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Tag: Jagga Jasoos

  • Inox reports increase in revenue, profits for second quarter

    Inox reports increase in revenue, profits for second quarter

    BENGALURU: Indian cinema chain Inox Leisure Limited (Inox) has reported improved revenue and net profit after tax (PAT) for the quarter ended 30 September 2017 (Q2-18, current quarter) as compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous year (Q2-17, year ago quarter). Inox revenue from operations for Q2-18 increased 4.7 percent to Rs 3,112.6 million from Rs 2,973.8 million for Q2-17 (y-o-y). Profit after tax for the current period increased more than sevenfold (7.49 times) y-o-y to Rs 116.8 millon from Rs 15.6 million.

    Total income increased 4.9 percent y-o-y in Q2-18 to Rs 3,141.5 million from Rs 2,995.1 million. Operating profit (EBIDTA) for the current quarter increased 63.4 percent y-o-y to Rs 444.2 million from Rs 271.9 million.

    Inox says in its investor presentation that net box office collection (NBOC) increased in the current quarter to Rs 1,856 million from Rs 1,794 million. Advertisement revenue increased to Rs 321 million from Rs 23.8 million. Other operating revenues increased to Rs 264 million from Rs 240 million. Net food and beverages (F&B) revenue in the current quarter reduced to Rs 671 million from Rs 702 million in Q2-17.

    Though overall footfalls in Q2-18 increased to 12.75 million from 12.7 million in Q2-17, occupancy declined by 1 percent to 25 percent in Q2-18 from 26 percent in Q2-17. Overall average ticket price increased to Rs 186 in the current quarter from Rs 183 in the corresponding year ago quarter.

    The company says that the top five grossing movies in Q2-18 were Toilet-Ek Prem Katha (1.244 million footfalls, Gross Box Office Collection or GBOC of Rs 247.5 million; Spiderman Homecoming (0.623 million footfalls, GBOC Rs 131.1 million; Jab Harry Met Sejal (0.539 million footfall, GBOC Rs 119.6 million); Jagga Jasoos (0.605 million footfalls, GBOC Rs 113.9 million) and Mubarakan (0.561 million footfalls, GBOC Rs 103.3 million).

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by the company

    Total expenditure declined 13.1 percent y-o-y to Rs 2,963.1 million in Q2-18 from Rs 2,968 million. Exhibition costs increased 2.1 percent y-o-y in the current quarter to Rs 884.6 million from Rs 866.3 million. F&B costs declined 8.5 percent y-o-y to Rs 167.6 million y-o-y from Rs 183.1 million. Employee benefits expense increased 6.8 percent y-o-y to Rs 233 million from Rs 218.1 million. Finance costs in the current quarter increased 25.3 percent y-o-y to Rs 73.2 million from Rs 58.4 million. Other expenses reduced 3.6 percent y-o-y to Rs 1,383.2 million in Q2-18 from Rs 1,434.4 million.

  • A week full of damp squibs, despite huge expectations

    Some whiz kid got the idea that to make an Indian version of the popular comic book series Adventures of Tin Tin,blending it with a generous dose of Hollywood musicals and the rest will follow. But this just an idea, a one-liner. Not a script. However, a star fell for it for as he had nothing to lose. One can understand that, but how does a studio fall prey to the idea and commits anything between Rs 300 to Rs 1.50 billion?

    If last week the result was Jagga Jasoos costing around Rs one billion in the making, this week there was Munna Michael which was a straight but unimaginative ‘inspiration’ taken from the films of 1980s, described as disco films. When they were not branded as Disco films, Jumping Jack Jeetendra ruled and later when Mithun Chakraborty took over the mantle of the dancing star, it was the disco era and, he was the disco star!

    While the films in that era boasted of massive twists and turns and emotional appeal, Munna Michael is poorly scripted with nothing except dances and action. Casting Nawazuddin Siddiqui in a film cannot be considered an asset just because he is building a fan base despite not fitting into the scheme of things by any stretch of imagination!

    Not surprisingly, Munna Michael proves to be a loser. It opened such a poor response that immediately on its release, the theatre managements decide to reduce the film’s screening slots. The film collected 64 million on day one, lost some ground on Saturday while improving by around Rs 100 million on Sunday. The film collected Rs 205 million for its opening weekend.

    Lipstick Under My Burkha, a pretentious film based on the lives of women in Bhopal had the maker raise an issue, highlights the lives of four miserable women with their dreams and aspirations, mainly related to sex and freedom but ending without a remedial conclusion or even a suggestion to this end.

    Thanks to the controversy generated at the Film Censors, the film found few viewers mainly in select Delhi and Mumbai multiplexes. The film managed to collect Rs 11.5 million on day one and showed a marginal rise on Saturday and peaking on Sunday to collect Rs 55 million for its opening weekend. The real test for the film will be through the rest of the week.

