MERE BAAP PEHLE AAP has had a mediocre start in U.K. In view of the
fact that the film was released on 30 + screens, it should've ideally
grossed £ 1,50,000 + in its opening weekend [incl. previews on Thursday
night]… SUMMER 2007 is a debacle in U.K.; the opening weekend numbers
are pathetic… DASAVATHARAM [Tamil film] has fetched a superb start in
U.K., surpassing all Hindi films running there… SARKAR RAJ has dropped
drastically in the three major markets -- U.K. [drop: 72%], U.S.A.
[drop: 73.8%] and Australia [drop: 75.1%].



U.K. BOX-OFFICE

Weekend: June 13 - 15, 2008.

• DASAVATHARAM [Tamil film] has debuted at No. 12 position. In its
  opening weekend, the film has collected £ 1,26,747 [approx. Rs. 1.07
  crores] on 19 screens, with the per screen average working out to £
  6,671.
  
  The breakdown:- Thursday previews: £ 19,224; Friday: £ 28,772; Saturday: £ 41,589; Sunday: £ 37,162.



• MERE BAAP PEHLE AAP has debuted at No. 13 position. In its opening
  weekend, the film has collected £ 1,01,849 [approx. Rs. 85.96 lacs] on
  31 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 3,285.
  
  The breakdown:- Thursday previews: £ 5,825; Friday: £ 23,439; Saturday: £ 36,710; Sunday: £ 35,875.



• SARKAR RAJ [last weekend: No. 9, this weekend: No. 15]: In its
  second weekend, the film has collected £ 52,074 on 48 screens, with the
  per screen average working out to £ 1,085. Total: £ 3,31,917 [approx.
  Rs. 2.80 crores].
  
  The breakdown:- Friday: £ 12,904; Saturday: £ 21,545; Sunday: £ 17,625.



• SUMMER 2007 has debuted at No. 52 position. In its opening weekend,
  the film has collected £ 1,191 [approx. Rs. 1 lac] on 6 screens, with
  the per screen average working out to £ 199.
  
  The breakdown:- Friday: £ 284; Saturday: £ 444; Sunday: £ 463.



• JANNAT [last weekend: No. 39, this weekend: No. 64]: In its fifth
  weekend, the film has collected £ 723 on 13 screens, with the per
  screen average working out to £ 56. Total: £ 1,55,622 [approx. Rs. 1.31
  crores].
  
  The breakdown:- Friday: £ --; Saturday: £ 40; Sunday: £ 683.

THIS WEEKEND IN U.K.

[Based on screen averages]

RANK	FILM	AVERAGE
1	DASAVATHARAM [Tamil film]	£ 6,671
2	MERE BAAP PEHLE AAP	£ 3,285
3	SARKAR RAJ	£ 1,085
4	SUMMER 2007	£ 199
5	JANNAT	£ 56

U.S.A. BOX-OFFICE

Weekend: June 13 - 15, 2008.

• SARKAR RAJ [last weekend: No. 11, this weekend: No. 18]: In its
  second weekend, the film has collected $ 1,68,040 on 70 screens, with
  the per screen average working out to $ 2,401. Total: $ 8,33,005
  [approx. Rs. 3.58 crores].

AUSTRALIA BOX-OFFICE

Weekend: June 12 - 15, 2008.

• SARKAR RAJ [last weekend: No. 11, this weekend: No. --]: In its
  second weekend, the film has collected $ 29,839 on 9 screens, with the
  per screen average working out to $ 3,315. Total: $ 2,11,191 [approx.
  Rs. 90.64 lacs].

1.Film: Jodhaa Akbar
Direction : Ashutosh Gowariker
Cast : Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
Music: A R Rahman
Plusses : An interesting cinematic experience.
Minusses : Excessive length.
Verdict : Hit

2.Film: Black & White
Direction : Subhash Ghai
Cast: Anil Kapoor, Shifaali Shah, Anurag Sinha, Aditi.
Music :
Plusses : Subhash Ghai tries to say something different. Plus, competent performances.
Minusses : Script could've been more convincing.
Verdict : Flop

3.Film: Mithya
Direction : Rajat Kapoor
Cast : Ranvir Shorey, Neha Dhupia, Naseeruddin Shah
Plusses :A well-made film on all counts.
Minusses :Caters to a niche audience.
Verdict : Average

4.Film: Taare Zameen Par
Direction : Amir khan
Cast : Aamir Khan, Darsheel Safary, Tisca Chopra
Plusses :Darsheel Safary's bravura performance, Aamir's brilliant execution and several heart-rending moments.
Minusses :Post-interval portions could be shortened.
Verdict : Super Hit

5.Film: Welcome
Direction : Aneez bazmee
Cast : Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Mallika Sherawat
Plusses :Non-stop entertainer.
Minusses :Second half drags slightly and uninspiring music
Verdict : Blockbuster

Grosses Rs 74 crores (approx 19 million USD) in just 10 days worldwide…a record for a Indian film!

