The total gross of Prakash Jha’s new film Raajneeti is worse than that of Hrithik Roshan’s disaster Kites, according to estimates.
Total gross for the opening weekend for Raajneeti has been estimated at $917,000 and the average gross at $7,395 by boxofficemojo.
Raajneeti’s average gross is much higher than Kites average gross ($4609).
Here’s how Raajneeti fared compared to a few other prominent Bollywood movies:
In its review of Raajneeti, SearchIndia.com wrote:
Expectations are always higher from Prakash Jha compared to the bozos like David Dhawan, Ram Gopal Varma et al.
So, does Jha fulfill the high hopes from the film?
No and Yes.
No, because if you are familiar with the Godfather and Mahabharat you can guess how things are going to play out in large part.
Also disappointing is the multiple instances of borrowing from Godfather like the car-blast killing the girl-friend, the hot-headed older brother (Sonny Corleone?), the cool, calculating younger brother (Michael Corleone??) and a body on the bed to compel a reluctant foe to come to terms.
Yes, because the borrowing from the aforesaid Hollywood film or Mahabharat notwithstanding the execution is slick and the acting with few exceptions decent.
With a decent ensemble comprising of Nana Patekar, Naseeruddin Shah (short role), Ranbhir Kapoor, Manoj Bajpai, Ajay Devgan and Arjun Rampal, Jha delivers a watchable film in the 2-hrs 50-min long Raajneeti.
Related Stories:
Raajneeti Review โ Prakash Jhaโs Khichdi of Godfather & Mahabharat
Raajneeti Box Office – Worse than Kites added by SearchIndia.com on
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Kites – Hrithik – 208 theatres – 958673 – 4609
Rajneeti – Ranbir/Ajay – 124 theatres – 917000 – 7395
There is a huge difference in the number of theatres. I dont think its fair to compare them and there is no point. Considering the hype and marketing spinned over Kites, Rajneeti did better business with much lesser theatres.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Not just Kites.
Look at the table again. Other movies, which released in lesser number of theaters have fared better.
It’s much better than what an Ajay devgn film usually gets at the Box Office.
Plus,Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif are stars who can get a good start only with glamorous roles,not with these kind of films ๐
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Ajay Devgan gives us the impression of a lazy fella with more potential than he delivers.
Back home, film has earth shattering weekend (as reported by BOI), 2nd highest after 3i only. And this was achieved with lesser no. shows than HF and Kites (about 33% less).
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Raajneeti is one of the better films to come out of the Bollywood cesspool and perhaps deserves to succeed at the BO.
off-topic:
@SI
Sorry for the delay in getting done the 2nd part of the review. Been suffering from food poisoning during the last 3 days. Oh well, it at least taught me to avoid certain dubious road-side joints. Does this ever happen in America? Fairly common out here.
Pleased to see you’re finally getting DevD done. Not so pleased to see that you didn’t keep your word on watching (and reviewing) 7G last week. It is a must-watch movie, you really should consider making some time for it.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: Been suffering from food poisoning during the last 3 days. Oh well, it at least taught me to avoid certain dubious road-side joints. Does this ever happen in America?
People have died in the past. Jack-in-the-Box in the 90s.
Salmonella, E Coli cases are fairly common and God Knows what happens in the Indian restaurants we frequent a lot. Indian restaurants are notoriously filthy.
2. When is the second part of Ponniyin Selvan coming. We have one or two other ideas after you complete that.
3. 7G definitely this week.
“When is the second part of Ponniyin Selvan coming”
In 2-3 days, max. I should be up and about by then.
“We have one or two other ideas after you complete that.”
Any work for me?
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Yes, of a different genre (if you are interested).
Yes, of a different genre (if you are interested).
@SI
Bring it on! But that wasn’t why I asked.
