<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/36005359.cms" /> After a week of great <keyword id="25892" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="box-office">box office</keyword> action, mainly due to the runaway success of Rajinikanth-starrer <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Box-Office-Kochadaiiyaan-Thrives-On-Rajini-Power-Heropanti-Soaring-High/articleshow/35710189.cms">Kochadaiiyaan</a>, <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> is back to a dismal crawl. Last Friday (May 30) saw the release of just two flicks – Hansal Mehta-directed <keyword id="502037" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Citylights">Citylights</keyword> and newbie film-maker <keyword id="1307809" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Aman-Sachdeva">Aman Sachdeva</keyword>’s <keyword id="1444695" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kuku-Mathur-Ki-Jhand-Ho-Gayi">Kuku Mathur Ki Jhand Ho Gayi</keyword> (well, this one is produced by <keyword id="6354597" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ekta-Kapoor">Ekta Kapoor</keyword>, <keyword id="154993" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Shobha-Kapoor">Shobha Kapoor</keyword> and Bejoy Nambiar). Although both are hatke movies in a way and the former has earned enough critical accolades, none could manage an impressive showing at the <keyword id="827271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Domestic-Box-Office">domestic box office</keyword> and recorded only 5-10% occupancy on debut day. 
 
Citylights, however, did considerably well after collecting just Rs 70 lakh on the opening Friday. The movie hit 500 screens and went on to earn Rs 3.57 crore at home in the first three days, according to <keyword id="6356809" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="producer">producer</keyword> figure (trade figure puts it at Rs 3.18 crore). But the crucial first Monday collections dipped again to Rs 60 lakh (approx). However, keeping in mind it is a <keyword id="2289947" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Low-budget-movie">low-budget movie</keyword> and cost around Rs 7 crore including P&amp;A, Citylights may just avoid losses. 
 
On the other hand, <keyword id="2289921" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kuku-Mathur">Kuku Mathur</keyword> Ki Jhand Ho Gayi, a rom-com drama with a <keyword id="2289946" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="quirky-title">quirky title</keyword> and an unmistakable <keyword id="2289944" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Delhi-flavour">Delhi flavour</keyword>, has garnered a paltry Rs 1.60 crore over the first weekend, against an estimated budget of Rs 6 crore. In addition, it has landed into further trouble as a resident of <keyword id="6355556" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="bhopal">Bhopal</keyword> has reportedly filed a Public Interest Litigation (<keyword id="6355791" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="PIL">PIL</keyword>) against <keyword id="766823" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Balaji-Motion-Pictures">Balaji Motion Pictures</keyword>, claiming that the film’s title has hurt the sentiments of the Kayastha community. Kuku Mathur was released across 700 screens but going by its performance, it can be a clean washout at the box office. 
 
But what has gone wrong with Citylights? For one, the movie gives you a taste of unsavoury reality that is bound to jolt viewers. Inspired by the British film <keyword id="467511" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Metro-Manila">Metro Manila</keyword>, Citylights by <keyword id="303" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Director">director</keyword> <keyword id="4684" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Hansal-Mehta">Hansal Mehta</keyword> (of Shahid fame) pieces together the gripping tale of an <keyword id="2289953" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Uprooted-family">uprooted family</keyword> and their desperate struggle to survive in the ruthless city of Mumbai. The <keyword id="1097560" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="storyline">storyline</keyword> unveils a touching human document, superbly portrayed by the lead couple – <keyword id="1946388" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rajkummar-Rao">Rajkummar Rao</keyword> (<keyword id="6357110" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="deepak">Deepak</keyword>) and debutante <keyword id="2222926" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Patralekha">Patralekha</keyword>. Even the crime drama blends well with the colourful kaleidoscope – gentle, sombre, harsh and tragic at times. The ending is undoubtedly filmy, but the rest shines with a rare sensitivity that saves Citylights from being a cliché. 
 
 <img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/36005438.cms" /> 
 
In contrast, Kuku Mathur is a <keyword id="2289956" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Light-comedy">light comedy</keyword>, telling the story of two fast <keyword id="343" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Friends">friends</keyword> – Kuku Mathur (<keyword id="803840" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Siddharth-Gupta">Siddharth Gupta</keyword>) and <keyword id="2289924" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ronnie-Gulati">Ronnie Gulati</keyword> (<keyword id="2222736" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ashish-Juneja">Ashish Juneja</keyword>) – and their coming of age. This one is Sachdeva’s debut film and there are the usual hiccups in terms of plot and characters. But the lead duo and <keyword id="38050" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Amit-Sial">Amit Sial</keyword> (<keyword id="2289962" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Prabhakar-Bhaiya">Prabhakar Bhaiya</keyword>, the baddie uncle trying to influence Kuku) have put in some fantastic acting; the humour is quite <keyword id="678332" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Subtle">subtle</keyword> at times and the <keyword id="2289967" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Delhi-backdrop">Delhi backdrop</keyword> adds some endearing local colours. Kuku’s culinary aspirations bring in a fresh <keyword id="30450" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="Touch">touch</keyword>, but a crisper storyline and engaging <keyword id="42057" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Screenplay">screenplay</keyword> could have improved the film vastly. Overall, an average movie with a few ‘wow’ moments and that partly explains the poor box office response. 
 But in case you are longing for another <keyword id="654103" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="smash">smash</keyword> hit like <keyword id="1849408" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kochadaiiyaan">Kochadaiiyaan</keyword> or even <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Box-Office-Kochadaiiyaan-Thrives-On-Rajini-Power-Heropanti-Soaring-High/articleshow/35710189.cms">Heropanti</a>, wait till you get to watch Akshay Kumar-starrer <keyword id="2113212" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Holiday-A-Soldier-Is-Never-Off-Duty">Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty</keyword>, to be released on June 6. It is a remake of the Tamil hit <keyword id="2289970" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tuppaki">Tuppaki</keyword> and also stars <keyword id="62210" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sonakshi-Sinha">Sonakshi Sinha</keyword>. Let us wait and see if ‘Akki’ can break the box office jinx. 
 
