Paa Fails in UK Too; Is Paa Really Doing Well in India?
“Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest–
…Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!
Drink and the devil had done for the rest–
…Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum”
Boy, it’s hard not to feel a certain degree of schadenfreude over Amitabh Bachchan’s shame tonight.
Serves the old geezer right.
The old man has made a habit of profiting from theft – Hum Kisise Kum Nahin (Analyze This), Ek Ajnabee (Man on Fire), God Tussi Great Ho (Bruce Almighty) et al.
And tonight is judgment night for the wig-wallah.
Folks, Amitabh Bachchan’s Paa is a monumental disaster at the U.S. box office rivaled only by his spawn Abhishek Bachchan’s Drona.
What an irony!
Bada Bachchan’s failure matched only by the Chota Bachchan’s failure.
Ha ha ha.
Excuse us for a moment will you while we pour ourselves a drink.
(Pause: The sounds of a bottle opening and ice cubes dropped in a glass).
We’re back, guys. With a drink in our hands and a million dollar smile on our lips. 🙂
Monumental Disaster
In its opening weekend at the U.S. box office (December 4-6, 2009), Paa has suffered an overwhelming rejection by the wise desis of America.
God, how do we even tell you the gross numbers? So embarrassing.
The piece of junk grossed a mere $199,228. So gross, na?
Imagine, with all the hype and the presence of the two Bachchans in the film, the 67-year-old Amitabh Bachchan couldn’t even manage $200,000 for the opening weekend.
A Shakespearean tragedy, no less. Lear, redux.
Paa opened in 67 theaters in the U.S, came in at No-24 and had an average gross of a mere $2,974.
Here’s how Paa has fared at the U.S. box office compared to a few other prominent Bollywood films:
Are We Surprised?
Of course not.
Unlike many of the gushing readers of this fine blog we never felt any enthusiasm for this movie.
Not for a minute.
In fact, we ignored this junk and went and saw George Clooney’s Up in the Air last Friday (Up in the Air did $1.18 million from just 15 theaters in the opening weekend).
Before we say adios, it’d be fitting to leave y’all with an excerpt from the Los Angeles Times review of Paa:
Although the makeup, involving a large prosthetic head, is pretty good, it wasn’t worth the effort, for the film is no more than a tedious, over-long Bollywood soap opera…. writer-director R. Balki stretches out “Paa,” which is “Pa” in Hindi, to an unconscionable 145 minutes that seems all the longer since it’s clear that father and son will eventually learn of their relationship.
Related Stories:
Paa Sinking, Sinking, Sinking
Paa Fails in UK Too; Is Paa Really Doing Well in India?
U.S. Critics Pee on Paa
Box Office Gods Pee on Paa – A Monumental Disaster added by SearchIndia.com on
View all posts by SearchIndia.com →
I am not surprised at slow opening of Paa because it is not your typical Shahrukh-Akshay musical film.
Just wait and watch for second weekend box-office figures and then tell me : “whether box-office gods pee on paa or not”.
I am telling you because here in India also Paa got very bad start (2 crore – Delhi 6 grossed 5 crore in first day)
but it simply improved afterwards.
Btw films like Lagaan and Taare Zameen Par had ordinary run at US box-office but that doesn’t mean they are bad films.
Before watching any film dont call it junk.
As for American critics we see how much intelligent they are after seeing reviews of crap called Chandni Chowk To China.
John Anderson of Variety wrote, “If “Chandni Chowk to China” were a person, it would need Valium”, and found that “everything is fast and furious, hilarious, hysterical and frantic. Some of the sequences … are quite beautiful and, in the case of the dance numbers featuring Padukone, stunning. But it’s the fight scenes … that truly take off”.
Frank Lovece of Newsday wrote, “Less a Bollywood bonbon than a pan-Asian fusion dish, this combination of Indian musical and Chinese chopsocky is, nonetheless, delicious fun”.
Claudia Puig of USA Today said, “This Indian/Chinese cinematic hybrid is likable and entertaining and that star Akshay Kumar’s “physical humor brings to mind Jim Carrey”.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: I am not surprised at slow opening of Paa because it is not your typical….
And the fox said these grapes are sour. 😉
2. You write: As for American critics we see how much intelligent they are after seeing reviews of crap called Chandni Chowk To China.
God knows what weed John Anderson, Frank Lovece and Claudia Puig are smoking. Whatever it is, could you please have them FedEx some of it to us. 😉
Chandni Chowk to China was utter garbage.
