With films such as Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Baahubali and Tanu Weds Manu Returns becoming blockbusters, joginder tuteja takes stock of the box office records that tumbled along the way
Bajrangi Bhaijaan has already crossed the Rs. 250 crore mark. Baahubaligrossed over Rs. 70 crore just in its Hindi version. Tanu Weds Manu Returns has been dubbed an all-time blockbuster for collecting over Rs. 150 crore despite its relatively lowerBUDGET
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Is Bollywood finally seeing a turnaround? Nandu Ahuja, Senior Vice-President at ErosINTERNATIONAL, which produced Bajrangi Bhaijaan, says, “Content is King. Be it Badlapur, NH10, Tanu Weds Manu Returns or Bajrangi Bhaijaan,we are seeing a year where only films with solid and varied content are doing well.” No wonder the records are tumbling like never before. Bajrangi Bhaijaan is turning out to be Salman Khan’s second consecutive film (after Kick which collected Rs. 232 crore) to collect more than Rs. 200 crore.
, which produced Bajrangi Bhaijaan, says, “Content is King. Be it Badlapur, NH10, Tanu Weds Manu Returns or Bajrangi Bhaijaan,we are seeing a year where only films with solid and varied content are doing well.” No wonder the records are tumbling like never before. Bajrangi Bhaijaan is turning out to be Salman Khan’s second consecutive film (after Kick which collected Rs. 232 crore) to collect more than Rs. 200 crore.
Baahubali too has shattered records. The film has already become the highest-grossing dubbed Hindi film, eclipsing Rajinikanth’s Robot (Rs. 20 crore) by over Rs. 50 crore!
The year has also seen Hollywood biggies such as Furious 7 and Jurassic World, breaching the magic Rs. 100-crore mark. Says former corporate honcho and film producer Tanuj Garg, “I think it's not so much the number of hits as it is the kind of films that have worked. There is something unique and novel about every film that has been accepted of late. The days of the routine run-of-the-mill fare are over.”
It is not just the Khans; even Akshay Kumar has demonstrated his consistency at the boxOFFICE, with both his releases, Baby (Rs. 95 crore) and Gabbar is Back (Rs. 88 crore), doing good business.
, with both his releases, Baby (Rs. 95 crore) and Gabbar is Back (Rs. 88 crore), doing good business.
As for heroines, Deepika Paduokone’s Piku, not the average Bollywood money-spinner, became one of the biggest hits of the year, collecting over Rs. 82 crore. The only other female-centric film to have collected more is Kangna Ranaut’s mammoth Tanu Weds Manu Returns. Among the younger set of actors, we have Varun Dhawan, who became the newest entrant in the 100-crore club with ABCD 2collecting Rs. 107 crore.
Rana Daggubati, the antagonist of Baahubali, is expectedly ecstatic about theSUCCESS of his film. He says, “I feel good times are back in the industry. It is not just the blockbusters but even diverse films such as Piku and Tanu Weds Manu Returns areMAKING MONEY. These are good signs.”
of his film. He says, “I feel good times are back in the industry. It is not just the blockbusters but even diverse films such as Piku and Tanu Weds Manu Returns areMAKING MONEY. These are good signs.”
Given the fact that Akshay Kumar (Baby, Gabbar Is Back), Karan Malhotra (Agneepath), Sidharth Malhotra (Ek Villain), Salman Khan (Bajrangi Bhaijaan), Shah Rukh Khan (Happy New Year), Rohit Shetty (Singham Returns), Varun Dhawan (ABCD 2), Sanjay Leela Bhansali (Ram Leela), Deepika Padukone (Piku), Ranveer Singh and Priyanka Chopra (Dil Dhadakne Do) are all fresh fromSUCCESSES behind them, their next releases have become super-hot in trade.
behind them, their next releases have become super-hot in trade.
With Ajay Devgn’s Drishyam, Akshay Kumar and Sidharth Malhotra's Brothers, Salman Khan's Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, Shah Rukh Khan and Varun Dhawan's Dilwale and Ranveer Singh's Bajirao Mastaniall expected to break even more records, the industry is in a buoyant mood.
But exhibitor and distributor Akshaye Rathi observes that the year didn’t start off so promisingly. In the first half of the year, only four films, Baby (Rs. 95 crore), Badlapur (Rs. 53 crore), NH10 (Rs. 33 crore) and Dum Laga Ke Haisha (Rs. 30 crore),MANAGED decent business. Rathi says, “Before theSUCCESS of films like Piku, and Tanu Weds Manu Returns,, there were a series of failures. The ones that crashed were all projects which were meant to be sold off and encashed, rather than those with engaging stories.”
decent business. Rathi says, “Before theSUCCESS of films like Piku, and Tanu Weds Manu Returns,, there were a series of failures. The ones that crashed were all projects which were meant to be sold off and encashed, rather than those with engaging stories.”
But he believes everyone in the supply chain has wised up today, “I truly believe that our film makers have realised that the audience is smart enough to sniff out an entertainer from a clutter of bad films. This has resulted in our industry spending more time on the script.” Nandu Ahuja adds, “In addition to content, even the release timing of a film has become important. You need to have the right budget and the right date for a film to work. In addition, theMARKETING activity also decides the fate of a film.” All this came together to make Eros’ Tanu Weds Manu Returns a phenomenal success, he adds. Despite the film fetching just Rs. 8.75 crore on day one, the film’s release date and word-of-mouth enabled its collection to exceed the 150-crore mark.
activity also decides the fate of a film.” All this came together to make Eros’ Tanu Weds Manu Returns a phenomenal success, he adds. Despite the film fetching just Rs. 8.75 crore on day one, the film’s release date and word-of-mouth enabled its collection to exceed the 150-crore mark.
Girish Johar, distributor and film business analyst, says, “This is a good period for cinema business as a whole, but the only downer for us is the imminent increase of entertainment tax from 20 per cent to 40 per cent. This will pinch us hard, especially inCITIES like Delhi.”
like Delhi.”
It may not all be so bad though, considering massive films such as Brothers, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo,Dilwale and Bajirao Mastani are all set to release during the coming months. Good days are here again in Bollywood.
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