Showing posts with label Anand Vishal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Anand Vishal. Show all posts
Star Wars: The Force Awakens under performs in India
9:23 AM
Subhash K Jha (DNA; January 1, 2016)
It looks like the ‘Force’ has not awakened fully in these parts. The latest instalment of the Star Wars franchise has performed disappointingly at the Indian box-office. Though Star Wars: The Force Awakens has crossed the billion-dollar mark worldwide, in India the film was out-performed by the two Hindi films this season, Rohit Shetty’s Dilwale and Sanjay Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani.
Says a reliable source from a leading multiplex chain, “Star Wars has definitely not been up to the mark. Disney thought the film would be a craze and released 1,200 prints across the country. This was a big mistake. We had no more occupancy than 50-55 percent.”
Says another source from another multiplex, “The film has only managed to make Rs 14-15 crores at the box-office this weekend including all languages. This is far behind the first weekend collection of big Hollywood franchise movies this year like Fast & Furious 7, which collected around Rs 70 crores during the first weekend, Avengers which did approximately Rs 48 crores during the opening weekend and Jurassic World which crossed Rs 49 crores in the opening weekend.”
Anand Vishal, Head of Sales at Inox, says, “The collections of Star Wars are just about okay. It is below expectations.”
When asked to share box office figures of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Disney India did not revert.
Tanu Weds Manu Returns elbows Bombay Velvet out of several city theatres?
7:56 AM
Gaurav Dubey (MID-DAY; May 27, 2015)
The Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma-starrer Bombay Velvet is being pulled out of several city theatres to allot screens to more commercially successful films like Tanu Weds Manu Returns (TWMR) and Piku. In most cinemas, daily shows of the Anurag Kashyap movie have drastically been reduced as it had been struggling to find audience since its release on May 15.
Manoj Desai of G7 Multiplex says, “Many theatres have been cancelling Bombay Velvet shows due to its poor box office collection while devoting more screens to TWMR and Piku. We are running just about one or two shows of Bombay Velvet everyday.”
A trade source says Bombay Velvet was one of the most awaited films of this year and its box office performance has been way below expectation, adding: “The film has big stars and was made on a humongous budget, but the audience occupancy in most theatres has been dismal from day one. Piku, which released a week prior to it, is still doing good business.”
Vishal Anand of Fun Cinemas says the film’s collection has dropped consistently and with crowd pullers like TWMR and Piku, they had no choice but to cut down the number of shows for Bombay Velvet. “There are a few people who want to watch the film, so we still have a few shows running at our theatre,” adds Anand.
Trade analyst Amod Mehra feels it is curtains for Kashyap’s magnum opus. “Very few shows had been allotted to it, but due to want of audience, many have discontinued those too,” he avers.
Multiplexes in Maharashtra now must screen Marathi films at 6pm
8:19 AM
THE TIMES OF INDIA (April 8, 2015)
All multiplexes in Mumbai
and other parts of Maharashtra will have to screen Marathi films during
prime time from 6pm to 9pm, culture minister Vinod Tawde said in the
state assembly on Tuesday, drawing sharp reactions from Bollywood
which called the move undemocratic.
The BJP-Sena government is “in the process of enacting a law“ in this regard, Tawde said during his reply to a discussion on culture. In his reply, he made a series of announcements on promoting Marathi culture, including a plan to replace Bombay with Mumbai in 199 state legislations. The peak evening slots would help promote regional cinema, he said.
“When Ashok Chavan was chief minister, he had given concessions to multiplexes and it was then agreed to reserve morning time (shows) for Marathi cinemas. I have now changed that to prime time,“ Tawde told TOI.
In 2010, the then DF government had made it mandatory for all multiplexes to ensure 124 screenings for Marathi movies in a year. However, most multiplexes hold the screenings during odd hours and not during prime time.
Tawde said he had not changed the number of shows the multiplexes would have to organize. Mukesh Bhatt, filmmaker and president of The Film & TV Producers Guild, criticized the state's move. “Marathi films get subsidy and are exempt from entertainment tax.We have no problem with that. My question is, how can you pass such a diktat without consulting all the stakeholders?“ he asked.
While actor Riteish Deshmukh called the decision “welcome news“ and filmmaker Onir said regional cinema needed state support, actor Rishi Kapoor tweeted, “You can't thrust anything on anyone zabardasti.“ Censor Board member Ashoke Pandit said, “Any kind of force is not good for democracy.“
Tawde urged Bollywood to back the move. “We are doing our best for the film industry, and if at the same time we are doing something good for regional language films, Bollywood should support it,“ he told the Times Now news channel.
The minister also said it will be mandatory for all multiplexes and single theatres to show a 1 to-1.30 minute audio-visual on Dadasaheb Phalke before the start of a movie. The audio-visual will be in the language in which the film is being screened.
`Bombay' to `Mumbai'
Tawde made a slew of announcements on culture in the assembly. He said the government will move an amendment to replace Bombay with Mumbai in all state Acts. He said there were 199 state Acts with 'Bombay' in their name. “It is necessary to change the name, and we have already started the process,“ he said.Raigad festival: The state will observe a week-long 'Raigad Mahotsav' to celebrate the memory of Chhatrapati Shivaji, Tawde said. He said the government will look at ways on partnering with the ASI to maintain the fort.
School of drama
The state will set up a Maharashtra School of Drama on the lines of the National School of Drama at Film City, Goregaon, and another one at Kolhapur.
'Lives of state heroes':
From May 1, the police band will play every Sunday at a strategic location in every district, he said. This will be followed by an audio-visual presentation on the lives of the winners of various awards from the state.
Laxman memorial
The state government will set up a memorial to the late cartoonist R K Laxman at the Sir JJ School of Art, culture minister Vinod Tawde said. It will showcase his cartoons along with those of other well-known Indian and international cartoonists. Tawde also promised to maintain and preserve Rudyard Kipling's bungalow and paintings in the Art school premises.
------------------
The state government's diktat, to reserve a screen in the 6pm-9 pm slot for Marathi films in multiplexes, has divided the industry
Ankur Pathak (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 8, 2015)
The Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra government will soon enact a law that will make it compulsory for every multiplex in the state to reserve one screen for Marathi movies during the 6 pm to 9 pm slot. This was announced by Culture Minister, Vinod Tawde, in the Assembly yesterday in his reply to a debate on preservation of historical forts, Marathi language and culture.
While Twitter was quick to mock the recent diktat laid down by the BJP government, the Marathi film industry hailed the move, with actor-producer Ritesh Deshmukh saying, "Cinema in every language should survive. I strongly believe every type of cinema should be protected, rather cultivated better. It's not a fight between Hindi and Marathi cinema. We live in one country."
National Award-winning Marathi filmmaker, Ravi Jadhav, of Natrang and Balak Palak fame, also applauded the move. "On an average, at least two Marathi films release every week but they are lost in morning shows. With prime-time visibility guaranteed, Marathi filmmakers will be motivated to make better cinema. Our films have always been family friendly and now we're finally getting our due," he exulted.
In sharp contrast, eminent lawyer Harish Salve told Mirror, "This amounts to violating the right to freedom of speech as it forces one to screen a movie whether they want to or not. The State has the power to grant license but that power cannot be used for purposes like promoting regionalism. Its a different thing to give economic support like providing land at concessional rates, but this, I reiterate, equals to violating freedom of speech."
Producer Mukesh Bhatt whose Mr X is coming up for release on April 17 is equally critical of the "autocratic move". "Did the government consult the multiplex owners who are running a private business before deciding to enact this law? You can't just wake up one day and tell me how to go about doing business," he raged, quickly adding that he isn't against Marathi cinema. "We're all here to help each other out but such decisions should be made after taking stakeholders into confidence."
Kamal Gianchandani, CEO of PVR Pictures, the largest multiplex chain in the country, was waiting for the official order to get more clarity on the issue. When asked if the lowturnout for Marathi films would dent their revenue, he demurred, "It's too speculative to say that at the moment."
However, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap hailed it, saying "Fine, even good for Marathi films". Producer Ramesh Taurani endorsed his views saying Marathi cinema offers really good content. "Now, they will have a strong platform to showcase their talent."
