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After a week of great <keyword id="25892" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="box-office">box office</keyword> action, mainly due to the runaway success of Rajinikanth-starrer <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Box-Office-Kochadaiiyaan-Thrives-On-Rajini-Power-Heropanti-Soaring-High/articleshow/35710189.cms">Kochadaiiyaan</a>, <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> is back to a dismal crawl. Last Friday (May 30) saw the release of just two flicks – Hansal Mehta-directed <keyword id="502037" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Citylights">Citylights</keyword> and newbie film-maker <keyword id="1307809" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Aman-Sachdeva">Aman Sachdeva</keyword>’s <keyword id="1444695" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kuku-Mathur-Ki-Jhand-Ho-Gayi">Kuku Mathur Ki Jhand Ho Gayi</keyword> (well, this one is produced by <keyword id="6354597" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ekta-Kapoor">Ekta Kapoor</keyword>, <keyword id="154993" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Shobha-Kapoor">Shobha Kapoor</keyword> and Bejoy Nambiar). Although both are hatke movies in a way and the former has earned enough critical accolades, none could manage an impressive showing at the <keyword id="827271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Domestic-Box-Office">domestic box office</keyword> and recorded only 5-10% occupancy on debut day. 
 
Citylights, however, did considerably well after collecting just Rs 70 lakh on the opening Friday. The movie hit 500 screens and went on to earn Rs 3.57 crore at home in the first three days, according to <keyword id="6356809" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="producer">producer</keyword> figure (trade figure puts it at Rs 3.18 crore). But the crucial first Monday collections dipped again to Rs 60 lakh (approx). However, keeping in mind it is a <keyword id="2289947" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Low-budget-movie">low-budget movie</keyword> and cost around Rs 7 crore including P&amp;A, Citylights may just avoid losses. 
 
On the other hand, <keyword id="2289921" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kuku-Mathur">Kuku Mathur</keyword> Ki Jhand Ho Gayi, a rom-com drama with a <keyword id="2289946" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="quirky-title">quirky title</keyword> and an unmistakable <keyword id="2289944" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Delhi-flavour">Delhi flavour</keyword>, has garnered a paltry Rs 1.60 crore over the first weekend, against an estimated budget of Rs 6 crore. In addition, it has landed into further trouble as a resident of <keyword id="6355556" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="bhopal">Bhopal</keyword> has reportedly filed a Public Interest Litigation (<keyword id="6355791" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="PIL">PIL</keyword>) against <keyword id="766823" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Balaji-Motion-Pictures">Balaji Motion Pictures</keyword>, claiming that the film’s title has hurt the sentiments of the Kayastha community. Kuku Mathur was released across 700 screens but going by its performance, it can be a clean washout at the box office. 
 
But what has gone wrong with Citylights? For one, the movie gives you a taste of unsavoury reality that is bound to jolt viewers. Inspired by the British film <keyword id="467511" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Metro-Manila">Metro Manila</keyword>, Citylights by <keyword id="303" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Director">director</keyword> <keyword id="4684" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Hansal-Mehta">Hansal Mehta</keyword> (of Shahid fame) pieces together the gripping tale of an <keyword id="2289953" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Uprooted-family">uprooted family</keyword> and their desperate struggle to survive in the ruthless city of Mumbai. The <keyword id="1097560" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="storyline">storyline</keyword> unveils a touching human document, superbly portrayed by the lead couple – <keyword id="1946388" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rajkummar-Rao">Rajkummar Rao</keyword> (<keyword id="6357110" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="deepak">Deepak</keyword>) and debutante <keyword id="2222926" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Patralekha">Patralekha</keyword>. Even the crime drama blends well with the colourful kaleidoscope – gentle, sombre, harsh and tragic at times. The ending is undoubtedly filmy, but the rest shines with a rare sensitivity that saves Citylights from being a cliché. 
 
