As mentioned in the column last week, both Ramaiya Vastavaiya and D-Day were meant to be word of mouth affairs. This is how both the film found an audience in theatres. Though it wasn’t a flying start for either of the two films, they did settle down as the day progressed with good escalation coming in. Of course only Friday opening wasn’t enough for champagne to be uncorked but as the weekend progressed, collections started getting better.
Let’s talk about Ramaiya Vastavaiya first. The film is finding itself in a happy zone today, considering its opening weekend of 15 crores. Considering the fact that it is a debut film of lead Girish Kumar, this is the kind of number that does carry good weight to promise a decent week ahead. A love story for the family audience, it should hang on for a respectable total ahead. Also, the film has now brought back Shruti Haasan into the Bollywood map.
Meanwhile D-Day has found tremendous appreciation coming its way and has all in it to be a ‘lambi race ka ghoda‘. The film managed over 13 crore weekend for itself and since it is primarily a multiplex affair, it is basically competing with Bhaag Milkha Bhaag which is doing well all over. This Nikhil Advani directed affair deserves a good run for itself and one waits to see how the weekdays turn out to be. If the first week lends a total of around 20 crores, exhibitors should show faith in its long run and continue to play it on good number of screens for next 2-3 at least. It has the class and potential to do that.
