(Above) A poster of the film Corporate and (left) a still from Anthony Kaun Hai?

At long last, after weeks of waiting, Madhur Bhandarkar’s hatke film Corporate has arrived at Anuradha cinema. A film about power, paisa and politics, Corporate stars Bipasha Basu, Kay Kay Menon, Harsh Chhaya, Rajat Kapoor and Raj Babbar.

Apsara is screening the Raj Kaushal-directed thriller Anthony Kaun Hai? With Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi and Minissha Lamba in the lead roles, this comic caper is a frame-by-frame lift of the Christian Slater-starrer Who is Cletis Tout?

The Killer, after two successful weeks at Meghdoot cinema, has moved to Pragjyoti. A copy of Hollywood film Collateral, this latest film from the Mahesh Bhatt-Mukesh Bhatt camp stars Irrfan Khan, Emraan Hashmi and Nisha Kothari. Vandana, after a two-week show and a break, is back with the laugh-riot Golmaal. The film follows the comic capers of Ajay Devgan, Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor, Sharman Joshi, Paresh Rawal, Rimi Sen and Sushmita Mukherjee.

Mayur Krishna is screening Gangster, the Emraan Hashmi-Kanga Ranaut-Shiney Ahuja starrer, whose music is keeping the shows running.

AT THE BOX OFFICE

It is a close toss between Corporate and Anthony Kaun Hai? Both have released this week, both have a dominant metro feel and both are stylish in content and form.

While Corporate, based on the cola war that raged between two soft drink giants in the county around two years back, is essentially a story of ambition and lack of human emotions, Anthony Kaun Hai? is a thriller laced with a love story and light moments.

With the lovable Munnabhai MBBS combo, Dutt and Warsi, teamed together, Anthony Kaun Hai? had a good initial value. “I had been awaiting this movie with a lot of enthusiasm. On the whole, it is decent fare, although the screenplay is poor,” said businessman Dipankar Biswas.

Ruplekha Boro, who watched the first show on the first day, added: “A nice enough film, but it was disappointing to learn that Sanjay and Arshad are on either side of the fulcrum.” Yes, Anthony Kaun Hai? is no laughathon or runaway success like Munnabhai, but in the city it is proving to be a winning movie that has appealed more to a niche audience than the hoi polloi.

Running neck-and-neck, Corporate seems to have appealed to a select audience, too. “No wonder, since it is unlikely that the deceitful ways of corporate houses, power games and underhand dealings will engage all minds. The film also has a lot of technical jargon that is difficult to follow. Corporate lacks the content of a masala flick,” said Sanjib Medhi, a die-hard Madhur Bhandarkar fan.

At second place is The Killer, into its third consecutive week in the city and still going great guns. Golmaal rates a poor third this week, but has had an excellent run over the past few weeks.

NEXT CHANGE

Corporate and Anthony Kaun Hai? look set to continue for another week. Karan Johar’s Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna is releasing this week, but not in Guwahati.