Showing posts with label National Cinema Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label National Cinema Day. Show all posts
How theatres are luring you back on Tuesdays
9:44 AM
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; April 8, 2025)
Anyone following the film industry will know that the buzz around soaring ticket prices and expensive food and beverages has been around for quite some time. You’ve likely heard the complaints – how a simple movie outing can feel like a luxury splurge. Many filmmakers have echoed this concern, pointing out that it’s not always the content keeping audiences away, but the overall cost of the experience.
To address this, cinemas are introducing Blockbuster Tuesdays this summer – an initiative aimed at making moviegoing more affordable. Starting this week, theatres across the country (excluding states with regulated pricing) will offer standard movie tickets for just Rs. 99. Exhibitors say the goal is to give audiences a reason to return to theatres every week. With a curated mix of new releases and beloved classics, the initiative hopes to boost footfalls and rekindle the joy of watching films on the big screen.
Starting this week, cinemas will offer regular movie tickets at Rs 99 on Tuesdays
This summer, cinemas have come up with another experiment - Blockbuster Tuesdays. Starting this week, cinemas across the country (except in states with regulated pricing) will offer regular movie tickets at just Rs 99, and premium formats like recliners, IMAX, 4DX, and ScreenX at lower prices.
Exhibitors say they want to give moviegoers a weekly excuse to step out and experience cinema the way it’s meant to be - on the big screen, in a dark room, with an audience.
"This summer, cinemas are rolling out attractive mid-week prices for moviegoers. It’s our way of reminding the world just how thrilling it is to experience stories on the big screen," says Kamal Gianchandani, President of the Multiplex Association of India and CEO of PVR INOX Pictures. "Blockbuster Tuesdays is a bold, industry-wide initiative that reflects our deep commitment to making cinema more accessible and enjoyable for everyone," he says.
Exhibitors say it will be a mix of new releases and classics lined up to ensure that this summer, Tuesday becomes a weekly ritual of moviegoing. They also add that, as part of Blockbuster Tuesdays, F&B prices will be slashed on Tuesdays throughout the summer.
Cinemas have been experimenting with pricing models since reopening after the pandemic
Exhibitors say that they have been paying attention. Over the past couple of years, cinemas across India have been rethinking how to make the big-screen experience more accessible.
As cinemas struggled to bounce back from the pandemic, grappling with hesitant audiences and half-empty auditoriums, multiplex operators tried something for the first time in India - National Cinema Day. The idea was to drop ticket prices to Rs 75 to make cinema going affordable for everyone. The response was so massive that it’s now an annual event.
The Rs 75 tickets had moviegoers lining up even for early morning shows. That wasn’t just a one-off success - it sparked a trend.
Since then, theatres have been experimenting. Annual National Cinema Day, weekday offers and occasional ticket drops. Exhibitors say this move is aimed at attracting more regular footfalls especially from younger audiences, who are price-sensitive.
Tuesday@Cinemas
- Movie tickets to start at a price of just Rs 99/ Rs 149 every Tuesday.
- Starting from April 8, recliner seats, formats such as IMAX, 3D, 4DX, ScreenX etc., will also be available at special pricing on Tuesdays
- F&B deals will also be available on Tuesdays
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 848
11:07 AM
SIDDHANT CHATURVEDI-STARRER, MUCH-AWAITED MARATHI SEQUEL TO GET BENEFIT OF NATIONAL CINEMA DAY
Tomorrow, most theatres across the country will sell tickets for just Rs. 99 as part of the National Cinema Day. This offer will be valid only on regular seats while the tickets of IMAX, 3D, 4DX and recliner class will be available between Rs. 130 and Rs. 199. As it has happened in the past, the audience, this time too, is going to come in hordes to cinemas due to the offer.
The biggest beneficiary of the offer will be the big Hindi release of the week, Yudhra. It stars Siddhant Chaturvedi, Malavika Mohanan and Raghav Juyal and is produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar's Excel Entertainment. Ravi Udyawar of Mom (2017) is the director. The film was launched way back in 2021 and got stuck due to pandemic challenges. Also, a small part of the film was reshot to enhance its scale.
The film’s buzz is limited but has a youthful appeal. Thanks to the National Cinema Day offer, its shows are fast-filling. The film will open around Rs. 2-3 crores and it might even go higher if the demand increases as the day passes. If the reports are positive, Yudhra will be in a good position to score at the box office on Saturday and Sunday.
The other big film that will have an advantage is Navra Maza Navsacha 2. It is the sequel to the cult Marathi film Navra Maza Navsacha and stars Sachin Pilgaonkar, Ashok Saraf, Supriya Pilgaonkar and Swwapnil Joshi. The demand for the film is tremendous. Many shows across Maharashtra are already sold out and theatres are increasing the film's shows to cope up with the demand. It will surely have a huge opening and it won’t be a surprise if it opens better than Yudhra.
The other Hindi release of the week is Kahan Shuru Kahan Khatam, which marks the debut of Dhvani Bhanushali. Transformers One and Never Let Go are the Hollywood releases. All these films will also get an audience due to the offer of National Cinema Day.
The holdover releases like Tumbbad and Stree 2 will have an added advantage thanks to National Cinema Day. Even the shows of The Buckingham Murders are going full and hence, its eighth day might be around Rs. 90 lakhs-Rs. 1 crore, which will be a good sign.
Tomorrow, most theatres across the country will sell tickets for just Rs. 99 as part of the National Cinema Day. This offer will be valid only on regular seats while the tickets of IMAX, 3D, 4DX and recliner class will be available between Rs. 130 and Rs. 199. As it has happened in the past, the audience, this time too, is going to come in hordes to cinemas due to the offer.
The biggest beneficiary of the offer will be the big Hindi release of the week, Yudhra. It stars Siddhant Chaturvedi, Malavika Mohanan and Raghav Juyal and is produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar's Excel Entertainment. Ravi Udyawar of Mom (2017) is the director. The film was launched way back in 2021 and got stuck due to pandemic challenges. Also, a small part of the film was reshot to enhance its scale.
The film’s buzz is limited but has a youthful appeal. Thanks to the National Cinema Day offer, its shows are fast-filling. The film will open around Rs. 2-3 crores and it might even go higher if the demand increases as the day passes. If the reports are positive, Yudhra will be in a good position to score at the box office on Saturday and Sunday.
The other big film that will have an advantage is Navra Maza Navsacha 2. It is the sequel to the cult Marathi film Navra Maza Navsacha and stars Sachin Pilgaonkar, Ashok Saraf, Supriya Pilgaonkar and Swwapnil Joshi. The demand for the film is tremendous. Many shows across Maharashtra are already sold out and theatres are increasing the film's shows to cope up with the demand. It will surely have a huge opening and it won’t be a surprise if it opens better than Yudhra.
