Box Office

THE HEARTACHE PERSISTS
Dame luck is yet to smile on the film industry in a big way in the second half of ’99. Every big film released in the last four months has spelt heartaches and sleepless nights for the trade.

There are several reasons for the modest collections that Hindi films have had, analyses Devendra Shah, secretary of the Indian Motion Picture Distributors Association. While audience expectations have been high, most recent releases have been low on star performances and presentation. Added to this is the blatant problem of piracy, with new films being aired on the cable networks, some times on the very night of the premiere. And the audience prefers to watch the films at home, and come to the theatres only if the film carries a good report.

Trade circles allege that some producers have not slotted their films well enough for the domestic market. Since some films did particularly well in the overseas territory, including Taal, other producers, too, seemed to concentrate solely on the overseas market. And on getting a better price from the sale of the music rights. The producers are content if the film does well even in one territory, and seldom bother about the ‘B’ and ‘C’ stations.

Shool did particularly well in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh because of the local dialect and violence that prevails there. Dillagi, with its predominantly Punjabi feel, has done well in Punjab and not so well in other centres. Vaastav, with its Maharashtra backdrop, did better business in that state, and not in other circuits. Similarly, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, with its strong flavour of Rajasthan and Gujarat had a lacklustre run in CP and East Punjab territories. So few films have done uniformly good business.

KHOOBSURAT
The film fetched a modest opening everywhere. In Mumbai, it did a business of 84 per cent in the first week and in Delhi it took a 65 per cent initial.

DILLAGI
The film has fared no better than Hello Brother. The film, which also narrates the tale of two brothers, did not do well at any centre. In Mumbai it did a business of 45 per cent in the second week.

HUM SAATH SAATH HAIN
It did a business of 72 per cent in the fourth week in Mumbai.

THAKSHAK
Govind Nihalani’s film did not fetch the kind of bumper initial that was expected of it, despite the presence of Ajay Devgan and Tabu in the cast.

This Week:
No big film with a major starcast is due for releaase this week. Due for release are Mahesh Mathai’s Bhopal Express, Dil Ka Sauda and Sautela.

MSM Desai