    Jagga Jasoos, having been rejected, managed the first week’s collections of about Rs 431 million. The second week holds no promise as the film managed to add Rs 12 million on its eighth day compared to Rs 79 million on its first day

    The highly-touted Sridevi starrer Mom collected Rs 71 million in its second week to take its two-week total to Rs 296 million.

    Guest in London added Rs 1.5 million in its second week to take its two-week total to Rs 68.5 million.

  • Distributors’ ‘star films’ gamble backfires

    Jagga Jasoos is the latest film to release last Friday. The team of Anurag Basu and Ranbir Kappor who combined to give Barfi (2012) were expected to come up with something better. What is more, even Ranbir Kapoor had put his faith Basu and turned a co-producer in the project!

    The film, in the making since 2014, however, turned out to be a major disappointment at the box office. At some places, the early morning shows (9 am) which normally draw the college crowds because of low admission rates, had to be cancelled due to lack of audience.

    The film collected Rs 7.9 crore on day one which was not impressive since the film was given an extensive 1800-screen release. Whatever the film collected was mainly from two metros, especially Mumbai followed by Delhi with rest of the circuits being way below par and none crossing even a one crore mark on day one.

    The film did show some improvement over the weekend on Saturday and Sunday as children took to the film but, considering the public reports are negative on the film and that it needs to work its way to over Rs 200 crore (Rs 2k million) figure to break even, the figures are not at all encouraging. What is more, there has been a considerable drop on Monday.

    On Tubelight front, distributors with the principal distributor, N H Studioz, are reported to have approached Salman Khan Esq for the refund of some amounts as they have suffered huge losses. The film was reportedly sold to N H Studioz for reportedly a whopping Rs 135 crore (Rs 1350 million) which would need a recovery of Rs 325 crore. There are just few precedents of a film doing that kind of business and the gamble by the distributor backfired. The film has fallen short of the target by as much as Rs 225 crore. The Khan Esq is said to be considering the distributors’ request favourably.

    *Jagga Jasoos, a film inspired by The Adventures of Tin Tin and other sources, does not quite get the opening it should have considering the film’s cast and others in the billing. The film manages to collect 7.9 crore on its opening Friday. It improves a bit on Saturday and Sunday. The film ends its first weekend with Rs 31.3 crore. The Monday footfalls are not encouraging.

    *Mom, again a costly film compared to its face value, stands to lose big time considering it had nothing new to offer. Woman oriented action have it tough to find a slot with the Hindi audience unless backed by a solid story. They are few and far in-between. Bad for Mom that it followed in the same plot as the recently released Maatr, which stole it of its novelty. The film collected Rs 22.5 crore in its first week.

    *Guest In London fails badly ending its first week with a meagre Rs 6.7 crore.

    *Ek Haseena Thi Ek Deewana Tha adds Rs 30 lakh in its second week taking its two week total to Rs 1.35 crore.

    *Tubelight has collected Rs 80 lakh in its third week to take its three week tally to Rs 115.1 crore.

  • Jagga Jasoos – a disappointment both as a musical and as a comedy

    Describing a film as a musical is a misnomer as the genre does not exist and in any case music as we knew it has virtually ceased to exist Hindi films which have lyrics that pass off as songs.

    Jagga Jasoos takes inspiration from various sources like the popular comic series, The Adventures Of Tin Tin, Hollywood musicals of the sixties and some from India. It has described as a musical, adventure, romantic, comedy.

    Ranbir stutters in his speech.His father, Saswata Chetterjee suggests that if he converses in verse he will not stutter. That is what makes it an excuse of a musical as he rhymes all his dialogue. Adventures are aplenty but lack impact as they happen suddenly and are forced most of the time. As for comedy and romance, they are missing.

    Ranbiir Kapoor is a school student staying in a hostel (time he grows up to more mature roles if he wants his films to work) who plays jasoos (detective) on the side. His comic books are popular and a journalist, Katrina Kaif, reads them out to a bunch of children regularly. This is perhaps the longest introduction of a hero in any film!

    The film starts with the much publicised Purulia arms drop incident. Saswata, who was a sole witness to the dumpingt vanishes soon after. Getting down to tracking him, Jagga Jasoos is roped in as a result of Katrina having narrated two of his adventures to children. In one of the stories Katrina who has gone to follow the story of the arms drop, gets involved with Ranbir who is after the arms smugglers.

    This takes the film to half time in the film when Ranbir decides to trace his father. He asks Katrina to join him. In the process, they land up in Africa and realize that though the main arms dealer is some two headed man who owns a Russian circus, some of the Indian officials are also involved, including Saurabh Shukla, a government investigator.