Images: Indiatimes

Citylights
Impressive But Tanks At Box Office; Kuku Mathur Doesn’t Take Off

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/45954871.cms" /> <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> is known for sticking to and banking on reliable formulas. One such formula that has been working well for the past few years is that of Horrex movies—offering Horror and Sex (much like the term Rom-Com). 
 
Last Friday’s release <keyword id="6613249" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="alone">Alone</keyword> falls in the Horrex category. With the movie Alone, television heartthrob Karan Singh Grover made his debut in Bollywood. He is paired opposite Bengali bombshell <keyword id="8112" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bipasha-Basu">Bipasha Basu</keyword>. 
 
Directed by Bhushan Patel, who has given supernatural hits like 1920: Evil Returns and Ragini MMS 2, Alone was an ambitious project. 
The movie has been much talked about off-screen intimacy between the leading pair, which is also touted to be the reason of Karan Singh Grover’s split with wife Jennifer Winget, whom he had married after his first marriage with actress Shraddha Nigam ended. 
 
Made on a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alone_%282015_film%29">budget of Rs 18 crores</a>, Alone has managed to have an average opening at the Indian <keyword id="25892" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="box-office">box office</keyword> and <a href="http://www.koimoi.com/box-office/alone-does-decent-business-in-the-opening-weekend-at-the-box-office/">as per Koimoi.com</a> it managed to collect Rs 14 crore in its first weekend. On Monday, the movie managed to <a href="http://www.koimoi.com/box-office/alone-1st-monday-box-office-collections/">pocket another</a> Rs 2.1 crore taking its total collections to Rs 16.1 crore. 
 
While Alone’s business had been better than the other recent Horrex movies starring Bipasha Basu, it still has a long way to go to reach the break even mark. What makes the matters worse is that next week Akshay Kumar starrer Baby and Sonam Kapoor’s Dolly Ki Doli will hit the cinema screens. 
 
Last week, also saw the release of the movie, MSG: Messenger of God. After all the controversy regarding clearing of the movie by the censor board, there are no reports suggesting the collections of this movie. 
 
The other two movies released last week, Sharafat Gayi Tel Lene as well as Crazy Cukkad Family did not manage to draw viewer, hence were a compete washout at the Box Office.

Box Office Collections Of Alone And Party

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/38018693.cms" /> After some great business for a couple of weeks, <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> is back to the ‘slump’ mode even as <keyword id="2409418" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vidya-Balan-Ali-Fazal-starrer">Vidya Balan-Ali Fazal-starrer</keyword> <keyword id="1876316" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bobby-Jasoos">Bobby Jasoos</keyword> hit the screen on July 4. The other release of the week was <keyword id="2409416" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Arif-Ali-directed">Arif Ali-directed</keyword> <keyword id="2409419" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Romantic-drama">romantic drama</keyword> <keyword id="2232911" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Lekar-Hum-Deewana-Dil">Lekar Hum Deewana Dil</keyword>, which could have gone deep into millennial psyche and become a successful coming-of-age movie with a strong romantic undertone. Instead, it turned out to be a not-so-original concoction of previous hits like <keyword id="14521" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Jab-We-Met">Jab We Met</keyword> and <keyword id="6354768" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Highway">Highway</keyword> (both directed by Arif’s brother <keyword id="14373" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Imtiaz">Imtiaz</keyword>) or the age-old youth-centric flicks of Bollywood. The outcome is quite predictable – a complete washout at the <keyword id="827271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Domestic-Box-Office">domestic box office</keyword>. 
 But first things first – let us come back to <keyword id="1997475" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Samar-Shaikh">Samar Shaikh</keyword>’s <keyword id="41623" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Directorial-debut">directorial debut</keyword> Bobby Jasoos, which was produced by <keyword id="981" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Dia-Mirza">Dia Mirza</keyword> and <keyword id="440307" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sahil-Sangha">Sahil Sangha</keyword>. <keyword id="3844" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vidya-Balan">Vidya Balan</keyword> in a key role (remember <keyword id="6405846" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Dirty-Picture">Dirty Picture</keyword> or <keyword id="6358300" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Kahaani">Kahaani</keyword>?) has always been a treat to watch but this time, the clumsy sleuth <keyword id="2409413" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bilkis-Ahmed">Bilkis Ahmed</keyword> aka Bobby didn’t get the cash register ringing. Even after the resounding success of the <keyword id="1250908" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="romantic-thriller">romantic thriller</keyword> <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/BoxOffice-Ek-Villain-A-Runaway-Success-May-Soon-Enter-Rs-100-Crore-Club/articleshow/37631847.cms">Ek Villain</a>, Vidya’s kind of seriocomic suspense went largely unappreciated. Although the movie hit nearly 1,350 screens across 39 countries including India and enjoyed considerable hype, occupancy was dismal on the debut day itself – just around 30%. The movie netted around Rs 7.5 crore at the domestic <keyword id="25892" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="box-office">box office</keyword> in the first three days and business slumped further on the crucial first Monday as the flick netted around Rs 1.25 crore, according to industry estimates. Keeping in mind its whopping budget of Rs 28 crore (cost and P&amp;A), Bobby Jasoos could be in the red if business does not pick up quickly during the first week. 
 
