TPTM collects Rs 500 on Day One

If trade reports are to be believed, Yash Raj's Saif-Rani starrer Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic, has failed to work its magic on the box office. The film opened to a dismally low set of collections last Friday. Though the movie picked up a bit over the weekend, the collections dipped again on Monday.

The collections at multiplexes in the metros have been better over the weekend, hitting almost 85 per cent at some places. The collections have dipped since Monday and is not expected to pick up. According to analysts, the high weekend turnout is credited to bulk bookings and corporate shows that have become the norm with films such as these.

According to Ashok Anchan of Supercinema, the film has failed to work in the smaller towns where it should have managed to draw the crowds.

Says Anchan, "First of all Saif as a solo hero is not a crowd puller at the box office. Secondly, even being a children-dominated film, most of the kids did not enjoy it. Distributors themselves were disappointed with the half-hearted publicity for this film. And the debacle of Tashan has surely affected the film. You will be shocked when you see the collections in some places. In Vellore, Tamil Nadu, the first day first show gross collections were only Rs 2,200. In Melody cinema, in Chennai, the first day first show gross collections were Rs 8,000. Narendra cinema in Punjab managed a gross collection of Rs 5,200 on the first day first show. While Ajay cinema in Bhatinda, collected a dismal Rs 1,800 on the first day first show."

"In Kalyan cinema, Ropat and Elite cinema, Patiala, the first day first show gross collections were only Rs 600. In Ashok cinema, Punjab, it was Rs 900. Swaran cinema, Hoshiarpur collected Rs 800 and Geeta cinema, Moga, Punjab, collected what we usually pay for movie tickets for two - Rs 500."

Journalist and film critic, Abhijit Mhamunkar says, "The film has not met with the expectation of its target audience - the kids and the family audience. An extremely unimaginative and predictable screenplay can be held as the chief culprit for the bombing of this film. It has been four years since Saif has delivered a solo hit (Hum Tum) and now despite his soaring market value he still cannot guarantee a solo hit. It's high time Yash Raj started re-working their creatives."

Adil Sheikh of G-7 had a different viewpoint altogether. According to him, "The film story is similar to Rajesh Khanna's Dushman, both the heroes accidently kill someone and are punished. People are fed-up with fairy tales. Rani cannot attract the masses anymore. Ameesha Patel comes and goes. Rishi Kapoor is completely wasted. The film lacks the Yash Raj touch. Collections are good but definitely not as expected."

Girish Wankhede, head of PR and corporate communications, Cinemax says, "The collections were very good on Friday, Saturday and Sunday but the film did not sustain. The audience feels that the film is very slow."

J Popat, General Manager of late N N Sippy (Janata Films Distributors) says, "The hype, publicity and promotion were not up to mark. The title was misleading and there was no magic. Music was the main minus point of the film. Lastly, Saif is no more a crowdpuller for sure".

However, according to Yash Raj's PR machinery: The film has collected Rs 10.32 crores in three days, beating the last Yash Raj hit, Chak de India!

This is a crucial week for Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic, as it will decide whether the film is actually a hit or an average grosser, or even worse, a flop. Yash Raj may have recovered its money, but the big question is, has the audience really given the film a thumbs up?

http://www.buzz18.com/news/movies/tptm-collects-rs-500-on-da y-one/66321/0