It's that time of the year when you sit back and analyze the trends of the first six months. Like every year, flops continued to dominate the charts, with nine out of ten films failing to fetch even a face-saving opening on the day of their release.

But the year saw a number of films holding on well in a few circuits, primarily at the multiplexes. The year also proved that if a film works at the multiplexes, like Page 3, Black and Parineeta, the distributors of those territories can heave a sigh of relief.

Like every year, a number of biggies came without a bang and left without a whimper. Several keenly anticipated films, like Insan, Elaan, Kisna, Shabd, Blackmail, Bewafaa [slided downwards after a great start], Tango Charlie, Mumbai Xpress, Main Aisa Hi Hoon and Jo Bole So Nihaal, were rejected outright, putting their investors in a quandary.

The biggest hit of the year caught everyone by surprise: Kyaa Kool Hai Hum. Despite negative reviews from within and outside the industry, this sex-comedy proved all cynics wrong. Aggressively promoted prior to its release, K2H2 set the cash registers jingling, making its distributors laugh all the way to the bank.

The best openers this year were Kaal and Lucky - No Time For Love [in that order]. Despite adverse reports, Kaal did fabulous business everywhere, making its producers proud. Lucky started well, dropped subsequently, but will be a plus film overall thanks to its extra-ordinary start.

While Page 3 was the first [multiplex] hit this year, its business proved that a good film knows no oppositions. The film started on a slow note, but gathered momentum even before the first weekend had concluded. Businesswise, it performed best in Mumbai and Delhi.

Black also found acceptance in multiplexes of major cities, like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai mainly. Its business at several single screens ranged from average to below average. The tax-free status [in some states] also helped its business. Bunty Aur Babli, which brought the two Bachchans together for the first time, has also done smashing business in Mumbai and Delhi-U.P., but is average in some circuits.

Waqt - The Race Against Time had a moderate start, but a well-made family entertainer always finds takers and that's what happened in this case as well. The film has emerged a decent success in the domestic market, but has proved a blockbuster in Overseas.

Ditto for Parineeta, which is faring very well at big centres, although its business in the Hindi belt isn't convincing. Again, the film has grossed wonderful figures in Overseas, in U.S.A. and U.K. mainly.

Zeher, from the Bhatt camp, fared well thanks to a good start and its reasonable price tag will ensure safety for its investors. Its business in Mumbai should be most rewarding. D, yet another gangster film produced by RGV, did fairly well in Mumbai/Maharashtra [as expected], while the much-publicized Naina took a flying start, but turned tame subsequently.

Paheli, the last big release of June, didn't really live up to the expectations. The first weekend seemed rosy at metros [but dull at several places], but the collections started sliding downwards as week progressed.