The Malayalam comedy film 'Bha. Bha. Ba.' has marked its tenth day in cinemas across India, revealing a tale of a strong start followed by a significant slowdown. The film, which opened to a robust first week, has seen its collections taper off as it entered its second weekend, amidst a brewing online controversy.
Box Office Performance: A Strong Start Meets a Slowdown
The film garnered an impressive Rs 20.9 crore India net in its opening week. After nine days, the cumulative total had climbed to approximately Rs 21.55 crore. However, the momentum dipped sharply on its tenth day, which was a Saturday. According to data from Sacnilk, the movie added only around Rs 40 lakhs to its kitty on that day, pushing the total India net collection to about Rs 21.95 crore.
This sharp decline is reflected in the day ten occupancy rates. The overall Malayalam occupancy stood at a mere 15.08 percent. The morning shows witnessed very sparse attendance, with a slight pickup in the afternoon. Evening shows performed better than the daytime slots, but the night shows recorded the highest turnout at 26 percent occupancy, indicating a preference for later viewings among the limited audience.
Cast, Crew, and The Controversial Scene
'Bha. Bha. Ba.' is directed by Dhananjay Shankar and features an ensemble cast including Dileep, Mohanlal, Vineeth Sreenivasan, Dhyan Sreenivasan, Balu Varghese, Saranya Ponvannan, and Redin Kingsley. Marketed as a light-hearted spoof packed with film references, the makers intended it to be a purely fun cinematic experience.
However, the film found itself in hot water over a particular scene that many viewers found distasteful and painful. The controversy gained traction online, partly fueled by the context of it being lead actor Dileep's first release after his acquittal in the high-profile actress abduction and assault case. This backdrop led a section of the audience to interpret the scene as insensitive.
Writers Defend Their Creative Intent
In response to the backlash, the film's writers, Noor and Fahim, addressed the concerns. They firmly stated that their intention was never to cause hurt. "Not a single scene or dialogue was done to hurt anyone," clarified Fahim.
They emphasized that the film is a proper spoof, constructed solely on humour and references from various movies and characters. Explaining the contentious scene involving a cow, the writers argued that it was designed to showcase the negative mindset of a particular character. "Only when a character is bad does the audience dislike a villain," they added, suggesting that the discomfort was a deliberate narrative tool to establish a character's antagonistic traits.
The duo expressed that if the audience understood their intended humour, it was a positive outcome. Despite their clarification, the mixed reception—where some enjoyed the jokes while others were put off—coupled with the dipping box office numbers, paints a complex picture for the film's journey ahead.