Exhibitor-distributor Vinay Choksi pointed out that according to a previous rule, single screen theatres in Bombay city have to reserve 44 shows in a year for Marathi films, 11 shows in each slot. The number increases beyond Thane. "Now, they have come up with a new law for multiplexes. But the fact is that the audience for Marathi films is more in the 12 noon and 3 pm slots," he pointed out. "The 6 pm to 9pm is a weaker slot and I don't see it making any appreciable difference."
-------------------------
Sonali Joshi Pitale & Bharati Dubey (MID-DAY; April 8, 2015)
Bollywood is up in arms over not being made party to the upcoming law making it mandatory for multiplexes to screen Marathi films between 6 pm and 9 pm; Culture Minister Vinod Tawde announced it on Tuesday
Maharashtra government courted controversy yet again, when it revealed yesterday that it is set to enact a law making it mandatory for multiplexes in the state to screen Marathi movies in prime time slots.
Culture Minister Vinod Tawde made the disclosure in the state Assembly yesterday. Replying to a debate on preservation of historical forts, Marathi language and culture, Tawde said, "We are in the process of enacting a law to make it mandatory for multiplexes to screen Marathi films during prime time."
"Though there was a stipulation earlier that multiplexes should screen a specific number of Marathi films, it was not mandated that there be a prime time slot for them. I feel the Marathi films screening during prime time will allow an entire family to enjoy the movie together," he said, adding, "I think you (multiplex owners) owe it to the state where you do business and earn profit."
‘Dictatorial’
The diktat has come in for heavy criticism from filmmakers and distributors. Mukesh Bhatt, president, Film and Television Producers Guild of India, and a film producer himself, labelled the move as dictatorial. "They don’t even consider us worthy of being consulted before taking a decision. We also want the Marathi film industry to grow. If the government had told us about it, we would’ve given them better ideas about how to implement it. Are we really living in a democracy?" he said.
The BJP-Sena government is “in the process of enacting a law“ in this regard, Tawde said during his reply to a discussion on culture. In his reply, he made a series of announcements on promoting Marathi culture, including a plan to replace Bombay with Mumbai in 199 state legislations. The peak evening slots would help promote regional cinema, he said.
“When Ashok Chavan was chief minister, he had given concessions to multiplexes and it was then agreed to reserve morning time (shows) for Marathi cinemas. I have now changed that to prime time,“ Tawde told TOI.
In 2010, the then DF government had made it mandatory for all multiplexes to ensure 124 screenings for Marathi movies in a year. However, most multiplexes hold the screenings during odd hours and not during prime time.
Tawde said he had not changed the number of shows the multiplexes would have to organize. Mukesh Bhatt, filmmaker and president of The Film & TV Producers Guild, criticized the state's move. “Marathi films get subsidy and are exempt from entertainment tax.We have no problem with that. My question is, how can you pass such a diktat without consulting all the stakeholders?“ he asked.
While actor Riteish Deshmukh called the decision “welcome news“ and filmmaker Onir said regional cinema needed state support, actor Rishi Kapoor tweeted, “You can't thrust anything on anyone zabardasti.“ Censor Board member Ashoke Pandit said, “Any kind of force is not good for democracy.“
Tawde urged Bollywood to back the move. “We are doing our best for the film industry, and if at the same time we are doing something good for regional language films, Bollywood should support it,“ he told the Times Now news channel.
The minister also said it will be mandatory for all multiplexes and single theatres to show a 1 to-1.30 minute audio-visual on Dadasaheb Phalke before the start of a movie. The audio-visual will be in the language in which the film is being screened.
`Bombay' to `Mumbai'
Tawde made a slew of announcements on culture in the assembly. He said the government will move an amendment to replace Bombay with Mumbai in all state Acts. He said there were 199 state Acts with 'Bombay' in their name. “It is necessary to change the name, and we have already started the process,“ he said.Raigad festival: The state will observe a week-long 'Raigad Mahotsav' to celebrate the memory of Chhatrapati Shivaji, Tawde said. He said the government will look at ways on partnering with the ASI to maintain the fort.
School of drama
The state will set up a Maharashtra School of Drama on the lines of the National School of Drama at Film City, Goregaon, and another one at Kolhapur.
'Lives of state heroes':
From May 1, the police band will play every Sunday at a strategic location in every district, he said. This will be followed by an audio-visual presentation on the lives of the winners of various awards from the state.
Laxman memorial
The state government will set up a memorial to the late cartoonist R K Laxman at the Sir JJ School of Art, culture minister Vinod Tawde said. It will showcase his cartoons along with those of other well-known Indian and international cartoonists. Tawde also promised to maintain and preserve Rudyard Kipling's bungalow and paintings in the Art school premises.
------------------
The state government's diktat, to reserve a screen in the 6pm-9 pm slot for Marathi films in multiplexes, has divided the industry
Ankur Pathak (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 8, 2015)
The Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra government will soon enact a law that will make it compulsory for every multiplex in the state to reserve one screen for Marathi movies during the 6 pm to 9 pm slot. This was announced by Culture Minister, Vinod Tawde, in the Assembly yesterday in his reply to a debate on preservation of historical forts, Marathi language and culture.
While Twitter was quick to mock the recent diktat laid down by the BJP government, the Marathi film industry hailed the move, with actor-producer Ritesh Deshmukh saying, "Cinema in every language should survive. I strongly believe every type of cinema should be protected, rather cultivated better. It's not a fight between Hindi and Marathi cinema. We live in one country."
National Award-winning Marathi filmmaker, Ravi Jadhav, of Natrang and Balak Palak fame, also applauded the move. "On an average, at least two Marathi films release every week but they are lost in morning shows. With prime-time visibility guaranteed, Marathi filmmakers will be motivated to make better cinema. Our films have always been family friendly and now we're finally getting our due," he exulted.
In sharp contrast, eminent lawyer Harish Salve told Mirror, "This amounts to violating the right to freedom of speech as it forces one to screen a movie whether they want to or not. The State has the power to grant license but that power cannot be used for purposes like promoting regionalism. Its a different thing to give economic support like providing land at concessional rates, but this, I reiterate, equals to violating freedom of speech."
Producer Mukesh Bhatt whose Mr X is coming up for release on April 17 is equally critical of the "autocratic move". "Did the government consult the multiplex owners who are running a private business before deciding to enact this law? You can't just wake up one day and tell me how to go about doing business," he raged, quickly adding that he isn't against Marathi cinema. "We're all here to help each other out but such decisions should be made after taking stakeholders into confidence."
Kamal Gianchandani, CEO of PVR Pictures, the largest multiplex chain in the country, was waiting for the official order to get more clarity on the issue. When asked if the lowturnout for Marathi films would dent their revenue, he demurred, "It's too speculative to say that at the moment."
However, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap hailed it, saying "Fine, even good for Marathi films". Producer Ramesh Taurani endorsed his views saying Marathi cinema offers really good content. "Now, they will have a strong platform to showcase their talent."
Exhibitor-distributor Vinay Choksi pointed out that according to a previous rule, single screen theatres in Bombay city have to reserve 44 shows in a year for Marathi films, 11 shows in each slot. The number increases beyond Thane. "Now, they have come up with a new law for multiplexes. But the fact is that the audience for Marathi films is more in the 12 noon and 3 pm slots," he pointed out. "The 6 pm to 9pm is a weaker slot and I don't see it making any appreciable difference."
-------------------------
Sonali Joshi Pitale & Bharati Dubey (MID-DAY; April 8, 2015)
Bollywood is up in arms over not being made party to the upcoming law making it mandatory for multiplexes to screen Marathi films between 6 pm and 9 pm; Culture Minister Vinod Tawde announced it on Tuesday
Maharashtra government courted controversy yet again, when it revealed yesterday that it is set to enact a law making it mandatory for multiplexes in the state to screen Marathi movies in prime time slots.
Culture Minister Vinod Tawde made the disclosure in the state Assembly yesterday. Replying to a debate on preservation of historical forts, Marathi language and culture, Tawde said, "We are in the process of enacting a law to make it mandatory for multiplexes to screen Marathi films during prime time."
"Though there was a stipulation earlier that multiplexes should screen a specific number of Marathi films, it was not mandated that there be a prime time slot for them. I feel the Marathi films screening during prime time will allow an entire family to enjoy the movie together," he said, adding, "I think you (multiplex owners) owe it to the state where you do business and earn profit."