The other Hindi release of the week is Kahan Shuru Kahan Khatam, which marks the debut of Dhvani Bhanushali. Transformers One and Never Let Go are the Hollywood releases. All these films will also get an audience due to the offer of National Cinema Day.
The holdover releases like Tumbbad and Stree 2 will have an added advantage thanks to National Cinema Day. Even the shows of The Buckingham Murders are going full and hence, its eighth day might be around Rs. 90 lakhs-Rs. 1 crore, which will be a good sign.
98% moviegoers believe in the big screen magic, finds survey
8:02 AM
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; October 12, 2023)
After a two-year lull, last year’s National Cinema Day proved to filmmakers and the movie industry that the appetite for the big screen experience has continued. Fast forward to 2023, from Pathaan, Barbie and Oppenheimer to Gadar 2 and Jawan, footfall in cinemas have shown that theatres aren’t going anywhere.
As the country gets ready to celebrate second National Cinema Day tomorrow, a survey has found that watching movies in the theatre remains the preferred choice of leisure experience for over 90% of the respondents.
WHAT MAKES CINEBUFFS DECIDE
- 74% love to keep track of movies that interest them and plan ahead up to three days in advance
- Storyline is the key determinant in making a decision to watch a movie. Blockbuster release, its cast, director, reviews, ratings and trailer are all other relevant factors
THE IDEAL MOVIE WATCHING PARTNER
- 38% Indians’ favourite companion for the big screen movie outing experience are their friends and family
- 30% responders from Mumbai and Bengaluru each prefer watching a film in the theatre with their plus one – spouse/ partner/date
HOW OFTEN INDIANS PLAN MOVIE OUTINGS
- 63% respondents think about watching a movie in the theatre at least once a fortnight or more frequently
- 26% of Gen Z and 36% millennials choose the big screen experience for their movie watching outing every week
CONTENT PRECEDES GENRE, LANGUAGE
For 35% of respondents, language or genre is not a deciding factor at all. It is solely based on the movie and its content
PLOT, REVIEW, DIRECTOR DECIDE THE CHOICE OF FILM
- 43% of Mumbaikars choose storyline as the most critical trigger to watch a movie in a theatre, significantly higher than other cities
- 38% of Delhiites choose reviews and ratings as the most critical trigger for them to catch a movie in a theatre
- 32% of Bengaluru cinephiles said that the director is an important factor in their decision to watch a movie
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 799
9:58 AM
NATIONAL CINEMA DAY 2023 TO BE HELD TOMORROW; YET, NEW RELEASES WILL STRUGGLE
The National Cinema Day 2023 will be celebrated tomorrow in cinemas across the country. On Friday, October 13, the tickets will be sold for just Rs. 99 for all shows and in all theatres. Last year, the tickets were priced at just Rs. 75 and the response was maddening, to say the least.
This year, too, tickets have been fast filling. Surprisingly, Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan, which will enter its sixth week tomorrow, continues to be a preferred choice for moviegoers. Many of its shows are almost sold out, prompting exhibitors to increase its shows from tomorrow. The film is already an all-time blockbuster, collecting more than Rs. 550 crores. Yet, it continues to get an audience. Mission Raniganj, starring Akshay Kumar, didn’t work at the box office. But on National Cinema Day, it’ll have great collections, as evidenced by the sold-out shows. Fukrey 3 and The Exorcist: Believer, too, have an encouraging response. Thank You For Coming’s ticket sales have been gradually increasing too.
Shockingly, three films are releasing tomorrow and the ticket sales till now are poor. The biggest release is Dhak Dhak, produced by Taapsee Pannu and starring Fatima Sana Shaikh, Ratna Pathak Shah, Dia Mirza and Sanjana Sanghi. It is about four women bikers on a trip to Khardung La Pass. The idea is interesting and the trailer is also decent. Sadly, the studio partner, Viacom18 Studios, has barely promoted the film. The trailer was out just four days before release and the actors haven’t done any promotion. Taapsee, in fact, deleted posts related to the film as she’s reportedly miffed with Viacom18 for meting out stepmotherly treatment to her movie. It is said that the banner has recovered the investment by selling the rights to Netflix and hence, is giving it a token release in cinemas. The screen count is too low for a film of this scale.
It is believed that Dhak Dhak will also get an audience once the other preferred films sell out. Yet, due to limited release, the first-day collections would be less than Rs. 50 lakhs. The collections will further drop on Saturday due to the crucial India vs Pakistan match. The only hope is that the film turns out to be extraordinary so that it can see a huge jump in collections on Sunday. That can lead to higher collections on Monday than on Friday.
Two Hollywood films up for release are Dumb Money and Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie. However, due to negligible awareness and hype, it will get some collections only on Friday due to the offer.
The National Cinema Day 2023 will be celebrated tomorrow in cinemas across the country. On Friday, October 13, the tickets will be sold for just Rs. 99 for all shows and in all theatres. Last year, the tickets were priced at just Rs. 75 and the response was maddening, to say the least.
This year, too, tickets have been fast filling. Surprisingly, Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan, which will enter its sixth week tomorrow, continues to be a preferred choice for moviegoers. Many of its shows are almost sold out, prompting exhibitors to increase its shows from tomorrow. The film is already an all-time blockbuster, collecting more than Rs. 550 crores. Yet, it continues to get an audience. Mission Raniganj, starring Akshay Kumar, didn’t work at the box office. But on National Cinema Day, it’ll have great collections, as evidenced by the sold-out shows. Fukrey 3 and The Exorcist: Believer, too, have an encouraging response. Thank You For Coming’s ticket sales have been gradually increasing too.
Shockingly, three films are releasing tomorrow and the ticket sales till now are poor. The biggest release is Dhak Dhak, produced by Taapsee Pannu and starring Fatima Sana Shaikh, Ratna Pathak Shah, Dia Mirza and Sanjana Sanghi. It is about four women bikers on a trip to Khardung La Pass. The idea is interesting and the trailer is also decent. Sadly, the studio partner, Viacom18 Studios, has barely promoted the film. The trailer was out just four days before release and the actors haven’t done any promotion. Taapsee, in fact, deleted posts related to the film as she’s reportedly miffed with Viacom18 for meting out stepmotherly treatment to her movie. It is said that the banner has recovered the investment by selling the rights to Netflix and hence, is giving it a token release in cinemas. The screen count is too low for a film of this scale.
