Both these medium-budget releases of last week (Jan 30) have proven to be duds in terms of business. Despite much appreciation by critics in India and abroad, “Luck By…” got a slow initial on the opening day with the counters warming up in the evening.

The momentum did stay over the weekend, but started dwindling Monday onwards.

On the other hand, the cricket drama starring Hurman S. Baweja has proved to be a debacle with no takers at the windows. Despite mixed reviews and some appreciation for Hurman's portrayal of an underdog cricketer, the film couldn't lure audiences.

“It doesn't happen with too many movies. Surprisingly, the collections for a genuinely well-made movie like 'Luck By Chance' haven't been as per expectations over the opening weekend. The film has seen a good release but the occupancy at theatres has only been near 50 percent,” trade analyst and critic Joginder Tuteja told IANS.

“As for 'Victory', it has turned out to be one the lowest openers in the last many months with only around 20 percent odd collections and that too only at single screens. There wasn't much buzz about the film to begin with and somehow as the film got close to the release, the interest level only continued to go down. Promotion was weak, promos uneven and marketing uninspiring,” he added.

Said Joginder Mahajan, a Delhi-based distributor: “Sports movies are not that successful in India and considering the disastrous record of Hurman's first movie 'Love Story 2050', 'Victory' already had less chances of survival.

“So far as 'Luck By…' is concerned, the movie is being appreciated for its true flavour and the inside look of Bollywood, but business-wise it could rake in whatever was possible only over the first three-days,” he explained.

Produced by Excel Entertainment in association with Big Pictures, "Luck By Chance" stars Zoya'sbrother Farhan Akhtar and an ensemble cast featuring Konkona Sen Sharma, Dimple Kapadia, Rishi Kapoor, Juhi Chawla, Hrithik Roshan and Isha Sharvani.

It is the story of an aspiring actor who arrives in Mumbai to make it big in Bollywood.

On the other hand, “Victory” produced by Mangat and Manmohan Shetty is the story of a father's dream to see his son become a national cricketer.

Released over 900 screens worldwide, Excel's Ritesh Sidhwani did not divulge any details about the budget of “Luck By Chance” while “Victory”, which hit close to 500 screens in India, was made at around Rs.400 million.

However, keeping the box-office boat steady have been Vishesh Films' “Raaz - The Mystery Continues" and Danny Boyle's Oscar-nominated underdog drama “”Slumdog Millionaire”.

Despite being in the second week, while, the former had already proven to be 2009s first hit, the latter has also picked up the momentum because of the hype due to the 10 Oscar nominations.

Vijay Shekhawat (Hurman) a Jaisalmer boy after a lot of struggle manages to fulfill his father’s (Anupam Kher) dream of making it to the Indian cricket team. With a great debut he wins not just fans but a lot of endorsement deals and lucrative contracts. Success begins to spoil and distancing him from his lady love (Amrita Rao) back home. Blinded by success and the taste of the high society life he losses both focus and form.

He is then understandably dumped by the selectors. Following which, his father gets a heart attack. Vijay then decides to mend his mistakes and fight his way back to the team. In final match, despite a severe head injury he manages to get India a near impossible win. A sports film is always crippled with a same storyline that of a underdog, his rise then fall and subsequent rise back to gain the impossible victory. This film is no different. But one expects atleast some sense of creativity wherein the interest is kept alive throughout.

Twenty minutes into the film and one somehow senses whats in store. So full of cliches and melodrama is the film that sometimes you begin to wonder did the makers intend to take the viewers for a ride. If the melodrama was intended to bring in that emotional connect with the audience then the writer-director have clearly failed as throughout the film the emotional impact is clearly missing. Also nowhere does the lead character’s passion for the game comes across. Also one fails to understand the need of Hurman’s character using swear words for his opponents. Wear is your sporting spirit dude is what we wish to ask him! His character therefore fails to evoke any sympathy from the audience.

The biggest high point of sports films are games shown in the film. But here they are biggest drawbacks. Not only there are just a very few games but also what are shown are simply thanda! There is total lack of edge of the seat excitement which was very much needed. Also homework by the makers is clearly lacking if they intended to show the ‘real’ behind the scenes happenings of the cricket match for example the dressing room interactions etc.

Just putting in famous national-international cricketing names don’t necessarily give the film authenticity. One feels really sad for Hurman Baweja whose tremendous hard work is noticeable in every single scene but is mightily let down by a pathetic script and listless direction by debutante Ajitpal Mangat. Amrita Rao reprises her typical simple small town girl act for the nth time. She looks very pretty though. Anupam Kher after a point of time starts grating on your nerves with his screeching over melodramatic act. Gulshan Grover is just about okay.

The music doesn’t really register any impact as there are no full songs as well. The Balla Utha number mostly keeps playing in the background during the match sequences. But thankfully the songs are less. The film is a complete let down in many departments and instead of wasting time on this film it is a better option to watch a re-run of any Indian cricket team match on TV or best spend your time watching the current India v/s Sri Lanka one day series. -