So, it was not hoax… This contest news started doing rounds in media somewhere in last week of July’08 and almost every publication including ET has covered it. But somehow I kept on thinking that it’s not real and is yet another scandalous strategy to promote the upcoming horror movie of Ram Gopal Varma – PHOONK. But well, I was wrong, it’s true that Ram Gopal Verma is running a “Dare to watch it alone” contest wherein he is announcing a prize money of Rs. 5 lakh for anyone who dares to watch this movie from start to finish alone in a theater. Very interesting promotional strategy to instigate people to watch this movie.
Azam Khan the producer of the film says, “We’re confident that the film is so scary that it will be extremely difficult to watch it all alone in a theater. We will be running a contest and giving out details on our website about how to participate in it. Right now we have decided that we will screen the film for the winners of the contest a few days before the release of the film, that is on August 22. At the moment we have planned four trials that we will screen in a preview theatre.” (source: economictimes.com). Infact the contest details are out on their website www.phoonk.in as well as their official communities on facebook and orkut. Official communities on facebook and orkut are asking people to visit their website and I must say that PHOONK website is a very well done up website unlike many other movie website which are just a collection of some html pages promoting the wallpapers and ringtones. I really liked the UI of this website and the background score is creepy enough to scare a person like me at night :P, have a look on this snapshot yourself:
This contest has definitely become a hit I think, as out of 423 members (as of today) on the official community of facebook, more than 180 people have commented saying they are willing to accept the challenge. Not only that all official articles in online newspapers, official blogs etc are flooded with comments of people dropping their mobile number and email ids to participate in this contest. It had to happen for sure, general human psychology is that the moment you dare people for anything, most of them would like to try it out. I am sure that because of this contest and hype about Phoonk being one of the scaroest movies ever made, many people will go now to watch it in theater. Apart from this dare to watch it alone contest there is another contest announced on their website viz., “It Happened to me” contest wherein participants are supposed to share their real life scariest experience, black magic stories or ghostly encounter and the 10 best entries selected by Ram Gopal Varma will be paid Rs. 25,000 each. Not only that, if your story is good enough to be made into a feature film you will win as good as Rs. 5 lakh and if your story is selected and you can write a complete script for the film you will win Rs. 10 lakh!
Yet another exciting and very impressive promotional strategy from bollywood! As I mentioned earlier bollywood is getting seriously innovative day by day to promote its movies and PHOONK is another example of that. Now let’s wait and watch if these marketing gimmicks are going to give any success to Phoonk or it will be just another dud from RGV factory!
Kamal Bhatia
I accept the challenge give bt Ram Gopal Varma as i will see the movie all alone in the theatre
Thanks waiting from your side dude
Syed Salman
Hey i’m scared out of my pants, very creepy movie. Dangerous to watch alone because we will go through a hell of a ride. Bring it on BIG GUY (Azam & Ram). Let’s see what kind of movie you have directed. If i loose i’ll work for you for free – Howz that a challenge for. BRING IT ON.
Phone# 9916493887.
abizar sakarwala
I m anyway anytime ready to see phoonk and will take away the prize money of re.500000.please do inform me on my email or on my cell no.9833525353.
Buddhadeb Khan
I am ready to accept the challenge to see the movie alone in a theatre. i suupose i will not scare but phoonk will definately scared about me. bcoz Darna bakwas chiz hai
Rumpi sil
hai ramu ji main azmana chahti hun yeh contest aur aap 5 lakh dene ke liye ready ho jao.
q ki darna zaruri hai par Darna to mana hai
arvinder nandrajog
I live in mumbai I live in hell i want 2 see it whole night alone my cell no is 09892288877
Sumit Shairya
Hey Ramu … i hope this is realy realy scary movie n m ready to take the challenge …just bring it on… n b ready to give me the prize money…. hhhooooo haaa haaa haaa…..!!!
Mukesh Garg
What Tantra or Mantra ?????
I am ready to accept the Challannge, I have already spend night at Samsan Ghat and Kabristhan on Challange Basis, that what is movie????
Nitin Sharma
I am ready to take challenges as i know the previous movies of ramu like darna mana hai , darna zaroori hai , they seems more like comedy movies rather than horror, its getting 5 lakhs full of comedy.
Satyam Sadh
I am ready to accept the Challenge,so tell me how i can enter this contest.will be waiting for the reply.
nageswara rao
I AM NAGESWARA RAO FROM HYDERABAD. I AM READY TO ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE GIVEN BY RAM GOPAL VARMA. IF I GET THE CHANCE, I WILL SEE PHOONK ALONE IN THE THEATRE. SO PLEASE TELL ME HOW CAN I ENTER TO THIS CONTEST. MY MOBILE NO IS 9348626262 MY E-MAIL ID IS NAGESHRAW@YAHOO.CO.IN
abizar sakarwala
I m ready to win 5 lacs. And also awaiting anxiously to watch the mega blockbuster horror flick.reply soon.
