Box Office

Kaho Na... holds on at 96
Santosh Singh Jain, president of the Central Circuit Cine Association, rues the dipping box-office collections of all recent releases, except Kaho Naa.. Pyar Hai. "At this rate, the distributor community will soon be wiped out," he reiterated. In his opinion, Kaho Naa... has done better business than all other films released in recent times, though it hasn’t been as much of a money-spinner as Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge.

The Government of Maharashtra has granted entertainment tax exemption to two films, Pukar and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.

At the end of February, 167 films are on the floor, of which 81 have not been sold for any territory. At the same time 203 films have been completed but 94 have no buyers for any territory whatsoever.
Govinda is the latest star to start a distribution office of his own in Mumbai. He is looking for an office in the Naaz Building, where most film distribution offices are situated.

Khauff:
The Sanjay Dutt starrer has produced disastrous results at the box-office. Its first week collections in Mumbai came to 50 per cent and in Delhi, 36 per cent. It fared no better in Calcutta either.

Hey! Ram:
The film is already showing signs of becoming a spent force. Kamal Haasan’s chemistry with cinebuffs has not worked the way he expected it to, although the film has been highly appreciated by the gentry. At Mumbai’s Metro, for instance, the balcony is full, though the stalls are almost empty. Its third week collections came to 38 per cent in Mumbai and in Delhi, 33 per cent. It seems to have generated a more enthusiastic response in the South, though.

Badal:
The film is doing a steady business in the Northern and Eastern circuits. However, its collections in Mumbai in the fourth week dipped to 42 per cent.

Pukar:
With the tax-free status granted to the film in Maharashtra and Delhi, its collections should improve. However, its fifth week collections in Mumbai stayed at 58 per cent.

Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani:
In its seventh week, its collections in Mumbai stood at 33 per cent.

Kaho Naa.. Pyar Hai:
The film has been scaling new highs at the box-office. Its 8th week collections in Mumbai touched 96 per cent. Incidentally, among the current movies, this is the only one which has done excellent business all over.

Naya Gupt Gyan, the dubbed version of a South Indian production, was released in Mumbai last week. So also was another dubbed film, Qayamat, the Hindi version of End of Days.

This Week:
Four films are due for release this Friday. They are Ashok Honda’s Krodh, starring Sunil Shettty and Rambha, Sultan, a Mithun Chakraborty starrer, Vijay Kondke’s long-awaited Le Chal Apne Sangh and Shaheed Uddham Singh.

MSM Desai