Tere Bin Laden (TBL) the wacky new concept comedy from Walkwater Media is all set to break box office records for Indian independent comedies as it heads into a bumper second week. Audiences are still flocking to theaters to catch this film and its spoofy portrayal of Osama Bin Laden. Positive word of mouth has helped the film hold on to its screening slots in multiplexes in spite of competition from Akshay Kumar starrer Khatta Meetha and the Hollywood film Salt starring Angelina Jolie.

Some multiplexes in Mumbai have even increased the number of daily shows of TBL. The numbers too support the audience reports. The film has cumulatively grossed upwards of 8 crore all over India at the box office from only 344 screens. If you compare this with the performance of other indie comedies like Oye Lucky Lucky Oye and Khosla ka Ghosla, then you will be surprised to know that TBL has crossed the lifetime gross of both these films in week one itself! To top it all, the film has strong potential for more business in week two.

The film continues to march briskly in the international markets with a total international take including the UK, Middle East, Australia, South Africa and Mauritius being upwards of $300,000. Says Jawahar Sharma of Cinergy Independent Film Services, the overseas distributor of TBL, “As an independent comedy the film, unlike any before, has helped redefine what works in the overseas markets”.

Kapil Bagla CEO Walkwater Media Ltd, states that the other ancillary sales such as satellite, home video, and music rights of TBL have already been sold for Rs 4.25 crores.

The film also received an effusive review in UK’s Guardian newspaper. It describes the film as a ‘satire with a sting’, while noting that the film is an ebullient Bollywood comedy.

On the anvil is the American release of the film. So if the estimates for long-term business of TBL are considered, it is safe to say that audiences have fallen in love with this Good Looking Ullu Da Pattha!

– Sampurn Wire