The mass spoof film 'Bha. Bha. Ba.', starring Malayalam superstar Dileep, has hit a significant roadblock at the box office after a promising opening. The movie, which began its theatrical run with strong numbers, is now witnessing a dramatic and concerning slowdown in its earnings, raising questions about its long-term sustainability.
Sharp Decline in Daily Collections
According to data reported by industry tracker Sacnilk, the film's financial performance has taken a severe hit in its second week. On its fourteenth day in theaters, 'Bha. Bha. Ba.' managed to collect a mere Rs 15 lakhs in India net. This comes after the film had already shown signs of weakness. On day 12, it earned Rs 20 lakhs, marking a massive 63.64 percent fall from previous days. Day 13 also brought in Rs 20 lakhs, showing no recovery, before the further dip to Rs 15 lakhs on day 14.
The cumulative collection tells a story of rapid deceleration. The film had amassed an estimated Rs 22.95 crores India net in its first 13 days. With the day 14 figures, the total India net collection now stands at approximately Rs 23.10 crores. In broader terms, the India gross collection is Rs 27.15 crores, while the worldwide total has reached Rs 45.25 crores, bolstered by an overseas contribution of Rs 18.10 crores.
Alarmingly Low Theater Occupancy
The poor collections are directly reflected in the empty seats across cinemas. A snapshot from December 31 revealed an overall Malayalam occupancy of just 7.94 percent for the film. The breakdown of shows paints a bleak picture:
- Morning shows: Nearly empty at 4.00% occupancy.
- Afternoon shows: Slightly better at 10.82%.
- Evening shows: Dropped again to 5.07%.
- Night shows: Were the 'best' performers but still critically low at 11.87%.
This pattern indicates a severe lack of audience pull beyond the initial rush, a major concern for the film's distributors and exhibitors.
Star-Studded Cast and Critical Verdict
'Bha. Bha. Ba.' is directed by Dhananjay Shankar and features an ensemble cast including not just Dileep, but also heavyweights like Mohanlal, Vineeth Sreenivasan, Dhyan Sreenivasan, Balu Varghese, Saranya Ponvannan, and Redin Kingsley in pivotal roles. The screenplay is penned by the husband-wife actor duo Fahim Safar and Noorin Shereef.
Despite the star power, the film has failed to win over critics. The ETimes review offered a pointed critique, stating, “The film... is confused in its storyline, scripting and making, even though there is a disclaimer to leave logic at the door.” The review drew a comparison, noting that while filmmakers like Bollywood's Farah Khan work on whimsical themes, their films succeed by being hugely entertaining with engaging storylines—a quality the review implies 'Bha. Bha. Ba.' lacks.
The combination of poor word-of-mouth, as suggested by the critical reception, and the steep weekly drop in collections, points to a challenging road ahead for Dileep's latest cinematic offering. The box office trend suggests the film is unlikely to achieve the blockbuster status its cast list might have promised, serving as a reminder that audience taste and content ultimately drive commercial success.
