Rs. 100 crores for Chennai Express - Now no one is countering that. When Ra.One and immediately after thatDon 2 scored 100 crores while Jab Tak Hai Jaan, despite another 100 crore biggie (Son of Sardaar) releasing alongside, ensured a hat trick, it is a no-brainer to expectChennai Express to be any lesser.
However - and this is where the buck stops - Shah Rukh Khan is a man who is expected to 'create' records, and not be the one 'amongst others' who have these records.
Shah Rukh has to score...and score BIG!
The bare minimum expectation
100 crores is a given for Chennai Express. The game is much higher though. 150-175-200 or more is what is expected to make a headline, not 100 crores!
Salman Khan already has a near double century (Ek Tha Tiger) and three in the vicinity of a century and a half (Dabangg 2, Dabangg, Bodyguard) to his name, Akshay Kumar too has a bigger film to his name (Rowdy Rathore), Aamir Khan is the record setter and the first one to score a century (Ghajini) and then a double century (3 Idiots), Hrithik's Agneepath has scored higher while Ajay has enjoyed a flurry of centuries too (Singham, Son of Sardaar, Bol Bachchan, Golmaal 3).
In the times when a Ranbir Kapoor is hitting a near double century in just his 10th film (Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani) and after being in the industry for just around half a decade, the stakes are much higher. HisBarfi! introduced him to the century club and now even a Farhan Akhtar is boasting of a 100 crore affair (Bhaag Milkha Bhaag).
In such times, more than anyone else, deep inside even Shah Rukh Khan is expected to believe, hope, expect and want that Chennai Express scales further height.
Let's talk about the Chennai Express - The film
One fact that cannot be denied is that First Look of Ra.One, Don 2 as well as Jab Tak Hai Jaan had seen largely good response coming their way. Of course there are always not-so-flattering reviews accompanying the positive ones as well but as long as it is manageable, there is never a threat. Same has been the case with Chennai Express as well. Though not all may have been impressed, the fact that the balance is still largely towards those who wish to watch the film bring the film in a comfort zone.
Also, let's admit it, promos of Rohit Shetty films are meant to be bound by a certain template. In fact the First Look of his last film Bol Bachchan had seen quite some flak coming its way. Still the film managed to cross the 100 crore mark. Now if one looks at the promo of Chennai Express, while it has large elements of being 'A Rohit Shetty film', one cannot miss a distinct Shah Rukh Khan-ism in the scheme of things.
Fans have their own expectations though
When it came to Ajay Devgn, his fans were mighty impressed with what Rohit Shetty brought out of the actor with Singham. Yes, there were flying cars, men thrown into skies and lamp posts turning into sticks. It was all acceptable since Ajay would anyways have done it in films directed by someone other than Rohit. In case of Chennai Express, the game-plan changes since the film has been presented as an unabashed 'masala' entertainer.
This means that in an attempt to bring in Shah Rukh's mannerisms Rohit Shetty 'ishtyle', there is bound to be apprehension around 'Whose style is it there anyways?'
Is it going to be a Rohit Shetty film with Shah Rukh in there?
Or is it going to be a Shah Rukh film with Rohit as an executor?
Is it going to be one enviable affair which would balance both together?
Or is it going to be a 'khichdi' which turns out to be a mishmash of affair?
The way it seems
While the film is appearing all colourful, bright and vibrant, one key element - 'The Story' - isn't something that has been brought to the fore. Of course one hopes this was intentional but then if one looks at Shah Rukh's record over the years, a film of his always has a story. Whether it is accepted or not, it is always sold on a story. In case of Chennai Express, the 'how' part is still clear (by way of execution) but one is left hunting for the 'what' part in the story!
In addition, a very important element - music - is a topic of conversation as well. Seeing mixed reactions coming their way, the songs have been weighed down by mighty expectations that one has from a Shah Rukh Khan starrer. Again, in case of it just being a Rohit Shetty film, music would have been a minor element in the bigger scheme of things. However the moment Shah Rukh comes on the scene, everything that he does needs to be a blockbuster or a chartbuster.
The ground reality
Chennai Express has all the ammunition it needs to be a 150 crore affair at the least, if not higher. No expense has been spared on making it a BIG film indeed. By all means it has been pitched as a mega film. It has Deepika Padukone as the leading lady who is on a career high. It has been promoted extensively and on all available platforms, while smartly staying away from the over exposure that had earned detractors for Ra.One. It is going to see the biggest release ever for Shah Rukh Khan, Rohit Shetty and UTV. And the biggest of them all, it is arriving on Eid.
On the flipside, it has Once Upon Ay Time In Mumbaai Dobaara giving it major competition in immediate next week, which means it won't quite enjoy an uninterrupted run as it would have wanted. However, higher ticket rates should fairly compensate for the lost moolah there.
The final word
100 crores should come in the First Week run itself. It is the collections thereafter that would count most. Rest assured, champagne bottles would be out there waiting to be uncorked. However, it is Shah Rukh, and just Shah Rukh, who would be the best judge on when does he wish to throw a party. If a success party is indeed thrown for anything less than 150 crore, especially in the times when new kids on the block have started scoring so heavily, it would be a bit of surprise!
