The bad run at the box office continues as no film released after Dangal has been able to sustain. The new releases have not been able to hold their own post the opening weekend. After the midweek release of two major films, Kaabil and Raees backfired. The films could not draw enough footfalls after the 26 January national holiday.
On the other hand, the people behind last week’s releases, Raees and Kaabil, have been throwing wild figures in the market through the media. Some gullible media may publish these figures but readers have stopped believing them.
*The trade held its hopes on Jolly LLB 2 since its lead man, Akshay Kumar, has been having a decent run with most of his films lately. The Jolly franchise was also expected to help the earlier one, Jolly LLB, had done well as the box office.
Somehow, the promos of the film did not excite people. Also, there was no music with popular appeal. This showed on the film’s opening, which was below average. However, being the only film gracing the screens during the week, it did pick up some pace on Saturday and excelling on Sunday, giving it a healthy opening weekend of Rs 47.1 crore. However, for the collections to maintain through the week will be a tough call as the film has a limited merit.
*Raees has been doing badly from day one. The only good figures it has to show are on 26 January holiday. Since then, it has been only a downward slide. The film which collected Rs 111.9 crore in its first nine days, has dropped by almost 85% in its second week and collected just Rs 16.4 crore taking its two week total to Rs 128.3 crore.
*Kaabil released simultaneously with Raees. As both the films could not compete at the box office as both lacked appreciation and, hence, patronage, the competition shifted to issuing false figures to the media. Kaabil lagged behind its competition and these wrong figures were not really adding to the tally. The film did catch up with Raees in its second week as it collected a little more but that will be no help in the final tally. The film added Rs 16.85 crore in its second week taking its two week total to Rs 88.45 crore.
*Dangal has braved all new releases and finding the residual or the repeat audience even as it comes to the end of its tremendous run at the box office. The film’s seven week total stands at Rs 387.4 crore.
