Seems, Anurag Kashyap has thrown a spanner in the return of the crowd to the theatres which emerged with Gabbar is Back and Piku. His latest film Bombay Velvet which got off to a very sluggish start yesterday, garnering only around Rs 5 crore, fails to attract a substantial audience as yet.
An official from Fun Cinemas (Andheri), on condition of anonymity, says, “We had only 30 people in the opening show on Friday, followed by 70 in the second. The failure was staring in our face from Friday. In fact, I have more admits in Piku than in Bombay Velvet.".jpg)
Adds the official, "We are in a state of shock. Our budget projections were really high for this film. We count on Ranbir. We don't see a recovery on Sunday either. The film’s first day gave us half of what Gabbar Is Back and Piku had given, in terms of revenue."
Owner of Gaiety-Galaxy (Bandra) Manoj Desai says that people are walking out from theatre in the interval."We thought that the situation might improve on Saturday. Alas!"
Trade analyst Amod Mehra says that the short queues at the ticket windows will hamper the film in recovering its high cost (rumouredly Rs 110 crore). Shows have been cancelled in more than one city. This definitely does not speak well for the film's fortunes. Frankly, I am not surprised; I was expecting this.”
Photo Credit: Manav Manglani
So what has gone wrong with the first big film of 2015, which stars Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and Karan Johar?
Desai thinks its the content that is the culprit. "Todays generation is not interested in getting nostalgic. Young boys and girls who form the crux of the audience are not interested in a movie that shows Bombay of the 50s, he said.
Confirming that the opening collections are unbelievably poor, film critic Komal Nahata says, The promos failed to do the trick. Also, the music is not in the orbit of the youngsters.
Endorsing Nahata's views, trade analyst Taran Adarsh says, "In fact, the first promo of the film generated a lot of negativity towards the film."
Adarsh also says that Anurag has had a 'disconnect' with the audience in Bombay Velvet, "There is a big gap in what Anurag thought and what the public wanted in this film. Ideally,
Day One should have amassed Rs 20 crore for the makers."
Mehra opines, "The film lacks pace. The dialogues are uninspiring and pedestrian".
There have been films in Bollywood which started at a snails pace but picked up due to positive word of mouth a case in point being last years grand success Queen and the more recent Baby. We hope for Anurag, Ranbir, Anushka and KJo's sake that all is not lost for Bombay Velvet yet.
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