The Malayalam film 'Bha. Bha. Ba.', starring actor Dileep, has hit a significant slowdown in its theatrical run. After a promising first week, the film's collections have taken a sharp dip as it entered its second week, raising concerns about its staying power at the box office.
Box Office Numbers Tell a Story of Decline
On its twelfth day in theatres, which was a Monday, the film managed to collect only around Rs 17 lakh net in India. This is a notably low figure that highlights the film's struggle to maintain momentum. Prior to this, by the end of day 11, 'Bha. Bha. Ba.' had earned approximately Rs 22.55 crore. With the day 12 figures added, the total domestic net collection now stands close to Rs 22.72 crore.
The contrast between the first and second weeks is stark. The film opened strongly, amassing a solid Rs 20.9 crore in its first week. However, the second week has begun on an uneven and worrying note for the producers, with Monday's poor performance being a key indicator.
Alarmingly Low Theatre Occupancy Rates
The box office drop is directly reflected in the empty seats across theatres. According to data from the Sacnilk website, the overall Malayalam film occupancy on day 12 was a mere 8.15 percent. A breakdown of the shows reveals a consistently poor turnout throughout the day.
- Morning shows: A dismal 4.22% occupancy.
- Afternoon shows: Slightly better at 7.39%.
- Evening shows: Remained low at 7.28%.
- Night shows: Performed relatively better but still weak at 13.70%.
These numbers underscore the challenge the film faces in attracting audiences beyond its initial core fanbase.
Film Details and the Shadow of Mixed Reviews
'Bha. Bha. Ba.' is directed by Dhananjay Shankar and features a large ensemble cast. While Dileep plays the lead, the presence of superstar Mohanlal in a pivotal role was a major pre-release talking point. The supporting cast includes popular names like Vineeth Sreenivasan, Dhyan Sreenivasan, Balu Varghese, Saranya Ponvannan, and Redin Kingsley.
However, the film has been met with mixed reactions from critics and audiences. An ETimes review pointed out a unique contemporary context for watching Dileep's films post his involvement in the actress assault case, for which he was recently acquitted. The review noted that audiences might now look for "Easter eggs" related to the real-life case within the movie's narrative.
It also suggested that certain bold scenes and dialogues appear intentionally added. The title itself, which stands for 'Bhavam Bhakti Bahumanam', was seen by the review as having a potential link to the actor's personal situation. Specific moments, like a scene where Dileep's character vows retribution against the media and an action sequence with a "this is a comeback" voice-over, have been highlighted as drawing parallels to his off-screen persona.
While crossing the Rs 22 crore mark is a decent achievement, the dramatic fall on day 12 and the critically low occupancy rates signal a worrying trend for 'Bha. Bha. Ba.'. The film's ability to recover in the coming days remains a key point of observation for the Malayalam film industry.
