The first major releases of the year started the year on a horrible note as they failed to find an audience. 1921, KAALAKAANDI and MUKKABAAZ are looking at 3 crore between them despite a combined release of 3000 screens. It ensures that Tiger Zinda  Hai will be the top film this weekend.

1921 was the best of the lot with collections set to be in the 1.50 crore nett range. This film had a few release problems as it released late in the day at multiplexes so there is a loss of 35-40 lakhs nett. But even if we take fair value of 2 crore nett which is the best it could have been it is still lower than the last two films of the franchise.

1920: EVIL RETURNS had grossed 3.50 crore nett in 2012 while 1920 LONDON had grossed 2.50 crore nett so it is well short of these films on a fair value number. The only plus is despite the release problems it has easily beaten the competition of KAALAKAANDI and MUKKABAAZ and these films were also promoted more than 1921.

KAALAKAANDI has grossed 1 crore nett on day one and this sort of figure was on the cards as the trailer was awful. The film is set in Mumbai so it has performed a little better in Mumbai and Pune but that hardly makes a difference.

Its hard to understand why these type of films are even made which no one is going to watch. If the trailer was bad the reports in the morning came out saying the film is half in English. Although this may be exaggerated as these exhibitor / distributor reports are but obviously there is enough English to be noticed. The fact today is that the English speaking audience of the metros do not really watch Hindi films and the core Hindi audience will never waste money on a film like KAALAKAANDI.

MUKKABAAZ had the lowest number of them all with around 75 lakhs nett. This film also had a poor trailer, the trailer showed action, love story and conflict but it was looking a bit arty. It even had songs but they were very bad visually so hardly made a difference.

The authentic UP setting will be its main calling card as the audience in Delhi/UP may relate more and it could pick up in that area. But with around 25 lakh coming in Delhi/UP on day even a huge manifold pick up will hardly be taking the film anywhere. But the film should be able to go ahead of KAALAKAANDI at some point in the week if not weekend simply because KAALAKAANDI has very bad reports.