The not-too-strong response to last week's releases, TALAASH and TUJHE MERI KASAM, hasn't really dampened the spirits of the film industry. Most distributors and exhibitors are now looking forward to the films scheduled for release in the coming weeks.
Pinky Badlani of Devgan Entertainment, the Mumbai distributor of AAPKO PEHLE BHI KAHIN DEKHA HAI, is more than optimistic about the film's prospects at the turnstiles. "A film for the family audiences, it should pick up with word of mouth publicity," Badlani states, "Also, there's no major opposition this week, which should prove advantageous."
ALL EYES ON 'DIL KA RISHTA', 'DUM', 'JISM'
Next week's three releases – DUM, DIL KA RISHTA and JISM – are being eagerly looked forward to.
According to Rajesh Thadani, the Mumbai distributor of DIL KA RISHTA, it's the kind of film that will grow on the audiences. "The Arjun-Aishwarya combination is its USP. Everyone is eager to see the on-screen chemistry. Plus, the music has caught on in a big way, which should translate into a good opening," he says.
If the Ash-Arjun pairing and Nadeem-Shravan's music are the USPs of DIL KA RISHTA, Vivek Oberoi feels the action sequences of DUM are the highlights of the film. Not many are aware that Vivek has attempted some death-defying stunts in the film. In fact, two sequences in particular would've cost the young actor his life, but Vivek went ahead with them instead of opting for a duplicate to carry out the daredevil stunts.
As for JISM, Pooja Bhatt maintains that the storyline of the film is its trump card. "The performances by Bipasha Basu and John Abraham will be the centre of all discussions in days to come, besides the strong content of the film," Pooja reveals. Made at a cost of Rs. 3.10 crores [Rs. 4 crores, inclusive of all publicity and marketing], JISM was shot in a start-to-finish schedule of 41 days in Pondicherry.
'TALAASH' AT A GLANCE
Is steady at a few cinema halls in the Western suburbs of Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh (very good at some stations) and Rajasthan. Average in Hyderabad. Cold wave has affected the business at a few places. Average to weak elsewhere.
'TUJHE MERI KASAM' AT A GLANCE
In the case of TUJHE MERI KASAM, the film has been appreciated by the youth mainly. Mumbai city-suburbs, Maharashtra and parts of C.P. Berar are the best, businesswise. Several exhibitors are optimistic that the film has the merits to pick up in the coming days. Cold wave has made a dent in the business.
