MUMBAI: Three and half months into 2007 and apart from Mani Ratnam’s Guru and Vipul Shah’s Namastey London, not many films have weathered the storm at the box office windows. This week, Hindi films like Big Brother, Bheja Fry and Life Mein Kabhie Kabhiee released.

However, the industry seems to be waiting with bated breath for Yash Raj Films’ TaRa Rum Pum, which is scheduled to release on 27 April. The film is directed by Siddharth Anand and stars Saif Ali Khan along with Rani Mukherjee. The production house has already hooked up a good chain of theatres for the movie’s release. For Bombay, YRF has singled out New Excelsior and Metro Adlabs amongst other cinema halls.

Guddu Dhanoa’s much delayed film Big Brother finally hit the marquee on 13 April. The film was earlier titled as Gandhi Deodhar and is said to be a remake of Rajnikant super-hit film Baasha. Big Brother finds itself lucky because the Hindi dubbed version Manik Badshah is yet to see the light of the day since 1994.

Except for the action sequences, there is nothing to talk home about regarding the film. Sunny Deol has given a laudable performance. The film has some scope for the action lovers and will do better in the Northern centeRs The opening, though not encouraging, managed to top as compared to this week’s other releases.

In Bombay in New Excelsior (V.T.), which seats 1,101 people per show collected Rs 34,000 in its three shows against the capacity of Rs 1,41,778.80 (23.90 per cent). In Maratha Mandir (Bombay Central), which seats 1,017 per show registered Rs 61,463 in its three shows against the capacity Rs 1,01,757.30 (60.40 per cent). In Plaza (Dadar), which has a seating capacity of 825, the film opened to daily three shows. On the first day it collected Rs 29,632 against the capacity of Rs 87,161.85 (34 per cent). Gaiety (Bandra), which seats 972 persons per show opened with daily four shows. One the first day it collected Rs 50,504 against the capacity of Rs 1,15,960.20 (43.55 per cent). At Kalpana (Kurla) it collected Rs 46,890 against Rs 65,305.20 (71.80 per cent). In many multiplexes the film did not fare well and managed to open to only about 20 per cent collections.

Director Vikram Bhatt again missed the bus this time with Life Mein Kabhie Kabhiee. This is his second film being released in 2007. The earlier release Red: The Dark Side failed.

This purposeful message oriented film with lots of drama fails to connect with the audiences. With five different tracks, the film forgets to ensure entertainment. The film’s opening registered around 18 per cent collection in Bombay and other circuits too. Tolu Bajaj who earlier released Khanna & Iyer has released the film in Bombay with 35 prints, seven UFOs and DLPs each.

Sagar Ballary’s Bheja Fry is as good as its title. However, there are some loose ends in the script, which need to be explained. Though the director shows his flair for comedy, there are some shortcomings in the characterizations. The film is meant for different set of audiences, who are choosy. The opening of the film was not up to the mark.

In Bombay, it opened at Regal (Colaba) in one show (6 pm). The collections were around Rs 5,000 against the capacity of Rs 65, 812.55 (7.58 per cent). In Cinemax Growel (Kandivali) the film collected Rs 16,532 in its four shows and registered around 20 per cent.< Page Break>

Luc Jacquet’s Penguins – A Love Story, the award winning documentary, in English and Hindi version was also released. Both the versions have narration by Amitabh Bachchan. Despite being educational, it is rich in entertainment value too.

A Bhojpuri film, Ram Balram, inspired from Rakesh Roshan’s Karan Arjun, released to good response. Director Mohanji Prasad has shown his class with Ravi Kissen, Sikandar Kharbanda playing the brothers and Rambha and Vidisha as their sweethearts. Aroona Irani plays the boy’s mother. The film was distributed by Balaji Exhibitors and registered around 90 – odd per cent on the opening day.

The Marathi musical conflict story between mother and daughter in Savalee, finally finds its way to Bombay theatres. Director Rajendra Talak has done a commendable job. The film has already crossed 100 days outside Bombay city and suburbs.

