Showing posts with label Salaar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Salaar. Show all posts
Its going to be a tough road ahead for films from the South
3:13 PM
Box Office India Trade Network
The past few years has seen films from the South score and even break records which was a rarity earlier but it has been presented as some sort of dominating wave which has left Hindi cinema behind which is very far from the truth. Whatever the struggles of Hindi films, it will remain the biggest film industry in the country simply because of the POTENTIAL audience it has in sheer numbers. Its a different matter that this potential audience has not been reached generally over the last few decades or so.
This so called pan India thing is just not there, no matter how much the media shouts as the majority of these so called pan India films bite the dust. But the ones which get though are talked about. It is going to be even tougher now for this South content as generally its built on sequels. The first film gets appreciation and then the second one gets the numbers but this game is just not valid for South films but all films.
The sequel thing will run its course as it cannot go on forever due to over supply be it from Hindi cinema or South. Hollywood has already seen this happen. There was this South wave in the 80's but it was slightly different as it was banners and directors from the South making films in Hindi with Hindi film stars and it lasted 3-4 years before normal service was resumed. Also that was actually a wave while the present is more media made.
The problem the South films will face are expectations because of this media made wave and their huge budgets and how they open when they are not sequels. The wider audience responds when its a sequel to an appreciated film but outside that, its just a few areas where there is a ready audience.
Below are the opening day collections of South films in Hindi when not sequels and they pretty much say it all with just a handful which can be called good opening and mainly Prabhas starrers who has a following in certain Hindi belts. There are not many films to get even 5 crore nett till date and it will be similar films going forward which history shows is always dwindling returns. The road is only going to be tougher from here.
1. Saaho - 25,82,00,000
2. Kalki 2898 AD - 20,86,00,000
3. RRR - 19,38,00,000
4. Salaar - 15,73,00,000
5. Devara - 7,13,00,000
6. Game Changer - 6,83,00,000
7. The RajaSaab - 5,03,00,000
8. Baahubali: The Beginning - 4,92,00,000
9. Coolie - 4,14,00,000
10. Radhe Shyam - 4,09,00,000
Salaar 2 is not happening in 2026; Prabhas-starrer sequel has not even been discussed yet
10:21 AM
Amid heightened buzz around Salaar: Part 2, sources reveal the action franchise’s second instalment is not happening in 2026 as Prabhas will kick off ‘Fauji’ next
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; January 22, 2026)
Over the past few days, rumours have intensified about the teaser of ‘Salaar: Part 2 — Shouryaanga Parvam’ dropping online on January 25, leading social media to go into overdrive about the Prabhas-starrer. However, insiders close to the production have told mid-day that the much-hyped sequel to director Prashanth Neel’s ‘Salaar: Part 1 — Ceasefire’ (2023) is not happening anytime soon.
“The sequel hasn’t even entered the discussion stage yet, let alone a shoot timeline,” said a source associated with the action thriller.
In fact, Prabhas’s next to go on floors is the period war drama ‘Fauji’, directed by Hanu Raghavapudi. According to insiders, the actor is expected to kick off the project next week in Hyderabad, juggling it with filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s ‘Spirit’.
The source added, “Prabhas will be managing ‘Fauji’ and ‘Spirit’ together for the foreseeable future. The fate of ‘Salaar 2’ will be decided only after the director wraps his current project with Jr NTR, and Prabhas’s dates free up. That is likely to happen sometime in 2027.”
mid-day reached out to Hombale Films, the production house behind ‘Salaar’, which didn’t respond till press time.
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‘Salaar’ director Prashanth Neel is currently busy with his pan-India action film, reportedly titled ‘Dragon’. It stars Jr NTR, Tovino Thomas, and Anil Kapoor.
All Christmas releases in last 7 years have flopped badly or underperformed
8:42 AM
Box Office India Trade Network
The Christmas period is probably the best time of year for a release as a period unless you get lucky at some other point in the year when the holidays fall together. The holiday on Christmas Day may not be the biggest if we compare with the other national holidays but that period till New Year is no doubt the best. Its been proven by the way PUSHPA 2 - THE RULE and MUFASA: THE LION KING have held up in the Christmas week.
But this period is seeing bad results recently with films doing badly (and that is putting it mildly). The results are bad and that is with the holidays so imagine but what would be the results of these films outside if this period was not there. The last money spinner on Christmas was TIGER ZINDA HAI way back in 2017 and since then results have been awful with just SALAAR that can be called a HIT film and that too because of outside elements of block bookings. If you take that out, it will not be a HIT.
Also this film is from the South industry and if we take the films from the Hindi film industry then its only DUNKI to have AVERAGE status. But here there was block bookings as well and on top it had titans like Shah Rukh Khan and Rajkumar Hirani and the Christmas period. On that basis, its pretty much a flop as well as far as the industry goes but for for the records books its gets average collections.
The period was seen as dull due to the cold weather in the North but with multiplexes mushrooming post 2006 and a few Aamir Khan films running riot in this period, it became the best time for release but the last few years have gone for a toss with the period going to waste with poor films. The potential of this period is still huge and that can be seen by the fourth week numbers of PUSHPA 2 - THE RULE. But it needs the film and looking at the list below it has seen some super duds in terms of content in the last few years with ZERO,' 83, CIRKUS and now BABY JOHN.
The difference with Christmas and other holidays is not about a day or two but a period and some numbers should pile up. However, its just bad luck that some of the worst movies have come on Christmas and the period hardly mattered as the story is over on day one itself.
The verdicts of Christmas releases over the past few years is as follows.