It is believed that Dhak Dhak will also get an audience once the other preferred films sell out. Yet, due to limited release, the first-day collections would be less than Rs. 50 lakhs. The collections will further drop on Saturday due to the crucial India vs Pakistan match. The only hope is that the film turns out to be extraordinary so that it can see a huge jump in collections on Sunday. That can lead to higher collections on Monday than on Friday.
Two Hollywood films up for release are Dumb Money and Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie. However, due to negligible awareness and hype, it will get some collections only on Friday due to the offer.
With Rs. 99, National Cinema Day is returning on October 13
8:24 AM
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; September 21, 2023)
WHAT:
After the success of National Cinema Day last year, the Multiplex Association of India (MAI) and cinemas across the country have decided to celebrate it again on October 13. Tickets will be offered for Rs. 99. Currently, the average ticket price across Mumbai is in the range of Rs. 200-2000. Films which will be released from October 5 will be a part of National Cinema Day.
WHERE:
Around 4,000 screens across the country, including major chains like PVR, INOX, Cinépolis, Carnival, Miraj and Citypride, Asian, Mukta A2, Movietime, Wave, M2K, and Delite, are participating.
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‘All films and all shows will be priced at Rs. 99, apart from special format shows. National Cinema Day is a thank you to the moviegoers from the industry for record-breaking business’ – Kamal Gianchandani, President, MAI
National Cinema Day, blockbusters run of films prove that appetite to watch films in cinemas is still very much there
8:19 AM
From the first lockdown in March 2020 to the first half of 2022, whether moviegoers will return to cinemas like in pre-pandemic years remained a big question. But India’s first ever National Cinema Day, coupled with quite a few blockbusters, proved that the appetite to watch films in cinemas is still very much there
BOMBAY TIMES (December 24, 2022)
Sitting in a darkened cinema hall with friends and family, popcorn in hand, enjoying the latest releases – an activity we all took for granted became a distant memory during the two years of Coronavirus. Overnight, the century-old pastime became a safety hazard.
In 2022, when it was finally safe to go to cinemas and there was a slew of releases, the box office saw more duds than hits. There was debate over whether cinemas are relevant in the post-pandemic world. Now, as we approach the end of 2022, with major Hollywood films having sold out opening weeks and south blockbusters raking in the moolah, box office analysts say there is enough evidence to show that the pandemic-induced phase of struggle is finally over.
Executives of pandemic-battered movie theaters say that after surviving this three-year battle, even though they do not have all the answers yet, one thing is certain: audiences are back to cinemas as you can’t bring halls home.
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Price drop on National Cinema Day a success
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; December 24, 2022)
After theatres in the USA and the UK slashed ticket prices on their National Cinema Day on September 3, the Multiplex Association of India (MAI) and cinemas across the country decided to follow suit, by celebrating National Cinema Day in India on September 23 with tickets priced at 75 (a considerable drop from the average price of 200-300).
The move was a big success and moviegoers queued up at as early as 6am to watch films back-toback. Several cinema and trade experts – who had initially predicted that it seemed unlikely that theatres would recover from the blow delivered by the pandemic – were proven wrong when houseful boards went back up at cinemas. Over 65 lakh viewers flocked to cinemas that day.
National Cinema Day also started a discussion around experimentation with an affordable price model. Several theatres offered movie tickets for a special festive price of 100 for consecutive weeks.
Eventually, stakeholders came to the conclusion that while there can’t be “uniform lower ticket price”, discounts and promotional prices on a per-movie basis can be the way ahead.
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Advance bookings are back
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; December 24, 2022)
The recently-released Avatar: The Way Of Water has recorded more advance ticket sales in India in its first week than any other Hollywood film this year, outpacing all other Hollywood record-holders of 2022. With the return in demand for advance bookings, cinemas have started selling tickets a week or 10 days in advance for select movies. Cine experts talk about what the comeback of this trend means.
Devang Sampat, CEO, Cinepolis, says, “It is the franchise films – like KGF and now Avatar – which see the most advance bookings, because the audience knows what to expect. In the case of RRR, fans of Baahubali flocked to theatres. When viewers know that they will get the value for money, they purchase tickets in advance.”
Karan Taurani, cinema analyst, adds, “The major factors that prompt a higher rate of advance bookings are positive word of mouth, large-scale content, festive releases or franchises for which there is anticipation.”
Sometimes, price can play a role too. For example, on National Cinema Day, cinemas across the country witnessed a huge spike in advance bookings because tickets were priced at 75.
Raj Bansal, exhibitor and industry expert, adds, “It indeed signals the recovery of the cinema business. I wouldn’t be surprised to see fans creating a new record as we clock the year. This trend is going to continue for the most-awaited releases of the coming year too.”
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Houseful boards – a relic of the past?
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; December 24, 2022)
Queuing for cinema tickets and houseful shows seem like things from the past. Cinemas – used to 30-50% occupancy on normal pre-pandemic days – have discarded the houseful boards long back. Now, these boards can only be found lying in a forgotten corner of some single screen theatres, a reminder of a bygone era.
Yogesh Raizada, exhibitor, says, “Houseful shows are so rare now that when it happens it reminds us of the guzra zamana of moviegoing. Those days are long gone when you would see a houseful board outside cinema halls. Barring two or three films in a year, that too for a few specific shows, none of the shows are sold out now.”
Cinema experts say, “Ab na ticket ki maaraamaari hoti hai, na darwaaze tootte hain.”
Adds Girish Johar, cinema business analyst, “Houseful boards are not just boards, these are sentiments. And those emotions are now missing – a sign of relief for the cinema proprietor and disappointment for viewers who couldn’t get a ticket. Ab agar houseful board kahin dikh jaye toh photo click kar lena chahiye.”
Agrees Raj Bansal, cinema expert and exhibitor, “In the era of single-screen theatres, giant sold-out boards would be kept outside the screens to tell moviegoers that all tickets have been sold out. Ab shows kabhi sold out hi nahi hote. The audiences do not exactly come in droves anymore.”
Advance booking discounts to special Friday offers: Movie tickets are set to get cheaper, but not every day
8:18 AM
While theatres won’t be dropping ticket rates to a uniform price of ₹75-100, they are open to rolling out more promotional offers on a per-movie basis
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; October 7, 2022)
On September 23, cinemas celebrated India’s first-ever National Cinema Day in multiple states, with many theatres lowering their ticket prices to Rs. 75. With houseful boards back at several cinemas and people even watching movies back-to-back through the day, it was evident that lower prices can bring the audience back to theatres. As a result, cinemas are now discussing the need to reassess the current ticket pricing model. Several also offered movie tickets for a special festive price of Rs. 100 last Monday till Thursday, and many are planning to experiment with an affordable price model in the long run to sustain this momentum.
