Did Ramzan make a dent in the theatrical business of LAFANGEY PARINDEY? Or was it plain indifference [by the audience]? Whatever the reasons, there's no denying that LAFANGEY PARINDEY has failed to take to the skies, at the domestic box-office.
Sure, a sizable chunk of the movie-going audience desists from watching movies in the holy month of Ramzan. Yet, how does one explain the excellent business of PEEPLI [LIVE] last week, coinciding with the commencement of Ramzan? That brings me to the second theory: Audience indifference. Perhaps, it could be true. Perhaps, the title went against the film. Perhaps, the promos weren't catchy enough to lure audiences in hordes. Perhaps, the project in totality didn't excite the viewers.
The poor show also indicates, in very clear terms, that Neil Nitin Mukesh cannot carry a film on his shoulders, as a solo lead. Have a look at his careergraph. Post JOHNNY GADDAAR, the actor has featured in AA DEKHEN ZARA, NEW YORK, JAIL and now LAFANGEY PARINDEY. Barring NEW YORK, the remaining films were solo leads, with Neil carrying the films on his shoulders and irrespective of the merits of these films, they failed to fetch a face-saving start at the ticket window.
LAFANGEY PARINDEY has slumped completely from Monday onwards, but like I pointed out in Midweek Boxoffice, the reasonable cost on one hand and the returns from Satellite rights on the other along with the revenue generated from India theatrical and Overseas, besides Music and Home Video, should take Yash Raj to safety.
Today, when the business of films is on an upswing, LAFANGEY PARINDEY should've gone beyond the safety mark and fetched YRF healthy profits, like their release [BADMAASH COMPANY].
