The last 2-3 weeks have been a rather dull period at the box office and all eyes are now on Diwali releases.

Except for Boney Kapoor's ‘No Entry' and Aditya Chopra's ‘Salaam Namaste', no film released over the last month has managed to make a mark. Infact, no film after ‘Chocolate', which released on September 16, has earned even decent collections.

All films released after ‘Chocolate', which includes Anupam Kher's ‘Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Maara', Jai Prakash's ‘Sauda', Ashwini Chaudhry's ‘Siskiyan', Amol Shetge's ‘Rain', Rajiv Babbar's ‘Kasak', Chandan Arora's ‘Main Meri Patni Aur Woh' and Ekta Kapoor's ‘Koi Aap Sa' opened to rather poor collections, trade sources said.

In contrast, both ‘Salaam Namaste', currently in its seventh week, and ‘No Entry', in its ninth week, continued to go strong.

Trade analysts, however, say that poor collections had much to do with the fact that most of the film released over the last one month, barring Ekta Kapoor's ‘Koi Aap Sa', were small films.

''Since big producers avoid releasing their films during the Ramzan month (the month before Eid), small producers release their films during these days so as to avoid competition from big and starcast films,'' says film analyst Komal Nahata.

Diwali releases are now eagerly awaited Priyadarshan's ‘Garam Masala' and ‘Kyon Ki', and Vashu Bhagnani's ‘Shaadi no 1', analysts feel, have the potential for a good showing at the box office.

Infact, trade analysts feel that the release of the three films could mark the beginning of another profitable season for Bollywood, which has seen a host of films "hit the bull's eye" at the box office like 'Page 3', 'Black', 'Sarkar', 'Bunty aur Babli', 'Parineeta', 'Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya', 'Dus' and 'No Entry'.

Interestingly, two of three films scheduled for release on Diwali, 'Kyon Ki' and 'Garam Masala', have been directed by Priyadarshan, who has previously given hits like 'Gardish', 'Hera Pheri' and 'Hungama'.

One of the Diwali releases 'Kyon Ki', is evoking curiosity because of its the pairing of Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor. This is the first time Kareena has been paired with Salman, who has previously worked with her sister Karisshma Kapoor in films like 'Biwi No 1', 'Andaz Apna Apna' and 'Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge'.

The other release 'Garam Masala' too, analysts say, is expected to make a good opening because it features the current teenage heartthrob John Abraham along with versatile actor Akshay Kumar. Also, given Priyadarshan's penchant for comedies, evident from the hueg success of many of his comedies like 'Hera Pheri', 'Hungama' and 'Hulchul', 'Garam Masala' too is expected to make a good opening, trade observers say.