Trade Espresso: So far, not so good

Not a single film released so far has drawn decent audiences, including this month's last release, Rohit Shetty's Sunday.

The year 2007 turned out to be a good year for the film industry. It ended on a positive note with two big hits, Aamir Khan's Taare Zameen Par and Anees Bazmi's Welcome.

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The first month of 2008, though, has proven to be disappointing. Not a single film released so far has drawn decent audiences, including this month's last release, Rohit Shetty's Sunday.

It's a comedy (a genre now fashionable with audiences), it has an ensemble cast of Ajay Devgan, Arshad Warsi, Irrfan Khan and Ayesha Takia and it was the solo release of the week, but it still pulled in only 40 to 50 per cent on opening day. Its collections did jumpon the Republic Day holiday.

Expecations
The film may not have taken a grand opening but it did pick up on Day Two and indications say this film will survive. Its biggest advantage is the lack of any big release till February 15, when Ashutosh Gowarikar's Jodhaa Akbar (toplining Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai ) is scheduled to release.

Nagesh Kukunoor's Bombay to Bangkok has been declared a dud. Despite the winning combination of Kukunoor and Shreyas Talpade (Iqbal and Dor), it opened to a luke warm response and registered poor collections across the country.

The second release of lastweek Tulsi, with Irrfan Khan and Manisha Koirala, saw disastrous collections and is on its way out. Ditto for Rajkumar Santoshi's Halla Bol, which has failed to draw audiences. There is no serious expectation from the coming Friday's release Rama Rama Kya Hai Dramaaa.