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<keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> has its platter full this week and the all-new horrex genre (horror plus sex) is flush with cash. A total of five movies hit the theatres on Friday the 21st but none could bang the <keyword id="25892" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="box-office">box office</keyword> like Sunny Leone-starrer <keyword id="1020628" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ragini-MMS-2">Ragini MMS 2</keyword>. The sequel to the hit <keyword id="30679" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="horror-flick">horror flick</keyword> <keyword id="500381" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ragini-MMS">Ragini MMS</keyword> netted Rs 24.5 crore at home during the debut weekend while 4th day (Monday, March 24) collections stood at around Rs 4.5 crore nett at the <keyword id="827271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Domestic-Box-Office">domestic box office</keyword>, as per industry estimates. 
 “RaginiMMS2 Fri 8.43 cr, Sat 7.29 crore, Sun 8.78 crore. Total: Rs 24.5 crore nett. India biz,” trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted. In spite of a slight drop in business on the second day, this <keyword id="2165873" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Horror-erotica">horror erotica</keyword> picked up pace and turned out to be this year’s third highest grosser over the opening weekend, after <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Jai-Ho-Salman-FightsThrough-Clichs-Fails-To-Create-A-Dhoom/articleshow/29505187.cms">Jai Ho</a> (around Rs 60 crore) and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Box-Office-Gunday-LeavesYou-Clueless-But-Cash-Register-is-Ringing/articleshow/30626422.cms">Gunday</a> (Rs 43.9 crore). The movie has also surpassed the lifetime business of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Madhuri-starrer-DedhIshqiya-Stumbles-At-Box-Office-Yaariyan-Romps-Past/articleshow/28798719.cms">Dedh Ishqiya</a> (Rs 27 crore) and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Highway-ExploresShadow-Zones-But-Fails-To-Impress-At-Box-Office/articleshow/31008054.cms">Highway</a> (Rs 27.25 crore), as per Koimoi. 
 
Along with Ragini MMS 2, four other movies were also released on March 21. These include <keyword id="1600822" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gang-of-Ghosts">Gang of Ghosts</keyword>, Ankhon Dekhi, <keyword id="6526" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Lakshmi">Lakshmi</keyword> and <keyword id="2165865" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kolkata-Junction">Kolkata Junction</keyword>. But keeping in mind how horror has flourished this week, we are focusing on just two movies today – Ragini MMS 2 and Gang of Ghosts. We will have another ‘Box Office’ story tomorrow and bring you the rest of the three movies, along with their box office performances. 
 Coming to performance, let us tell you that the <keyword id="1465525" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="horror-comedy">horror comedy</keyword> Gang of Ghosts did decently at the domestic box office and total collection after the first weekend was around Rs 14.25 crore, against a total budget of Rs 15 crore. That is not at all disheartening, taking into consideration the tough competition posed by the Ragini sequel, which is already way ahead of its total budget of Rs 18 crore. 
 
 
 Although <keyword id="1983057" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Adult-movie-star">adult movie star</keyword> <keyword id="836886" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sunny-Leone">Sunny Leone</keyword> made her Bollywood debut with <keyword id="25529" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="jism-2">Jism 2</keyword>, it is Ragini MMS 2 that has given her the biggest break in India till date. Interestingly, <keyword id="303" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Director">director</keyword> <keyword id="820957" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bhushan-Patel">Bhushan Patel</keyword> had earlier helmed another successful horror flick – 1920: Evil Returns. Ragini MMS 2 has been produced by <keyword id="6354597" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ekta-Kapoor">Ekta Kapoor</keyword> and <keyword id="154993" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shobha-Kapoor">Shobha Kapoor</keyword>. 
 
Now that we know the awesome numbers the movie is commanding, let us have a look at what’s selling Ragini MMS 2. Well, that’s a kind of no-brainer in this context. A <keyword id="2165868" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sizzling-Sunny-Leone">sizzling Sunny Leone</keyword> flaunting her assets throughout the movie and looking a bit more confident than usual (who wouldn’t when one is portraying her own character), and some <keyword id="2165869" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Spooky-elements">spooky elements</keyword> craftily thrown in here and there to keep the fear factor alive are tantalising enough to be lapped up by the audience. Add to that chartbuster songs like <keyword id="38162" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Baby-Doll">Baby Doll</keyword> and <keyword id="2019181" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Chaar-Botal-Vodka">Chaar Botal Vodka</keyword>, and you have the perfect recipe for box office success. 
 
Unlike the prequel (Ragini MMS) that featured a balanced mix of <keyword id="2165871" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Horror-and-sex">horror and sex</keyword>, the equation has changed this time, along with the cast, and tilted heavily towards the explicit. However, the horrex picks up from where the earlier one had left, telling us the fatal story of a movie production team that has come to the infamous haunted haveli to make a movie on Uday and Ragini, whose earlier escapade in the house had gone awry. In fact, it won’t be a bad idea to watch Ragini MMS once again before you watch the second in the series. Now that the leaked MMS made by Uday has gone viral, film-maker Rocks (<keyword id="6532013" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Parvin-Dabas">Parvin Dabas</keyword>) decides to cash in on the scandal; ropes in Sunny as the female lead and lands at the house for the shoot. Here, Sunny seems to be at her explicit best but the bone-chilling moments are not missing altogether, in spite of their routine predictability. For instance, you will find the quintessential exorcist in <keyword id="2165872" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Dr-Meera-Dutta">Dr Meera Dutta</keyword> (<keyword id="18941" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Divya-Dutta">Divya Dutta</keyword>), to say nothing of the usual trappings of a <keyword id="1571333" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="paranormal-thriller">paranormal thriller</keyword>. Maybe erotica and a heavy dose of <keyword id="2165874" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Quirky-humour">quirky humour</keyword> have been the saving grace of this movie, along with the terror lacing. 
 
