Bangalore film-goers slow to get 'The Dirty (picture)'

Despite the hype created around Vidya Balan’s sensual representation of a dance girl of the 1980s, The Dirty Picture failed to draw large crowds on the first day.

Except for a few, most city theatres saw a lukewarm response to the film.

“We are not expecting a full house tomorrow or the day after based on the response we are seeing today. Our theatre was filled only to about 40% of its capacity. All our shows had an average response,” said Prasad, deputy manager of Rex theatre on Brigade Road, adding that this included net bookings too.

“Very few have booked tickets for tomorrow. We may fill about 65% to 70% of our capacity,” he said.

Vision theatre, too, reported 40% average sales.

“But this is the usual case on a Friday,” said Prasad Mathatati, the cashier.

“The sales will definitely improve over the weekend. But it is too early to say whether the response will be good or bad. It could go either way,” he said.

For Devendra Reddy of Srinivasa Theatre, the sales were good.

“We have not seen any families at the theatre. Most of them are college students,” Reddy said.

Uruvasi theatre had better than average sales. About 700 of the total 1,100 seats at the theatre were occupied.

Sunil Punjabi, CEO, Cinemax India, has great expectations for the weekend.

“Opening nights are usually slow. But the theatre will be packed for the weekend, based on our online bookings,” he said.