This week will see a clash between Rock On 2 and Chaar Sahibzaade - Rise Of Banda Bahadur if all goes to plan. There is the issue of demonetizing the larger currency notes in India and due to this programming had not started till yesterday evening as it will affect business not just these two films but all films playing. The single screens are hugely affected as can be seen the collections of the Diwali releases on Wednesday. Rock On 2 was likely to struggle for an opening even this issue was not there. The film is far more expensive than the first Rock On film released in 2008 which did not do too well and more importantly did not find appreciation. The film found some takers in metros only and the same can be hoped again but that can't take the film far.

The most important thing about a sequel is not what happens on release but what happens after and is the film still alive. Welcome Back takes a huge opening despite a weaker cast not because of the box office of the first film but because Welcome (2007) remains alive through television with strong audiences till now. Rock On had so so run at the box office but once that was over it was a forgotten film with disastrous results on television which puts question marks on should Rock On 2 even be made.

Chaar Sahibzaade - The Rise Of Banda Bahadur is the opposite of Rock On 2 as the first part released two years back was much loved breaking all box office records of Punjabi films with worldwide GBOC of around 60 crore. It is the only Punjabi film to cross 50 crore worldwide. The film managed a 100 day run at many centres which is unheard of today in any language. A 100 day is difficult in one cinema today let alone 6 or 7. It is the biggest animation film ever in India and will have a wider release than the normal Punjabi films.

The demonetizing issue is likely to hit this film harder as it was sure to start strong though maybe not bumper which the results would suggest as eventually its an animation film and therefore a bigger weekend audience. Now with the curresncy problems its hard to say what wll happen on Friday as the audience will no doubt be less than if everything was normal.