kalbela

Released on: January 16

Starring: Parambrata, Pauli, Rudranil, Shantilal

Directed by: Goutam Ghose

Produced by: Doordarshan

Budget: Around Rs 15 lakh

Running at: Nandan, Priya, Star, Mitra

Box-office fate: Nandan and Priya have 90 per cent occupancy. The collections are Rs 20 lakh-plus in three weeks, according to Kalbela distributor NFDC.

Voiceover: “Though the film is a little long, people are liking it. We don’t expect Kalbela to be a superhit but there’s a growing demand for it and that’s why the film is in its fifth week,” says Suvabrata Halder, the regional manager of NFDC.

What we liked: Pauli’s knockout performance and her chemistry with Parambrata, Rudranil’s Shakti Chattopadhyay act.

What we didn’t like: The length — Kalbela is three hours too long.

What it means: Kalbela is this winter’s surprise, for few had expected the film with a Seventies’ feel to steal the thunder from the big-ticket Antaheen and Jackpot.

Antaheen

Released on: January 23

Starring: Rahul Bose, Radhika Apte, Aparna Sen, Sharmila Tagore

Directed by: Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury

Produced by: Screenplay Films

Budget: Rs 1.5 crore

Running at: All the INOXes, Fame, Priya, Star, Mitra, Prachi

Box-office fate: Footfalls have dropped at the plexes after a great opening. “We’ve had 99 per cent occupancy at Priya in the first week. It was 78 per cent in the second week. The film recovered 30 per cent of the budget in the first week itself,” says Antaheen distributor Arijit Dutta.

Voiceover: “Around 70 per cent of the audience have liked Antaheen more than Anuranan. People have liked the tender moments and the characters,” says Aniruddha.

What we liked: The slice of city life through Avik Mukhopadhyay’s camera, Shantanu Moitra’s soulful music and the ensemble cast.

What we didn’t like: The weak storyline; the wishy-washy Rahul-Radhika romance.

What it means: A good plot scores over pretty sets and smart cinematography.

Chaowa paowa

Released on: January 30

Starring: Prosenjit, Rachana, Abhishek, Swarnakamal

Directed by: Swapan Saha

Produced by: Nemai Panja

Budget: Around Rs 80 lakh

Running at: Minar, Bijoli, Chhabighar

Box-office fate: Footfalls are picking up after a slow start. “We have 60 per cent occupancy,” says Khudiram Chakraborty, the film’s presenter.

Voiceover: “Chaowa Paowa is the kind of film that has a slow beginning but picks up through word of mouth. It will do better,” says Prosenjit.

What we liked: Prosenjit. He sports the Khela stubble and looks quite charming.

What we didn’t like: The stale story, the song-dance sequences, Abhishek trying too hard.

What it means: A change of formula will do Swapan Saha (and us) a lot of good.

JACKpot

Released on: January 23

Starring: Koel Mullick, Hiran, Rahul, Sohini Pal

Directed by: Kaushik Ganguly

Produced by: Shree Venkatesh Films

Budget: Rs 1.25 crore

Running at: Prachi, Mitra, Indira

Box-office fate: Average footfall. The collections touched the Rs 50-lakh mark in Week Two.

Voiceover: “Jackpot isn’t doing as well as we had expected. People seem to be liking the film, but it should have done better,” says producer-distributor Mahendra Soni.

What we liked: Rahul-Sohini’s comic timing, the funny lines, Shreya Ghoshal’s Ari ari track.

What we didn’t like: The reality show concept; the second half, which drags.

What it means: Kaushik is on the right track (after Waaris and Shunya E Buke) but he needs to read the public pulse better.

lakshyaved

Released on: January 23

Starring: Rachana, Swastika, Tapas Pal, Sabyasachi Chakraborty, Joy

Directed by: Raj Mukherjee

Produced by: DM Productions

Budget: Rs 50 lakh

Running at: Darpana

Box-office fate: Average.

Voiceover: “Lakshyaved is a family drama and we expect it to do well in the suburbs since the story is set in a village,” says distributor Ranadip Dey of PB Films.

What we liked: Swastika prancing around in chiffon saris and skirts.

What we didn’t like: Newcomer Joy’s annoying antics; Tapas, who just grunts and growls; Sabyasachi in the horrible wig.

What it means: Raj must stop launching more heroes (it was Anshuman in his previous debacle Love Story).

friend

Released on: January 9

Starring: Satabdi Roy, Tapas Pal, Rishabh, Shayak, Ridhima

Directed by: Satabdi Roy

Produced by: Bobby Mohanty

Budget: Rs 1.5 crore

Running in: The suburbs

Box-office fate: The film ran for only two weeks in the city with less than average footfall.

Voiceover: “I have got a mixed response to the film. The college-going crowd has appreciated Friend and it’s definitely better than my first film Abhinetri,” says Satabdi.

What we liked: Rishabh and his friends in playful moments.

What we didn’t like: The plot, which is made up of more than five Hindi films; the alien, who looks more like a plastic doll; Shayak’s deadpan face.

What it means: Satabdi should stick to acting than directing mindless films.