January 24, 2011 (Sampurn Wire): 2011 started well for the Bollywood after the massive slump it faced last year. In spite of some much hyped and mega budget movies failing to make the mark, it was some of the not so huge flicks that raked the moolah last year. But 2011 might just be different.
No One Killed Jessica: Jan 7 release - The box office opened with this much talked about film and it lived up to the hype grossing Rs. 38 million ($8.3 million) after two weeks of release. The film on the Jessica Lal murder case saw Vidya Balan as Sabrina Lal and Rani Mukherji as the tough foul-mouthed journalist collected the appreciation of the audience.
Yamla Pagla Deewna: Jan 14 release Brought the three Deols in this masala flick featuring Dharmendra, Sunny and Bobby after Apne. They were able to stick the right chord with the audience and opened the box-office with Rs. 230 million ($5 million) and raked Rs.350 million ($7.6 million) in the first weekend.
Turning 30!!!: Jan 14 release An unconventional chick-flick that deals with the real problem, a woman turning 30 and the crisis of it. The well liked film featuring Gul Panag in the lead has so far collected Rs. 50 million ($1 million approx). The debut film by Alankrita Shrivastava was made on a budget of Rs. 25 million.
Dhobi Ghat: Jan 21 release An Aamir Khan film, though he is not the lead, but its his wife Kiran Raos debut and produced by the actor. The reviews and the hype have been created right and it is expected to cover up the budget on which it was made Rs. 50 million. So far within its first two days t has collected Rs. 9.3 million.
Next in the offering is Ajay Devgan, Emraan hashmi and Omi Vaidya starrer Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji, a Madhur Bhandarkar venture. The film is a shift from the hard hitting real life drama to the comedy genre.
Last year the Bollywood box-office incurred the net loss of Rs.3 Billion and one just hopes that with this year it can recover from it.
-- Sampurn Wire