August 18, 2006
'Kabhi Alvida ...' breaks Bollywood box office record in US ...
By Arun Kumar, Indo-Asian News Service
Washington, Aug 18 (IANS) "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna" (Never Say Goodbye), aka KANK, a new Bollywood film shot in New York city, has set a box office record for a Hindi film in North America with a $1.4 million collection in the opening weekend.
The previous record for a Bollywood opening was $1 million for 2001's "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham", which like KANK was directed by Karan Johar, according to Indian American film journalist, Gitesh Pandya, who runs BoxOfficeGuru.com
With a $21,122 average collection from 64 locations KANK scored the best per-theatre average of any film in the Top 40, he said in his weekly box office report calling it as part of a trend of Indian films being set and shot in the South Asian diaspora.
The three-hour-plus extravaganza relating the tale of two soul mates, married to other people, who tackle the notion of true love, was given the widest release ever for a Bollywood film in North America opening on 95 screens in 64 theatre locations.
The previous record was 88 screens for 2004's "Veer-Zaara", which also starred Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukherji, Preity Zinta, and Amitabh Bachchan, Pandya told South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA) Forum.
KANK was especially impressive at New Jersey's Regal Commerce Center in North Brunswick where the film grossed an astounding $61,470 over the weekend from two screens.
Typically, grossing $10,000 on a weekend is a major achievement. This 18-screen multiplex plays mostly Hollywood films, but also does phenomenal business from Bollywood films thanks to its location in the heart of one of America's largest South Asian communities.
Hopefully, KANK's strong numbers will encourage other American multiplexes in major markets to start programming Bollywood pictures, Pandya said.
It has been a big comeback year for the industry. Screen counts for 2006's other big Bollywood films were 61 for January's "Rang De Basanti," 72 for May's "Fanaa," and 59 for June's "Krrish". For the most part, the marketing push has been about the same for all of these big hits this year.
But freelancer Aseem Chhabra thinks it still makes no sense for him to pitch a KANK story to the mainstream press in the US as most editors will have no idea what this film is about.
KANK has opened only in the Indian market in the US. It's not just a question of box office. Bollywood films have not crossed over into mainstream or even art house theatres in the US, he told SAJA forum.
The Sony Classics experiment with "Lagaan" that was released in a few art house theatres, including Film Forum in Manhattan, was just that - an experiment, with no significant results.
So far the only Indian/South Asian films that have succeeded in the US mainstream - more like art house- market are "Bend it Like Beckham" that grossed over $32 million and "Monsoon Wedding" ($13.9 million) and maybe "Water", Chhabra said. He doubted if KANK will come anywhere near these films.
Asked why some Bollywood films get acronyms that catch fire, Chhabra said he thinks these are the creation of the new hip film-going generation in India.
"Did you know that Karan Johar is now referred to as KJo, like that woman who we call JLo here, and of course, everyone knows that Shah Rukh Khan is referred to as SRK. Amitabh is AB and Abhishek is AB Jr," he said.
Everything is recycled in Bollywood- films, stories, titles, Chhabra said. Bollywood is currently remaking the classic films "Umrao Jaan" and "Sahib, Bibi Aur Ghulam". There have been two "Barsaats" since Raj Kapoor's original; one "Barsaat Ki Raat", after the original Madhubala film.
Bollywood is also notorious for recycling successful Hollywood, and now even Asian films, said Chhabra suggesting the recent "Zinda" was an exact copy of the award winning film "Old Boy" from Korea.
Chhabra believes some non-desi Americans will watch Bollywood films like KANK. But the number of non-desi Americans watching Bollywood films is still very small -- especially if you look at Americans who go for other foreign language films -- European and most recently Asian films.
Even after receiving negative viewer reviews, KANK has managed to snag a record. What do you think? Comment below!
