Wondering why they fear Mani Ratnam so much, that they are going all out in unison to make sure He wont get a hit in Bollywood.
-Vinod --- In [email protected], Gopal Srinivasan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Sarkar ki strategy chal gayi! > By: Upala KBR > January 17, 2007 > > Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai > The timing of Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan's engagement has sparked off speculation over > whether the move was planned to whip up renewed interest in Guru post its dismal opening last > week. Whatever the truth, the strategy seems to have paid off. > > The engagement happened on Sunday evening, and the gloomy figures (Guru had an opening of 50-60 > per cent across India) began picking up on Monday. This is unheard of in Bollywood, where > opening collections usually drop post Monday. > > Ebb and flow > > So what made the difference? Is it fair to say that news of the lead pair making their > relationship official was the chief cause? Says an industrywalla, "The Bachchans want to break > the myth that Ash and Abhishek are a flop pair. When someone as respectable as Amitabh calls > the entire media to his home, which he has never done before, and gives interviews about how > he's going to see Guru 100 times over people will listen." > > Adds a reputed trade source, "Guru will be an average commission earner, but definitely not a > hit as it's being touted. > > The collections (except Mumbai, Maharashtra and some areas in the south) have already started > dropping across India. Multiplexes in Indore on Sunday registered the following collections: > > Inox Rs 1,44,000, Velocity Rs 1,30,600, PVR Rs 1,49,900 and Adlabs Rs 1,45,500. > However, on Monday collections dropped. Inox was Rs 45,500, Velocity Rs 43,500, PVR Rs > 77,700 and Adlabs Rs 38,200. If Guru has picked up slightly it is in Mumbai, which opened to > less than 50 per cent. > > The Ash-Abhishek engagement made a difference to the collections on Monday. But there is no > question of the film picking up after this. While all 16 shows were full at Mulund theatres on > Sunday (a holiday), Monday saw a steep drop of 30 per cent." > > Trade analyst Taran Adarsh adds, "Guru has been holding well at Cinemax since Monday; it has > registered 60 percent collections. This was indirectly boosted by the engagement story as TV > channels were showing clips of Guru along with the news. > > However, I don't think this was a publicity stunt. Salaam-E-Ishq will definitely make a huge > dent to Guru's collections when it releases next week." > > What do the trade analysts have to say? > > Vikas Mohan, editor, Super Cinema > > Top three releases of 2006? > Dhoom 2, Krrish and Lage Raho Munnabhai. > > Has Guru done as well? > Kaha raja bhoj, kaha gangu teli? They are much ahead of Guru. > Are the collections of Guru good/average/dismal? > In Mumbai, the film is doing good business at multiplexes but very badly at single screen > theatres. In north India and the Hindi belt, Guru is a disaster. > > Will the collections get better in the coming weeks? > Going by the way it is now, I don't think so. > > What is the public reaction? > For Friday's 2 pm show at Cinemax Andheri, there were 35-40 people in a 60-75 seater theatre. > Get one show that is house full and I will leave the film industry. > > Did the engagement result in a rise in collections? > Yes. An engagement is a positive thing. When Meena Kumari died, Pakeezah became a super hit > because people knew they wouldn't see her again. The engagement announcement has had a positive > effect by 1 or 2 per cent, especially among the youth. > > Indu Mirani, Chief Editor, thirtymm.com, trade analyst > > Top three releases of 2006? > Dhoom 2, Krrish and Lage Raho Munnabhai. > > Has Guru done as well? > No way! > Are the collections of Guru good/average/dismal? > It's average. Single screen shows are not doing well, but shows at multiplexes are better. > > Will the collections get betterin the coming weeks? > Next week Salaam-E-Ishq releases. That will make a difference and Guru collections will get > affected. > > What is the general reaction of the public? > Some people have liked it, while others haven't. Celebrating the success of a man who has no > respect for the law hasn't been digested well by a certain section of the audience. > > http://www.mid-day.com/hitlist/2007/january/150257.htm >
