Hindi Cinema Last To Come Back Unless...

Sunday 05 September 2021 14.30 IST

Box Office India Trade Network

Fast & Furious 7 and Shang Chi did 2 and 3 crore nett respectively on the first day and again the numbers show the struggle of the Hindi circuits. In March Godzilla Vs Kong came when the South markets had already seen grossers in local languages and the audiences were back there and it did fantastic in South. These two Hollywood films have come before those markets have come back but still the best performance is in South..

The numbers would have been much higher if these films came after some major local releases in the South. The regional markets will come back quicker as has been seen in Punjab with Punjabi films and was seen in South in the early part of the year. This is also because the content is aimed at one region matching the tastes of that region while Hindi has to try and cater to more regions which has been pretty impossible in the last ten years or so. The wider reach of the industry which was the plus in terms of potential business in normal times is now the negative.

Hollywood will also have to suffer until the Hindi circuits come back but they have the advantage of South which can enable them to put some numbers even when Hindi circuits are not performing. The issue for hindi films is pretty much illustrated with the releases of the films.

Fast & Furious 9 released on around 950 sites and Shang Chi was 900 sites which is pretty good in the scenario. A Bell Bottom came on over 950 sites but more cinemas opened up over the weekend as it was the first release so it got a few more locations. Even assuming the film reached 1100 locations on Sunday that is not much more than the Hollywood films. If we go back to 2019 then a Bell Bottom would have had 1000 locations more than the likes of Shang Chi and Fast & Furious9.

There is not much Hindi films can do until this issue gets addressed and a flow of good releases can do this. It should get a little better when Maharashtra opens up and the industry is expecting them to open post Ganpati festival but there is no confirmation yet by the state government.

Sadly we will be the last industry to come back unless the miracle comes and Maharashtra announces cinemas reopening soon and the makers of Sooryavanshi go for the Diwali date covid permitting. This is not about what numbers Sooryavanshi will do as that all depends on content but what it will do is open up the market especially West, East and Central India. The exhibitors who are not ready yet will see Sooryavanshi on Diwali as a good bet and the period will make them confident of business as well. It would be great if there was another film like Sooryavanshi waiting with a HIT cast, director with a great track record and the correct genre for reach but that is not the case with most films holding little appeal to get the audience back to the cinemas on the first weekend.

This is looking a miracle at the moment and with every passing day the chance becomes less but there is a small outside chance it can happen.The all India comparison between Fast & Furious 9 and Shang Chi is below and as can be seen its 42% and 50% respectively from the South which is far higher than normal. At the moment the bigger films look like coming from Hollywood be it No Time To Die, Venom or Dune and better numbers from these in the Hindi circuits will be some much needed good news..

Mumbai

Fast & Furious 9 - 34,00,000

Shang Chi - 28,00,000

Delhi / UP

Fast & Furious 9 - 36,00,000

Shang Chi - 57,00,000

East Punjab

Fast & Furious 9 - 20,00,000

Shang Chi - 23,00,000

Rajasthan

Fast & Furious 9 - 6,00,000

Shang Chi - 7,00,000