‘Dictatorial’
The diktat has come in for heavy criticism from filmmakers and distributors. Mukesh Bhatt, president, Film and Television Producers Guild of India, and a film producer himself, labelled the move as dictatorial. "They don’t even consider us worthy of being consulted before taking a decision. We also want the Marathi film industry to grow. If the government had told us about it, we would’ve given them better ideas about how to implement it. Are we really living in a democracy?" he said.
When told there are states where local language films are given preference, Bhatt countered, "Then make more theatres for us.. Do you know that out of the 10,000 theatres in the country, 6,000 are in south India? Here in Maharashtra, theatres are shutting instead." His brother, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt hailed the move and said it would keep the cultural identity, but added that the exhibition sector should be made party to the endeavour and one couldn’t legally force down the ruling.
Rajesh Thadani, a distributor, felt this idea has been borrowed from Gujarat. "In Gujarat, the government gives Rs 15 per ticket as incentive to cinema halls when people watch a Gujarati film. This government is trying to implement the same here. This step will definitely affect Hindi films because 6 pm shows drive maximum audience to theatres," he said.
He further added, "The rule for showing Marathi films was always there, but the timing was late night. It seems the Marathi film lobby has put pressure on the government to make it mandatory (to screen them at prime time)." One voice, however, saw a silver lining. Anand Vishal, operations head, Fun Cinemas, believes this move will only augment business.
He said, "There is a need for good content and a consumer will watch it irrespective of language. Besides, there is enough room for Marathi and Hindi films. But they (filmmakers) will have to work towards providing good, marketable Marathi films to be screened during prime time," he told mid-day. Anand foresaw friction only during the release of big-ticket Hindi films.
Marathi industry says
The Marathi filmmaking industry welcomed the move. Ravi Jadhav, who directed the National Award-winning Natarang, felt this widened the choice for the audience. He said, "We would never get prime-time shows. Even with odd timings for our shows, we did very well.
This (move) is victory for the audience, as they can now choose between Hindi and Marathi films. Good cinema will always stand out. It will be fair competition now." Nikhil Sane, business head, Marathi film division, Essel Vision, which produced recent commercial successes like Timepass, Kaaksparsh, added, "Marathi films have done phenomenally well at the box office and got critical appreciation too.
We are the only state that faces immense competition from Hindi and English films, unlike south and Bengali film industries. I think this was a necessary step. Once multiplexes realise this is helping them to generate revenue, I’m sure they will have more prime time slots for Marathi films." Riteish Deshmukh, who has produced films like Balak Paalak and Lai Bhari, termed it as a move to strengthen Marathi cinema.
"This will help Marathi filmmakers make better and bigger films. I don’t know why the (Hindi) film industry is overreacting. There seven to eight screens in a multiplex and only one screen will be allotted to Marathi films; the prime time slot ensures the films are sustainable. Hindi films are always going to be the big brother. Marathi films have a budget of just Rs 2.5 crore or so. They will definitely not compete with a Rs 50-crore Hindi film."
- Inputs from Agencies
Short film on Dadasaheb Phalke
The government is also preparing a short film on Dadasaheb Phalke, the father of Indian cinema, for screening in theatres, Tawde said, adding that it will be shown after the national anthem. Screening this film on Phalke, too, will be made compulsory in the theatres, he said. This will enable people to know that a Marathi-speaking person laid the foundation stone for Indian cinema, Tawde added.
In favour
Ravi Jadhav, National Award-winning director
This is victory for the audience, as they can now choose between Hindi and Marathi films.
Riteish Deshmukh, Actor and Producer
There is good content in Marathi film industry today and audience will definitely come for a 6 pm film. There won’t be any audience for a 12 noon show.
Shreyas Talpade, Actor and Producer
As a producer who made a successful Marathi film, I welcome this move.
Rishi Kapoor, Actor
Ritesh Deshmukh’s film in Marathi was a super hit. So were others. So welcome all. We are all equal here in cinema. May the best win!
Onir, Filmmaker
Appreciate the move by the govt of Maharashtra to support Marathi Cinema. Regional cinema all over the country needs state support.
Against
Mukesh Bhatt, Producer
We want Marathi industry to grow but the government should’ve kept us in the loop before imposing this on us.
Mahesh Bhatt, Filmmaker
Do not make this into an us versus them situation. Marathi filmmakers are our brothers. We would do all we can to see them prosper.
Vikas Mohan, senior VP, Indian Film and Television Producers Council
How can they impose this rule? If the state intends to help the Marathi industry it should increase their subsidy.
Vivek Rangachari, Producer
I believe this is a commendable move, but forcing may not be the right way. There are other ways to promote Marathi films.
Rajesh Thadani, a distributor, felt this idea has been borrowed from Gujarat. "In Gujarat, the government gives Rs 15 per ticket as incentive to cinema halls when people watch a Gujarati film. This government is trying to implement the same here. This step will definitely affect Hindi films because 6 pm shows drive maximum audience to theatres," he said.
He further added, "The rule for showing Marathi films was always there, but the timing was late night. It seems the Marathi film lobby has put pressure on the government to make it mandatory (to screen them at prime time)." One voice, however, saw a silver lining. Anand Vishal, operations head, Fun Cinemas, believes this move will only augment business.
He said, "There is a need for good content and a consumer will watch it irrespective of language. Besides, there is enough room for Marathi and Hindi films. But they (filmmakers) will have to work towards providing good, marketable Marathi films to be screened during prime time," he told mid-day. Anand foresaw friction only during the release of big-ticket Hindi films.
Marathi industry says
The Marathi filmmaking industry welcomed the move. Ravi Jadhav, who directed the National Award-winning Natarang, felt this widened the choice for the audience. He said, "We would never get prime-time shows. Even with odd timings for our shows, we did very well.
This (move) is victory for the audience, as they can now choose between Hindi and Marathi films. Good cinema will always stand out. It will be fair competition now." Nikhil Sane, business head, Marathi film division, Essel Vision, which produced recent commercial successes like Timepass, Kaaksparsh, added, "Marathi films have done phenomenally well at the box office and got critical appreciation too.
We are the only state that faces immense competition from Hindi and English films, unlike south and Bengali film industries. I think this was a necessary step. Once multiplexes realise this is helping them to generate revenue, I’m sure they will have more prime time slots for Marathi films." Riteish Deshmukh, who has produced films like Balak Paalak and Lai Bhari, termed it as a move to strengthen Marathi cinema.
"This will help Marathi filmmakers make better and bigger films. I don’t know why the (Hindi) film industry is overreacting. There seven to eight screens in a multiplex and only one screen will be allotted to Marathi films; the prime time slot ensures the films are sustainable. Hindi films are always going to be the big brother. Marathi films have a budget of just Rs 2.5 crore or so. They will definitely not compete with a Rs 50-crore Hindi film."
- Inputs from Agencies
Short film on Dadasaheb Phalke
The government is also preparing a short film on Dadasaheb Phalke, the father of Indian cinema, for screening in theatres, Tawde said, adding that it will be shown after the national anthem. Screening this film on Phalke, too, will be made compulsory in the theatres, he said. This will enable people to know that a Marathi-speaking person laid the foundation stone for Indian cinema, Tawde added.
In favour
Ravi Jadhav, National Award-winning director
This is victory for the audience, as they can now choose between Hindi and Marathi films.
Riteish Deshmukh, Actor and Producer
There is good content in Marathi film industry today and audience will definitely come for a 6 pm film. There won’t be any audience for a 12 noon show.
Shreyas Talpade, Actor and Producer
As a producer who made a successful Marathi film, I welcome this move.
Rishi Kapoor, Actor
Ritesh Deshmukh’s film in Marathi was a super hit. So were others. So welcome all. We are all equal here in cinema. May the best win!
Onir, Filmmaker
Appreciate the move by the govt of Maharashtra to support Marathi Cinema. Regional cinema all over the country needs state support.
Against
Mukesh Bhatt, Producer
We want Marathi industry to grow but the government should’ve kept us in the loop before imposing this on us.
Mahesh Bhatt, Filmmaker
Do not make this into an us versus them situation. Marathi filmmakers are our brothers. We would do all we can to see them prosper.
Vikas Mohan, senior VP, Indian Film and Television Producers Council
How can they impose this rule? If the state intends to help the Marathi industry it should increase their subsidy.
