The movie business is anticipating a bleak season as elections and IPL grip the popular imagination
The movie business is anticipating a bleak season as elections and IPL grip the popular imagination
With so much IPL and election drama out there, the film business expects a loss of 60 per cent in its busiest season.
March to May is the peak season for the box office. Thanks to their summer holidays, school and college students throng to the cinema halls, and in many cases, drag their families along.
The Lok Sabha poll, counting for which takes place on May 16, is adding to the woes of the movie business.
Anup, associate vice-president of Fun Cinemas, said, "Going by last year's experience, I feel the industry will be affected."
Two tamashas
Satish Kumar, general manager, PVR Bangalore, said, "The two biggest entertainment mediums of our country are cinema and cricket and they have their own following. IPL does not affect cinema viewing but if no big star cast movies are released during the period, it may create the pseudo image that viewership is affected."
Despite such brave talk, PVR is planning to piggyback on cricket this season. "If things work out, we would like to show Bangalore team matches on the big screen," he said.
Low-budget hits
Producers are in two minds about releasing their movies in April-May.
Many big films are usually released around this time, when the exams are done and the students have free time.
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In the last season, many big producers didn't want to compete against the IPL, and delayed their releases.
"And against all expectations, some small budget movies clicked during the IPL season," said Anup.
With mum and dad
Schoolchildren may drag their parents to the movie halls for the morning and afternoon shows. Matches take place only in the afternoon and the night.
"On IPL matches being shown in multiplexes, the discussion is still on. Actually the BCCI has shown interest. We have to wait," Anup said.
Kannada film producer and distributor Rockline Venkatesh said, "The IPL will definitely affect the film industry. Our revenue will fall by 60 per cent," he told MiD DAY.
Venkatesh says with cricket being played on 300 days each year, all businesses are affected. "As a producer and secretary of an educational institution, I am afraid the students are also affected," he said.
Collections falling
Karnataka Film Producers Association president K C N Chandru said, "The situation is bad... As they say, one man's food is another man's poison."
Basanth Kumar Patil, who produces and distributes Kannada films, said, "It's suicidal. This double blow will hit not only the Kannada film industry but all other industries."
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