Although cinematography was much applauded, many are of the view that Billu has been prolonged by good 20-30 minutes. Shahrukh dance numbers might have added the glamour uotient but majority feel that Priyadarshan could have done away with them. The director has received much admiration owing to ts prudent packing of emotions but he has faltered in assessing the proper pace of the movie. A particular section of the audience believes that Billu can be strongly recommended for children and the whole family.

Business Done: Friday the 13th was not actually a great day for Billu at the box office as it received a poor response of around 35-40% in its first shows across the country. During the afternoon, the situation improved but still it was not satisfying for a SRK movie. Billu had released in around 1000 cinemas which include 600 digital screens. Box office report suggests Billu has earned around 3.50 Crore on day one. Billu has fortunately improved at the box office from Saturday afternoon with reported collections of more than 70%.

Earlier the producers have earned immense profits by selling the rights for the film. SRK clarified to media that he had sold the film for 35 crores which was earlier rumored as 50 crores. Let’s hope EROS International does not find it difficult to recover their cost.

More Information: Irrfan Khan was very much pleased with the way his co-star Shah Rukh went about to promote Billu. According to Irrfan, Shah Rukh was always clear about marketing. While he promoted Irrfan in the initial phases, later he himself took over. Irrfan sounded confident about the marketing strategy and he believed that the film delivers a very strong message of humbleness, friendship and self contentment.

Shah Rukh Khan, played superstar Sahir Khan, epitomized the glamorous world which is poignantly in contrast with the small and confined world of Billu who is more used to his village landscapes and barber shop rather than the gaudy costumes and king-size life. The plot of the movie continues to encompass more trifle themes who do not remain so trifle at the end. Billu, as a poor barber, goes through pangs of insults and humiliation for falling to keep his promise he had made to the villagers - the promise of introducing superstar Sahir Khan (whom he claims to be his childhood friend) with them, who had come to their village for shooting his movie.

It will be a gross injustice to miss out Lara Dutta. If your eyes are used to seeing her scantily clad in item numbers then expect something different from this bollywood siren. The character of a village woman and Billu’s wife seemed to have grown within Lara. She looked a perfect submissive wife in her simple sari and not much of make-up. Rajpal Yadav and Om Puri did put a good show with their natural humour. Priyadarshan deserves kudos for painting two entirely different worlds – a world of poverty and insult and the other of fame and prosperity.