Box office analysis

Box office analysis





First weekend performance of latest release


After OM SHANTI OM and SAAWARIYA, JODHAA AKBAR was the film which was most talked about when it came to predicting box office returns. Though WELCOME and TAARZE ZAMEEN PAR came in the interim and turned out to be blockbusters with close to 135 crores worth of business between them, none of the two films had as much anticipation quotient going around them as much as JODHAA AKBAR.

This is something which works as a double edged sword because with such expectations factor, any major film could go either way. However, at the moment it is still early days to categorize JODHAA AKBAR as a hit, average or flop simply because it saw a patchy release on Friday. Also, with Rajasthan not seeing the arrival of film, it would be unfair to give a verdict without the film being at least one week through. Though it is highly unlikely that the film won't be able to recover it's cost, one can't be too comfortable about calling the film a success either.

So far word of mouth of the film has ranged between fair to very good. No one has dismissed the movie, on the other hand it hasn't been termed as a much-watch either. This means that the fair to good opening of the film hasn't quite translated into extraordinary with progression of days since people are still waiting to hear more before jumping into queue.

This makes JODHAA AKBAR a rare instance where a film's progress into second week is far more important than the first week. This is because if the film sustains itself well into the second week, it would see a free run for many more weeks to follow due to negligible competition. However, the multi-crore question here is, will the film sustain well? Let's wait for a few more days to witness it for ourselves!

Last week's movies



If the opening of SUPERSTAR was bad, the days which followed were only worse. Though MITHYA wasn't too much of a competition, the comparison factor did impact SUPERSTAR. Moreover with patrons inclined towards checking out JODHAA AKBAR in the week to follow, SUPERSTAR simply went up the sky no sooner than it had arrived. The film has barely made 2 crores in it's first week which is lower than the first week collection of Rohit Jugraj's debut film JAMES. SUPERSTAR hasn't performed well anywhere and is at maximum a fortnight runner.

MITHYA has made decent profits in it's first week itself, courtesy it's small budget and over 3 crores in collections. A film that had it's target audience always set as multiplex audience in big centers, Ranvir Shorey and Neha Dhupia starrer MITHYA has done quite well especially in Mumbai and Delhi with collections exceeding 75 lakhs and 60 lakhs respectively. With JODHAA AKBAR as the only major competition for the film till BLACK & WHITE arrives all the way on 7th March, MITHYA has a great opportunity to further make a killing. All around positive reviews and word of mouth have only helped the cause further!

From the past

RAMA RAMA KYA HAI DRAMAAA has turned out to be yet another box office failure of 2008. After being a non-starter, it hasn't done well even in the interiors and has crashed completely in the second week with more than 85% fall. The film got hardly 20 lakhs more and is now folding up under 1.75 crores. Don't expect much happening for the film in DVD circuits either.



SUNDAY is safe, though just about it. In the third week, this Ajay Devgan starrer managed to show some resistance with only 55% fall. With 2 crores more coming in, the film has succeeded in crossing the 20 crores mark and now sits pretty at 21 crores. Though there are not many hopes of much more moolah being added on, the film has come as a welcome relief for Devgan whose HALLA BOL hadn't quite set the box office afire. As for Arshad Warsi, he can feel good because though he didn't have to carry the film on his shoulders, he has still garnered maximum appreciation for SUNDAY.

TAARE ZAMEEN PAR continues to be the strongest of the lot and is still earning in crores in spite of being eight weeks into the business. With a mere 30% fall and 1.5 crores more coming in, the film has now touched the 58 crores mark. Blockbuster! Meanwhile WELCOME too continues to be in Top-5 films though it's weekly collections were far lower at 35 lakhs. While the film's collections have now surpassed 75 crores, the DVDs have hit the stands as well and opened to a bumper response.

In the future



From now till 7th March (when BLACK & WHITE arrives), there is no few film opening at theaters.

Dr. Gayathri’s book on Superstar

Dr. Gayathri’s book on Superstar



Film stars, irrespective of cast, creed, gender, location, status or financial back ground entertain people belonging to all walks of life. And it was a personality from this same film field, Rajinikanth, who has inspired Dr. Gayathri Sreekanth to author a book on him.

