MUMBAI: Looks like the public preferred to stay home and catch the Indian Premier League (IPL) rather than go out to the theaters to watch this week’s multiple releases – Well Done Abba, Hum Tum Aur Ghost, Prem Kaa Game, Mittal vs Mittal and My Friend Ganesha 3.

While Hum Tum Aur Ghost and Well Done Abba had an average opening with around 25 – 30 per cent occupancy with the former doing a net business of approximately Rs 65 – 70 lakhs on its opening day, and the latter totting net collections of Rs 30 lakhs.

This week’s other three releases Prem Kaa Game, Mittal vs Mittal and My Friend Ganesha 3 fared poorly at the box office. On the other hand, last week’s release Love Sex Aur Dokha has so far done a net business of approximately Rs 62.5 million (Rs 6.25 crore) at the box office in India. Speaking to Businessofcinema.com, PVR Cinemas programming head Prakhar Joshi said, ‘Both the movies had an average opening with around 30 per cent occupancy. However Well Done Abba has picked up slightly after the positive reviews."

Cinemax India SVP Devang Sampat added, "Both the films have not opened that well, but we are hoping it will pick up over the weekend."

Not just films, the multiplexes are also disappointed with the poor response to the IPL matches and are now looking forward to the semi finals and finals as talks are on to telecast the matches in 3D format. Scrabble Entertainment is in talks with multiplexes to showcase the semi-finals and finals in 3D. Scrabble CEO Ranjit Thakur tells Businessofcinema.com, "We will be taking a decision latest by Tuesday."

Hopefully the 3D format of IPL 3 will set the box office bells ringing once again.