People's Verdict

films

People's Verdict

*** 92% initial for Kya Kehna
*** Jung takes a tumble
Ramesh Taurani of Tips says, that contrary to the rumours in the trade and the none-too favourable reviews in the press, Kya Kehna has done excellent business all over India including CPCI, Rajasthan, Mumbai, Delhi, Calcutta, East Punjab and Bihar. "After Kaho Na... Pyar Hai, my film, Kya Kehna is the second biggest hit of the year so far," says Taurani.
The film did 92 per cent business in Mumbai, 85 per cent in Delhi, 84 per cent in Calcutta, 98 per cent in Indore, 93 per cent in Hyderabad and 85 per cent in Ahmedabad in the first week.

Jung:
The film could not sustain itself in its second week, except in Calcutta and Mumbai. In Mumbai, it registered collections of 60 per cent, while in Calcutta it had 63 per cent but its collections nosedived to 19 per cent in Delhi and 12 per cent in Indore.

Chal Mere Bhai:
The film has done well in Mumbai, registering collections of 68 per cent in its third week, but could not prove its credentials in Delhi where it registered a mere 18 per cent. It fared scarcely any better in Ahmedabad (20 per cent) and Calcutta, where it had collections of 39 per cent. However, its collection was 56 per cent in Indore and 59 per cent in Hyderabad.

Hera Pheri:
In its eighth week in Mumbai, it had collections of 55 per cent.

Kaho Naa... Pyar Hai:
Even in its 19th week, the film registered 53 per cent collections in Mumbai.

According to KCN Chandrashekhar, president of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, Kannada films have been doing good business. As many as 27 Kannada films were released between January and May this year. Two films were big hits and two were heading for 100 day runs. Kannada superstar, Dr Rajkumar, stages a comeback with a bang with Shabda Vedi, which has done a business of Rs 50 lakh in Bangalore city alone. It is expected to a total business of Rs 5 crore. It has already completed 100 days and is still going strong. Similarly, Preeth Se, which has also completed 100 days, is going strong, collecting a share of Rs 50 lakh from Bangalore cinemas alone. This film is also expected to do a business of Rs 5 crores. These are the two big hits of the first half of the year.

Chandrashekhar further added that Chamundi is doing excellent business among the current releases. Another Kannada film which is doing roaring business is Nag Devta, about snakes and semi-mythological fare. This film is expected to do a business of Rs 3 crore.

The reason for the good collections of these films, the KFCC chief said, was use of the DTS system with graphics. The music of these films were also good. "As against this, the business of Hindi film has gone down, especially owing to the 100 per cent entertainment tax levied on non-Kannada films. Distributors are finding it difficult to recover their investments. The question of hiking admission rates doesn’t arise because of the fear of audience resistance. The failure of the Hindi films, has contributed in may ways to the business of Kannada films, which are totally exempted from tax. So, on the whole, a level playing field does not exist in Karnataka.

MSM Desai