'Eklavya is bigger than Munna Bhai'

Director Vidhu Vinod Chopra is more than pleased with the collections of his latest, Eklavya.

"The film is running to full multiplexes and is doing roaring business in Delhi and Mumbai," said an ebullient Chopra. "In the first three days, in these two cities, the film has grossed more than Lage Raho Munnabhai did in the same period." 

According to statistics given by the producers, the film -- costing approximately Rs 37 crores -- made Rs 1.76 crores in Mumbai on the first day, while Lage Raho on the first day made Rs 1.32 crores. Delhi, on opening day for Eklavya, raked in Rs 1.85 crores. The first three days in Mumbai have pulled up a total of Rs 5.5 crores.

Special: Showcasing Eklavya

"There are two ways to look at a film like this. It is likely that single-screen theatres, with inferior sound and projection systems, especially in the non-metro cities, will see a drop in audience. The multiplex audiences, however, have been most enthusiastic," said Chopra. The film's crisp running time of 107 minutes has also given theatres the chance to flood their schedules with shows.

Though the film opened to rave reviews, conflicting reports from trade analysts led to the film being considered a dud. "The appreciation for Vidhu Vinod Chopra's Eklavya remains limited to the media," said analyst Vinod Mirani. "The paying public has rejected the film, making it a commercial failure."

The Amitabh Bachchan starrer is doing well in the United States too, said Chopra. "It's the first time we're adding prints in Los Angeles, in the middle of the week."