January Ends On A Bright Note
http://www.indiafm.com/trade/business_talk/index.html
The first month of 2006 has ended [how
time flies!] and it's time to look at the score card. If the failure of JAWANI
DIWANI reiterated the fact that the first week of the New Year is indeed
jinxed, the two biggies that opened a week later, FAMILY and ZINDA, fell
[collapsed?] even before they could learn to walk. In fact, the dull opening of
the two films came as a rude shock to a section of the industry that is under
the fallacy that stars work, not stories.
However, the mind-blowing start of the keenly anticipated RANG DE BASANTI, the
final release of January, brought solace to an otherwise worried industry.
The hype surrounding RANG DE BASANTI was huge. The film had been sold for
astronomical prices and not just the industry, even the common man was eagerly
waiting for the film to arrive. And arrive it did with a bang. Released on a
Thursday [January 26], to capitalize on the Republic Day holiday, the film took
an electrifying, fantabulous, marvelous start almost everywhere.
But before Day 1 could come to a close, the audience feedback had spread
faster than wild fire: RANG DE BASANTI had found favor with the multiplex
crowd, not as much from the masses. That explains why the collections dropped
from Friday onwards [Day 2] at several mass-dominated screens. The multiplexes,
however, were holding on exceedingly well, with 90% + occupancy. Saturday again
saw a similar trend as Friday, while Sunday [Day 4] again witnessed a downward
trend at places, partly due to the crucial Indo-Pak cricket match. However, the
multiplexes continued to report exceptional collections.
At the end of the first weekend, the results were crystal clear: RANG DE
BASANTI had done rocking business at multiplexes of Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune,
Delhi, Kolkata and South, but had slided downwards at several mass-dominated
screens. Yet, all said and done, the first weekend billing in the domestic
market will be huge for four factors:-
The tremendous hype and the resultant marvelous start.
The strong business at the multiplexes, which are performing 12-14-16 shows
every day.
The inflated ticket rates at most screens. At some screens, the ticket rates
were as steep as Rs. 250 per seat.
It wasn't a 3-day, but a 4-day weekend.
Post Monday onwards, the film has been holding quite well at multiplexes
[the distributors are continuing with the practice of 14-16 shows even on
weekdays], but the business at single screens, at mass-dominated centres
mainly, is not in keeping with the hype surrounding the biggie.
The vital question is: Will RANG DE BASANTI recover its high costing? Will the
distributors, who have acquired the film for heavy prices, recover their
investment and make profits? Or will it be a mere coverage proposal thanks to
the extra-ordinary start and its business at the multiplexes? Where will the
pendulum swing?
We need to watch how RANG DE BASANTI fares in the forthcoming days. If the
film holds on strongly in the second weekend, the distributors should sail
safe. It's a wait and watch situation as of now!
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