We advised Akshay to slash his wrists. Alas, the fella declined and out of sheer spite went on to give us De Dana Dud.
Remind us never to cross Akshay again for his next film will be infinitely worse. 😉
3. You write: Just wait and watch for second weekend box-office figures and then tell me : “whether box-office gods pee on paa or not”.
We’ll see.
4. You write: Before watching any film dont call it junk
The masses oftentimes decide on a movie based on the critics’ reviews. Sometimes, critics can also be part of the masses. Right, na.
The critics have essentially labeled Paa junk.
Lord of Morons, were you born stupid or did you take special training to be such a hole?
Paa is an excellent movie, and effort put into it just comes across. Shove your figures up and and go crying back to your thesaurus from which you copy your stupid eng words.
You say: Excuse us for a moment will you while we pour ourselves a drink.
This explains why you act like a [Trash Talk].
Really you must have been dropped hell lot of times as a kid – Only that explains your stunted mental growth Shmuck!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: Lord of Morons, were you born stupid or did you take special training to be such a hole?…Shove your figures up
At the outset, please accept our condolences over this monumental disaster.
Since you are helpless to argue against the facts of the ‘disaster,’ you are forced to launch an ad hominem diatribe against us.
May the psychiatrist show mercy on your soul. 😉
2. You write: Paa is an excellent movie, and effort put into it just comes across.
Really?
Well, the U.S. audience has shown their collective middle finger to Paa.
3. You write: This explains why you act like a [Trash Talk].
One more insult like that and you are out. Comprende?
Taare Zameen Par was also slow starter but it did well afterwards.
Paa is not classic cinema but it is certainly not bad film (100 times better than De Dana Dan and Kurbaan).
I dont know why you are abusing Amitabh Bachchan.
I agree he made 3 mistakes in his film career :-
1.choosing crap directors in 1990s over people like Govind Nihalini who were ready to direct him for his comeback.
2.still working with Ram Gopal Varma.
3.The biggest mistake – promoting his son Abhishek Bachchan. (Because of this mistake he lost some respect from audiences).
But still he is among one of superb actors that Bollywood has produced.
Even if he make craps for 20 years then still he will be among fine actors (Dev Anand has been making craps for last 30 years but still he is great actor).
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: Amitabh Bachchan…still….is among one of superb actors that Bollywood has produced
Well, if wearing a hair-raising wig and speaking in a deep, baritone voice is acting, then the full-grown African lion with a shaggy mane in that recent Telugu movie Pravarakyudu should receive the Dadasaheb Phalke award for 2010. 😉
2. You write: I dont know why you are abusing Amitabh Bachchan.
Whatever gave you that preposterous idea.
As we wrote in response to a comment the other day:
3. You write: Taare Zameen Par was also slow starter but it did well afterwards
We enjoyed Taare Zameen Par.
hi friends
it is surprising that paa has been given a cold shoulder by US audiences.
I would like you to review some good movies so that we get some relief from constant movie bashing.
1. Mumbai Meri Jaan
2. Jab We Met
3. Evano Oruvan (Tamil)
4. Yaavarum Nalam (Tamil)
Hope you find time to review the above.
Bye
SearchIndia.com Responds:
The movies you recommend are already on our list to watch/review.
@ SI: Well, if wearing a hair-raising wig and speaking in a deep, baritone voice is acting, then the full-grown African lion with a shaggy mane in that recent Telugu movie Pravarakyudu should receive the Dadasaheb Phalke award for 2010. 😉
This is simply disrespect for an actor who has even shined in his flop films like The Great Gambler and Parwaana.
Yeah he has done lots of craps in his career (but who hasn’t done craps in Bollywood ?)The so-called King of Bollywood Shahrukh’s last good film was Paheli which was way back in 2005.
Now he promotes his flop son Abhishek doesnt mean he should be made the fall guy for his son’s failures.
I agree with you that Sanjeev Kumar, Naseeruddin Shah are better actors than him. But among actor-superstars he is the best.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: This is simply disrespect for an actor who has even shined (sic) in his flop films like The Great Gambler and Parwaana.
You forgot his ‘classic’ performances in Agneepath and RGV Ki Aag where he ‘shined’ like he never ‘shined’ before. 😉
Since when have you started taking Box office reports of Indian movies (and that too US) in to account to judge a quality of a particular movie?
