MUMBAI: Two films from two diagonally opposite genres release on the same day and walk the diagonally opposite course to the box-office.
While Eros‘ Paathshaala is an emotional drama that sets out to tackle social issues, Ram Gopal Varma‘s Phoonk 2 is a supernatural film.
A timely movie, Paathshaala comes at a time when commercialisation has taken over the educational system and immoral and unethical practices are rampant, affecting young minds.
The film opened to a mixed response, with some multiplexes registering 40 per cent footfalls, while at some occupancy was lower than expected.
But for the screenplay that goes out of touch towards the end, the film could have stood a chance for a tax-free tag.
The second release, Phoonk 2, fails to muster the right opening. A sequel always comes with a bigger baggage and people hope a lot out of it, since its original was successful.
But the RGV venture lacks the chills, thrills and screams that were the mainstay of the first version.
Though the film is well-written, director Milind Gadagkar fails to handle the film properly. Phoonk 2 is a good idea but goes down the drain and fails to be remembered.
Though we have six films - Muskura Ke Dekh Zara, Crime Partner, Apartment, Do Dilo Ke Khel Mein, Mumbai 118 and Kuch Kariye - lined up for this Friday, no business is likely because of the last four IPL matches being shown in multiplexes in 3D from 22 April.
