DRY PERIOD SETS IN AT THE BOX OFFICE, NETFLIX ORIGINAL FILM TO STEAL THE SHOW THIS WEEKEND
The dry period has begun in Bollywood and it’ll get over only when the holy month of Ramzan gets over, on March 31. Until then, this whole month will see not-so-exciting content though next week’s The Diplomat might surprise.
This week will see the release of several old films like Fashion, Highway, Queen, Lootera and surprisingly even Road Movie. The biggest re-release, however, will be Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana. It is backed by Deepak Mukut who also produced Sanam Teri Kasam, which became a smashing hit on its re-release. Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana is also a cult hit on satellite. But it looks like the audience might not be as interested in watching it on the big screen, looking at the ticket sales. Even Fashion, Highway, Queen, Lootera and Road Movie will have a tough time though there’s hope that Lootera can get decent footfalls.
The last week’s releases, Crazxy and Superboys Of Malegaon, have failed to entice viewers. Superboys Of Malegaon has received unanimous acclaim but will struggle to even cross the Rs. 3 crore mark. Crazxy is holding well on the weekdays, though it’s thanks to the Buy One Get One Ticket Free offer. In a unique move, the makers will release the film with a new climax since the ending hasn’t got a great response. It remains to be seen if this novel strategy entices moviegoers.
On the other hand, Chhaava continues to rule though its collections suffered a drop. However, it will keep collecting at low levels until Eid. The three-week collections stands at around Rs. 460 crores and it might see a jump next weekend on Holi. If all goes well, it’ll have a lifetime collection of around Rs. 530 crores.
Speaking of new releases, there’s no major Hindi film storming in cinemas tomorrow. The major Hollywood release is Mickey 17. It is directed by Bong Joon Ho of Parasite fame and stars Robert Pattinson. The subject is novel and the word of mouth is overwhelmingly positive. Sadly, the advance booking is very poor as the awareness is limited. Hopefully, the film will gradually pick up.
Lastly, the film which will make the maximum noise is Nadaaniyan. It releases directly on Netflix and marks the debut of Ibrahim Ali Khan. He’s paired opposite Khushi Kapoor in this film, which also stars Mahima Chaudhry, Suniel Shetty, Dia Mirza and Jugal Hansraj. The makers haven’t promoted the film much and no interviews or events have taken place either. But due to the casting, it’s sure to find a huge viewership.