You see, my paypal account is being investigated for criminal activity (most probably because of the change in ip address which happens when you’re browsing in cell phone), and to tell the truth, I am highly unlikely to ever encash the 70$ for the PS review. ๐ (Don’t worry though. It’s none of your fault and I’ll deliver the 2nd part in a few days)
Just wanted to tell you that you would have to devise some other transfer route (something like Western Union Money Transfer) for future transactions.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: You see, my paypal account is being investigated for criminal activity (most probably because of the change in ip address which happens …..to tell the truth, I am highly unlikely to ever encash the 70$ for the PS review. ๐ (Don’t worry though. It’s none of your fault
We really are tired of this.
India is one of the few countries having money-transfer problems with PayPal. We suspect the problem is more at the Indian end with the authorities there likely concerned about the Jihadi whackos playing their mischief.
Probably, the Indian authorities find it hard to believe that someone is really paying for reviews of Theeratha Vilayattu Pillai, Asal and Ponniyin Selvan. ๐
2. Wait for a while (few weeks) and if you still can’t draw the money we’ll send you a check.
You should have taken the money out immediately (assuming that option was available). We just checked our PayPal account and the money ($73) has not bounced back to us. The transaction is shown as completed on May 31.
3. You might also want to consider changing your e-mail address. A high possibility of that raising red flags too.
“We suspect the problem is more at the Indian end with the authorities there likely concerned about the Jihadi whackos playing their mischief. ”
Nah. If my paypal account is under limited access because they suspect a third party may have accessed it, where does the government come in? No, it’s purely a paypal thing (this time).
“We just checked our PayPal account and the money ($73) has not bounced back to us. The transaction is shown as completed on May 31.”
It’s in my account allright. Just that I can’t lay my hands on it, since the bloody account itself has been placed under limited access.
“You might also want to consider changing your e-mail address. A high possibility of that raising red flags too.”
๐ I have seen weirder ones. Nah, I don’t think it has anything to do with that. As I said earlier, it’s most probably because of the sudden change in ip addresses when I logged in from the cell phone. That must’ve set off the trigger.
“Wait for a while (few weeks) and if you still canโt draw the money weโll send you a check. ”
That’s mighty kind of you. As I said before, you aren’t the one to blame for this mess and it would be grossly unfair of me to ask you to make amends. Despite this, if you still feel like sending that cheque, tell me what details you need and I’ll mail you.
And, I know this promise sounds silly, but if I ever get those 70$ from paypal, I’ll make sure you get them.
P.S.Going by the number of paypal-hate sites, I am far from alone. A cursory check reveals many others similarly stricken, but none of them, it seems, have recovered their money. In the end, the big corporations always win ๐
SearchIndia.com Responds:
As we said yesterday, let’s wait a few weeks and if they still don’t let you access the money we’ll send you a check. In the meantime we suggest you keep bugging them (PayPal) for the money.
@SI
“In the meantime we suggest you keep bugging them (PayPal) for the money.”
I’ve already been doing that for some days now. Anyways, I’ll keep trying until somebody there sees some sense. ๐
Let’s hope for the best.
off-topic:
@SI
Here are some interesting links, especially for you, who claim, time and again, about how indian films will never appeal to people from any other countries as they are so “dumb”, “trashy”, “garbage” etc, and how those people are used to watching supposedly “classy” movies.
http://twitter.com/heatherrmwilson
http://twitter.com/tea_n_see
http://twitter.com/mynameissuzy
http://twitter.com/apunbindaas
http://twitter.com/jjake61
Not taking sides, but one of these tweeple actually calls arya2 as her favourite movie and thinks Prince of Persia smells like a cheap version of Magadheera. ๐ How about that?
You have got some unexpected counterbalance in this huge world. That’s for sure.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. Obviously, you haven’t heard of the saying: one swallow doesn’t make a summer. Oh well, not even a few swallows.
We’ve seen countless Indian movies in the U.S. (Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and English) in different states (VA, CA, DC, PA, DE, NJ, NY) and very rarely ever seen foreign faces in the theater. Most of the time, 100% of the audience is Indian.
2. You write: Not taking sides, but one of these tweeple actually calls arya2 as her favourite movie and thinks Prince of Persia smells like a cheap version of Magadheera.
Nobody ever claimed Indians are the only brain-dead movie-goers (remember Akshay Kumar’s exhortation to people to Leave your brains at home and then watch this film).