However, based on their learnings over the past two weeks, stakeholders say that while there will be “no uniform lower ticket price”, they are planning to offer discounts and promotional prices on a per-movie basis. Here’s more:
‘FLAT CHEAPER PRICES EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK DOES NOT TRANSLATE INTO HIGHER FOOTFALL’
According to Rajender Singh Jyala, Chief Programming Officer, INOX Leisure Ltd, “Even though we are still in the experimental phase, we have observed that last week’s footfall was higher than normal pricing days, but it wasn’t the same as National Cinema Day. The reason is that National Cinema Day was just one day, and so people didn’t want to miss it. When the promotional offer was spread out over five days, they must have thought, ‘if not today, then we can watch the film some other day’.”
Kunal Sawhney, COO, Moviemax also said during a recent discussion in Mumbai that keeping uniform lower prices is definitely not the way ahead, based on their observations from south India, where film ticket prices fall in the Rs. 100-200 slab on all days. He said, “A film’s ticket price can be fixed depending on the experience that film is providing. The right product has to be given at the right price.”
Regular, popular, blockbuster and mega blockbuster – prices are often decided on the basis of which category a movie falls in. Recently, for example, while Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan: I’s ticket prices fell in the regular category, Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan-starrer Vikram Vedha’s ticket prices were revised from the blockbuster to regular category.
ADVANCE BOOKING DISCOUNTS TO SPECIAL FRIDAY OFFERS: EXPECT MORE PROMOTIONAL PRICES
For releases like the Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Goodbye, some cinemas lowered ticket prices on Friday, while for Ajay Devgn’s Drishyam 2, moviegoers got a 50% discount on advance bookings for a day. Jyala says, “In discussion with the makers, cinemas will keep offering lower rates on specific days for films or will roll out promotional offers.”
Kamal Gianchandani, President, Multiplex Association of India (MAI), told us, “There is a lot of experimentation being done by various cinema operators at this point. Disney, Dharma, and other studios, who have films playing in theatres, have been very supportive in this regard. We are constantly listening to our customers and other stakeholders in the business. We have always taken ticket pricing and other similar decisions keeping the interest of consumers and all stakeholders in mind. We will continue to do so in the future.”
Rs. 75 film tickets have proved that people will go to the theatres if they can afford it-I&B Secretary Apurva Chandra
7:41 AM
The ministry is also planning a single-window portal for opening of more cinemas, so that people have more avenues for entertainment
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; September 30, 2022)
During the inauguration of the two-day FICCI Frames event in Mumbai recently, Union Secretary for Information and Broadcasting Apurva Chandra said that the success of National Cinema Day, when several cinemas lowered ticket prices to Rs. 75, proved that people still crave entertainment.
“We just saw on September 23, that when ticket prices were brought down to Rs. 75, all shows were full – including the morning screenings. This shows that people are willing to go to theatres as long as the price points are right and people can afford it. This is an indication to the film industry that people are still craving movies in theatres, and we have to work along with the public to know how we can bring people back to theatres,” he said.
Chandra added that the ministry is also working with states to formulate a Model Theatre Policy to open more cinemas across the country.
He said, “Over the past five to six years, the number of theatres in India has been on a decline. We need to reverse this trend. From 12,000 a few years back, now the number is down to 8,000. Meanwhile, China has increased its theatres to 60,000 and that’s the reason why Indian films are doing better in China than in India. It is a trend we need to reverse. We will assign the Film Facilitation Office to work with Invest India to come up with a single-window portal for opening theatres. Setting up more theatres is like setting up an industry.”
He added that this will also ensure the public gets more avenues to watch the magic of films in theatres.
After success of National Cinema Day, tickets to be available for Rs. 100 this week
8:28 AM
As cinema owners reduce ticket rates again, industry experts explain the reason behind slashed prices and the way forward
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 27, 2022)
On National Cinema Day (September 23), movie buffs thronged cinema halls, as the tickets were modestly priced at Rs. 75. From Brahmastra being sold out in almost all theatres, to Chup: Revenge Of The Artist and Dhoka Round D Corner, every film benefited. Now, to mark the festive period, film tickets will be priced at ₹100 till September 29.
TEST THE WATERS
Rajender Singh Jyala, chief programming officer, INOX Leisure, tells us, “After a positive response to the Rs. 75 plan, we thought of experimenting some more. We wanted to see if lower ticket prices get the same response again or if it was just a one-day phenomenon. If it gets the same kind of response, we can discuss about this (low ticket rates) with the stakeholders.”
Films such as Chup: Revenge Of The Artist managed to rake in the moolah due to the cheap pricing, says director R Balki: “It doesn’t immediately position itself as a mass film. The Rs. 75 pricing opened us up to the fact that so many people want to come to the theatres; it’s only the high ticket prices that keep them away.”
PEOPLE VS PRICES
The focus should be on getting more people to the theatres, than just making one ticket expensive, feels exhibitor Akshaye Rathi. “I hope the movie-going business can go back to being more accessible,” he shares.
FESTIVE HIKE
The festive period is usually accompanied by hiked ticket prices, as big films usually release around this time. So, why reduce the prices? Trade analyst Taran Adarsh says it’s because people are in the mood to spend during this time. “They travel, shop and watch films. When you keep ticket for as low as Rs. 75 and Rs. 100 on weekdays, it’s a great idea.”
What cannot be missed is the fact that the ticket prices have only been reduced until September 29, so two big films that release on September 30 — actors Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan’s Vikram Vedha and filmmaker Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan: I (PS 1) — will not be available for Rs. 100 per ticket.
Jyala emphasises that producers feel if the budget of a film is high and the ticket prices are low, the recovery won’t happen: “Hence, Vikram Vedha and PS 1 will play at a regular price.”
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After the success of National Cinema Day, some cinemas are selling tickets for as low as Rs. 100 as a special Navratri offer, and some are planning to experiment with an affordable ticket pricing model in the future too
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; September 28, 2022)
“Would you go to watch more films at cinemas if tickets cost less?” – when we asked moviegoers this, almost all of them responded positively. And guess what? Multiplexes are listening and hence it was not just on last Friday (National Cinema Day) when tickets cost only Rs. 75 or this week when all films playing in theatres will cost you only Rs. 100 (offer lasts till Thursday), but cinemas are planning to experiment with an affordable pricing model in the long run.
‘LOT OF EXPERIMENTATION BEING DONE BY CINEMA OPERATORS’
Following the two-year hiatus due to the pandemic and later due to high ticket prices, when moviegoers registered a record of over 65 lakh consumers in a day on National Cinema Day, it led to discussions on lowering average ticket prices and hence the experimenting phase in cinemas has begun.
