Go Goa Gippi, Gone!



Refreshing concept, well implemented, good word of mouth yet a dull performance at the box-office is what Saif Ali Khan, Kunal Khemu and Vir Das starrer ‘Go Goa Gone’ is all about. The other release, Dharma Production’s ‘Gippi’ is even worse.

Film critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh informs, “‘Go Goa Gone’ has fared way below expectations. The film started on a sluggish note and although the business witnessed escalation on Saturday and Sunday, the jump in business was clearly missing. The performance at a few metros was decent, but the mass circuits are a downer. Overall, disappointing! It has collected approx. Rs 12.80 cr nett in its opening weekend. Breakup:- Fri- Rs. 3.75 cr, Sat-Rs. 4.25 cr, Sun- Rs. 4.80 cr.”

He goes on to add, “‘Gippi’ witnessed growth at metros. The film was released at limited screens (and limited shows) and keeping that factor in mind, the overall business is satisfactory. It has collected approx. Rs 3 cr nett in its opening weekend. Breakup:- Fri- Rs. 75 lacs, Sat-Rs. 1 cr, Sun- Rs. 1.25 cr.”

As per the trade expert Joginder Tuteja, between ‘Go Goa Gone’ and ‘Gippi’, it was always on the cards that former would take a better start. With some element of star value to it, even though Saif's presence in the film was always pitched as an extended guest appearance, there were expectations of 40% footfalls to begin with. However the opening day was a little slower to begin with and eventually this well released film had to settle down for an approximate 30% first day. The silver lining though was the word of mouth and reviews that went in the film's favour. This meant that the film only showed an upward trend right through the weekend, hence leading to a weekend of around Rs. 13 crores.

Other release of the week, ‘Gippi', was never expected to take in big moolah during the opening days at the least. However it could have expected better than a weekend of over Rs. 3 crores that it managed for itself, he further adds. 

Film critic and trade analyst Vinod Mirani adds, “Despite good word of mouth ‘Go Goa Gone’ garnered lukewarm response of Rs. 13.12 crores, at the box-office precisely because its meant for niche limited audience. In fact, the concept of zombies eating up the living bodies hasn’t gone too well with single screens and small cities. The film has done well at multiplexes in big cities like Delhi and Mumbai. ‘Gippi’ on the other hand, is a disaster with merely, Rs. 2.25 crores of business. The problem lies in the concept again like who wants to watch the problem of 14 years old fat girl on-screen!”

However, weekdays would now have a very important role to play in the eventual outcome of ‘Go Goa Gone’. More so since it is not alone in theatres and has competition of some sort at least from ‘Aashiqui 2’ and ‘Shootout at Wadala’, concludes Tuteja.