Maharashtra to reopen cinema halls from October 22; bollywood all set for a rebirth

• Follow

The film industry is all geared up for a rebirth as almost 100 movies are set for a release in the coming four months, with cinema halls allowed to reopen by the Maharashtra government after October 22, according to a Business Standard report. For bollywood, Maharashtra is the focal point as it accounts for an all-India box office collection of between 27%-30%, and largely determines the success and failure of a movie. Also, 32 of the 100 films are hindi.

About 600 multiplexes and 80 single screens are present in the state, which accounts for one-fifth of India’s 3000 multiplexes and 400 single screens. This means that 97% of the the country’s total screen will be open, with 50% seating restrictions or at full capacity as in Telangana and Karnataka.

According to the publication, PVR Pictures are expecting a 25% increase in the number of releases each week including hindi and regional movies in the next four months as compared to pre-Covid times. It also added that there will be one movie with a potential blockbuster every two weeks in Hindi.

But the company is conservative on its projection levels, as box office revenue for 2021 will be around 35%-40%, with the total figure expected to be at 50% of 2019 levels next year.

Box office revenue to touch the 2019 levels of Rs 10,000 crore

Cinema halls were closed from March 2020 which led to a dismal box office collection of Rs 2,000 crore in 2020, which includes all movies including Hindi, according to Hong Kong based Media Partners Asia (MPA). This year however, though movie theatres remained shut for five to six months, the box office collections in the next three months is expected to hit around Rs 6000 crore.

It further added that box office collections are projected to reach the 2019 levels at Rs 10,000 crore, as many of these films are awaiting a theatrical release in the last 18-24 months. Also, the timing of the reopening coincides with the festival season, which will give a major boost, it said.

Yash Raj Films has planned to release four movies in 2021 and for early 2022 Jayeshbhai Jordaar, Prithviraj, Shamshera, and Bunty aur Babli 2. On the other hand, Reliance Entertainment will release two films Sooryavanshi and 83 in Diwali and Christmas respectively.