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Last Updated 28.03.2024 | 10:44 PM IST
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No Formula For Success!

By Bollywood Hungama

There's no foolproof formula for success!

In the 1980s, the South film industry churned out family entertainers with amazing regularity. Most of them, starring Jeetendra, proved money spinners at the box-office.

Over the years, it was a foregone conclusion that a good family social would always go well with family audiences. And the success of BAGHBAN and WAQT - THE RACE AGAINST TIME in the recent past reiterated the fact that the more the audiences cry, the more the distributors laugh to the bank!

Last week witnessed the release of another family entertainer, though I wouldn't classify VIRUDDH as a paarivaarik film completely. Besides revolving around relationships, VIRUDDH also looked at a man's fight against the system. A genre that has been attempted time and again in Bollywood. But, let's not forget, every director has his style of interpreting a story.

VIRUDDH ranks amongst director Mahesh Manjrekar's finest attempts. After a series of not-too-happening films, Manjrekar was back in form this time around, handling the simple story with utmost sensitivity. I'd still rate VAASTAV and ASTITVA as Manjrekar's best, though VIRUDDH comes close to them.

VIRUDDH earned excellent reviews from the media and those who thronged the movieplexes had more than an encouraging word to say for the film.

At the ticket window, VIRUDDH had a dull start almost everywhere. Its opening ranged from 40%-60% + to as low as 25% at some places. Saturday, Day 2, was better, with the collections showing an upward trend [70% +] and on Sunday, the film reached its zenith [85%-90% +]. With the rise in box-office collections, everyone expected the film to sustain on Monday.

Monday has always been a barometer for all films. It's the day that decides where a film stands -- is paar ya us paar. Unfortunately, the business of VIRUDDH came sliding down on Monday. The collections were low not only at single screens, but also at several multiplexes, which is a disturbing sign.

One fails to understand why VIRUDDH didn't catch the fancy of moviegoers. The film has an impressive star cast, was well promoted prior to its release, it gave the impression of being a family film, yet… I don't agree with the theory that lack of a musical score was a deterrent. Had that been the case, SARKAR wouldn't have worked at the box-office.

But there's hope! There's no major opposition this Friday and if VIRUDDH remains steady during the weekend at multiplexes, the distributors of this moderately-priced film may recover part of their investment.

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