Bottom line, nobody but Indians watch, revel and wallow in the shit put out by these amateur Indian film-makers (with a few exceptions).
To lure foreigners to watch a movie with Indian connections, you’ve to go outside the country and import a Danny Boyle or Richard Attenborough. Slumdog Millionaire is the greatest slap on the face for Indian film-makers in recent times.
Also catch Pudhupettai. Ultimate gangster flick. Magnificently eccentric vision. Here are a few samples:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdnshhKHmVk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9bA0iIISxk&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT9bYO3woIo&feature=related
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Watched the first video in full and the second for a few seconds. Stopped just in case we feel like watching the movie later.
Yes, Pudhupettai is a good gangster movie. Seen it twice long time back.
Btw, have you seen Aayutha Ezhuthu?
Decent movie. The Hindi version Yuva wasn’t that good I heard.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write above: have you seen Aayutha Ezhuthu?
No.
Seen the Hindi version Yuva though
All these movies which fared better than Raajneeti had superstars who have a good base overseas and Raajneeti is serious genre film which will not get much money from countries like US and UK (here even films like Taare Zameen Par did ok business).
So for me this opening weekend is good one and worse than Kites ? (no way Kites is disaster).
SearchIndia.com Responds:
If the movie makes money, it’ll temp others to stray from the beaten path.
As we said in the review, the movie was watchable despite being a khichdi of Godfather and Mahabharat.
I hope Raajneeti makes more profit than Kites.
I never expected Katrina’s character to have such a crucial role. What a shame! Wasted a golden opportunity.
Next time when you are sick of watching horrible movies you might wanna watch Little Miss Sunshine. 6 great characters in one package. Not sure whether you have heard about it though.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Added Little Miss Sunshine to our Netflix queue.
We were aware of this film.
Hey, any movie that has a Sundance premiere can’t be bad.
Hi Si,
What racer has commented here is pretty interesting and funny too.But foreign people enjoying Kollywood,bollywood etc is an usual thing. I will list three reasons why:
1.Most of our movies have no story,only entertainment.They must have laughed out loud at this so-called inadequacy.who knows!!Maybe after seeing a sober and grim English movie,they watch these movies as a refreshment!!
2.POP had routine,run of the mill kind of Hollywood CG when I first watched some clippings of it in TV.Perhaps Magadheera had better CG than it.Coming straight from the horses mouth that is the foreigners,maybe it could be true!!
3.I once watched on a DVD player,the song Theradi Vithiyil song from Run,while I was travelling in a cab.It had funny subtitles in English.I could not control myself and started laughing.Maybe these “funny” subtitles did the trick.Who knows!!
But still they have praised only Magdheera,a Telugu movie!!No body has even praised a Tamil movie,so maybe it is a “black day” for us!!Oh,so sad…
Cheers,
Arun
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: Most of our movies have no story,only entertainment
We completely disagree. Most of our films are bereft of any entertainment whatsoever.
Just juvenilia.
2. As we said earlier, one or two foreigners gushing over Bollywood, Kollywood, Tollywood et al don’t mean nothing.
Kinda like saying, hey look, that white girl married the black guy so there can’t be racism in America.
3. We’ve seen dozens and dozens of Indian films in theaters here and almost never see a foreigner. Occasionally, we’ve seen some whites leave just as the movie is starting once they realize they are in the wrong hall.
Our films are really too crappy. No, we’re not playing contrarians here.
Hazaar Chaurasi ki Maa, directed by Govind Nihalani in 1998, is a powerful movie that takes a look at Naxalite movement through the eyes of a slain naxalite’s mother (played by Jaya Bachchan).
You may not get it on Netflix, but you will get it on DVD.
Govind Nihalani has made some fine movies such as Ardh Satya, Vijeta, Aakrosh and more recently, Thakshak and Dev.
You might as well buy the songs of Thakshak. The music is fantastic and it will be money well spent.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Just purchased the songs Rang De, Boondon Se, Jhumalika from Thakshak PLUS earlier today Pardesi and Emosanal Attyachar from Dev D, all from iTunes.
