Now after six weeks of outright drought, RAB NE BANA DI JODI has brought smiles back for all in the industry (well, leave or take a few who continue to be cynical about the film's success).
As expected, the film opened to close to 50% start and started recording 100% collections as the evening shows commenced. Saturday and Sunday were even better in the morning and afternoon shows though houseful signs were seen once again in evening and night shows.
The film has netted close to 25 crores in it's opening weekend itself which is quite good, considering expectations were a little lower than this due to not-so-good promotion and lack of popular soundtrack.
However, Shah Rukh Khan's star power has done the trick with people arriving at cinemas in hordes irrespective of what some of the reviewers had to say about the film.
Not to say that the film doesn't have it's weak moments; it surely does have.
The gimmicks fall flat on their face (the ones on the entire parody dream sequence and the Sumo wrestling sequence) while there are parts in the film's second half where one becomes restless in anticipation of culmination of story.
However, the climax is brilliantly written and executed which takes the film to an all time high, hence ensuring that audience comes out of the auditorium content.
The film isn't the best work that Aditya Chopra may have done as a director (or even producer). Due to this, one may not really be watching the film for the umpteenth time 10 years from now.
However, if one looks at RAB NE BANA DI JODI as a standalone film, it does turn out to be a good one time watch at the least. Also, Shah Rukh Khan comes up with one of his most accomplished performances ever in his most complex role till date.
The film has opened on a very good note and one waits to see how it progresses for the rest of the week. Though a certain HIT is pretty much in the making, it would be too early to give it a superhit or a blockbuster tag.
Yes, initial estimates do indicate that the movie is sighting a 70 crores total just from India and if that indeed happens then we are actually looking at a superhit in the making at the least, considering the low production cost of the film.
While it is still better to wait and watch, one thing is for sure - those who predicted a doomsday for RAB NE BANA DI JODI would certainly have to eat their words as the film has certainly turned out to be a comfortable success at the least.