Taran Adarsh

The television is full of comic shows that promise jokes and laughter in abundance. Nowadays, even kids are attempting to make you laugh on the small screen. So why would anyone spend Rs. 200 for a ticket to watch a joke or two in a multiplex? That's the problem with PAYING GUESTS. Standing on a waferthin plot, it makes you smile/laugh intermittently, but becomes an exercise in monotony as the reels unfold.

The criterion for investing your hard-earned money and time in a movie is simple. You need to watch an interesting story unfold in those 2 hours, besides getting entertained. But PAYING GUESTS doesn't meet those expectations.

Talking from the business point of view, PAYING GUESTS had a lukewarm start from East to West, from North to South. The eye-catching promos couldn't do the trick. Perhaps, the viewers could judge the book by its cover [promos]. That it had nothing much to offer. And they were right!

Armed with a poor start, the weekend business hardly showed a jump, mainly because the word of mouth was negative. Monday onwards, the business only went downhill. Only goes to prove, yet again, that a movie without dum it just not welcome.

There were a few more releases: LET'S DANCE, HUM PHIR MILENGE and RAFTAAR - AN OBSESSION. LET'S DANCE was primarily a launch vehicle for the producer's daughter and despite aggressive promotion, the film didn't cut ice with viewers. It was a non-starter.

As for HUM PHIRR MILEINGE, this one went completely unnoticed. The common man wasn't even aware that a film by that name had actually released. This film too drew a blank.

The sole film that scored brownie points was X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE. It fared well in its opening weekend, thereby proving [yet again] that a Hollywood film can give a run for the money to their Hindi counterparts.