The other horror release of the week is Gang of Ghosts, a photocopy adaptation of the original Bengali flick, <keyword id="494729" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bhooter-Bhobishyot">Bhooter Bhobishyot</keyword>. Directed by <keyword id="2218" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Satish-Kaushik">Satish Kaushik</keyword>, this one tells an intriguing story of an <keyword id="2165876" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Over-urbanised-Mumbai">over-urbanised Mumbai</keyword> and how the departed souls are compelled to leave their last stronghold as haunted houses are speedily turned into high-rises and multiplexes. The original one has a touching message in the guise of comedy – one can actually sense the pain of getting uprooted as your city turns too affluent to be affordable. But the <keyword id="39358" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="hindi-remake">Hindi remake</keyword> falls flat in spite of veterans like <keyword id="6533" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Anupam-Kher">Anupam Kher</keyword> and <keyword id="297" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Jackie-Shroff">Jackie Shroff</keyword>. Still, those who have not watched the original may like it enough – that could be one possible reason behind its moderate box office success. 
 
Images: Indiatimes

Box Office: Ragini
MMS 2 Thrills All; Gang Of Ghosts Lacks Finesse

The latest <keyword id="30679" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="horror-flick">horror flick</keyword> from the <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> stable has all the right credentials, but lacks just one thing. In spite of being loaded with scary clichés, it fails to scare the daylights out of you as <keyword id="500381" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ragini-MMS">Ragini MMS</keyword> did two years ago. After all, Jimmy Shergill-starrer <keyword id="1976250" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Darr-The-Mall">Darr @ the Mall</keyword> has been made by Ragini MMS director <keyword id="2076858" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Pavan-Kripalani">Pavan Kripalani</keyword> (the 2011 movie was his directorial debut) and expectations were high on that score. Moreover, a sequel of Ragini MMS (directed by <keyword id="820957" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bhushan-Patel">Bhushan Patel</keyword> this time) will be hitting the theatres next month and we were wondering if the ‘mall horror’ can give it a run for its money. But going by the <keyword id="25892" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="box-office">box office</keyword> response, Darr @ the Mall has plenty to worry about and offers very little to scare competitions. 
 Released on February 21, along with <keyword id="2075818" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Randeep-Hooda-Alia-Bhatt-starrer">Randeep Hooda-Alia Bhatt starrer</keyword> <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/movies/Highway-ExploresShadow-Zones-But-Fails-To-Impress-At-Box-Office/articleshow/31008054.cms">Highway</a>, Bollywood drama Dee Saturday Night and a documentary called <keyword id="6391288" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gulabi-Gang">Gulabi Gang</keyword> (not to be confused with the Madhuri Dixit-Juhi Chawla-starrer, to be released soon), Darr @ the Mall has its task cut out. But the <keyword id="2076867" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Horror-thriller">horror-thriller</keyword>, which tells the story of a mall that unleashes its evil side on the people trapped in it, has been a <keyword id="2076872" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Box-office-bomb">box office bomb</keyword> from the start. Although it has hit more than 1,100 screens, the occupancy rate was really low – around 20% in the first three days and just 15% on the crucial Day 4. According to Box office India, the horror-thriller has netted around Rs 3-3.25 crore in the domestic market after the opening weekend. Day 4 (Monday, February 24) collections were a dismal Rs 25 lakh, as per some insiders, and that sets the tone for the rest of the week. 
 The story is a kind of hotchpotch and that might have been its undoing. Here, we have three distinct fragments that should form the thrilling whole but these are not tightly interwoven and seem to be falling apart at times. First, we have <keyword id="6747" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Manchanda">Manchanda</keyword>, the mall owner, and his board of directors spending the night at the haunted mall (as part of a publicity stunt) before the gala opening; next, we find his daughter <keyword id="510679" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ahana">Ahana</keyword> (<keyword id="647029" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="nushrat-bharucha">Nushrat Bharucha</keyword>) and her junky friends partying inside; and finally, there is <keyword id="4666" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Jimmy-Shergill">Jimmy Shergill</keyword> or the 24-year-old <keyword id="274961" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vishnu-Sharma">Vishnu Sharma</keyword>, the chief of security at the mall, who flashes around his flashlight to track the evil spirits. The pieces of the puzzle lie in unravelling the past that comes alive in the spine-chilling night. But if you ask us, the fear factors are pretty predictable and won’t get you too many goosebumps. 
 
Dee Saturday Night: Repetitive without the grace The other release of the week is directed by <keyword id="513190" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Jay-Prakash">Jay Prakash</keyword> and features the story of Mumbai gone bad as the city’s Richie Riches fervently indulge in drug, sex and crime (in case you can’t guess, Dee stands for <keyword id="2076881" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Dirty-English-Entertainment">Dirty English Entertainment</keyword>, the culture of rich Mumbaikars). Well, if the theme reminds you of Madhur Bhandarkar’s Page 3, let’s tell you about the eye candies and moral candies thrown in generous measures to keep you engaged. 
 To cut a long story short, here you will find too many skimpily clad <keyword id="624" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Women">women</keyword> engaged in all things immoral while a determined <keyword id="1119548" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="ACP-Dhoble">ACP Dhoble</keyword> (<keyword id="177770" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Arif-Zakaria">Arif Zakaria</keyword>) raids the vicious rave parties, catches the miscreants and subjects them to inspiring lectures and moral lessons. Then there is the quintessential small town girl (<keyword id="2054328" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="mahi-khanduri">Mahi Khanduri</keyword>) who is trying to hold on to her traditional values. The movie promotes good causes and teaches you some sound principles at the cost of the art called cinema. And the outcome? It’s a complete washout at the box office, not even touching Rs 10 lakh, as per Box office India. 
 
 
 
Gulabi Gang (documentary) This one has negligible <keyword id="1839596" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="box-office-collections">box office collections</keyword> but the award-winning docu film, co-written and directed by <keyword id="1488228" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Nishtha-Jain">Nishtha Jain</keyword>, is based on the real-life <keyword id="2076888" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gulabi-Gang-of-Bundelkhand">Gulabi Gang of Bundelkhand</keyword> (Uttar Pradesh). The group of lathi-wielding women vigilantes and activists was set up by <keyword id="1408081" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sampat-Pal-Devi">Sampat Pal Devi</keyword> in a bid to fight against domestic abuse and violence against women. Unlike other drab documentaries, Jain has managed to create an insightful human document that pits personal practice against ideology and exposes the shortcoming inherent in us. 
 Mohar Basu of KoiMoi sums it up beautifully when she writes: Jain carries me with her daunting <keyword id="6374782" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="journey">journey</keyword> that I will hold on to for many years probably. The instances were revolting, the tall talks about women’s morality a sham and despite the distressing situations, Gulabi Gang is a ray of hope, brimming with optimism to change the stringent attitudes with galvanising ferociousness. 
 