 
 
In contrast, Kuku Mathur is a <keyword id="2289956" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Light-comedy">light comedy</keyword>, telling the story of two fast <keyword id="343" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Friends">friends</keyword> – Kuku Mathur (<keyword id="803840" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Siddharth-Gupta">Siddharth Gupta</keyword>) and <keyword id="2289924" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ronnie-Gulati">Ronnie Gulati</keyword> (<keyword id="2222736" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ashish-Juneja">Ashish Juneja</keyword>) – and their coming of age. This one is Sachdeva’s debut film and there are the usual hiccups in terms of plot and characters. But the lead duo and <keyword id="38050" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Amit-Sial">Amit Sial</keyword> (<keyword id="2289962" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Prabhakar-Bhaiya">Prabhakar Bhaiya</keyword>, the baddie uncle trying to influence Kuku) have put in some fantastic acting; the humour is quite <keyword id="678332" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Subtle">subtle</keyword> at times and the <keyword id="2289967" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Delhi-backdrop">Delhi backdrop</keyword> adds some endearing local colours. Kuku’s culinary aspirations bring in a fresh <keyword id="30450" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="Touch">touch</keyword>, but a crisper storyline and engaging <keyword id="42057" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Screenplay">screenplay</keyword> could have improved the film vastly. Overall, an average movie with a few ‘wow’ moments and that partly explains the poor box office response. 
 But in case you are longing for another <keyword id="654103" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="smash">smash</keyword> hit like <keyword id="1849408" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kochadaiiyaan">Kochadaiiyaan</keyword> or even <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Box-Office-Kochadaiiyaan-Thrives-On-Rajini-Power-Heropanti-Soaring-High/articleshow/35710189.cms">Heropanti</a>, wait till you get to watch Akshay Kumar-starrer <keyword id="2113212" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Holiday-A-Soldier-Is-Never-Off-Duty">Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty</keyword>, to be released on June 6. It is a remake of the Tamil hit <keyword id="2289970" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tuppaki">Tuppaki</keyword> and also stars <keyword id="62210" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sonakshi-Sinha">Sonakshi Sinha</keyword>. Let us wait and see if ‘Akki’ can break the box office jinx. 
 
Images: Indiatimes

Citylights
Impressive But Tanks At Box Office; Kuku Mathur Doesn’t Take Off

When <keyword id="707762" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Thalaivar">Thalaivar</keyword> takes the centre stage, big bucks are bound to roll in. The <keyword id="25892" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="box-office">box office</keyword> drought is finally over as silver screen sensation <keyword id="14509" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rajinikanth">Rajinikanth</keyword>’s latest outing <keyword id="1849408" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kochadaiiyaan">Kochadaiiyaan</keyword> has turned out to be a smash hit, crossing the Rs 50 crore mark in just five days, according to industry estimates. The movie grossed Rs 42 crore worldwide in the first three days, according to a release by <keyword id="128026" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Eros-International">Eros International</keyword>. Domestic collections amounted to Rs 30 crore in the opening weekend while the rest came from overseas business. This could be equivalent to Rs 32.3 crore nett worldwide, as per trade estimates. “Kochadaiiyaan opening weekend – Worldwide: Rs 42 cr gross. All 6 languages. 2D and 3D. SUPERB,” film critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted. 
 However, first Monday collections dipped considerably to Rs 5 crore in the <keyword id="1761158" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="indian-circuit">Indian circuit</keyword> while the movie managed to earn Rs 4.5 crore at home on the first Tuesday. Although overseas numbers for these two days are not available yet, industry insiders put gross worldwide collections at Rs 50 crore-plus just after five days. “Kochadaiiyaan… has fared exceptionally well in <keyword id="8695" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Malaysia">Malaysia</keyword> in particular. Is good in the <keyword id="6355055" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="USA">USA</keyword>, the UK &amp; <keyword id="6355478" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Australia">Australia</keyword>,” Adarsh tweeted about weekday business. With earnings from <keyword id="6358065" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Satellite">satellite</keyword> rights in multiple languages, audio and music rights, brand tie-ups and other income, the film is well on its way to cross Rs 100 in revenues. 
 This period drama-cum-futuristic fantasy was off to a stupendous start on Friday (May 23), hitting 3,000-plus theatres worldwide. Eros International released the film in 2D and 3D, in 6 languages, and directly undertook the distribution in <keyword id="20154" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="tamil-nadu">Tamil Nadu</keyword>. The flick saw nearly 95% occupancy in Tamil Nadu where Rajinikanth has a huge fan following. In contrast, the Telugu version saw a lacklustre beginning at home, grossing only Rs 5 crore in the first 3 days. Business slumped in the <keyword id="2266509" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Northern-belt">Northern belt</keyword> as well and the Rajini-starrer significantly lagged behind with Rs 4 crore gross during the first three days. The budget of this movie is Rs 125 crore across all languages. 
 In case you are not aware of its many merits, let us quickly run you through some landmarks. Directed by <keyword id="1800934" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Soundarya-R-Ashwin">Soundarya R. Ashwin</keyword> (Rajini’s daughter) and written by K.S. Ravikumar, Kochadaiiyaan is India’s first 3D film to use <keyword id="2266515" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Photorealistic-motion-capturing">photorealistic motion capturing</keyword> techniques – a technology that makes animation as lifelike as possible (you had a good dose of it in James Cameron’s <keyword id="44111" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Avatar">Avatar</keyword>). The film has Rajinikanth in triple roles – Kochadaiiyaan, Rana and Sena. <keyword id="598" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Deepika-Padukone">Deepika Padukone</keyword>, <keyword id="297" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Jackie-Shroff">Jackie Shroff</keyword>, <keyword id="1029184" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="nassar">Nassar</keyword> and <keyword id="24628" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shobana">Shobana</keyword> did pretty well in other key roles in the film. The music has been composed by <keyword id="11851" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="AR-Rahman">AR Rahman</keyword> and cinematography has been handled by Padmesh. 
 
