Domestic B.O.: Dhol fair, Manorama dull... Contd.

THIS WEEK IN 2005
[Weekend: September 23-25, 2005]

On the surface, Dil Jo Bhi Kahey... was a perfect launch for a star-kid. By joining hands with heavyweight Manmohan Shetty"s Entertainment One to co-produce the film, casting Amitabh Bachchan and Revathy as Karan"s on-screen parents, hiring the best of names in the business [Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Javed Akhtar, Binod Pradhan], shooting the film in Stockholm and Mauritius and inviting hand-picked journos to Mauritius to introduce his son, Romesh Sharma left no stone unturned to give his son an ideal launch.

But Romesh Sharma went wrong in his decision of choosing a script that seemed completely outdated in today"s times. Also, the promotion of Dil Jo Bhi Kahey... was quite low-key. The lead pair should"ve been all over -- on billboards, in newspapers and periodicals, on television, on radio stations and the Internet media.

Dil Jo Bhi Kahey... had a shockingly dull start at the ticket window. It opened to a 20% + start at some places, while at some movieplexes, the turnout was as low as 5%-10%. No one was expecting miracles on Saturday or Sunday and the business on these two days, even at multiplexes, was below par.

Call it a coincidence, but Amitabh"s seventh release in 2004, Hum Kaun Hai?, recorded lowest collections when compared to his other releases that year. Dil Jo Bhi Kahey... was his seventh release in 2005 and as luck would have it, the collections of the film were the weakest when compared to his other openers in 2005.

THIS WEEK IN 2004
[Weekend: September 24-26, 2004]

As many as four films hit the marquee this weekend in India [five films, if you add Chokher Bali in Overseas]. And the business of the four films [Tumsa Nahin Dekha, Madhoshi, Dobra and King Of Bollywood] only added to the woes of a crestfallen industry.

Multiple releases in one week... Will we ever learn from our mistakes? I doubt!