Powerful script, stellar performances, hard hitting storyline and a plethora of euphoric circumstantial boundaries made way for the relatively less budgeted films do a surprisingly delightful business this year. With Kahaani and Vicky Donor being the ultimate pioneers that triggered such a movement last year, let’s take a look at the Surprise Hits of the running year (2013)!

ABCD – Any Body Can Dance: Super Hit

ABCD – Any Body Can Dance Movie Poster

The Indianised version of Hollywood’s ‘Step Up’, ABCD: Anybody Can Dance set the balls rolling with some brilliant and exciting edge of the seat dance sequences, dancing its way to glory, as the film, made at a stark budget of 12 crores opened up to a mammoth response, incurring 5.50 crores on the opening day, having a steady 18 crore weekend and ultimately netting in 45.50 crores, snatching away the Super-hit tag!

Not to forget the heavy competition from an otherwise star-struck big budgeted Special 26 could have little effect on ABCD’s fate! And a positive thumbs up from both the critics and the masses set the cash registrars ablaze.

Murder 3: Hit

Murder 3 Movie Poster

A Valentine affair of sorts, love might have got murdered in a brutal manner but what came as a surprise was the film, despite having lesser known stars scoring big at the box office front. While its only competitor Jayantabhai Ki Luv Story fell totally flat, Murder 3 collected over 20 crores and its satellite rights helped the film take a huge turn towards the ‘Hit’ brigade!

But the movie did relatively well at single screens, earning some rave reviews, courtesy some carefully strategized promotional campaign.

Kai Po Che!: Hit

Kai Po Che Movie Poster

Call it the flavour of the season, bromance got revolutionized with Kai Po che! setting standards for its other contemporaries to match upto, thereby lifting the tag from its precursor Dil Chahta Hai. A story of three friends woven into a magical masterpiece of sorts, Kai Po Che! stood out as a critic’s darling, and people’s love showered upon the team with the producers raking in a steady 50 crore run at the box office. Stealing away the thunder from Zila Ghaziabad that released alongside, Kai Po Che! had a successful run for weeks until a certain Jolly LLB occurred!

Jolly LLB: Hit

Jolly LLB Movie Poster

The biggest surprise of the year would definitely have been this Arshad Warsi starrer, which in spite of a poor marketing plan earned accolades for its effective treatment to the sensitive issue of justice in India and the corruption involved alongside. Jolly LLB had a dream run for weeks, clubbing in a 19.50 crore opening week, following up with a lifetime of almost 32 crores. The thunderous response was worth it! Made on a stringent budget of a meager 10 crores, Jolly LLB raced past Mere Dad Ki Maruti, which boasted of a powerful Yash Raj Y-films banner!

Chashme Baddoor: Hit

Chashme Baddoor Movie Poster

When comedy king David Dhawan decided to recreate the magic of the 1981 original of the same name, stakes were sky rocketing. But this utterly delicious and lovably loud take on the original charmed the audience, helping the director have his first hit film after ages. With an opening week as big as 30 whooping crores, the film made a smooth 40 crore lifetime, while the producers were left grinning at their profits. No wonder coz this was supposedly made within a moderate 17 crores!

Aashiqui 2: Super Hit

Aashiqui 2 Movie Poster

There was the buzz, there was the hysteria regarding this sequel and there were some oh-so-hummable soulful melodious numbers. Voila! What resulted was a super successful stint of a film that neither boasted of some powerful faces nor had an awe struck plot of sorts. But the entire hoolaboo and probably the emotional connect to the content helped the film sail through more than just smoothly collecting in a mammoth 54.50 crores and still continuing its successful run at the box office. Aashiqui 2 made an opening week business of about 38.50 crores and setting in a perfect example for all other small budgeted films.

With mega heavyweights and star studded films failing to deliver, will the films made at stringent budgets be the new Flavour of the Season? Given the current scenario, one would wonder why not? Move over the gibberish item numbers, the illogical stunt sequences and the starry names, lets witness some beautiful films this year, even if they aren’t as hyped and publicized as any other Khan or a Kapoor starrer!

Aashiqui 2 And Shootout At Wadala Movie Poster

The other significant changes in the list is Shootout At Wadala surpassing the lifetime collections of Himmatwala and ABCD – Any Body Can Dance. After wrapping up its first week smoothly Shootout At Wadala earned 45.80 crores at the domestic box office and surpassed Himmatwala, who managed to make a lifetime business of about 45 crores and ABCD, which collected 45.50 crores. Being a hard core action thriller, SAW is expected to perform well at the box office.