For the thinking audience, however, the storyline has nothing new. It features the same old conflict between the good and the evil but also comes with some surprising twists and moral dilemmas. Yet, at the end, it tires more than illuminates, failing to take you past the visual dazzle. As film critic Shubhra Gupta so rightly notes, “Even Rajini, the one and the only, can’t pick up a film and run with it, if it has the oldest, creakiest plots cobbled together from many books. But the best tech specs in the world can’t rescue a sinking story… After a point, it all becomes too much sound and fury and not much else. One Rajini flipping cigarettes is much more fun than two Rajinis flinging swords in never never land.” 
 
 
 Produced by <keyword id="27326" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sajid-Nadiadwala">Sajid Nadiadwala</keyword> and directed by <keyword id="616900" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sabbir-Khan">Sabbir Khan</keyword>, <keyword id="1184791" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Heropanti">Heropanti</keyword> (a remake of the 1983 movie Hero) is the other release of the week and has performed better than Kochadaiiyaan in the northern circuits. The action-romance flick has seen an influx of debut actors (a total of 21) including <keyword id="133664" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tiger-Shroff">Tiger Shroff</keyword> (Jackie’s son) and <keyword id="210696" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kriti-Sanon">Kriti Sanon</keyword> in the lead roles 
 
“Heropanti passes the crucial ‘Monday test.’ Fri 6.63 cr, Sat 6.42 cr, Sun 8.28 cr, Mon 4.26 cr. Total: Rs 25.59 cr nett. India biz,” tweeted Adarsh while trade figure puts the domestic collections at Rs 24.96 crore. <keyword id="1996079" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Overseas-collections">Overseas collections</keyword> stood at Rs 2.13 crore gross after Day 4. The masala entertainer was released in 2,100 screens across India and its debut day earning is the fifth highest opening day collection for movies released in 2014, behind <keyword id="6593120" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Jai-Ho">Jai Ho</keyword>, <keyword id="72970" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="2-States">2 States</keyword>, <keyword id="6427325" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gunday">Gunday</keyword> and <keyword id="1020628" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ragini-MMS-2">Ragini MMS 2</keyword>. Earnings on Monday fell less than 40% than what it was on Friday and the strong growth continued even on Day 5 (Tuesday, May 27) when it collected around Rs 4 crore at home. 
 