2018
Zero - DISASTER
2019
Dabangg 3 - FLOP
2020
-
2021
'83 - DISASTER
2022
Cirkus - DISASTER
2023
Dunki - AVERAGE
Salaar - HIT
2024
Baby John - DISASTER
Films like Salaar help the industry sustain economically-Shruti Haasan
8:44 AM
Actor Shruti Haasan doesn’t hesitate in accepting that certain films revolve around the male lead
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 12, 2024)
Shruti Haasan is enjoying the current phase in her film and music career. Her last release, Prabhas-starrer, Salaar was a hit at the box office, and she recently signed her third Hollywood film, Chennai Story.
But on the former, she has a rather unique take. “I was honoured to be a part of a successful film like Salaar. It is always great to be part of such a team. With films like this, these are really male driven. I don’t think there’s any debate. It’s not a love story, it’s an action entertainer through and through, the stress is much more for the male lead actor and producer. I am really happy that it’s a massive success for everyone involved,” says the 38-year-old.
Haasan doesn’t mind playing such roles, because there are other projects where she gets to lead too. “When people say ‘it is just like a wallflower role’, I don’t take offence because I understand these are the films which help the industry sustain economically as well. Actors who are part of such projects, not just male, but the supporting cast, technical departments, everyone benefits, no two ways about it. We are the planets that orbit around the lead character. This film could also have had a female lead... if I was in it as that, it would have been the same story. It is just about the screenplay,” adds Haasan, who also has a music video lined up next.
PVR Inox records Rs 41 crore net profit in Q3
8:24 AM
THE ECONOMIC TIMES (February 1, 2024)
Cinema exhibitor PVR Inox's net profit soared more than 11 times in the December quarter to Rs 41.2 crore from Rs 3.6 crore a year ago as a sharp reduction in corporate tax helped to offset a drop in movie releases during the period marked by the Cricket World Cup.
Revenue grew 6.4% from a year in the quarter to Rs 1,569 crore while expenses increased 7.8% to Rs 1,343 crore. Corporate tax fell 78.5% to Rs 14.2 crore from Rs 66.2 crore a year earlier.
The quarter saw a 41% drop in film releases due to the Cricket World Cup.
The company said the results are not entirely comparable as the merger of PVR and Inox Leisure became effective on February 6, 2023.
"October and November were muted due to the World Cup and the fact that the movie supply had stopped. The moment the World Cup finished, we had the best month ever in December post-Covid. This shows that the appetite to go out and watch movies is there," PVR Inox executive director Sanjeev Bijli said.
According to the company, the gross box office collections grew by 12% to Rs 987.2 crore from Rs 883 crore. During the quarter, 209 films were released compared to 352 in the same period last fiscal.
Animal, Tiger 3, Salaar, and Dunki were the highest-grossing films. "Even mid-budget films like Sam Bahadur, 12th Fail did very well and contributed to the overall box office," Bijli said.
Total admits declined 2% to 36.5 million in Q3 FY24 from 37.1 million in the previous fiscal. The average ticket price (ATP) rose 14% to Rs 271 while the food & beverage spend per head (SPH) increased 8% to Rs 132.
The company added 29 new screens across seven properties during the quarter, taking the total to 1,712 screens across 360 cinemas in 113 cities.
During the first nine months of FY24, PVR Inox opened 97 new screens while it shuttered 62 screens. The net screen edition in the first nine months stood at 35 against the fiscal target of 160-170 screens.
The company intends to exit 15 more screens in the fourth quarter taking the total number of screens it had exited to 77 in FY24.
"We will open 72 screens in Q4 of which four have already opened," Bijli said.
On the closure of screens, he said these screens had come to the end of their life cycle. "These screens were opened 25 years ago which are in malls that have reached the end of their life cycles," he said.
Indian collects 12,400 cr from films in cinemas in 2023; is the third biggest market in the world
10:49 AM
Box Office India Trade Network
India saw the third highest box office collection worldwide in 2023 with around $1.5 billion (12,400 cr) behind only US/Canada and China. The business was almost 20% up from 2022 but there was much higher growth in Hindi cinema due to some huge blockbusters.
Last year had seen the overall business driven by films from the South but this year it was Hindi cinema which will form around 43% of the all India business when it was only 30% (this is taking out the dubbed films from South) in 2022. It is still well short of the 60-65% business Hindi cinema had before the advent of video but those days will never come back. Also, 40% plus is a huge market share in terms of business today though it will be hard to maintain.
The share was around 45% before the pandemic in 2019 also. So, we can say the status was back to normal in 2023 but as mentioned above, the issue is maintaining this and if Hindi cinema can be around 40% of the all India market share, it will mean it is a healthy state as far as the box office goes.
The top fifteen collecting nations across the world in 2023 were as follows.
1. US/Canada - $9.07 billion (75,300 cr)
2. China - $7.71 billion (64,000 cr)
3. India - $1.50 billion (12,400 cr)
4. Japan - $1.48 billion (12,275 cr)
5. UK/Ireland - $1.36 billion (11,290 cr)
6. France - $1.35 billion (11,200 cr)
7. Germany - $1.01 billion (8400 cr)
8. South Korea - $0.97 (8050 cr)
9. Mexico - $0.94 billion (7800 cr)
10. Australia - $0.67 billion (5550 cr)
11. Italy - $0.55 billion (4550 cr)
12. Spain - $0.54 billion (4475 cr)
13. Brazil - 0.47 billion (3900 Cr)
14. Netherlands - $0.36 billion (3000 cr)
15. Russia - $0.33 billion (2750 cr)
The top ten films in India (all formats and versions) were as below and these films gave 38% of the all India collections as they gave a combined total of 4750 crore apprx with JAWAN leading the way the with a GBOC of 733 crore on all versions and formats..
