No clash, no competition for SS Rajamouli’s Bahubali: The Conclusion in 2017

By Joginder Tuteja -

September 13, 2016 - 1:30 PM IST

This is unprecedented. In the times when two biggies have started clashing with each other due to unavailability of the right release slots, S.S. Rajamouli's Bahubali: The Conclusion is set for a free run for a complete month.

No clash, no competition for SS Rajamouli’s Bahubali: The Conclusion in 2017

"Just a few weeks back, we had Rustom taking on Mohenjo Daro. This Diwali would see the clash ofShivaay and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. Moreover, there is still stalemate for 26th January next year as both Kaabil and Raees have their eyes fixed on the Republic Day slot. However, it seems no one in Bollywood is willing to come even close to Bahubali: The Conclusion. Not just is the film arriving solo on April 14, there is no other film which has yet been scheduled for next three weeks either. This is simply amazing," informs a trade insider.

This can be pretty much evidenced from the fact that not even a single Bollywood film, be it small or big, has been booked for any of the three Fridays ahead which fall on April 21, April 28 or May 5, 2017.

"After Bahubali: The Conclusion, the next big release is Ajay Devgn and Emraan Hashmi's Baadshaho. The Milan Luthria starrer has been fixed for May 12 release. However, between April 14 and this date, it is going to be only one film - Bahubali: The Conclusion," the insider continues.

While this sounds too good to be true for the Telugu film which is set to release in Hindi and Tamil as well, there is a solid reason behind the positioning that the Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty and Tamannaah film has managed for itself.

"See, it is a given that it would practically occupy all screens meant for Telugu releases on its arrival. That takes care of the South India. In fact the film will see the biggest Tamil dubbed release ever too and hence one can't even expect a major Tamil film to release alongside. However, what takes the cake is the all-India market from the Hindi film standpoint," comments a prominent exhibitor, "Karan Johar has joined hands again with the makers of Bahubali: The Conclusion. Even Bahubali: The Beginning had seen the biggest arrival ever for a dubbed Hindi film. Now the sequel will see an almost mainstream Hindi release."

All of this means that even on a conservative scale, the film would release on at least 3000 screens, which are otherwise meant for Hindi releases.

"The film has earned this right," a senior distributor adds, "When the first part does a business of Rs. 117 crore without much of a hype or a known case and solely on the basis of word of mouth, just imagine how it can do now when anyone who is a fan of Indian movies wants to know - 'Why did Katappa kill Bahubali?'. Just to get this answer, the film would be hyped beyond imagination. It would be foolhardy for anyone to not go all out in terms of bringing the film to theatres. A regular big film releases on 3500+ screens and a Khan film doesn't bargain for anything less than 5000. Will Bahubalinot warrant even 3000 screens?" This pretty much takes care of any other Hindi film even daring to come alongside Bahubali: The Conclusion. However, what takes the cake is an open slot for three Fridays after that.

"It makes sense that no other film is thinking of arriving a week ahead on April 21. However, it is unlikely that the slots of April 28 and May 5 will remain vacant as well. In fact I am sure that some of the other prominent film would pick and choose these slots, especially the one on April 28, so that it has two good weeks ahead of itself before Baadshaho arrives," a filmmaker comments.

Well, while one waits to see who takes the plunge, for now Bahubali is indeed showing its 'bal' and keeping other filmmakers at bay!