Eragon’s English and dubbed version and Shooter also opened this week.

After a fair opening Shaka Laka Boom Boom could not hold its fort at the box office. The film’s collections are as follows:

Bombay Rs 78,19,054 from 48 cinemas (43 per cent)
Thane Rs 24,73,255 from 18 cinemas (50 per cent)
Jamnagar Rs 1,67,981 from 1 cinema (53 per cent)
Delhi Rs 75,76,365 from 25 cinemas (26 per cent)
Bareilly Rs 64,226 from 1 cinema (42 per cent)
Kanpur Rs 3,45,162 from 2 cinemas (46 per cent)
Nagpur Rs 4,51,441 from 3 cinemas (50 per cent)
Raipur Rs 1,29,075 from 1 cinema (30 per cent)
Indore Rs 3,13,693 from 4 cinemas (32 per cent)
Jaipur Rs 10,58,680 from 6 cinemas (46 per cent)
Ajmer Rs 1,30,003 from 1 cinema (43 per cent)
Bikaner Rs 1,16,408 from 1 cinema (55 per cent)
Kolkata Rs 14,81,396 from 9 cinemas (43 per cent)
Hyderabad Rs 31,80,342 from 16 cinemas (47 per cent)

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Provoked (English) first week collections are as follows:

Bombay Rs 44,82,749 from 29 cinemas (59 per cent)
Thane Rs 5,01,242 from 8 cinemas (42 per cent)
Delhi Rs 3,55,163 from 4 cinema (18 per cent)
Kanpur Rs 1,03,724 from 1 cinema (39 per cent)
Nagpur Rs 2,06,941 from 2 cinemas (40 per cent)
Raipur Rs 21,859 on 1 print (20 per cent)
Indore Rs 1,13,536 from 2 cinemas (44 per cent)
Jaipur Rs 73,778 from 1 cinema (38 per cent)
Kolkata Rs 11,29,182 from 5 cinemas (59 per cent)
Hyderabad Rs 1,99,06 from 2 cinemas (46 per cent)

Namastey London’s third week collections:

Bombay Rs 67,48,773 from 32 cinemas (65 per cent)

Jamnagar Rs 2,22,529 from 1 cinema (60 per cent)

Delhi Rs 28,15,841 from 18 cinemas (60 per cent)

Kanpur Rs 9,92,400 from 3 cinemas (67 per cent)

Nagpur Rs 5,14,191 from 3 cinemas (65 per cent)

Raipur Rs 1,52,439 from 1 cinema (60 per cent)

Indore Rs 3,87,504 from 3 cinemas (60 per cent)

Ajmer Rs 2,48,559 from 1 cinema (63 per cent)

Jaipur Rs 3,52,789 from 2 cinemas (69 per cent)

Bikaner Rs 30,914 from 2 cinemas (31 per cent)

Kolkata Rs 20,18,858 from 7 cinemas (66 per cent)

Hyderabad Rs 14,63,674 from 3 cinemas (67 per cent)

Mira Nair’s The Namesake in its third week collected the following:

Bombay Rs 26,97,591 from 24 cinemas (45 per cent)

Delhi Rs 9,29,891 from 5 cinemas (54 per cent)

Kanpur (first week) Rs 36,480 from 6 shows (34 per cent)

Hyderabad Rs 4,25,739 from 2 cinemas (58 per cent)

The film entered its second week in Chennai in three cinemas. < Page Break>

Just Married in its fourth week in Bombay collected Rs 24,099 from two cinemas.

Hattrick entered its fifth week in Baroda.

300 (dubbed) entered its fifth combined week in Bombay at 13 cinemas and in Baroda at two cinemas.

Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. entered its eigth combined week in Bombay at two cinemas.

Guru entered its 14th week at Baroda with one print.

Dhoom: 2 entered its 20th combined week in Bombay and collected Rs 16,547 from one cinema (seven shows).

Vivah entered its 22nd combined week in Bombay at three cinemas.

Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge completed its 600 week run in Bombay and collected Rs 27,849 from one cinema (matinee).