Interestingly, Mohit Suri-directed <keyword id="2177024" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ek-Villain">Ek Villain</keyword> is going great guns in spite of two new releases and already amassed Rs 92.90 crore at the domestic box office after the second Sunday. Thanks to 1,700 screens and 5,400 shows per day, the flick may enter the <keyword id="925977" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rs-100-crore-club">Rs 100 crore club</keyword> within the second week. 
 
 
<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/38018760.cms" /> 
 
Lekar Hum Deewana Dil had a <keyword id="2277648" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="disastrous-start">disastrous start</keyword> at the domestic box office, collecting a little over Rs 40 lakh on the opening day and just about Rs 1.41 crore after the first three days. The Monday earnings are not confirmed yet, but are estimated to be Rs 50 lakh, according to industry insiders. Starring newcomers <keyword id="433654" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Armaan-Jain">Armaan Jain</keyword> (well, he is <keyword id="2409428" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Raj-Kapoors-grandson">Raj Kapoor’s grandson</keyword>) and <keyword id="97760" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Deeksha-Seth">Deeksha Seth</keyword>, Lekar Hum has turned out to be one of the lowest grossers with a fresh cast. The movie’s budget was Rs 16 crore (cost and P&amp;A) – a clear indication that it will have to struggle hard to break even. 
 
Critically speaking, Bobby Jasoos showcases quite a few novel features. Vidya in her multiple disguises is fun to watch; the cases she solves are from everyday life and hardly require Sherlock-like qualities, and throughout the story, we get to see a vulnerable middle-class girl from an <keyword id="122267" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="orthodox">orthodox</keyword> society and an old city, trying to establish a brand new identity. The theme is a laudable one and Vidya carries it out with great vigour, breathing life into this spicy mix of fun and mystery. But the plot tumbles towards the melodramatic all too soon, making things painfully predictable in spite of the great chemistry between Vidya and <keyword id="486750" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ali-Fazal">Ali Fazal</keyword> (<keyword id="2409430" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tassavur">Tassavur</keyword>). 
 
Armaan-Deeksha-starrer Lekar Hum Deewana Dil also had the potential to be different, but the <keyword id="1636016" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="rom-com">rom-com</keyword> fails to lift interpersonal relationship to a different level of conflict, confrontation and comprehension. So you get another mundane love story at the end. Maybe <keyword id="303" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Director">director</keyword> <keyword id="314242" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Arif-Ali">Arif Ali</keyword> was trying to churn out a perfect Bollywood hit (no wonder there was a great combo of all the great rom-coms we can possibly remember). But the next time he does it, he must remember that famous quote by Anna Quindlen – The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is... beginning the work of becoming yourself. 
 
Images: Indiatimes

Box Office:
Bobby Jasoos No Match For Ek Villain, Lekar Hum Deewana Dil A Total Disaster

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/36716958.cms" /> Once again, <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> has gone into overdrive and a fivesome was released on Friday the 13th. The big release was <keyword id="184700" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Fugly">Fugly</keyword>, of course, a <keyword id="556777" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="comedy-drama">comedy drama</keyword> directed by <keyword id="29915" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="actor-director">actor-director</keyword> <keyword id="121984" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kabir-Sadanand">Kabir Sadanand</keyword> and co-produced by none other than Akki (<keyword id="2823" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Akshay-Kumar">Akshay Kumar</keyword>). However, this one has seen limited success at the <keyword id="827271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Domestic-Box-Office">domestic box office</keyword>. The other four flicks of the week include Md. Mohibul Haque-directed <keyword id="582722" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="action-thriller">action thriller</keyword> <keyword id="2343872" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="18-11-A-code-of-secrecy">18.11… A code of secrecy</keyword>; <keyword id="1403873" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Prakash-Saini">Prakash Saini</keyword>’s <keyword id="2249858" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Chal-Bhaag">Chal Bhaag</keyword>, a crime comedy; <keyword id="934838" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Debaloy-Dey">Debaloy Dey</keyword>’s <keyword id="30679" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="horror-flick">horror flick</keyword> <keyword id="1092690" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Machhli-Jal-Ki-Rani-Hai">Machhli Jal Ki Rani Hai</keyword> and finally, <keyword id="824801" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="unforgettable">Unforgettable</keyword>, a romantic flick directed by <keyword id="1050162" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Arshad-Yusuf-Pathan">Arshad Yusuf Pathan</keyword>. Although the plots and the genres widely vary, there is one thing in common – all these four movies have turned out to be <keyword id="25892" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="box-office">box office</keyword> disasters. 
 
