ET Intelligence Group : Lack of curiosity-inducing line-up of films and poor performance of already-released big-budget movies such as ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’ and ‘Maidaan’ have compelled multiplexes and single-screen theatres to cut down on the number of shows or shut some screens temporarily.

According to various estimates of trade analysts, two to three screens in a multiplex containing five screens, or a single-screen theatre containing 5 to 6 auditoriums have been temporarily shut due to poor business and large expenses associated with running them.

“Shows are being cancelled. I think theatres which contain five to six auditoriums are running only two to three auditoriums,” said Manoj Desai, producer and executive director of Mumbai-based G7 multiplex and the iconic Maratha Mandir movie hall.

“It is not just about the general elections, the heat wave or competition from streaming platforms. Filmmakers are making bad films. And viewers are not interested in them.”

He added: “Earlier, when Hindi films did not work, there was a supply of South Indian films dubbed in Hindi which provided some business to theatres. But this time we do not even have southern films dubbed in Hindi.”

According to trade analysts, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan has been made on a budget of Rs. 350 crore. It has collected Rs. 48.50 crore in the past three weeks. Maidaan, which had a budget of Rs. 250 crore, has collected Rs. 40 crore in the same period.

“Single-screen theatres and multiplexes are grappling with very little collections. There are theatres which have meagre footfalls of 170-250 people,” said independent film distributor and trade analyst Shaaminder Malik.

“Single-screen theatres in Agra, Bareilly, Kanpur and Lucknow have reduced their ticket prices to Rs. 30-Rs. 70. Even then, there is no improvement in footfalls.”

Apart from reducing ticket prices and providing fixed-ticket coupons for a certain number of films, to lure audiences to multiplexes, exhibitors are also running advertisement-free shows (this saves at least 30 minutes for the audience) at premium properties.

Malik said: “Today, word-of-mouth communication among viewers and potential viewers of films is more effective than ever. One cannot dump bad films and expect people to come to theatres, especially at a time when they have more interesting avenues to entertain themselves. The success of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is a proof that audience wants to come to theatres and watch good films.”