Vivek Rangachari, Producer
I believe this is a commendable move, but forcing may not be the right way. There are other ways to promote Marathi films.
Why 2014 suffered a considerable dip in revenue this year as compared to 2013
7:55 AM
Bharati Dubey (MID-DAY; December 15, 2014)
The year 2014 witnessed the rise of a new order at the box office but in terms of success one saw a drastic drop. If one compares the commercial success of significant films at the marquee, the number of Hindi films that were hits — or at least broke even in terms of business — were a measly 19 as compared to 2013 which had close to 25. 2012 had about 24 successful releases.
Considering there were at least 120 releases in this calendar year — of course, we have not taken Aamir Khan’s PK into account — we’re talking about huge figures here. To understand how 2014 fared for the Hindi film industry, let’s break down certain significant aspects that are the highlights of the passing year…
Size matters
Although several small-budgeted films managed to earn a Friday release, not all of them made hay when the sun shone. What this translated into was a complicated scenario where the bigger films were too dull to attract crowd while the better, but smaller movies just couldn’t make the most of the allotted space. Like media observer Shailesh Kapoor informs, “The big reason for the drop in box office figures is that low and medium budget films are not getting any audiences. Ticket prices have gone up year-on-year and audiences today want to go to theatres only to watch big films which have good star cast or production values.”
However, there were exceptions like Queen starring Kangna Ranaut and the Shahid Kapoor-starrer Haider. Both the modest budgeted films flourished exceedingly well purely on the basis of word-of-mouth. According to trade analyst Amod Mehra, 2014 had faced more flops than the previous year. So what exactly was the reason behind this anomaly? Mehra believes captivating content — or should we say, the lack of it? — has been a prime reason. “Content wasn’t paid attention to during the making of several films that opened this year. Also, music which is an important marketing tool for a film, didn’t quite impress the audiences.”
According to a well-placed source in the industry, the film business has been growing year-on-year for the last five years. In fact, stats indicate that the growth was a staggering 38 per cent from 2011 to 2012, when the domestic net business grew from Rs 1,725 crore to Rs 2,375 crore. From 2012 to 2013 too, the growth was a healthy 17 per cent. But this year, we are staring at possible negative growth. “Even if PK does exceptionally well, this year would fall at least 200 crore short of the Rs 2800 crore business of 2013. After an incredible crest, finally, the growth has stopped,” adds Kapoor.
Limited to Rs 100 crore
Only five films have crossed the much-fabled Rs 100 crore mark in 2014. Anand Vishal of Fun Cinemas says he’s not surprised by the apparent decline. However, he has noticed a positive trend too. “Unfortunately, the misses have been more this year making a lull at the box and poor collection. Only major plus that has happened in the last two years is that English (read: Hollywood) films have picked up and the acceptability also.” After all, Hollywood releases, be it The Amazing Spider-Man 2 or Guardians Of The Galaxy or the most recent Interstellar, saw encouraging queues outside the cinema halls.
Full house, empty show
Big films like Action Jackson, Happy Ending and Kill Dil fell flat at the box office. What is worrisome about this downward trend is the number of A-listers attached to these projects is too high. And that’s not all. If a film doesn’t do well at the box-office, the chances of it making a splash on the small screen diminish as well.
This year, very few films had content and repeat value.
An industry insider on condition of anonymity shares an amusing thought. “The makers have begun to take the audiences for granted. As a result, they are more focussed on packaging rather than on the actually content of the film. What else can explain the way Saif Ali Khan was promoted for Happy Ending? It has proved that a star does not always guarantee a hit.”
Solutions
The industry feels there is a correction needed and stars need to guarantee at least a good opening for a film. There have been examples this year where a star hasn’t been able to draw initial audience. So how exactly is the high price A-listers demand justified? Distributor Ramesh Sippy believes it’s high time the stars to cut their prices to have a cost- effective product. Also the stars price could be linked to their first weekend box office collection of their films — not just trade buzz.
In other words, the star would require guaranteeing a certain draw on his or her name in the opening weekend. “This is an SOS call. If the producer is unable to make films, there will be no work and therefore becomes essential that the artiste or the actors understand this situation and not run shy of this scenario,” adds Sippy.
Detective Byomkesh Bakshy postponed to April to avoid clash with Ind VS Pak match?
7:48 AM
Bharati Dubey (MID-DAY; December 8, 2014)
It is an ironical coincidence that Sushant Singh Rajput starts shooting for his biopic on Mahendra Singh Dhoni, but it is cricket that has pushed the release date of his own film Detective Byomkesh Bakshy to another date. The film was initially slated to release on February 13 but now pushed to April 10.
According to an informer, the decision was taken after the announcement of dates for the Cricket World Cup 2015 was made. “The weekend match is between India and Pakistan which is bound to affect the collection of the film as February 15 is a Sunday and if India and Pakistan plays on that day, footfall is expected to drop.” Directed by Dibakar Banerjee, the film is a contemporary interpretation of war-torn Calcutta during the 1940s. The eponymous film looks at the first adventure of an immensely popular character, sleuth Byomkesh Bakshi.
Exhibitor Rajesh Thadani says that the decision to push the release date is entirely commerical. He says, “Sunday’s business contribution to the business of any film is about 40 per cent of the total weekend collection. Besides, cinema business has always got affected because of cricket especially after the one day format gained popularity and if it is a India Pakistan game, then watching a movie at that time would be the audiences’ last priority.”
Anand Vishal of Fun Cinemas adds, “ Shifting of the date makes sense since Sunday provides nearly half of the revenue.”
Cricket expert Hemant Kenkre points out, “An India-Pakistan match will definitely affect the business of a film — as it’s always a point of discussion one day before and after the game — it’s bound to have a ripple effect on the business of a film releasing around that time. Besides, World Cup Cricket is one of the most marketed event so anything that attracts mass audience will definitely get affected.”
Despite the cuts, Sex Tape is still very explicit-Nandini Sardesai
7:49 AM
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 14, 2014)
After facing stiff resistance from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), the Hollywood comedy, Sex Tape, starring Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel, has finally got the green signal. The film will release across India on October 17.
The film was to open on August 29. The publicity campaign was about to be flagged off when the Examining Committee rejected the film (Mirror, August 6). The producers then appealed to the Revising Committee. They decided not to go to the Tribunal if they got the thumbs down from the Revising Committee too.
The bone of contention was the scenes involving both male and female nudity. Now the Revising Committee has passed the film after cutting two steamy lovemaking sequences.
Explaining the edits, senior member of the Revising Committee, Nandini Sardesai said: "The CBFC is a board to certify films, not ban them. If we had to pass Sex Tape there was no other way out. We did our job to the best of our abilities. The two sex scenes-- one before the titles roll and the other before the end credits-- were uncalled for. Moreover, they were over the top."
Sardesai added that the 'A' certification is a clear indication that children shouldn't see this film. "Frankly even I was embarrassed when I was watching it. Despite the cuts, the film is still very explicit, " said Sardesai.
Sex Tape is the story of a couple whose sex life has been reduced to zero. To put the relationship back on track they decide to make a video of themselves trying out every sex position in one marathon three-hour session. But soon they discover that the video is no longer private.
Manoj Desai, owner of Gaiety-Galaxy and Maratha Mandir, says that he will screen the film in his theatres, albiet reluctantly. "There is nothing much on the anvil before Happy New Year, which opens on October 24," he reasoned.
Anand Vishal, Head of Operations, Fun Cinemas, added: "We will have to make sure that kids below 18 years are not allowed into the theatres."
Why Bollywood is jumping on the Marathi cinema bandwagon
9:57 AM
Sonali Joshi Pitale (MID-DAY; August 24, 2014)
Before his film Singham Returns released, director Rohit Shetty held a press conference along with the makers of the Marathi film Rege — director Abhijit Panse, co-producers Ravi Jadhav and actor Mahesh Manjrekar — to announce that they had decided to share theatre screens in Mumbai with Rege.
While Manjrekar feels that it was a nice gesture from Shetty, this is not for the first time that the director has gone ahead and accommodated a Marathi film.
While it was a smart move by the director, his lead actor Ajay Devgn has also declared that he is producing the upcoming Marathi movie Vitti Dandu. In fact, Devgn is the latest Bollywood star to join the bandwagon of actors who are attracted to Marathi cinema.