Fugly hit 1,100-plus screens in India and managed to collect Rs 2.95 crore on the opening day in spite of mixed reviews. <keyword id="303" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Director">Director</keyword> Kabir Sadanand was happy, though. “Good 1st day for @FuglyTheFilm, domestic box office collection of 2.95 cr. So guys go out there and watch the film, fight against the Ugly,” Sadanand tweeted on Saturday. The movie netted around Rs 9.5 crore after the first three days (Rs 7.23 crore as per trade figure). Although it had a big release, the movie’s budget is quite low (around Rs 16 crore) and Fugly just might avoid ending up in the red. 
 
But even then, Sadanand’s third outing as a director takes him nowhere near his earlier release <keyword id="30111" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="Tum-Milo-Toh-Sahi">Tum Milo Toh Sahi</keyword> (2010). Fugly is all about four close <keyword id="343" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="Friends">friends</keyword> – <keyword id="330" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Dev">Dev</keyword> (<keyword id="1466941" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mohit-Marwah">Mohit Marwah</keyword>), <keyword id="6815" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Devi">Devi</keyword> (<keyword id="1788525" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kiara-Advani">Kiara Advani</keyword>), <keyword id="1438" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gaurav">Gaurav</keyword> (<keyword id="132330" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="boxer-Vijender-Singh">boxer Vijender Singh</keyword>) and <keyword id="967" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Aditya">Aditya</keyword> (<keyword id="1664323" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Arfi-Lamba">Arfi Lamba</keyword>) – living a fast-track life in and around <keyword id="66" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Delhi">Delhi</keyword>. But when the corrupt cop <keyword id="2343896" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="R-S-Chautala">R.S. Chautala</keyword> (<keyword id="4666" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Jimmy-Shergill">Jimmy Shergill</keyword>) takes control of their life, the foursome gets entangled in social issues and tries to find solutions, Bollywood ishtyle. The outcome is a wobbly plot that fails to delve into the myriad layers of reality or string together a robust, coherent human drama. At the end, the movie with a mission and a message (it is bound to remind you of <keyword id="3735" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="Rang-de-basanti">Rang de Basanti</keyword>) simply ends up in a meaningless mess. 
 
The other four flicks look like box office bombs although 18.11… A code of secrecy endeavours to decode terrorism. And this time, a <keyword id="49316" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Software-engineer">software engineer</keyword> (<keyword id="2343901" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rehal-Khan">Rehal Khan</keyword>) comes to the rescue with a hi-tech alert system and fights off all the baddies. The opening day collection of 18.11 stood at an approx. Rs 15 lakh, but the weekend numbers are not in yet. 
 
<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/36717000.cms" /> 
 
Prakash Saini’s Chal Bhaag tells the tale of three crooks – <keyword id="2333769" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Munna-Supari">Munna Supari</keyword> (<keyword id="109372" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Deepak-Dobriyal">Deepak Dobriyal</keyword>), <keyword id="320578" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Daler-Singh">Daler Singh</keyword> (<keyword id="2249438" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Varun-Mehra">Varun Mehra</keyword>) and <keyword id="6412911" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="bunty">Bunty</keyword> (<keyword id="947916" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tarun-Bajaj">Tarun Bajaj</keyword>). A deadly game of hide and seek with the police begins after they are charged with a political murder and in the process, you get a chilling glimpse of fake encounters and other atrocities. But the movie fails to retain the momentum or the irreverent, light-hearted tone that would have made it a well-rounded <keyword id="530399" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Black-Comedy">black comedy</keyword>. Official numbers are not in yet, but according to industry insiders, nett collection of the first three days has fallen well below Rs 1 crore. 
 
