Aamir Khan starrer Talaash is the latest to set the cash registers ringing. The marketing blitz and high box office collections earned by movies such as Ek Tha Tiger and Jab Tak Hai Jaan , and some unexpected hits such as Barfi , Kahaani , and Gangs of Wasseypur have made 2012 a blockbuster year for the industry.

Talaash , said to be made on Rs 40-crore budget, raked in Rs 14.5 crore on the opening day on Friday, according to trade analysts. Produced by Excel Entertainment and Aamir Khan Productions and presented by Reliance Entertainment, the movie is expected to earn Rs 40-50 crore over the weekend.

The strong buzz around the movie led to the opening of advance booking counter on Sunday though, usually, in single screens it opens on Monday and at multiplexes on Wednesday for a release slated for Friday.

The line-up of releases from all the three Khans in a single year, and the movie buffs giving a thumbs-up to smaller movies brought cheer for multiplex players. Multiplex players estimate that the overall box office collections were up 20-25 per cent over last year. Pramod Arora, president, PVR, said: “The discretionary spends by the consumers on movies has gone up by 15 per cent than last year which has translated into an increase in revenues for the multiplex industry by 20-25 per cent.” Added Ashish Saksena, COO, Big Cinemas: “Aggressive marketing by movie makers has ensured that the weekend business goes up for movies as viewers are willing to give a shot to smaller movies and unconventional genres too.”

Salman Khan starrer Ek Tha Tiger and Shah Rukh Khan starrer Jab Tak Hai Jaan contributed over Rs 314 crore to the domestic box office, while expectations of Talaash entering the Rs 100-crore club quickly are high. Even as six movies joined the club this year, there are still other biggies to look out for — Salman Khan’s Dabangg 2 and Akshay Kumar starrer Khiladi 786 .

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh said, “What really makes 2012 special is the acceptance of films that were considered dicey till a few years ago. While masala films called the shots and hit the pot of gold, “experimental” films like Paan Singh Tomar , Kahaani , Vicky Donor and Barfi also achieved unimaginable targets.”

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