And the positive phase continues... SHOOTOUT AT WADALA, which marks the return of Sanjay Gupta after a hiatus, has been embraced warmly by the audience in India and Overseas. Of course, the response to the film is fantastic in Mumbai-Maharashtra, C.P. Berar and Nizam circuits, more than North or East India. But this isn't new!
Recall the business of gangster films like PARINDA, VAASTAV and SATYA. These films won awards and [BO] rewards, but yielded best returns from Maharashtra. Now SHOOTOUT AT WADALA is following their footsteps. However, what has caught a lot of people by surprise is the film's performance outside India. Generally, gangster films, depicting blood and gore, with a generous dose of cuss words/expletives, don't work beyond the shores of India, but this one has proved an exception. In India too, after a power-packed weekend, the film is maintaining steady business on weekdays.
Of course, a successful film benefits all, but the two people who stand to benefit the maximum from SHOOTOUT AT WADALA are Sanjay Gupta and John Abraham. This film was akin to a litmus test for both and the fact that it has notched an impressive total only cements their position in the industry that swears by BO collections. As far as the economics are concerned, a substantial chunk of the investment of SHOOTOUT AT WADALA has already been recovered from the sale of Overseas, Satellite, Music and India distribution rights [a few territories have been retained by Balaji]. The coming days will decide where the distributors stand as far as recouping the investment is concerned. The producers are in the profit zone already!
The second release, BOMBAY TALKIES, was never meant to set the BO ablaze or shatter records. Actually, it's more of a homage to Indian cinema by four top notch directors, caters to the multiplex audience specifically and has limited appeal. Naturally, the film, made at a shoe-string budget of Rs 6 crores [plus 6 cr for P&A], was released at selected plexes mainly. The business has been satisfactory at urban centres, but since the film will release in Overseas after its Cannes premiere, a clear picture will emerge only post that.
