Guns or Roses?

By: Taran Adarsh, IndiaFM
Saturday, October 21, 2006
The two diverse genres are pitted against one another. On one hand is a thriller [Don], with action in sufficient doses, and the other side of the fence is a woman and her two admirers [Jaan-E-Mann]. In this clash of guns and roses, who will win the box-office battle this Diwali and Idd? Or will the two films co-exist?

Taran Adarsh talks to the dream merchants to find the answers...

Rakesh Roshan
"I am sure the moviegoers would be keen to watch both Don and Jaan-E-Mann. The best thing is, the two films belong to different genres, so its going to be healthy competition this Diwali. Action works, so does romance, which means the scales will never tilt on one side. Eventually, of course, the content will have to be solid for the film to enjoy a long innings."

David Dhawan
"Dono sure-shot hits hain. Look at the star cast of the two films, it's like a buffet. SRK, Salman, Akshay, Preity, Priyanka, Kareena... it's a Diwali bonanza. Both will have huge openings, aur kya chahiye? The volume of business has increased by leaps and bounds and producers are making a neat profit these days. It's celebration time already!"

Kunal Kohli
"There are several instances of two and more films working in the same week. Dil and Ghayal as also Lagaan and Gadar were released simultaneously and the four films went on to do exceptional business. I don't see a reason why Don and Jaan-E-Mann won't co-exist. The audiences are starved for entertainment and Don and Jaan-E-Mann should fill the void."

Ramesh Taurani
"Dono ki jeet hogi. Both Don and Jaan-E-Mann are hot propositions within and outside the film industry. Plus, the hype is tremendous and thanks to the Diwali and Idd celebrations, it's a 10-day weekend for the two films. With a winning period on hand and a dream cast to support the films, this Diwali should prove to be extremely prosperous for the film industry."

Nikhil Advani
"Don and Jaan-E-Mann are both biggies, starring three 'A' list actors. Besides, the two films are diametrically opposite in terms of content. At the same time, a diehard SRK fan will watch Don first, while a Salman/Akshay fan would head for the nearest multiplex screening Jaan-E-Mann. There'll be a preference for sure, but people are bound to watch both the films. The intrigue factor for Jaan-E-Mann as well as Don is tremendous. Actually, people will find themselves in a dilemma: Which movie to catch first?"

Madhur Bhandarkar
"Both Don and Jaan-E-Mann will find their audiences. The stars are big, the songs are popular, the vibes are extremely positive. Besides, there has been a dearth of good films since the past few weeks and the moviegoers are eagerly anticipating DON and Jaan-E-Mann. I am sure Don and Jaan-E-Mann will reap a harvest at the ticket window."

Gaurang Doshi
"Don clearly has an edge, in my opinion. The film will embark on a better opening for various reasons: SRK's star power, the comparisons with the earlier Don and of course, the terrific buzz generated by the promos of the film. Jaan-E-Mann should also open big, but the fate of a love story always depends on how convincingly it's portrayed on screen. Also, romantic stories don't take an earth-shattering opening like an action film, but build up slowly if the reports are strong."

Pritish Nandy
"The two films [Don and Jaan-E-Mann] can co-exist easily. The promotion strategies are different and so is the genre -- Don comes across as a stylish, contemporary fare, while Jaan-E-Mann gives you the 1970s nostalgia feeling. Also, let's not forget that the volume of business has grown considerably and the market can easily accommodate two films in a festive week."

Vipul Shah
"When Dil and Ghayal and Gadar and Lagaan can work in non-Diwali weeks, why can't Don and Jaan-E-Mann in the festive season, when the business is at an all-time high? I have a strong feeling that the two new releases will work big time at the box-office. There has been a dearth of qualitative films after Lage Raho Munnabhai and Don and Jaan-E-Mann should fill the void. Dono filmein zabardast opening legi."

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