Some key figures of the gross collections:

• India: Rs. 52.70 crores (one of the biggest openings ever in Indian cinema)

• US: USD 2.5 million = Rs. 10 crores (already one of the highest grossers of all time in the US market in just 10 days!)

• UK: GBP 700,000 = Rs. 5.60 crores (amongst the Top 10 first 10 days for an Indian film in the UK market)

• Gulf: USD 800,000 = Rs. 3.2 crores (amongst the Top 5 first 10 days for an Indian film in the Gulf)

• Australia: USD 286,906 = Rs. 1.15 crores (already tracking to emerge as the 2nd highest grosser of all time in Australia)

• Rest of the World = USD 380,000 = Rs, 1.5 crores

General:

The Telugu and Tamil versions will release on 6th March and are expected to create a huge stir in the South market.

The film has generated spectacular box office collections despite:

1. Not having a release in one of the key markets for this genre of movie - Rajasthan. UTV Motion Pictures is still in talks with various local groups to try and get the film released in the state, as interest levels amongst audiences are at fever pitch.

2. Suspension of screenings in the state of Madhya Pradesh over the 2nd weekend by the State Government. UTV has moved the MP High Court already to lift this suspension and has announced that it will go up to the Supreme Court if need be.

As expected the success of Jodhaa Akbar has come as great relief to the overseas market. Jodhaa Akbar has grossed around 13 crore in three days with UK contributing 3 crore, North America a huge 6.40 crore and UAE adding 1.85 crore.
The film is certain to emerge a Superhit in the circuit or maybe even better. The opening is the second biggest ever in North America behind the 6.90 crore of Om Shanti Om.

There is no new film worth mentioning, listed for release next Friday. And why only next Friday? The first significant release will be in the shape of Subhash Ghai's Anil Kapoor starrer, BLACK & WHITE, hitting the screens on 7th March.
Coming to the first major project of 2008, Ashutosh Gowariker's Hrithik-Aishwarya starrer, JODHAA AKBAR, the movie started on a fair to average note, but picked up significantly as the weekend progressed. The makers have declared a healthy weekend figure of 16-17 crores. Released at around 90 plus cinemas of Bombay by UTV Motion Pictures, the film had a fair start. Outside of Bombay, the film was weak in some smaller circuits of East India, average in C.P. Berar and C.I. and good in Nizam and Delhi NCR. Trade feels that the quite expensive film will have to show a good run for at least a couple of weeks, before it can think in terms of success. Opening in UK was good, with a gross of $717,085 and in US excellent, as the movie grossed $1,602,356 (4-day weekend). By and large, the overseas circuit has reported good collection.