1. Jawan
2. Animal
3. Pathaan
4. Gadar 2
5. Salaar
6. Jailer
7. Leo
8. Tiger 3
9. Dunki
10. Ponniyin Selvan - Part 2
The script of Salaar 2 is ready. The support Prithviraj provided to the film is unforgettable-Prabhas
7:48 PM
As Salaar continues to take BO by storm in south, Prabhas credits director Prashanth Neel’s scale of action for the film’s success
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; January 5, 2024)
After the lacklustre run of Adipurush (2023), Prabhas has triumphed at the box office with Salaar: Part 1—Ceasefire. Director Prashanth Neel’s December 22 release took the south by storm, and is now reportedly inching towards the Rs 400-crore mark at the domestic box office. This has only strengthened the actor-director duo’s confidence as they set out to make the second instalment in the franchise. So, what does he attribute the film’s success to? The director’s vision and the action, says Prabhas.
“My director wanted me to maintain a particular physique, and we had some workshops for the action scenes. During our free time, Prashanth and I used to experiment [with how we want to approach them]. For instance, in the coal mine scenes, he wanted me to portray lazy body language during some aggressive moments. The director’s input, my experience, and the character’s demands contributed to the performance. Both Prashanth and I enjoy action,” reflects the leading man.
Salaar marks Prabhas’ first collaboration with Neel. The actor admits that his friends, cousins and family were keen that he work with the KGF director.
“When Prashanth expressed interest in doing a film with me, I got excited. When we met, I immediately loved him for the person he is. He is kind and thoughtful. Even if an assistant cameraman or someone on the set suggests an idea, he will credit the person in front of the entire team. That’s generous of him. He is also hard-working.”
The highlight of the action entertainer is Prabhas’ on-screen chemistry with Prithviraj Sukumaran. He promises that the audience will see more of their bromance in the second edition. “The script of Salaar 2 is ready. The support Prithviraj provided to the film is unforgettable, and our collaborations will continue as long as I remain in the industry.”
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 811
11:00 AM
DUNKI WILL FAIL TO CROSS THE RS. 225 CRORE MARK; SALAAR MIGHT CROSS THE RS. 150 CRORE MARK
The grand Christmas releases, Dunki and Salaar, haven’t performed as per the expectations. It was released during the long holiday period. Dunki arrived in cinemas on Thursday, December 21. It had the advantage of a five-day extended weekend in week 1 and a four-day extended weekend in week 2 since both December 25 and January 1 fell on Monday. But due to limited hype, it opened at Rs. 28 crores. Word of mouth was not strong and it managed to collect Rs. 149 crores in Week 1.
The second week started on an okay note, as it collected Rs. 6.50 crores. The collections jumped to Rs. 8.50 crores on Saturday and it went to double digits on Sunday (Rs. 10.75 crores). On New Year's day, the collections were in the same range as Saturday’s earnings – Rs. 8.25 crores. From Tuesday, it saw a drop as it earned Rs. 3.75 crores. The two-week collections stand will stand at around Rs. 193-194 crores. It’ll cross the Rs. 200 crores mark by Saturday.
Last Thursday, Dunki was expected to do slightly better and hopefully cross the collections of The Kerala Story (Rs. 220.84 crores). Looking at the performance in Week 2, it’ll collect around Rs. 215-217 crores in its lifetime. It might barely reach Rs. 220 crores. It’ll face competition from Merry Christmas, which releases on January 12 and it also appeals to the multiplex audience like Dunki.
Salaar, meanwhile, collected Rs. 93.25 crores in Week 1. It had decent collections in its four-day second weekend of Rs. 30.25 crores. The collections of Dunki and Salaar were the same on the second Tuesday – Rs. 3.75 crores. In Week 3, it might earn more than Dunki. Also, mass centres will play the Prabhas-starrer until the release of Fighter on January 25.
In last week’s Bollywood Talk, we remarked that Salaar’s target should be to cross Adipurush’s lifetime collections, that is, Rs. 127.11 crores. That happened on second Tuesday. Now, it has a shot in crossing the Rs. 150 crores mark. The collections are great in a way but much was expected from it, as the last film of Prashanth Neel, KGF - Chapter 2, earned more than Rs. 400 crores. Also, the performance of the Telugu version hasn’t been encouraging and the Hindi version is holding best.
The grand Christmas releases, Dunki and Salaar, haven’t performed as per the expectations. It was released during the long holiday period. Dunki arrived in cinemas on Thursday, December 21. It had the advantage of a five-day extended weekend in week 1 and a four-day extended weekend in week 2 since both December 25 and January 1 fell on Monday. But due to limited hype, it opened at Rs. 28 crores. Word of mouth was not strong and it managed to collect Rs. 149 crores in Week 1.
The second week started on an okay note, as it collected Rs. 6.50 crores. The collections jumped to Rs. 8.50 crores on Saturday and it went to double digits on Sunday (Rs. 10.75 crores). On New Year's day, the collections were in the same range as Saturday’s earnings – Rs. 8.25 crores. From Tuesday, it saw a drop as it earned Rs. 3.75 crores. The two-week collections stand will stand at around Rs. 193-194 crores. It’ll cross the Rs. 200 crores mark by Saturday.
Last Thursday, Dunki was expected to do slightly better and hopefully cross the collections of The Kerala Story (Rs. 220.84 crores). Looking at the performance in Week 2, it’ll collect around Rs. 215-217 crores in its lifetime. It might barely reach Rs. 220 crores. It’ll face competition from Merry Christmas, which releases on January 12 and it also appeals to the multiplex audience like Dunki.
Salaar, meanwhile, collected Rs. 93.25 crores in Week 1. It had decent collections in its four-day second weekend of Rs. 30.25 crores. The collections of Dunki and Salaar were the same on the second Tuesday – Rs. 3.75 crores. In Week 3, it might earn more than Dunki. Also, mass centres will play the Prabhas-starrer until the release of Fighter on January 25.
