It has been proved yet again. Drop the clothes and lure the audiences to the cinema halls. Earlier HAWAS, then MURDER, subsequently GIRL FRIEND and now JULIE have proved the point.
Bollywood witnessed the release of two diametrically opposite films last week - ASAMBHAV and JULIE. But no prizes for guessing who emerged victorious. While Arjun Rampal's well-toned physique in the promos of ASAMBHAV didn't excite many, Neha Dhupia's semi-nude anatomy and bold statements created quite a frenzy.
Let's talk about ASAMBHAV first. Rajiv Rai is one of the most accomplished makers today. He's one film-maker who has adapted to the fast-changing scenario effortlessly. His growth as a technician from his debut film YUDH to his latest ASAMBHAV is for all to see.
But as a writer, Rajiv faltered big time in his last film PYAAR ISHQ AUR MOHABBAT and now, in his latest endeavour, he touched rock bottom. ASAMBHAV just didn't have the substance to keep you hooked on to the screen for the next two hours. It was monotonous, at times tedious and periodically boring.
So, when a film like ASAMBHAV fails to attract cinegoers in its opening weekend, it doesn't come as a shock.
On the other hand, the fiery dialogues in the sex-laden promos of JULIE did the trick. This aggressively publicized film took a fabulous start throughout the country, reaffirming the producers' faith in sex-based themes.
Years ago, the Laxmi - Vikram starrer JULIE had also caught the attention of the audiences. Besides a lilting musical score, the film had a gripping storyline and 'hot scenes' aplenty.
The Neha Dhupia starrer did have skin show in generous doses, but it lacked a cohesive script to compliment the sex factor. Sex, backed by a strong storyline, is what works. Titillating scenes and skin show aren't enough!
In the case of JULIE, the post-interval portions have curtailed its prospects to an extent. If you've seen it once, you wouldn't want to watch it again, which means that the repeat audience is missing.
After a fantastic two days, the collections of JULIE were affected on Sunday and Monday partly due to the ongoing cricket matches and to a certain extent, due to the heavy monsoon downpour. Nonetheless, the terrific start of the film has ensured its position in the 'Plus' category. Sold at reasonable prices, the distributors of JULIE are grinning from ear to ear.