Kamal Gianchandani, President, Multiplex Association of India (MAI), says, “There is a lot of experimentation being done by various cinema operators at this point. Disney, Dharma and other studios, who have films playing in theatres, have been very supportive in this regard. We are constantly listening to our customers and other stakeholders of the business. We have always taken ticket pricing and other similar decisions keeping the interest of consumers and all stakeholders in mind. We will continue to do so in the future.”
100, 112, 120, OR 150 – CINEMAS TO DECIDE ON KEEPING THE TICKET PRICE LOW
Rajender Singh Jyala, Chief Programming Officer, INOX Leisure Ltd, says, “This week is an experiment to see if people will come on weekdays at this price. After Thursday once the numbers are in, we will analyze it and decide our next step.”
Does this mean that cinemas will continue to keep lower prices? “Yes, we are experimenting with this. Will it be 112 or 120 or 150 and so on that’s what we will decide. But 75 and 100 are too low to sustain. Big budget films will not be able to recover with this price,” he adds.
NO DISCUSSIONS WITH BIG BUDGET FILMS ON KEEPING 100 SLAB
Recently, when Mani Ratnam visited cinemas for an event, it was reported that there was a discussion on keeping tickets for Rs. 100 only for his upcoming release Ponniyin Selvan: I. However, Gianchandani has denied this.
He says, “This is not true. There has been no such request from Mani Ratnam. He is fully supportive of all ticket pricing-related initiatives that are being taken by the cinema operators.”
Similarly, there were other reports saying that the makers of another upcoming release Vikram Vedha have suggested the same but Jyala says that there has been no such discussion with the makers of this film.
After National Cinema Day, exhibitors to now reduce Vikram Vedha’s ticket prices to lure viewers
8:43 AM
After audiences flock to the theatres on National Cinema Day, exhibitors decide to reduce Vikram Vedha’s ticket prices to lure viewers
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 26, 2022)
On September 23, multiplexes and single-screen theatres across the country celebrated National Cinema Day by slashing ticket prices to Rs 75. The response was overwhelming, with most shows of Brahmastra: Part One — Shiva running to full capacity. The spike in audience footfall was noted by distributors and exhibitors, who are considering making admission costs more affordable. While director Ayan Mukerji has announced that Brahmastra tickets will be available at Rs 100 during the Navratri festival, exhibitors have decided to cap Vikram Vedha ticket prices at Rs 450.
With the advance booking having opened over the weekend for the Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan-starrer, the admission cost at single screens is between Rs 100 and Rs 200. Multiplexes are priced slightly higher, beginning at Rs 300 and going up to Rs 450. Trade sources say that ordinarily, ticket costs for an anticipated movie like Vikram Vedha would’ve ranged from Rs 500 and Rs 750 at multiplexes.
A trade insider says, “Exhibitors want to continue the Brahmastra boom. Since director duo Pushkar-Gayatri's actioner is a masala movie with the potential to draw the audience, leading multiplex chains as well as single-screens have actively ensured that the rates are pocket-friendly.”
Decoded: Who decides how much a film ticket costs – and how?
8:41 AM
Is a movie’s ticket price based on its star cast or budget? Who takes the final call – exhibitors, distributors or theatres? And why can’t prices be as low as Rs. 75 everyday?
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; September 26, 2022)
A string of flops over the last two-and-a-half years has the film industry, distributors and cinema halls concerned. ‘Where is the future of moviegoing headed?’ – is the primary question on their minds.
Several cinema and trade experts had initially predicted that it seemed unlikely that theatres or the film industry would recover from the blow delivered to them during the pandemic. Many reasoned why – in the age of OTT – would the audience spend up to Rs. 400 + GST on a movie when they weren’t even sure it would live up to their expectations? When, in fact, they could binge on several movies, including the latest releases, at a considerably lower price from the comfort of their home?
On Friday, cinemas celebrated India’s first-ever National Cinema Day, with many theatres lowering their ticket prices to Rs. 75. Suddenly, houseful boards were back at several cinemas, with people even watching movies back-to-back. It’s evident now that lower prices can indeed bring back the audience, and there’s a need for a reassessment of ticket pricing strategies. But who decides the ticket price, and what keeps them from revising the current rates?
‘REGULAR, POPULAR, BLOCKBUSTER OR MEGA BLOCKBUSTER – PRICES DECIDED ON BASIS OF CATEGORY THE MOVIE FALLS IN’
According to Rajender Singh Jyala, Chief Programming Officer, INOX Leisure Ltd, the answer to how ticket prices are decided varies, depending on geography, as well as the film’s scale. He explains, “In the south, for example, it’s the government that largely decides the ticket prices, with many state governments placing a cap on movie ticket prices. In the north, apart from Chandigarh, it is largely the exhibitors who decide the prices in every state. At INOX, we have four pricing slabs – regular, popular, blockbuster and mega blockbuster. In a year, not more than 10 films would fall in the category of a mega blockbuster. An Avengers or an RRR would belong in this category. It’s the exhibitor who decides which slab the film should be priced within, and then they inform the producer, studio or distributor. ”
Producers of big budget films – that need to recover the amount invested in them – are often roped into these discussions, too. Jyala adds, “The film’s budget, star cast, scale and the hype around it – all these factors contribute in determining the price. “For example, Laal Singh Chaddha was placed in the popular slab, even though it was a big-budget Aamir Khan film, because exhibitors felt there was not much hype around the film, and the studio agreed.”
He adds, “The pricing is a matter of recovery. For a small budget film, even if we price it in the regular slab, it will be able to recover its investment. The same parameter is used for Hollywood films, in discussion with the producer, studio or distributor, whoever has the rights.”
THE THEATRE, EXHIBITOR OR PRODUCER – WHO TAKES THE FINAL PRICING CALLS?
Raj Bansal, exhibitor and industry expert, says, “During the era of single screens, it was the distributor who used to decide the ticket price, but after the advent of multiplexes, prices are decided by both. There is no hidden or secret price range. Usually, it is the multiplexes who discuss with each other and decide the ticket prices. For big-budget films, the price is decided mutually with producers and exhibitors. Exhibitors can’t decide on their own to lower or increase the price because then the multiplexes will lose out to competition.”
Akshaye Rathi, Director, Aashirwad Theatres Pvt Ltd, breaks down the pricing further, explaining, “If you look at multiplexes, then it is an organised sector. All major chains are in discussion with each other and they decide pricing on the basis of slabs in discussion with the producer/studio/distributor. On the other hand, the single screens are fragmented and each owner discusses the pricing with distributors. It is not about star value, but about recovery.”
