'Om Shanti Om' beats 'Saawariya' at the b

'Om Shanti Om' beats 'Saawariya' at the box office

NEW DELHI: The audience verdict is out. The box office seems to favour Shah Rukh Khan's " Om Shanti Om " in comparison to Sanjay Leela Bhansali's much-touted magnum opus " Saawariya ".

While King Khan's film registered 90 percent occupancy across the country on its Diwali release, Bhansali's love story managed 60 percent.

" Om Shanti Om " is director Farah Khan's tribute to the colourful and vibrant cinemas of the 70s and it has Shah Rukh is a new avatar, going shirtless and displaying his six-pack abs, while Bhansali's film is a mystical love story set in Shimla and introduces new faces.

According to Vishal Kapur, COO of Fun Cinemas, the Shah Rukh film has generated a lot of repeat audience interest in comparison to " Saawariya ".

"Among our 15 cineplexes across the country, the bigger ones did a business of at least Rs.500,000 and smaller ones Rs.150,000 on Friday. ' Saawariya ' churned out Rs.350,000 at the big centres, while at the smaller ones it could only manage to collect Rs.78,000," Kapur told IANS.

Kapur feels that " Om Shanti Om " could prove an even bigger Shah Rukh hit than his last " Chak De! India ".

"It could do better than 'Chak De! ' which picked up after the positive reviews. However, 'Om Shanti Om ' had a great opening. I am a little doubtful about ' Saawariya '," said Kapur.

The audience response can be gauged from Anirban Basu, a movie buff who saw both the films. " 'Om Shanti Om' is much more entertaining than 'Saawariya' . SRK's film has a perfect blend of comedy and drama while Bhansali's film is stale and boring. It is extremely slow. Apart from the lavish sets there is nothing in the film to hold the audiences' interest."

The difference of how well both the films would do in the coming days is also evident from the advance bookings.

"For Saturday, 50 percent of advance booking has been done for 'Om Shanti Om' while for 'Saawariya' it is just a little over 20 percent," said Ashok Bisht, assistant manager of JAM multiplex, Noida.

With both the films in tough competition, the weekend will prove boom time for the multiplexes across the country.

"With two big films releasing the same day, this weekend will prove to be a big money spinner for all multiplexes. However, we have noticed a new trend among some viewers - they want to watch both films," said Gautam Dutt, chief marketing officer of PVR Cinema.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ET_Cetera/Om_Shanti_Om_b eats_Saawariya/articleshow/2532328.cms

while Bhansali's film is a mystical love story set in Shimla and introduces new faces."

Done in a black box if you did not now...im talking to the writer 😆

it was obvious lol i new it was going 2 be a hit and i cant believe that ppl on IF was sayin they wanna watch sawariya more because they think "sonam" is so pretty(not true) and how can u wanna watch a movie with new comers when u no its probably not gonna be dat good and just because sonam and ranbir are star kids dont mean nothing
atleast om shanti om had srk who no always makes gr8 movies and now its proved

nywaz i have yet 2 watch the movie and cant wait either 😊 😭

No duh.People should learn to never mess with King Khan.Never under estimate his power.We don't call him Baadshah Khan for nothing.

Today I went to watch OSO and my god the theatre was fully packed.No seat was left empty.I mean NONE.Unfortunately I got the crappiest seat,my punishment for not coming early.But I'm sooooo happy I watched the movie.It was truly worth the hype.Sheer Entertainment.If you wanna go out with your family and have a blast.Laugh your @$$ off.And walkout of the cinema hall with a humongous smile on your face,GO WATCH OSO.The reviews in which it says OSO is a major disappointment or that the second half of the movie is not as great as the first is PURE BULLSHIT!From start to finish there wasn't a second leaving me bored!I was having soo much fun.Why did the movie have to end!I was lovin it!

Mujhe OSO se yehi ummid thi!!!!!!

Yh OSO is brilliant!!! 👏 😃

ha ha ha at saariya and at all those people who were degrading srk and oso before its release

Woot woot! SRK isnt called the King fro no reason! 👏

Originally posted by: huneymonsta

Woot woot! SRK isnt called the King fro no reason! 👏

That's true👏

its obvius..common its srk movie.. 😆

but am happy for ranbir n sona as they hav been appericiate so well by people..