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Posted by: Anonymous
the film is going to be best film of year believe me bcoz karan johar who was the director have use his time talent in given command
at August 18, 2006 06:13 PM
Posted by: Nevil Christian
it's the best movie n sumthing diffrent. while it's for all parents, who force there children to marry. while they shld keep in mind there children choice...
at August 18, 2006 07:38 PM
Posted by: john
hey all SHAHRUKHKHAN fans worldwide,the KING has proved once again that he is the best in the business its time to celebrate yaar,our kingkhan film(KANK) broken all the records in indian film history, and we all knw why the film has made such big success thts just because of apna shahrukh bhai ka film hai naa just see the records all the top 5 in overseas And domestcally its only shahrukh films top the list,arey yaar apne bhai ke naam pe picture chalta hai,now its a tight slap to all those soothsayers who said tht the film(kank) is a dud. guys another bigger film is coming thi eid its noneother than DON guys i tell u this will be the film of the year , the music of the film don is coming very soon in just 5 days i tell u man he looks rocking in the film ,looks like tht this time THE KINGKHAN IS GOING TO MAKE BIGGER THAN ALL , OFCOURSE HE DOES COZ HE IS THE KING .WHT DO SAY SHAHRUKH FANS
at August 18, 2006 08:51 PM
Posted by: zaki ahmad
the best film i have ever seen.shahrukh khan is again a DDLG guy.
at August 18, 2006 10:24 PM
Posted by: Sachin
It was expected. Although he doesn't have a great story, Karan Johar manages to get away with success because all the big name actors he brings to his film. Let's see if Johar can bring the same success with not-so-big-names actors.
at August 18, 2006 10:32 PM
Posted by: ronnie
The movie is a blast. especially amitab acting is a phoenamina. amitab is a great living legend and for as long as he is in bollywood making movies, bollywood will be recognized in the world for making memorable movies. I hope that at the end of the movie, shahrukh would have not ended up up rani. Then it would have been even more classic movie. Karon johar good job. Now is the time to go for Sholay 2 with amitab bachan and ab jr in it...think about it....
at August 19, 2006 12:24 AM
Posted by: waheeda
congrats! karan. you are the best film maker among the film maker and my favourite one. im a greaaaaaaaaaaaat fans of shah rukh he's superb in all the films. just waiting your next relaase keep it up.
at August 19, 2006 12:50 AM
Posted by: lobsang
I love the movie very much like always for kingkhan i always watch his movie in theater.congratulation karan . i wait to c ur next movie.u choose the right person for the right character especially preity.
at August 19, 2006 08:10 AM
Posted by: rohan
A big borring film
at August 19, 2006 11:03 AM
Posted by: SageSrini
I do not agree this film is in line with Indian Tradition. It took three years for them to meet after going away.Those madly in love will stay away for 3 years.Amitab the great who is ready to sell anything for money (I mean ADS)can scoop down to be a loafer. Just he says leave my son alone and Rani walks away. Just Johar's luck continues.That's all.
at August 19, 2006 01:02 PM
Posted by: farkhanda wazir
the most classic film of the decade so far.SRK at his best esp his hair style.thousand times better than krish and the silly fanaa.
at August 19, 2006 02:28 PM
Posted by: hicham
what can i say about my hero?u are all i can't found the words wich can discribe my feeling about u.i do all your style and your action.u are the king of actor without doubt u are king in all.thank u very much shahrukh khan for your movies espicially the last kabhi alvida
at August 20, 2006 04:17 AM
Posted by: Mala
Awesome! SRK you da man, loved da movie , the emotions,the strong feelings between rani and srk, mindblowing,didnt want the movie to end, Amithab was great, funny. I loved this movie , really did, Good work Karan, well, Da Wait for da movie was worth it.
at August 21, 2006 01:57 PM
Posted by: nemo
the best movie ever. the cats was brilliant. they played their parts superbly . well done kank
at August 21, 2006 05:07 PM
Posted by: Harjeet
This movie is pure and utter crap. This whole movie is forced, nothing i mean i nothing flows with this movie. The only one thing I did like about is was the cinematography. If Karan Johar really believes this as he says then what was he thinking in Kal Ho Nah Ho, where Preity marries a friend? This movie has a good plot but the story that revovled around it was unbelievable. This movie was a huge dissappointment. A waste of time and money.
