Joginder Tuteja, Bollywood Trade News Network

Majority of critics may have been unkind on ALADIN but its target audience, kids, seem to be pretty enthralled by the magical world built by director Sujoy Ghosh and his team. Over the weekend, Vishal Dadlani and Shekhar Ravjiani organized special shows in Mumbai for kids. If the composers are to be believed, the response in the auditorium was quite positive with kids developing instant liking for Aladin, Jasmine and Genie all over again.

Says Vishal Dadlani, "I have been keeping a steady watch on the progress of ALADIN practically every day over the weekend. On Friday night I saw it at Gaiety theatre. Notwithstanding some below-the-belt reviews, the theatre was over 60% occupied which is quite good for a single screen property as large as this one. Later, I was in the show organized by Shekhar. There were 150 kids and they totally loved it! The kind of fun that they were having belonged to a different level altogether. The adults too were enjoying the film but response from the kids was to be seen to be believed."

Something that did quite happen soon after on Sunday when it was Vishal's turn to host the event.

"This was at PVR Phoenix where the show took place with 186 kids", he informs, "The kids were laughing, getting scared, were upset and also happy! The emotions were just so on-your-face. They were all flowing with the story! It was sheer magic."

He adds on excitedly, "ALADIN is indeed one of the BEST films for kids that I've ever seen! After the movie, when these kids saw 'Aladin' and 'Jasmine' in the theatre, they went totally berserk! What a fun night!"