As expected this week’s releases have opened to poor numbers, in spite of being quality products. Shivam Nair’s The Diplomat opened better than Avinash Das’s Inn Galiyon Mein. But not well enough to be considered an encouraging trend.
Says Roshan Singh, a prominent film exhibitor of Bihar, “Holi is not the right time to release a film. People do not visit movie theatres during the festive days. In Bihar, movie theatres were completely shut down on Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, there were some shows in the afternoon and evening. So the new releases were hard hit.”
Says producer and trade analyst Girish Johar, “See Holi traditionally does see a dip in collections in the earlier part of the day, as many celebrate the festival and are busy. It is in the evening and thereafter which changes the gear and collections up in the second half of the day. Unfortunately, the lowkey promotions of both The Diplomat and Inn Galiyon Mein couldn’t generate excitement amongst moviegoers. Both films have good feedback and have been made well, so really hope that they pick up.”
Luckily, The Diplomat has shown an upward trend at the box office post Holi. Says Roshan Singh, “Films like The Diplomat must do well. Otherwise, the same bland fare would continue to be served up in the name of entertainment.”
Also Read: The Diplomat Review: John Abraham Leads This Year’s Most Gripping Political Thriller!
Director Shivam Nair keeps the proceedings brisk but never over-the-top as he pierces into a slice of recent history: in 2017 India’s deputy High Commissioner to Pakistan J.P.Singh found himself in an unprecedented situation when an Indian woman Uzma rushed into the Indian High Commission in Islamabad seeking asylum and passage to freedom back home. From this intriguing beginning, writer Ritesh Shah constructs a narrative that is at once topical and tactile.