Regardless, Manjrekar (right) thinks it is definitely a positive sign as far as commercial sense is concerned. “I will not call it as competition because with the availability of many multiplexes, there is space for all types of cinema. However, because of the sudden boom in the business of Marathi films, Hindi film industry folk are showing interest. Earlier, we had only good subjects but no money to show. But now, with the kind of collection Lai Bhaari, Poshter Boyz and even Rege has got, I feel more and more cash flow will be in,” says Manjrekar.
Shreyas Talpade (left) has turned producer with Poshter
Boyz (top pic). According to the actor-turned-producer, the movie is getting
good feedback on social media. Talpade admits that because of the
audience’s loyalty, Hindi filmmakers are taking notice of Marathi film
release dates and are avoiding clashes. “The audience is supporting
Marathi films like never before. With each passing day, the movies are
getting bigger and better. So you can see that excitement in the
audience — They are so loyal. If they come to know that Hindi filmmakers
have stopped the release of Marathi films, they boycott the former. There are no small or big films, it is just that they have different budgets and Hindi filmmakes have realised this truth.”How they co-exist
If one takes a look at Mumbai and Pune’s film distribution, around 70- 80 per cent people watch Hindi films while the rest watch Marathi movies. Vikas Kadam, who pinpoints this statistic, has been assisting Rohit Shetty for several years and is now all set to make his directorial debut with Vitti Dandu.
He believes that the two industries have been co- existing for many years and do not have an impact on each other. However, in the rest of Maharashtra, the ratio is quite the opposite. “Therefore, I don’t think that Marathi or Hindi cinema impact each other,” he says. “ A few years ago, Marathi films by the likes of Laxmikant Berde, Mahesh Kothare and Sachin Pilgaonkar used to do well. However, due to improved marketing techniques, now there are collection figures to refer to. I feel the money is coming, but the system should become clear so that we will know the real figures,” adds Kadam.
Unfair comparisons
Comparing Bollywood with Marathi film industry is unfair given the former’s reach on a global scale. But even a small dent in market share of a regional film is noted.
Anand Vishal, head of operations and sales at Fun Cinema admits that there is definitely a change in distribution of screens as demand for Marathi films is increasing. “Lai Bhaari has been one of the biggest grossers of the year in Marathi. It collected Rs 22 lakh on the opening day which was pretty good. Moreover, when Kick released, we still allotted four screens to Lai Bhaari and one screen to Kick as shows in some areas of Mumbai ran to packed houses. Theatres are also willing to give more screens to such films because it finally helps them earn revenue,” said Anand.
Marathi top grossers (In Rs)
Lai Bhaari
Released on July 11, 2014
33.74 crore (and still counting)
Poshter Boyz
Released on August 1, 2014
3.5 crore
Duniyadari
Released on July 19, 2013
23.1 crore
Timepass
Released on January 3, 2014
31.06 crore
Balak Palak (pic below)
Released on January 4, 2013
9 crore
Me Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy
Released on April 3, 2009
25.5 crore
Sex Tape, PK: No sex please, we’re Indians
8:09 AM
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 6, 2014)
Sex Tape, the Hollywood comedy starring Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel, may not see the light of day in India.
The Examining Committee of the Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has rejected the film. The producers of the film have appealed to the Revising Committee, but buzz is, the film is unlikely to get the nod.
"The Examining Committee was shocked when they saw the film last week," said a source close to the development. "It was clear in the first 30 minutes itself that Sex Tape will face the axe," added the source.
Explaining the bone of contention, the source said: "There is male and female nudity with visible posteriors. How on earth can the CBFC certify it?"
Kersei Daruwala, the MD of the company releasing the film in India, maintained the "No comments" stance but a source from the production house told Mirror, "We will not go to the Tribunal if the Revising Committee rejects it too, since Sex Tape is not a culturally sensitive film. It does not have any social message either."
The studio has slotted theatrical shows from August 29 and was about to flag off their publicity campaign.
Speaking about the film's fate Anand Vishal, Head of Operations, Fun Cinemas, said: "We faced a similar situation during the release of the Brad Pitt starrer Fight Club and Penelope Cruz's The Counselor. India is not America. What is acceptable in the US need not be acceptable here."
Vishal however admitted that there is a market for adult films. "But if we do release Sex Tape, we will have to make sure that kids below the age of 18 do not get into the theatres,"he added.
However, Manoj Desai, owner of Gaiety-Galaxy, Maratha Mandir, was vocal in his reservations, "I don't know how many shows can I give to a film like Sex Tape."
MEANWHILE...
Not for public viewing
The talking standee of Aamir Khan's PK avatar, which depicts the actor nude, with a radio covering his modesty, had to be removed from the Gaiety-Galaxy theatres, after a group of women approached the police with a complaint on Monday.
The group maintained that the "obscene image" should not be displayed in public. The theatre's owner Manoj Desai confirmed this, saying, "A policeman told me that I need to remove the standee. I didn't want the situation to get out of hand and obliged. I don't understand why a star like Aamir resorted to such publicity."
This is the latest in the slew of complaints against Rajkumar Hirani's upcoming film. "Such objections are bound to be raised. I noticed that most women turn their eyes away when faced with the poster," said Desai.
Exhibitors, trade analysts in state of shock after The Expendables 3's online leak
8:45 AM
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 29, 2014)
Three weeks ahead of its U.S. premiere, a high-quality DVD screener quality print of The Expendables 3 has leaked online. And the damage has begun. The action-packed Wesley Snipes, Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jet-Li starrer has over 27,000 "seeders" on Pirate Bay and 31,000 on Kickass Torrents, two of the internet's most popular Torrent sites. At the time of going to the press, the film had been downloaded via piracy sites nearly 1,90,000 times.
The exhibition circuit is in a tizzy. Anand Vishal, Head of Operations, Fun Cinemas, sighing over the "unfortunate incident" told Mirror, "We will now need to sit down and re-evaluate how many screens to give the film in our chain now."
Manoj Desai, owner of Gaiety, Galaxy and Maratha Mandir, has already decided to curtail its screening in his theatres. "I am shocked and have yet to get over the fact that such a big film is now available to us in our living rooms, well before it theatrical release. In my cinemas alone, business will be down by at least 50 per cent," he says.
Sony Pictures which has two films, Sex Tape and Equaliser, lined up for release is already taking stringent measures to save these from a similar leak abroad.
Trade analyst Amod Mehra shudders over the idea of something like this happening with a Bollywood biggie, Happy New Year or P.K.. "We should not take this lightly. Big stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan should come out and do something about this," he maintains.
Trade analyst Komal Nahta agrees with Amod that piracy can upset the applecart but argues that in the case of The Expendables 3 the leak will not have a major impact here. "It's a larger-than-life film which our janta would like to watch in the theatres," he points out.
Despite repeated attempts, the film's producer, PVR, which owns the PVR-Cinemax chain as well, remained unavailable for comment. A leading filmmaker on request of anonymity just said, "PVR is in a state of shock."
VOX POPULI
I'm a great fan of the franchise and won't settle for a home viewing experience. The Expendables is a series designed to be enjoyed on the big screen.
- Yash Thakoor (23), Teacher
If the movie is available online, I'd really give the multiplex a miss as it is an expense that can be easily avoided.
- Maitri Shah (18), Student
Online? Never. I am a film buff. Who wants to watch a movie sitting at home? Jo baat theatre mein hai, woh ghar mein kahan?
- Sharad Kalwani (50), Businessman
The Expendables 3 is a much-awaited film and so should have a full-fledged release. So what if it has leaked online?
- Raisa Kazi (28), Advt Executive
Riteish Deshmukh's Lai Bhaari to eat into the collections of Kick?
9:04 AM
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 22, 2014)
Salman Khan has made a guest appearance in buddy Ritesh Deshmukh's latest release, Lai Bhaari and producer-director Sajid Nadiadwala has penned the story of the Marathi hit. Little did they know that the film will threaten to eat into the collections of their Eid bonanza, Kick.
Lai Bhaari is enjoying a good run in the single screens. And chief of the MNS Film Wing, Ameya Khopkar, who has co-produced the film with Riteish's wife Genelia D'Souza, is not keen to pull the film out to make way for Kick. "We will not withdraw from the screens where the film is doing very well. In the theatres where business is okay, we may give them a show or two," he asserted.
