This is a typical example of your top order batsmen having failed and the pressure on the latter order mounts. Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar and Ranbir Kapoor may be quietly confident about their forthcoming films Jab Harry Met Sejal, Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, Jagga Jasoos respectively, but it has now become important for these three films to make a big noise at the ticket windows. The task for Salman Khan, who gets another chance this year after the flop Tubelight, is also cut out. Saviours can also be Ajay Devgn starrers Golmaal 4 and Baadshaho and Varun Dhawan starrer Judwaa 2.
Films like Indu Sarkar (based on 1975 Emergency) and Pramanu- The Story Of Pokhran (which is a tribute to India's nuclear scientists) hold promise.
Salman Khan's Movie Tubelight Poster
Bollywood has suffered a loss of Rs 300 crore so far in the first six months of 2017.
Raabta And Rangoon Movie Posters
Trade experts are shocked at the box-office collections which most movies have amassed so far. The failure of Tubelight has brought in an eerie silence, and sent many people associated with Bollywood into a tizzy. India's most bankable star Salman Khan reserves the right to fail, but his one-off failure in recent times has made many go pessimistic and cynical.
Worse still, there has been a flurry of medium-budgeted films that have just not managed to find large number of audiences coming their way--- Raabta, Rangoon, Machine, Begum Jaan, OK Jaanu, Meri Pyaari Bindu, Bank Chor, Phillauri, Aa Gaya Hero, Behen Hogi Teri, Sarkar 3, Trapped and Running Shaadi, to name a few.
Machine And Running Shaadi Movie Posters
Trade analyst Amod Mehra says, "Raees, Jolly LLB 2, Badrinath Ki Dulhania and Hindi Medium did well and of course Baahubali 2 was a roaring success, yet that does not compensate for the losses incurred on other films which did average/bad business at the turnstiles. Even if you assume a loss of a meagre Rs 9-10 crore loss on one flop, more than 30 filns have bombed in 2017 so far- so you can safely assume that Bollywood has lost about Rs 300 crore at least in the first six months."
Adds Mehra, "I expect Jab Harry Met Sejal and Golmaal 4 in particular to come to Bollywood's rescue this year."
Toilet Ek Prem Katha And Jab Harry Met Sejal Movie Posters
Another trade expert, Akshaye Rathi, says, "The content in the remaining films decide. I have immense faith in Toilet: Ek Prem Katha. Next is Judwaa 2; Varun Dhawan has a huge fan following amongst not just the single screens but also the multiplex audiences. Above all, Tiger Zinda Hai will easily make more than 200 crore, maybe even 300."
"However, I don't think that panic buttons need to be pressed. Our overall success rate every year is not more than 10 per cent anyway," and then Rathi quickly added, "But yeah, if we hadn't had a Baahubali 2 in the first half, ab tak sabki ph**i padi hoti."
Indu Sarkar Movie Poster
Jay Vanchal of Rajhans Group who has 26 properties in Gujarat and Chandigarh says that he has experienced good growth.
Salman Khan's Tiger Zinda Hai Movie Poster
But leading exhibitor, Ravi Sibal of PVR Juhu, says, "Don't even ask. 2015 was a very good year. We suffered a drop of 15-20 per cent in 2016. This year, we have further dropped."
John Abraham's Parmanu -The Story Of Pokhran Movie Poster
A similar sentiment is eschewed by Manoj Desai, owner of Gaiety-Galaxy-Maratha Mandir, "2016 was mixed. I suffered a big loss. Jitni daaru pi thi, utni utar gayi. I had hopes in one film but its starter failed, it's name is Tubelight. I am now banking on Jab Harry Met Sejal."
Not much optimism for sure, but we have bankable players to fire. Let's hope that they turn it around.
Image Source: twitter/beingsalmankhan, akshay_kumar, raabtamovie, thejohnabraham, iamsrk, runningshaadi, machinemovie, shahidkapoor, newstills & hdimages
Image Source: twitter/beingsalmankhan, akshay_kumar, raabtamovie, thejohnabraham, iamsrk, runningshaadi, machinemovie, shahidkapoor, newstills & hdimages