It could be the journey <keyword id="6354768" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Highway">Highway</keyword> has missed – a journey of revelation, realisation and an ecstatic upliftment of your inner self. 
 
Images: Indiatimes &amp; Wikipedia

Box Office: Darr @ The Mall, Dee Saturday
Night Disappoint; Nishtha Jain’s Gulabi Gang Is Must-watch

March is still far away but the mercury is already rising with the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbzgyYEGOkA">official trailer</a> of <keyword id="1020628" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ragini-MMS-2">Ragini MMS 2</keyword> doing the rounds on the Internet and even on adult sites. This upcoming horror-thriller (to be released on March 21), the sequel to the 2011 <keyword id="30679" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="horror-flick">horror flick</keyword> <keyword id="500381" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ragini-MMS">Ragini MMS</keyword>, has <keyword id="836886" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sunny-Leone">Sunny Leone</keyword> in the lead and that, of course, is making all the difference. Directed by <keyword id="820957" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bhushan-Patel">Bhushan Patel</keyword> and co-produced by <keyword id="6354597" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ekta-Kapoor">Ekta Kapoor</keyword> and <keyword id="154993" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Shobha-Kapoor">Shobha Kapoor</keyword>, this movie begins from where the earlier one left off. In the first flick, a couple goes to a secluded place to spend a fun weekend and the boy intends to make an MMS of the whole thing. But due to ghostly interventions, he gets killed and the girl manages to escape, but she is now a nervous wreck. 
 
Ragini MMS 2 kicks off from here but we still don’t know much about the storyline at this stage. As per some reports, a movie-maker has now decided to make a film based on the earlier incident and casts a <keyword id="23" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood-actress">Bollywood actress</keyword> (Sunny Leone) to play the lead role. But when the shooting starts in the haunted house, all hell breaks lose. 
 
The theatrical trailer of Ragini MMS 2 has hit the Internet on Monday (February 3) and last we checked, it was trending on Google with 20,000-plus searches. But we are not too impressed by the promo where Sunny Leone, the Indo-Canadian adult film star-turned-Bollywood <keyword id="6355604" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="actress">actress</keyword>, struts around in the skimpiest of outfits and the background looks suitably eerie. The other attraction of the sex-horror flick is <keyword id="2045553" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Chaar-Bottle-Vodka">Chaar Bottle Vodka</keyword>, the new song from Ragini MMS 2 that features <keyword id="1089543" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Yo-Yo-Honey-Singh">Yo Yo Honey Singh</keyword> and Sunny Leone. But sadly, the song is not there in the promo. 
 
<keyword id="6593120" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Jai-Ho">Jai Ho</keyword> makes the cut 
Now that we have our fill of thrill, here is another piece of exciting news. Salman Khan-starrer <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Jai-Ho-Salman-FightsThrough-Clichs-Fails-To-Create-A-Dhoom/articleshow/29505187.cms">Jai Ho</a> (earlier called Mental), which was released on January 24, has finally entered the <keyword id="925977" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rs-100-crore-club">Rs 100 crore club</keyword>, collecting Rs 102.58 crore nett at home after 10 days. That’s a crawl, to say the least, compared to Aamir’s action-thriller <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Dhoom-3-Breaks-All-Bollywood-Movie-RecordsGives-You-Some-Dumb-Entertainment/articleshow/27853596.cms">Dhoom 3</a> that amassed Rs 170 crore-plus just after the first weekend, with nearly Rs 63 crore coming from the overseas markets. 
 
“#JaiHo actuals Week 1 – 88.78 cr, Wknd 2 – 13.80 cr. Grand total: 102.58 cr nett. India biz only. Figures confirmed by Eros,” tweeted trade analyst Taran Adarsh. 
 Globally, however, the flick has done well, especially in the UAE-GCC region, Pakistan and USA-Canada. Bollywoodhungama estimated the first weekend overseas gross at $3.55 million while <keyword id="255727" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Box-Office-India">Box Office India</keyword> estimated it at $3.45 million. Interestingly, Jai Ho is the fourth biggest overseas opener for a <keyword id="6354583" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Salman-Khan">Salman Khan</keyword> starrer-film. 
 
Image: Indiatimes

Sunny Leone Sizzles
In Ragini MMS 2; Jai Ho Finally Enters 100 Crore Club

<keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> horror flicks are not just about creaking doors, swinging chairs and a filthy, grey-haired witch casting spells. As the erotic horror film, Ragini MMS 2, releases on Friday the 21st, let us take a look at some of the most spine-chilling horror movies Bollywood has churned out over the years. Get ready for the edge-of-the-seat experience. 
 
1. Mahal (1949) 
Aayega aanewala... does the song give you goosebumps? That’s the magic of this song, crooned in the movie by the spirit of a woman who is waiting for her dead lover. It effectively adds to the eerie setting of this story of reincarnation, starring <keyword id="6363061" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Ashok-kumar">Ashok Kumar</keyword> and Madhubala. Intriguing and haunting, Mahal is a must-watch, especially for Kamal Amrohi’s direction and the fine performance by the lead pair. 
 
2. Bees Saal Baad (1962) Starring Biswajeet and <keyword id="6442163" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Waheeda-Rehman">Waheeda Rehman</keyword>, Bees Saal Baad is still remembered for the spooky song, Kahin deep jale kahin dil. Loosely based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel, The Hound of the Baskervilles, this flick is deliciously spooky in places, with many mind-numbing moments. Here you have a mysterious lady in a flowing white saree, the ghungroos, the haunting voice singing at night and many more incidents to keep you hooked. And the climax is juicy enough to entertain the connoisseurs of suspense thrillers. 
 
3. Gumnaam (1965) 
Gumnaam takes inspiration from <keyword id="162689" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="Agatha">Agatha</keyword> Christie’s novel, And Then There Were None (also known as Ten Little Niggers). The basic plot of the film goes like this – 10 strangers stranded on an island get killed one by one. The film has everything that’s synonymous with edge-of-the-seat experience – suspense, thrill, fear, perfect characterisation and of course, a haunting song, Gumnaam hai koi. 
 