And the same holds true for the other two movies – Machhli Jal Ki Rani Hai and Unforgettable. Both are box office washouts although Machhli may hook the horror movie fans. As expected, the plot is a cliché where <keyword id="173" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ayesha">Ayesha</keyword> and Uday (<keyword id="437076" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Swara-Bhaskar">Swara Bhaskar</keyword> and <keyword id="344170" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bhanu-Uday">Bhanu Uday</keyword>), a happy couple, fall prey to <keyword id="589050" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Paranormal-Activities">paranormal activities</keyword>. It has all the usual trappings to get you <keyword id="843642" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="spooked">spooked</keyword>, including an act of exorcism for a climax. On the other hand, Unforgettable features the eternal love triangle, with <keyword id="23365" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Iqbal-Khan">Iqbal Khan</keyword>, <keyword id="551555" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Alka-Verma">Alka Verma</keyword> and <keyword id="276456" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Hazel-Crowney">Hazel Crowney</keyword> in the lead roles. This is another <keyword id="2076872" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Box-office-bomb">box office bomb</keyword> that could not garner more than Rs 20 lakh on Day I and then sank into oblivion. As it is a high-budget movie and shot at the UAE, it is quite likely that Unforgettable would not be able to cover the costs. 
 
Images: Indiatimes

Box Office: Fugly Is Messy In Spite Of Limited Success; For The Rest,
It’s A Flop Show

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/31041039.cms" /> The latest <keyword id="30679" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="horror-flick">horror flick</keyword> from the <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> stable has all the right credentials, but lacks just one thing. In spite of being loaded with scary clichés, it fails to scare the daylights out of you as <keyword id="500381" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ragini-MMS">Ragini MMS</keyword> did two years ago. After all, Jimmy Shergill-starrer <keyword id="1976250" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Darr-The-Mall">Darr @ the Mall</keyword> has been made by Ragini MMS director <keyword id="2076858" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Pavan-Kripalani">Pavan Kripalani</keyword> (the 2011 movie was his directorial debut) and expectations were high on that score. Moreover, a sequel of Ragini MMS (directed by <keyword id="820957" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bhushan-Patel">Bhushan Patel</keyword> this time) will be hitting the theatres next month and we were wondering if the ‘mall horror’ can give it a run for its money. But going by the <keyword id="25892" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="box-office">box office</keyword> response, Darr @ the Mall has plenty to worry about and offers very little to scare competitions. 
 Released on February 21, along with <keyword id="2075818" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Randeep-Hooda-Alia-Bhatt-starrer">Randeep Hooda-Alia Bhatt starrer</keyword> <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/movies/Highway-ExploresShadow-Zones-But-Fails-To-Impress-At-Box-Office/articleshow/31008054.cms">Highway</a>, Bollywood drama Dee Saturday Night and a documentary called <keyword id="6391288" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gulabi-Gang">Gulabi Gang</keyword> (not to be confused with the Madhuri Dixit-Juhi Chawla-starrer, to be released soon), Darr @ the Mall has its task cut out. But the <keyword id="2076867" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Horror-thriller">horror-thriller</keyword>, which tells the story of a mall that unleashes its evil side on the people trapped in it, has been a <keyword id="2076872" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Box-office-bomb">box office bomb</keyword> from the start. Although it has hit more than 1,100 screens, the occupancy rate was really low – around 20% in the first three days and just 15% on the crucial Day 4. According to Box office India, the horror-thriller has netted around Rs 3-3.25 crore in the domestic market after the opening weekend. Day 4 (Monday, February 24) collections were a dismal Rs 25 lakh, as per some insiders, and that sets the tone for the rest of the week. 
 The story is a kind of hotchpotch and that might have been its undoing. Here, we have three distinct fragments that should form the thrilling whole but these are not tightly interwoven and seem to be falling apart at times. First, we have <keyword id="6747" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Manchanda">Manchanda</keyword>, the mall owner, and his board of directors spending the night at the haunted mall (as part of a publicity stunt) before the gala opening; next, we find his daughter <keyword id="510679" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ahana">Ahana</keyword> (<keyword id="647029" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="nushrat-bharucha">Nushrat Bharucha</keyword>) and her junky friends partying inside; and finally, there is <keyword id="4666" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Jimmy-Shergill">Jimmy Shergill</keyword> or the 24-year-old <keyword id="274961" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vishnu-Sharma">Vishnu Sharma</keyword>, the chief of security at the mall, who flashes around his flashlight to track the evil spirits. The pieces of the puzzle lie in unravelling the past that comes alive in the spine-chilling night. But if you ask us, the fear factors are pretty predictable and won’t get you too many goosebumps. 
 
Dee Saturday Night: Repetitive without the grace The other release of the week is directed by <keyword id="513190" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Jay-Prakash">Jay Prakash</keyword> and features the story of Mumbai gone bad as the city’s Richie Riches fervently indulge in drug, sex and crime (in case you can’t guess, Dee stands for <keyword id="2076881" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Dirty-English-Entertainment">Dirty English Entertainment</keyword>, the culture of rich Mumbaikars). Well, if the theme reminds you of Madhur Bhandarkar’s Page 3, let’s tell you about the eye candies and moral candies thrown in generous measures to keep you engaged. 
 To cut a long story short, here you will find too many skimpily clad <keyword id="624" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Women">women</keyword> engaged in all things immoral while a determined <keyword id="1119548" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="ACP-Dhoble">ACP Dhoble</keyword> (<keyword id="177770" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Arif-Zakaria">Arif Zakaria</keyword>) raids the vicious rave parties, catches the miscreants and subjects them to inspiring lectures and moral lessons. Then there is the quintessential small town girl (<keyword id="2054328" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="mahi-khanduri">Mahi Khanduri</keyword>) who is trying to hold on to her traditional values. The movie promotes good causes and teaches you some sound principles at the cost of the art called cinema. And the outcome? It’s a complete washout at the box office, not even touching Rs 10 lakh, as per Box office India. 
 