In the days to come, one can expect the film to easily override the lifetime collections of Kai Po Che (50 crores) and even Aashiqui 2 (54.50 crores). However, the film’s real competition will be from the Akshay Kumar starrer, February release Special Chabbis (26) that raked up a total amount of 70 crores.

Koimoi.com Bollywood Box Office – Top 10 Indian Movies 2013

(all-India net collections) (in Rs. crores)

Also Check Out Our:

Top 10 Highest Opening Weekend – Movies 2013

Box-Office Verdict 2012

100 Crore Club

Koimoi Top 10 : Box Office India 2012

Box-Office Verdict 2011

With Aashiqui 2‘s Tuesday figures catapulting the film’s total earnings to a hefty 27.25 crore, the film has now surpassed the lifetime collections of Ek Thi Daayan which calculates to 26 crores. Perhaps technically, Ek Thi Daayan was a better film than Aashiqui 2. But Romance as a genre is always preferable to ghastly horror.

Aashiqui 2 And Ek Thi Daayan Movie Poster

Aashiqui 2, which was made on a short budget of 8 crores has clearly earned more than its rightful due perhaps, earning back all its investment within less than a week of its release. The pace of the film is speedy and it is achieving a good record in a very short span of time. It won’t be surprising if before the wake of this Friday’s quintessential releases, Bombay Talkies and Shootout At Wadala, the film manages to match up to its immediate predecessor Jolly LLB which rests at number 8 on the Koimoi Top 10 Movies List of the year, currently with a total earning of 32 crores.

Koimoi.com Bollywood Box Office – Top 10 Indian Movies 2013

(all-India net collections) (in Rs. crores)

The multi-starrer Race 2 made the maximum opening weekend collection of 51.30 crores and then went on to join the 100 crore club.

Sajid Khan’s over inflated disaster Himmatwala, while still under the influence of its futile hype managed to rake up a whooping 31 crores in its opening weekend. Though a negative word of the mouth slaughtered the film’s business later and could barely manage any more earning, it still can boast of the second best box office opening weekend collection of 2013.

Akshay Kumar starrer Special 26 had an opening weekend earning of 25.75 crore which places the film at the third most profitable box office beginning.

Race 2, Himmatwala, Special 26 Movie Posters

Vishal Bharadwaj’s poignant commentary on SEZ impressed critics and failed the audiences. Collecting an income of 22.40 crore in its opening weekend, Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola rested as the fourth biggest opening weekend at the domestic box office in 2013.

Upping its class by manifolds, Vishesh Films’ Aashiqui 2 has earned a opening weekend amount of 20 crore. The film, which had measly expectations despite being a sequel to the 90s’ money spinner, is already an unexpected hit. Vishesh’s last release Murder 3 despite carrying more known faces of Randeep Hooda and Aditi Rao Hydari did not start up as miraculously as Aashiqui 2.

Keep watching this space as more movies will fight it out at the Box Office to occupy the Top position in this list.

Koimoi.com Bollywood Box Office – Top 10 Highest Opening Weekend Indian Movies 2013

(all-India net collections) (in Rs. crores)

Gippi, Fukrey And I Don’t Luv You Movie Poster

Starting off with some hugely awaited small budget films which hereby have been the flavor of the season, courtesy a successful Chashme Baddoor and a super successful Kai Po Che, one film that deserves a mention is Gippi! With a feel good ambience and aura enveloping this Dharma bannered flick, Gippi by Sonam Nair has made news, much due to its adolescence connect. And the trailers of both Fukrey and I Don’t Luv U grabbing eyeballs, the buzz is just going perfect for such films.

Aashiqui 2 And Bombay Talkies Movie Poster

With action dramas, comedies and period dramas lined up throughout the year, Aashiqui 2 is all set to revolutionize romance yet again, taking us through the roller coaster ride of the emotional wringer. And the music already rocking charts, Aashiqui 2 is definitely one of the most hugely awaited films. And the wait doesn’t end there as we have the ultimate biggie coming up next month, celebrating the century of glorious cinematic brilliance in filmdom. A film that is a liaison of the best directors from the industry, Bombay Talkies definitely takes the content aspect into account and marks the first timing appearance of two powerful actors: Rani Mukerjee and Randeep Hooda on screen.

I love New Year, Yamla Pagla Deewana 2 And Shortcut Romeo Movie Poster

Sunny Deol, who has been missing the action will be back with his Punjabi avatar, that too in back to back films, I love New Year and the entertaining comic caper Yamla Pagla Deewana 2. Shortcut Romeo, which stars Neil Nitin Mukesh and Ameesha Patel, will just add on to the pile of south Indian masala that we have been savouring all these years! And now that the industry is growing bounds globally, India has taken the stride to make its first zom-com, aka zombie comedy, redefining and inventing a genre of its own.