4. Jaani Dushman (1979) 
The story of Jaani Dushman is based in a village, which is notorious for the mysterious killings of brides dressed in red. The bidaai song Chalo re doli uthao kahaar is an indication that another bride is going to be attacked by a mysterious monster. The creature can’t be killed as every time someone tries to kill it, it leaves its own body and possesses the body of the person who tries to kill it. The multi-starrer film was a box-office hit. 
 
5. 100 Days (1991) 
More than a horror film, 100 Days is a spine-chilling entertainer starring <keyword id="6355846" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Madhuri-Dixit">Madhuri Dixit</keyword>, <keyword id="297" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Jackie-Shroff">Jackie Shroff</keyword> and <keyword id="675553" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="Jaaved-Jaffery">Jaaved Jaffery</keyword>. Madhuri is gifted with extrasensory perception and she gets sudden glimpses of future incidents. One day, she sees her sister being murdered and after a few days, her sister gets killed the way Madhuri has envisioned it. Can she find the killer and unravel the mystery? Watch the movie and find out! By the way, it is a remake of the Tamil film Nooravathu Naal. 
 
6. Raat (1992) Produced by <keyword id="6355246" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Ram-Gopal-Varma">Ram Gopal Varma</keyword>, Raat is an epic horror film. Leading lady <keyword id="36561" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="revathi">Revathi</keyword>’s life becomes a roller-coaster ride after a cat is accidentally killed by her father’s car. From spine-chilling encounters to possessed souls and haunted house – every possible bloodcurdling element is packed here. Raat is, indeed, one of the best horror movies ever made in Bollywood. 
 
7. Vaastu Shastra (2004) 
A family including a couple and their son, as well as the wife’s sister, shifts to a new house. Just when they begin to live happily, the boy starts interacting with kids whom no one else can see. Initially, the parents dismiss it as child’s fancy but as things start to take a gory turn, they begin to take notice. But unfortunately, it’s too late by then. 
 
8. 1920 (2008) 
Haunted houses are hot favourites of those who love the horror genre and 1920 is a period film that portrays a haunted haveli (castle). A married couple comes to live in the haveli and experiences mysterious happenings, which are out of human control. If you believe in God and His power to save one from evil spirits, you will enjoy this film. 
 
9. 13 B Although this movie is marred by poor direction, the plot makes it a must-watch. The protagonist, R. <keyword id="4759" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Madhavan">Madhavan</keyword>, shifts to a new house 13-B but under a mysterious scheme of things, his life gets connected to a TV serial. Whatever happens in the TV serial, also happens with his family in real life. What’s more, that serial only comes on their TV. The film hooks you from the first frame till the last. 
 
10. Ragini MMS (2011) 
The movie has been partially inspired by the 2007 Hollywood horror flick, Paranormal Activity. It also takes cues from the real life incident of a Delhi-based girl called Deepika. She reportedly fell prey to a spirit’s wrath at a haunted house where her boyfriend took her and tried to make an MMS without her knowledge. The film was produced by <keyword id="378" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Jeetendra">Jeetendra</keyword> and <keyword id="154993" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Shobha-Kapoor">Shobha Kapoor</keyword> of Balaji Telefilms. 
 
Image: Indiatimes

10
Horror Flicks From Bollywood That You Must Not Miss

Here is <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> at its worst unless you are ready to ogle <keyword id="6356809" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="producer">producer</keyword> <keyword id="386489" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Suneel-Darshan">Suneel Darshan</keyword>’s son <keyword id="6198" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shiv">Shiv</keyword>’s debut performance in <keyword id="1952164" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Karle-Pyaar-Karle">Karle Pyaar Karle</keyword> – lock, stock and barrel. Directed by <keyword id="248910" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rajesh-Pandey">Rajesh Pandey</keyword>, this <keyword id="20721" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="romance">romance</keyword> stars newcomers <keyword id="386491" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shiv-Darshan">Shiv Darshan</keyword> and <keyword id="620138" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Hasleen-Kaur">Hasleen Kaur</keyword> but there ends the novelty. The plot harks back to the good old 1980s and we find the long-separated childhood friends <keyword id="11839" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="kabir">Kabir</keyword> and <keyword id="1405648" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Preet">Preet</keyword> meeting after 12 years, reconnecting and playing daring games… but will they dare to love? And that brings us back to the <keyword id="25892" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="box-office">box office</keyword> impact. It seems Bollywood fans did not dare to watch this potboiler either and the movie is literally struggling after Day IV (January 20), grossing around Rs 3.20 crore in the domestic market as per industry estimates. The first weekend collections reportedly stand at around Rs 75 lakh nett with opening day being Rs 20-25 lakh nett. 
 
Karle Pyaar Karle has hit around 1,000 screens in India and doesn’t lack in masala. You get to see bike rides, fights, bikini parade, lap-dancing and kissing, but what you miss is a meaningful storyline that binds all the elements together. The villain (DJ) who owns a meat factory, his spoilt son (Jazz) and the son’s sidekick (Goldie) are again mere caricatures. Debutante Hasleen has the spunk and may do better in other films, but we are not sure about Shiv. 
 
 
 
The other noted release of the week is <keyword id="1019125" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Miss-Lovely">Miss Lovely</keyword>, which is way ahead of KPK in terms of cinematic art, content and research. Directed by <keyword id="1019126" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ashim-Ahluwalia">Ashim Ahluwalia</keyword>, the movie was first screened at the 2012 <keyword id="6362016" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Cannes-film-festival">Cannes Film Festival</keyword> and got mixed reviews from critics. Since then, ‘the art house venture’ has won a number of awards including Best Film in the <keyword id="385372" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="India-gold">India Gold</keyword> category at the 14th <keyword id="64264" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mumbai-Film-Festival">Mumbai Film Festival</keyword> and Best Feature Film Award at the 11th <keyword id="113436" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-Film-Festival-of-Los-Angeles">Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles</keyword>. But even then, the movie has witnessed poor box office response on opening day (January 17) – around Rs 20 lakh from 300 screens. Still, with positive reviews pouring in, the numbers may soon shoot up and we will keep you updated. 
 
