Mohabbatein holds on,
Mission drops points

DIWALI has brought cheer to the film industry with the stupendous success of Yash Chopra’s Mohabbatein, which has had record breaking box-office collections not only in the domestic market but also overseas. When the public takes a liking for a film, all the criticism about its length just doesn’t matter. In most places, the film had 100 per cent collections in the first week, yet another feather in the cap of young director Aditya Chopra, who has repeated the success of his maiden superhit, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. The film has also given another lease of life to the film career of Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan. Mohabbatein has even driven Amitabh Bachchan’s anchored show, Kaun Banega Crorepati to the shade in recent weeks.

In Mumbai, it registered 99.88 per cent business and 97 per cent in Delhi. But the film showed 100 per cent collections in Calcutta, Hyderabad, Solapur, Lucknow and Agra. It collected 94 per cent in Jaipur, 99.98 per cent in Nagpur, 70 per cent in Indore, 64 per cent in Khandwa, 85 per cent in Allahabad and 95.70 per cent in Satara.

Mission Kashmir
In contrast, Vidhu Vinod Chopra who did not leave any stone unturned in publicising his film, Mission Kashmir, could not better his own record. Terrorism and patriotism don’t really sell any more. People seem to be fed up of violence, escapist fare appears to be what is in vogue.

The film has taken a good initial in Mumbai registering 95 per cent collections. It collected 91 per cent in Allahabad, 99 per cent in Pune, 97 per cent in Solapur, 93 per cent in Calcutta, 73 per cent in Hyderabad, 79 per cent in Nagpur, 78 per cent in Jalgaon, 91 per cent in Lucknow, 82 per cent in Delhi and 87 per cent in Jaipur. Though it has not done as well as Mohabbatein, the film will not be a losing proposition for distributors.

Khatarnak
This Marathi film, directed by Mahesh Kothare, has registered 44 per cent in Mumbai.

Manus
The film registered 44.8 per cent in the first week in Mumbai.

This Week
Opening this week is the Sanjay Dutt-starrer Kurukshetra. Also due for release in Mumbai is Aakhri Dacait. Efforts are on to release Beti No 1. Columbia TriStar Films of India is releasing its blockbuster, Hollow Man, starring Kevin Bacon, on November 24 across India with a large number of prints. Its dubbed versions in Hindi Anhonee and in Tamil and Telugu will be simultaneously released. It has a unique storyline and cutting-edge special effects, which may attract cinegoers.

MSMD