at August 21, 2006 09:32 PM
Posted by: kiran
well congrates karan.no matter what u r the winner.the only reason for its sucess in north america is that bollywood and specially your lovers always want to c your movie ,becoz of the cast,songs,touchy love story.there is no doubt that acting,songs.presentations.locations,directions was amazing like always.but the story i still cant digest.i am really happyfor u but please next time when u make a movie try to keep in mind that our culture and tradations should always b the priority.it was recordbreaking not becoz of the story,becoz of all of u .everyone waits for your next release.and inspite of all the disoppointment i cant wait for your next release.becoz no mater what u r the best
at August 22, 2006 05:55 AM
Posted by: Razy
Hey i think its just a big shout out for nothing coz the story line was not all that great. The one thing that was great was the acting the performances of the stars were spectacular. The other three of Karan Johar's movies were better.The story could have been more mind blowing. Anyway Preity and Abishek were sensational.Go check it though a good time pass.
at August 22, 2006 07:53 PM
Posted by: sdd
GREAT ............SRK ROCKS.PREITY LOOKS SEXY
at August 22, 2006 08:38 PM
Posted by: Momi
a total bakwaasss!! wut was rani's prob in tis film??? he had a husband who was loving n caring...y was she looking 4 luv in other man?? n SRK had a damn stupid role!! anywayz,tis film was all abt insincerity!! its givs us da msg dat if ur wife is workin xtra hard jes cuz u cant work,u must find another woman n get involve in xtra marital affair..a film totally against our traditions!!
at August 23, 2006 06:12 PM
Posted by: NEERA
enjoyed the movie, especially the songs, but rani and srk kinda irritated me a bit, wanting evey1 to feel sorry for them, loved abhishek and amitabh, the big b was fabulous.abhishek looking sexy in da songs.
at August 23, 2006 08:30 PM
Posted by: XYZ
Johar, make something else besides love stories. Seems like you can't do anything else. Scared of flop? You won't be proven until u do something new.
at August 24, 2006 12:59 AM
Posted by: Ash
Great movie. Had all my favourite cast. The situation could happen to anyone. The ending may be different though. It's a dream being married to someone you truly love and clique with. Most of us compromised in some way and spend the rest of our lives with less that perfect partners and spend life bickering till death do us part.
at August 24, 2006 07:36 AM
Posted by: Anonymous
it,s not such good but soso
at August 24, 2006 02:55 PM
Posted by: Sanjay
Still karan have to learn from Ashutosh, Bhansali,Ram G Verma. Only with big name and money we can not deliver good movie.
at August 25, 2006 10:08 AM
Posted by: roshan
This movie was worth waiting for. Karan did a great job putting it together.Good job.And it also had my favourite cast. Everything worked really great.
at August 25, 2006 11:35 AM
Posted by: Sharukh
Whats the buzz about, it seems guys who have commented are either nuts or their main wire of the brain has blown. KANK i personally wouldnt give any rate...."bakwaas movie kya", its just becoz big stars and KJs movie doesnt mean that the movie is too good. Its waste of time and money. Better donate the money to a poor child for education than watching this movie.
at August 25, 2006 06:32 PM
Posted by: jamal
Offcourse KANK will break de box office record in U.S. bcoz its their story and karan tried to change de minds of indian/ traditional gentry who still fighting to save their values... i really could'nt understand de film.. if it would ve de story of teenagers ( ages b/w 18 - 25 ) im totally agreed dat dont do arrange marriage its ur right to make up wd de person whom u love.. but in dis film all de characters mature enough and they ve crossed de above stage of their ages & they ' re doing all dis.. i dont beliveve on dis.. bcoz at de age of SRK & Rani .. people understands abt good & bad.. but here they broken de record of teenage lovers... laughable.. weakstory/ screenplay & de weak character of SRK & RANI... de rest was OK in de film..
