`Delhi-6` opens to huge expectations; elicits good response

Mumbai, Feb 20: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra`s much awaited `Delhi-6`, about a young Indian-American`s discovery of his roots, opened here today to a good response.The film starring Abhishek Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, Waheeda Rehman, Rishi Kapoor, Om Puri, and a host of other theatre artistes opened to 45 percent collections on the first day at the box office," Girish Wankhede of Cinemax multiplex in suburban Mumbai, said.

The first show at 8 am was nearly houseful with about 80 percent occupancy, he said. AR Rahman`s music, especially the popular chartbuster "Masakali" and huge expectations from Mehra and UTV Motion Pictures, makers of hugely successful and critically acclaimed `Rang De Basanti`, will ensure good opening collections for `Delhi-6`, trade sources said. Meanwhile, film critics gave a mixed response to the movie. "Mehra thinks out of the box and he has proved it once again with `Delhi-6`," said film critic Taran Adarsh. He however, felt that the filmmaker disappoints with his new offering while others were of the view that a "weak climax" has affected the movie overall. Kumar Mohan, Editor of trade magazine `Complete Cinema` said he did not like the film as there was no clarity in what the filmmaker was trying to convey. "Mehra`s movies are message-oriented. He speaks about facing the difficulties and problems that exist, rather than running away from it," critics said. If RDB spoke about "awakening within yourself", dealing with the death of a young IAF pilot flying a faulty fighter plane,`Delhi-6` highlights how the issue of a `monkey man` triggers a `mandir-masjid` talk and can be used to drive a wedge between two communities, they said. The director`s attempt to symbolically use the monkey man to get across the message of "spotting the evil within oneself first" before fighting external forces is appreciable, they added. Bureau Report