Congrats To Big B For PINK!

Dear Amitji,

“IT is maddening to see and hear what is the reaction to PINK .. !!

For once even my modest impressions of film and its factor of success and failure have taken such a beating that .. well .. I’m actually enjoying it !”

(DAY - 3091)

Sir, heartiest congratulations to you and the PINK team! No other film in recent times has been acclaimed so highly by the critics and the audiences alike. We are as much enjoying its success as you are, and are grateful to you for giving us this joy. May God give you long and healthy life so that you continue to  give us high quality entertainment through classics like PIKU and PINK.

Sir, as it invariably happens, after the initial euphoria of enthusiastic opening response to a film is over, starts the talk about its successful take at the box-office. It is a fact of the history of cinema that high quality films like PINK, particularly, the low budget pictures go up the ladder of success slowly as compared to costly multi-starrers masala movies made only with the aim to make money. The former grow up gaining popularity through word of mouth while the later are declared a hit or a flop on the basis of the box-office figures of the film in the first weekend itself. In early era of films, almost all the movies gained popularity by word of mouth as the prior knowledge of the films was lacking because of the absence of wide publicity through internet or TV channels. Here are two classic examples of old super hit films which in their opening week looked like utter failures:

Baiju Bawra (Vijay Bhatt - 1952): One of the greatest musical classics, Baiju Bawra is about the legendary rivalry between Tansen and Baiju during the reign of Emperor Akbar. The musical spectacle goes into the period specified for a series of joyful jugalbandis between the arrogant Tansen (Surendra) and the humble and exceptionally talented Baiju (Bharat Bhushan). The music by Naushad is regarded as his best ever. Baiju Bawra demonstrated Naushad's grasp of classical music. The film won him the Filmfare (1954) award for Best Music Director. Meena Kumari looked superbly sweet and pretty as Baiju's innocent and lovelorn sweetheart Gauri. This was Meena's first major screen role, played brilliantly. She won Filmfare Best Actress Award.

The film opened to almost empty theaters for want of audience enthusiasm for classical music and comparatively unknown leading pair - Bharat Bhushan and Meena Kumari.  The only saving grace was that the few who watched the film on opening days loved the period drama tremendously and their praise for the film soon started spreading far and wide  by way of mouth, eventually making the film a mega hit musical of its time.

Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje (V. Shantaram, 1955): Song and dance extravaganza, JJPB is one of India's premier classics. Despite being a dance musical with two non-stars, the film was a landmark hit. There couldn't have been a more befitting testimony of Shantaram's foresight nor a better reward for his spirit of adventure. There was a standing ovation for Shantaram in every show when the screening ended. The film earned him President's Gold Medal for Best Film, besides Filmfare awards (1957) for Best Film, Best Director, Best Art Director (Kanu Desai) and Best Sound Recordist (A. K. Parmar). Sandhya never bettered her performance in JJPB. The role of a keen learner and a dedicated disciple fitted her like a glove. Gopi Kishan holds you spellbound as a choreographer and dancer. In the climax, Gopi Kishan visibly revels in the Shiva's famous 'tandav' dance with the magnetism of the blend of energy, undiluted anger and immense grace that draws in not just the dance-literate but every genre of viewers.

This film too had a miserable opening, the worst ever for a V. Shantaram movie because people thought it was all classical dances and music on which they did not want to waste their time and money. But those who watched the movie turned it into a super hit classic by their word of mouth.

Fast forward to recent times, PIKU is a classic example of how a movie can move forward at the box-office by leaps and bounds because of critics’ acclaim and audiences’ word of mouth.

The movie Piku had a superb Box Office collection over the first weekend. Directed by Shoojit Sircar, Piku started with a business of Rs 5.32 crores on its opening day and witnessed around 60 percent hike in its collection on Saturday and Sunday. After receiving positive reviews from the critics, Piku enjoyed a good word of mouth from all corners, which is reflected on its Box Office collection in the first three days. The family drama made a business of Rs 8.70 crores on Saturday, earning Rs 14.02 crores in just two days. However, Piku witnessed phenomenal hike in its Box Office collection on Sunday, earning Rs 11.20 crores.  Thus, Piku's Box Office business has reached Rs 25.22 crores in just three days, taking the fine first weekend earning. Shoojit Sircar's Piku came out as the Box Office winner on the first weekend after its release,

Now coming to PINK, it seems to follow the footsteps of PIKU. According to Taran Adarsh, reputed trade analyst and film critic:

“Amitabh Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu-starrer was declared a winner by the A-listers of the industry who got to see the film much before the release. It also received rave reviews from the critics alike. But as Pink hit the theatres on Friday (September 16), it started slow but picked pace as the day developed. Biz will multiply. The movie collected Rs. 4.32 crore on the first day of its release at the box office.” Taran Adarsh believes that the movie’s collections will escalate due to strong word of mouth. He shared the Pink movie box office numbers on his Twitter handle. He wrote, “#Pink Fri ₹ 4.32 cr. India biz… Strong word of mouth should ensure escalation in biz on Sat and Sun.”

Taran Adarsh prediction is coming true, as according to media reports in its second day,  a whopping Rs. 8.0 crores have been added in Pink Total Box Office collection. The movie has been made with a Rs. 35 crore budget, so in just two days, the movie has already collected almost half of its cost.

Sir,  once again CONGRATS!

With regards

Tilak Rishi