Ramgopal Varma has enough reasons to celebrate!
After the not-too-exciting response to his last release NAACH, RGV's latest flick SARKAR has emerged a success story at the domestic box-office, silencing his detractors yet again. I would attribute the success to two factors basically: RGV's execution of the story and the power-packed performances.
Prior to its release, speculation was rife that SARKAR was based on the life of Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray. However, RGV maintained that the film was inspired by Mario Puzo's THE GODFATHER, but more than anything else, the story revolved around a father and his two sons.
I remember RGV telling me in very clear words that the moviegoer may assume that the film was based on a political heavyweight's life-story, but when viewed in entirety, they'll realize that it's all about a family. Must say, RGV knew what he was talking!
SARKAR generated tremendous heat prior to its release. The distributors were excited, so were the exhibitors, who 'welcomed' the film with 10 to 12 shows a day [at multiplexes]. YAKEEN, the other new release, was sidelined to 2 shows a day at some multiplexes. More on YAKEEN later!
SARKAR brings two of the finest talents of Indian cinema -- Amitabh Bachchan and RGV -- together for the first time. Besides, it was also the first time that the real-life father and son team of Sr. and Jr. B were enacting real-life roles of father-son on screen as well. Expectedly, everyone looked forward to this volatile combination!
While SARKAR had a 90% + start at major centres, the opening ranged from 70% + at some centres. The film grossed excellent figures in its opening weekend almost everywhere and Monday onwards, the business has been rock-steady.
On the other hand, YAKEEN, starring Arjun Rampal and Priyanka Chopra, failed to garner respectable figures from Day 1 itself. The opening ranged from 15%-25% at some places, but at several cinema halls, it registered a shockingly poor start of 10%.
Frankly speaking, there was no buzz on the film prior to its release and the fact that it was being released in the same week as SARKAR as also the fact that the pirated version of the film was out prior to its release, made a further dent in its business.