at August 25, 2006 09:25 PM
Posted by: shumaila
it was greaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat i love it specailly i love srk and rani together they made one of trhe greatest couple ever i love them priety sucks she was as usuall oversmart i hate her i love rani and srk they will hold best actor and actress trophies this year also
at August 25, 2006 10:37 PM
Posted by: shruti
that was very booring movie.plz dnt make dis type of movies again
at August 26, 2006 06:06 PM
Posted by: ramith
in KANK sharukh play a beautifull character & the story of the KANK is very very nice.that talks to the peoples who have already merried but not the partner his type.. and the love which is honest..karan is the best to talk to the younger genaration....
at August 27, 2006 11:18 AM
Posted by: ankit jain
KANK movie such a gr8 movie about the relation of marriage couple, gr8 movie and cast and locations, i like all the songs in this movie, speically SRK say " MITWA ",SRK is the best and he is the king & bhadshah of bolliwood, rockinggggggggg
at August 27, 2006 04:03 PM
Posted by: tserin
I knew tht it gonna be huge hit of the year. Really sharukh khan is the best frm all of them. I like his acting, style and everything. He looks damn cute and wonderful. We loves u sharukh khan.
at August 28, 2006 04:31 AM
Posted by: Anonymous
stupid story stupid movie
at August 29, 2006 06:29 PM
Posted by: reshmi lal
hi, karan it was tghe best movie for all the stars. Amitji is a legend and he will always be the icon of hindi cinema. Wonderful movie and i enjoyed the story a lot.
at August 30, 2006 12:09 AM
Posted by: Anonymous
off course the movie is gonna make lots of money, cause of all the cast and the hipe it created. i personally think the first 75% of the movie is off the hook the last 25 % ruined the whole movie.LAstly eveyone did very well.
at August 30, 2006 05:05 AM
Posted by: sourabh
very nice movie because this is a real story.
at August 30, 2006 03:14 PM
Posted by: azeem khan
hi shahrukh . u have done a great job in kank. i hope u will get best actor award. you are the king of bollywood.
at August 31, 2006 12:32 AM
Posted by: Amol
This is a very very big and boaring movie i have seen ever. i think it will get a AWARD for FLOP OF THE YEAR. I have seen this movie in theaters, But Remember, "PLEASE DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME"
at August 31, 2006 08:38 PM
Posted by: saman
srk has once again proved that what a verstile actor he is.The evidence is provided by the fact that despite he did a some what negavtive role but still people loved him .His acting skills are beyond explanation.V all love him.in one of his interview he said that he is still to rule the industry for another 6 yrs...but i think he shud remian there for decades..love u sharukh..!muwahhhhhs
at August 31, 2006 09:02 PM
Posted by: vishnu
it is the best film ever i hav seen so far
at September 1, 2006 12:55 AM
Posted by: AZRA
KANK is all about nothing. First of all it is not about arranged marriages. Both SRK and Rani made choices to marry. So after havng such a doting hubby and 4 years Rani goes for an angry loser. She had no remorse for his child and wrecks their home. SRK had a very shallow character, he married his college sweet heart who does to manage career and home and he gets lusty towards Rani. It was trash. kJ shoud change the tag from ( A LOVE THAT BROKE ALL RELATIONSHIPS TO LUST THAT WRECKED RELATIONSHIPS. by the way is karan trying to be a marrige guru. Does he not know the in USA there are many marriage and family therapists avaialble. These couples could had gone to therapy instead of trying to be therapists themselves to each other. Actually karan himself needs therapy. He has never been in a relationship, and his sezual preferences are questionalble. there is no smoke without fire. how can he make a movie that is so senseless and against common sense, In the end he is glorfiying bad behavior and let Rani and Srk be together. What message is he giving? He is contracdting his own messages from previous films that friendship is love and now he goes against it. Confusion mega counfusion Karan. Get some help Karan before who do such absurd movies. By the way the game SRK played in UsA it is soccer not football. How can SRK leave the child on the station alone. Does karan not know that if you leave children alone you are subject to neglect and the child can become the ward of the state. He never did his home work. Bad movie just young Bachan was great, Dont waste time and money,
at September 1, 2006 08:51 AM
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