Rajesh das
hi I will watch the movie
Ekts
hey i m ready to accept the challenge…..do let me knw when is the contest…..
Manoranjan Das
Man I’m ready To face it Off
Manoranjan Das
Man I’m ready To face it Off
My Mobile No. Is 9937184408
My Email Id Is pupun_abinash2007@yahoo.co.in
chintan patel
i m eagerly waiting for this movie.. n sumbdy told me tht if i watch this movie alone ramgopal sir will give rs.5 lakh,… so im all ready,,. i can watch this movie while im alone in the city too,.. n plz tell me how to register for this. plz plz plz…. my no is +919909823664.
kashmira
WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONTEST. HOWEVER, THE WEBSITE DOES NOT DEAL WITH THE ACTUAL PARTICIPATION DETAILS. PLEASE UPDATE. HAVE ALREADY REGISTERED BY SENDING SMS.
THANKS,
ANIL BHANUSHALI
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE MOVIE ALONE IN THE THEATRE ,PROVIDING YOU GIVE ME THE CHANCE TO.WAITING FOR YOUR REPLY ,HOPES THIS IS NOT A PUBLICITY STUNT.
sunil
hi ,i m sunil from amritsar(punjab)i openly challenge ram gopal verma to select me,i will watch the movie alone in theater,and 4 this i give her 2 option ,1 is he has to sign me 4 his new movie i will nt take 5 lakh and 2 is he can give me 4 lakh and can keep 1 lakh with him.my cell no is-9814565411
Gautam Verma
I accept the challenge.
mohd kalim sheikh
I WANNA WATCH THIAS MOVIE ALONE FOR THE SAKE OF MY CAREER SO IF I GET A CHANCE TO WATCH THIS MOVIE ALL ALONE IF U DARE TO WATCH ANYONE WINNING THAT TOO ANY BOLD PERASON WHO WOULD NOT DIE OF HEART ATTACK LEAVE THE ABOVE PERSONS AND GIVE ME THE CHANCE
MY CELL NO 9923118976
Gautam Verma
I accept the challenge.
My contact no.- 9916102779 (Bangalore)
CHETAN
hi ,I AM chetan i openly challenge ram gopal verma to select me,i will watch the movie alone in theater if u8 dare choose me and as my frnd kalim said leave the above persons he also has the right to be leaved
Shekhar
I am ready to watch the movie all alone in theater. My Cell No. 9324132120
Chandrakant Kushwaha
Dear sir
I chandrakant intrested for see horror movie alone accepted your challenge if you can give a chance i prove myself & i write movie script and song it may be enter in bollywood a best chance for me
Thank you
kapil varma
common mr.varma…enuf of ur movie publicity…stop all this nonsence…iam sure tht it cant be as gud as exorcist or omen…keep ur money wid u…iam all ready to watch ur movie for free…and im even ready to sign a contract tht iam not gonna leave the cinema hall until the movie gets over….let me show this world….tht iam the darest of all…call me bro….9967421564.
kapil varma
common mr.varma…enuf of ur movie publicity…stop all this nonsence….iam sure tht it cant be as gud as exorcist or omen…keep ur money wid u…iam all ready to watch ur movie for free…and im even ready to sign a contract tht iam not gonna leave the cinema hall until the movie gets over….let me show this world….tht iam the darest of all…call me bro….9967421564.
kapil varma
common mr.varma…enuf of ur movie publicity….stop all this nonsence…iam sure tht it cant be as gud as exorcist or omen…keep ur money wid u…iam all ready to watch ur movie for free…and im even ready to sign a contract tht iam not gonna leave the cinema hall until the movie gets over…..let me show this world….tht iam the darest of all…call me bro….9967421564.
VIVEK SACHDEVA
hey i alone dare to saw this movie……………..just wait for ur reply…….call me at +919411243112
sunil
sir please select me to watch phoonk. i am ready to watch phoonk any time, any place, any where. let me show my skills how i frighten the ghosts. if u have guts then select me. call me at 9868897887 or 011-25671765.
sunils
sir please select me to watch phoonk. i am ready to watch phoonk any time, any place, any where. let me show my skills how i frighten the ghosts. if u have guts then select me. call me at 9868897887 or 011-25671765. my email id is vcsashrik@gmail.com
Rohit
I accept the challenge Mr. Ramu, I watch the movie alone in night show and i don’t take 5 lacs rs.
