WILL TU JHOOTHI MAIN MAKKAAR BRING GOOD NEWS FOR THE INDUSTRY?
The month of January was rocking thanks to the blockbuster success of Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Pathaan. However, February spelt doom thanks to the back-to-back flops in the form of Shehzada and Selfiee. But with Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, the smiles have finally returned among the industry members. The advance booking of the film has been encouraging till now.
Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar stars Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor and is directed by Luv Ranjan of Pyaar Ka Punchnama and Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety fame. The film’s trailer has clicked well. Ranbir and Shraddha have been paired for the first time and their chemistry seems electrifying. Shraddha, meanwhile, looks her hottest best in the film. Songs have also become chartbusters. Moreover, the film has a youthful appeal. Luv Ranjan’s films have a fan base of their own and all these factors have contributed to the hype.
Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar has a mid-week release, on Wednesday, March 8. This is because Holi falls on this day. But in a rare phenomenon, the states of Maharashtra, Rajasthan and West Bengal have declared the Holi holiday on Tuesday, March 7. The residents of these states will have a working day on March 8, and this can affect footfalls. There were reports that the makers had toyed with the idea of releasing Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar on March 7 but the plan was shelved.
The other challenge for the film is that it looks a bit urban and might not appeal to the masses. But the makers have assured that it’s a complete family film with an earthy appeal. Luv Ranjan’s last film Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety also had similarly and initially excelled only in urban centres and that too among the youth. Slowly, word spread that it was an ideal family film and the film picked up so well that it even crossed the Rs. 100 crores mark.
Due to the unique situation, Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar will open well in the North while in Maharashtra, the opening will be below expectations as it’s a working day. The opening is expected to be in the range of Rs. 10-15 crores. Thursday is a non-holiday across the country. Hence, the collections might dip or will hopefully, stay the same as day 1, if the word of mouth is positive. From Friday, the collections will improve once again. The makers should target weekend collections in the range of Rs. 75-90 crores. It has limited competition till the release of Bholaa on March 30. As a result, it can emerge as a huge hit and the next Rs. 100 crore grosser of 2023. However, if word of mouth is bad, the mid-week release can backfire as collections will drop rapidly from Thursday.