MUMBAI: AB Corp’s Paa, released this week, opened to a good response as cinema-watchers were curious to see the 60-plus Amitabh Bachchan playing the role of a 13-year-old child.

The film has already grossed Rs 200 million in the opening weekend, according to industry estimates.

Paa had an average opening on its first day, but picked up considerably on Saturday and Sunday. The film had a 62 per cent occupancy on the first day at both single screen theatres as well as multiplexes, but made fantastic business on Saturday and Sunday.

Not only has Bachchan essayed the role of Auro (character played by Bachchan) perfectly but has also made people cry and laugh with the character that he has played. This has resulted in a lot of word-of-mouth publicity.

 
Says AB Corp CEO wing commander Ramesh Pulapaka, "Compared to Friday, occupancies increased nearly 50 per cent on Saturday. We have been receiving good comments about the film. To me, mouth publicity has been a positive factor. The film will do very well.”

Multiplex players said Paa, like Tare Zameen Par , has started on a slow note but recorded a significant jump in ticket sales on Saturday and Sunday following strong word-of-mouth reviews.

Fun Cinema COO Vishal Kapur said, “The film has done fairly well over the weekend and we are expecting around 50 per cent occupancy throughout the week.”

Inox Leisure vice president programming and distribution Utpal Acharya said, “While the film is doing very well in the metros, it is picking up in the smaller centres. People are very positive about the film because of which we are expecting the film to pick up well.”