This one is a medium-budget movie and cost around Rs 26 crore including promotion. So we can safely assume that it is set to be a hit without much fuss. But all these good numbers do not essentially spell quality. 
 While Kriti Sanon (<keyword id="7876" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Dimpy">Dimpy</keyword>) looks quite striking in a below-par storyline featuring love-and-marriage adventures and misadventures in Jattland, Tiger Shroff (<keyword id="230102" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bablu">Bablu</keyword>) looks quite inane unless he is in the thick of the action, doing some awesome stunts and beating up the goons. Noted film critic Anupama Chopra has given the movie 2 out of 5 stars saying, “Heropanti is comically bad and the disjointed narrative brims with low-IQ, high-testosterone men brandishing weapons. The women are puppets who either simper or scream.” 
 
Quite depressing, if you ask us, but there’s one silver lining. Both movies are raking in the moolah after a long time and that’s what matters in the business of cinema. 
 
Images: Indiatimes

Box Office: Kochadaiiyaan Thrives On Rajini Power; Heropanti Soaring High

Now that the <keyword id="6355187" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha">Lok Sabha</keyword> polls are over, <keyword id="4578" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="entertainment">entertainment</keyword> may once again bag the limelight and <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> has already churned out a couple of interesting thriller-gangster movies last week. But most of them were eclipsed by the hot Hollywood release, <keyword id="154785" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Godzilla">Godzilla</keyword>. 
 
While Godzilla collected Rs 18 crore nett in <keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="100" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> in just three days and another Rs 5 crore on the first Monday as per industry estimates, all five Bollywood movies released last Friday (May 16) had a slow start at the <keyword id="827271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Domestic-Box-Office">domestic box office</keyword> and understandably so. For one, the election euphoria is still running high but most importantly, three of the new releases – <keyword id="2218164" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="The-Xpos">The Xposé</keyword>, <keyword id="2248203" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="D-Gangs-of-Mumbai">D Gangs of Mumbai</keyword> and <keyword id="2248206" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="M3-Midsummer-Midnight-Mumbai">M3: Midsummer Midnight Mumbai</keyword> – come with an overdose of vintage masala. Other two of the lot are <keyword id="2248207" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Children-of-War-Nine-Months-to-Freedom">Children of War: Nine Months to Freedom</keyword>, set against the backdrop of <keyword id="73936" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bangladesh-liberation-war">Bangladesh Liberation War</keyword> of 1971, and an animation film for the kids, <keyword id="2248208" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mighty-Raju-Rio-Calling">Mighty Raju – Rio Calling</keyword>, directed by <keyword id="1093861" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Rajiv-Chilaka">Rajiv Chilaka</keyword> (of Chhota Bheem fame) and <keyword id="2248210" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Anirban-Majumdar">Anirban Majumdar</keyword>. 
 
We were particularly intrigued by The Xposé, a <keyword id="2144245" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Musical-thriller">musical thriller</keyword> directed by <keyword id="304212" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ananth-Narayan-Mahadevan">Ananth Narayan Mahadevan</keyword> and starring <keyword id="8539" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Himesh-Reshammiya">Himesh Reshammiya</keyword> and <keyword id="1089543" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Yo-Yo-Honey-Singh">Yo Yo Honey Singh</keyword>, along with debutantes <keyword id="90343" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sonali-Raut">Sonali Raut</keyword> and <keyword id="1273210" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Zoya-Afroz">Zoya Afroz</keyword> (<keyword id="2993" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Miss-India">Miss India</keyword> 2013 second runner-up). This one takes a pseudo-realistic peek at the glitzy <keyword id="2248216" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood-of-the-1960s">Bollywood of the 1960s</keyword> – the dazzling era of Hindi movies, glamorous stars and their not-so-well-kept dirty secrets. The fast-paced period drama revolves around the ugly fights between two rival actresses, the shocking murder of one and the subsequent probe carried out by the <keyword id="2248197" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="ex-cop-turned-actor">ex-cop-turned-actor</keyword> Reshammiya (<keyword id="6354422" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ravi-Kumar">Ravi Kumar</keyword>). Star <keyword id="271" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="actor">actor</keyword> <keyword id="16207" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Irrfan-Khan">Irrfan Khan</keyword> also makes a special appearance to assist Himesh Reshammiya in his probe. 
 Although the movie hit about 1,000-plus screens worldwide, business had been slow and debut day collections at the domestic <keyword id="25892" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="box-office">box office</keyword> amounted to Rs 2.97 crore nett, as per industry estimates. But the masala entertainer witnessed a decent traction during the first weekend and picked up around Rs 10.97 crore after the first three days. “The Xpose Fri 2.97 cr, Sat 3.43 cr, Sun 4.57 cr. Total: Rs 10.97 cr nett. India biz,” trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted. 
 
