A young bunch of actors and technicians has gifted Mollywood its first super hit this year.
Debutant G. Prajith’s OruVadakkan Selfie ’s dream run at the box office continues as estimates by the Kerala Film Producers Association say that the movie may earn at least Rs. 4 crore profit for the producer.
“It’s the first super hit of 2015. From theatres alone, Oru Vadakkan Selfie has earned Rs. 2.82 crore share in its first week of release. It will go up to Rs. 3 crore, if we add the collections from theatres outside the State and abroad,” said M. Renjith, general secretary of the Kerala Film Producers Association.
Word-of-mouth seems to have worked for the film with theatres getting advanced bookings especially for this weekend. Exhibitors also exuded confidence that it would enjoy a good ride in the coming weeks, thanks to the summer vacation and consecutive holidays in the first half of the month.
Asked about the prospects of Sathyan Anthikad’s Ennum Epozhum , Mr. Renjith said the movie was a hit even though it could not meet the high expectations of the audience. It would break even and certainly bring profits to the producer, he said.
The association of producers admitted that the report card for the first quarter of 2015 looked bleak except for the success of OruVadakkan Selfie and Ennum Eppozhum .
Mr. Renjith said even movies such as Picket 43 , which had a long run at the box-office, could rake in about Rs. 1.80 crore while the total collection of Mili was about Rs. 1.40 crore.
Caught red-handed
This controversy had an abrupt end even though many expected the drama to continue for a few more days. The row over the appointment of Congress leader Rajmohan Unnithan as chief of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation ended immediately after a television channel released the audio script of a top functionary of the board, who had resigned in protest against Mr. Unnithan’s appointment. The person, who was in charge of charting of movies in cinemas under the corporation, was heard saying that he had nothing against the newly-appointed chairman. He even asked the caller to organise a dharna and a press conference demanding his return.
G. Krishnakumar
