The three films which released last week – I Am Kalam, Chala Mussaddi Office Office and Aagaah The Warning – went unnoticed at the box office, thanks mainly to Rohit Shetty’s Singham and Zoya Akhtar’s Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. Now in the middle of a two-week dry spell, distributors and exhibitors are counting on Prakash Jha’s Aarakshan to reel in profits.
Says a dejected Ramesh Sippy of BRA Enterprises in Mumbai, “No one is talking about I Am Kalam or any of last week’s releases. Hopes are pinned on Aarakshan as it has generated very good reports. But since Singham is still doing extremely well, it is likely to offer Aarakshan stiff competition. As for ZNMD, it has been milked to the point where it might not affect Aarakshan’s business.”
In Delhi, Sanjay Ghai of Mukta Arts adds, “No one is interested in I Am Kalaam. Aarakshan has a very positive buzz around it but Singham and ZNMD could offer tough competition. Also, there are two English releases next Friday, Captain America and Final Destination 5, which are sure to affect the multiplex business of Aarakshan.”
Ditto for Surendra Saluja of Lakshya Movies in East Punjab. “I Am Kalam is the only new release that did 10 to 12 per cent business over the weekend. The other two went unnoticed. Aarakshan has a good hum around it but with two English films also releasing along with it, Aarakshan will find the going tough. Singham and ZNMD are still doing well and will only add to the competition.”
Kamal Mukut of Mukutwala in West Bengal says, “Aarakshan has drawn a good response but with Singham and ZNMD still going strong, both films will compete with Aarakshan. Singham and ZNMD have both had a good run together at the box office; Aarakshan will have to break this prototype.”
In Rajasthan, Sunil Bansal of Yash Raj Jai Pictures says that Aarakshan is already a hot topic in trade circles. “It has a very good report so far. Singham and ZNMD are still doing well and will give Aarakshan a run for its money.”
Optimism is rife in CP too, where Berar Ramanathan of Rajshri Pictures points out, “With Prakash Jha in the picture, expectations of Aarakshan are very high. He has delivered many good films and Aarakshan is definitely one of them. Singham and ZNMD are doing well but it’s too early to say whether they will cut into Aarakshan’s business.”
Bihar is one territory where Aarakshan has not made a splash. Says Rakesh Singh of Maa Sona Films, “Despite the promotion and publicity, it has not generated enough interest as Prakash Jha’s films usually do in the region. But the Prakash Jha stamp should help. Singham is still doing well.”
Finally, in Orissa, Jeetu Khandelwal of Pioneer Films adds, “The subject of Aarakshan does not appeal to the masses. Prakash Jha, whose films usually grab the masses, has picked a subject that might not work with his usual audience even though it has a great buzz. But Aarakshan has an edge at the box office due to the festive weekend. “
Khandelwal adds, “Singham, which is a masses film, and ZNMD, which was a classes film, are still doing well. There will be no sudden drop in their collections in the coming week.”
Source: Boxofficeindia.co.in
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