Sabse Bada Rupaiya
No, I am in no mood to render the chartbusting track funster Mehmood rendered with élan way back in the 1970s in Sabse Bada Rupaiya [the remix version of the song found a prominent place in last Friday's Bluffmaster!].

Two's Company, Three's A Crowd
It was one crucial week. For the industry as well as for the three directors [Apoorva Lakhia, Arjun Sablok, Mohit Suri], who were waiting for the verdict on their second outing [coincidentally, all three films happen to be their second film ventures].

Yeh Kya Ho Raha Hai?
Post Diwali/Idd week, the business of Hindi films is sliding downwards. If the low-key response to Deewane Huye Paagal sent shock waves from East to West and North to South, two of the three films that opened this week only added to the woes of a worried industry.

Shocked, Stunned, Shaken!
When a big-budget extravaganza with A-list names such as [producer] Firoz A. Nadiadwala, [director] Vikram Bhatt, [stars] Akshay Kumar, Shahid Kapoor, Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal, Om Puri, Johny Lever, Rimi Sen, with Vivek Oberoi and Aftab Shivdasani in cameos, doesn't embark on an electrifying start, what does it indicate?

Harry Potter Swallows Oppositions
A few years ago, 20th Century Fox decided to release Titanic in its English version solely. The practice of dubbing the film in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu languages was ruled out for the time being. You'd be surprised to know that not only did the English version give a run for the money to all Hindi biggies released during that week and also in the subsequent weeks, it also went on to become the biggest grosser of the year, overtaking the business of all Hindi films released during that calendar year.

This Winter Appears Hot!
December has never been so hectic! With the onset of winter in India, a section of the industry strongly feels that the business of films also starts freezing, especially towards the evening shows in North India. Naturally, with attendance at movieplexes sliding downwards, most producers feel it's better to schedule their films in January/February, for, by then, the viewer is already acclimatized to the dipping temperatures.

Diwali Releases V: The Final Outcome!
I am experiencing mixed emotions as I pen this piece. I am glad that Garam Masala has collected impressive numbers in its first week, but am quite disappointed with the way Shaadi No. 1 and Kyon Ki... have performed eventually.


Diwali Releases IV: The Best Years
The Diwali releases hold a lot of significance. And the response to films in Overseas is as strong as the response in India.


Diwali Releases II: Garam Masala Leads
Garam Masala has stolen the march over Shaadi No. 1 and Kyon Ki...While Garam Masala is leading at every centre [the collections are extra-ordinary everywhere], the business of both Shaadi No. 1 and Kyon Ki... got a boost on Friday [Idd].

The Diwali Openings
With Rs. 45 crores at stake during the Diwali and Idd week this year, the entire industry was hopeful that the three major releases --Garam Masala, Kyon Ki... and Shaadi No. 1 -- would embark on a flying start at the ticket window.


Cheer Up, It's Diwali
Fasten your seats belts and get ready to embrace the festive season. Starting Diwali, which witnesses the release of three biggies -- Kyon Ki..., Garam Masala and Shaadi No. 1 -- the flow of biggies will continue unabated right till March 2006.


From Bad To Worse!
It was a soggy weekend. Or let me put it this way: It's the lull before the storm.Two weeks from now, the festive period is expected to boost movie business, with three biggies [Kyon Ki..., Garam Masala, Shaadi No. 1] competing with one another to attract eyeballs and footfalls at movieplexes.


Dry Spell At The Box-office!
Most producers are of the opinion that love stories are a safe bet at the box-office. By casting newcomers, all that the producer needs to focus on is executing the subject with flourish.


Clash Or Crash?
Besides, keeping in mind the high admission rates at most movieplexes, isn't there a strong possibility that the viewer may opt for just one film, neglecting the remaining releases in the process?


Mangal Pandey
I happened to watch Mangal Pandey- The Rising at a private screening on Thursday noon, before the Asian premiere of this film was organized at the swanky Inox multiplex in South Mumbai. No sooner did the screening get over, a prominent producer [who had seen me entering the auditorium for the screening] called to enquire: 'Sab mangal hai?'


Viruddh
There's no foolproof formula for success!In the 1980s, the South film industry churned out family entertainers with amazing regularity. Most of them, starring Jeetendra, proved money spinners at the box-office.


Dus
Let's have a look at the biggest openers this year. First Bewafaa, then Lucky- No Time For Love, followed by Kaal and thereafter Bunty Aur Babli. The record start of these four films at every nook and corner of the country clearly indicated that the moviegoer hasn't lost faith in the magnetic pull of the big screen.