Releasing
two,
three,
four
films
in
one
week
is
considered
professional
harakiri.
The
power
to
sustain
at
the
box-office
has
reduced
over
the
years.
That
was
evident
last
Friday,
when
three
films
[Anthony
Kaun
Hai?,
Shaadi
Karke
Phas
Gaya
Yaar
and
Darwaza
Bandh
Rakho],
starring
known
names
all,
opened
to
a
mixed
response.
Expectedly,
Anthony
Kaun
Hai?
had
the
best
start
of
the
three.
The
Munnabhai
M.B.B.S.
combo
of
Sanjay
Dutt
and
Arshad
Warsi
attracted
footfalls
at
movieplexes
and
the
opening
ranged
from
35%
to
55%
at
various
screens.
Darwaza
Bandh
Rakho
followed
next,
with
a
15%-20%
opening,
while
Shaadi
Karke
Phas
Gaya
Yaar
had
an
embarrassingly
low
start
[5%-10%].
THIS
WEEK
IN
2005
[Weekend:
August
5-7,
2005]
There
was
a
lull
before
the
storm.
That's
precisely
what
the
film
industry
witnessed
one
week
before
the
keenly
anticipated
Mnagal
Pandy
hit
the
screens.
A
'dry
week'
is
unimaginable,
considering
the
heavy
flow
of
films
week
after
week.
On
an
average,
the
industry
witnessed
the
release
of
three/four
films
per
week
since
the
start
of
this
year
and
the
trend
was
likely
to
continue
till
the
year
comes
to
a
close.
Hence,
the
release
of
just
one
film,
in
limited
shows
at
four
multiplexes
of
Mumbai,
did
come
as
a
surprise.
The
film,
Shwet
-
White
Rainbow,
was
released
with
as
good
as
nil
publicity
and
its
disastrous
outcome,
therefore,
didn't
come
as
a
surprise.
THIS
WEEK
IN
2004
[Weekend:
July
30-August
1,
2004]
Mujhse
Shaadi
Karogi,
David
Dhawan's
latest
comic
caper,
had
gripped
the
nation.
Despite
cricket
matches.
Despite
heavy
rains
lashing
various
parts
of
the
country.
The
opening
weekend
as
well
as
the
business
on
the
subsequent
days
had
been
phenomenal.
At
places
where
house
full
boards
were
a
rarity,
it
was
heartening
to
witness
serpentine
queues
outside
those
theatres.
The
first
week
business
of
the
film
was
expected
to
be
grand,
at
par
with
the
first
week
business
of
Main
Hoon
Na
at
several
centres.
So
what
really
attracted
the
audiences
in
hordes?
The
catchy
promos
aided
by
a
popular
musical
score
did
the
trick.
Of
course,
the
fresh
casting
[Salman,
Akshay
and
Priyanka
were
teamed
for
the
first
time]
and
David
Dhawan's
impressive
track
record
also
contributed
enormously
in
garnering
a
speedy
start.