In last week’s Bollywood Talk, we remarked that Salaar’s target should be to cross Adipurush’s lifetime collections, that is, Rs. 127.11 crores. That happened on second Tuesday. Now, it has a shot in crossing the Rs. 150 crores mark. The collections are great in a way but much was expected from it, as the last film of Prashanth Neel, KGF - Chapter 2, earned more than Rs. 400 crores. Also, the performance of the Telugu version hasn’t been encouraging and the Hindi version is holding best.
Bollywood rules 2023: Trade experts say "Mooh tod jawaab to those who wrote off Bollywood"
10:58 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 30, 2023)
Bollywood ruled 2023! From our seasoned superstars raking in the moolah to impactful performances by the younger lot, Hindi cinema lovers got it all! Actor Shah Rukh Khan returned to the big screen with a bang, with not just one or two, but three power-packed performances. Actor Sunny Deol, on the other hand, marked his dhamakedar comeback with the sequel to his 2001 hit Gadar: Ek Prem Katha. Actors Ranbir Kapoor (Animal), Vicky Kaushal (Sam Bahadur) and Vikrant Massey (12th Fail) proved their mettle.
“What a year! Mooh tod jawaab to those who wrote off Bollywood,” says trade expert Atul Mohan.
CLASH? WHAT’S THAT
The audience was served good content and film clashes on a platter this year. The Akshay Kumar-Pankaj Tripathi-starrer OMG 2 clashed with Deol’s Gadar 2; when everyone thought the latter would devour the former, it never came to pass. We also saw clashes between Kaushal and Kapoor, and Shah Rukh’s Dunki and actor Prabhas’ Salaar.
OMG 2 director Amit Rai says, “We saw masses and classes come out to watch films. Some thought cinema se maar-dhaad gayab ho gaya hai, but public ne woh bhi qubool kiya. Future mein, yeh saal sabse important year maana jaayega, in terms of footfall and collections.”
SMALL FILM WONDER
Films set in small towns like Zara Hatke Zara Bachke (Rs. 88 crore), 12th Fail (Rs. 50 crore) and Satyaprem Ki Katha (Rs. 75 crore), too worked their magic. Controversy was swirling around director Sudipto Sen’s The Kerala Story, but it went on to become one of the biggest successes, this year, as it breached the Rs. 200-crore club.
Sen says, “It’s good for the industry that small films worked.” For Rai, 12th Fail was a surprise: “Vikrant, the lead actor isn’t that big a star. Yet it worked and the return on investment is crazy.”
A SPRINKLE OF DISAPPOINTMENTS
The industry also saw a few lows as some films didn’t quite hit the mark with their box-office collections. Actor Salman Khan’s Tiger 3, one of 2023’s most anticipated releases, with a budget of Rs. 300 crore, earned Rs. 466 crore. Ganapath, made on a budget of Rs. 200 crore, earned Rs. 13.38 crore, while Kuttey and Thank You For Coming, both produced with a budget of Rs. 45 crore, earned Rs. 4.65 crore and Rs. 9 crore, respectively.
Devang Sampat, CEO, Cinepolis India, says, “This is part and parcel of making films. After Covid-19, we saw a recovery of 90% in 2022 and it reached 110% in 2023. It’s a great sign.”
Indian Police Force is a Rohit Shetty show; matches the films from Singham franchise to Sooryavanshi-Sharad Kelkar
10:46 AM
Even as he wants to cut down on voice-acting, Sharad says he dubbed for The Legend of Hanuman as it presents Raavan in a unique way
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; December 30, 2023)
Those who have watched the Hindi version of Salaar: Part 1—Ceasefire will immediately recognize the deep baritone of Sharad Kelkar, who dubbed for leading man Prabhas. Over the years, Kelkar has become one of the most dependable voice actors, in addition to his on-screen work. But he is now consciously steering away from dubbing. Reason—acting.
“I haven’t dubbed for a Hollywood film for ages. I want to concentrate on my acting career. I want people to notice my acting skills over my voice. Acting is my main profession and passion,” he explains.
However, the actor has made an exception for The Legend Of Hanuman. Kelkar, who has lent his voice to the character of Raavan in the third season of the Disney+ Hotstar offering, attributes it to the show’s writing.
“Sharad Devarajan and Jeevan J Kang of Graphic India [production house] have created Raavan’s character so differently that I was drawn to it. The dubbing was done before, and the animation was created on it. So, I had the liberty to present Raavan the way I wanted to. The characterization is so in-depth. We didn’t steer away from his known physical attributes. But at the same time, he is shown to have a soft corner, be friendly and emotional.”
As he moves into 2024, Kelkar is looking forward to Indian Police Force and his Tamil sci-fi film, Ayalaan. “Indian Police Force is a Rohit Shetty show, that too, set in the cop universe. So, it has to match the films he has made, from the Singham franchise to Sooryavanshi [2021]. Ayalaan marks my Tamil debut and is big on VFX.”
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 810
11:45 AM
DUNKI AND SALAAR PUT UP DECENT COLLECTIONS BUT DON’T MEET THE EXPECTATIONS
The biggest clash of the year took place last week. Dunki was released on Thursday, December 21 with loads of expectations. But as the trailer was not upto the mark, the film opened at Rs. 28 crores. The opening figure spoke volumes of the stardom of Shah Rukh Khan. Any other actor, with such a trailer, might have had an opening of less than Rs. 20 or even Rs. 15 crores. Word of mouth was mixed and hence, the collections dropped to Rs. 20 crores on Friday. There was a jump on Saturday and Sunday when the film collected Rs. 24.50 crores and Rs. 29 crores respectively. On Christmas holiday, the film earned Rs. 22 crores. On Tuesday, the holiday period got over and the film dropped to single digits, collecting Rs. 9.50 crores. The first-week collections are expected to be around Rs. 150 crores.
Dunki will have an advantage of the coming weekend, which is also an extended one since January 1 falls on Monday. Moreover, there is no release on Friday, January 5. As a result, it’ll have a nice run till January 11. The target for the film will be to cross the collections of The Kerala Story (Rs. 220.84 crores).