Miss Lovely introduces a new genre of sorts in the saga of <keyword id="4636" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-Cinema">Indian cinema</keyword> as it walks you through the making and unmaking of an entire genre, namely the C-grade horror-and-sleaze movies so popular in Bollywood in the 1980s (remember the <keyword id="2024696" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ramsay-era">Ramsay era</keyword>?). Set in Mumbai of that period, it is the story of two brothers – the assertive, exploitative Vicky (<keyword id="1021927" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Anil-George">Anil George</keyword>) and the submissive Sonu (<keyword id="6359106" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Nawazuddin-Siddiqui">Nawazuddin Siddiqui</keyword>) – and a <keyword id="2024677" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="struggling-actress">struggling actress</keyword> <keyword id="4263" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Pinky">Pinky</keyword> (<keyword id="39464" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Niharika-Singh">Niharika Singh</keyword>), all of whom are entrenched in the dark underbelly of the <keyword id="2024706" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="C-grade-movie-industry">C-grade movie industry</keyword>. 
 The style is pseudo-realistic, heavily layered with facts and fiction (it started as a <keyword id="35012" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="documentary">documentary</keyword> project) and the movie itself is an entertaining mix of different genres – part <keyword id="1099771" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="film-noir">film noir</keyword>, part romance and part documentary. The dark world portrayed in Miss Lovely has all the elements of reality, but still rises to the level of a <keyword id="34077" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="fantasy">fantasy</keyword> that will keep you baffled and spellbound. Definitely a movie for niche audience, but this could be the beginning of a new stream in versatile Bollywood. 
 
Images: Indiatimes

Karle Pyaar Karle Flunks
At Box Office; Miss Lovely Delves Deep

Once again, <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> has gone into overdrive and a fivesome was released on Friday the 13th. The big release was <keyword id="184700" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Fugly">Fugly</keyword>, of course, a <keyword id="556777" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="comedy-drama">comedy drama</keyword> directed by <keyword id="29915" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="actor-director">actor-director</keyword> <keyword id="121984" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kabir-Sadanand">Kabir Sadanand</keyword> and co-produced by none other than Akki (<keyword id="2823" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Akshay-Kumar">Akshay Kumar</keyword>). However, this one has seen limited success at the <keyword id="827271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Domestic-Box-Office">domestic box office</keyword>. The other four flicks of the week include Md. Mohibul Haque-directed <keyword id="582722" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="action-thriller">action thriller</keyword> <keyword id="2343872" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="18-11-A-code-of-secrecy">18.11… A code of secrecy</keyword>; <keyword id="1403873" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Prakash-Saini">Prakash Saini</keyword>’s <keyword id="2249858" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Chal-Bhaag">Chal Bhaag</keyword>, a crime comedy; <keyword id="934838" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Debaloy-Dey">Debaloy Dey</keyword>’s <keyword id="30679" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="horror-flick">horror flick</keyword> <keyword id="1092690" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Machhli-Jal-Ki-Rani-Hai">Machhli Jal Ki Rani Hai</keyword> and finally, <keyword id="824801" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="unforgettable">Unforgettable</keyword>, a romantic flick directed by <keyword id="1050162" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Arshad-Yusuf-Pathan">Arshad Yusuf Pathan</keyword>. Although the plots and the genres widely vary, there is one thing in common – all these four movies have turned out to be <keyword id="25892" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="box-office">box office</keyword> disasters. 
 
Fugly hit 1,100-plus screens in India and managed to collect Rs 2.95 crore on the opening day in spite of mixed reviews. <keyword id="303" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Director">Director</keyword> Kabir Sadanand was happy, though. “Good 1st day for @FuglyTheFilm, domestic box office collection of 2.95 cr. So guys go out there and watch the film, fight against the Ugly,” Sadanand tweeted on Saturday. The movie netted around Rs 9.5 crore after the first three days (Rs 7.23 crore as per trade figure). Although it had a big release, the movie’s budget is quite low (around Rs 16 crore) and Fugly just might avoid ending up in the red. 
 
But even then, Sadanand’s third outing as a director takes him nowhere near his earlier release <keyword id="30111" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="Tum-Milo-Toh-Sahi">Tum Milo Toh Sahi</keyword> (2010). Fugly is all about four close <keyword id="343" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="Friends">friends</keyword> – <keyword id="330" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Dev">Dev</keyword> (<keyword id="1466941" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mohit-Marwah">Mohit Marwah</keyword>), <keyword id="6815" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Devi">Devi</keyword> (<keyword id="1788525" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kiara-Advani">Kiara Advani</keyword>), <keyword id="1438" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gaurav">Gaurav</keyword> (<keyword id="132330" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="boxer-Vijender-Singh">boxer Vijender Singh</keyword>) and <keyword id="967" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Aditya">Aditya</keyword> (<keyword id="1664323" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Arfi-Lamba">Arfi Lamba</keyword>) – living a fast-track life in and around <keyword id="66" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Delhi">Delhi</keyword>. But when the corrupt cop <keyword id="2343896" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="R-S-Chautala">R.S. Chautala</keyword> (<keyword id="4666" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Jimmy-Shergill">Jimmy Shergill</keyword>) takes control of their life, the foursome gets entangled in social issues and tries to find solutions, Bollywood ishtyle. The outcome is a wobbly plot that fails to delve into the myriad layers of reality or string together a robust, coherent human drama. At the end, the movie with a mission and a message (it is bound to remind you of <keyword id="3735" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="Rang-de-basanti">Rang de Basanti</keyword>) simply ends up in a meaningless mess. 
 
The other four flicks look like box office bombs although 18.11… A code of secrecy endeavours to decode terrorism. And this time, a <keyword id="49316" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Software-engineer">software engineer</keyword> (<keyword id="2343901" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rehal-Khan">Rehal Khan</keyword>) comes to the rescue with a hi-tech alert system and fights off all the baddies. The opening day collection of 18.11 stood at an approx. Rs 15 lakh, but the weekend numbers are not in yet. 
 
