Tag Archives: Yamla Pagla Deewana 2

Streaming Video News: April 23, 2020

I updated my list of Bollywood movies on Amazon Prime with dozens of Indian films added in the last week, including the 2020 Tamil releases God Father and Sandimuni and the Vicky Kaushal horror flick Bhoot: Part 1 — The Haunted Ship. The Taapsee Pannu social issue drama Thappad is now coming to Prime on May 1.

I also updated my list of Bollywood movies on Netflix with the addition of Dulquer Salmaan’s 2020 Malayalam release Varane Avashyamund, the 2019 Tamil film Kolaiyuthir Kaalam, and the new stand-up comedy special Yours Sincerely, Kanan Gill. I also included Chris Hemsworth’s new action flick Extraction in the list because it features Bollywood actors Randeep Hooda, Pankaj Tripathi, and Priyanshu Painyuli.

More than 30 Indian movies will expire from Netflix on May 1, so catch these while you can:

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Streaming Video News: May 1, 2017

I updated my list of Bollywood movies on Netflix with a ton of new additions to the catalog. More than thirty titles were added today, some for the first time (like Tanu Weds Manu) and some after a prolonged absence (like Kahaani). In addition to the Bengali film Abby Sen, the TV show Ramayan, and the documentaries Fire in the Blood, Mostly Sunny, and Saeed Mirza: The Leftist Sufi, the following Hindi movies are now available for streaming:

For everything else new on Netflix (Bollywood or not), check Instant Watcher.

Streaming Video News: September 10, 2014

Two Hindi movies were just added to the Netflix streaming catalog, but don’t get too excited. The movies are Yamla Pagla Deewana 2 and Hate Story, a movie that thinks it’s about women’s empowerment but really just reduces women to their sexual functions. I’d skip both and watch Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure instead.

For everything else new on Netflix, check out Instant Watcher.

Bollywood Box Office: June 20-22

Despite being lambasted by critics, Humshakals performed reasonably well in its first weekend in North American theaters. From June 20-22, 2014, Humshakals earned $262,502 from 165 theaters, a per-screen average of $1,591.

That $262,502 gross isn’t exceptional, but it’s in keeping with the total earnings of several Hindi comedies released in 2013 in North America.

Humshakals is likely to stick around for another week, so its total earnings will probably be closer to those of Besharam than Yamla Pagla Deewana 2. In 2013, a film only needed to earn upwards of $230,000 to finish in the top half of highest earning Hindi movies in the U.S. and Canada, so Humshakals is well-positioned to finish in the top half for 2014.

However, Besharam was considered a box office flop relative to expectations, so matching its total is nothing to brag about. In one crucial regard, Humshakals already lags behind. Besharam opened in an overly ambitious 217 theaters in North America, and its first weekend per-screen average was $2,323. Humshakals — whose 165-theater opening was also too ambitious — only averaged $1,591.

That’s a lower opening weekend average than director Sajid Khan’s last critically panned film: 2013’s Himmatwala, which averaged $1,998 on 99 screens in its first weekend before posting a final tally of $270,880.

While Humshakals‘ earnings aren’t horrible, they’re not great. Its performance — like the performance of Besharam — highlights the importance of correctly judging demand for your product and booking the right number of theaters accordingly.

One other Hindi movie opened in limited release in the U.S. on June 20, and its numbers are so bad that I can hardly believe they’re correct. Miss Lovely opened in three U.S. theaters, from which it earned just $558. Total. Despite a strong festival pedigree, its release wasn’t promoted in any meaningful way (unlike The Lunchbox), so potential moviegoers may not have known about it. Maybe Miss Lovely will have more success when it opens in Chicago and Austin this Friday.

Other Hindi movies showing in the U.S. and Canada from June 20-22 included:

  • Holiday: Week 3; $48,468 from 34 theaters; $1,426 average; $806,123 total
  • The Lunchbox: Week 17; $20,354 from 22 theaters; $925 average; $3,963,922 total
  • Filmistaan: Week 3; $90 from one theater; $45,013 total
  • Heropanti: Week 5; $82 from one theater; $63,172 total

Source: Rentrak, via Bollywood Hungama.

Opening June 14: Fukrey

The comedy Fukrey opens in Chicago area theaters on June 14, 2013. While Excel Entertainment has a good track record, Fukrey worries me because I can’t tell what the story is. Here’s Excel’s official description (from IMDb):

“College. Three of the most important years of your life. Three years of studies (at times) and sheer indulgence. Indulgence in all the little pleasures that a carefree life has to offer. But it isn’t always about ragging, fuchacha parties, college fests, races, and churning out ways to whack some extra pocket money from your parents. It’s sometimes hard, ugly, and complicated. More so, when you really need to get admission in the coolest college in town and you know you don’t deserve it. And to top that, you get yourself involved in the most bizarre stations that could crack you into pieces before you could crack it.”

Huh? The trailer is only marginally more helpful:

Fukrey opens on Friday at the Big Cinemas Golf Glen 5 in Niles, AMC South Barrington 30 in South Barrington, and Regal Cantera Stadium 17 in Warrenville. It has a listed runtime of 2 hrs. 20 min.

Yamla Pagla Deewana 2 carries over for a second week at the South Barrington 30. With U.S. earnings of $2,855,361 in two weeks, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani continues its impressive run for a third week at all three of the above theaters, plus the AMC River East 21 in Chicago, Regal Gardens Stadium 1-6 in Skokie, and AMC Loews Woodridge 18 in Woodridge.

Other Indian movies showing at the Golf Glen 5 this weekend include Something Something (Telugu) and its Tamil version, Theeya Velai Seiyyanum Kumaru, Neram (Malayalam), and Thillu Mullu 2 (Tamil).

Bonus streaming video news: Ajay Devgn’s offensive comedy remake Himmatwala is now available on Netflix. The movie treats the physical and sexual abuse of women as a joke, so I advise against watching it.

Opening June 7: Yamla Pagla Deewana 2

The comedy sequel Yamla Pagla Deewana 2 opens in Chicago area theaters on June 7, 2013. I wasn’t crazy about the first one, and the guy in the orangutan suit in the trailer doesn’t give me much hope for the second.

YPD2 opens on Friday at the AMC River East 21 in Chicago, Big Cinemas Golf Glen 5 in Niles, AMC South Barrington 30 in South Barrington, and Regal Cantera Stadium 17 in Warrenville. It has a listed runtime of 2 hrs. 30 min.

After posting massive first weekend returns of $1,568,677 in the U.S., Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani carries over at all of the above theaters, plus the Regal Gardens Stadium 1-6 in Skokie and AMC Loews Woodridge 18 in Woodridge.

Other Indian movies showing in the Chicago area this weekend include Iddarammayilatho (Telugu) at the Cinemark at Seven Bridges in Woodridge and at the Golf Glen 5, which is also showing Ladies and Gentlemen (Malayalam) and Prema Katha Chitram (Telugu).

Bonus streaming video news: Mere Dad Ki Maruti is now available for streaming on Netflix.