‘TICKET PRICES ALSO CHANGE OVER THE COURSE OF WEEK, DAY, SHOWS, CITY & PERFORMANCE AT BO’
Rathi says that people are more likely to come to cinemas when the content matches the price. And so the price keeps changing depending upon various factors. Adds Rathi, “Within this, too, the blockbuster price in Mumbai would be very different than in Nagpur. Even within Mumbai, prices at Nariman Point would be different from Andheri. Hence, prices change according to the city, location, day of the week, time of the show, and more. It is quite dynamic. It is a matter of demand and supply.”
But what if the ticket price is in the blockbuster slab, and the film crashes at the box office, can the price then be revised? Jyala says, “It is revised more often than one would imagine. If the film doesn’t perform well on the first Friday, then the price is modified. From a mega blockbuster price, a film’s price can go down to popular, or even regular, by the 11th day.”
But that isn’t the case when it’s the other way round i.e. when a popular film turns out to be a blockbuster. He says, “We never do that (raise ticket prices) as the audience would feel cheated.”
Girish Johar, producer and business analyst, says, “There are no written rules on what will decide a movie’s ticket price. I would say that in this discussion, it is the exhibitors who have a slight upper hand over producers. But if the producer or the studio is big enough, then it’s them who’ll have the upper hand. In either case, one seeks a balanced equilibrium.”
He adds, “This negotiation is about revenue-sharing. The exhibitors create an agreement before the film’s release. Largely, the terms of revenue-sharing are that in the first week, revenue is shared 50-50 between both parties – exhibitor and producer. In the second week it may be 55-45 between the exhibitor and producer, respectively, then it’s 60-40 and so on. ”
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FACTORS THAT MAY DETERMINE THE TICKET PRICE
-Star cast
- Budget
- Hype
VARIOUS SLABS FOR TICKET PRICES
- Regular
- Popular
- Blockbuster
- Mega Blockbuster
OTHER VARIANTS
- The city or state the cinema hall is located in
- The locations within the city
- The day of the week
- The timing of the show
WHY CAN’T TICKETS BE PRICED AS LOW AS Rs. 75 ON ALL DAYS?
Though experts agree there’s a need to discuss new pricing, Rs. 75 is not sustainable for multiplexes, as they have to bear the cost of rentals, electricity, staff and maintenance
Industry players answer 5 questions which everyone is asking
9:23 AM
As the country celebrates National Cinema Day today, we talk to industry players, who answer some of the biggest queries — from rising ticket prices to growing competition with OTT space
Text: Sugandha Rawal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 23, 2022)
Theatres are often criticised for charging higher prices for snacks inside the premises. Amid calls to regulate the prices or allow outside snacks, how do you plan to tackle this?
It is not a misconception that food inside halls comes at a cost. It is an individual’s choice whether they want to buy or not. Food and beverages revenue is important for us to build our infrastructure. It is one area where we need to recover some investment so that the cinema-viewing experience can continue growing.
- DEVANG SAMPAT, CEO, CINEPOLIS INDIA
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With some big-budget films falling flat at the box office, do you think OTT is a tough competitor and how can the hurdle be overcome?
National Cinema Day is a nice way to get people into the habit of coming to the cinemas again, especially with competition from OTT. Recently, an exhibitor said that ticket price of ₹75 should be a rule in the industry. After two weeks, when collections start dipping, ticket rates should be slashed, so that those who can’t afford tickets or usually feel inclined to watch on OTT, may feel motivated to come to theatres.
- KOMAL NAHTA, TRADE EXPERT
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While tickets are priced at Rs. 75 today, what about the ticket pricing in general? For many, it is still an expensive affair if they plan to go out with the whole family
The average ticket price is around Rs. 240, and the quality we offer is on a par with global standards. In India, every cost rises by 5-7% every year... People can choose between expensive cinemas and the more affordable ones. We also have days and shows where tickets are priced lower.
- KAMAL GIANCHANDANI, CEO, PVR PICTURES LIMITED
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Do you plan to devise a way so that every film, whatever its budget, gets fair play at the box office?
Allotment of screens and shows in a day is based on the potential of a film. If 25 titles release in a day, we’ve to see the demand. That being said, we assess the response after release and decide screen share. Films are running for longer now. Karthikeya 2 is in its 10th week, and Top Gun: Maverick is running till now
- RAJENDER SINGH JYALA, CHIEF PROGRAMMING OFFICER, INOX LEISURE LTD
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National Cinema Day is being celebrated when the world is witnessing the rise of panIndia stories. How do you think the lines can be blurred further, moving on from the North vs South debate
Today, nothing is regional. It is all about bridging the gap instead of focusing on negative things. For instance, my Gujarati film is being appreciated overseas, and I have also sold rights to a Spanish theatre. Events like National Cinema Day can help further the idea. Going forward, it should be more about exchange of talent and content all across the country
- ANAND PANDIT, PRODUCER
‘Aaj toh mela laga hai’: Blockbuster turnout on National Cinema Day
9:05 AM
Millions of movie buffs availed the Rs. 75 ticket-price offer and celebrated the country’s first-ever National Cinema Day on Friday. Long queues were seen outside cinemas in many cities and given the number of houseful shows, trade experts have predicted that several records will be shattered
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; September 24, 2022)
This Friday, on National Cinema Day, going to the movies also meant waiting in long lines. These long lines were not to buy tickets as those were already booked and sold-out two days in advance but these lines were to enter the cinema halls. The first shows this Friday began at 6 am at several cinemas and at 4am in some cities.
‘WE DIDN’T WANT TO MISS THE EXPERIENCE OF WATCHING A FILM AT THIS PRICE’
Moviegoers said that it was not easy to purchase the tickets. Shreya Shah, a college student, said, “My friends and I were lucky that we booked in advance as the plans filled in fast. When my brother and his friends tried to book tickets on Thursday evening they had to settle for seats that were extremely ahead. Another friend was taking sometime to book her tickets and within five seconds they were gone. So, she had to check for other shows.”
Pratik Deshpande, a sales person, said, “We had to book seats apart as they there were hardly any available when we booked on Thursday. Though we couldn’t sit together, we didn’t want to miss the experience of watching a film at this price.”
‘IT WAS MY FIRST FRIDAY MORNING SHOW IN MANY YEARS’
While some moviegoers said they have stepped out for the first time in a long time, others said they wanted to see how a houseful theatre feels. Vardhan Duggal, a moviegoer in his 20s, said, “I had forgotten how it feels to go out for a movie in a crowd. In my last few movie outings, the theatre was empty. Aaj to mela laga hua hai. I came to watch a movie today only to get that houseful feeling.”
