By:
Taran
Adarsh,
IndiaFM
Thursday,
July
20,
2006
Something
like
this
is
a
rarity...
At
a
time
when
the
paying
public
has
given
its
mandate
to
comedies
[No
Entry,
Kyaa
Kool
Hai
Hum,
Garam
Masala,
Malamaal
Weekly,
Phir
Hera
Pheri],
everyone
was
hopeful
that
Golmaal
-
Fun
Unlimited,
starring
a
host
of
talented
names,
would
also
embark
on
a
flying
start.
With
the
volume
of
business
scaling
dizzy
heights
since
May-end
[Fanaa,
Phir
Hera
Pheri,
Krrish],
the
industry
experts
were
optimistic
that
Golmaal
-
Fun
Unlimited
would
also
fetch
a
record
start
at
the
turnstiles.
In
fact,
there
was
a
vacuum
of
biggies
after
Krrish
opened
three
weeks
ago
[low-budget
Corporate
was
targeted
at
the
multiplex
junta]
and
the
industry
was
optimistic
that
Golmaal
-
Fun
Unlimited
would
fill
the
void
and
end
up
proving
a
winner
as
well.
Actually,
Golmaal
-
Fun
Unlimited
had
a
number
of
factors
going
in
its
favor.
Besides
its
genre
[a
majority
of
laughathons
have
clicked
at
the
box-office],
the
film
had
to
face
no
major
opposition
in
the
week
[Husn
-
Love
and
Betrayal
and
Strings
never
featured
on
the
wish-list
of
moviegoers].
Moreover,
the
pre-release
promotion
was
excellent;
the
producers
left
no
stone
unturned
in
promoting
the
film.
But
the
average
to
dull
opening
of
the
film
came
as
a
complete
shocker...
The
multi-starrer
opened
to
an
average/below
average
response
[30%-65%]
almost
everywhere,
although
the
evening
shows
were
better.
The
consolation
was
that
the
audience
feedback
was
supremely
positive
and
almost
all
critics
who
matter
were
unanimous
that
the
comic
caper
had
the
ingredients
to
make
a
place
in
the
viewer's
hearts.
What
could've
led
to
a
slow
start
for
the
film?
The
bomb
blasts
in
Mumbai
that
sent
shock
waves
throughout
the
country?
Or
just
bad
luck?
There's
no
denying
that
the
serial
blasts
in
Mumbai
made
a
big
dent
in
film
business,
with
a
substantial
chunk
of
movie-going
audience
shying
away
from
movieplexes.
?
I
think
so!
However,
things
improved
on
Saturday
since
the
word
of
mouth
was
very
positive.
Sunday,
of
course,
was
the
best.
Not
just
Mumbai,
Delhi
or
Kolkata,
even
Surat,
Indore
and
Hyderabad
showed
an
upward
trend
on
Day
3.
Monday
was
steady
[45%
+],
while
Tuesday
and
Wednesday
were
okay
at
some
places,
not
too
strong
at
others.
Overall,
Golmaal
-
Fun
Unlimited
should
prove
to
be
a
safe
bet
in
certain
territories.
Its
business
in
Mumbai
should
be
the
best.
THIS
WEEK,
LAST
YEAR
[Weekend:
July
15-17,
2005]
A
few
days
before
Maine
Pyaar
Kyun
Kiya
hit
the
screens,
the
conversations
between
Salman
Khan
and
Aishwarya
Rai
were
made
public
by
newspapers/tabloids/television
channels.
There
were
oppositions/obstacles
when
the
movie
released,
but
that
didn't
deter
the
moviegoer
from
thronging
the
cinema
halls
screening
this
comic
caper.
Talking
from
the
box-office
point
of
view,
Maine
Pyaar
Kyun
Kiya
had
an
excellent
start
all
over,
reaffirming
Salman's
star
power
at
the
box-office.
The
first
weekend
was
strong
everywhere
[90%
+]
and
the
collections
on
Monday
were
rock-steady
[75%
+]
at
most
places.
But
Tuesday
onwards,
the
business
went
downhill.
At
places,
the
drop
in
its
business
was
marginal,
at
places
drastic.
Nevertheless,
thanks
to
the
excellent
first
four
days,
the
first
week
numbers/shares
were
impressive.
The
business
was
also
affected
at
places
due
to
the
cancellation
of
shows
and
partly
due
to
the
damage
caused
by
the
media.