Lull before the storm

I posted an interesting comment on two social networking websites last week - 'Soooo manyyyy movies this Friday. If critics can't manage to watch all, how do you expect the viewer to watch them all?' I followed it up with another comment - 'Is this the Diwali week?'

I fail to understand why most film-makers are in a mad rush to release their films? Initially, there weren't too many releases on this date [23 April], but as the date drew nearer, the list started swelling and when the D-Day arrived, the total touched 17. Yes, you read it right, 17 brand new movies hit the screens last Friday, which, to the best of my knowledge, has never ever happened in the past. The list includes Marathi and English titles too.

The film industry is facing a severe financial crunch, is going through its worst phase ever and releasing so many movies in a week will only multiply the problems further. Besides competing with each other, the films also had to compete with the IPL finals on Sunday evening. Of course, not everyone is into cricket, but a sizable chunk of movie-going audience is.

Brings me back to the same question: Does the aam aadmi have the time, money or inclination to watch multiple films in a week? Especially in today's times, when newspapers and television channels are full of escalating prices of basic necessities. Anyone would think twice before investing his hard-earned money in a movie these days. The movie has to be worth it, else it gets a royal ignore from the junta.

Of the five films I reviewed last Friday, only CITY OF GOLD had the potential to strike a chord, especially in Maharashtra. The remaining films ranged from below average to terrible. I was not surprised when I was told that the shows of some films were called off due to lack of audience. Actually, cancellation of shows doesn't sound alarm bells anymore. It has become a norm actually. Aal izz definitely NOT well.

But let's hope HOUSE FULL brings the lost smiles back, brings the audiences back… most importantly, brings the optimism back.