TOUGH 2 FRIDAYS AHEAD BEFORE THE BIG DIWALI WEEKEND
The pre-Diwali period has kicked in. Several films will try their luck tomorrow and the week after in theatres. Sadly, none of the films seem exciting to the audience and only a positive word of mouth can save them.
The big release of the week is Tejas. It stars Kangana Ranaut as an Air force officer and is Ronnie Screwvala’s first theatrical release after 4 years. The trailer is interesting and the awareness about the film is there but the curiosity is limited. Moreover, Kangana’s track record has suffered a beating due to back-to-back debacles. As a result, the film will open in the range of Rs. 1-2 crores. There can be a 100% jump in earnings on Saturday if the public accepts the film. Once that happens, it’ll have a smooth run till Diwali.
The next major release is 12th Fail. It is directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra and stars Vikrant Massey in the lead. It is based on the real-life story of a man who grew up in a backward area and aspired to clear the tough IPS exam. The film has received acclaim from all quarters, including the media. But the awareness is quite limited. Zee Studios has backed the film and they have given it an extensive release. The opening is expected to be around Rs. 40-50 lakhs. This film, too, can show an increase in collections if word of mouth can spread fast.
Lastly, Sajini Shinde Ka Viral Video stars Nimrat Kaur and Radhika Madan. Until a few weeks back, it was named Happy Teachers’ Day. Radhika in an interview stated that acclaimed director Sriram Raghavan suggested that the film be renamed Sajini Shinde Ka Viral Video for a better impact. The trailer is quite intriguing. Sadly, many are not even aware that a film of this name exists, though the makers have tried their best to make noise. The screen count seems limited and it remains to be seen which one opens better – Sajini Shinde Ka Viral Video or 12th Fail.
Lastly, the big Hollywood release is Killers Of The Flower Moon, directed by globally renowned filmmaker Martin Scorsese. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. Due to the casting and Scorsese’s association, the film will definitely find a tiny section of the audience. Expect near-sold-out or even housefull shows in certain theatres at least in the weekend. The only minus point is that it’s too long with a run time of 3 hours 26 minutes.