM SAATH-SAATH HAIN [hit], SHOOL [flop], MAA KASAM [flop], ROCKFORD [average].
1998: KUCH KUCH HOTA HAI [hit], BADE MIYAN CHOTE MIYAN [hit].
1997: DIL TO PAGAL HAI [hit], GHULAM-E-MUSTHAFA [average], BHAI [above average].
1996: GHATAK [hit], SAPOOT [average].
1995: D.D.L.J. [hit], YARAANA [flop], GANGSTER [flop].
The Friday gone by witnessed the release of two prominent films, HANUMAN and U, BOMSI N ME. While HANUMAN was aggressively promoted prior to its release, U, BOMSI N ME came literally unannounced. The pre-release promotion was as good as zilch and most moviegoers weren't even aware that the film had released. Hence, its fate was crystal clear on Day 1 itself.
HANUMAN, on the other hand, had a 35% + start at several screens. The opening was better than most recent releases and as things stand today, the collections have stabilized now that the Diwali vacations have begun. HANUMAN has been appreciated by kids and we'll have to wait and watch if the appreciation translates into stronger collections in days to come.
THIS WEEK, LAST YEAR
[Weekend: October 22-24, 2004]
Low on hype and much lower on substance, KIS KIS KI KISMAT came without a bang and left without a whimper. The verdict was loud and clear on Day 1 itself: KIS KIS KI KISMAT had flopped big time.
The dismal opening of KIS KIS KI KISMAT came as a jolt to many an industry person who expected the film to take a flying start, also because of the festive season [Dashehra] and the subsequent holidays.
The week also witnessed the release of RGV's VAASTU SHASTRA. But the Sushmita Sen starrer also opened to an ordinary response almost all over [the opening should've been in the range of 90% +, due to aggressive promotion and the holiday period] and did reasonably well on Saturday and Sunday.
Monday onwards, VAASTU SHASTRA showed a decline in b.o. collections, even at metros.