That stupid Jodha Akbar and Ghajini is at No.2 and No.1.
bah! Oh my God! Rabne, Sing is King, Kambakktt Ishq ….
(I’m stopping now).
Anyways, This report made me much eager to watch Paa. Statistically speaking, movies (I meant Indian movies, before you start) which are different and simple have always fared poorly at the box office. (US)
Look at Luck By Chance and Janne Tu..
You find numerous reasons to not watch Paa. And with your help I find numerous reasons to watch Paa. But the most interesting thing is both of us have not seen the movie and arguing as if we know a lot about the movie. That’s damn interesting to say the least!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: Since when have you started taking Box office reports of Indian movies (and that too US) in to account to judge a quality of a particular movie?
Paa is one of those rare Bollywood movies where both the critics (U.S.) and the box office Gods (audience) peed on the movie.
Oftentimes, the tastes of the critics and Indian moviegoers don’t coincide and veer in different directions.
2. You write: You write: Statistically speaking, movies (I meant Indian movies, before you start) which are different and simple have always fared poorly at the box office. (US) Look at Luck By Chance and Janne Tu..
Both Jaane Tu and Luck by Chance did better than Paa.
Particularly, Jaane Tu which released in just 33 theaters and had an average gross of $6,218 compared to $2,974 for Paa from 67 theaters. Pappu can’t dance took the nation by storm. None of the songs in Paa took the nation by storm, in our not-so-humble-opinion.
Guess, the sum total of Genelia D’Souza+Imran Khan+Abbas Tyrewala is Greater than Amitabh Bachchan+Abhishek Bachchan+Vidya Balan+Balki+Hype Machine.
3. You write: Anyways, This report made me much eager to watch Paa
Guess you are not smart enough to understand our Thomas Tusser quote the other day:
4. Akshay Kumar featured in Singh is King and Kambakktt Ishq to earn the title Trash King of Bollywood. Some actors want to be superstars, some comedians, some daredevil stunt-masters, some Kung-fu stars and a few aspire to the title of Trash King.
Look at Akshay Kumar’s recent movies. Utter garbage and occasionally stolen too (Heyy Babyy, a lift of Three Men and a Baby).
Do you think Paa is a better movie than Drona (a tough one but please reply….)?
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Aha, a trick question. 😉
Desis here have thumbed their collective noses and raised their collective middle fingers to both movies.
[Deleted]
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Nothing you write will be processed until you apologize to Wasim Akram for the garbage you wrote when his wife passed away.
Is hehehe is Kingswagat in http://indiablogs.searchindia.com/2009/10/24/quote-of-the-day-hugh-hefner/? By the way how did you find out that both are same :-\?
Well, I haven’t watched PAA yet, don’t have time nor money to watch it either. But, if you notice onething closely, you will find that the figures of US Box Office returns for Bollywood Films gets lesser day by day!
It doesn’t take a genius to find the reasons for the ever-decreasing box office revenues:
1) The poor quality of films (PAA may/may not be an exception)
2) The increase in number of Indians returning back due to job losses
3) Indians living in US preferring to spend less due to the ever-challenging job market, thanks to Recession.
If this trend continues, irrespective of the quality of the Bollywood film, the revenues will fall on the negative. This is just a perspective
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. Your points are valid plus the fact that the DVD is available at Indian grocery stores within a few days (3 or 4 days usually) of a movie’s release.
2. That said, even now you can’t get tickets for a Hindi movie in some theaters over the weekend for some shows.
3. Kambhakkht Ishq did $768,000 a few months back and before that Love Aaj Kal did $1.24 million.
So if you look at the numbers Paa has had a lousy reception.
@SearchIndia:”Guess you are not smart enough to understand our Thomas Tusser quote the other day:”
Have you mistakenly considered me as a normal American with unlimited credit cards? 😉 .
I bow to your strength and I’m tired (Some times Reason doesn’t work! you see) of this pointless (as in We both have not seen the movie) ‘Paa’ issue and will wait for the post which you have promised to Ashwin whether people are innocent are not.
Also, After checking out kambakkt Ishq (which was rap** by the Indian critics) has found a kinda of applause in Variety.com review, I knew what I should do. 🙂
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: I knew what I should do
Are you by any chance a descendant of this interesting personality. 😉
btw when you get a chance try to watch the trailer of an upcoming tamil movie called ‘Nanayam’ ..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVrGMRK8wgk
I guess this is gonna be a cheapo desi version of Oceans Eleven…
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Scary, the thought we mean. 😉
You said “Singh is King” is bad and termed “Ghajini” as a stolen shit etc., (may not be exact words) what I wonder is you use different scale to measure same thing everytime.