    Shukla thinks Saswata has been killed by his men but oddly enough, is told by Ranbir that his father is very much alive and is somewhere in Africa! Why should he do that when he knows Shukla is not worthy of trust? So Ranbir along with Katrina are searching for his father while Shukla is out to eliminate them.

    The usual chase follows as Ranbir and Katrina find ways to escape like in a train, a car, a scooter or even an airplane conveniently placed for them whenever they need them.

    The film clearly has a very loose script and hinges between being a children’s film and a serious subject of arms smuggling. The director has no grip on the proceedings and there are many glitches. With just Ranbir and Katrina with a couple of unknown faces to Hindi screen, it becomes a drag and the length of 142 minute duration adds to the woes! The film being dubbed as a musical fails as only the already popular number Galti se mistake…passes muster. Cinematography is good. The climax has been rushed.

    As for performances, Ranbir Kapoor shows no improvement, and Katrina seems to be losing her charm. Saurabh Shukla does well as usual. Saswata Chetterjee does very well.

    Jagga Jasoos has taken almost three years in the making but comes up with a totally disappointing result.

    Producers: Siddharth Roy Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor, Anurag Basu.
    Director: Anurag Basu.
    Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Saurabh Shukla, Saswata Chatterjee.

  • Nickelodeon strengthens Sonic with ‘Shiva’; plans 70-80 hrs of original content

    Nickelodeon strengthens Sonic with ‘Shiva’; plans 70-80 hrs of original content

    MUMBAI: Viacom 18’s children’s network Nickelodeon has made a bold move by placing Nick’s iconic teen adventure program, Shiva as part of Sonic’s programming henceforth. The change is in line with Nickelodeon’s need for a strong second channel. “The idea is that in a couple of years Sonic grows to a market share that Viacom18 can boast of two strong kids channels within its network,” says Viacom18’s kids cluster EVP and business head Nina Elavia Jaipuria.

    Fresh episodes of the popular teen adventure comedy series that soared to fame immediately after its launch in December 2015 will now air on Sonic, Nickelodeon’s sister channel that caters to pre-teens, teens and young adults. When asked if the network has measured the set back this move may cost the show’s viewership,Jaipuria states,“Looking at it from the show’s perspective, we have grown Shiva to an extent that it has loyal viewers, whom we hope to take to Sonic.  Because we are not dependent on any one show, we are expecting Ninja Hatori, Shaun The Sheep, Oggy and the Cockroaches and Motu Patlu to take care of Nick. We are hopeful that in spite of Shiva, Nick will retain its position in the ratings chart.” “Shiva lovers who are used to seeing the show on Nick and want to watch new episodes will have to come on Sonic,” Jaipuria added.  

    To carry this bold move forward Nickelodeon has also planned for an aggressive mass media campaign that will not only span across Viacom 18’s own networks, but other broadcasting network as well. “Not just Viacom18 or Nick as a network but we are looking at Star India, Sab TV and Zee TV to take this news to as many households as possible. Its is important to create an awareness that Shiva has moved from  Nick to Sonic,” Jaipuria revealed while speaking on the marketing initiatives.

    In fact, in order to not dilute this communication, the Network is withholding from launching any new shows this summer, though more new and original characters are in making in the creative factory for the latter part of the year. However, the marketing initiative will also speak of the new episodes of the major shows that are to hit the screens this summer.

    After mass media, print and radio, the network will also look at heavy engagement outside of television, Jaipuria shares.  Nickelodeon has partnered with malls like Infiniti, Pantaloons, Funcity, etc., to expand its on ground footprint. Van activations are also in store in about 25 tier II and tier III towns and cities for a month. Marketing initiatives will also be present in cinemas during launches of Jagga Jasoos and Housefull 3 that are soon to release.  

    The programming timeline vacuum left by Shiva in Nickelodeon will be filled up by brand new episodes of Ninja Hattori, Motu Patlu, Oggy and the Cockroaches and Shaun The Sheep. Apart from this, the network also has plans to release the full length feature Motu Patlu In Double Trouble, the 10th movie in line after a nine movie marathon on digital. Nickelodeon plans to go all guns blazing in promoting the fresh content including innovative watch and win contests, which will also have a digital leg to it. Overall there will 70 to 80 hours of original content on Nickelodeon in its summer programming.

    With such a strong summer line up, Nickelodeon expects to sustain Nick’s number one position in the genre, while at the same time grow Sonic with Shiva. “We have always been a  very brave franchise. We have taken all the risks possible. We have started off by creating original shows in India without knowing if they will work or not. But we are risk takers and will go on to create new trends like that,” Jaipuria signs off as industry wonders if this disruptive strategy will work for Nickelodeon like past disruptions always have.

