Disaster Strikes: Bahut Bura Haal Hai On The Zoya Factor, Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas, Prassthanam So Far- EXCLUSIVE REPORT
Sept 20, 2019 was a black Friday for theatres. No good word on any of the three releases of this week yet, neither from critics nor public. One shudders to think what lies ahead post Monday if there is no pick-up over the weekend
Imagine! Not even Rs 3 crore collected in totality at the ticket windows on 3 releases, one each from Sonam Kapoor, Sunny Deol and Sanjay Dutt stable on Day 1. Yesterday was easily one of the worst Fridays of 2019, if not the worst. Theatre owners and distributors are in a tizzy and tearing their hair out. Saturday has not been better till the time of going online, public in multiplexes and single screens continues to be very sparse.
A leading exhibitor on request of anonymity says, "Never had such a bad time in recent times. Never expected that all three- Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas, The Zoya Factor and Prassthanam- will draw such miserable attendance on Day 1. Don't go by the marginal leads they enjoy over each other, if at all. All I can say is that let's hope for a miracle."
While one understands that in today's times of instant communication a film is hailed or written off mostly by Friday evening itself, why were none of the three even given a chance? Trade analyst Amod Mehra explains, "Looking at Dharamji and Sunny's image, the public was not excitedly waiting to see Karan in a simple love story. The songs had not resonated either. Above all, it was clear from the trailer itself that the movie had no freshness.
As for The Zoya Factor, I think the release date was pushed more than once if I am not wrong, and people were not much aware about its arrival.
Prassthanam should have been more exciting, which could have been done by adding few youngsters.
Besides, you cannot deny that all three films lacked punch almost in entireity. So the word that got out by noon was definitely not favourable. I appreciate that a new concept was tried out in The Zoya Factor, but everything new does not necessarily work."
Leading exhibitor Manoj Desai, owner of Gaiety-Galaxy-Maratha Mandir chain, says, "Bahut bura haal hai. How will we survive? None of the three films is being appreciated and we don't have a new one until Oct 2."
Savio from INOX chain informs that Chhichhore and Dream Girl continue to do well "but I see no improvement in the three films which released this Friday. By now, we would have seen the upward swing if it was happening."
A source from PVR in Western suburbs tells us that they might have to replace some shows of TZF, PPDKP and Prassthanam with Chhichhore and Dream Girl if Sunday is also bleak. It's 9 pm now as you talk to me and I tell you I am recording only 10-20 per cent attendance for these three. TZF is doing just a shade better at our end."
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