Domestic Box Office: 'Partner' is a solid Hit

By Taran Adarsh, IndiaFM

Unstoppable. That's one word that does justice to Govinda and

Salman Khan's antics in PARTNER. That's also the word that best

describes the film's run at the box-office.

The latest David Dhawan laughathon had a dream start at the ticket

window and continues to rock big time as I pen this piece. The thunderous

start coupled with the superb feedback from the paying public has only

resulted in the film faring exceptionally well across all screens - from

multiplexes to single screens, from metros to mini-metros to smaller

towns.

It wouldn't be erroneous to state that very rarely does a film work its

charm across the spectrum. Sometimes multiplexes work, but single

screens don't. And vice-versa. The business is divided most of the times.

But PARTNER continues to record excellent collections everywhere. The

business at smaller centres got a fillip thanks to AAP KAA SURROOR

first and PARTNER now, which is bringing in big returns from these

centres as well.

What worked?

* One, the Salman - Govinda - David Dhawan team aroused

tremendous curiosity.

* Two, the songs worked big time and like I've always maintained,

good music is akin to an icing on the cake.

* Three, the promotion [quality and quantity] was excellent.

* Four, the luck factor.

Those associated with PARTNER needed a Hit. Every top actor needs to

prove his power on Friday and Salman is no exception. A man of few

words, the accolades and the laugh lines on everyone's faces at Salman's

private screening for family-n-friends prior to its release must've prepared

him for what was to follow.

Govinda needed a Hit badly. He didn't get the credit for BHAGAM

BHAG [although it was a success], while SALAAM-E-ISHQ was a damp

squib, even though his work attracted tremendous praise. But every actor

also needs an assurance from the box-office point. Yahan, jo Hit hain, woh

Fit hain. As for David Dhawan, PARTNER only consolidates and cements

his position as the badshaah of masala.

Pop the champagne, David, Salman, Govinda, [producers] Sohail

Khan and Parag Sanghvi, Kishore and Sunil Lulla [Eros] and the entire

team of PARTNER. Or have you already?
THIS WEEK IN 2006
[Weekend: July 21-23, 2006]

Looks can be deceptive! On face-value, the two new releases, YUN

HOTA TOH KYA HOTA… WHAT IF? and THE KILLER, appeared

interesting proposals. With acclaimed actor Naseeruddin Shah in the

director's seat and an ensemble star cast that held appeal for the thinking

viewer, YUN HOTA TOH KYA HOTA… WHAT IF? had everything

going in its favor to attract footfalls at multiplexes -- its target

audience.

On the other hand, the production house, Vishesh Films [Mahesh and

Mukesh Bhatt], is a brand that's synonymous with qualitative medium-

budget films. The company had a string of successes in the recent past,

ZEHER, KALYUG and GANGSTER, and expecting THE KILLER to

make a killing at the box-office was a foregone conclusion.

But both YUN HOTA TOH KYA HOTA… WHAT IF? and THE

KILLER didn't really take the box-office by storm. The movieplexes

sported an empty look and the business took a huge dip as compared to

the last few weeks.
THIS WEEK IN 2005
[Weekend: July 22-24, 2005]

The success of BAGHBAN and WAQT - THE RACE AGAINST

TIME reiterated the fact that the more the audiences cry, the more the

distributors laugh to the bank. But VIRUDDH proved an exception.

VIRUDDH ranked amongst director Mahesh Manjrekar's finest attempts.

After a series of not-too-happening films, Manjrekar was back in form this

time around, handling the simple story with utmost sensitivity.

At the ticket window, VIRUDDH had a dull start almost everywhere.

Its opening ranged from 40%-60% + to as low as 25% at some places.

Saturday, Day 2, was better, with the collections showing an upward trend

[70% +] and on Sunday, the film reached its zenith [85%-90% +]. With the

rise in its box-office collections, everyone expected the film to sustain on

Monday. Unfortunately, the business of VIRUDDH came sliding

downwards on Monday.

One failed to understand why VIRUDDH didn't catch the fancy of

moviegoers. The film had an impressive star cast, was well promoted prior

to its release, it gave the impression of being a family film, yet…