Sanjay Dutt, who is busy wrapping up his pending work, has two releases which, he might not be witnessing of, due to his conviction. But knowing that Hum Hai Raahi Car Ke and Policegiri would be Sanjay’s films post the conviction announcement, stakes would be really high with fans, lining up in numbers to watch their favourite star on screen.

Shootout at Wadala And Aurangzeb Movie Poster

But the biggest releases of the year in the second quarter would definitely be Balaji’s Shootout At Wadala, Karan Johar’s Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, YRF’s Aurangzeb, Priyanka Chopra’s Zanjeer and but obviously the return of the empress Vidya Balan at the Box office with Ghanchakkar. Shooutout At Wadala boasts of a terrific ensemble cast, with a gripping real life storyline and some stellar performances up for grabs. Zanjeer, would definitely be the pick of the season, since the film, that is also being remade in regional language down South has been in news for all the right reasons and the unconventional pairing of its lead actors. Aurangzeb that is all set for a May 17 release, will bring back the crackling Arjun Kapoor back on screen. With a riveting plot that entitles the film, Arjun is all set to do wonders at the Box Office with his second Bolly outing. We are confident!

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani And Ghanchakkar Movie Poster

Clearly, like Race 2 ruled the rooster in the first quarter, the heavyweight championship in the second quarter would be lifted by Ranbir Kapoor – Deepika Padukone’s comeback vehicle Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. From the trailer gripping the nation and the Dil going Badtameez with Balam’s Pichkaari, this Dharma production is definitely and is most likely to walk away with the cake and the cheery even at the Box Office! Hopefully this film would not disappoint us like a super dud Himmatwala yet again. And with Deepika-Ranbir looking smashing in the promos, YJHD is one film that can clearly turn tables around.

And the final release of the second quarter would be a hugely anticipated and awaited, Ghanchakkar that will enthrall the audience, leaving them bamboozled by some epic performances. With Vidya and Emraan sharing screen once again, Ghanchakkar will have the new superstar Balan tag that can help it sail through at the Box Office. History has it that this is one woman who has changed the entire Male Dominated Scenario two years back, and with a superhit like Kahaani, under her able arms, Vidya Balan’s Ghanchakkar is expected to open up to firecrackers at the box office. And with money machine Emraan by her side, garnering in a 100 crore seems a possibility for sure!

Whilst we feel that it would be SAW, Ghanchakkar, YJHD and YPD 2 being the most viable contenders for the coveted 100 crore brigade, we would not be surprised if films like Gippi, Fukrey, Aurangzeb and Aashiqui 2 break even with all pre-conceived notions, like a Vicky Donor or a Kai Po Che! And with KJo, Dibakar Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar and Anurag Kashyap’s coalition in Bombay Talkies, Bollywood might just have a classic masterpiece soon!

The first quarter of the year coming to an end brought with itself some gloomy expressions on the faces of most producers, distributors and the entire casts as films could marginally round off well, the box office numbers not withstanding! With just one film racing it up to the coveted 100 crore brigade, the first quarter was just another dull show of films at the multiplexes and single screens.

Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola, David, Inkaar and Special Chabbis 26 Movie Poster

With twenty one releases in the first three months, almost half of it drowned within the shackles of flops, buried deep for its lack of a convincing storyline and half baked performances. Expectations were sky rocketing since January saw the release of the hyped and publicized Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola which despite having some marvelous performances could not live up to the expectations. Films with unconventional themes might have worked wonders last year but this year, there was a completely different story. With largely off beat yet highly commercial films like David, Inkaar falling totally flat on the face and Special 26 just managing to maintain a steady income rate, 2013 has taken a spin around the orbit. Although Special 26, being an Akki film was anticipated to do a lot better than how it fared at the box office.

Jolly LLB, Kai Po Che, ABCD – Any Body Can Dance and Race 2 Movie Poster

As always, there were too many films with the likes of Jayantabhai Ki Luv Story, 3G, Zila Ghaziabad, and Rangrezz which tanked at the box office without a trace, much to everyone’s expectations. The sole runner of the race would definitely be Race 2 which, in spite of mixed reviews and gibberish twists and turns managed to reach the 100 crore target, courtesy the hype and the excitement generated by its prequel’s super successful run! And when there were major shocks, there were some brilliant surprises too. With small budget films like ABCD- Any Body Can Dance, Kai Po Che and the satirical Jolly LLB raking in a lot of moolah turned out to be the biggest money spinners of the first quarter. While ABCD was the only super hit film, Kai Po Che tugged at people’s hurts with its beautiful treatment and turned out to be another hit feather in Abhishek Gattu Kapoor’s hat! Jolly LLB, which was produced on a stringent budget with less famous but hugely able names managed to bring in the most jolts, scoring in with a dream run of 32 crores, a number that might look tiny yet is mammoth for the entire Jolly LLB team.

