Mixed Response to ‘MNIK’

So, after all the hype and hoopla surrounding My Name Is Khan, what is the film and what are the public reports?

The first show of the film has gotten over at many places where it started at 10 a.m.

The reports of the paying public are not very encouraging.

Even the initial was not bumper but that is understandable. For one, the tension associated with the release has made families and ladies wary of visiting the cinemas in the opening show.

Secondly, from its publicity, the film seemed to be a family fare, and such films normally do not record cent per cent collections in the opening show.

In Ghaziabad, Silver City recorded house full collections in the 10 a.m. show.

In Rohtak, the film could manage just a 40% initial. Films like Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani and De Dana Dan had opened to full houses in Rohtak.

In Jaipur, while collections at Inox Crystal Palm were extraordinary in the 10 o’clock show (in fact, the film had to be opened in a second screen when the crowds could not be accommodated in one screen), those in other multiplexes were lesser.

In Jodhpur, the film opened at Nasrani cinema to a 30% house (Rs. 24,000 against the house-full capacity of Rs. 79,000; 2nd show was a shade better with collection of Rs. 27,000 against Rs. 79,000).

In Jodhpur’s Bioscope multiplex, 422 tickets against 448 had been sold in the opening show of the film.

In Indore, the Shah Rukh and Kajol starrer opened to around 80% houses.

The response in smaller cities and towns is less encouraging.

For example, the first show collection at Lokendra cinema in Ratlam (Madhya Pradesh) was only Rs. 6,000 against a capacity of Rs. 29,000.

South India seems to have given the film a fantastic kickstart.

The opening shows were full in almost every cinema of the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

Bangalore also gave a rousing reception to the film.

While the opening in Dubai and other places in the Overseas circuit was phenomenal on Thursday, the reports there are also mixed.

In Hong Kong, people were seen walking out midway through the film on Thursday.