Joginder Tuteja, Bollywood Trade News Network

Cynics may consider an Aamir Khan film at 50% being hardly decent. I disagree. Promotion of the film has been bang on target and it is just fair that the film has opened to a reasonable response with a promise to grow with every passing show. If only Aamir would have wanted, he could have probably pitched his movie in a manner that would have ensured a SAAWARIYA like response with 100% collections on the opening day. But then there is always a risk of film showing a steep fall on the coming days.

In this scenario, TAARE ZAMEEN PAR is on the winning route since a journey from here is only upwards with rather than the makers and the actor it is the film in itself and the audience which is doing most of the talking. Results are obvious with more than 80% of the two dozen odd reviews from reputed sites/print media calling the film nothing short of a classic. Garnering best reviews when compared to any other film released in 2008, the film's reports are also catching up like wild fire with a steady escalation being quite visible.

What has happened to WELCOME in the meanwhile? Well, as said earlier, it is clearly the GADAR v/s LAGAAN scenario repeated with WELCOME being the GADAR here. The film has not just opened great but is also fetching tremendous word of mouth amongst audience which is looking at WELCOME being yet another mass entertainer of the year. Critics be damned, seems to be the message from the audience, as the film is continuing to be a rage, as indicated by the collections today the solid advance booking for tomorrow.

A few weeks back it was claimed that OM SHANTI OM and SAAWARIYA battle would remind one of GADAR v/s LAGAAN. Though that never happened, WELCOME and TAARE ZAMEEN PAR has finally turned it into a reality.

Wonderful sign as it is the industry and audience which is the eventual winner!