Nadiadwala who makes his directorial debut with Kick, has panicked after a meeting between the two producers did not yield a compromise. A source from his unit told this newspaper, "Khopkar is adamant that Lai Bhaari will continue to play on the screens where it is bringing in the money. Sajid did not imagine even in his wildest dream that he'd get such stiff competition from Lai Bhaari for Salman's Eid release."
A group of exhibitors tried to play peacemaker and met with the MNS, late last evening. While Nadiadwala remained unavailable for comment, distributor of Kick, Rahul Aksar said, "There's no issue. We will divide and run."
Anand Vishal, Head of Operations, Fun Republic, pointed out that the multiplexes will give preference to Kick but Manoj Desai, owner of Gaiety, Galaxy and Maratha Mandir, said, "I am aware of the standoff but Lai Bhaari drew full houses even yesterday. I plan to accommodate both films in my chain of theatres."
Kick's ticket prices to cost 15-20% more
8:58 AM
Bharati Dubey (MID-DAY; July 22, 2014)
Even as Salman Khan-starrer Kick gears up for release this Friday, audiences will have to brace themselves for a hike in the ticket fare. It is being said that the cost of tickets for the film will go up by 15 to 20 percent.
Anand Vishal, operations head, Fun Cinemas, says, “For Kick, we are increasing prices by 15-20 percent. This is anyway done for big-ticket films and with Eid around the corner, we are factoring in the festive fervour. Our ticket pricing for Kick will be similar to what we charged for Dhoom 3.’’
An exhibitor from South Mumbai says, “The hike is just around 15 per cent; the film will have a wide release. Also, ticket prices for the morning shows may not go up.’’
Trade expert Komal Nahata says, “The entire week will see tickets costing up to 15 to 20 percent more. If the film does well, distributors could even hike up prices by another 10 percent on Eid and Baasi Eid.’’
Manoj Desai of G-7, however, has stuck to regular pricing for Kick. He says, “I am going to screen Kick in Gaiety and Galaxy, but the ticket price will continue to cost Rs 80 for upper stall and Rs 100 for balcony seats.’’
In the past, films like Salman Khan’s Ek Tha Tiger, Shah Rukh Khan’s Jab Tak Hai Jaan and Chennai Express, Ajay Devgn’s Son Of Sardaar, and Aamir Khan’s Talaash and Dhoom 3 have seen higher ticket prices.
Crazy Rajinikanth fans lose their enthusiasm, for Kochadaiiyaan?
8:06 AM
While his film, Kochadaiiyaan, has been pushed again, his fan clubs in Mumbai are not really planning the regular ritual that precedes his releases…
Bharati Dubey (MID-DAY; May 8, 2014)
Mumbai may not witness the frenzy that usually marks the release of a Rajnikanth’s film. And while his latest film, Kochadaiiyaan, has been postponed yet again — the 3D computer animated film will now hit movie screens on May 23 instead of May 9 — it is interesting to note that the film’s release has failed to create the mass hysteria often associated with a Rajini film. From anointing his posters to getting theatres whitewashed, his releases have been characterised by frenetic fan activity but things have been mellow this time.
Says a source, “People want to see Rajnikanth doing all his antics, but this time he is an animated character so the audience is wondering how much of him will be present in the film.”
Nambi Rajan, owner of Aurora cinema in Mumbai, says, “It was going to be a regular release. One of the reasons for it could be the fact that people want to see Rajinikanth in flesh and blood and this is an animated film.”
Preparations for the release of a Rajinikanth film usually start around 10 to 15 days in advance, with fans working round the clock as they plan celebrations surrounding the release. Before the release of such a film, a cutout of the legendary actor is kept ready. Early in the morning on the day of the release, the film print is taken to Matunga temple where a pooja is done and it is then brought back in a Rajini mannequin to the cinema hall. Mario Mascarenhas, one of the organisers of a Rajinikanth fan club, points out that the timing of this film’s release is causing problems. “Most people have gone to their hometown because this is vacation time. Rajinikanth’s films have never released during the summer holidays.” Around 70 to 80 banners from various Rajini fan associations would make their way to Aurora theatre before his film’s release but this time, not one such banner could be spotted yet at the cinema hall.
Star power
Before the 2010 film, Endhiran (Robot), released in Aurora, Rajini fans held paal kudam (bowls full of milk) on their heads and lead a procession to a neighbouring temple seeking God’s blessings for the star.
When the legendary actor faced health issues in 2011, his fans prayed fervently at temples, mosques and churches. Some fans also shaved their heads in penance.
To mark the US release of his film, Kuselan, 25ft tall and 14ft wide cutouts were shipped from Chennai to be displayed outside theatres. Rajini special M& Ms were given to candy lovers.
Rajini fan madness is yet to gain momentum as was evident from the scene outside Aurora theatre at Matunga on Wednesday, two days before his film, Kochadaiiyaan, was scheduled to release. Pics/Suresh K K
Why the delay?
Sources state that a lot of work is left to be done on the 3D version of the film. The film’s director, Rajinikanth’s daughter Soundarya, who was in Mumbai, had to rush back to Chennai on Wednesday evening.
>> Producer Sunil Lulla of Eros International says, “The film had be postponed due to technical issues.” The last-minute postponement of the film has also caught film exhibitors off guard.
>> Trade analyst Amod Mehra says, “First, the film was slated to release on May 1. Then its release was pushed to May 9. Now when shows have been booked and some theatres had also started advance booking, the film’s release has been pushed ahead yet again. It is a jolt to film exhibitors and it also sends wrong signals to Rajnikanth’s fans as if something somewhere is wrong.”
>> Anand Vishal of Fun Cinemas says, “Since Kochadaiiyaan’s release has now been postponed to May 23, its shows in our chain of cinemas are now being allocated to The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and Hawaa Hawaai, besides some regional films.
Rajinikanth’s fans sought blessings for the film reel at a neighbouring temple before the movie screening. Pics/Sameer Markande
Aamir Khan arm-twists exhibitors for 2-week uninterrupted run for PK?
8:04 AM
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 17, 2014)
For the past few weeks, Anurag Kashyap has been miffed with Aamir Khan and Rajkumar Hirani for scheduling the release of PK on the same day as Bombay Velvet—Christmas 2014. He admitted as much to Mirror (March 18), saying, "All it would have taken is a phone call. It hurts, because I respect Raju as a filmmaker and as a person."
Now Mirror has learnt that Aamir and his co-producers, Disney UTV, have asked single screen and multiplex owners to block their screens for PK for two weeks, from December 19 to January 1. The gameplan obviously is to monopolise the festive season.
When contacted, Anand Vishal, Head of Operations, Fun Cinemas, confirmed this, "Yes, the producers of P.K have asked for an uninterrupted two-week run from theatres. Fun Cinemas will decide its plan of action closer to the date of release."
Nitin Datar, President, Cinema Owners and Exhibitors Association of India, was more forthcoming, "Haan, this is true. Also, they want shows in multiplexes every half hour."
Datar however warned that if PK does not fare well, then exhibitors in agreement with distributors, could pull it out from some screens after the first week.
"I guess, we'll have to make some adjustments for PK since an Aamir film is a big draw. It remains to be seen if Bombay Velvet sticks to its Christmas release. However, we received some feelers late on Wednesday evening that Anurag could shift the release date to November 28. It would be good for the trade if the clash is averted," Datar asserted.
Obviously, he is not firing blanks because Anushka Sharma, Bombay Velvet's leading lady tweeted around 5.30 pm on Wednesday, "What's happening on Nov 28? You will know soon. Wait for my next tweet."
The next tweet was, "Won't be able to attend Bombay Velvet wrap up party tonight. Shooting for NH10 in Rajasthan. Will miss BV gang."
The announcement she was hinting at in the first tweet was connected to the wrap-up party. And at the said party, Vijay Singh, CEO, Fox Star Studios, and leading man, Ranbir Kapoor, reportedly confirmed that the period film will unveil on November 28.
Mirror has it that the think-tank of Bombay Velvet had even discussed the idea of releasing the film on December 12, a week before PK but obviously a three-week headstart is a better option.