Salaar’s Hindi version, on the other hand, was released on Friday, December 22. It also suffered from a weak trailer. But the new promo, released a few days before the release, saved the film to an extent. It opened at Rs. 15.50 crores and remained steady on Saturday with collections of Rs. 16 crores. On Sunday, it jumped to Rs. 20.50 crores while on the Christmas holiday, the film collected Rs. 15.50 crores. Like Dunki, Salaar also collected Rs. 9.50 crores on Tuesday.
Salaar’s first week collections will be around Rs. 94-95 crores and the target should be to cross Adipurush’s lifetime collections, that is, Rs. 127.11 crores. Even Salaar’s word of mouth is mixed which has prevented it from having smashing collections.
Meanwhile, the exhibition sector saw a bloodbath like never before. Dunki’s distributors didn’t allow single-screen theatres to screen both films. They wanted these theatres to play all the shows of Dunki. Those who refused were not allowed to play the film. Hence, in an unusual scenario, while some single-screen cinema halls played Dunki, the rest opted for Salaar. Fan wars also reached insane levels on social media.
The biggest clash of the year took place last week. Dunki was released on Thursday, December 21 with loads of expectations. But as the trailer was not upto the mark, the film opened at Rs. 28 crores. The opening figure spoke volumes of the stardom of Shah Rukh Khan. Any other actor, with such a trailer, might have had an opening of less than Rs. 20 or even Rs. 15 crores. Word of mouth was mixed and hence, the collections dropped to Rs. 20 crores on Friday. There was a jump on Saturday and Sunday when the film collected Rs. 24.50 crores and Rs. 29 crores respectively. On Christmas holiday, the film earned Rs. 22 crores. On Tuesday, the holiday period got over and the film dropped to single digits, collecting Rs. 9.50 crores. The first-week collections are expected to be around Rs. 150 crores.
Dunki will have an advantage of the coming weekend, which is also an extended one since January 1 falls on Monday. Moreover, there is no release on Friday, January 5. As a result, it’ll have a nice run till January 11. The target for the film will be to cross the collections of The Kerala Story (Rs. 220.84 crores).
Salaar’s Hindi version, on the other hand, was released on Friday, December 22. It also suffered from a weak trailer. But the new promo, released a few days before the release, saved the film to an extent. It opened at Rs. 15.50 crores and remained steady on Saturday with collections of Rs. 16 crores. On Sunday, it jumped to Rs. 20.50 crores while on the Christmas holiday, the film collected Rs. 15.50 crores. Like Dunki, Salaar also collected Rs. 9.50 crores on Tuesday.
Salaar’s first week collections will be around Rs. 94-95 crores and the target should be to cross Adipurush’s lifetime collections, that is, Rs. 127.11 crores. Even Salaar’s word of mouth is mixed which has prevented it from having smashing collections.
Meanwhile, the exhibition sector saw a bloodbath like never before. Dunki’s distributors didn’t allow single-screen theatres to screen both films. They wanted these theatres to play all the shows of Dunki. Those who refused were not allowed to play the film. Hence, in an unusual scenario, while some single-screen cinema halls played Dunki, the rest opted for Salaar. Fan wars also reached insane levels on social media.
Prabhas never had any hang ups about someone else lending a voice to his Salaar character-Sharad Kelkar
8:17 AM
Lending his voice to Prabhas in Salaar’s Hindi adaptation, Sharad Kelkar says the audience deserves quality
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; December 24, 2023)
To Prabhas’ Hindi audience, Sharad Kelkar has grown to be his cinematic voice. The actor first dubbed for Prabhas in Baahubali (2015). Since then, he has lent voice to Hindi versions of several Prabhas-led films, including the recent, Salaar. Thrilled with the response to Prashanth Neel’s directed venture, Kelkar says he enjoys dubbing for Prabhas because of his gracious nature.
“Despite being such a big star, he never had any hangups about someone else lending a voice to his character. Prabhas always looks at the bigger picture; he wants the final product to look and sound good. That’s such an admirable quality,” says the actor, who was also the voice of Telugu star Nani in Dasara’s Hindi version.
This was the first time that Kelkar was working on a project with the KGF franchise director. Crediting the precision of the director, he says, “Prashanth is hardworking. He observes every detail of the film and has clarity in his work. He communicates exactly what he wants from his actors, [even if they think otherwise]. I love that about him. I have seen the same thing in S S Rajamouli sir.”
Having much experience in lending voice to south actors, Kelkar says that several makers undermine the importance of good dubbing. “The dubbed version should sound authentic; it can’t exist for the sake of it. People watching dubbed versions deserve a quality experience,” expresses the actor, who had initially rejected the offer to dub for Nani as he believed his voice wouldn’t suit the actor.
“I agreed because the makers told me that his character would be drunk throughout the film, and usually when you are inebriated, you sound huskier than usual. I always maintain that kind of discretion,” he explains.
Shah Rukh Khan's Dunki and Prabhas' Salaar get mixed response, say experts
8:13 AM
With SRK’s Dunki and Hindi version of Prabhas’ Salaar registering average opening at Rs 28 cr and Rs 15 cr respectively, trade says audience’s mixed response will curtail their run
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; December 23, 2023)
It was an eventful run-up to what was being touted as the clash of the year. Fans picked their side, there were long-running negotiations over screen division. And yet, as the big day arrived, Shah Rukh Khan’s Dunki and Prabhas’ Salaar: Part 1—Ceasefire found themselves sharing a common aspect—a mixed audience response. Khan’s final release of 2023, coming after two blockbusters in Pathaan and Jawan, scored a Rs 28 crore opening. The average opening isn’t worrisome as it hit the marquee on a non-holiday.
