MUMBAI: It has been tough going for the exhibition trade for the last couple of weeks as there has been nothing to feed the screens. Thankfully, Dangal sustained the trade for three weeks and still, in its fourth week and fifth weekend, has been drawing better footfalls than the new releases could do.
The new week comes as a windfall for the exhibition trade as two major films, Kaabil and Raees, release midweek, on 25 January, to cash in on the Republic Day holiday on Thursday. In fact, this is more than the exhibitors could have asked for as their acumen is on test on which film should be given how many screens!
The scale will probably tilt in the favour of whichever film looks more likely to go with the multiplex audience. Such competition and simultaneous release between two major star-cast films coming from established banners, is not wise and also rare in the high stakes scenario.
*Coffee With D proves to be another film made on whim! The makers fancy with the don Dawood has caused many losses among investors. And, to think that a poorly conceived idea of shaming the don could work, the idea was amateur. Not to mention that so was the scripting and direction besides the poor casting.
The film remained below a collection of Rs 15 lakh on its opening day and faced the same fate as other such films do, no viewers leading to cancelled shows. The film collected a total of around Rs 50 lakh for its opening weekend.
*Haraamkhor makers shared the ‘success’ of their film with the media the other day! For a film that was rejected outright and failed to find audience on most days of its opening week, this must be quite an achievement. The film’s collection figures barely crossed merely a crore-mark, for the week.
*OK Jaanu is poor; but managed to collect just Rs 16.85 crore in its first week. The big names of Karan Johar and Mani Ratnam didn't help, only the content does.
*Dangal has sustained very well in its fourth week by collecting Rs 15.08 crore taking its four-week total to Rs 374.95 crore. The film has added further Rs 6.12 crore for its fifth weekend to take its 31-day tally to Rs 381.07 crore.