This is not the first time that two big films clashing at the box-office have been engaged in a tussle of this kind. Son of Sardar Vs Jab Tak Hai Jaan (Nov. 2012), Talaash Vs Khiladi 786 (Dec-Nov 2012), Once Upon Ay Time in Mumbaai Dobaara Vs Chennai Express (Aug. 2013) are three recent examples.
"It's not fair to ask theatres to run according to a filmmaker or star's whims and fancies. This is nothing but dictatorship and is uncalled for," Datar added.
Makers confirm PK will arrive a week before Bombay Velvet
8:09 AM
Bharati Dubey (MID-DAY; April 16, 2014)
The makers of Bombay Velvet can heave a sigh of relief, now that the
release of Aamir Khan-starrer, PK, has been pulled forward by a
week.
Earlier slated to release on December 25, the film will now release on December 19, just a week before Christmas. An official statement sent out by Disney India reads, “Vinod Chopra Films and Rajkumar Hirani Films, in association with Disney India, confirm that P. K. shall release on 19th December 2014.” It may be pointed out that Bombay Velvet, starring Ranbir Kapoor, is slated to release on December 25, so when PK’s makers recently announced that their film would hit the big screen on the same day, the former’s makers were quite upset with the development. Bombay Velvet’s director, Anurag Kashyap, even expressed his anger at a press conference saying that Rajkumar Hirani should’ve at least called him and informed him about releasing his film on the same day.
Interestingly, while the Aamir v/s Ranbir clash has been averted, the John Abraham film, Welcome Back, will be releasing on December 19. This means that this film, directed by Anees Bazmee, will now have to face competition from Aamir’s film.
Trade analysts, on the other hand, don’t think releasing PK a week before Christmas will help much. Taran Adarsh says, “It is not going change much because it is again the Christmas holiday season and both films will get affected. Ideally, only one film should release then.”
Exhibitors are not too happy with the release dates either. Anand Vishal of Fun Cinemas says, “Two big films clashing at the BO is not the best scenario for a multiplex operator and it’s the same for us.”
The makers of Bombay Velvet can heave a sigh of relief, now that the
release of Aamir Khan-starrer, PK, has been pulled forward by a
week.Earlier slated to release on December 25, the film will now release on December 19, just a week before Christmas. An official statement sent out by Disney India reads, “Vinod Chopra Films and Rajkumar Hirani Films, in association with Disney India, confirm that P. K. shall release on 19th December 2014.” It may be pointed out that Bombay Velvet, starring Ranbir Kapoor, is slated to release on December 25, so when PK’s makers recently announced that their film would hit the big screen on the same day, the former’s makers were quite upset with the development. Bombay Velvet’s director, Anurag Kashyap, even expressed his anger at a press conference saying that Rajkumar Hirani should’ve at least called him and informed him about releasing his film on the same day.
Interestingly, while the Aamir v/s Ranbir clash has been averted, the John Abraham film, Welcome Back, will be releasing on December 19. This means that this film, directed by Anees Bazmee, will now have to face competition from Aamir’s film.
Trade analysts, on the other hand, don’t think releasing PK a week before Christmas will help much. Taran Adarsh says, “It is not going change much because it is again the Christmas holiday season and both films will get affected. Ideally, only one film should release then.”
Exhibitors are not too happy with the release dates either. Anand Vishal of Fun Cinemas says, “Two big films clashing at the BO is not the best scenario for a multiplex operator and it’s the same for us.”
Filmmakers changing release dates of their films due to elections?
9:01 AM
Bharati Dubey (MID-DAY; March 24, 2014)
With the country heading to polls this April and May, it’s not just the Indian Premier League (IPL) that has had to make changes in its schedule.
Bollywood films have not been immune to the election
fever either. With all eyes on the elections, filmmakers, whose films
are slated to release between April and May, are looking at alternate
release dates.
Sajid Nadiadwala’s film, Heropanti, starring Tiger Shroff, has been pushed from May 16 to May 25. Speaking to hitlist, Nadiadwala says, “We had initially planned to release the film on May 16, but since it is a counting day, we have decided to push the film ahead to May 23. We have also requested Karan Johar to release his film Ungli on another day. He has gracefully agreed to do the same, just so that Tiger’s film gets a solo release.” Himesh Reshammiya’s film, The Xpose, where the musician- turned- actor plays a role inspired by yesteryear hero, Raj Kumar, will also release on another day. This film too was slated to release on May 16, but it will now hit the big screen on May 23.
Rakesh Upadhyay, Reshammiya’s business partner, says that their film has been pushed ahead for the same reason as Heropanti. “On May 16, the whole nation will be watching election results, so it does not make sense to release our film on the same day.” Trade analyst Vikas Mohan feels that election days are a big threat to films. “Moreover, May 16 will see the release of the Hollywood film, Godzilla. What if this film, like 300, eats into Bollywood films’ box office collections?” he points out.
It seems that while cricket and cinema have slowly started to co-exist, they may not be able to compete against the elections. It is also being said that promotions of upcoming films will now get affected. Anand Vishal of Fun Cinemas says, “With IPL and elections round the corner, the films releasing in April are going to face stiff competition. More than IPL, it’s the Lok Sabha polls that are expected to hog the limelight.” He reveals that in April, big films such as Main Tera Hero, Bhootnath Returns, Revolver Rani, Kaanchi and 2 States are up for release. “The good thing is that election date falls on Thursday, but sadly these films stand the chance of being overshadowed by elections and IPL. No wonder then, a lot of producers are looking at alternate dates. This move is aimed at maximizing collections for the makers and exhibitors,” he adds.
Shailesh Kapoor, cofounder and CEO, Ormax Media, agrees with film producers’ decisions to shift their release dates. “If films like Heropanti and Xpose are rescheduling, it is a wise move. Since there will be a lot of media noise surrounding the elections, movies releasing in this period will have to spend an additional 15-20 percent on their promotions to create the required amount of buzz. However, a film like Bhoothnath Returns will benefit strongly during this period, as it has a thematic connect with the elections and the makers are aggressively promoting the same.” But not all filmmakers are worried about elections.
Mukesh Bhatt’s film, Citylights, which is being
directed by Hansal Mehta, was initially scheduled to release on May 1;
its release date has now been shifted to May 23. But Bhatt says
that their date has been moved ahead only because ‘they don’t want to
hurry the film’. “We won’t be ready by May 1 and there’s no point in
releasing it in a hurry. I am not really worried about the elections,” he says.
However, he agrees that more often than not, it’s the small and medium budget films that get released during elections and IPL. Trade pundits predict some more reshuffling of dates by filmmakers. Taran Adarsh says that this year’s election has the country hooked on to it. “To add to it, filmmakers today want their movie to rake in the moolah in the first week itself. So producers will have to rethink their release dates,” he says.
Trade analyst Amod Mehra chimes in, “When election fever is at its peak, all work comes to a standstill and cinema comes last on people’s priority list. So it is better to release your films alongside another film rather than release it during elections.”
With the country heading to polls this April and May, it’s not just the Indian Premier League (IPL) that has had to make changes in its schedule.
Bollywood films have not been immune to the election
fever either. With all eyes on the elections, filmmakers, whose films
are slated to release between April and May, are looking at alternate
release dates.Sajid Nadiadwala’s film, Heropanti, starring Tiger Shroff, has been pushed from May 16 to May 25. Speaking to hitlist, Nadiadwala says, “We had initially planned to release the film on May 16, but since it is a counting day, we have decided to push the film ahead to May 23. We have also requested Karan Johar to release his film Ungli on another day. He has gracefully agreed to do the same, just so that Tiger’s film gets a solo release.” Himesh Reshammiya’s film, The Xpose, where the musician- turned- actor plays a role inspired by yesteryear hero, Raj Kumar, will also release on another day. This film too was slated to release on May 16, but it will now hit the big screen on May 23.
Rakesh Upadhyay, Reshammiya’s business partner, says that their film has been pushed ahead for the same reason as Heropanti. “On May 16, the whole nation will be watching election results, so it does not make sense to release our film on the same day.” Trade analyst Vikas Mohan feels that election days are a big threat to films. “Moreover, May 16 will see the release of the Hollywood film, Godzilla. What if this film, like 300, eats into Bollywood films’ box office collections?” he points out.