Although trade figure puts it to Rs 8.22 crore nett over the first three days, Xposé is a middle-budget movie, costing around Rs 15 crore (production and promotion combined), and according to a statement by producers, they claim to have recovered close to Rs 12.5 crore from the sale of satellite, music, home and overseas video, and other rights, and are profitable post the weekend. This means most of the revenues earned from the theatrical releases will be add to the film’s profit. Collections on the crucial Monday did not disappoint either and stood at around Rs 3.5 crore, as per industry estimates. 
 
Xposé may do even better at the box office, thanks to the thrill factor, although there are too many things happening at the same time and the coherence gets lost, especially in the second half. “It’s a fascinating subject. Right from verbal duels between rivals, to hiring black marketeers to sabotage others’ films, everything has been depicted,” <keyword id="303" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Director">director</keyword> <keyword id="68758" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="ananth-mahadevan">Ananth Mahadevan</keyword> told the Times of India (he himself plays a director in the movie). “The audience will have fun guessing which stars have inspired the sequences.” 
 
D Gangs of Mumbai: Uncomfortable truths Directed by <keyword id="826189" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Wilfred-Lobo">Wilfred Lobo</keyword> and <keyword id="2248198" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rajiv-Ranjan-Das">Rajiv Ranjan Das</keyword>, D Gangs of Mumbai is a low-budget crime-thriller that tells the story of two gangsters, <keyword id="169913" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="AVI">Avi</keyword> (<keyword id="3799" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sanjay-Kapoor">Sanjay Kapoor</keyword>) and <keyword id="33379" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shiva">Shiva</keyword> (<keyword id="131513" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Aarya-Babbar">Aarya Babbar</keyword>), the chance they get to restart life and the final mess they have to face in order to survive. In other words, D Gangs reminds you of The Great Gatsby, but the box office reception has been extremely poor – around Rs 65 lakh on the opening day and a little over Rs 2 crore after the first three day. And fourth day collection dipped further to a paltry Rs 40 lakh. 
 
<keyword id="914784" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="M3">M3</keyword>: Whodunit with a twist <keyword id="16657" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="sara-khan">Sara Khan</keyword> and Paras Chhabra-starrer M3: Midsummer Midnight Mumbai is a romantic thriller directed by <keyword id="1182415" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Braj-Bhushan">Braj Bhushan</keyword>. But in spite of funny cops, paranormal touch, ‘hot’ love scenes and unpredictable twists and turns, this flick didn’t sizzle at the domestic box office and managed a paltry Rs 70 lakh on the opening day. Total collections after the first three days amounted to Rs 2.25 crore, again putting a big question mark as to the fate of the movie. First Monday collections were no better and amounted to just Rs 56 lakh. 
 