Himmatwala, Chashme Baddoor, Commando and Nautanki Saala Movie Poster

And the biggest showdown Award of the first half definitely goes to the (as you expected it!) Sajid Khan Entertainer, err Brain-buster No brainer Himmatwala, which failed to even match up to the hype enveloping the film. The dynamic first time duo of Sajid and Ajay were defin itely the pick of the season with crowd expected to shower in huge numbers, but this film could do nothing to back the loud mouthed Sajid’s virtual oaths and promises. Audience likes variety, not a typical gibberish and nonsensical remake and that is what has been proved from how Himmatwala upseted its producers and distributors with no profits at all.

Bromance being the flavour of the season, Chashme Baddoor helped David Dhawan register his first hit after ages. Whilst the Fate of the recently released Nautanki Saala and the action stunner Commando: A One Man Army are being decided, we look forward to the next quarter with films like the hugely dynamic and innovative Ek Thi Daayan, Aurangzeb, Bombay Talkies, Shootout At Wadala, Ghanchakkar and other films up for release!! Hopefully, it wouldn’t be much of a showdown anymore (consult Sajid Khan to know the real meaning!)

Chashme Baddoor Movie Poster

Six years after ‘Partner‘, David Dhawan has right reasons to smile all over again. Gone is the disappointment that came the veteran’s filmmaker’s way after the debacle of ‘Rascals‘ and ‘Do Knot Disturb‘ as ‘Chashme Baddoor‘ has tnow urned out to be a clean hit at the box office. That too when the maker of over 40 films has worked with relative newcomers for the first time in his career. This was pretty much demonstrated in the way this comic affair stayed consistent right through the weekdays after a good weekend at the box office. While the outcome is now on expected lines once signs were visible on Friday itself, it is time to bring on bonus.

With over 30 crores coming in after a week long run at the box office, the film has another week to keep the inflow of moolah on. While it is a given that the Ali Zafar-Sidharth-Divyendu Sharma-Taapsee Pannu film would cross the 40 crore mark, hence leaving behind ‘Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola‘ (42 crores), it would be interesting to see if it manages to challenge the likes of ABCD and ‘Kai Po Che!‘ as well, both of which scored in the excess of 45 crores.

Nevertheless, the kind of total that the film has already managed is good enough for Dhawan to roar all over again. Suddenly, his next film ‘Main Tera Hero‘ with Varun Dhawan has turned ultra hot in the trade circuits. The man indeed has turned out to be a rare instance of a filmmaker of his age to make such a neat comeback. In the times when his contemporaries as well as some notable seniors have pretty much vanished from the scene or are struggling to come back on the scene, the success of ‘Chashme Baddoor‘ has ensured that David Dhawan would be seen and heard for many more years to come.

The other release of the week, ‘Rise of the Zombie‘, has gone unnoticed and is a complete disaster.

Joginder Tuteja tweets @tutejajoginder

Coming to the Indian Box Office, KPC collected approx 4 Crores in its 3^rd Weekend, despite facing competition with the new release Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster Returns. The movie now stands at a Domestic total of about 49.75 crores at the Box Office.

Still from Kai Po Che Movie

Kai Po Che! Collection Breakup Till Date:

1st Week: 29.35 crores

2^nd Week: 16.40 crores

3^rd Weekend: 4 crores

Total: 49.75 crores

Mukul tweets @mksmukulsharma

Kai Po Che! made a business of about 16.40 crores in its 2nd Week and the movie now stands at a Domestic total of about 45.75 crores at the Box Office.

Still from Kai Po Che Movie

Last week’s new releases I Me Aur Main and The Attacks Of 26/11 performed very poor in its 1 Week run at the Box Office  garnering just half the numbers that Kai Po Che! earned in its 2nd Week.

Mukul tweets @mksmukulsharma

Kai Po Che! made a business of about 11.10 Crores in the second weekend, taking its 10 Days total to 40.45 Crores at the Domestic Box Office.

Still from Kai Po Che Movie

Now while the film has successfully cashed in on the average reviews of the new releases, it will definitely rock its way into the box office windows in the weekdays too.