It seems that while cricket and cinema have slowly started to co-exist, they may not be able to compete against the elections. It is also being said that promotions of upcoming films will now get affected. Anand Vishal of Fun Cinemas says, “With IPL and elections round the corner, the films releasing in April are going to face stiff competition. More than IPL, it’s the Lok Sabha polls that are expected to hog the limelight.” He reveals that in April, big films such as Main Tera Hero, Bhootnath Returns, Revolver Rani, Kaanchi and 2 States are up for release. “The good thing is that election date falls on Thursday, but sadly these films stand the chance of being overshadowed by elections and IPL. No wonder then, a lot of producers are looking at alternate dates. This move is aimed at maximizing collections for the makers and exhibitors,” he adds.
Shailesh Kapoor, cofounder and CEO, Ormax Media, agrees with film producers’ decisions to shift their release dates. “If films like Heropanti and Xpose are rescheduling, it is a wise move. Since there will be a lot of media noise surrounding the elections, movies releasing in this period will have to spend an additional 15-20 percent on their promotions to create the required amount of buzz. However, a film like Bhoothnath Returns will benefit strongly during this period, as it has a thematic connect with the elections and the makers are aggressively promoting the same.” But not all filmmakers are worried about elections.
Mukesh Bhatt’s film, Citylights, which is being
directed by Hansal Mehta, was initially scheduled to release on May 1;
its release date has now been shifted to May 23. But Bhatt says
that their date has been moved ahead only because ‘they don’t want to
hurry the film’. “We won’t be ready by May 1 and there’s no point in
releasing it in a hurry. I am not really worried about the elections,” he says.However, he agrees that more often than not, it’s the small and medium budget films that get released during elections and IPL. Trade pundits predict some more reshuffling of dates by filmmakers. Taran Adarsh says that this year’s election has the country hooked on to it. “To add to it, filmmakers today want their movie to rake in the moolah in the first week itself. So producers will have to rethink their release dates,” he says.
Trade analyst Amod Mehra chimes in, “When election fever is at its peak, all work comes to a standstill and cinema comes last on people’s priority list. So it is better to release your films alongside another film rather than release it during elections.”
With commercial viability in mind, running time of a film is now being kept in check
7:55 AM
Bharati Dubey (MID-DAY; February 8, 2014)
Recent instances in the industry hint at the emergence of an unsaid
rule where the duration of films is now being curtailed to around two
hours and ten minutes. Films are apparently being cut short in order to
ensure a wider and smoother release in cinemas. For instance, HitList
has learnt that producer Mukesh Bhatt has asked director Hansal Mehta to
stick to a running time of not more than two hours and fifteen minutes.
“The shorter the length of a film, the more shows it allows us,” says
Bhatt.
A source says that producers now insist on calling the shots as far as duration and rating are concerned. “It’s a part of the contract now. If the film has a middle-order star, then the producer wants less running time so as to make the film commercially viable. Bigger stars can get away with more screen time. Duration issues have been cropping up particularly for action, erotic horror and thriller films,” adds the source.
Ramesh Taurani, producer of the Akshay Kumar starrer, It’s Entertainment, says that his film won’t exceed a running time of two hours and twenty minutes. “A film’s length is decided upon after its first cut has been seen. I want my film to hold the audience’s attention,” he says.
Ajay Devgn’s film, Action Jackson, will also have a running time of around two hours fifteen minutes. Producer Gordhan Tanwani says, “Audiences in the age group of 15 to 30 don’t want to sit through a long film.” Anand Vishal of Fun Cinemas chimes in that shorter films are good for business. “Hasee Toh Phasee, which released on Friday, has a duration of two hours and ten minutes. Even films like Fukrey and Aashiqui 2 had the same running time,” he says.
Amrita Pandey, VP and Head of Theatrical, Television & Digital Distribution, Studios-Disney UTV, agrees. “A shorter duration does help a movie get a better release in cinemas. But it also depends on the content and storytelling; keeping audiences engaged and entertained is the main focus here,” she says. Four UTV films — The Lunchbox, Kai Po Che, Chennai Express and ABCD — have had an average running time of two hours and twenty minutes.
Recent instances in the industry hint at the emergence of an unsaid
rule where the duration of films is now being curtailed to around two
hours and ten minutes. Films are apparently being cut short in order to
ensure a wider and smoother release in cinemas. For instance, HitList
has learnt that producer Mukesh Bhatt has asked director Hansal Mehta to
stick to a running time of not more than two hours and fifteen minutes.
“The shorter the length of a film, the more shows it allows us,” says
Bhatt.A source says that producers now insist on calling the shots as far as duration and rating are concerned. “It’s a part of the contract now. If the film has a middle-order star, then the producer wants less running time so as to make the film commercially viable. Bigger stars can get away with more screen time. Duration issues have been cropping up particularly for action, erotic horror and thriller films,” adds the source.
Ramesh Taurani, producer of the Akshay Kumar starrer, It’s Entertainment, says that his film won’t exceed a running time of two hours and twenty minutes. “A film’s length is decided upon after its first cut has been seen. I want my film to hold the audience’s attention,” he says.
Ajay Devgn’s film, Action Jackson, will also have a running time of around two hours fifteen minutes. Producer Gordhan Tanwani says, “Audiences in the age group of 15 to 30 don’t want to sit through a long film.” Anand Vishal of Fun Cinemas chimes in that shorter films are good for business. “Hasee Toh Phasee, which released on Friday, has a duration of two hours and ten minutes. Even films like Fukrey and Aashiqui 2 had the same running time,” he says.
Amrita Pandey, VP and Head of Theatrical, Television & Digital Distribution, Studios-Disney UTV, agrees. “A shorter duration does help a movie get a better release in cinemas. But it also depends on the content and storytelling; keeping audiences engaged and entertained is the main focus here,” she says. Four UTV films — The Lunchbox, Kai Po Che, Chennai Express and ABCD — have had an average running time of two hours and twenty minutes.
Multiplex announce big price hike for biggies to compensate for losses?
8:31 AM
Mehul S Thakkar (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 20, 2013)
The festive season, a slew of hyped releases and recent box office casualties; these are the reasons cited by multiplexes for the announced rise in ticket prices. With the hike, you may end up shelling out upto Rs 900 to watch a film this weekend.
The current quarter has been a disappointing one for the film industry, with big films like
Besharam, Boss, Bullett Raja, Singh Saab The Great and Gori Tere Pyaar Mein failing to hit the bull’s eye. And with these poorly received films, multiplexes registered minimal footfall during the past few months.
But the theatres are hoping that releases like Dhoom 3 and Jai Ho, will turn the tide and they have planned to rake in the moolah through escalated ticket prices.
A top official from a leading multiplex reveals, “Big films have bigger expectations but films like Gori Tere Pyaar Mein failed miserably. We have had a lot of losses but its part of the game. Jai Ho again will be a game changer.”
Nationally the average ticket price will go up by 10-12 per cent, and in some markets like Mumbai, the rise can be as high as 60 per cent.
Cities like Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Delhi, Chandigarh, have controlled markets where the law doesn’t permit a steep price. However, Mumbai is a free market and therefore the difference in the ticket price of a big release and one without any big names is high.
And sources say that tickets of films like Mahabharat 3D, Sholay 3D and Dedh Ishqiya will not cost the ‘premium’ price.
Anand Vishal, head of operations at Fun Republic explains the move saying, “Wouldn’t you have to pay extra if you want to fly last minute? Today, when you have a good season, prices will go up, like in the airline or the hospitality industry. And the last three months have not been good for the film industry. In fact, even Krrish 3 did better in single screens than in multiplexes.”
However, Kamal Gianchandani, president of PVR, says that the bad performance of the last quarter is not the main reason for the hike. He says, “I think that November was good with Krrish 3 and Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-leela. Ups and downs are part of this business. Bigger films are always priced higher. It’s an accepted practise and the same was done during the release of Chennai Express.”
As for the eyewatering Rs 900 that IMAX properties will charge for select shows, he explains, “We only have two properties in Mumbai and the technology is expensive. That’s why the price is high.”
Leading distributor Rajesh Thadani weighs in saying “At the end of the day, the content has to be good. With the hike in price, multiplexes can balance out their balance sheet.”
But are people willing to shell out the premium money? Thadani believes, “Those who can, will shell out the money, others will have to watch it later .”
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