Two unusual films – Yash Raj Films’ Chak De! India and Sajid Nadiadwala’s Heyy Babyy have won the hearts of the audience of a dozen releases chucking out biggies like Cash, Naya Daur, Kaafila, Ram Gopal Varma ki Aag, and Victoria 203.

While Shah Rukh Khan proved to be a lucky mascot for Yash Raj films’ Chak De which picked up its collections after a slow start, Heyy Babyy took a bumper opening at multiplexes. David Dhawan’s Partner is raking in the moolah consistently while Chak De is close on the trail.

Entwining a tale about nationalism with a narrative concerning the neglected state of Indian women’s hockey, Chak De! India brings a known story of indifference and discrimination to centrestage. It scores over other sports films in not overtly glamourising the players and in depicting the harsh realities associated with women’s sports in India. Shimit Amin deserves accolades for his hatke film.

Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag collapsed like a pack of cards, landing him with an egg on his face as the film has none of the basic ingredients that make for even an average B-grade movie out of a powerhouse of talents like Amitabh Bachchan, Mohanlal, Ajay Devgan, Sushmita Sen, and Urmila Matondkar. Though Bharat Shah had bought all India rights for Rs.16 crores, he will lose Rs 5 crores. Coming close on the heel simultaneously is a suicidal remake of Victoria 203, for the film is outdated and the casting is odd so much so that even the vulnerable audience turned their face away.

As these two stinkers were not enough, terror- thriller Dhoka, misdirected by Pooja Bhatt, went down the drain despite having a contemporary subject- terrorism. Cash seemed to be a rehash of Anubhav Sinha’s Dus and Dhoom, Anil Kapoor’s Gandhi My Father, though with unusual theme and critical applause has hardly any relief for masses to stomach.

B R Films’s vintage classic Naya Daur in colour avtar was released at wrong time as there are no saleable stars in the contemporary context. Though the performance of Dilip Kumar, Vyjayantimala and Ajit and the direction is superb with haunting tunes by O P Nayyar, the film did not take a decent opening.

Amtoje Mann’s Sunny Deol starrer Kaafila was a sitting duck. The film has no heroine worth the name and Sunny’s late entry in the film has only disappointed his fans. Cash has crash landed after an initial draw mainly due to main players. The film has failed to elicit any kind of sustained interest despite Ajay Devgan’s action. It is a losing proposition.

 With battery of veterans trying to tickle your funny bones, one assumed that it would be a laugh riot but too many cooks spoiled the broth that is Buddha Mar Gaya.

Despite Salman Khan’s restrained performance and American starlet Ali Larter’s breezy actions, Marigold appeared to be a big loser.