 
 
<keyword id="2225168" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Children-of-War">Children of War</keyword>: Grim reality 
Mrityunjay Devvrat-directed Children of War was released in India and <keyword id="6354759" type="COUNTRY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Bangladesh">Bangladesh</keyword>, but here it had a problematic start as the censor board asked him to change the film’s original title – <keyword id="1967278" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="The-Bastard-Child">The Bastard Child</keyword> (the original title has been retained outside India). Starring <keyword id="14623" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Raima-Sen">Raima Sen</keyword>, <keyword id="6825" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indraneil-Sengupta">Indraneil Sengupta</keyword>, <keyword id="41577" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Victor-Banerjee">Victor Banerjee</keyword>, <keyword id="10655" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Pawan-Malhotra">Pawan Malhotra</keyword> and the late <keyword id="78733" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Farooq-Sheikh">Farooq Sheikh</keyword>, this one is a gory tale of the Bangladesh (former East <keyword id="3001" type="COUNTRY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Pakistan">Pakistan</keyword>) Genocide and the country’s <keyword id="140599" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="war-of-independence">War of Independence</keyword> against Pakistan. The brutality of war and the gruesome reality of the <keyword id="2248225" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rape-camps">rape camps</keyword> will leave one stunned, but what is <keyword id="6357415" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="missing">missing</keyword> is the bigger scenario. Official numbers are yet to turn up, but going by insider information, Children of War has been a <keyword id="2076872" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Box-office-bomb">box office bomb</keyword>. 
 In spite of the never-ending box office drought, we are now looking forward to superstar <keyword id="14509" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rajinikanth">Rajinikanth</keyword>’s <keyword id="1849408" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kochadaiiyaan">Kochadaiiyaan</keyword> and debutant <keyword id="133664" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tiger-Shroff">Tiger Shroff</keyword>’s <keyword id="1184791" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Heropanti">Heropanti</keyword>, to be released on May 23. Both are blockbuster material – exactly the kind Bollywood now badly needs. 
 
Images: Indiatimes

Box Office: Godzilla
Overwhelms All But Xposé Off To A Decent Start

It never rains but it pours, at least in <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword>, and this time, you get to see half-a-dozen low-budget flicks vying for visibility and struggling for a successful <keyword id="25892" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="box-office">box office</keyword> run. Mind you, when we say half-a-dozen, we are not exaggerating – here is the complete list of six – <keyword id="6375259" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Manjunath">Manjunath</keyword>, <keyword id="2178404" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Koyelaanchal">Koyelaanchal</keyword>, <keyword id="1835898" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Hawaa-Hawaai">Hawaa Hawaai</keyword>, <keyword id="2069848" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mastram">Mastram</keyword>, <keyword id="2093570" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Yeh-Hai-Bakrapur">Yeh Hai Bakrapur</keyword> and finally, <keyword id="1276718" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Khwaabb">Khwaabb</keyword>. So catch your breath as we run you through them quickly. There is just one common factor here – all of them turn out to be pretty intriguing, irrespective of the sluggish response at the <keyword id="827271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Domestic-Box-Office">domestic box office</keyword>. 
 
Manjunath: Bitter to the end 
Our first choice is Manjunath, a biopic directed and co-produced by <keyword id="2239399" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sandeep-A-Varma">Sandeep A. Varma</keyword>, which tells the true story of the <keyword id="6354412" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="indian-oil">Indian Oil</keyword> <keyword id="6420527" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="executive">executive</keyword> <keyword id="479971" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Manjunath-Shanmugam">Manjunath Shanmugam</keyword> and his fight against the <keyword id="425101" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="oil-mafia">oil mafia</keyword> of Uttar Pradesh. The murder of this IIM braveheart for his whistleblowing act is still considered a national tragedy, but Varma’s kind of docu-drama unfolds a dark reality that’s too chilling and too gut-wrenching to give way to tears. The movie meanders at times, but the protagonist, brilliantly played by newcomer <keyword id="2239401" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sasho-Satish-Saarthy">Sasho Satish Saarthy</keyword>, takes you to a world where <keyword id="46183" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Corruption">corruption</keyword> is a way of life. However, the verdict at the domestic box office has been harsh and Manjunath only managed to nett around Rs 1 crore after Day 4 while debut day earnings were a paltry Rs 15-20 lakh. 
 
