Bollywood Box Office Breakthrough
When I reviewed the Bollywood melodrama KABHI ALVIDA NAA KEHNA (“Never Say Goodbye”) for the Boston Globe last Friday, there were no advance screenings — I attended the first show on opening day, August 14. To my surprise, the midday show was packed–everyone from twenty- and thirtysomethings skipping out of work on a beautiful day to grandparents to a two-year old who happily ran up and down the aisle for the movie’s three and a half hour (plus intermission) running time. I wasn’t the only non-Indian face in the crowd, either–many of the younger Desis sat with boyfriends, girlfriends, classmates of all colors.
Though KANK, as its distributors have nicknamed it, was playing in only a few markets on just 64 screens, it grossed $1.8 million over its first week. The film’s per screen average was $28,330–extremely high. Director Karan Johar’s previous film, the worldwide hit KABHI KHUSHI KHABHIE GHAM (“Sometimes Happy, Sometimes Sad” also had a big U.S. opening: $1.37 million its first week on just 73 screens. That 2001 film actually opened in sixth place–an extraordinary achievement for a foreign language film, and for any film playing on so few screens.)
No question about it, this is an event movie–and the industry’s most expensive production (budgeted at $10 million plus) and filmed mostly in and around New York City. The real draw was seeing two of Indian cinema’s biggest stars, Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukherjee, go where Bollywood has seldom ventured: a realistic look at modern marital dischord, adultery and divorce. When the film’s romantic leads–both married to other people–actually check into a hotel for a guilty getaway, a kind of sensation rippled through the audience. Shock! They really did it (discreetly)
Even though KANK has already opened in the US, it’ll be one of the gala presentations at the Toronto Film Festival next month.
A couple of other reviews–there’s much controversy over the going-all-the-way aspect of the love story and a straight-ahead look at the way a marriage can break down, despite the best efforts of both parties. Despite all the tears and angst, this is a breakup movie without the bitter aftertaste.
Here’s Variety and the New York Times. And a report from Reuters claiming that while urban audiences are turning out for the film, “conservative heartland” Indians aren’t comfortable with the frank treatment of unhappy marriage. Is the film even playing outside of urban multiplexes? KANK may not be the across the board crowd pleaser that Johar’s lighter-than-air earlier movie was, but he’s hit upon a hot button issue, given it his trademark high gloss style and set it to a danceable beat.
a very very bad film n far from nature n life its never be happen in life as shown in this film
a great movie without being judgemental.has a realistic feel to it.basically theme on urban marital disturbance.
dear all,
I am a die hard fan of SHAHRUKH .But after watching KANK i was distressed …..Shahrukh is known as a person who gives strenghth to audiences..we laugh whn he makes us laugh…he is so refreshing in all his actions…I am requesting SHAHRUKH not to do any horryfying movie where he has to play a frustrated gentleman….Shahrukh dont do such a movie done by KARAN JOHAR even if he is a good frnd of urs……u matter a lot to us…..dont spoil it with the thinking of such a commercial director like KARAN…do good movies…..plzzzzzzzzzzzz