In India's cinema, this film, set with Priyadarshan and Akshay Kumar, is a smashing success, with the worldwide box-office haul of ₹95 crore within three days to come, representing a long overdue release of the feared horror film Bhooth Bangla.
Coming off a string of successful projects previously with Priyadarshan, as K Prem and Akshay Kumar starring in the role for the first day a huge success. Backed by a great deal of hype and nostalgia pre-release, the film enjoyed strong box office in stores in India and other foreign markets.
On the first day of Bhooth Bangla, pre-booking traffic and fans' curiosity were positive developments. The action continued to pile up over the weekend, with collections continuing to climb (both on Day 2 and Day 3). Trade consultants credit the increase to good word-of-mouth, and especially to the comedy-horror blend of things in the film.
The film’s domestic collections generated a total income, with major cities housing large numbers in big and mid-size cities. In addition, the number of moviegoers visiting multiplexes and theatres, not just at one-star shows but at the multiplex as well, has dramatically increased, especially evening and night viewing audiences.
Overseas, notably the Middle East, the UK and North America, saw big numbers, and helped add to the film’s international total. Akshay Kumar’s performance had been celebrated by many critics and audiences as one of the film’s major strengths. Thanks to his comic timing, the actor, who didn’t miss one more unforgettable performance, has yet again given its audiences a memorable moment.
Priyadarshan’s direction, which balances humour with suspense, has been well received, too. Family-friendly appeal is the good fortune that has also been behind this film’s success. Bhooth Bangla is not much of a horror movie, and unlike certain horror films that were heavy on scary stuff, Bhooth Bangla was not at all this; it was a far more comical picture, making it much more approachable to many people.
This also helped expand its target audience. The good scores for the film, the screenplay and the star scores of the movie's supporting ensemble performances have also been part of the appeal. Of course, the quality of construction and visual elements has drawn review suggestions from these people as well, so there has never been a better time to see a movie than now.
With ₹95 crore already in its kitty, and just shy of enough turnover in its kitty to stake out its place in the club, it’s on its way to crossing ₹100 crore with more than a week to go. For the general population following in the trail of the rising trend, Bhooth Bangla may be one of the top hit movies of the year.
Trade analysts reckon that the weekdays to come are the deciding factor in whether the film has a better chance at success in the long term. But with such an interesting lead time and such constant traffic, the film should do very well at the box office. Taken in the entirety, Bhooth Bangla has provided what fans hoped for: entertainment with a lot of laughs and a little bit of spookiness, a winning box office formula.
