With the current examination season and the India-Pakistan cricket series running in tandem, theatre exhibitors expect collections to drop sharply in the next two weeks.

"It is that time of the year when theatres witness a steep drop in collections during the exam period, but this time around the cricket matches are likely to make a further dent in collections," says an exhibitor. The India-Pakistan series began on March 8.

"A majority of recently released films have taken a beating at the box-office."

Sanjay Dalia, programming manager of the Cineline theatres concurs, "After 'Page 3' and 'Black', no film has had a very stable run at the box-office. The exam season has already started showing its effect on the box-office and we are expecting a further 20 percent drop in collections as the cricket fever picks up in the next two weeks.

"Also, there are hardly any new films lined up for release apart from the John Abraham-Priyanka starrer 'Karam', which to a great extent will decide the course of business for the next two weeks," he said.

Niraj Goswami, programming director of Fame Adlabs, feels differently.

"I felt it was the best time to take a break and holiday since there is a two week period of no releases in March this year. On March 25, there'll be a whole new line up of films ready for release, 'Tango Charlie' being one of them," he says.

Deepak Tijori is contemplating postponing the release of his "Khamoshh-Khauff Ki Raat" from March 25 to April 1 or a still later date, Suneel Darshan recently shifted the release of his "Mere Jeevan Saathi" from March 25 to April 15.

However, the director of "Karam", Sanjay F. Gupta, scheduled to release this week, is not in the least anxious. "Both I and producer Harry Baweja, have no apprehensions whatsoever about the timing of the release.

"Cricket fever or examination period, if the film has to work, it does so against all odds. As far as we know 'Karam' seems to be destined for a good run at the box-office," he enthuses.