Hindi
New films: The business of a few lakhs
The dull pre-Diwali period has taken its toll. The films released recently as well as last Friday have fallen like nine pins. Some of these have been forced to commit hara-kiri as they would not be able to get playtime at the cinemas in peak period when the flow of star cast films is regular. The opening day collections of almost all new releases remained in lakhs, and far away from a crore mark.
Saat Uchakkey from which the trade and people had some hope hardly earned money. Despite a number of known character artistes in the film and a comedy label, its crude and lewd language besides overacting by a few sunk it. The collections remained poor from day one and did not improve over the weekend. The film collected 90 lakh for its opening weekend.
Beiimaan Love tried to play the Sunny Leone card to draw the audience. The makers seem to have hit on the idea rather late in the ‘skin specialist ‘star’s life who has lost her novelty value soon after she hit the screen. Whatever she had to offer does not seem to sell now. Sadly, the film had nothing else to offer. The film fell short of Rs 1-crore mark in its first weekend.
Motu Patlu (3-D: Animation) could not draw kids, its target audience. The film is more likely to reach its viewers through home entertainment. The opening-day collections remained low, and the improvement hoped for over Saturday and Sunday was only marginal as the film managed Rs 1.4 crore for its opening weekend.
Fuddu had a disastrous reception at the box office with the first day collections ranging between two to three lakh and managing to collect just about 10 lakh for first three days.
Anna, a biopic on Anna Hazare, a celebrated activist, added to the long list of biopics that don’t work. The audience to the film remained that of total indifference as, despite a controlled budget, the film will be a total loser. The film could not cross Rs one lakh collection figure on its opening day and remained in the same range through its first weekend.
Mirzya, after a poor opening weekend of Rs 5.2 crore, was faced with more miseries over next four day to show Rs 8.4 crore for its first week.
Tutak Tutak Tutiya failed badly. The title as well as the bad casting affected the film’s opening, offering no chance to improve. The film collected Rs 2.75 crore in its first week.
M S Dhoni: The Untold Story benefitted the most with a continuous flow of poor films in opposition and giving it a free run at the box office. The film collected Rs 24.8 crore in its second week to take its two week tally to Rs 107.4 crore.
Pink collected Rs 1.6 crore in its fourth week to take its four week total to Rs 66.9 crore.
Hindi
Marico founder Harsh Mariwala’s book Harsh Realities set for film adaptation
Almighty Motion Picture taps Karan Vyas to script Marico story
MUMBAI: Almighty Motion Picture is turning its lens on India Inc., with plans to adapt Harsh Realities: The Making of Marico into a screen project. The story charts the rise of Harsh Mariwala, the chairman and founder of Marico, and is currently in early development, according to a report by Variety.
Writer Karan Vyas, known for his work on Scam 1992, Scoop and Made in India – A Titan Story, is attached to pen the screenplay. The project continues the studio’s growing interest in real-life Indian narratives that blend business with human drama.
At the heart of the story lies a defining moment in 1987, when Mariwala chose to step away from the family-run Bombay Oil Industries and strike out on his own. What followed was not just the creation of a company, but the reinvention of a legacy. Marico would go on to become a global FMCG player, with brands like Parachute, Saffola, Set Wet and Livon becoming household names, reaching nearly one in three Indians.
The source material, co-authored by Mariwala and renowned business strategist Ram Charan, offers more than a boardroom chronicle. It captures the grit behind the growth, the risks behind the rewards and the leadership lessons forged along the way.
The adaptation aims to move beyond balance sheets and brand milestones, focusing instead on the person behind the enterprise. Expect a narrative that leans into the emotional stakes of entrepreneurship, where decisions are as personal as they are professional.
Today, Marico draws about a quarter of its revenue from international markets across Asia and Africa, reflecting its steady transformation from a domestic player into a multinational force. Yet, if the makers have their way, the screen version will remind audiences that every global success story begins with a leap of faith.
With development set to begin soon, this is one business story that may just trade spreadsheets for storytelling, and profit margins for moments that linger
