Question: What's common between recently-released films PYAAR TUNE KIYA KIYA, BAS ITNA SA KHWAAB HAI, AKS and DIL CHAHTA HAI?
Answer: The films have been directed by first-timers.
But there's one more similarity!
The directors of these films focussed more on making a technically polished fare, forgetting that content was of paramount importance.
It has been proved time and again that the Indian audience tilts more towards content-based films. Films like JAI SANTOSHI MAA, MAINE PYAR KIYA, HUM AAPKE HAIN KOUN and the recent GADAR may not have been great products technically. But the common man identified with the goings-on. The films in question proved box-office bonanzas, carving a niche for themselves solely on the basis of their strong content.
It's heartbreaking to see the new breed of directors devoting so much time and energy in making every frame look stylish. Targeting a film solely at the NRI audience or Mumbai territory is the order of the day. These films may appeal to a select few in metros of India or in the U.S./U.K., but for the cinegoers in big territories like Bihar, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh…. these films are an absolute no-no.
Last week marked the release of Farhan Akhtar's much-hyped DIL CHAHTA HAI. And the response to the film has been anything but heartening, except in a few big cities of India and Overseas territory. Let's have a look at the box-office performance of the film in several territories.
MUMBAI CIRCUIT:
The film is doing fantastic business in Mumbai city and suburbs. The yuppie crowd in Mumbai have been able to relate to the film, but its appeal will taper once it moves to the far-away suburbs of the city. In Maharashtra and Gujarat as well, the film is faring exceptionally well at some 'A' class centres only.
DELHI & UTTAR PRADESH:
In Delhi, the film is going strong at cinema halls that are patronised by the elite. In the suburban theatres, which are patronised by the masses, the halls are not running to packed houses.
In Uttar Pradesh, the film has not found appreciation. The collections are not encouraging enough.
KOLKATA CITY & SUBURBS:
The gentry have appreciated the film. But the craze for the film is not too strong in the suburbs.
BIHAR:
The opening at Patna, Ranchi and Jamshedpur was poor. The public response is equally dull.
PUNJAB:
The opening has been dull and the cinegoers have not appreciated the film.
C.P. BERAR (parts of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh):
The film is below the mark in this circuit. At Nagpur, the biggest centre of this circuit, the film has dropped with each passing day. The day-to-day report of Nagpur is as follows:-
* Liberty cinema:
Friday – 91%, Saturday – 99%, Sunday – 100%, Monday – 92%, Tuesday (1st show) – 82%.
* Jayshree cinema:
Friday – 73%, Saturday – 51%, Sunday – 91%, Monday – 32%, Tuesday (1st show) – 25%.
* Aashirwad cinema:
Friday – 64%, Saturday – 63%, Sunday – 86%, Monday 34%, Tuesday (1st show) – 22%.
* Jaswant cinema:
Friday – 52%, Saturday – 45%, Sunday – 73%, Monday – 28%, Tuesday (1st show) – 19%.
C.I. (Madhya Pradesh):
The opening at Indore was as low as 35%. The film has been rejected.
RAJASTHAN:
The opening was not up to the mark at Jaipur, the biggest centre of this circuit. The audience response is far from encouraging. The first 4 days (Friday to Monday) box-office figures of Jaipur are as follows:-
Ankur cinema – 63%; Laxmimandir – 62%; Mayank – 25%.
The drop on Monday (the 4th day) was alarming. At Ankur, the film collected a meagre 32%, at Laxmimandir it fetched 39% and at Mayank the collections were 14%.
At Jodhpur, another 'A' class centre, the first 4 days figures at Nasrani theatre are as low as 30%. The theatre was screening GADAR till DIL CHAHTA HAI released last Friday in 4 shows daily. However, the first three days collections of DIL CHAHTA HAI were so poor that the owners were forced to revive GADAR from Monday in one show daily, thereby retaining DIL CHAHTA HAI in the remaining three shows. The theatre owner feels that the film will run for a maximum 2 weeks at this centre, which is unfortunate for a film of this magnitude.
SOUTH INDIA:
The film is doing fantastic business in Hyderabad and Aurangabad. However, its opening at Visakhapatnam was poor, despite the fact that Aamir's LAGAAN is a runaway hit at this centre.