<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/31041577.cms" /> 
 
Gulabi Gang (documentary) This one has negligible <keyword id="1839596" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="box-office-collections">box office collections</keyword> but the award-winning docu film, co-written and directed by <keyword id="1488228" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Nishtha-Jain">Nishtha Jain</keyword>, is based on the real-life <keyword id="2076888" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gulabi-Gang-of-Bundelkhand">Gulabi Gang of Bundelkhand</keyword> (Uttar Pradesh). The group of lathi-wielding women vigilantes and activists was set up by <keyword id="1408081" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sampat-Pal-Devi">Sampat Pal Devi</keyword> in a bid to fight against domestic abuse and violence against women. Unlike other drab documentaries, Jain has managed to create an insightful human document that pits personal practice against ideology and exposes the shortcoming inherent in us. 
 Mohar Basu of KoiMoi sums it up beautifully when she writes: Jain carries me with her daunting <keyword id="6374782" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="journey">journey</keyword> that I will hold on to for many years probably. The instances were revolting, the tall talks about women’s morality a sham and despite the distressing situations, Gulabi Gang is a ray of hope, brimming with optimism to change the stringent attitudes with galvanising ferociousness. 
 
It could be the journey <keyword id="6354768" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Highway">Highway</keyword> has missed – a journey of revelation, realisation and an ecstatic upliftment of your inner self. 
 
Images: Indiatimes &amp; Wikipedia

Box Office: Darr @ The Mall, Dee Saturday
Night Disappoint; Nishtha Jain’s Gulabi Gang Is Must-watch

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/31849102.cms" /> When <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> has a mission, you don’t expect it to break the traditional mould and deliver something spectacular. That’s why we were not feeling wildly enthusiastic when two <keyword id="624" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Women">women</keyword>-centric movies hit the screen just a day before the much-coveted International Women’s Day. One is, of course, <keyword id="1523830" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gulaab-Gang">Gulaab Gang</keyword>, the intensely hyped drama flick starring <keyword id="289" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="madhuri-dixit-nene">Madhuri Dixit Nene</keyword> and <keyword id="6371319" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Juhi-Chawla">Juhi Chawla</keyword> as leads. It is <keyword id="132056" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Soumik-Sen">Soumik Sen</keyword>’s directorial debut and going by the storyline – a group of pink-clad women hell-bent on social reform and getting justice for women – loads of fire and spice were expected from this movie. 
 But that was not the case. To begin with, <keyword id="1408081" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sampat-Pal-Devi">Sampat Pal Devi</keyword>, the <keyword id="19496" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="leader">leader</keyword> of the original Gulabi Gang, filed a case against the makers of Gulaab Gang and the <keyword id="6355014" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Delhi-High-Court">Delhi High Court</keyword> passed a stay order against the pan-India release of the movie. However, Delhi HC lifted the ban after another hearing and Gulaab Gang hit around 1,600 screens on March 7 as scheduled. 
 
The pre-launch controversy has, however, taken its toll and in spite of the positive buzz, Gulaab Gang has bombed the <keyword id="827271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Domestic-Box-Office">domestic box office</keyword>. It managed to nett around Rs 2.41 crore at home on the opening Friday, followed by Rs 2.97 crore nett on Saturday and another Rs 3.46 crore nett on Sunday, taking the total weekend collection to Rs 8.84 crore nett. Collections tanked again on the crucial Day 4 (Monday, March 10) and were pegged at a little over Rs 1 crore nett. It means the film is literally struggling to get past the Rs 10 crore nett mark in spite of a huge release. 
 
Just like Gulaab Gang, Kangna Ranaut-starrer <keyword id="6377522" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="queen">Queen</keyword> started on a slow note on the opening day (Rs 1.75 crore nett at the domestic box office, which was lower than Gulaab Gang). But business picked up soon, thanks to excellent reviews and positive word of mouth. The coming-of-age comedy drama hit 800 screens, against Gulaab Gang’s 1,600, but collected around Rs 10 crore nett in the first weekend at home. Surprisingly, Day 4 collections were better than the opening Friday and stood at around Rs 2 crore nett, taking the total to Rs 12 crore nett in four days. 
 
In contrast, <keyword id="1952335" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Total-Siyapaa">Total Siyapaa</keyword>, the third flick released on March 7, tanked at the domestic box office and only managed Rs 4.09 crore nett in the opening weekend. The rom-com, directed by Eeshwar Niwas and starring <keyword id="6451231" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ali-Zafar">Ali Zafar</keyword> and <keyword id="6356250" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Yami-Gautam">Yami Gautam</keyword> (along with veterans <keyword id="6533" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Anupam-Kher">Anupam Kher</keyword> and <keyword id="6738" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kirron-Kher">Kirron Kher</keyword>), has hit around 850 screens. But the lacklustre response at the box office is quite a dampener. The Monday numbers are not out yet but according to industry insiders, the movie has made a little over Rs 1 crore. 
 
