MUMBAI: With the producer-multiplex tangle yet to be resolved, the producers' strike enters its second week this Friday. And for this week, multiplex owners hope to gain with the release of four films including Kamal Haasan's Dashavtar, Anjan Dutt's Chowrasta-Crossroads of Love (both in Hindi), Bokya Saatbande (Marathi) and the Hollywood science fiction Monsters vs Aliens.

The focus of attention would, however, be on the dubbed Hindi film Dashavtar that is being distributed by Shringar Films on an all-India basis. Chennai-based Oscar Films' mega budget movie, besides opening in other multiplexes, is releasing in eight multiplexes of Fame in Mumbai itself. Shringar Group runs a chain of multiplexes across the country.

Says Fame Cinemas chief programmer Aditya Shroff, "We are releasing the film with 60 prints all over along with 180 UFO centers."

The plex owners hope that Anjan Dutt's new film would follow his earlier hits like Mr & Mrs Iyer, Bow Baracks Forever and The Bong Connection. "We are of the opinion that his Chowrasta -Crossroads of Love should be a good film since it is based on the Gorkhaland issue," says Shroff.

The boost may also come from the Marathi film Bokya Saatbande. The last Marathi release Mi Shivajiraje Bhosle Boltoy is still running to full capacity on the multiplexes and single screens.

"The English film Monsters vs Aliens, that is also releasing in the 3D format, should also do well as it is the first computer-animated movie which was directly produced in stereoscopic 3-D. The expected performance of these films should come as a shot in the arm for us multiplex owners who have been petrifed with the last week's releases that were a washout," says Shroff.

Agrees 24 Karat Multiplex CEO Padam Sacheti, "A Kamal Haasan film always has a good draw at the box-office and hence I don't think Dashavtar will perform badly. As for Bokya Saatbande, we have taken the film because there are lots of Maharashtrian locals in the vicinity of our multiplex. Moreover, there is an option: viewers who don't get tickets for the Mahesh Manjrekar film Mi Shivajiraje Bhosle Boltoy can opt for the new release."

Things are a little different up North. Says PVR CEO Amitabh Bardhan, "In Delhi and other parts around, we are releasing two films: Dashavtar and Monsters vs Aliens. I think both these films have the potential to draw in crowds, the first being kids-centric while the second being a lavishly made film starring Kamal Haasan."