Aamir Khan’s ‘PK’ swamps theatres, ‘Ugly’, ‘Lingaa’ run for cover

Apparently, theatres across the country have refused to vacate ample shows for the two new releases.

A prominent exhibitor from Bihar argues, “Why should we give up ‘PK’ when every show is going full? Even in the chilly winter nights we are getting full houses for ‘PK’ in the night shows. ‘Ugly‘ may be a good film. But it doesn’t look like the kind of film people want to see during the festive week of Christmas and New Year. As for ‘Lingaa’, it has already flopped in Tamil. We aren’t releasing it in Hindi in Bihar.”

A source closely associated with ‘Ugly’ says, “We are struggling to get screens. But it’s difficult. The year has been bad for the trade. The exhibitors won’t let go shows of ‘PK’ for a new film.”

Arun Rangachari the co-producer of ‘Ugly’ says, “No doubt ‘PK’ is a very good film. We just hope Ugly will offer audiences a distinctive choice specially given the holidays. We’ve tried our best to showcase ‘Ugly’ as a film that crosses formulistic frontiers while entertaining the audience.”

Adds Rahul Bhat who plays the lead in ‘Ugly’, “‘Ugly’ is a different genre of a film. Its audience is niche. We know this only too well. We just need 5 percent of ‘PK’s’ audience.”

Mumbai’s prominent distributor and exhibitor Anil Thadani says, “If ‘Ugly’ is a good film it will sustain itself at the box office, as it is an unusual film. As for ‘Lingaa’, its fate is in any case decided in Tamil and Telugu.”