On Friday afternoon, when the writing on the wall was evident about the new releases - HUM TUM AUR GHOST, WELL DONE ABBA, MITTAL V/S MITTAL and PREM KAAA GAME - having embarked on a disastrous start at the ticket window, I decided to ask the common man a vital question on my personal Facebook and Twitter accounts. The question was: Empty cinema halls greet new films. Whom do you blame: Content? Marketing? Ticket rates? IPL? Bad luck? Actors with no box-office pull?
Within seconds of flashing this question, netizens across the globe came up with some interesting answers. The common consensus was, a majority of films lack solid content. Hence, the occupancy at multiplexes has fallen drastically in the recent times. There were other reasons too… Escalation in ticket rates, IPL, absence of star names in most films, overdose of new films, paucity of time to watch so many films, heavy flow of metro-centric films, round-the-clock entertainment on TV, piracy of films and telecast of new films on TV.
Points to ponder…
I wish to repeat what I wrote last week. Why are producers in a mad rush to release films during IPL? Can't they see that the industry is bleeding? Is there some way where we can ensure that so many films don't clash in a single week?
Film business hit a new low last weekend, so just imagine what it will be like on weekdays. Cancellation of shows has become a norm at cineplexes. In fact, it's becoming increasingly difficult for films to last beyond the opening weekend.
Talking of new releases, HUM TUM AUR GHOST is a financial disaster. The returns are pathetic and the film will entail heavy losses to its producers. The failure would not only hit Arshad financially, but his reputation too would take a beating since it's a solo hero film. The other releases also failed to sparkle at the ticket window.
Will things brighten up this Friday? Or will I have to pen a weepy editorial again next week? I hope not!
