By Hindustan Times
Come June and Bollywood might be set for action. About 30 films will release in June, July and August. But on the same time, 15 famous person Hollywood films may even release.
While it’s a for the reason that Hindi films will always rule the box office, it’s also a proven fact that within the last 10 years, the market share of Hollywood movies in India has increased from two per cent to 8 or nine per cent and is worth about Rs. 850-900 crore. Since Titanic (1997) became the primary Hollywood film to have a large release in India, other films have followed. Last year, The Adventures of Tintin released with greater than 350 prints — a record for an animated film. And this year, The Avengers opened across India at around 800 screens in four languages.
And for the reason that international studios often spend sums like Rs. 2-3 crore on publicity as against Rs. 30-50 lakh earlier, trade experts feel that overseas films can now not be thought to be pushovers.
“Bollywood must accept the ability of Hollywood films,” says film trade analyst Taran Adarsh. “Since they're dubbed in local languages too, they affect the revenues of Hindi films.”
On June 8, Shanghai will clash with Madagascar 3 and Prometheus on the box office. Later, Ferrari Ki Sawaari, Gangs of Wasseypur and Teri Meri Kahaani will release along side Benjamin Walker’s Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. In July, The superb Spiderman, featuring Irrfan as Dr Promestheus, will tackle Rohit Shetty’s Bol Bachchan. And Ice Age 4 will open on July 13 along side Cocktail and Barfi!. In August, Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum, Ek Tha Tiger, Joker, and Raaz 3 face The Bourne Legacy, Total Recall, The Expendables 2, and The Pirates! Band of Misfits."
Hindi filmmakers don't seem to be worried. “Only a large franchise is competition,” says Tanuj Garg, CEO, Balaji Movies. “Films like James Bond and Harry Potter, for example, could have specific patronage in India. But every Hollywood film isn’t a question of concern.”
Producer Goldie Behl, whose I, Me Aur Main will release on June 27, agrees. “Of course, films might be competing with one another in relation to revenues. But how big a contest will or not it's? Hollywood hasn’t been capable of break into the mainstream.”
However, says Kercy Daruwala, managing director, Sony Pictures India, “Movies just like the Hangover and The Ugly Truth were big hits. We need to accept that the audiences’ tastes are changing.”
Overseas films have picked up for diverse reasons, adds Daruwala. “Increasing numbers of multiplexes, additional screens and lower admission rates have contributed to Hollywood’s popularity,” he explains. And dubbing movies in local languages like Hindi, Tamil and Telugu adds to their popularity. Almost 40 per cent of a Hollywood film’s business comes from Hindi dubbed versions while around 30 per cent comes from the Tamil and Telugu versions.
Interestingly, July 20 will see the discharge of only The Dark Knight Rises, the overall installment within the Batman trilogy, in 700 screens around the country. No Hindi film is releasing that weekend.
(All release dates are subject to change)
Money talks
Over the past few years, Hollywood films have made big bucks in India.
Avatar
Rs. 142 crore
2012
Rs. 90 crore
Mission Impossible: The Ghost Protocol
Rs. 40 crore
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Rs. 36 crore
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Rs. 34 crore
Adventures of Tintin: The name of the game of Unicorn
Rs. 24 crore
Kung Fu Panda 2
Rs. 27 crore
Record breaking Hollywood films
Titanic was the primary Hollywood film to make a record Rs. 52 crore in India.
The Avengers opened in a record 800 screens in India.
The Adventures of Tintin released with greater than 350 prints — a record for animated films.
Over the past decade, the market share of Hollywood films has gone up from two per cent to 8 to nine per cent.
Hollywood studios spend as much as Rs. 2-3 crore on publicity compared to simply around Rs. 30-50 lakh earlier.