For Shilpi Puri, a moviegoer in her 50s, said, “It is my first Friday morning show, maybe in decades.”
‘ANY MOVIE IS WORTH IT IF IT COSTS RS. 75’
Cinemas have been criticized for too long for not keeping ticket prices low and when this week finally MAI did, people turned out in huge numbers. For patrons like Mayur Shah it didn’t matter which film they were watching. “We booked the tickets that were available without really bothering which movie it is. Any movie is worth watching if the ticket costs on Rs. 75.”
Jayashree Bhatia, a 45-year-old HR executive, said, “I am a huge movie buff and I watch films at the theatre almost every Friday. However, the kind of crowd I saw today, I haven’t seen such numbers in a long time. This proves that if the ticket prices are lowered more people will come to watch films in theatres. Many families cannot afford the high cost of tickets coupled with the food and beverage prices. Today, my total expenditure was less than half of what I spend usually.”
‘BOOKED BACK-TO-BACK SHOWS’
Some moviegoers also planned to watch multiple shows and some booked luxury format shows which were available for a discounted price. A moviegoer said, “I’m watching four films today. It’s 12 to 12 for me. It is a day out at the movies for me.”
Suraj Batra, a moviegoer said, “Every week when films release we discuss OTT pe kab aa rahi hai? Reviews kaise hain? Kitna wait karna hoga ghar pe dekhne ke liye? The reason is why would you want to waste the whole amount of your OTT subscription on just one film to find out that it was not worth it?”
"National Cinema Day has brought the houseful board from the ’60s and ’70s back to cinemas"
8:56 AM
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; September 23, 2022)
After announcing that they’d offer movie tickets for just Rs. 75 on National Cinema Day on September 23, cinemas across the country witnessed a huge spike in advance bookings. So, if you are planning to visit the cinema today, be sure to cross-check whether tickets are still available!
WE ARE SEEING ALMOST 100% OCCUPANCY: CINEMAS
While the average ticket price is in the range of Rs. 200-300, today several cinemas are offering tickets at Rs. 75 for all mainstream options. Cinemas are also offering discounted prices for luxury formats. For example, tickets for gold class seats, which are usually priced at Rs. 800-1,200, will be available for Rs. 400 today in some cinemas.
Exhibitor and industry expert Raj Bansal also pointed out that it seems like National Cinema Day may help some recent releases set new collection records. Yogesh Raizada, corporate head, Wave Cinemas says, “Across cinemas, we are experiencing the highest number of bookings since not just the last two years of the pandemic, but even before that. It seems like the National Cinema Day has brought the houseful board from the ’60s and ’70s back to cinemas. While we were expecting people to be back in cinemas on National Cinema Day, we hadn’t expected this surge in advance bookings.”
‘ADVANCE BOOKING NUMBERS ARE SHOWING THE MAGIC OF LOW TICKET PRICES’
Raj Bansal says, “What we are witnessing on the National Cinema Day is the magic of low ticket prices. It proves that the audience is still very much interested in watching films on the big screen. The houseful board is back this Friday because tickets are affordable.”
He adds, “At Raj Mandir in Jaipur, shows of recent releases are totally sold out. Other cinemas too say that they have received a massive number of advance bookings. By Wednesday night, cinemas in North India had sold approximately 8 lakh tickets in advance bookings, and the number may go up to 13 lakh on Friday.”
Girish Johar, producer and business analyst says, “In north, west, central and east India, the response has been quite positive. Audiences will be back to the theatres in huge numbers on the National Cinema Day and it will certainly provide the fraternity food for thought on lowering ticket prices on other days too.”
‘THIS DAY WILL BE ETCHED IN THE MEMORY OF CINEPHILES’
Gautam Dutta, CEO, PVR Limited says, “We have received an overwhelming response to the announcement of National Cinema Day. Almost all shows booked through the PVR mobile app have been sold out across the country a day before the designated day. As expected, this day will be etched in the memory of cinephiles. This clearly proves that cinema is the leading outof-home entertainment destination in India and the big screen experience continues to attract all segments of audiences”.
Devang Sampat, CEO, Cinepolis India, adds, “The advance booking numbers are very encouraging. In fact, on Friday, we will see our highest occupancy day –at almost 100% – in the history of Cinepolis in India.”
A RECORD WILL BE CREATED ON SEPTEMBER 23
Kamal Gianchandani, President, Multiplex Association of India (MAI) told us, “Almost 50% inventory of all participating cinemas were sold out in advance as pre-sales.”
“A record number of moviegoers are expected to visit cinemas on Friday to celebrate the National Cinema Day. The response to the pre-sales has been unprecedented and September 23 is on course to become the highest-attended day of the year for cinemas across the country,” MAI said in a statement.
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 744
4:16 PM
NATIONAL CINEMA DAY CELEBRATIONS TO BOOST COLLECTIONS OF NEW AND HOLDOVER RELEASES
The Multiplex Association of India (MAI) has decided to celebrate National Cinema Day tomorrow, that is, Friday, September 23. As part of these celebrations, most of the multiplex chains will sell tickets for just Rs. 75. The tickets for the IMAX and 4DX versions will be available for only Rs. 150. The advance booking for tomorrow began on Tuesday, September 20, and the response has been fabulous. Brahmastra is the first choice and its shows are fast-filling or sold out. Surprisingly, even holdover releases like Sita Ramam, the Marathi film Boyz 3 and the Gujarati film Fakt Mahilao Maate have also managed to get a good response. And obviously, the new releases, too, are at an advantage. My analysis of the new releases:
1. CHUP: It is directed by R Balki and stars Sunny Deol, Dulquer Salmaan, Shreya Dhanwanthary and Pooja Bhatt. The film has been noticed due to the Guru Dutt element and also because it’s the story of a serial killer who kills film critics! The film looks niche but the marketing strategies have enhanced the hype. For instance, the makers held a free preview for aam junta in 10 cities on a Tuesday, 3 days before the actual release and one day before the press show. The response to these shows has been positive. Surprisingly, its advance booking has been solid and is the second preference for moviegoers after Brahmastra. As a result, its day 1 is expected to be Rs. 4 crores and might even cross the Rs. 5 crores mark. However, with so many people watching the film tomorrow, there’s a fear that the collections will be very low on days 2 and 3. But if the word of mouth is strong, the film can excel in the long run.
2. DHOKHA ROUND D CORNER: It marks the debut of Khushalii Kumar, Bhushan Kumar’s sister, and also stars R Madhavan, Darshan Kumaar and Aparshakti Khurana. It is the story of a terrorist who takes a woman hostage in her flat, not realizing that she’s not mentally well. The trailer is intriguing but the buzz for the film is limited. Yet again, it has become lucky due to the National Cinema Day offer. It’s expected to open around Rs. 2-3 crores.
