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Abbas-Mastan

'Race' spices up an otherwise dull start to 2008
07th Apr 2008 09.01 IST
By Agencies

Abbas-Mastan 's multi-starrer thriller Race has spiced up an otherwise dull start to the box office in 2008.

The film, which has been released in Pakistan too, opened to an excellent response on its release in the last week of March.

Starring Saif Ali Khan , Anil Kapoor , Bipasha Basu , Katrina Kaif and Akshaye Khanna , the 'Race' net business was Rs 35.60 crore, with fall in business on weekdays, mostly in small centres.

Film critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh describe 'Race' as Abbas-Mastan's most accomplished work since 'Baazigar'. However, he felt the second half could have been much tighter.

Hrithik Roshan - Aishwarya Rai Bachchan starrer Jodhaa Akbar turned out to be the first superhit of the year. The movie, depicting the love story of a young Akbar and his Rajput wife Jodhaa ran into trouble as some historians claimed that Jodhaa was Akbar's daughter-in-law and not wife.

Certain Rajput groups in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and some districts elsewhere in the country protested the screening of the movie over the issue due to which collections at these centres did take a beating.

Director Ashutosh Gowarikar had even run a disclaimer that the film was his version of history, but the pleas fell on deaf ears and finally the Supreme Court had to step in. The film was restored in cinemas, after the apex court order.

The Rs 50 crore magnum opus, running three hours and twenty minutes, received satisfactory response from the audience as well as the critics.

Taran said 'Jodhaa Akbar' was an interesting cinematic experience but some might have not liked the length. The response was extra-ordinary both, overseas and in the domestic market.

The film garnered over Rs 60 crore in six weeks including the Tamil and Telugu version.

Taran's said post-‘Jodhaa Akbar’, low turnout was reported at the box office because of the quality of films. He said 'Race' has infused oxygen in the industry.

"Every producer/distributor dreams of a holiday-filled weekend and 'Race' has the content to mesmerize the viewers," he felt.

"’Race’ has found tremendous appreciation from all quarters, with the youth taking the film in a big way, Taran added.

Another trade analyst Amod Mehra said that a total of 57 films including dubbed ones were released between January and March 2008.

"Only 'Jodhaa Akbar' and 'Race' have managed to hold on. Rest all were bad films. No trend can be observed in the movies released so far," he added.

About Black And White , Taran felt that Subhash Ghai had tried to say something differently. The film has some competent performances but the script could have been more convincing.

Despite good critical acclaim, box office collections for 'Black And White' dropped considerably from the second week.

The film did considerably well in Mumbai and Delhi, trade sources said.

Despite a poor show of his films Halla Bol and Sunday at the box office this year, Ajay Devgan is all set to release his debut directorial venture U Me Aur Hum starring himself and wife Kajol .

Other prominent films which bit the dust were My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves , Superstar , Mithya and Bombay To Bangkok .

'U Me Aur Hum's' release date clashes with Rakesh Roshan 's Krazzy 4 which features item numbers of Hrithik Roshan , Shah Rukh Khan and Rakhi Sawant .

Both the filmmakers are confident of a good opening.

Yashraj Films ' Tashan which remained in news since last year due to the much talked of affair between its lead pair Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan will hit the screens on April 25.

Amitabh Bachchan starrer Bhootnath is scheduled to release on May 9.

Khuda Ka Liye , the first Pakistani film to be projected in India after a gap of more than four decades, dwells into the issue of Islamic fundamentalism and its effect on moderate Muslims in Pakistan and around the world.

Though it opened to critical acclaim and some rave reviews nationwide, trade analysts are skeptical of its box office performance.

The Bollywood films to be released in Pakistan were Welcome , 'Race', Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal and now Taare Zameen Par is also scheduled to be in Pakistani screens soon.

Bollywood producers have welcomed the breaking of barriers as Pakistan constitutes a huge market for them.

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Abbas-Mastan
Race
Saif Ali Khan
Anil Kapoor
Bipasha Basu
Katrina Kaif
Akshaye Khanna
Hrithik Roshan
Aishwarya Rai
Jodhaa Akbar
Ashutosh Gowarikar
Black And White
Subhash Ghai
Halla Bol
Sunday
Ajay Devgan
U Me Aur Hum
Kajol
My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves
Superstar
Mithya
Bombay To Bangkok
Rakesh Roshan
Krazzy 4
Hrithik Roshan
Shah Rukh Khan
Rakhi Sawant
Yashraj Films
Tashan
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Saif Ali Khan
Amitabh Bachchan
Bhootnath
Welcome
Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal
Taare Zameen Par