Koyelaanchal: Look what’s unearthed 
The second flick under scanner is Koyelaanchal, produced and directed by <keyword id="1235537" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ashu-Trikha">Ashu Trikha</keyword>. After <keyword id="486655" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gangs-of-Wasseypur">Gangs of Wasseypur</keyword> and <keyword id="6427325" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gunday">Gunday</keyword>, it is the latest from Bollywood on the exploits of the <keyword id="85025" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="coal-mafia">coal mafia</keyword> and had a huge release, especially in single screens. But the film tripped at the box office and collected about Rs 45 lakh on the opening day. Although official numbers are yet to come in, total earnings spanning the first three days are a little below Rs 2 crore, as per industry estimates. 
 
In Koyelaanchal, we again come face to face with all-pervading corruption and criminal use of natural resources. This time, it is the coal <keyword id="2239403" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mafioso-Saryubhan-Singh">Mafioso Saryubhan Singh</keyword> aka Maalik (<keyword id="6430614" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vinod-Khanna">Vinod Khanna</keyword>), who rules the mines of the <keyword id="2239414" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bihar-Jharkhand-belt">Bihar-Jharkhand belt</keyword> and locks horns with <keyword id="6359011" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="District-Collector">district collector</keyword> <keyword id="2239402" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Nisheeth-Kumar">Nisheeth Kumar</keyword> (<keyword id="7646" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="suniel-shetty">Suniel Shetty</keyword>) when he raises troublesome questions. <keyword id="819709" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="the-script">The script</keyword> goes haywire at times, but the USP here happen to be the thorough research and the realistic take at a time when a multi-billion-dollar Coalgate scam has deeply shaken the nation. 
 
 
 
Mastram: Morality decoded 
Next comes Mastram, again an offbeat movie that deals with a sexually repressed society and its ingrained hypocrisy. A <keyword id="41623" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Directorial-debut">directorial debut</keyword> by <keyword id="1628796" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Akhilesh-Jaiswal">Akhilesh Jaiswal</keyword>, it is the story of the <keyword id="2239404" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="failed-author">failed author</keyword> <keyword id="201974" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rajaram">Rajaram</keyword> (<keyword id="2102195" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rahul-Bagga">Rahul Bagga</keyword>) whose work gets rejected because they lack masala. But the man finally excels as he starts writing erotica and along with that, begins a painful <keyword id="6374782" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="journey">journey</keyword> of self-realisation. Made on a budget of around Rs 2 crore, this ‘fictional biography’ had collected around Rs 75 lakh on the opening day at the domestic box office and its earnings stood at a little over Rs 3 crore after the first Monday. 
 
Hawaa Hawaai: Breezy &amp; smooth-flowing 
Back again after <keyword id="63220" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Stanley-Ka-Dabba">Stanley Ka Dabba</keyword> (well, that one grossed a little over Rs 5 crore), director-writer <keyword id="91815" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Amol-Gupte">Amol Gupte</keyword>’s <keyword id="2239418" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Commercial-entertainer">commercial entertainer</keyword> Hawaa Hawaai has been produced by <keyword id="106474" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Fox-Star-Studios">Fox Star Studios</keyword> and hopes to do better this time. The movie netted around Rs 4.25 crore in the first three days and had an estimated budget of Rs 6 crore. 
 True to his pet genre, Gupte is still catering to the young audience and telling a simple tale with a touching innocence that will win every heart. But the emotional outing and catch-my-dream theme are fraught with grim realities as well. <keyword id="2234714" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Arjun-Harishchandra-Waghmare">Arjun Harishchandra Waghmare</keyword> (Amol’s son <keyword id="678010" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Partho-Gupte">Partho Gupte</keyword>) is a migrant <keyword id="6377229" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Child-labour">child labour</keyword> who toils hard at a roadside restaurant in Mumbai but wants to become a <keyword id="2239398" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="champion-roller-skater">champion roller-skater</keyword>. That’s not too difficult when the <keyword id="2239405" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="kind-hearted-coach">kind-hearted coach</keyword> <keyword id="6369280" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Lucky">Lucky</keyword> (<keyword id="684700" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Saqib-Saleem">Saqib Saleem</keyword>) is willing to help and his poor but large-hearted peers are keen to support him as much as they can. Overall, a thought-provoking movie that flows smoothly without too many hitches. 
 
