The demonetisation drive has not a noticeable effect on the collection of Rock On 2, Chaar Sahibzaade 2, Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada (AYM) and Sahasam Swasaga Sagipo (SSS) at the box office in the first week of their release.
The announcement to abolish notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000, made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8, had led many in the film industry to predict that the new releases as well as the currently-running films would be adversely affected. However, quite a few trade watchers had to change their mind a week after the decision was made.
Rock On 2, the solo big ticket release from Bollywood, opened to poor response and failed to register growth on the following days. The film ended up the first week with a poor collection at the Indian box office. While a few from the industry described this dismal performance as an effect of demonetisation, many others feel that the film failed to live up to the expectations that it had created before its release and that is what resulted in its poor show.
"The film industry is not affected by it at all," an observer from Bollywood said. "The industry has been corporatised and cleaned of all cash dealings. Since 2000, the industry hasn't been deal with cash money."
Simbu's Tamil film Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada opened to a decent response and made good collection on the following days. The Gautam Menon-directed film collected approximately Rs 15 crore at the Indian box office in the first week. Its business has been much bigger than that of Simbu's last release. Experts from Kollywood say that the movie has been least affected by the demonetisation move.
Naga Chaitanya's Sahasam Swasaga Sagipo, the Telugu version of Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada, also received good response and collected over Rs 12 crore at the box office in the first week. Tollywood watchers feel that its business was affected by demonetisation to some extent.
Chaar Sahibzaade 2 has also made good collections at the Indian box office in the first week and its business is said to be almost on par with that of its prequel. Other old Indian releases, including Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Shivaay, have also fared well at the Indian box office in the last week.
