Bollywood producers trip on optimism, exhibitors worry overcrowding

After greater than 10 months of compelled lull, Bollywood is lastly seeking to get up to brighter Fridays. There’s already been a slew of huge launch bulletins – from Salman Khan’s Radhe slated for Eid to Shahid Kapoor reserving Diwali for Jersey. Producers inform us that Bollywood is able to heal, and so they hope that the viewers will assist revive the trade.
“2021 is a fresh start for all of us. Production houses, actors, directors, the crew are strictly following shoot guidelines so we can finish our pending shoots and start new projects,” says Bhushan Kumar, who has Satyamev Jayate 2 releasing on Eid, whereas Ayushmann Khurrana-led Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui has wrapped up manufacturing.
Kumar was among the many first few producers to take their movies to flooring as quickly because the lockdown was eased round August-September final yr. The T-Series honcho says the trade is determined to compensate for the losses it suffered final yr and that it is just potential if pending movies get launch dates and new ones begin filming.
“Many of my films went on floors once lockdown was eased like Satyameva Jayate 2, Atrangi Re, Thank God, Radhe Shyam, Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui, and others with necessary precautions. We also have films like Adipurush (with Prabhas and Saif Ali Khan) that went on floors today. It is a crucial move made by all producers to find stability in the entertainment sector. There were big losses we all incurred during these times and going ahead with shoots and planning releases is a way of compensating and building for the future in these trying times,” says Bhushan Kumar.

Monisha Advani, co-founder of Emmay Entertainment and the co-producer on Satyamev Jayate 2, says resumption of theatres is a proof of viewers’s demand for the large display expertise mixed with the perseverance of theatre house owners.
“The resumption of theatres is also a testimony to the consumer demand for this form of content, as well as the collective resilience of theatre owners, studios and filmmakers. We are optimistic about seeing our films reach the box office, especially Satyameva Jayate 2, which hopes to keep its date at cinemas this May,” says Advani, who additionally has Akshay Kumar-starrer Bell Bottom able to launch.
While there had been studies that Bell Bottom was being bought to an OTT platform, the commerce is now speculating that the makers would possibly deliver it to cinemas on Independence Day.

The new-found confidence amongst Bollywood filmmakers is primarily due to the crackling collections of Master and Ravi Teja’s Krack, and the removing of fifty% occupancy cap by the federal government. With 100% occupancy in theatres now allowed, producers have joined the race to announce the discharge date of their big-ticket initiatives.
Weeks in the past, Salman Khan heeded to the plea of exhibitors and introduced that his upcoming actioner Radhe will arrive in theatres this Eid. Days later, Bhushan Kumar introduced Satyamev Jayate 2 for the pageant. Ranveer Singh’s 83 and Akshay Kumar-led Sooryavanshi in the meantime are aiming for a late March-early April launch.

But the sudden haste with which Bollywood is reacting to field workplace prospects appears to additionally stem from the never-before stifling competitors from the South, says Bihar-based exhibitor Vishek Chauhan.
Occasions like Diwali, Eid and Independence Day have largely been about solo domination by prime Bollywood stars. But this time, Allu Arjun is bringing Pushpa (in Hindi) on Independence Day. Rajinikanth booked the Diwali slot for Annatthe posing a conflict with Akshay Kumar’s Raksha Bandhan and Shahid Kapoor-starrer Jersey. And, Eid is congested with Chiranjeevi’s Acharya additionally sharing the discharge date with Radhe and Satyamev Jayate 2.
The linguistic barrier of south Indian movies in North India circuits undoubtedly exists however with an growing variety of films being dubbed in Hindi, makers from south have made it clear that they’re assured of grabbing newer markets.
Yash’s KGF: Chapter 2 is ready to launch on July 16. (Photo: Twitter/Yash)
“The one film that the audience is actually waiting for is not from Bollywood but Sandalwood. It is KGF: Chapter 2! People are going crazy over it. During the lockdown, the audience explored films outside the Hindi language and that has gotten them accustomed to names like Vijay, Allu Arjun and Yash. There’s new-found anticipation for films by these stars. And that reflects in how the 2021 film schedule looks right now. South has taken the lead, and Bollywood is scared. Mainly because South has films that appeal to a big screen audience. Rajamouli’s RRR is being awaited more than anything else. While Bollywood is still relying on a Sooryavanshi to start its box-office journey, South has already taken the lead,” Chauhan says.

