HARI PUTTAR is no HARRY POTTER. And no HOME ALONE either. In terms of content. Also box-office numbers. Frankly, no one expected miracles, but you didn't expect the movie to be so bad either. 10-15 minutes into the film and it didn't take a Nostradamus to predict its fate.

The question is, had this kiddie flick opened during holidays [summer vacations, Idd, Diwali, Christmas], would its fate be different? I doubt! Perhaps, marginally better. HARI PUTTAR stands on a weak foundation and holiday or no holiday, it was bound to crash.

You can't fool the audiences anymore. The decision to watch or skip a film is taken much before any film is released. The Friday numbers, therefore, reflect how garam or naram the film is amongst the paying public.

Expectedly, HARI PUTTAR had a tepid start all over. In fact, the business easily ranks amongst the lowest this year. Will it improve in the festive week? After all, it's a 4-day weekend. With KIDNAP and DRONA arriving this Thursday, there's a strong possibility that a weakling like HARI PUTTAR might not even get playing time at most plexes.

Final verdict? Add yet another name [HARI PUTTAR] to the long list of 'also ran' products of 2008.

RAFOO CHAKKAR met with an equally disastrous fate. After watching a private screening of the film, I was sure no amount of promotion could salvage this misadventure from sinking. Released in 1 or 2 shows across the plexes, the fate was crystal clear on Day 1 itself. Do I need to elaborate more?

Should we expect a windfall this Thursday onwards? The expectations are huge and let's hope that the plexes record maximum footfalls over this 4-day weekend. Amen!