I genuinely feel, kids contribute enormously to movie business today. Unfortunately, we ignore this segment of moviegoers when we make films. MAKDEE and HANUMAN are two recent titles that come to my mind. The two kiddie movies worked big time primarily because they struck a chord with kids. Even KOI… MIL GAYA and KRRISH cemented Hrithik Roshan's popularity amongst kids, a fact the star acknowledges to this day.
I was elated when I watched HANUMAN. But I wouldn't say that after the screening of CHAIN KULII KI MAIN KULII last week. The film tries too hard to appeal to kids from 6 to 60, but in vain. It works in bits and spurts, not in totality.
Also, one of the key factors that went against the film is its promotion. The quality as also the quantity of promos weren't eye-catching. The promos / billboards have to look attractive. Besides, the promotion has to be optimum during the crucial days prior to a film's release. The producers did promote the film, but, for some reason, the film didn't register on your mind.
A section of the industry attributes the tepid response to the wrong release period. They feel, it would've met with a better fate had it opened during summer vacations, not when the schools have re-opened. I disagree with this theory, since HANUMAN had opened during the holy month of Ramadan and despite the fact that a chunk of moviegoers stayed away from the film, the business continued to grow after a thanda start.
CHAIN KULII KI MAIN KULII opened to a dull response and remained on the lower side on Saturday as well as on Sunday. In fact, the evening shows on Saturday and the entire Sunday were washed away due to heavy rains in Mumbai and surrounding areas. I don't see any hope for the film in its second weekend purely because of the three mighty oppositions [APNE, AWARAPAN, AAP KAA SURROOR] that this film faces this Friday.
THIS WEEK IN 2006
[Weekend: June 23-25, 2006]
Released with 1000 + prints [includes Tamil and Telugu versions as well as Digital prints], KRRISH, the sequel to KOI… MIL GAYA, embarked on a historic start at the ticket window. The entire weekend was packed at most movieplexes in advance itself. KRRISH won immense praise from the expected quarters: kids. The children took to the film in a big way and their reaction to an Indian superhero contributed to the repeat viewing of the film.
Armed with a fabulous weekend on hand, KRRISH began the weekdays on an equally zealous note. The film had worked at not just 'A' class centres, but also at single screens as well as smaller centres. KRRISH set new records in days to come and emerged a blockbuster at the ticket window.
THIS WEEK IN 2005
[Weekend: June 24-26, 2005]
The much-in-news PAHELI, starring the country's biggest star, SRK [who also produced this folklore] and co-starring a host of impressive names [Big B, Rani Mukerji, Suniel Shetty, Juhi Chawla], didn't open to a stupendous response at many places. The opening ranged from excellent to fairly good at multiplexes, but at single screens in Mumbai as well as at several stations across the country, the initial was not befitting a biggie.
When a movie doesn't open to a desired response, the blame-game begins instantly. It happened with PAHELI as well. From SRK's moustache to the heavy downpour [the release of the film coincided with the onset of monsoons] to the not-too-exciting promos to the offbeat nature of the film, the industry was quick to point reasons that were responsible for the not-too-strong opening.
Let's just say that the paying public wasn't too excited. Or, perhaps, the hardcore masses had realized, even before the film hit the marquee, that PAHELI was not their idea of entertainment.
THIS WEEK IN 2004
[Weekend: June 18-20, 2004]
LAKSHYA took a stupendous start almost everywhere. The opening was at par with the biggest opener of the year, MAIN HOON NA. While the advance booking at metros was fabulous [it ensured almost 100% collections in the opening weekend], the opening at smaller centres [where the system of advance booking doesn't exist] was mind blowing as well.
The audience feedback after the opening weekend was crystal clear: The cinegoers had liked the first half, while the second half had come in for sharp criticism. Viewers were finding the war scenes an extension of L.O.C. Even the slow narrative proved a deterrent.
Monday onwards, the film held well at select theatres/multiplexes of big centres, but the collections took a dip at smaller centers, as expected. While the collections at Mumbai, Delhi [certain theatres] and Kolkata continued to be rock-steady, the business at smaller centres wasn't encouraging.
