If the current advance booking numbers are anything to go by, Bollywood might be heading toward a rather underwhelming Friday at the box office. Bookings opened yesterday, but early ticket sales have been slow for both 120 Bahadur and Mastiii 4. With just a day left before release, the overall count still appears unlikely to cross even 10,000 tickets before the first shows roll out.The two films couldn’t be more different in tone or target audience. 120 Bahadur, a patriotic war drama led by Farhan Akhtar, has been in the promotional spotlight for months, gaining added push in the last couple of weeks. Its appeal is largely towards multiplex-goers. Meanwhile, Mastiii 4 is made for the kind of crowd that traditionally favours single screens — though such theatres have drastically dwindled. While Masti and Grand Masti enjoyed success, Great Grand Masti faltered badly. Still, the team behind the franchise hopes to revive both the brand and its signature style with this new instalment, expecting “entry to step in.”Ultimately, both films will rely heavily on word-of-mouth. There is more word of mouth for ‘120 Bahadur’ but this Farhan Akhtar movie may do better in multiplexes while ‘Masti 4’ may bring in audiences in the mass centres. For spot bookings on day one, Mastiii 4 might enjoy a slight advantage. As for Friday, a subdued start seems likely, with each movie expected to open in the range of Rs. 2–3 crores, while Saturday’s performance remains to be seen. Meanwhile, at the moment, ‘De De Pyaar De’ is doing well at the box office. The film has crossed Rs 50 crore as it completed its first week at the box office.