  • Nickelodeon strengthens Sonic with ‘Shiva’; plans 70-80 hrs of original content

    Nickelodeon strengthens Sonic with ‘Shiva’; plans 70-80 hrs of original content

    MUMBAI: Viacom 18’s children’s network Nickelodeon has made a bold move by placing Nick’s iconic teen adventure program, Shiva as part of Sonic’s programming henceforth. The change is in line with Nickelodeon’s need for a strong second channel. “The idea is that in a couple of years Sonic grows to a market share that Viacom18 can boast of two strong kids channels within its network,” says Viacom18’s kids cluster EVP and business head Nina Elavia Jaipuria.

    Fresh episodes of the popular teen adventure comedy series that soared to fame immediately after its launch in December 2015 will now air on Sonic, Nickelodeon’s sister channel that caters to pre-teens, teens and young adults. When asked if the network has measured the set back this move may cost the show’s viewership,Jaipuria states,“Looking at it from the show’s perspective, we have grown Shiva to an extent that it has loyal viewers, whom we hope to take to Sonic.  Because we are not dependent on any one show, we are expecting Ninja Hatori, Shaun The Sheep, Oggy and the Cockroaches and Motu Patlu to take care of Nick. We are hopeful that in spite of Shiva, Nick will retain its position in the ratings chart.” “Shiva lovers who are used to seeing the show on Nick and want to watch new episodes will have to come on Sonic,” Jaipuria added.  

    To carry this bold move forward Nickelodeon has also planned for an aggressive mass media campaign that will not only span across Viacom 18’s own networks, but other broadcasting network as well. “Not just Viacom18 or Nick as a network but we are looking at Star India, Sab TV and Zee TV to take this news to as many households as possible. Its is important to create an awareness that Shiva has moved from  Nick to Sonic,” Jaipuria revealed while speaking on the marketing initiatives.

    In fact, in order to not dilute this communication, the Network is withholding from launching any new shows this summer, though more new and original characters are in making in the creative factory for the latter part of the year. However, the marketing initiative will also speak of the new episodes of the major shows that are to hit the screens this summer.

    After mass media, print and radio, the network will also look at heavy engagement outside of television, Jaipuria shares.  Nickelodeon has partnered with malls like Infiniti, Pantaloons, Funcity, etc., to expand its on ground footprint. Van activations are also in store in about 25 tier II and tier III towns and cities for a month. Marketing initiatives will also be present in cinemas during launches of Jagga Jasoos and Housefull 3 that are soon to release.  

    The programming timeline vacuum left by Shiva in Nickelodeon will be filled up by brand new episodes of Ninja Hattori, Motu Patlu, Oggy and the Cockroaches and Shaun The Sheep. Apart from this, the network also has plans to release the full length feature Motu Patlu In Double Trouble, the 10th movie in line after a nine movie marathon on digital. Nickelodeon plans to go all guns blazing in promoting the fresh content including innovative watch and win contests, which will also have a digital leg to it. Overall there will 70 to 80 hours of original content on Nickelodeon in its summer programming.

    With such a strong summer line up, Nickelodeon expects to sustain Nick’s number one position in the genre, while at the same time grow Sonic with Shiva. “We have always been a  very brave franchise. We have taken all the risks possible. We have started off by creating original shows in India without knowing if they will work or not. But we are risk takers and will go on to create new trends like that,” Jaipuria signs off as industry wonders if this disruptive strategy will work for Nickelodeon like past disruptions always have.

  • 2014, a year of spy films?

    2014, a year of spy films?

    MUMBAI:However, it seems it’s going to change soon with a line-up of many detective movies in the coming year. So while we have Dibakar Banerjee’s highly anticipated spy thriller, Byomkesh Bakshi starring Sushant Singh Rajput and actress-turned-producer Dia Mirza’s Bobby Jasoos with Vidya Balan in the lead produced under her banner Born Free Entertainment, we also have a detective film for kids Jagga Jasoos with Ranbir Kapoor playing a 17-year-old. And not just this, there’s a franchise in the offering too – the Rajshri banner led by Kavita Barjatya with Samrat & Co starring Rajeev Khandelwal has announced a franchise of detective films.

     

    Samrat & Co that is set for release on 1 May, 2014 aims to target India’s young audiences with the very nuances of crime solving, human nature and the world of standalone private investigators will be presented on the big screen.

     

    The filmmakers seem to be investing some precious time in developing the detective characters. Dibakar Banerjee has been quoted as saying that the idea of an urban sleuth simply does not exist in the Indian popular culture and the Hindi film viewers have been watching recycled imitation that combine James Bond with a Sherlock Holmes and thus he is giving full-time in the development of his detective character.

     

    Even for Samrat & Co., it’s learnt that Kaushik Ghatak, the director of the film along with the producers is spending a lot of time on the lead character so that the storyline can be fleshed out well.

     

    It seems finally Indian filmmakers are taking a different route and experimenting with newer ideas.