What is worrisome, however, is that Rajkumar Hirani’s directorial venture hasn’t impressed the audiences as much as his past gems did. Rajasthan-based exhibitor Raj Bansal says, “The audience was expecting a much better film from Shah Rukh and Rajkumar Hirani. It has fallen short of their expectations.”
The same appears to be the case with the Hindi dubbed version of Prashanth Neel’s action fare that has earned approximately Rs. 15 crores on its opening day. Bansal says the audience is criticizing the dark colour grading of the Prabhas and Prithviraj Sukumaran-starrer.
“Both the films have got mixed response. We had thought that they would run till Fighter arrives in cinemas, but a long run doesn’t seem possible now.” However, team Salaar can celebrate as the film, originally released in Telugu, is enjoying a strong run in the south territories.
Manoj Desai, executive director of G7 Cinemas and Maratha Mandir, says that because of the power tussle between the two movies’ teams, bookings began late at the single screens, causing a loss to exhibitors. “Producers need to understand that had they opened the advance bookings earlier, there would have been more [ticket sales]. We got permission to open Dunki only after 8 pm on Thursday. Right now, we are getting equal bookings for both films,” he says.
Dunki’s opening seems to have been affected by lack of showcasing in single screens. Bansal says the dramedy has to perform incredibly well over the weekend to ensure a hit verdict. “The collections have to be higher than the opening. I don’t buy the theory that Dunki opened [on the lower side] because it was a drama. A well-made Dunki would have done over Rs 500-crore business.”
Salaar takes south by storm
Prabhas and director Prashanth Neel have much to celebrate. Their action fare, originally released in Telugu, is projected to have amassed about Rs 100 crore in the south territories on its opening day. With this, Salaar becomes Prabhas’ biggest post-pandemic opener, after the disappointments of Adipurush and Radhe Shyam.
Crisp Movie Review: SALAAR: PART 1 – CEASEFIRE by FENIL SETA
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Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire is set in a fictional and imaginative world. Prashanth Neel, of KGF fame, deserves kudos for his imagination and the way he builds up the tension in the mass scenes. A few clapworthy scenes and the stylish editing keep the interest going. Sadly, the world of Khansaar shown in the film is very complicated. There are too many players and it becomes a task to understand who is related to whom and what their agenda is. The whole ‘Ceasefire’ track is difficult to decipher. The twist in the climax also doesn’t work as intended; it doesn’t make you excited for the sequel like it happened with Baahubali or Pushpa. Finally, the film is too long (175 minutes). Prabhas, however, is in a much better form, compared to his previous films. Prithviraj Sukumaran rocks the show, despite limited screen time. Shruti Haasan is hardly there. Easwari Rao (mother) Mime Gopi (Bilal) and the actor playing Krishnkant leave a huge mark. Others who do well are Jagapathi Babu (Raja Mannar), Sriya Reddy (Radha Rama Mannar), Ramachandra Raju (Rudra) and Tinnu Anand (Gaikwad). John Vijay (Ranga) hams. The actors playing Selfie, Vishnu and Bharwa are fair. All in all, Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire is strictly okay.
My rating - ** ½ out of 5!
My rating - ** ½ out of 5!
We still live in a society where people pretend they don’t drink or don’t party-Shruti Haasan
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Proud to have opened up about her sobriety journey this year, Shruti discusses ending a personally significant 2023 with a mega release in Salaar
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; December 21, 2023)
Sometimes, a year is so special that you don’t want it to end. For Shruti Haasan, 2023 was just that. But now that it’s coming to a close, the actor-musician is making sure she ends it with a bang. In other words, with Salaar: Part 1—Ceasefire that hits the marquee tomorrow. The action thriller, led by Prabhas and helmed by Prashanth Neel, is touted to be an immersive experience for the audience. Haasan says she will remember Salaar as the project that earned her friends for life, besides being a creatively enriching experience.
“We have been shooting it for quite a while. So, we feel like friends and family now. It’s one of the most anticipated films and rightfully so, considering the [awe-inspiring] world that Prashanth Neel has created,” she smiles.
The movie is set for a wide release. Does she feel an added pressure when it comes to the performance of such big-scale offerings? Not really, says the actor. “I’ve starred in all kinds of films—big, small, and medium. I want all my films to do well,” she grins. Fortunately, her movies have been faring well. Her debut English feature, The Eye, opened to acclaim at the BFI London Film Festival in October. Up next, she has the pan-India offering, Dacoit, with Adivi Sesh.
The year has also been significant for Haasan as she opened up about her sobriety journey. The actor says she knew she would be judged for her past habits, but she deemed it important to share her experience, which could be the reality of so many.
“We still live in a society where people pretend they don’t drink or don’t party. But honestly, [alcoholism] is not something to judge; it’s something to talk about. I knew that people would judge me, but I’m not wired to worry about judgment. I’m more concerned with saying something of value in any way, big or small. This was a journey I wanted to talk about. For those who don’t understand it and want to judge, they will never get it. For the rest of us, this conversation is important.”
RRR’s success showcases South Indian cinema’s global appeal-Prabhas
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Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; December 21, 2023)
Prabhas’s larger-than-life screen persona ensures that the films he takes up gain momentum of their own. The latest is Prashanth Neel’s multilingual film ‘Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire’, where he shares the screen with acclaimed actor-director Prithviraj Sukumaran The two portray characters bound by a strong brotherly connection in a film that boasts of high-octane action, which is often the highlight of films headlined by Prabhas.
In an interview with BT, the actor, known to be a man of few words, talks about his latest venture, which releases on Friday.
