So what is Namit Malhotra’s (in picture above) Ramayana? Is it a hit? Or a super-hit? No, it is neither a hit nor a super-hit.
How can it be called a hit when the Hindi version collected only Rs. 47 crore on the first day? Wasn’t it supposed to net Rs. 60 crore or upward of that number? And look at the drop in collections on Friday. Collections came down by almost 20%, to Rs. 38 crore. Isn’t this a sure sign that the film is going downhill?
NO, IT ISN’T!
For those who don’t understand the box-office, let it be said loudly and clearly that Rs. 47 crore on day 1 is an extraordinary figure, considering that the film opened on an odd day (Thursday) which wasn’t a holiday. On top of that, the film released in the dullest period of the year — the pre-Diwali days. And if it still managed to net Rs. 47 crore, the opening is nothing short of being historic.
Firstly, who would’ve had the courage to release his film in the worst week of the year, at least from the box-office point of view? Namit Malhotra exhibited nerves of steel when he announced that he would release his magnum opus on 6th November, and then advanced the release date by a day, to 5th November. Yes, the trade may have miscalculated the opening day’s figure. But just because the industry erred in estimating the initial of the film, it doesn’t mean that the opening was below the mark. It was still a phenomenal start to a film.
A drop in collections by 20% on the second day would be considered very normal — again, because we are talking about the pre-Diwali days. Shopping for new clothes, crackers, sweetmeats, spring-cleaning of their homes, visiting relatives and friends… there’s so much to do in the days leading up to the Festival of Lights that cinema-going is among the last on the priority list of many a Hindu family. And so, a box-office figure of Rs. 38 crore on Friday (day 2) was nothing short of terrific. Yes, the dumb people would flaunt the 20% drop in collections as a sure sign of the film failing, but they will get egg on their faces when they learn of today’s (Saturday, 7th November) collections. Attendance in cinemas screening the epic drama is once again looking up beyond imagination today. Frankly, the knowledgeable in the trade had estimated the net collection figure today to be Rs. 45 crore. But surprise, surprise, the film is headed for a far greater total today.
Collections on the day of Diwali (Laxmi Pooja) are traditionally low because Hindus are busy with festivities including conducting poojas at home and in their offices, besides visiting family and friends. Therefore, Sunday (8th November, Diwali day) may not throw up a huge number, but does that even matter?
The real festival for Ramayana will begin from Monday (9th November), the day after the Laxmi Pooja day. Box-office collections on Monday will be mesmerising — yes, absolutely magical. Don’t be surprised if Nitesh Tiwari’s directorial venture crosses the Rs. 100-crore mark on Monday, which, technically, will be the film’s fifth day!! Historic!!!!
Ramayana is poised to become the BIGGEST blockbuster of India ever! So, it would be unfair to call the film a hit or even a super-hit. Perhaps, even the term ‘blockbuster’ may not do justice to the potential of the Ranbir Kapoor and Yash starrer.
The industry should be proud of Namit Malhotra for various reasons. For one, he produced the film with so much passion and invested so heavily in the project that his sheer faith in the subject needs to be lauded. Ramayana offers nothing new by way of story because everyone has at least basic knowledge about India’s epic story. And yet, for a producer to put in so much money — Rs. 1,200 crore — in the production of the film is not a joke! After making the film, taking the tough decision to release it three days before Diwali is again nothing short of a heroic move. Any lesser producer would’ve developed cold feet by merely thinking of releasing such a costly film in the dull pre-Diwali days. But Malhotra did exactly that — brought the film to the screens when nobody would’ve dared to do so. As Namit told Information today, “I really don’t know if I’ve done the right thing by releasing it in these dull days. A lot of people are still mocking at me after seeing collections declining on the second day. I’m a first-time producer, and I really don’t understand whether I have made a mistake.”
Namit can be jittery for another day. But come Monday, and Namit will realise that Ramayana is unstoppable. He will understand that what he did (by getting his film in the dull period) was not at all a mistake. He will also realise that nobody can predict its business, at least not in the first week. For, the film is already being repeated by many among the audience. Also, people who haven’t been to a cinema since 20-30 and more years are already coming to watch his Ramayana on the big screen!
Namit, take a bow! You have done Bollywood proud. You have literally lit up the homes of the exhibitors this Diwali!!