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Khauff Gets No Welcome

J M Shenoy

Sanjay Dutt has never been popular with North American audiences, except in Khalnayak, but the weak performance of his recent release Khauff still surprised people. The movie, which grossed about $ 53,000 in three days, is one of the worst performers featuring a major star. Though Dutt's films have had a respectable run in India and he won a Filmfare award this year, in Britain and America he appears to be a loser.

Given the pattern of past desi performers in North America, Khauff could end its run with just about $ 110,000. There are no indications that it is a winner in England.

Meanwhile, Hey Ram faded fast from the English and American circuits, managing just about $ 200,000.

But there was plenty of good news for a movie for those elsewhere on the Indian subcontinent.

The Cup, a satire about Buddhism and renunciation of worldly pleasure, pocketed nearly $ 100,000 last weekend, and brought its total to $ 568,000. The film, which was ranked 44 in Daily Variety's list of 60 top earners, is surprising everyone with its stamina. It was expected to take about $ 1 million.

When it failed to get an Oscar nomination in the foreign film category, some said it would disappear fast. But the quirky movie has shown such strong legs, now it is headed for a $ 1.25 million earning.

Caravan, the Nepalese film which got the foreign picture nomination, is yet to be commercially released in America.

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