MUMBAI: Director-producer Vishal Bhardwaj’s ‘Matru Ki Bijli Ka Mandola’, featuring Imran Khan, Anushka Sharma and Pankaj Kapur has failed to create a mark at the box office even after 5 days of screening.
As we had reported, Day 1 of ‘MKBKM’ had seen a dismal start at the box office, generating only Rs 70 million (7 crore) net, a somewhat lackluster Friday performance for a big ticket film starring major Bollywood stars such as Imran Khan and Anushka Sharma. Inclusive of the weekend, the 3 day total of the film simmered in the range of Rs 220 million (Rs 22 crore) net.
Day 4, Monday’s nation wide holiday on account of Makar Sankranti and Pongal didn’t do much for ‘Matru Ki Bijli Ka Mandola’ which only garnered approximately Rs 40 million (4 crore) net. The major contributors continued to be Delhi, Rajasthan and even some parts of South India including Mysore.
Day 5, Tuesday has also been dull, bringing the 5 day total of the film in the range of Rs 285 million (Rs 28.5 crore) net. Going by the trend seen by ‘Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola’, the film is not likely to sustain.
Further, this week another big budget and heavily promoted film, ‘Inkaar’, directed by Sudhir Mishra, and starring Arjun Rampal and Chitrangada Singh is slated to hit cinema screens.
‘Matru Ki Bijli Ka Mandola’ had seen some heavy duty promotional activities, so the industry had anticipated higher collections. Added to the fact that this is Vishal Bhardwaj’s first attempt at a comedy plus social satire, and the expectations from the film were quite understandably sky-high.