For example; in above chart Ghajini and Singh is King were among the top but during those review you never mentioned about box office. Where in, in case of off beat movies such as Naan Kadavul / Paa, you tend to measure using box office figures.
I want to understand reason / logic behind that. Please don’t put any hi-fi english words and bash me back – nanga ippo thaan —- basha English kathukurom (we are learning this —- language – english)
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. We are not measuring sugar or Kadalai Ennai (peanut oil) here.
2. Art forms like movies lend themselves to measurement along different attributes – acting, music, photography, box office, editing, originality, sequels et al.
3. What is an offbeat movie. At the end of the day, all movies be it Naan Kadavul or Paa aim to rake in the moolah.
4. You write: Please don’t….bash me back
Since when have we raised our voice against our beloved readers. 😉
Paa is doing well in India after bad start.
It is not doing well in USA and UK dont mean it is a bad film.
Many good Indian films didnt do well at overseas box-office. (Dev D and All The Best are recent examples).
If we judge films by box-office then Akshay Kumar’s piece of craps fare better than good films.
At last,I dont care what American critics say.They are pathetic when they review Indian films.
(eg : I have said about their reviews about Chandni Chowk to China and also see most of their reviews about Rab Ne Bana di Jodi (most of them rated that crap as great Bollywood film).
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Paa Fails in UK Too; Is Paa Really Doing Well in India?
Can you put some figures for the movie Radio?
Thanks
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Radio seems to have released in too few theaters in the U.S. if at all to merit the notice of the box office monitors.
In the UK, Radio released in 4 theaters with an unimpressive opening weekend gross of £626. It came in at No-46.
LOL…..thank god someone is there to insult auro and his paaaa so exuberantly. 😛 …..
i mean, jesus, i was getting sick of seeing that guy’s stupid face on every vertical and horizontal surface..THERE’S SUCH A THING AS EXCESSIVE PROMOTION OF A MOVIE..i dunno how well paa is doing here in India….but i for one fully support you guys…n wud like to join in on “peeing on paa” 😀
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Join the Pee-rade.
BTW, we’re not insulting Paa, we think the Bachchans are God’s gift to Bollywood and icons of global cinema. 😉
Paa is a piece of stinking shit. I can,t see any motive or some meaningful message behind this trash.
I think india’s local folk artists do far better then these bollywood parasites. I do not think amitabh bacchan or whatever he is being called, is any actor he is just an opportunist and a lucky man and that’s all.
I think the whole thing known as bollywood is a bunch of worthless shitheads it’s a great scum, filth.
It’s a rotten corruption in the world of art and performance, the worst news i ever heard was aishwarya rai judging the movies in canne’s festival, even worse then the news of attack over WTC. No bollywood person should be authorized to interfere in affairs of real cinema and art.
May lord keep real artists and performers from the corrupted company of ugly devils collectively called bollywood.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. We haven’t watched Paa but the U.S. critics think the movie is junk.
2. You write above: the worst news i ever heard was aishwarya rai judging the movies in canne’s festival, even worse then the news of attack over WTC
How Aishwarya Rai went on the Cannes 2003 Jury is one of nature’s freak incidents. Maybe, the Tsunami of the following year was nature’s retribution. 😉
In our not so humble opinion, Aishwarya Rai wouldn’t recognize art if it smacked her in the face.
Dear SearchIndia.com,
I agree with you — Paa movie is a shit 😉 …But never mind me telling this..you are the one who intends to eat this shit ;)..just to increase the number of hits you get on this link…..
Hats off to you Mr Pee-Wee & the likes…Loved yours provocation…Keep it up….And yes do bring one guy with the stature and charisma of Amitabh from down south where you originally belong to & then talk…Waise i dont hate Southies like you…But then i dont hate street dogs too 😉
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Can’t help but notice how you merdivorous dickheads always bring in this South Indian-North Indian nonsense when you can’t win an argument on the merits.
Boy, it must really hurt this Amitabh fella that even Johnnies-come-lately like Genelia and Shahid Kapoor are ahead of him at the box office game. See the numbers for Genelia’s Jaane Tu and Shahid Kapoor’s Kaminey in the above table. 😉
Say, is Amitabh going to Genelia for tips now?