Tradewallahs expected the combination of director Nagesh Kukunoor and actor Shreyas Talpade to score a hat-trick of successes with Bombay to Bangkok (their previous films Dor and Iqbal were critically acclaimed and also moderate commercial successes). That was not to be.
Bombay to Bangkok opened dull, collecting a mere 10 to 15 per cent across the country. The week's second release, Tulsi, featuring Manisha Koirala and Irrfan Khan, did worse.
No show
Although it opened with limited shows on limited screens, it played to mostly empty cinema halls. The trade expects it could even be pulled out before the week ends. So far, 2008 hasn't been a good year for the trade. The year started with dud Manthan and continued with last week's two releases, Rajkumar Santoshi's Halla Bol and E Niwas's My Name is Anthony Gonsalves.
Both recorded poor collections in their first week. The trade expected Halla Bol to do satisfactory business at least at single screens and small towns but that didn't happen.
My Name is Anthony Gonsalves saw disastrous collections across the country. With a clear lack of good competition, Aamir Khan's TaareZameenPar and Anees Bazmi's Welcome continue doing strong business in their fifth week, especially TaareZameenPar, which is doing exceptionally well at multiplexes.
Now, all eyes are glued on this Friday's release, Rohit Shetty's Sunday, featuring Ajay Devgan, Irrfan Khan, Arshad Warsi, Shreyas Talpade and Ayesha Takia. The week's second release Rama Rama Kya Hai Dramaa has been pushed ahead by a week.