‘Camaraderie with Prithviraj and Prashant has added to the magic of ‘Salaar’’
Prabhas attributes more than one reason that sets this film apart from other movies of the same genre. He shares, “‘Salaar’ explores a powerful brotherly bond between Prithviraj and me, set against an intense action and emotionally driven backdrop. The storyline is captivating, distinctly blending action and emotions, which sets it apart in this genre. However, one of the highlights of the experience for me was the off-screen bonding with Prithviraj and Prashanth, which was fantastic. It has also contributed positively to the on-screen chemistry and our overall camaraderie. It has been a fulfilling experience working with them.”
‘The role didn’t require a major physical transformation’
Given the kind of characters Prabhas takes on as an actor, there is often a demand for physical transformations as well as mental prep, but with ‘Salaar’, he chose to be more specific. Elaborating on the preparation he undertook for the film this time, he says, “While working on this role, the emphasis was more on physical preparation with muscle building. It didn’t require a major transformation, but the effort involved a dedicated fitness routine and emotional nuances to bring authenticity to the character.”
‘If the audience likes what they see, our job is done’
The trailer of ‘Salaar’ generated a massive response, heightening the expectations surrounding the film. The actor, however, seems to appear calm amidst the excitement around the release. Ask him if the pressure of the audience’s expectations gets a bit much to handle, and he says, “I like to focus on the positives, and in this case, it is the love and support of my fans. If they like what they see, our job is done. Handling the pressure of a larger-than-life image involves a balance of staying true to my craft and choosing projects that challenge me. In fact, apart from the substance in the script, it is the audience’s expectations that drive my choices in choosing a project.”
‘It’s gratifying to see the emergence of pan-India cinema since ‘Baahubali’’
Everyone has been raving about the emergence of pan-India cinema, a trend that technically took off with the record-breaking ‘Baahubali’ films (2015 and 2017), which was also instrumental in making Prabhas a pan-India star. The actor is elated by the rise of collaborative projects between various film industries in the country. “Witnessing the emergence of pan-India cinema since ‘Baahubali’ is gratifying. It also feels like a significant moment to be part of this transition, fostering a healthy exchange of culture and stories and contributing to the collaborative growth of both industries,” he explains.
‘Oscar for ‘RRR’ is a testament to South Indian cinema’s global appeal’
South Indian cinema is making significant strides, not only nationally but also internationally. Prabhas feels that this kind of recognition is positive for the growth of Indian cinema. “The growing national and international recognition of South Indian cinema, exemplified by the recent Oscar win for ‘RRR’, is a testament to its global appeal. It’s a positive trend that showcases the industry’s creative prowess and potential on a broader stage,” he says.
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 809
4:09 PM
DUNKI VS SALAAR VS AQUAMAN: THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL CLASH IN RECENT TIMES
We have seen several clashes in the last few years at the box office. Often, issues over show sharing have cropped up. But the clash between Dunki, Salaar and Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom has been unprecedented.
Dunki stars Shah Rukh Khan and is his first collaboration with director Rajkumar Hirani. The trailer hasn’t got a great response but the hype is there as SRK is in his best form after delivering two blockbusters in the form of Pathaan and Jawan. Rajkumar Hirani’s name also carries a lot of respect thanks to his unforgettable films and historic box office track record. The film releases on December 21 and is expected to open around Rs. 35-40 crores. If the word of mouth is positive, it can emerge as a very big hit as it enjoys a five-day weekend in Week 1 and a four-day weekend in Week 2. It also has limited competition till the release of Fighter on January 25.
Salaar stars Prabhas and is directed and produced by Prashanth Neel and Hombale Films respectively of KGF fame. The trailer wasn’t liked and it affected the buzz. The second trailer is better but has come too late in the day. In Hindi, it’ll face the heat from Dunki but still can open at around Rs. 10 crores.
Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom’s first part opened at Rs. 5 crores and had a lifetime of more than Rs. 50 crores. The sequel however suffers from poor ticket sales and fewer shows due to the competition. Also, the dubbed regional versions won’t get a release until Friday or Saturday due to censor delay.
It was expected that there would be some problems in getting screens. Usually, the issues are resolved a day or two before release. But this time, the issue escalated. Dunki’s distributors asked for 100% showcasing in Hindi-speaking markets, leaving no room for Salaar in the single-screen theatres. A few hours ago, it came to light that angry with unfair trade practices, Salaar’s makers decided to not release their film in PVR Inox and Miraj theatres in the South. Aquaman’s sudden cancellation of the dubbed version’s release has also added to the madness.
It now remains to be seen how these issues get resolved and which film emerges triumphant.
We have seen several clashes in the last few years at the box office. Often, issues over show sharing have cropped up. But the clash between Dunki, Salaar and Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom has been unprecedented.
Dunki stars Shah Rukh Khan and is his first collaboration with director Rajkumar Hirani. The trailer hasn’t got a great response but the hype is there as SRK is in his best form after delivering two blockbusters in the form of Pathaan and Jawan. Rajkumar Hirani’s name also carries a lot of respect thanks to his unforgettable films and historic box office track record. The film releases on December 21 and is expected to open around Rs. 35-40 crores. If the word of mouth is positive, it can emerge as a very big hit as it enjoys a five-day weekend in Week 1 and a four-day weekend in Week 2. It also has limited competition till the release of Fighter on January 25.
Salaar stars Prabhas and is directed and produced by Prashanth Neel and Hombale Films respectively of KGF fame. The trailer wasn’t liked and it affected the buzz. The second trailer is better but has come too late in the day. In Hindi, it’ll face the heat from Dunki but still can open at around Rs. 10 crores.
Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom’s first part opened at Rs. 5 crores and had a lifetime of more than Rs. 50 crores. The sequel however suffers from poor ticket sales and fewer shows due to the competition. Also, the dubbed regional versions won’t get a release until Friday or Saturday due to censor delay.
