New Delhi: Yes, MSG-The Messenger, which tried its best to anoint Saint Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh as a rockstar, action hunk, stunt master and what not, has raced into Rs 100 cr club, states a press release issued by film's PR.
“Amidst all the controversy surrounding the movie, ‘MSG - The Messenger', released last week, and guess what? The highly entertaining movie has already joined the 100 Crore club. It is one of the second 2015 releases to have joined this league and in the coming weeks, the Box-office earnings are only going to get better and better”, was quoted in press release issued.
If this is true then we assume that the Khans of Bollywood- Aamir, Shah Rukh and Salman- need a new strategy for their new competitor on board. However, leading website Bollywoodlife states that the box office figures of MSG aren't true.
"MSG: The Messenger hasn't worked wonders at the ticket windows. In fact, the cinema halls are going empty every day. The scenario is so bad that Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh eventually bought bulk tickets of his own movie," BollywoodLife.com sources said.
If Bollywood Hungama is to be believed, then the movie has collected just around Rs 9 cr in one week nett in India.
"MSG... unexpectedly failed to impress viewers and performed far below its maker's expectations," a trade analyst was quoted as saying to Financial Express.
Word of mouth has always been the most effective way of promoting a film which has been in practice since Raj Kapoor days- the golden era of Bollywood. Now that viewers have become much more wise and choosy about the entertainment content still PR activity plays a major role in making or breaking a film.
In MSG's case, the trade analysts have also refused to examine its box office figures. In this scenario, the recently issued press release could have been a much needed strategy to convey that the flick is doing brilliant business, even if it may not have in reality.
But if MSG: The Messenger has really touched Rs 100 cr mark then it's a big milestone considering it had no big Bollywood names.
This year's earlier release BABY, which won praises from all over couldn't make it to club and settled itself at Rs 93.40 cr nett in India despite it had Akshay Kumar in the lead and it was critically acclaimed.
If the figures are true then, MSG-The Messenger is the first blockbuster hit the year.
