I am experiencing mixed emotions as I pen this piece. I am glad that GARAM MASALA has collected impressive numbers in its first week, but am quite disappointed with the way SHAADI NO. 1 and KYON KI… have performed eventually.
Let's talk about SHAADI NO. 1 first. When you look at the track record of Vashu Bhagnani and David Dhawan together -- COOLIE NO. 1, HERO NO. 1, BIWI NO. 1 and BADE MIYAN CHOTE MIYAN -- you expect their latest enterprise SHAADI NO. 1 to score that Perfect 10. But the picture is far from rosy.
The business of SHAADI NO. 1 did get a boost thanks to the 5-day weekend. First, the Diwali holidays and then the Idd rush resulted in the film collecting decent numbers in its first five days. But had it been a normal week, the collections wouldn't have been what they are considering the fact that the film isn't enjoying the best of reports.
In my personal opinion, SHAADI NO. 1 ranks amongst David's weakest films as far as packaging of gags and punches are concerned. It was David who actually started the trend of non-stop laughathons, but when you compare the business of SHAADI NO. 1 with those who emulated the David Dhawan formula -- Priyadarshan [GARAM MASALA], Anees Bazmee [NO ENTRY], Sangeet Sivan [KYAA KOOL HAI HUM] and Indra Kumar [MASTI] -- you'll agree that SHAADI NO. 1 isn't the finest attempt by the undisputed badshaah of entertainers.
I am sorely disappointed by the response to KYON KI… as well. I fail to understand why this Salman Khan flick failed to fetch a decent initial. A lot of reasons are being attributed to the tepid start…
- Some are blaming the thanda promos which failed to excite the moviegoers.
- A few opine that moviegoers aren't keen on watching sad endings during the festive season, when the mood is very upbeat [in KYON KI…, first Rimmi dies, then Salman breathes his last and in the last shot, Kareena turns into a vegetable].
- Salman's image, of late, is that of a funster. Moviegoers don't really like him in 'softie' roles such as the one in PHIR MILENGE, DIL NE JISE APNA KAHAA and KYON KI… now.
Whatever the reasons, KYON KI… should've embarked on a 90% + start, keeping in mind Salman's star status, post GARV [fantastic start], MUJHSE SHAADI KAROGI [super-hit], LUCKY [flying start], MAINE PYAAR KYUN KIYA [hit] and NO ENTRY [blockbuster].
The sole 'cracker' that burnt the brightest is GARAM MASALA. The film recorded extra-ordinary collections in its first five days and Monday onwards, has been holding on very well. Since there's no release this weekend, I firmly feel that the second weekend of GARAM MASALA would be heartening as well.
I'd like to give the producers of GARAM MASALA brownie points for going that extra mile to promote the film. They left no stone unturned to give the film their best shot. I've always maintained that making a qualitative film is without doubt important, but ensuring that it gets a proper and respectable release is equally important.
The success of GARAM MASALA proves yet again that fantastic promotion coupled with the strong merits of the film can only take you to the winning post!