It was expected that there would be some problems in getting screens. Usually, the issues are resolved a day or two before release. But this time, the issue escalated. Dunki’s distributors asked for 100% showcasing in Hindi-speaking markets, leaving no room for Salaar in the single-screen theatres. A few hours ago, it came to light that angry with unfair trade practices, Salaar’s makers decided to not release their film in PVR Inox and Miraj theatres in the South. Aquaman’s sudden cancellation of the dubbed version’s release has also added to the madness.
It now remains to be seen how these issues get resolved and which film emerges triumphant.
Exhibitors expect to struggle in allotting screens to Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Dunki and Prabhas-starrer Salaar
9:02 AM
Clash of SRK, Prabhas’s films at the box office makes divide between single screens and multiplexes evident as exhibitors struggle with screen allotment
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; December 16, 2023)
Even though the release of multiple films on the same day is not an anomalous trend in the film business, it’s always a subject of discussion when the films in concern are fronted by two heavyweights.
A week away from their date with viewers, Shah Rukh Khan’s social dramedy Dunki and South star Prabhas-led actioner Salaar: Part 1—Ceasefire, have got trade experts speculating how the clash will affect box-office collections. Apart from analyzing the advance bookings of the films that will release just one day apart, distributors continue to decipher an appropriate way to schedule shows for both films, we are told.
Rajasthan-based distributor and exhibitor Raj Bansal calls this clash “iconic” given that two big stars from the North and South industries are set to face off at the box-office. “Salaar is stronger in the South because of Prabhas and director Prashanth Neel, who last delivered KGF: Chapter 2. Dunki is strong across India, but has an edge in the North. I feel, Dunki will take 60 per cent [of the seats] in the North, while Salaar will take 60 per cent in the South,” he says.
He is, however, quick to admit that clashes of this nature never favour either of the two films, with each facing the risk of losing 20 to 25 per cent of their business.
Bihar-based exhibitor Vishek Chauhan says the loss is even bigger for exhibitors. “Producers can still earn revenues from other platforms, like streaming sites and music rights. But an exhibitor finds himself in a fix. He would have preferred to showcase such big films independently to get good business. Right now, Animal is continuing to do well. Producers should understand and respect the challenge that such a clash poses to us. There are, after all, only four to six shows in a day. With [the Hollywood film] Aquaman also set to release over the same window, we will bear losses because we will have to divide screen time among four films,” he says.
While Bansal believes that single-screen theatres will favour Salaar, Chauhan says Khan’s collaboration with Dunki director Rajkummar Hirani is also a tease for this market that may not be keen on the genre of social narratives. “I have spoken to exhibitors from small cities, and none of them are ready to [ignore] Dunki,” Chauhan says.
Gautam Dutta, Co-CEO, PVR INOX Ltd, views the situation through a positive lens. He believes that the multiplex chain is equipped to allot enough shows to both the films. “Situations like these are good issues that we like to face, as they bring in huge footfall for cinemas. We are looking forward to the busy phase starting from the Christmas weekend and stretching right into the new year.”
INOX has 1,709 of the 5,000 screens in India.
I credit Karan Johar (for having a foresight) way back in 2011-Prithviraj Sukumaran
8:37 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 13, 2023)
Actor-filmmaker Prithviraj Sukumaran, noted for his roles spanning over 100 movies across languages, shares his perspective on the phenomenon of pan-Indian films. “You don’t set out to make a ‘pan-Indian film’ — you can only choose a subject you are excited about, make a film that justifies what’s on paper, and lose control once it releases,” says Sukumaran, who also has experience distributing Kannada hits like KGF - Chapter 2 and Kantara (both 2022) in Kerala.
Pointing towards directors such as S S Rajamouli and Prashanth Neel, architects of grand-scale projects such as RRR (2022)and upcoming Salaar (starring Sukumaran and Prabhas, which will be available in five languages), the actor adds, “They have set a dangerous precedent because people at corporate are thinking, ‘How do we make this film pan-Indian — you cannot! It was not just because Baahubali or KGF had a plethora of actors from various languages that they struck a chord, as we also have Kantara [that did well].”
Here, he acknowledges the foresight of an individual in the Hindi film industry who predicted this ‘pan-India’ craze long before it materialized: “I got a call from (filmmaker) Karan Johar in 2011, and he pitched this film called Bombay Talkies to me. Unfortunately, I couldn’t do it at that point because of commitments. I said, ‘It’s your film; you could have cast anyone from Hindi films!’ He replied, ‘At some point, Prithviraj, it will have to start happening.’ I credit him with saying that way back in 2011.”
Shurti Haasan on Salaar vs Dunki clash: "People will watch what they want, so, there’s not much that we can say or do"
8:26 AM
Shruti Haasan isn’t worried about her upcoming film clashing with an SRK-starrer at the box office; wants to work on projects where her ‘contributions are valued’
Syeda Eba Fatima (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 11, 2023)
Shruti Haasan’s upcoming film, Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire with actor Prabhas is set to clash with the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Dunki. With a lot of conversation taking place in the lead-up to this massive face-off, the actor remains unfazed.
She says, “I don’t think it’s a topic for discussion as I am not a distributor or a producer, who can contribute to this conversation. People will watch what they want, so, there’s not much that we can say or do.”
Being the daughter of veteran actor Kamal Haasan and having been in the industry for almost 15 years now, the 37-year-old has matured, as a person and an artiste. “Today, I have the courage to choose roles that challenge me. I don’t think about what people expect from me or what hit film I should be doing,” says the actor, who believes in giving both independent and commercial films the same amount of importance.
“I don’t judge [films] or think about these matters anymore. I take the opportunity and prove myself,” Shruti shares.
For the Veera Simha Reddy and Hi Nanna actor, it’s important that she is valued at her workplace: “I felt loved and respected while working on The Eye, and got equal amount of respect for my contribution to Salaar. Now, I try to work in situations where my contributions are valued. I keep my fingers crossed that the energies align. How a film will perform is never in our control. All I can do is give my best.”
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