The new horror-comedy Bhooth Bangla starring Akshay Kumar is already performing very well at the box office despite its not being officially released, through advance bookings the film is set to receive a consistent first wave reception. The movie will be released in theatres on April 17, and paid previews will be offered a day before; this will provide it with an early buzz.
The film has already achieved a lot of pre-release buzz according to early trade statistics, with ticket sales being strong nationwide and in major urban centres.
Positive start indicated by advance booking numbers
According to industry estimates, Bhooth Bangla has distributed nearly 37,000 tickets to its opening day in over 7,000 shows around the country. These bookings have translated into advance collections of around ₹97 lakh. With the addition of blocked seats and corporate bookings, the total amount of pre-release increases to about ₹2.65 crore.
These numbers are not revolutionary, but they show a good beginning to a movie in the horror-comedy genre, which usually has to rely on word-of-mouth upon release. Paid previews also should help promote early collections and assist in developing an early audience feedback.
The performance of the film over the coming 24 to 48 hours will be of great importance in how it will be guided through the opening day.
Trimmed at runtime, before release
The film was directed by Priyadarshan and it has been modified following certification by the Central Board of Film Certification. Firstly, the film was originally given almost a 2 hours and 55 minutes of screening time but the filmmakers have allegedly cut the film even shorter.
The new runtime time is now approximately 2 hours and 44 minutes and about 11 minutes less than the previous one. The edits are thought to be designed to better the pacing and viewer interest, which is particularly crucial to a genre that is a blend of horror and comedy.
It has been certified as U/A (16+), implying that the movie can be watched by a wide audience but younger children should be advised to watch the movie with their parents.
Storyline and star cast
The movie has a good ensemble cast with Akshay Kumar sharing the screen with Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Tabu, Wamiqa Gabbi and Mithila Palkar in leading roles.
The trailer suggests a plot within a haunted palace in Mangalpur where Akshay Kumar plays a role in his bid to marry despite being told that it is haunted by an old curse. The story incorporates the aspect of suspense and comic scenarios, which is typically common with the films of Priyadarshan.
Another fairly new screen pairing also emerges in the film, and this might also appeal to the younger audience.
Expectations from the horror-comedy genre
Indian horror-comedies have had a shaky period over the past few years, where the response of the audience is highly based on the content and humour. Although major stars can be used to create initial buzz, the genre frequently needs a good word-of-mouth to continue to perform at the box office.
The initial progress of early advance booking is an indicator of inquisitiveness among the audience, although it will only be tested when the movie is released and the feedbacks of the audience begin to appear.
The future of Bhooth Bangla
Bhooth Bangla joins the theatres with average hopes with a respectable advance booking base and an added benefit of paid previews. The performance during the weekend will be crucial since it will help to determine whether the film will be able to transform the initial interest into the long-term footfall.
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The film can get a boost during the weekend so long as it can fulfil the entertainment and humour requirements. Nevertheless, since the box office is competitive, the continuity after the first few days will majorly rely on the reviews.
Up to this point, the pre-release figures suggest a stable opening, which is a precursor to what might turn out to be a closely monitored opening of Akshay Kumar latest release.
