The start of 2020 has been disappointing at the box office but those in the industry believe the trade would look up soon.
Those in the know said barring Tanhaji and Good Newz, the box-office has witnessed a dry spell and industry insiders are hoping that big-ticket films such as Baaghi 3 (which has become the highest opener of 2020 so far with Rs 17.50 crore collection on day one of its release on March 6) and Sooryavanshi will set the box-office ringing in March.
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh said: “People are looking for entertainment and we are not giving them what they want. People are looking for big-screen entertainers and hopefully Baaghi 3 and Sooryavanshi would be able to end the dry spell at the box-office.”
But are youngsters staying away from cinema theatres?
Adarsh said: “Good films never face opposition. If it is a good film, people will not miss it and will definitely visit theatres.”
But some critics feel youngsters want everything easy. Critic Dilip Thakur said: “When you are returning in a train after watching a film from the cinemas many a times you will find people watching the same film on their mobile phones. Piracy is growing at a very fast pace and those watching the film don’t really worry about aesthetics or anything. They just want to watch it.”
The Telegraph
Films that have released in the first two months of 2020 have lacked entertainment value believe trade analyst Atul Mohan.
“Last year we have had patriotic films such as Uri and Manikarnika, which did very well at the box office. Also Gully Boy had a huge appeal among the audiences because it connected with young film lovers. Unfortunately films this year, especially of next generation actors such Ayushmann Khurrana, Kartik Aaryan and Vicky Kaushal, failed to meet the expectations at the box office.”
Shubh Mangal Zyaada Saavdhan was on same-sex love story that made audiences uncomfortable and so they did not visit theatres.
Kartik Aaryan’s confused romantic comedy Love Aaj Kal was a disaster at the box office. Not only was director Imtiaz Ali criticised but also the cast, Sara Ali Khan and Kartik, were trolled for their poor performances. Vicky Kaushal’s Bhoot-The Haunted Ship too was booed.
Even films headlined by women such as Chhapaak and Panga did not take to a good start at the box office. Thappad has just opened but numbers have not reflected its success yet.
Trade analysts feel the subjects failed to connect with the audiences despite having top actresses Deepika Padukone and Kangana Ranaut.
Adarsh said the problem this year is that films that released recently have had very little entertainment value.
Thakur said the Indian audiences have always looked for entertainment in cinema that is why Manmohan Desai was such a big hit always. “So bring cinemas like Tanhaji and Simmba, the audiences will flock to the theatres,” he said.
Atul Mohan feels digital platforms such as Amazon and Netflix’s low rate of subscription has added to the woes. “The rate is much lesser than what one spends when he or she goes to cinemas with families. Cinema viewing is getting personal now,” he said.