Rani Mukerji’s Hichki has opened to superb feedback.
Most people who visited theatres on Friday said they loved the film, and trade observers feel word of mouth will help the film cross Rs 2 crore on the first day.
Exhibitor Akshaye Rathi said: “The numbers are encouraging and I can see the film cross Rs 2 crore considering it has very limited screen count of just 961 screens across India and 380 overseas. I can also see the business of the film go past Mardaani (2014, Rani’s last release). Also if you look at Siddharth Malhotra’s last film We Are Family (2010), this is a complete transformation.”
Mardaani’s opening weekend had collected Rs 14 crore but trade insiders feel Hichki will surpass that number without hiccups.
Trade analyst Atul Mohan said: “The word of mouth for Hichki is strong and critics have loved it too. Mardaani was about child trafficking, so it had some violence, while Hichki is about family, kids and education. It will connect with every one. It has a huge universal appeal, which Mardaani didn’t. The film should be made tax free.”
Audiences who came out of theatres after watching Hichki said they could relate to some of the incidents in the film. Others spoke about how one can overcome weaknesses and fulfil dreams.
Morning shows in both multiplexes and single screens were filled up to 70 per cent of capacity and most viewers exited with smiles.
A viewer we spoke to at a famous single-screen theatre in Mumbai said: “This is Rani at her scintillating best. She clearly understood the pain that a person affected by Tourette syndrome goes through and portrayed it marvellously on screen. Whenever she smiled, we smiled. Whenever she cried, we cried with her. She should win no less than a National Award for this mind-blowing performance.”
Multiplex viewers were equally moved with Rani’s performance.
“She is the soul of the film. Not many of us were aware of the disorder. We learnt it through Rani. Kudos to her. The movie should also be shown in schools and colleges and declared tax free,” said a viewer.
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh, too, was all praise for Rani, said: “It is too early to talk about the film’s business. It’s a well-made film and one of Rani’s best performances. Hichki has high emotional content that will connect with the audiences. The high point, besides Rani’s brilliant performance, is the entertainment that has been seamlessly incorporated in the film. This is a word-of-mouth film which is going to be pretty strong and youth as well as family audience will love it. I see the film doing great business.”
Some, however, said Hichki was too filmi at times.
Critic Ajay Brahmatmaj said: “The intention of the film was good but it was not well executed. It was a bit illogical and filmi. Rani had a great chance to play a good character, which is very rare for a heroine in Hindi cinema. Rani could’ve chosen any other subject looking at the kind of position she is in today but she chose a challenging subject with a message to the society, which is highly commendable. Both Harsh Mayar and Rani are superlative ‘’
Bharati K. Dubey and Prasad Damodaran