3. AVATAR: The 2009 classic film is re-releasing tomorrow so that audiences can refresh their memory before they watch the sequel, which will be released in December this year. It was a much-loved film and deserves a big screen watch. Many didn’t see it when it was released the first time and few were not even born then. Due to these reasons and the offer, Avatar is expected to have around 75% occupancy in 3D versions and almost 100% occupancy in IMAX screens tomorrow. It can lead to an opening of Rs. 2-3 crores or even higher.
4. PREM GEET 3: This is the first Nepali film, which has been dubbed in Hindi. The first two parts of Prem Geet had a different story and were set in the present-day era. Prem Geet 3, meanwhile, is a period film. It has limited shows and is fast-filling, again due to the audience's hunger to watch a film at Rs. 75.
Lastly, there’s Babli Bouncer, starring Tamannaah Bhatia and directed by Madhur Bhandarkar. It’s an original Disney+ Hotstar film and would be released on their platform tomorrow. The plot is impressive and can make for a nice family watch, if made well. Due to Disney+ Hotstar’s wide subscriber base, it’ll definitely get a lot of views.
The Multiplex Association of India (MAI) has decided to celebrate National Cinema Day tomorrow, that is, Friday, September 23. As part of these celebrations, most of the multiplex chains will sell tickets for just Rs. 75. The tickets for the IMAX and 4DX versions will be available for only Rs. 150. The advance booking for tomorrow began on Tuesday, September 20, and the response has been fabulous. Brahmastra is the first choice and its shows are fast-filling or sold out. Surprisingly, even holdover releases like Sita Ramam, the Marathi film Boyz 3 and the Gujarati film Fakt Mahilao Maate have also managed to get a good response. And obviously, the new releases, too, are at an advantage. My analysis of the new releases:
1. CHUP: It is directed by R Balki and stars Sunny Deol, Dulquer Salmaan, Shreya Dhanwanthary and Pooja Bhatt. The film has been noticed due to the Guru Dutt element and also because it’s the story of a serial killer who kills film critics! The film looks niche but the marketing strategies have enhanced the hype. For instance, the makers held a free preview for aam junta in 10 cities on a Tuesday, 3 days before the actual release and one day before the press show. The response to these shows has been positive. Surprisingly, its advance booking has been solid and is the second preference for moviegoers after Brahmastra. As a result, its day 1 is expected to be Rs. 4 crores and might even cross the Rs. 5 crores mark. However, with so many people watching the film tomorrow, there’s a fear that the collections will be very low on days 2 and 3. But if the word of mouth is strong, the film can excel in the long run.
2. DHOKHA ROUND D CORNER: It marks the debut of Khushalii Kumar, Bhushan Kumar’s sister, and also stars R Madhavan, Darshan Kumaar and Aparshakti Khurana. It is the story of a terrorist who takes a woman hostage in her flat, not realizing that she’s not mentally well. The trailer is intriguing but the buzz for the film is limited. Yet again, it has become lucky due to the National Cinema Day offer. It’s expected to open around Rs. 2-3 crores.
3. AVATAR: The 2009 classic film is re-releasing tomorrow so that audiences can refresh their memory before they watch the sequel, which will be released in December this year. It was a much-loved film and deserves a big screen watch. Many didn’t see it when it was released the first time and few were not even born then. Due to these reasons and the offer, Avatar is expected to have around 75% occupancy in 3D versions and almost 100% occupancy in IMAX screens tomorrow. It can lead to an opening of Rs. 2-3 crores or even higher.
4. PREM GEET 3: This is the first Nepali film, which has been dubbed in Hindi. The first two parts of Prem Geet had a different story and were set in the present-day era. Prem Geet 3, meanwhile, is a period film. It has limited shows and is fast-filling, again due to the audience's hunger to watch a film at Rs. 75.
Lastly, there’s Babli Bouncer, starring Tamannaah Bhatia and directed by Madhur Bhandarkar. It’s an original Disney+ Hotstar film and would be released on their platform tomorrow. The plot is impressive and can make for a nice family watch, if made well. Due to Disney+ Hotstar’s wide subscriber base, it’ll definitely get a lot of views.
Indian cinemas will offer tickets at Rs. 75 on September 16 for ‘National Cinema Day’
8:34 AM
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; September 3, 2022)
After theatres in the US announced that they would offer movie tickets for a price as low as $3 (Rs. 239, approx) on their National Cinema Day on September 3 (the usual average price is about $9. 17 or Rs. 731), the Multiplex Association of India (MAI) and cinemas across the country have also decided to celebrate a ‘National Cinema Day’ in India on September 16 and offer tickets for Rs. 75.
Currently, the average ticket price across Mumbai is in the range of Rs. 200-400. Around 4,000 screens across the country, including major chains like PVR, INOX, Cinépolis, Carnival, Miraj and Citypride, Asian, Mukta A2, Movie Time, Wave, M2K, and Delite, are among those that will sell tickets at Rs. 75 on the day.
“National Cinema Day will bring together audiences of all ages to enjoy a day at the movies. It also celebrates the successful reopening of cinemas and is a ‘thank you’ to the moviegoers who made this happen. It is an invitation to those moviegoers who haven’t made it back to a cinema near them, yet,” the MAI said in a statement.
The association also claimed that India saw one of the sharpest recoveries in the film exhibition business, globally. It added, “The first quarter of the Fiscal Year 2023 has recorded impressive numbers among cinema operators on the back of global and local tent poles that resonated with the Indian audience. The quarter was marked by the release of some of the biggest domestic hits like KGF: Chapter 2, RRR, Vikram, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and Hollywood hits like Doctor Strange and Top Gun: Maverick.”
Kamal Gianchandani, President, MAI, told us, “This Rs. 75 ticket offer will be applicable in IMAX, 4DX and all other mainstream formats, and all the films which will be available in cinemas during that week. While luxury formats will not be included in this offer, those will also be available at discounted prices. Cinemas in the US, UK and European countries, along with the Middle East, are also celebrating National Cinema Day with similar offers. We have chosen September 16 to celebrate cinema, and we believe that even families which have not stepped out to watch films in a long time will also visit cinemas for this event.”
AFTER US, OTHER COUNTRIES CREATE THEIR OWN NATIONAL CINEMA DAY
Over 3,000 movie theatres across US are offering tickets for $3 (Rs. 239, approx) on their National Cinema Day on September 3. The UK cinema associations too created UK’s own National Cinema Day on September 3, and cinemas in European countries and the Middle East have followed suit.
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