 
 
Endnote 
The other two releases of the week are Yeh Hai Bakrapur and Khwaabb. The former is a many-layered socio-political satire, starring <keyword id="124285" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Anshuman-Jha">Anshuman Jha</keyword> and <keyword id="1810577" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Asif-Basra">Asif Basra</keyword> (plus, <keyword id="2239416" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shah-Rukh-the-goat">Shah Rukh the Goat</keyword>) and directed by <keyword id="468251" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Janaki-Vishwanathan">Janaki Vishwanathan</keyword>. The scathing attack on blind faith, punctuated with sharp wit, makes it an amply watchable movie. Khwaabb (directed by <keyword id="537936" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Zaid-Ali-Khan">Zaid Ali Khan</keyword>), on the other hand, is a sports-based romance-drama starring <keyword id="1280175" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Navdip-Singh">Navdip Singh</keyword> and <keyword id="708963" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Simer-Motiani">Simer Motiani</keyword>. In spite of some interesting scripts, both movies failed to impact the domestic box office – each collecting a little over Rs 1 crore after the third day. 
 But don’t worry too much even if there has been a box office debacle for some time now. <keyword id="14509" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Rajinikanth">Rajinikanth</keyword>’s <keyword id="1849408" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kochadaiiyaan">Kochadaiiyaan</keyword> is due to be released in a couple of weeks and that will surely set the box office ringing while <keyword id="2239419" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mainstream-movie-fans">mainstream movie fans</keyword> go crazy about thalaiva. 
 
Images: Indiatimes

Box Office Falters But
Tales Of Corruption, Turbulence Make Their Mark In Bollywood

You need not be a <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> fan to know <keyword id="14509" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Rajinikanth">Rajinikanth</keyword>. He is a phenomenon, an institution in himself. And his popularity can be gauged from the fact that his fans just worship him. As the Thalaiva’s upcoming film Kochadaiiyaan is all set to be released next month, let us take a look at some facts you never knew about Rajini Saar. 
 
1. He was born as Shivaji Rao Gaikwad in a Marathi family in Mysore, Bangalore. Although his mother tongue is Marathi, the actor has not done a single Marathi film in his career. 
 
2. Rajinikanth lost his mother when he was barely 11. As a kid, he was very fond of listening to stories about his mother Jakkubai from his brother. 
 
3. Films were not the first career choice for Rajinikanth. Before making it big in movies, he had done odd jobs, working as a porter, a carpenter and finally, as a bus conductor for Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation. 
 
4. Although he took time to make his movie debut, Rajinikanth was passionate about acting since his childhood. In his school plays, he enjoyed playing a villain and Ravana was his favourite character. 
 
5. Rajinikanth is known for his action movies, which involves a lot of bloodshed. However, not many would know that he has never really hurt himself or died on-screen. Film-makers don’t allow him to die in movies because his fans can’t accept it and may even set fire to the theatres. 
 
6. After taking home a fat pay cheque of Rs 260 million for his role in Sivaji (2007), Rajinikanth became the highest <keyword id="245992" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="paid-actor">paid actor</keyword> in Asia after <keyword id="20885" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Jackie-Chan">Jackie Chan</keyword>. 
 
7. Rajinikanth considers director K. Balachandran as his mentor. Balachandran also directed Rajini’s national award-winning debut Tamil film, Apoorva Raagangal. 
 
8. Rajinikanth is the only Indian actor to be featured in the CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) syllabus, in a lesson titled From Bus Conductor to Superstar. 
 
9. The actor is known to take a break in the Himalayas after every film. Wherever he goes, the hotel staff members make sure that he is allotted the same room. 
 10. His <keyword id="197310" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="favourite-actor">favourite actor</keyword> is <keyword id="6354603" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Kamal-Haasan">Kamal Haasan</keyword>.

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