B.O. update: 'Badmaash Company' starts off very well
After HOUSE FULL opened to an excellent start last week, it was the turn of BADMAASH COMPANY to open to a heartening start at the box-office. Shahid Kapoor's last major release CHANCE PE DANCE [not counting PAATHSHAALA] had fetched a below average start, so it was imperative that BADMAASH COMPANY fetch a good start at the ticket window. The opening numbers of BADMAASH COMPANY were an impressive 80% to 90% at places, while at places it ranged from 45% to 75%, which only improved towards the evening shows.The opening weekend of BADMAASH COMPANY is expected to be better, given the fact that the film has tremendous youth appeal and that in turn should witness an escalation in business. Overall, the film should have a very good weekend, which reinforces Yash Raj and Shahid's pull at the ticket window.
The second release of the week, IT'S A WONDERFUL AFTERLIFE, had a disastrous start at the box-office. The opening was in 5% to 10% range and since the reports are terrible, the numbers are not expected to show a major jump on Saturday and Sunday.
Everyone was expecting ROCKET SINGH - SALESMAN OF THE YEAR to start with a bang, given the fact that Ranbir Kapoor's last two films, WAKE UP SID and AJAB PREM KI GHAZAB KAHANI, had fetched a flying start. Also, the fact that Aditya Chopra, Shimit Amin and Jaideep Sahni had teamed up with Ranbir, only raised the expectations from the film. But the poor start of ROCKET SINGH sent shock waves within the industry. The film had a 20% to 40% start at certain plexes and at places, 10% to 15% start.
The two new releases, PAA and RADIO, started on a slow note on Friday. PAA, of course, had a better start, with the film opening to a 30% response at several plexes. The occupancy picked up by noon shows and the film was in the 60% + range towards the evening shows at plexes of major centres.
AJAB PREM KI GHAZAB KAHANI took the nation by storm by fetching one of the biggest starts at the box-office. The start was at par with LOVE AAJ KAL at several screens, although LAK had more shows than APKGK, since LONDON DREAMS has retained some screens, while JAIL, the other new release, has also opened quite wide.
Shree Ashtavinayak Cinevision, the producers of BLUE, have reasons to rejoice. The film has fetched one of the biggest starts ever in the domestic market on Day 1, grossing a mammoth Rs. 16 crore [gross], which works out to approx. Rs. 10 crore [nett] on Friday. The collections are mind-boggling and the film is expected to have a humungous weekend, setting a new benchmark as far as weekend business goes.
As expected, KAMINEY opened to an excellent response, garnering one of the best openings in recent times. Vishal Bhardwaj + Shahid Kapoor + 'Dhan Te Nan' have done the trick. The film is being liked immensely by the youth. The first day collections, excluding Mumbai and Pune, should be huge. Today [15th August] being Independence Day holiday, the business is expected to be superb again.
Both AGYAAT and TEREE SANG competed for audience attention this Friday. While AGYAAT was strong at single screens -- 60% to 70% -- the numbers at plexes weren't too encouraging [20% +]. On the other hand, TEREE SANG sprung a pleasant surprise by fetching a better start at plexes. The reports are positive and the film is expected to grow with a strong word of mouth. Saturday and Sunday, of course, hold the key.
The much-hyped LOVE AAJ KAL opened to a stupendous start across all multiplexes. The film is being screened in 20, 23, 25, even 28 shows everyday at prominent multiplexes, which is a record of starts. The first day business was huge across multiplexes, although the single screens weren't as strong [expectedly]. But there's no reason to press the panic button, since 70% to 80% business is generated from multiplexes alone these days.
LOVE AAJ KAL is on a record-smashing spree. The Cinemax chain of multiplexes recorded a record turnout for this Saif-Deepika starrer on Friday. Cinemax, one of the leading multiplex chains of India [74 screens in 24 multiplexes], saw approx. 49,700 footfalls in their properties on Friday.
As predicted by this writer in the review of the film ["internationally, it has the potential to emerge one of the biggest grossers in recent times"], LOVE AAJ KAL has fetched a mind-boggling start in U.K. In fact, it's one of the biggest starts ever. Let's have a comparative study to judge how big the film has opened...
The action-thriller LUCK fetched a very good start at single screens of most circuits. The 12 noon shows in U.P., Punjab, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Nizam were in the 70% - 80% range. But the 3 p.m. shows were almost houseful everywhere. The opening at multiplexes, however, was around 40%. Mumbai was affected due to the high tide scare on Friday.
Eros International has announced a record opening of Sajid Nadiadwala's KAMBAKKHT ISHQ. The film has grossed Rs. 100 crores worldwide in its first week, making it one of the most successful openings in Indian cinema.
The new release, SHORT KUT, started on a dismal note, fetching a 20% - 25% start at several screens. While a few single screens in Maharashtra were in the 40% range, the overall start is way below expectations, given the fact that some of the biggest names in the business are associated with the film. Also, the reports are outright negative and the film is not likely to show an escalation in business.
The predictions for New Releases are as follows…
2 October: WAKE UP SID and DO KNOT DISTURB : WAKE UP SID will be welcomed by the youth. Ranbir's fan following will increase. Multiplex HIT. DO KNOT DISTURB will also do very well. HIT.
The new Akshay Kumar starrer 8 x 10 TASVEER had a dull start at most multiplexes, garnering a 30% - 40% start at major plexes across the country. At certain places, the response was below that. However, the film was poor at most single screens. The industry feels that the film should've had a better start at plexes due to two reasons: [i] Holiday on Friday and [ii] Paucity of big releases since last few weeks.
The much-awaited BILLU opened to a tepid response of 25% to 35% at various screens across the nation. However, the silver lining is that the film is enjoying positive reports and the next two days [Saturday and Sunday] will be crucial. Most exhibitors aren't surprised with the slow start, since it was evident from the promotion that the story revolves around Irrfan and that it wasn't the conventional SRK film, like OM SHANTI OM.