About the book:

Being inspired by the superstar Dr. Gayathri wanted to show her appreciation towards her favorite star, and what best way to convey it than write a book on your idol. And that’s exactly what she has done. Come March and Dr. Gayathri’s book will be out in the markets for us to read and appreciate.

The book is published by Om Books International, the same firm that published the biography of the Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. When Dr. Gayathri approached Om Books International she was not sure if she could get the same publication house to prepare this book too, and was immensely happy when she got a green signal.

The full length of Dr. Gayathri’s book reads to around 350 pages. The doctor reveals that it was initially 600 pages big but has been crispy edited to fit 350 pages now. Om Books International is publishing the book both in English and Tamil.

The book is more or less a chronicle where the author leads the audience through the facts and the interesting happenings in the life of superstar.

Inputs:

When Dr. Gayathri approached the superstar and told him about her plans on doing a biography on him, Rajinikanth wished her good luck and helped her in providing snaps to make the biography a more colorful one. The doctor says, more than anything else it was the humility of this actor that hit her the most. She was humbled by his speech and his simplicity, and has vowed that she too will adopt a lifestyle like her idol.

A long way to go ma’am!

Dr. Gayathri received very useful information from director AVM Saravanan, and she is very thankful for her association with him and his support in making her article more interesting and factual.

The over-whelmed doctor is also very thankful to her husband and family who have stood by her in completing this book successfully.

From the first day in March all Rajini fans can have a good insight in to the ways of the superstar through the book of Dr. Gayathri Sreekanth, because that is when this book will hit the stands. The English version is titled ‘The Name Is Rajinikanth’ and in Tamil it has aptly been named ‘Pera Kettaley Chumma Athirudhulla’!

Was that a rumbling that you heard now?

I am happy with my boyfriend: Tulip Joshi

I am happy with my boyfriend: Tulip Joshi

From 'Mere Yaar ki Shadi Hai' to recent release ‘Superstar’, Tulip Joshi is all set to be a versatile actor. The stunning actress shares a few insights about her break in Bollywood industry with TWF correspondent Manish Ramchandani.

How did Superstar happen?
I was called by the producer of Superstar as he was impressed by my previous performances in Matrubhoomi, Dil Mange More and other films. In Superstar I play Mausam, a journalist.

I accepted the role as it was very challenging as I have never done anything like this before. In the movie I and Kunal are childhood sweethearts.

How did you get a first break?
To get in the Bollywood the newcomers struggle a lot, but by God's grace in my case everything went smooth and I got a chance to work with a Yash Chopra banner directly.

The first movie 'Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai' happened when I had been to a wedding of my family friend. I was from bride's side. Yash Chopraji was also there to bless the couple. Luckily I was in modelling and wanted to be a Bollywood actress.Yash Chopra spotted me and asked me to come for a screen test.

Fortunately I cleared it and in turn got an offer for the role of Sanjana. I accepted it with open hands.It was almost like 'dream come true'.

Did you always want to become an actress?
I always wanted to be a sports personality and also I had been a national level athlete. But I could not continue with it. Later I got into modelling and the rest you know…

Since you started of with Yash Raj banner are you expecting a few more films from them?
Well I haven't got any offers from Yash Raj Films till now but I am sure that if they fell that I am suitable for a certain role they would surely call me.

Would you like to act for serials if given a chance?
Why not, I have no problem. But at the moment my focus is on commercial films and I am looking for better prospects in the same.

Have you ever been propositioned for a casting couch assignment?
Well, to be frank it might be existing in the industry, but I have never faced a situation like this. From the very beginning, I am always clear with people I am working with. I would never compromise myself by doing anything like this. Finally, I don't know about it as I have never faced it.

Would you be comfortable doing an item number?
Yes, I think item number is liked by people and so I would be comfortable as long as there is no nudity and smooching scene.

What would your dream project be like?
I think I am not looking for something specific.The kind of role that I have played over the time has helped to grow as an actor.

I think that I am a versatile actor and so I am ready to try my hand on various kinds of role- be it women oriented or action oriented.

When are you planning to get married?
I am very happy with my boyfriend Captain Vinod Nair and we both have a long way to go in our career. So marriage is not going to happen so early. But we are serious about the relation.