Zubaan besieged by Gangaajal

Zubaan, which opened alongside Prakash Jha’s Jai Gangaajal is finding itself in a peculiar situation. Even though it has been appreciated a lot more than Jai Gangaajal, Zubaan finds its voice being stifled by non-availability of screening outlets. Most of the shows and screens have been monopolised by Jai Gangaajal leaving this not-so-mainstream film high and dry.

Zubaan director Mozez Singh admits there was a scarcity of theatres. “We did face a dearth of theatres and screens. I guess the other release is much bigger than ours and it stars Priyanka Chopra, who is a huge international star now. But we are hopeful we will get more screens as the week passes by.”

Says trade analyst Atul Mohan, “Stars sell. And that’s the bottom line on all discussions on the distribution of screens and theatres. Band mutthi lakh ki....khul jaye toh phir khaak ki. Till Friday, the multiplexes had a choice between Zubaan and Jai Gangaajaal and the latter definitely looked better on paper. Prakash Jha is also a big name. That makes a huge difference.”