January Ends On A Bright Note
http://www.indiafm.com/trade/business_talk/index.html

                                         The first month of 2006 has ended [how 
time flies!] and it's time to look at the score card. If the failure of JAWANI 
DIWANI reiterated the fact that the first week of the New Year is indeed 
jinxed, the two biggies that opened a week later, FAMILY and ZINDA, fell 
[collapsed?] even before they could learn to walk. In fact, the dull opening of 
the two films came as a rude shock to a section of the industry that is under 
the fallacy that stars work, not stories.

 However, the mind-blowing start of the keenly anticipated RANG DE BASANTI, the 
final release of January, brought solace to an otherwise worried industry.

 The hype surrounding RANG DE BASANTI was huge. The film had been sold for 
astronomical prices and not just the industry, even the common man was eagerly 
waiting for the film to arrive. And arrive it did with a bang. Released on a 
Thursday [January 26], to capitalize on the Republic Day holiday, the film took 
an electrifying, fantabulous, marvelous start almost everywhere.

 But before Day 1 could come to a close, the audience feedback had spread 
faster than wild fire: RANG DE BASANTI had found favor with the multiplex 
crowd, not as much from the masses. That explains why the collections dropped 
from Friday onwards [Day 2] at several mass-dominated screens. The multiplexes, 
however, were holding on exceedingly well, with 90% + occupancy. Saturday again 
saw a similar trend as Friday, while Sunday [Day 4] again witnessed a downward 
trend at places, partly due to the crucial Indo-Pak cricket match. However, the 
multiplexes continued to report exceptional collections.

 At the end of the first weekend, the results were crystal clear: RANG DE 
BASANTI had done rocking business at multiplexes of Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, 
Delhi, Kolkata and South, but had slided downwards at several mass-dominated 
screens. Yet, all said and done, the first weekend billing in the domestic 
market will be huge for four factors:-
  The tremendous hype and the resultant marvelous start.

The strong business at the multiplexes, which are performing 12-14-16 shows 
every day.

The inflated ticket rates at most screens. At some screens, the ticket rates 
were as steep as Rs. 250 per seat.

It wasn't a 3-day, but a 4-day weekend.
   Post Monday onwards, the film has been holding quite well at multiplexes 
[the distributors are continuing with the practice of 14-16 shows even on 
weekdays], but the business at single screens, at mass-dominated centres 
mainly, is not in keeping with the hype surrounding the biggie.

 The vital question is: Will RANG DE BASANTI recover its high costing? Will the 
distributors, who have acquired the film for heavy prices, recover their 
investment and make profits? Or will it be a mere coverage proposal thanks to 
the extra-ordinary start and its business at the multiplexes? Where will the 
pendulum swing?

 We need to watch how RANG DE BASANTI fares in the forthcoming days. If the 
film holds on strongly in the second weekend, the distributors should sail 
safe. It's a wait and watch situation as of now!






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