There's some respite!
After a disastrous January, the second month of 2005 behaved slightly better. While PAGE 3 was the sole 'metro success' of the first month, the performance of BLACK at certain metros and the heartening opening weekend of BEWAFAA brought in some cheer.
Although the business prospects aren't too upbeat in February, thanks to the cold wave [at places] as well as students preparing themselves for the ensuing examinations in early March, it did come as a surprise that at least three weeks of February 2005 witnessed multiple releases.
While as many as four films [SHEESHA, CHAAHAT - EK NASHA, HUMDUM and KAYA TARAN] opened on 11th, the following week - 18th - again witnessed the release of four films [ZAMEER, JURM, CHEHRAA and QATL-E-AAM]. And the last week - 25th - saw as many as six releases vying for audience attention [BEWAFAA, FUN, NIGEHBAAN, SHOBHAYATRA, SINS/Eng. and OMAR MUKHTAR/dubbed]. That makes it fourteen releases in three weeks [the list doesn't include films that had a limited release]. Whew!
On one hand, the occupancy level at most cinema halls has fallen alarmingly but conversely, multiple releases seem each week seems to have become a regular practice. Quite a contradiction, isn't it?
With films failing left, right and centre [a few of them were discontinued midweek!], the ratio of flops has escalated to an all-time high, with not one film qualifying as a universal hit this year.
Also, the one message that came across loud and clear in February was that sex-laden films cannot guarantee success. With these films opening to a below-the-mark response, the myth that sex-based themes assure profitable returns lay shattered. The near-empty cinema halls were proof enough that the viewers had had enough of skin-n-sleaze since the past few months.
Dharmesh Darshan must've heaved a sigh of relief. After the lukewarm start of his last release, HAAN… MAINE BHI PYAAR KIYA, the director had to prove the cynics and detractors wrong, that RAJA HINDUSTANI was no fluke.
There's a lot riding on BEWAFAA. Besides Dharmesh Darshan, who had to prove his credentials all over again, the film was akin to an acid test for producer Boney Kapoor. In fact, one was expecting BEWAFAA to end the dry spell in Boney's career.
The opening of BEWAFAA ranged from excellent to good average and the opening weekend was in the range of 90% + at most centres, but Monday onwards, the collections of the film started sliding downwards at several stations.
One of the key factors that goes against the film is the lack of strong emotions in the latter half. As things stand today, the film is holding on well in Gujarat, Rajasthan and parts of Uttar Pradesh mainly. But at some places, the drop in the b.o. collections was more pronounced.
