Three big-budget Hindi films were released on Friday at cinemas across India after nearly a month of dry spell at the box office. Script writer Honey Irani's directorial venture "ARMAAN" (Desire) starring Amitabh Bachchan and Anil Kapoor, Tigmanshu Dhulia's college flick "HAASIL" (Achieve) and actress Raveena Tandon's "STUMPED", hope to impress the audience.

Seventy-five percent of all major film released in 2003 bombed, the only saving grace being the partial success of Sunny Deol's "THE HERO" and the controversial "JISM". But trade analysts are hopeful of a positive response from viewers. Sumanta Bhargava, general manager of Satyam Cineplexes in New Delhi, said while "ARMAAN" showed signs of a hit, "HAASIL" was merely picking up.

Bhargava clarified: "ARMAAN" was full in the first show, noon show was also full and we expect it to be full in all other shows as well over the week. So, I would imagine, on an aggregate, the week should be about 95 percent plus. For "HAASIL", the opening was not as good as we thought it would be because the film had got very good reviews but the word-of-mouth of the film is very good. People who watched it have liked the film. So, over a period of weeks I think this film would pick up."

On the first day of the show, people were ecstatic about "ARMAAN". "It (ARMAAN) was a very nice movie. It is a different story and a very good film. I liked Gracy (Singh). I think she is doing very well," said Piya, a cinegoer. 

"ARMAAN", a story set on medical background, is a rip-off from hit American sitcom "Chicago Hope". The film starring Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Preity Zinta and Gracy Singh is set against a medical backdrop and explores the dynamics of the profession and revolves around the lives of doctors and their wishes.

Debutant director Tigmanshu Dhulia's "HAASIL" is the first ever movie to be shot in "Mahakumbh mela", the largest congregation of Hindu saints once every 12 years. Starring newcomers Jimmy Shergil and Hrishita Bhatt, the film has the flavour of a small town romance and is set against the background of university students' politics. 

But people are happy that the new releases have come up during summer vacations. "There should always be new movie releases. The number of releases was really less in the previous two to three weeks. So it's really good that new movies have come now," said Amit, a filmgoer.

Industry sources say both "ARMAAN" and "HAASIL" will face tough competition from forthcoming big banner films "MAIN PREM KI DEEWANI HOON" (I am crazy about Prem), iDream's "JAJANTARAM MAMANTARAM", Dharmesh Darshan's "ANDAAZ" (Style) and and Rakesh Roshan's "KOI MIL GAYA" (I found somebody).

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