 
 
Prakash Saini’s Chal Bhaag tells the tale of three crooks – <keyword id="2333769" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Munna-Supari">Munna Supari</keyword> (<keyword id="109372" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Deepak-Dobriyal">Deepak Dobriyal</keyword>), <keyword id="320578" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Daler-Singh">Daler Singh</keyword> (<keyword id="2249438" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Varun-Mehra">Varun Mehra</keyword>) and <keyword id="6412911" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="bunty">Bunty</keyword> (<keyword id="947916" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tarun-Bajaj">Tarun Bajaj</keyword>). A deadly game of hide and seek with the police begins after they are charged with a political murder and in the process, you get a chilling glimpse of fake encounters and other atrocities. But the movie fails to retain the momentum or the irreverent, light-hearted tone that would have made it a well-rounded <keyword id="530399" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Black-Comedy">black comedy</keyword>. Official numbers are not in yet, but according to industry insiders, nett collection of the first three days has fallen well below Rs 1 crore. 
 
And the same holds true for the other two movies – Machhli Jal Ki Rani Hai and Unforgettable. Both are box office washouts although Machhli may hook the horror movie fans. As expected, the plot is a cliché where <keyword id="173" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ayesha">Ayesha</keyword> and Uday (<keyword id="437076" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Swara-Bhaskar">Swara Bhaskar</keyword> and <keyword id="344170" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bhanu-Uday">Bhanu Uday</keyword>), a happy couple, fall prey to <keyword id="589050" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Paranormal-Activities">paranormal activities</keyword>. It has all the usual trappings to get you <keyword id="843642" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="spooked">spooked</keyword>, including an act of exorcism for a climax. On the other hand, Unforgettable features the eternal love triangle, with <keyword id="23365" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Iqbal-Khan">Iqbal Khan</keyword>, <keyword id="551555" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Alka-Verma">Alka Verma</keyword> and <keyword id="276456" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Hazel-Crowney">Hazel Crowney</keyword> in the lead roles. This is another <keyword id="2076872" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Box-office-bomb">box office bomb</keyword> that could not garner more than Rs 20 lakh on Day I and then sank into oblivion. As it is a high-budget movie and shot at the UAE, it is quite likely that Unforgettable would not be able to cover the costs. 
 
Images: Indiatimes

Box Office: Fugly Is Messy In Spite Of Limited Success; For The Rest,
It’s A Flop Show

<keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> gets a mixed bag this week, but none too palatable and the majority flopped at the <keyword id="25892" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="box-office">box office</keyword>. A total of four movies were released on July 18 – <keyword id="1458485" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Hate-Story-2">Hate Story 2</keyword>, <keyword id="1812799" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Amit-Sahni-Ki-List">Amit Sahni Ki List</keyword>, <keyword id="2364604" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Pizza-3D">Pizza 3D</keyword> and finally, <keyword id="20397" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rajesh-Khanna">Rajesh Khanna</keyword> tribute film <keyword id="1152105" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Riyasat">Riyasat</keyword>, released on his 2nd death anniversary. But those who expected to find a superb <keyword id="2437016" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Thriller-erotica">thriller-erotica</keyword> in <keyword id="2296101" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vishal-Pandya">Vishal Pandya</keyword>’s <keyword id="753788" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Hate-Story">Hate Story</keyword> 2 could be disappointed – neither the sizzle, nor the thrill matched the earlier Hate Story (a 2012 film directed by <keyword id="30014" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Vivek-Agnihotri">Vivek Agnihotri</keyword> and starring <keyword id="455333" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Paoli-Dam">Paoli Dam</keyword>, Gulshan Devaiah and <keyword id="8255" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Nikhil-Dwivedi">Nikhil Dwivedi</keyword>). In spite of some spirited acting by <keyword id="22533" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Surveen-Chawla">Surveen Chawla</keyword> and <keyword id="21678" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="sushant-singh">Sushant Singh</keyword>, the current movie turned out to be a mediocre <keyword id="1321184" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="revenge-drama">revenge drama</keyword> with lots of skin show, but still managed to do amazingly well at the <keyword id="827271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Domestic-Box-Office">domestic box office</keyword>. Produced by <keyword id="24468" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bhushan-Kumar">Bhushan Kumar</keyword> and <keyword id="15260" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="vikram-bhatt">Vikram Bhatt</keyword>, Hate Story 2 netted Rs 5.46 crore on the opening Friday (trade figure stood at Rs 4.61 crore) and went on to collect Rs 15.85 crore nett in the first three days (trade figure was Rs 14.30 crore). But there was the usual Monday drop and the movie collected around Rs 2.68 crore on the fourth day (trade figure was Rs 2.11 crore), thus netting a total of Rs 18.53 crore after Day 4. 
 
Hate Story 2 hit 600 screens across the country but thanks to the fantastic business it is doing, the distributors now want it to be released in 1,200 screens pan-India, as per media reports. The opening weekend collections of Hate Story 2 were bigger than some A-list movies, including <keyword id="6377522" type="POSITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="queen">Queen</keyword>, Highway and Dedh Ishqiya, and the 15th highest in 2014. It had a budget of Rs 14 crore (cost and P&amp;A), which means the flick is making profits. Interestingly, the official trailer of Hate Story 2 crossed over 4 million views on <keyword id="10879" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="YouTube">YouTube</keyword> within four days of its launch, but if you ask us, it’s a total put-off in many ways in spite of earning more than the other three releases. 
 
In stark contrast, Vir Das-Vega Tamotia-Anindita Nayar-starrer <keyword id="2336494" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Amit-Sahni">Amit Sahni</keyword> Ki List turns out to be a refreshing <keyword id="1636016" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="rom-com">rom-com</keyword> with loads of laughter and some pertinent points about relationships. But <keyword id="664154" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ajay-Bhuyan">Ajay Bhuyan</keyword>’s directorial endeavour failed to win hearts, netting a little over Rs 3.1 crore at home after the first Monday. Pizza 3D, a remake of the 2012 Tamil <keyword id="828468" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Supernatural">supernatural</keyword> thriller, came loaded with terror bytes but earned around Rs 2.87 crore nett in the first three days. Incidentally, the Tamil version of this movie was a sleeper hit. 
 