Nice ones. every single one.
We might buy Dheem Ta Dare (Thakshak) too later.
The tamil version of Rang de and Boondon Se featuring your Kanavukkann i(stop lusting after Sori Padam Suriya’s wife!)..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grJF82wx0f8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvM-nwu6AbM
Jumblaka was reused from “En Swasa Kaatre”.. I don’t like it that much..
SearchIndia.com Responds:
We’ve written to the publishers of Roget’s Thesaurus suggesting the word Jyothika as an antonym for quality, standards, graceful. ๐
BTW, neither can spell dancing. Awful dancers.
Hi Si,
Sorry to know that you have misinterpreted my comments.Iam neither playing contrarians here nor defending Indian films.I wholeheartedly accept that our films are not good. Ok!!
I have always appreciated Hollywood films for the technology and screenplay.I have watched about 100 Hollywood films till date and liked about 60 of them, which is far higher than Indian films.I know very well that Hollywood films are much better than Indian films!!
But Iam not too overawed by Hollywood like you guys just because it has a Hollywood nameplate sticking on it.Hollywood prides itself in making movies based on all genres,which I admire and appreciate.
But it is unfair to call only our audiences accept trashy films. Yes,our audiences have been guilty of it!!I admit it.
Hollywood prides itself in making movies for the global audience.But if the so called trash films like Kill Bill Vol 1 have been accepted by your audience as a good film and rakes in huge profits,then why blame our audiences alone.Tell me,in which way is so called Kill Bill Vol1 is a better film than our trashy Tamil films?
Au contraire, our audiences have rejected trashy(too much style over substance) films like Sarvam.And over the top violent films like the recent Goripalayam have gone done the drain here in TamilNadu.Only films like Pudupettai and Pattiyal in which the violence has been linked with the realistic story have been successful.Even in Goripalayam,the story was said to be decent.Subrahmaniapuram and Nadidogal had realistic stories set in the Madurai milieu and the violence portrayed in these movies were very refined,realistic and not gory.These two realistic films have been accepted well by or audiences.
But your country audiences appreciate a over the top,gory,violent and unrealistic story like Kill Bill Vol 1.Definitely speaks a lot about the tastes that your audiences have!! The success of a film like Kill Bill Vol1 proves that your audiences like films that have too much of form over content!!
Again Iam not trying to degrade Hollywood films.Iam also not trying to promote Indian films either.Iam only trying to be a constructive critic of Hollywood!!
Cheers,
Arun
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. Hey, we were referring to ourselves when we said we’re not playing contrarians here. Definitely not you.
2. We haven’t seen Kill Bill though it’s been on our list for a long while. But there’s no denying Indians with very few exceptions can’t make movies.
Let’s face it. We’re coolies, better suited to carrying out repetitive tasks handed out down (outsourcing??) to us to cut costs.
The creative gene is missing in our DNA. Ergo, we (i.e. Indians) lack the creative talent to make movies. Period. No surprise then that Indians either steal or make crappy movies and sometimes both simultaneously.
Villu, De dana Dan, CC2C, Vettaikaran, Sura et al are not films but vile trash.
If the creative juices are flowing in the Indian movie industry, it’s at best a trickle.
off-topic:For the first time,I’m demanding you to start a post under the Incredible India series! ๐
http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/bhopal-gas-tragedy-all-eight-accused-convicted-30253.php
Is this the value you give for the lives of our citizens? I’ve read extensively regarding this tragedy.What shocked me really was the political indifference which existed in several levels-Having followed 2 Assembly Elections of the state(2003 and 2008) closely,I’m surprised that both the leading parties rarely talked about the Tragedy issue nor added them in their Manifesto(Regarding bringing the culprits to justice or giving compensation to victims.)
Considering,the effect of the poisonous leakage still renders the water supply there unsafe for drinking and even the survivors’ children are born with disabilities,it’s nothing wrong in saying that the situation is like an aftermath of Chemical Warfare!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Will do an Incredible India piece tonight.