Box Office

No takers for 73 films
The Hindi film industry is heading towards a slump in film production. In January, 172 films were under production as against 188 in the previous month. In contrast, completed films rose to 202 in January as against 154 in the previous month. This is a disturbing trend and if it continues, it is bound to lead to fall in production. Out of 202 films, now under production 133 films have not yet been acquired for any territory, while out of the 123 completed films, 73 are still open for all territories. Even if half of the 73 films do get sold, the remaining half will still cause a blockade of funds amounting to nearly Rs 350 crore. This does not augur well for the sound business health of the industry.


Hey! Ram: Kamal Haasan’s Hey! Ram, released last Friday, seems to have found little appreciation from the public. The collections of the film have been poor all over. On top of it, the film appears to have invited the wrath of the Muslim community at Mumbai’s Metro Cinema. And, according to reports, it seems to have been boycotted by the Muslims and Hindus alike in Meerut and Surat.


Pukar: The film’s collections for the first two weeks are not at all encouraging, except in Mumbai and the South territory. Its business has come down from 82 per cent in the first week to 65 per cent in the second week in Mumbai which hardly covers the costs of print and publicity.


Badal: The first week’s collections in Mumbai came to 75 per cent which means the film has not been appreciated. In Delhi, the response was still less, with only 60 per cent collections. In Calcutta, the business was as low as 48 per cent.


Agni Putra: Its first week collections were just 43 per cent in Mumbai and in Delhi, they were as low as 23 per cent, indicating that it is a disaster for the distributors.


The World Is Not Enough: Despite the hi-tech and gloss, the James Bond movie has not lived up to the hype.

Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani: The continuing high-profile media hype appears to have had no effect on the box-office collectrions of this film, made by Saha Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla. Its fourth week colelctions in Mumbai were lower than 50 per cent.


Kaho Naa... Pyar Hai: This is the only film doing good business everywhere in India and abroad. Even in its 5th week it has remained rock steady at 99 per cent in Mumbai and a little less in Delhi. Even in the towns and other areas it has done extra-ordinary business.

No biggies now
The school examinations have already begun in most areas and college exams are due next month. The exams have a telling effect on the box-office of films. That is probably why big budget films are not due for release in the near future, thus leading to a scarcity of big-star cast and big-budget films in theatres.

MSM Desai