 
 
However, the worst is Ashok Tyagi-directed Riyasat, yet another version of Mario Puzo’s Godfather and <keyword id="1076" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="superstar">superstar</keyword> Rajesh Khanna’s (<keyword id="4753" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Saheb">Saheb</keyword>) last outing. First day collections stood at a paltry Rs 36 lakh and the rest of the numbers are yet to come in. But industry insiders expect it to be a box office bomb and Khanna’s listless presence is not likely to help it. Although Aryan Vaid (Shakti), the elder son and heir, and <keyword id="15984" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Aryeman-Ramsay">Aryeman Ramsay</keyword> (his younger son <keyword id="3037" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Vijay">Vijay</keyword>) performed well, India’s first-ever superstar was completely off-colour and looked totally under the weather – hardly a fitting tribute to an <keyword id="271" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="actor">actor</keyword> of his stature. 
 
Critically speaking, Amit Sahni Ki List still tops the list in spite of the box office debacle and the shoddy treatment of an intriguing script. Here we meet Amit Sahni (<keyword id="671" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vir-das">Vir Das</keyword>), an <keyword id="140092" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="investment-banker">investment banker</keyword> trying to find the perfect relationship and not get hurt in the process. His serio-comic vulnerability reminds one of the young gang from Dil Chahta Hai and the carefully made check list of partner’s qualities once again makes us realise life does not follow a perfect script in spite of all our efforts. But the movie loses pace in-between, loses coherence and a drab ending ultimately mars the freshness. 
 Directed by debutant <keyword id="2174779" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Akshay-Akkineni">Akshay Akkineni</keyword>, Pizza 3D captures the paranormal experiences of Kunal (<keyword id="480238" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Akshay-Oberoi">Akshay Oberoi</keyword>), a <keyword id="1079002" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="pizza-delivery-boy">pizza delivery boy</keyword> married to the <keyword id="2437008" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="horror-thriller-writer">horror thriller writer</keyword> <keyword id="741" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Nikita">Nikita</keyword> (<keyword id="12341" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Parvathy-Omanakuttan">Parvathy Omanakuttan</keyword>). What follows is a terror fest, with loads of twists and turns, leading to a climax that is spooky enough to please horror fans. However, the 3D effects did not add much to the terror elements. 
 
Overall, an average week for Bollywood, but you are bound to experience some dhamaka when Salman Khan-Jacqueline Fernandez-starrer <keyword id="6362088" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="kick">Kick</keyword> is released on July 25. 
 
Images: Indiatimes

Box Office: Hate
Story 2 Steals The Show, But Don’t Miss Amit Sahni Ki List

<ul><li><keyword id="54620" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="shemaroo">Shemaroo</keyword>, which began India’s first video rental business in 1979, has now launched its own transactional video on demand (TVOD) platform called <keyword id="7390865" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="ShemarooMe">ShemarooMe</keyword> <keyword id="25892" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="box-office">Box Office</keyword>. </li><li>This feature acts as a virtual box office or theatre where films can first release and the audience can watch it after buying a ticket for it. </li><li>Gada believes this is just a chance for movies to get their box office collections before eventually going on to be available through platforms like TV or <keyword id="1245953" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="OTT">OTT</keyword>.</li></ul><keyword id="128682" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Netflix">Netflix</keyword>, Amazon Prime, Disney+ Hotstar have all deemed India as the next big market for them, but most Indian masses might not be able to afford their subscription plans. These platforms then went for India-first cheap plans starting at ₹129, as well as mobile-only plans to woo the mass audience. But India’s oldest video rental platform, the 57-year old Shemaroo, has steered clear of competing with Reed Hastings or Jeff Bezos. Instead, it has taken a leaf out of the YouTube playbook. ShemarooMe Box Office, a transactional video-on-demand (TVOD) platform — simply put, an app where you can watch a newly-released movie on your mobile or TV at home and pay just for that— was launched in July 2020. This is a feature YouTube has had for a while but only for old movies, not for new releases. “What we are doing is the first transaction window for the film. Our idea is to help the monetization effort of the producers as well,” Hiren Gada, CEO, Shemaroo told Business Insider. <div type="image" title="Mr. Hiren Gada, CEO - Shemaroo Ent" msid="78509064" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Mr. Hiren Gada, CEO - Shemaroo Ent&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> “The whole idea has a platform approach. Consumers can buy tickets from BookMyShow for ₹100 and watch a newly released film,” he added. Shemaroo has already released smaller films like Sharman Joshi’s Graham Staines, Ek Ankahi Sachai: The Least of These, the horror flick X Zone, The Hidden Strike, among others. This may bring a ray of hope for movie producers as they get an additional platform. Unlike Netflix, Shemaroo’s idea was born out of necessity after theatres have remained shut for over six months. The product was developed in 10 weeks, Gada shared. As people could stay away from theatres for a long time, no more ₹300 crore blockbusters are breaking the box office, and instead, films are making their way onto OTT platforms. Not only that, it will also break the iron grip of monopolistic distributors who have decided the fate of many movies with arbitrary decisions on the number of screens they would get. Even the reported revenue from every theatre has <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/are-box-office-figures-an-enticement-for-the-audiences-or-mere-propaganda/story-b3Qn2T5Wz093VRITwRURBL.html">been less than transparent for years.</a> While Gada believes that people will definitely go back to theatres as it's more of a recreational activity, he added that with an option like ShemarooMe Box Office, a lot of the much dreaded ‘scheduling challenges’ can be solved. Gada explains that their latest product will also offer regional movies to get a bigger audience. “There are so many films that die because another A-lister’s movie is releasing, these films have a very short window to rake in as many collections as they can. With the ShemarooMe Box Office, they can get a second chance. So, even once the theatrical journey is done, the film can still reach a wider audience,” he said. Gada believes that even as theatres reopen, this won’t reduce the dependence on an opening weekend collection; instead, it will help producers to extend their collections beyond show timings and limited capacities of theatres. “There is a large consumer base which looks out for the latest <keyword id="18940" type="EVENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="movie-release">movie release</keyword> and was missing the theatre experience. For producers too, theatre is the starting point of the film’s journey and box office defines the film’s success. So we put both their needs together,” said Hiren Gada, CEO, Shemaroo. Through the app, filmmakers will now also know how many people paid to watch a new release. The company is in talks with producers, and Gada hopes they will lap up the idea. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/tcs-infosys-wipro-and-hcl-tech-expected-to-announce-more-deals-more-money-and-more-savings-in-second-quarter/articleshow/78507656.cms">TCS, Infosys, Wipro and HCL Tech expected to announce more deals in the second quarter</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/cultfit-is-finally-reopening-its-doors-after-six-months-but-online-classes-will-continue/articleshow/78493796.cms">Cultfit is finally reopening its doors after six months – but online classes will continue</a>

India’s oldest video rental company is not competing with Netflix — instead it has one-upped YouTube with new releases on demand

June is at the fag end and we almost have a mid-year report card of Bollywood. Though the year started on a dismal note, it picked up towards May and June. 
 
