Unlike the months of January and February, which saw a few successes like Raaz 2, Dev.D and Slumdog Crorepati, the opening weekend performance of the new releases – Aa Dekhen Zara, Ek – The Power of One and Videsh – Heaven on Earth proved March to be a complete disaster at the box office.
While the refusal to play the film at the seven big multiplex chains across India has backfired for ADZ, Ek has been rejected by the multiplex crowd and Deepa Mehta's Videsh has been a complete failure from the word go.
BO Collections
Neil Nitin Mukesh – Bipasha's Aa Dekhen Zara directed by debutant Jehangir Surti opened to 20-25 per cent occupancy across the country in the single screens. As Eros, refused to get lured by the multiplex owners’ proposal, the film released in only a select few multiplexes. However, the opening day occupancy at these cineplexes was 40 per cent. The weekend saw a rise by 10 per cent at some multiplexes but no substantial rise was seen at the single screens. Trade sources suggest the film stands to lose at least Rs 9-10 crore.
Bobby Deol – Nana Patekar starrer Ek was rejected by the multiplex goers as it failed to rise above 15-20 per cent occupancy in first three days. The film however got a better response at the single screens in North especially in UP, Bihar and at some places in Maharashtra. The collections at these centers for the first three days ranged between 40-60 per cent.
Deepa Mehta's Preity Zinta-starrer Videsh just didn't get the start. Panned by the critics, the film opened to 5-10 percent occupancy on Friday and shows were cancelled at many places. Barring a small rise in collections for the weekend it has again slumped down on Monday.
Trade Talk
The not so encouraging performance of the three new releases, hasn't disappointed the trade, as not much hope was resting on them, suggest trade sources.
"Aa Dekhen Zara was expected to take a better opening at the multiplexes had there not been the stand off between the producers and the multiplex owners. The film released mostly in the single screens and select few multiplexes. Now since the reports of the film aren't great either, it's a tough road ahead for it. Videsh was absurdly weird. Many found it extremely silly and outdated with forced symbolisms. As for Ek Nana Patekar's popularity in Maharashtra helped it do average to above average business in single screens. Though a complete cost recovery looks slightly impossible, the film won't be as big a loss as its two competitors," observes veteran trade analyst Amar Solanki.
Explains a senior trade expert, "Preity Zinta may have delivered one of her most remarkable performances in Videsh but audience hardly goes to watch a film just for an actress's performance. Nana's crude comedy and its mindless action worked in few centers for Ek but surprisingly it didn't do well in the Punjab sector. The over all losses of ADZ would have been lesser by a few crore had it been released in all multiplexes."
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