Source: IndiaFM
By: Taran Adarsh
Date: March 5, 2008
Overseas: 'J-A' is a Blockbuster With no biggie to pose a challenge to JODHAA AKBAR for yet another weekend, the historical dominated the charts for the third consecutive week. While the much-appreciated film has crossed the $ 3 million mark, it's speeding towards £ 1 million in U.K. A Blockbuster Hit in Overseas! Weekend: February 29 – March 2, 2008. U.K. BOX-OFFICE JODHAA AKBAR [last weekend: No. 15, this weekend: No. 16]: In its third weekend, the film has collected £ 101,542 on 47 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 2,160. Total: £ 844,362 [approx. Rs. 6.76 crores]. The breakdown:- Friday: £ 17,672; Saturday: £ 37,861; Sunday: £ 46,009.
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Source: Variety
By PATRICK FRATER
Film passes $25 million mark 'Jodhaa Akbar' Global box office takings for UTV's "Jodhaa Akbar" have passed the symbolic 1 billion rupees mark ($25 million), proving that controversy sells tickets. The period romancer has clocked up $18.3 million in India after a chaotic 17 days. Theatrical run was interrupted by violent protests, blocked release in some regions and a temporary suspension of distribution in the important Madhya Pradesh state, where the Rajputs challenged pic's historical accuracy. A court ruling suspending screenings in Madhya Pradesh was overturned Tuesday and pic began to play again the same evening. In other parts of the country, especially rural areas, combination of controversy and good word of mouth for the film itself gave it good legs. In the U.S. gross has climbed to a powerful $3.2 million, while the U.K. has jogged along to $1.66 million. The Gulf and other parts have each brought in $1 million each, according to UTV data.
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Source: BOI
Date: March 4, 2008
Jodhaa Akbar continues showing big numbers. North America shows a huge 12.25 crore in 17 days and is a Blockbuster in North America. It will be amongst the top five grossers ever in North America when figures are taken in Indian currency. In UK it is at 6.75 crore after 17 days. The total for overseas in all markets is 26.50 crore which makes it one of the top 10 grossing films ever in overseas alraedy. Supreme Court lifts ban on Jodhaa Akbar, for now Tue Mar 4, 2008 6:36pm IST NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the lifting of bans on the screening of "Jodhaa Akbar", a film about the romance between a Mughal emperor and a Hindu princess that had angered the Rajput community. Several states banned the film on the grounds that its screening would incite violence after Rajputs protested and even attacked movie halls screening it. The makers of the film moved the Supreme Court, saying the bans were illegal and had led to huge revenue losses.
On Tuesday, the court stayed the bans until March 14 pending disposal of the appeal. Rajput groups say the film, which tells the story of the love and marriage between Akbar, the 16th century Mughal emperor, and the Hindu princess Jodhaa, was historically inaccurate as she was his daughter-in-law. Historians debate this matrimony which is said to have led to an alliance between the Rajputs and the Mughals.
The film, starring former Miss World Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Bollywood hero Hrithik Roshan, runs a disclaimer stating it is not necessarily an accurate reflection of history. This was just the latest controversy to hit Bollywood, raising criticism India is becoming an increasingly intolerant place for artists. Last year, effigies of Richard Gere and Bollywood actress and Britain's "Celebrity Big Brother" winner Shilpa Shetty were burnt after he kissed her on the cheek at a public event. A court even ordered Gere's arrest on obscenity charges.
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Source: Rediff
Date: March 04, 2008
The Supreme Court on Tuesday has lifted the ban on the screening of Jodhaa Akbar in different parts of the country till March 14 of this month. A Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan passed an interim order while hearing a petition filed by the producer of the film. The producer of the movie, UTV Software Communication, contended that the film has been banned in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and various cities of Haryana and Uttarakhand allegedly for political reasons.
Lavish premiere in Hyderabad Click here to add this article to My Clips By Taran Adarsh, March 4, 2008 - 08:55 IST Generally, the dubbed version of successful films are never released with pomp and gaiety. In fact, barring a few biggies, a majority of Hindi films that were dubbed in South Indian languages have had an unsung release, exactly the way most South classics are released in the Hindi belt, in Hindi language. But JODHAA AKBAR is expected to break the trend.
Ashutosh Gowariker’s much-in-news historical, which is faring well at the box-office, has been dubbed in Tamil and Telugu versions by the producers themselves. While the dubbed versions are expected to open this week, the entire team of JODHAA AKBAR will be flying to Hyderabad on Thursday to participate in the lavish premiere of the Telugu version, organized at PVR multiplex. Not just Gowariker or producer Ronnie Screwvala, even the principal stars, Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Sonu Sood, Punam S. Sinha and Ila Arun, as also cinematographer Kiran Deohans and art director Nitin Chandrakant Desai are expected to partake in the pre-release screening. Incidentally, UTV is having an extensive release in these two versions: 75 prints in Telugu version and 60 prints in Tamil version.