Mukul tweets @mksmukulsharma

Still from Kai Po Che Movie

The movie is all set to have a great 2nd weekend of over 10 Crores. Since the urban crowd is loving the adaptation of Chetan Bhagat’s “The 3 Mistakes of My Life”, the movie is performing the best at multiplexes in metros across India. Sunday is expected to see another spike in the collections of Kai Po Che.

Mukul tweets @mksmukulsharma

Still from Kai Po Che Movie

If we look at the multiplexes Kai Po Che, did better than both the new releases on its 2nd Friday. The movie is sure to see a good jump on Saturday and Sunday.

Mukul tweets at @mksmukulsharma

In the overseas market, the film was released in a total of 250 screens, including 109 in the US, 54 in Britain, 35 in the Gulf region, and 12 in Australia.

The movie collected $572,954 and $163,666 in the US and Britain market respectively, while in the Gulf market it collected approximately $305,000 and from the rest of the world the collections were at round about $170,000.

Still from Kai Po Che! Movie

“‘Kai Po Che!’ has received an incredible positive word of mouth in all overseas markets. We are very happy to see a movie of this genre with new cast perform well in theatres across the world. Our marketing efforts and the word of mouth on the movie have made this happen,” said Amrita Pandey, Executive Director – Syndication, International Distribution and Disney Media Distribution, Studios, Disney UTV.

Still from Kai Po Che! Movie

In the process the film has also surpassed the lifetime collections of Abhishek’s own Rock On (27 crores). All eyes are on how much more does this Rajkumar-Amit-Sushant film gather from this point on. While it is a given that 42-43 crores are pretty much in the pipeline, anything more than 45 crores would be a good enough win. It could well have managed to gain 50 crores but continuous competition week after week means that such a benchmark would indeed be a challenge. Still, all said and done, audience, industry as well as trade has reasons to rejoice as the film has added further green to the Bollywood report card.

Still from Zila Ghaziabad Movie

There was some moolah taken off from the Bollywood coffers as well, what with Zila Ghaziabad not really turning out to be a big earner. However it also has to be mentioned that it isn’t the kind of disaster that has been made out of it. As a matter of fact, the film has done well at single screen theatres in target cities up North which means there was regular inflow of moolah from certain territories right through the week. As a result, this Anand Kumar starrer did manage to bring home over 16 crores at the box office.

Not that this total would wipe away the fact that there are losses that have been incurred as well. However given the kind of circumstances in which it was released, negativity surrounding it for the reasons that were not related to the content and some strong competition from Kai Po Che! as well as releases from the past (Special Chabbis (26), ABCD), it has managed to save some face at least. Its lifetime collections should cross the 20 crores mark which is better than other much hyped action film Chakravyuh.

Joginder Tuteja tweets @tutejajoginder

Kai Po Che‘s 6 Days domestic total now stands at 26.85 crores at the Box Office.

Still from Kai Po Che Movie

Here’s how Kai Po Che! fared till date at the Box Office:

Friday (Day 1): 4.50 Crores

Saturday (Day 2): 6.25 Crores

Sunday (Day 3): 7.25 Crores

Monday (Day 4): 3.20 Crores

Tuesday (Day 5): 2.95 Crores

Wednesday (Day 6): 2.70 Crores

Total (Domestic Collections): 26.85 Crores

Mukul tweets @mksmukulsharma

Still from Kai Po Che Movie

The collections are indeed commendable especially for a movie that starred relative newcomers as the lead faces. Hats off  to the director – Abhishek Kapoor who made such a praiseworthy film, producer – UTV Motion Pictures who believed the filmmaker and the content ultimately, the actors – Sushant Singh Rajput, Raj Kumar Yadav, Amit Sadh and Amrita Puri, for their simple yet appealing performances.

Kudos to the Kai Po Che! team.

Mukul tweets @mksmukulsharma

However, KPC couldn’t appeal much to the New Zealand and Fiji audience it seems. The respective countries made an average business in its opening weekend. On the contrary, the film did some excellent business in U.K., U.S.A. and U.A.E.

The opening weekend total of this Abhishek Kapoor directorial is above 5.40 crores  at the Overseas Box Office.  

Still from Kai Po Che Movie

“The weekend is key for us – and there is incredible positive word of mouth in all overseas markets. We are thrilled at the response, and feel that this should carry over to the box office,” said Amrita Pandey, Executive Director – Syndication, International Distribution and Disney Media Distribution, Studios, Disney UTV.

Mukul tweets @mksmukulsharma