What makes or breaks these movies 
Going by the box office response, Total Siyapaa is a washout and Gulaab Gang has failed to draw the audience while Queen is slowly building a solid base. Now let us take a close look at what has or hasn’t work for these <keyword id="569603" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood-flicks">Bollywood flicks</keyword>. 
 
Gulaab Gang – Old wine in new bottle: It’s not difficult to understand why Gulaab Gang has apparently failed. In spite of some good points, writer-director Soumik Sen has essentially portrayed the age-old Bollywood theme – the good versus the bad. Be it Rajjo the revolutionary (<keyword id="6355846" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Madhuri-Dixit">Madhuri Dixit</keyword>) valiantly fighting against gender discrimination, violence, abuse and poverty, or the <keyword id="2122747" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="all-black-politician">all-black politician</keyword> <keyword id="339288" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sumitra-Devi">Sumitra Devi</keyword> (Juhi Chawla) controlling and manipulating every life – they do it all in the archetypal Bollywood style. So you get some high-sounding dialogues and stick-wielding action sans the inner growth of the protagonist. 
 
Most of Madhuri’s socially committed actions are rituously punctuated by dance numbers as if we are in a kind of dream sequence. And the epic grandeur is essentially missing from this make-believe corrupt world, controlled by a failed system and ruled by larger-than-life women. Nothing is too oppressing or overwhelming in this supposedly sombre world; every issue can be dealt with, however trite the solution, and Women’s Lib has been made easy for the masses, without being given the required depth. The original Gulabi Gang founder has not been acknowledged anywhere in the movie as the makers claim that Gulaab Gang is a work of fiction. And that’s exactly what it is. This flick never rises to the classic height of real life but remains dwarfed in a scripted ambience. 
 
<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/31849153.cms" /> 
 
Queen – A <keyword id="6374782" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="journey">journey</keyword> worth taking: Recently, <keyword id="6355923" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Aamir-Khan">Aamir Khan</keyword> has taken to <keyword id="6354616" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Twitter">Twitter</keyword> to praise the film, director-writer <keyword id="143066" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vikas-Bahl">Vikas Bahl</keyword> and <keyword id="203866" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="lead-actor">lead actor</keyword> <keyword id="2202" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kangana">Kangana</keyword>. “What a film!!! Guys you have to watch QUEEN!!! Anyone who hasn’t seen it, please go now and see it. Such an important film for every girl, every woman to watch... and in fact every male to watch too! Thank you to Vikas Bahl and his team which made the film. And Kangana... you rock,” he tweeted. 
 Well, that speaks volumes about quality and the flick is worth every word of it. The plot seems pretty familiar, at least in the beginning. Rani (<keyword id="2201" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kangana-Ranaut">Kangana Ranaut</keyword>) is a simple Punjabi girl hailing from Delhi and she gets turned down by the UK-returned fiancé Vijay (Rajkummar Rao) a couple of days before their wedding just because she is not his sort any more. But instead of breaking down, Rani goes on her honeymoon trip alone through <keyword id="106" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Paris">Paris</keyword> and <keyword id="22442" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Amsterdam">Amsterdam</keyword> – trying to cope, having fun and finally breaking free &amp; living life on her own terms. Of course, you will find stereotypes and clichés here but Kangana sparkles in this coming-of-age movie – making <keyword id="343" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="Friends">friends</keyword> and growing inwardly as the journey of discovery continues. A must-watch and we must say that the BO verdict has been quite right this time. 
 
 <img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/31849197.cms" /> 
 
Total Siyapaa – Not totally doomed: We say that in spite of the poor box office response. Inspired by a Spanish film, Seres Queridos (Only Human), this rom-com features an Indo-Pak pair – Asha (Yami Gautam) and Aman (Ali Zafar) – and their many attempts to iron out the clashing cultures and countries. The backdrop of <keyword id="6354968" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="London">London</keyword> looks both beautiful and homey, but the characters, at times, look lost and confused, as if trying to find their way back to the centre stage. Anupam and Kirron Kher (Aisha’s parents) do their best while <keyword id="16657" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="sara-khan">Sara Khan</keyword>, as Asha’s sister, proves to be tantalising, vivacious and gutsy. You get large dollops of humour as well even as the eccentric and whimsical characters try to make their mark. Overall, an average movie but offers some fun moments. 
 
