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Theatres
were suffering huge losses and most movies, especially the mid-budget ones were not seeing any box office returns. Which explains why there were also many re-releases. But the month of April has been hugely satisfying for the box office as cinegoers flocked to theatres and three movies which releases back-to-back have proven to be successful. 'Jaat' released on April 10, post which we saw 'Kesari 2' releasing on April 18. Both these movies dominated at the box office in April. On May 1, Ajay Devgn's 'Raid 2' released which did even better than these two, thus, from April 10 to May 10, it's been quite a fruitful month for theatres, providing huge hope for times to come. Here's what trade experts say!
Huge boost to cinema halls
According to Sacnilk, the total collection of Sunny Deol's 'Jaat' so far is Rs 87.31 crore. Akshay Kumar's 'Kesari 2' has made about Rs 87.31 crore. Meanwhile, Ajay Devgn's 'Raid 2' has made Rs 124.33 crore just within a span of 12 days. Thus, the cumulative total of all the three movies is Rs 299.14 crore in India. These are just the domestic box office numbers. The worldwide collection of all these three movies is even higher. This is huge as in the past we've seen hardly 1 or 2 movies working in the span of 3-4 months. But all these three movies coming within a month are successful.Trade expert Taran Adarsh says, "'Jatt' worked mass pockets, single screens and then there was 'Kesari 2' which worked well in urban centres, multiplexes specifically, and 'Raid 2' worked across both. We were encountering those bad days in the recent past, where things are not working, scarcity of releases and a lot of things, a lot of factors and within a month these three came - all three worked at the box office. All three are theatrical success. Mind you, I'm using the term theatrical successes. That is a very important term, because people need to come to theatres. Aapne OTT pe dekhli, woh alag baat hai. But for people to come to theatres and watch the film, that's very important."Film business expert Girish Wankhede elaborates, "The momentum kicked off on April 10 with the release of Jaat starring the iconic Sunny Deol. The film opened to a strong reception, quickly establishing itself as a box office hit. Deol’s enduring popularity but also the audience’s appetite for compelling storytelling. The film’s success set a positive tone for the following weeks, signaling a potential revival for the industry. Then there was Akshay Kumar's 'Kesari 2'. Although it started with a slower pace, the film gradually gained traction and filled theaters, ultimately garnering around ₹88 crores after 25 days. The critical acclaim it received contributed to its steady performance, showcasing Kumar’s ability to draw audiences and maintain his status as a leading figure in Bollywood."
He added, "The excitement continued with Ajay Devgn’s anticipated release Raid 2 on May 1. The film opened to satisfactory numbers and has already crossed the ₹125 crore mark. Devgn, known for his versatility and strong screen presence, has once again proven that he is a force to be reckoned with in the film industry. His ability to connect with audiences through diverse roles has kept him relevant and in demand, making his latest project another success story."
The comeback of mid-budget movies, with big stars
After Covid, one had seen that only big budget movies were working in cinemas. But that seems to have changed now and there is more hope. Exhibitor-Distributor Akshaye Rathi says, "Movies are finally beginning to get the business back in uh cinemas are finally mojo all over again this is a time when i really hope that uh you know the one thing that we were missing over the last couple of years post the pandemic which is the success of mid-segment films right we had the big ticket tentpole blockbusters doing certain numbers uh but the smaller ones were not taking on too well and now with movies like Raid 2 or Kesari 2 but they aren't RRR and KGF in terms of the mega budgets involved in the scale and to see these sort of mid-segment films and when I say mid-segment, I mean it in terms of the budget."He added, "It's a very encouraging sign for the whole industry because it's only these kind of films that can be made with a great frequency. These were reasonably budgeted films and the only spending on them was the talent cost largely. So, theatrical box office along with the streaming and satellite rights, music rights, all three have been profitable."Wankhede added, "In a time when many in the industry have struggled to find footing, the success of these films serves as a saving grace for the Indian box office. It underscores the enduring appeal of established stars like Sunny Deol, Akshay Kumar, and Ajay Devgn, who continue to attract audiences and deliver box office results. Their ability to draw viewers back to theaters is crucial for the recovery of the cinema industry, which has been VB grappling with the aftereffects of the pandemic and the rise of digital content consumption."
Exciting times ahead, June looks promising
There are many interesting films lined up for release in the coming days. Adarsh says, "Now the advance bookings for for Mission Impossible, the Tom Cruise film that's releasing on Saturday, not Friday, mind you, it's releasing on Saturday, it's fantastic. So, there's a lot of positivity as far as theatrical business is concerned and hope this momentum continues. I have hopes for two other films in June - one is 'Sitaare Zameen Par' and the other one is 'Housefull 5'."Wankhede further said, "In conclusion, the strong performance of these films over the past two months indicates a positive shift in the Indian box office landscape. It highlights the importance of star power, engaging narratives, and the collective enthusiasm of audiences eager to experience the magic of cinema on the big screen. As the industry navigates its way through these transformative times, the success of these films offers hope and a renewed sense of optimism for the future of Bollywood."
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