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Double-barrel Bollywood fire leaves viewers in trance Monday, June 25, 2001

The Times of India News Service
AHMEDABAD, June 24: Patriotism, in whatever form, never fails to appeal. And if it is a three-hour package which has a cricket match as its central theme or a love saga set during the freedom struggle, the response it can whip up can be seen at crowded cinema halls in major cities of Gujarat which have not had it so good for a long time.

Both Lagaan and Gadar which were released on June 15 are running to packed houses for all shows, something which happened last in the Rajshree blockbuster Hum Aapke Hain Kaun. And comparisons are only natural with these much-hyped twin releases.

Akash Patel, a middle-aged businessman of Ahmedabad who seldom watches movies in halls, surprised himself and his family by sitting through shows of both the films on the same day at a multiplex. "It is difficult to say which one is better, both are superb films in their own way," he remarks.

Lagaan, which is being described as another Sholay by enthusiasts, grossed Rs 11.68 lakh from 21 shows in R World in the first week. Shringaar Distributors, who also released the movie in City Gold, City Pulse, Milan and Galaxy (Naroda), collected Rs 5.71 lakh, Rs 6.69 lakh, Rs 2.58 lakh and Rs 2.85 lakh respectively for the shows in these movie-halls.

"We have been able to make such a huge collection in the first week for the first time after Hum Aap Ke Hai Kaun. The movie is especially popular with women and everyone relished songs like Radha Kaise Na Jale and the Barish," says Shringaar manager Rajesh Shukla.

Even though Surya Distributors, one of distributors for Gadar in Gujarat, don't have the collection figures, they say it could easily be put at 95 per cent in the first week. They last had such a huge collection for Taal more than a year back. Drive-In cinema in Ahmedabad is witnessing serpentine queues of cars these days.

After repeated efforts to buy tickets for Lagaan failed, Rinish Sekhani hit the jackpot but only after he parked himself at the ticket counter very early in the morning. He says it was worth the effort. "Both movies, which are trying to revive the lost Indian values and morals, left a lasting impact. It feels good to be transported back in time," says the 20-year-old Sekhani.

For many like Suhani Dasani, who could see Lagaan only on the fifth day at R World, it was "like watching a tension-soaked one-day cricket match on the big screen".

In Surat, the two theatres screening Lagaan and three showing Gadar are drawing huge crowds with almost all shows running to packed houses.

Says Chandravijay Gulshan, whose two cinema halls Rajkumar and Rajmahal are screening Lagaan, "It is not a question of one movie affecting the box office of the other. People want to watch both the films." Gulshan opines that the crowds could thin in the second week, especially for the early shows on weekdays, but the weekends and evening shows would be packed.

In Vadodara, both films have clicked but in different ways. While Gadar has an edge over Lagaan in terms of box-office collections, Lagaan seems to have impressed connoisseurs of cinema.

Vadodara district entertainment tax official Yogesh Dave, who has watched both the films, says while Lagaan is a well-made film, Gadar has the right masala to woo the masses.

Dave says Lagaan is now drawing only the balcony crowds and the lower stalls have empty seats. But the shows of Gadar are houseful. This shows that while Aamir Khan's film is attracting the elite viewers, the popular vote is for Sunny Deol.

Alpana theatre owner Kanaksinh Thakore says in Gadar dialogues against Pakistan and those that speak of love for India are being applauded by the audience. " Gadar has the right masala, Lagaan class," he adds.

News Source : Times Of India News Service [ Lightning News ]

 

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