Rohit
Subhashini
dear sir ,
i can see this movie in kabristan rather than in cinema hall and though its being showing in cinema hall then it will be big entertainment for me.
waiting for your;s response
subhashini
09891888444
Ashish R Banker
I live in mumbai I live in hell i want 2 see it whole night alone my cell no is 09769327565
Ashish R Banker
i can see this movie in kabristan rather than in cinema hall and though its being showing in cinema hall then it will be big entertainment for me.
waiting for your;s response
My Cell no is 09769327565
Ashish R Banker
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE MOVIE ALONE IN THE THEATRE ,PROVIDING YOU GIVE ME THE CHANCE TO.WAITING FOR YOUR REPLY ,HOPES THIS IS NOT A PUBLICITY STUNT.
MY CELL NO. IS 09769327565
Ashish R Banker
sir please select me to watch phoonk. i am ready to watch phoonk any time, any place, any where. let me show my skills how i frighten the ghosts. if u have guts then select me. call me at 09769327565 or 022-25972048
shashikant
Hi I am ready to watch it ………….
shashikant
ji haan main hoon khalnayak……….
Vaibhav soni
Hy ramu sir.
sir i want to join this contest.I can watch the
phoonk alone in any theater.
Swamy T V H
Dear Sir,
I can watch alone at any time and at any where….
Pls include me.
Thanks,
Swamy
M Singh
” Real life is more scary and dangerous for me…, so this drametical movie is nothing for me ” …., I accept the challenge…..contact me at sara.misa@gmail.com.
Raju. B
I am ready for the challenge as said by the greatest directors of all time in INDIA to watch his movie without any fear or phobia.
indumenda
dear sir i love challenges anywhere anytime so give me chance to take it contact me on 9867645442 and my email add is indumenda@gmail.com
Manjul
Bata bhai ramu kaha dekha raha hai movie ham bhi tu dekhe ki tujhe picture direct karni aa gaye ki nahi. waise tum ho tu mast director serious movie ko bhi comedy bana dete ho. ye wale bhi dekh lenge
sofi
Hello Mr.Ram Gopal varma
I have seen poonk and i must congrats and tell you that it is a fantastic movie which can scare anyone….anyways I am not interested for the contest of 5 lac but I want to say you that you must start with Poonk-2 and I think only I have a Script for this.Yes i am a theatre script writer and I have a continued script of phoonk for you.if you are intersted pls contact me…If I been had your No.I had contacted you.hope to meet you for the discussion of script for PHOONK-2
Sofi
9224759747
shivakumar
I accept the challenge Mr. Ramu, I watch the movie alone in night show and i don’t take 50 thousound rs.
shivakumar
Kalpesh Ajugia
What happened to the it happened to me contest? The Message on website is forever “Results coming soon”
Kalpesh
The Phoonk: It happend to me contest held on (www.phoonk.in) was a big fraud contest just for the sake of promotion. This contest was orgainzed by the production house “One More Thought”.
I had submitted a story first in 10 lines after which I got an email from “editor@glamsham.com” saying my story has been shortlisted and that I should re-write the story properly in not more than 300 words. I cleared the round two of properly writing the story in not more than 300 words. Few days later, I was emailed again from “editor@glamsham.com” that my story has won and that I should send my address and PAN Number to enable the processing of the cheque. I sent the necessary details accordingly.
However, I haven’t heard anything about the contest from the production house or Glamsham.
I’d just like to bring to the notice of Aam Janta, that one should never believe in such contests related to movie promotions. In fact such contests should be banned as they can give you a lot of frustration, mental pain and waste of time.
The proof that the contest was orgainzed is at the following link on Rediff.com
http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2008/aug/19contest.htm
SHIVAM
I’ll watch full movie without interval ,
nagesh
hai,
Iam Nagesh I will challange Ur Betting 500000 lack i can see the film full night or day with in banglore any theatre please invite me
with regards
nagesh
9901702858
shanmugan.y
HI… rgv sir, how r u? plz giv me a chance, im frm vry poor family……..!im ready to watch poonk2 & poonk3….. plz do call me on 09980696104 or 9036741001.
thnx®ards
shanmugan shaan
(bangalore)
manpreet kaur oberoi
pkoonk was a joke i laughed thru it. i as a women will enter and watch th emovie alone with all your special effects,i hav eseen more than that in real life.lets see if u will accept my challenge. i am woman.i can go thru it easily.will wait if u have the guts to accept a lady for this challenge. i am a strong woman.waiting for ur bold move to accept it. i challenge to accept my challeneg that i will come out laughing. i am not scared of anything except god.lets ee ur reaction.its an open challene to Mr. ram Gopal varma.will wait for ur reply.
Jayne Hemmeter
Nice list. My personal top 3 favorites are: 1. Zombieland 2. Kick Ass 3. Step Brothers.