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That’s the conundrum that Bollywood 2021 finds itself in. Too many movies are able to arrive in cinema halls, and everybody needs the most effective portion of the pie. So, whereas exhibitors are positive of gigantic enterprise, the issue now’s of an excessive amount of to select from.
“Box office clashes are not good for the industry or for us. Satyamev Jayate 2 and Radhe are films of the same genre and releasing them on the same date doesn’t help. They will eat into each other’s business. And the problem for single-screen owners like us is that we will have to make the difficult choice of whom to give how much showcasing. We don’t want to get into that fix because these are box-office pullers and we would want everyone to reap benefit from them. Everyone’s aware how single-screen exhibitors are arm-twisted when the question of screen-count arises. We are laid baits. We are blackmailed. I am already panicking thinking of these situations because they will arise given how everyone’s rushing to block the same dates. Last year, we suffered from too less, now our problem is too many,” says Vishek Chauhan.
Exhibitor Akshaye Rathi, who runs a sequence of cinemas in Madhya Pradesh, agrees that Bollywood is taking a look at a celebration that’s too crowded for consolation. He feels that filmmakers must make such mixtures on the field workplace that not solely do initiatives earn their due, additionally they cater to totally different and wider sensibilities.
“Ultimately, there are only x number of weeks in a year and now there are Hindi films and South Indian films dubbed in Hindi. So, it’s important for filmmakers to make sure they work in sync. They should look at releasing films of different genres together rather than have two mass entertainers come on the same day. Like if a Jayeshbhai Jordar, a Bunty aur Babli 2 and a Sataymev Jayate 2 release together, there’s something for everyone. Producers need to make sure that every week there’s some content that excites every kind of audience. If that can be done, there will be surely a method to madness,” Rathi says.
Both the exhibitors additionally consider that Bollywood has been late in setting the ball rolling on the field workplace. According to the commerce, large movies ought to have already been lined up for February whereas smaller films ought to have been launched.
“Bollywood says that we were waiting for 100% occupancy to announce releases. But I ask how many films really open at 100% occupancy anyway? There are many small films ready to release, but still makers are holding them back. For what? They are anyway not getting more than 40-50% occupancy. I believe Bollywood filmmakers are actually not sure of their content and hence just delaying and putting it all on the occupancy cap. If a Vijay could go forward, what’s stopping you? You just want Sooryavanshi or a Radhe to take all the burden so that you can entice the audience into the cinema-viewing habit once again,” says Vishek Chauhan.
Bollywood pins hope on Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif-starrer Sooryavanshi. (Photo: Instagram/AkshayKumar)
Akshaye Rathi cautions that producers mustn’t wait additional to line up their movies as a result of the viewers has given its vote – they’re prepared to come back to the theatre supplied movies are interesting sufficient.
“The further you go into the year, the more clutter there will be and the lesser showcasing everyone will get. I hope now films start releasing in February and March rather than waiting for the end of March or April. Only then will we able to accommodate all the content that’s pent up for this year.”
With the trade chalking out its field workplace plans, one wonders the place would it not go away digital platforms? OTT has established itself as an alternate area to the large display, with movie buffs entering into the behavior of experiencing tales from the consolation of their properties.
Even the makers of Master introduced it on Amazon Prime Video two weeks after its theatrical launch, upsetting exhibitors. Will 2021 see lesser movies taking the OTT route or will the demarcation between tales suited to theatres and digital platforms be clearer than earlier than?

“OTT is a bubble that will not last long. It became relevant because of the pandemic. What we have seen is that films that have released on streaming servives in the last two years have been mediocre. They aren’t the type you would want to watch again. Not a single film has been such that would have worked at the box office. Also, the producers, who couldn’t afford to wait as there was interest building up, took the OTT route, but the big money lies in cinemas,” says exhibitor Raj Bansal, the director of a multiplex in Jaipur Entertainment Paradise.
Bansal’s opinion finds resonance with Bhushan Kumar, who believes that whereas OTT has helped producers avert large monetary disaster, for the trade to maintain the hearth burning, cinema halls is the best selection.
“We are grateful to OTT platforms for coming forward and releasing our films exclusively on their platforms so that our audiences had films to relax and enjoy during the lockdown. But to support the theatre business and majorly for our audiences to enjoy films on big screens, we are all trying to create more films which can help rebuild our sector,” says Kumar.
2020 has not solely distanced the viewers from the large display, nevertheless it has additionally severely affected many smaller gamers within the enterprise. Exhibitors, therefore, consider that Bollywood also needs to concentrate on revival of the single-screen theatres.
“People have lost their jobs and businesses. So many small exhibitors had to shut down their theatres and exit the sector. Some have moved on permanently. We have been trying to lure them back citing big films, but some don’t even have the resources to restart their theatres. This means lesser screens for future showcasing of films. Producers need to give them hope and that will happen if big-ticket films are announced faster. At the same time, state governments need to look at providing them some aid to get them back on their feet,” says Vishek Chauhan.

If one appears to be like on the present declared line-up of Bollywood films, one would discover nothing aside from motion or big-scale spectacles. Perhaps as a result of makers additionally know that celebratory experiences are what is going to deliver the viewers again to cinema halls.
Producer Anand Pandit, who has Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Chehre up for launch, says that the hassle going ahead shall be to supply reduction to all these whose livelihood relies on the Hindi movie trade and awaken sentiments of the viewers that they’ve at all times related to the flicks.
“We are hoping 2021 eases the lives of millions involved with the Hindi film industry – directly and indirectly. With big releases planned including my film Chehre with Amit ji, it gives hopes to every sector of filmmaking that the wheels of the industry are moving once again. The Hindi film industry relies heavily on sentiment and it is important to reignite that hope. It’s that positivity that brings in the money and investments for fresh projects,” concluded Pandit.