The week that started on Thursday (August 11) is probably the best week of this year. With Raksha Bandhan festival on Thursday, Independence Day on Monday (August 15), Parsi New Year on Tuesday (August 16) and Janmashtami on Thursday next (August 18), the 8-day week has four extra holidays viz. one festival holiday (August 11), one national holiday (August 15) and two partial holidays (August 16 and 18), besides the weekend (August 13 and 14). In spite of so many holidays in a single week, the initials of the two new films — LAAL SINGH CHADDHA and RAKSHA BANDHAN — released on August 11, and the public reports of both the films suggest that the best week of the year from the box-office point of view might actually turn out to be the worst for the box-office.
Laal Singh Chaddha did not open well on Thursday (August 11). The opening (morning) shows weren’t too exciting but that was understandable as Raksha Bandhan festivities were on in full swing in Hindu households. However, collections did not show the jump that was required, even in the afternoon, evening and night shows. Collections on the second day (Friday, August 12) were also far from encouraging. Of course, collections do drop a day after a festive holiday like Raksha Bandhan but when the start itself is low (Rs. 11.50 crore on the first day), a drop of around 35% on the second day is alarming and indicative that the film has not been liked by the majority. Although figures for Saturday are awaited, it looks like Rs. 7.50 crore only. Clearly, a film for the classes and big cities only, and, therefore, a washout.
Raksha Bandhan did not get the advantage of the Raksha Bandhan festival on Thursday (August 11), its opening day. It netted only Rs. 8.20 crore after a fairly poor start. Of course, collections picked up as the day progressed and after festivities were over in Hindu households, but the jump was not what it would have been if the film had found universal acceptance. Collections, as expected after a festival holiday, dropped on the second day (Friday, August 12), but the 25% drop after the bad start on Thursday did not augur well for the film. The Friday figure seems to be in the region of Rs. 6.25 crore only. Clearly, the appreciation for the film has come mainly from ‘B’ and ‘C’ class centres. Looking to the contribution of the smaller centres to the total earnings of a film, it can be predicted that in the final tally, the film’s theatrical earnings will be far from satisfactory.
Haryana proved disastrous in the first week all over.
Masoom Sawaal was a non-starter all over in 1st week.
Miami Se New York worked nowhere in the first week.
Match Of Life proved to be a debacle in the first week.
Naar Ka Sur fared miserably in 1st week all over.
Ramarao On Duty (dubbed) failed to generate even average collections in the first week. It was a debacle.
Bullet Train (dubbed and the original English versions) met with a poor fate in the first week all over.
DC League Of Super-Pets (animation; dubbed and the original English versions) did very average business in the first week.
Ek Villain Returns did not do much in the second week in spite of no major opposition. It collected Rs. 6 crore during the second weekend, and another Rs. 2.40 crore during the weekdays. With a second week total of Rs. 8.40 crore, the total for 2 weeks was a lukewarm Rs. 40.20 crore.
Thor: Love And Thunder (dubbed and the original English versions) did ordinary in its fifth week but crossed the Rs. 100-crore mark. It added Rs. 0.44 crore to its kitty in the weekend, and another Rs. 0.22 crore during the weekdays. Total for 5th week: Rs. 0.66 crore to its kitty in 5th week. Grand total for 5 weeks: Rs. 100.10 crore.
De Dhakka 2 (Marathi) fared well in the first week all over Maharashtra.
Ekda Kay Zala! (Marathi) could not do anything substantial in 1st week all over Maharashtra.
Timepass 3 (Marathi) continued to do well in the second week too all over Maharashtra.