What with the recession, the multiplex standoff and the T20 cricket matches, the film industry has had an uneasy beginning this year. As it is, Ghajini’s record benchmark with over Rs 200-crore collection was certainly not easy to match.

The year took off on an ominous note when Akshay Kumar’s Chandni Chowk To China met its disastrous fate. The Farhan Akhtar-Hrithik Roshan film Luck By Chance didn’t quite rock the box office despite worldwide collection of Rs 27 crore. Another disappointment was Shah Rukh starrer Billu, King Khan’s star-appeal was diluted in this Priyadarshan film and the audience didn’t quite accept it. Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Delhi-6 failed to woo the viewers. Nagesh Kukunoor couldn’t capitalise on

Akshay’s star-power with 8X10 Tasveer. It was like a long-drawn drought at the box office.

Vishesh Films’ Raaz The Mystery Continues came toppers with a collection of over Rs 40 crore which earned more than twice over its production cost, making it the biggest hit this far. “After the debacle of Aawarapan, I returned to the sets with a vengeance. I took 15 months to hit back with full force,” relates the happy director Mohit Suri.

Anurag Kashyap’s bold reinterpretation Dev.D provided much-needed succor to the theatres as did Oscar collecting Slumdog Millionaire. 13B, starring R Madhavan, was another small-budget horror film that recovered its cost and turned out to be an earner.

Post the multiplex imbroglio, towards the end of the first half of 2009, Yash Raj Films’ realistic saga New York won critical as well as commercial plaudits. In its third week it has grossed Rs 55 crore already and still counting. While Kambakkht Ishq seems to be raking it in too.