Saif Ali Khan's zom-com makes a reasonable start while 'Gippi' gets lukewarm response. Interestingly, 'Aashiqui 2' still going strong
Two drastically opposite films released last Friday -- Saif Ali Khan’s zomcom Go Goa Gone and Karan Johar’s coming-of-age film Gippi.
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Mumbai-based distributor Sunny Khanna says, “If you see GGG as a Kunal Khemu film considering that Saif has done a cameo and given that it is a new concept of a zombie horror film, the numbers are decent.
It made Rs 3.75 crore on Friday, Rs 3.95 crore on Saturday and Rs 4.70 crore on Sunday, making it a Rs 12.50 crore weekend. It was released on 1,150 screens -- most of them were multiplexes with a select few single screens. You also have to take into consideration that it is an A certificate film.”
Adds Khanna, “Gippi collected around Rs 3.35 crore over the weekend which is very less. It could have been promoted well as there weren’t any big films in competition. Last week’s release Shootout At Wadala raked in approx Rs 40 crore in its first week and over the weekend it should have collected around Rs 7 crore making John Abraham’s biggest film till date. Bombay Talkies’ first week was a modest Rs 5.75 crore.
Interestingly, Aashiqui 2 is still doing amazing business -- very rare to see a film in its third week. Considering the fact that it features two newcomers and has been made at a modest budget, this one is a true blue smash hit.
Trade analyst Amod Mehra says, “Gippi has done reasonably well given its small-budget. It would have made approx Rs 4 crore over the weekend.”
Akshaye Rathi, distributor-exhibitor, adds, “GGG is a well made and an engaging film but it caters only to the urban audiences. The lack of appeal in the smaller towns and cities has kept it from achieving big numbers. Considering it is a niche film, it’s doing just fine!”
He adds, “Gippy is probably the least expensive film Dharma Productions has made in the last decade and the satellite friendliness of its genre -- leveraged along with the brand equity of Dharma and UTV -- should be enough to help it break even.”
Trade analyst Komal Nahta points out, “Go Goa Gone would have collected about R 13 crore and Gippi on a higher scale would have been R 2.75 crore.”u00a0