Opinion So far,a bummer summer

OBEROI TOWERS ALMOST: When Kumar Taurani of Tips Films announced a mega budget (read Rs 40 crore) actioner,Prince,top-lining Vivek Oberoi,the industry almost laughed out loud. But the wily Taurani — the lesser known brother of Ramesh — knew what he was talking about. He played a gamble and he almost pulled it off. Prince took off to a flying start in the single screens. The publicity blitz and high definition action stunts proved to be a strong calling card for the movie. Eventually the business didn’t sustain due to major script flaws and a lukewarm reception in the plexes. Ironically when the project — touted as Oberoi’s comeback,was announced,even its lead star was jittery. If the trade had doubts about Oberoi’s solo credentials then so did he. Instead he was banking on last year’s Kurbaan to start the turnaround. Oberoi has been in the doghouse since he staged that (in)famous press conference against Salman Khan. The warm reception to Prince is an indication that the audience is warming up to him. This will spell good news for Rakta Charitra,his next with Ram Gopal Varma.

NO MASTI KI PAATHSHALA: After 3 Idiots made a telling statement on the education system,a host of movies on the same topic are being prepped in B-town. Ahmed Khan presented his take in Paathshala with Shahid Kapoor,Ayesha Takia and Nana Patekar playing school teachers. The film was a no-show at the BO. The fact that it didn’t take even an opening should worry Kapoor. This is his third turkey in a row post Chance Pe Dance and Dil Bole Hadippa. Trade pundits opine that Kapoor’s strength is romance as established by the mega success of Jab We Met and the respectable Kismet Konnection. Though he enjoyed critical acclaim for his double act in Vishal Bhardwaj’s Kaminey,the film’s business fell short of its cost. The buzz for his latest Badmaash Company is also not super hot. Kapoor needs to select scripts wisely. Let’s hope he gets his mojo back with his father,Pankaj Kapur’s direction debut,Mausam.

RGV SPOOKS THE BO: The crow was luckier than the scary doll. Ram Gopal Varma managed to spook the audience in his modestly budgeted and cleverly released Phoonk in 2008 but the sequel spooked the box office. Phoonk worked for its novel publicity campaign centred on a crow. The film’s story about black magic also enthralled the audience. The sequel however didn’t click at all. One of the prime reasons for the film’s failure is an overdose of horror flicks in the last few months — films like Shaapit,Click,Rokkk,Hide & Seek told the same scary story too many times.

IT’S HOUSEFULL: Sajid Khan’s Housefull is mindless,inane and illogical. But it did what a lot of movies this year haven’t done: got the audience inside the theatre. The film opened to a bumper response all over the country — according to figures released by Eros International,the Akshay Kumar comedy has grossed Rs 64 crore in just three days. Among the first of the summer releases post IPL,Housefull opened across 2,000 plus screens worldwide and garnered a collection of Rs 48 crore gross in India and Rs 16 crore overseas in its opening weekend. It’s being touted that Housefull has got the second biggest opening after 3 Idiots. Critics panned it but the film’s hype won the first round. Though collections have dropped on Monday and a clear picture will emerge only post Wednesday,the producers of Housefull will be relieved because of its huge opening numbers. Akshay Kumar has reason to laugh even more in the Micromax ad.

harneet.singh@expressindia.com