Images: Indiatimes

Box Office: Queen Outshines
Gulaab Gang; Total Siyapaa Tanks

<ul class="summary-list"><li>This post originally appeared in the Insider Today newsletter. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/subscription/newsletter/insider-today">Sign up here</a>.</li><li>Power players like Apple's Tim Cook and Disney's Bob Iger have descended on Idaho's Sun Valley Lodge for the annual and ultra-exclusive Allen &amp; Co. conference.</li></ul>It's one of the biggest conferences of the year that almost no one is allowed to go to. Allen &amp; Co.'s annual conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, often referred to as "<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/private-jets-arrive-airport-sun-valley-billionaire-summer-camp-2023-7">summer camp for billionaires</a>," is a who's who of the biggest players in media and tech. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-attended-sun-valley-allen-and-company-conference-ceo-photos-2023-7">This year's attendees</a> include Disney's Bob Iger, Warner Bros. Discovery's David Zaslav, Apple's Tim Cook, and OpenAI's Sam Altman.The event even got the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/succession-hbo-accurately-parodied-billionaire-tech-conference-sun-valley-idaho-2019-9">"Succession" treatment</a>.Unlike other <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/milken-conference-vs-davos-financial-2023-5">high-profile conferences like Davos or Milken</a>, Sun Valley isn't open to the press. But just because we're not there doesn't mean we can't speculate on what the biggest topics of discussion might be.I talked to Alison Brower, our LA bureau chief, and Alistair Barr, Insider's global tech editor, about what some of the most powerful people are talking about behind closed doors.<ul><li>For the media biz, smaller deals take center stage amid a megamerger drought. Sun Valley has long served as a breeding ground for megadeals, from <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-biggest-sun-valley-deals-in-history-2017-7#disneyabc-5">Disney's acquisition of ABC</a> to Comcast taking a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-biggest-sun-valley-deals-in-history-2017-7#comcastnbc-universal-3">majority stake in NBCUniversal</a>. But amid layoffs, disappointing box-office returns, and actors joining <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-hollywood-actors-writers-strike-could-end-nightmare-scenario">Hollywood writers on strike</a>, media executives are unlikely to consider monster deals, Alison said. But that doesn't mean it'll be a complete washout for media M&amp;A. Small to midsize deals could end up being the focus as <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-netflix-growing-deal-making-what-it-could-buy-next-2023-6">streamers like Netflix</a> look to add to their content library.</li><li>But when it comes to tech, megadeals may be all anyone wants to talk about. The potential for Big Tech M&amp;A seems a lot brighter after a federal judge <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/activision-blizzard-stock-price-microsoft-deal-approval-ftc-merger-fight-2023-7">ruled Microsoft could proceed with its $69 billion bid</a> for Activision Blizzard, Alistair said. The decision was another blow to the FTC chair, Lina Khan, who has a history of fighting deals on the grounds they violate antitrust laws. The most recent ruling might have tech execs considering major tie-ups. "The FTC keeps losing in court," Mark Schilsky, a TMT sector specialist at Bernstein, wrote earlier this week, adding: "Will this embolden more M&amp;A deals? Who's at the top of your M&amp;A short list?"</li><li>The Bob Iger era rolls on at Disney. The House of Mouse's announcement that its CEO would remain at the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/disney-ceo-bob-iger-extends-tenure-again-2-more-years-2023-7">helm through the end of 2026</a> will also be top of mind for most attendees, Alison said. The new deal gives Iger time to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/disney-ceo-bob-iger-extends-contract-legacy-succession-2023-7?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=business-sf">right the ship and pick a successor</a> who might actually stick. (<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-return-disney-ceo-bob-iger-ouster-chapek-executive-complaints-2022-11?r=disney-iger-lp">No offense, Bob Chapek</a>.) Iger seems ready to make changes, saying the company is "<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/disney-bob-iger-said-tv-business-may-not-be-core-2023-7">looking expansively at opportunities</a>" when it comes to selling TV and cable businesses like ABC, FX, and National Geographic.</li><li>Sports! Perhaps the lone bright spot in the media industry these days is live sports. (Iger called it an "advertiser's dream.") It also happens to be an area where media and tech are converging as Big Tech players like Apple (MLS, MLB), YouTube (NFL), and Amazon (NFL) have cut deals with professional leagues, Alistair noted. Meanwhile, questions about the future of the biggest player in the space — <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/espn-layoffs-streaming-disney-bob-iger-cable-bundle-sports-analysts-2023-7">ESPN</a> — remain up in the air. </li></ul>

You Searched For "Box office washout" and got 7 results

Citylights Impressive But Tanks At Box Office; Kuku Mathur Doesn’t Take Off

Sanghamitra Mandal

Box Office Collections Of Alone And Party

Surbhi Chawla

Box Office: Bobby Jasoos No Match For Ek Villain, Lekar Hum Deewana Dil A Total Disaster

Sanghamitra Mandal

Box Office: Fugly Is Messy In Spite Of Limited Success; For The Rest, It’s A Flop Show

Sanghamitra Mandal

Box Office: Darr @ The Mall, Dee Saturday Night Disappoint; Nishtha Jain’s Gulabi Gang Is Must-watch

Sanghamitra Mandal

Box Office: Queen Outshines Gulaab Gang; Total Siyapaa Tanks

Sanghamitra Mandal

What the most powerful people in tech and media are discussing at 'summer camp for billionaires'

Dan DeFrancesco