'Jodhaa Akbar' storms Overseas
Great news! JODHAA AKBAR has taken one of the biggest starts in Overseas. In U.K., the opening weekend was bigger than some major openers of 2007, like SALAAM-E-ISHQ, NAMASTEY LONDON, TA RA RUM PUM, JHOOM BARABAR JHOOM, PARTNER, HEYY BABYY, BHOOL BHULAIYAA and LAAGA CHUNARI MEIN DAAG. The weekend collections are almost at par with WELCOME [369,321], the second biggest opener of 2007.
In America too, the film has embarked on one of the biggest starts ever, collecting a massive $ 1.6 million in its 4-day weekend. The screen average [$ 16,023] is the highest when compared to all releases, Hollywood and Hindi, this weekend. Fabulous!
In U.A.E. too, the film has fetched a smashing start. Again, it's one of the biggest starts there. We will keep you updated on more resulted as they pour in.
U.K. BOX-OFFICE
Weekend: February 15 - 17, 2008.
* JODHAA AKBAR has debuted at No. 10 position. In its opening weekend, the film has collected £ 363,726 [approx. Rs. 2.82 crores] on 46 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 7,907
The breakdown:- Thursday previews: £ 59,340; Friday: £ 79,334; Saturday: £ 119,462; Sunday: £ 105,590.
*SUNDAY [last weekend: No. 27, this weekend: No. 43]: In its fourth weekend, the film has collected £ 3,887 on 8 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 486. Total: £ 197,867 [approx. Rs. 1.53 crores].
The breakdown:- Friday: £ 787; Saturday: £ 1,605; Sunday: £ 1,495.
*YAARIYAN [Punjabi film; last weekend: No. 28, this weekend: No. 46]: In its fourth weekend, the film has collected £ 3,098 on 5 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 620. Total: £ 83,091 [approx. Rs. 64.40 lacs].
The breakdown:- Friday: £ 795; Saturday: £ 1,157; Sunday: £ 1,146.
* TAARE ZAMEEN PAR [last weekend: No. 45, this weekend: No. 58]: In its ninth weekend, the film has collected £ 873 on 2 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 437. Total: £ 351,303 [approx. Rs. 2.72 crores].
The breakdown:- Friday: £ 198; Saturday: £ 338; Sunday: £ 337.
U.S.A. BOX-OFFICE
4-day weekend: February 15 - 18, 2008.
* JODHAA AKBAR has debuted at No. 19 position. In its opening weekend, the film has collected $ 1,602,356 [approx. Rs. 6.41 crores] on 100 screens, with the per screen average working out to $ 16,023.
U.A.E. BOX-OFFICE
4-day weekend: February 14 - 17, 2008.
*In its opening weekend, JODHAA AKBAR has collected approx. AED 1,700,000 [approx. Rs. 1.84 crores].

Jodhaa Akbar has collected 16.50 crore nett over three days in India. The collections have been fantastic in Mumbai, Delhi and South despite a problematic release on day one.
Mutiplexes and A centres in Punjab and Kolkatta were good while single screens in UP, CP Berar and CI saw average business. The weekend business is the fourth highest ever after Om Shanti Om, Welcome and Dhoom 2 and it makes it even more commendable as this is without Rajasthan where Jodhaa Akbar is still to be released due to security problems.
It was sad to see many media reports claiming a 20-40% opening for the film as there is no way that a film can open to 20-40% and then manage to collect 16.50 crore over the weekend. Monday has a seen a drop but it is not alarming and 30 crore+ business is certain if it maintains 55-60% collections like Monday over the next three days.

Ashutosh Gowarikar's much anticipated epic romance, Jodhaa Akbar has not been able to create a frenzy with filmgoers.
While the film is doing okay at certain multiplexes, its performance at single screen cinemas is below par. In a nutshell, the film's high cost and subsequent mixed response makes this Hrithik Roshan-Aishwarya Rai starrer commerically weak.

Jodhaa Akbar
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Poonam Sinha, Ila Arun, Sonu Sood.

Director: Ashutosh Gowariker.

Plus : Hrithik's terrific performance, awesome music.
Minus : Much too long, Gowariker tries to tackle too many aspects of Akbar's life and does not do justice to any.
Number of weeks: New. BO Verdict: Mixed response

U.K. BOX-OFFICE

SUNDAY [last weekend: No. 23, this weekend: No. 27]: In its third weekend, the film has collected £ 12,174 on 17 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 716. Total: £ 184,632 [approx. Rs. 1.43 crores].


YAARIYAN [Punjabi film; last weekend: No. 27, this weekend: No. 28]: In its third weekend, the film has collected £ 10,851 on 8 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 1,356. Total: £ 73,978 [approx. Rs. 57.28 lacs].


TAARE ZAMEEN PAR [last weekend: No. 42, this weekend: No. 45]: In its eighth weekend, the film has collected £ 2,840 on 4 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 710. Total: £ 349,245 [approx. Rs. 2.70 crores].


HALLA BOL [last weekend: No. 102, this weekend: No. 55]: In its fifth weekend, the film has collected £ 771 on 4 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 193. Total: £ 81,979 [approx. Rs. 63.48 lacs].


WELCOME [last weekend: No. 65, this weekend: No. 58]: In its eighth weekend, the film has collected £ 601 on 1 screen. Total: £ 912,472 [approx. Rs. 7.07 crores].
THIS WEEKEND IN U.K.
[Based on screen averages]

    RANK                           FILM                                  AVERAGE
  
  1                      YAARIYAN [Punjabi film]            £ 1,356
  2                                SUNDAY                              £ 716
  3                   TAARE ZAMEEN PAR                         £ 710    
  4                              WELCOME                             £ 601
  5                              HALLA BOL                            £ 193