Friday Matinee - Kasaba creates new record

The Ramzan week will be remembered as the most fruitful week for the Mollywood due to bombastic to good collection of all the five released in Kerala. In final analysis the verdict may be different but the initial collection brings smiles to the film makers. But it may last only one week. In the next week Kerala is going to witness Kabali storm. The Maxlab has booked majority of the screens for the first day and the fate of second day depends up on the WOM of Super Star Rajini’s movie. It also means massive reduction of shows of Malayalam movies in the coming week. That will be darker part of a brighter July.

Kerala Top  movies as on 15/07/2016

1. Kasaba

20 Cr is a bench mark for a blockbuster for big star ever since 2014. The big stars such as Nivin Pauly, Prithviraj , Dulquer Salman and Dilip achieved it frequently through their movies. So far this prestigious figure has eluded from Mega star movies. Kasaba , the way it behaves at box office at present  assures this potential spot by moving towards the bumper achievement . Mega star mass masala movie has covered half of the target within a week. It also created a new weekend record in Mollywood and highest first week earner record for Mammooty movie as well. In around hundred plus screen the movie performed extremely well for the first four days across the Kerala. But from Monday onward occupancy is on a rapid slid in many centers barring Malabar and Thiruvanathapuram sector. The huge number of the screens ensures fixed revenue on weekdays also. It looks like the movie will break even from the Kerala theater run itself by covering its cost of 8 Cr. The movie has taken a record bumper opening week figure of 10.35 Cr gross from Kerala with 3.300 shows which is blockbuster opening. Kasaba has slight reduction of shows in some of the screens otherwise the movie is rocky steady in holding it screens for the second week. Expecting one more thunderous weekend.

2. Anuraga Karikkin Vellam

The huge success of two small budget movies were striking highlights of first half of 2016. Mahesh and Happy wedding. AKV is a replica of what Mahesh did at box office. Having slow start and thereafter picking up day by day. The courageous decision of the makers to release along biggies should be given good round of applauds. It also showed how confident they were on their final product. It had wonderful weekend across Kerala and is the hot favorite of the family audience. Guts of Biju Menon to don the father of Asif Ali is seen as dedication of the star in the industry. Fortunately it has paid off. The debutant director Khalid Rehman with his fresh team of technicians utilizes the seniors in the industry aptly for a best feel good entertainer of the Ramzan week. From a mixed WOM the movie travels to the arena of good WOM. Collects around 4.50 Cr gross in the first week (8 days). This film is the leader in the second week due to increase of several shows across Kerala. AKV will be the only film which will have long run at box office among the Ramzan releases. Good opening

3. Shajahanum Pareekuttyum

 After huge initials the Boban Samuel film is struggling at box office. Comedy films lands in troubled waters if the comedy fails to work. One of the biggest negative of the film as per film lovers is the lackluster reception for comedy elements in the film. So ultimately it produces adverse reaction to the film. Since there is no major release this film will have one more week in major centers that too without any major revenues. Luckily the film has decent figures for the first week, a gross of 4.40 Cr in first week (9days). Above average opening.

4. Sultan

The all time blockbuster of Iindia is completed the one week in style. It holds on to the release centers of Kerala for the second week as well. Cities registered good to very good occupancies up to the weekend. That virtually means an extra ordinary run of 5 days in Kerala. Salaman Khan has huge fan following in Kerala and Sultan proves it undoubtedly. The film tops in Multiplexes in total collection compared to other Ramzan releases. Sultan has collected an impressive gross of 3.60 Cr in Kerala in the first week run in around 60 plus screens. Terrific for a Bollywood film!

5. Karinkunnam sixes

WOM wise this Manju warrier films stands second to AKV but the minimum number of the screens is road block to the success. The acceptance of Manju among the family audience literally brought revenues. Released during the peak of competition is one of the reasons for non performance at box office. But the first week total gives you why this Lady super star still in demand. Collected around 3 .25 Cr gross which is not bad considering the ground realities! Average opening