Multiplex owners regretting deal

A trade analyst says, "In the multiplexes, first-week collections matter and often decide the fate of a film. Normally, multiplexes pay distributors 48 per cent of box-office collections during the first week, 38 per cent during the second week and 30 per cent in the third week. During the release of Aamir-Kajol starrer Fanaa, Yash Raj demanded more and threatened to withhold the film from the multiplexes, offering it to the single theatres in Mumbai. Initially there was some resistance from the All India Multiplex Owners Association (AIMOA) but starved of good films, the owners then agreed to pay higher rates ranging from 50-45-40 to 50-40-30 for the first three weeks. Post Fanaa, the numero uno banner kept these sharing rates going on till date."

Gautam Aich, Divisional Head, Programming, Adlabs Cinemas tells us, "Jhoom Barabar Jhoom's collection in its first week itself has fallen drastically before the end of first week. It had a good advance booking for its opening weekend but Monday onwards the slide started. But compared to Yash Raj's last two releases Kabul Express and TRRP, the opening fetched by JBJ has been comparatively better. Despite what has happened with the banner's last three films, our equation with them remains the same and it won't result in any changes."

An industry insider observes, "The banner which has regularly given massive blockbusters cannot come down with three flops. They have a likely winner up their sleeve with their next, a SRK starrer Chak De India. One big hit and they will be back in the reckoning. Their forthcoming projects appear big by all proportions."

Yash Raj future projects
Chak De India (10th Aug) – Shah Rukh Khan and Vidya Malvade
Laaga Chunari Mein Daag (12th Oct) - Abhishek, Rani, Konkona Sen Sharma and Kunal Kapoor
Aaja Nachley (30th Nov) - Madhuri Dixit, Akshaye Khanna and Konkona Sen Sharma
Tashan (Early 2008) – Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan, Anil Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor

Friday, June 22, 2007