This year, January was like a drought month and even movies starring big names did not interest the audience. As Arjun Kapoor and Sonakshi Sinha starrer-'Tevar'- failed to take off, even the Horrex (horror + sex) formula did not work out for ‘Alone’ and ‘Khamoshiyan’. 
 
Other movies that released in January and failed to make a mark included Sonam Kapoor-starrer ‘Dolly Ki Doli’, 'Sharafat Gayi Tel Lene', ‘Crazy Cukkad Family’, ‘Hawaizaada’ among others. 
 
The only respite that the Bollywood lovers got was from Akshay Kumar’s ‘Baby’, which also became the first movie of 2015 to enter the Rs 100 crore club. 
 
But the jinx did not end in January as February continued to bring more bad news for the industry. 
 
The big shocker came in the form of ‘Shamitabh’. The movie, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Dhanush, was directed by R Balki, the maker who has given us movies like Pa and Cheeni Kum. 
 
Later in the month, ‘Roy’ released, which recorded a good start but by weekend the movie fizzled out. Most trade pundits pegged the crucial India-Pakistan match at the World Cup as the reason for the drop of sales on Sunday but the movie could not recover much post this phase also because of negative word of mouth. 
 
Thankfully, later in the same month we had movies like ‘Badlapur’ and ‘Dum Laga Ke Haisha’. Both managed to gather decent collections at the Box Office. In fact, ‘Dum Laga Ke Haisha’ was a complete surprise package and managed to pull crowds even in its third week . 
 
March threw a mixed bag as Anushka Sharma starrer 'NH-10' received critical acclaim. April again was a dry month as Bollywood had nothing to offer that could have clicked with the Bolly buffs. 
 
However, Bollywood saw a turnaround in May. It started on a high note with Akshay Kumar starrer ‘Gabbar is Back’, which went to collect Rs 86.55 crore at the Box Office. This was followed by Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan and Irrfan Khan’s 'Piku', which struck a right chord with the audience and collected Rs 111 crore worldwide. 
 
Later in the month, Kangana Ranaut wowed the audience with her spectacular acting in ‘Tanu Weds Manu Returns’. As per reports, the movie managed to collect Rs 190.87 crore worldwide. Given that the movie was made with Rs 31 crore budget, it stood out and is the most profitable movie of 2015 till date. 
 
But, the disappointment came from ‘Bombay Velvet’. Everybody had high hopes from Ranbir Kapoor’s flick but it fell flat. 
 
The momentum seems to continue with ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’ and ‘ABCD 2’. ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’ has managed Rs 37.05 crore in the first weekend and is holding the fort well. Also ABCD 2, sequel of ABCD, managed to get the biggest opening for 2015 and continues to do a good business over the week. 
 
The later half will see a slew of big- starrer movies such as Salman Khan starrer ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’, Vikas Bahl of Queen fame’s ‘Shaandaar’, ‘Singh is Bling’ featuring Akshay Kumar, Nikhil Advani’s ‘Katti Batti’, Aishwarya Rai’s comeback movie ‘Jazbaa’ and also ‘Dilwale’ in which fans will see Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol paired together. In addition, there will also be a third installment of ‘Hate Story’, ‘Hera Pheri’ and ‘Kya Kool Hai Hum’ to look forward to. 
 
Commenting on the movie sentiment of 2015, Komal Nahata, Trade Analyst shared, “It has been a good 2015 so far. Sure there were some upsets in the start of the year but May has been extremely kind and the rest of the year looks really promising." 
 
We hope that the forthcoming movies get the cash ringer buzzing for Bollywood and we continue to see some entertaining movies in the latter half of the year. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

Mid-year assessment: It was a roller coaster ride for Bollywood

In the first long weekend of 2015, we had two big starrer movies - <keyword id="6358733" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="baby">Baby</keyword> and <keyword id="2017547" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dolly-Ki-Doli">Dolly Ki Doli</keyword> trying their luck at the box office. There were huge expectations from Baby as this is the second time that Neeraj Pandey has teamed up with <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> action hero <keyword id="2823" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Akshay-Kumar">Akshay Kumar</keyword>. Their first movie together was Special 26. 
 
Baby had a slow start at the box office as it managed to collect Rs 9.30 crore on Friday. However, the collections picked up from Saturday onwards. In the four-day weekend, the movie has managed to have collections worth Rs 50.97 crore. If all goes well, the action thriller is expected to net about Rs 70 crore in the first week and give good competition to the other movies releasing next week. 
 
Moving on To Dolly Ki Doli, the movie is made under the banner of Arbaaz Khan and stars <keyword id="710" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sonam-Kapoor">Sonam Kapoor</keyword>, Raj Kumar Rao and Varun Sharma. This flick is giving stiff competition to Baby; and in this four-day weekend it has managed to net Rs 15.29 crore. 
 
The coming Friday too, two new movies, Khamoshiyan and Hawaizaada, will hit the big screen. Hawaizaada, which stars Ayushmann Khurana, Pallavi Sharda and Mithun Chakraborty, is being touted as the story of India's first unmanned plane. On the other hand, Khamoshiyan is another movie set to release under the Horrex (horror +Sex) category. The movie is produced under the banner of Vishesh Films, which has been associated with plenty of movies in this category including Raaz series. With this movie, TV star Gurmeet Choudhary is all set to make his Bollywood debut. Sharing screen space with him are Ali Fazal and Sapna Pabbi.

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