Six new releases previous Friday. Six new releases last Friday. That makes it twelve films in two weeks. I am not counting the English ones, else the count would climb up to fifteen. Let me pose a question to you: How many films did you catch in last two weeks? Perhaps one, or two, maximum four or five. So what's the point of flooding the market with so many new releases?
The topic of discussion is, why's everyone in a tearing hurry to release their films? The barrage of new films, from September 18 onwards, right till December, is so strong that low-cost and medium-budget films would find it difficult to procure theatres and most importantly, the right show timings. That explains this mad rush!
But the fate at the ticket window is for all to see. In some cases, the shows were called off due to no audience. In some cases, the films were discontinued even before the week ended. In some cases, the films were discontinued after a one-week run. And those that 'survived' to reach Week 2 got obscure show timings and the occupancy only fell further.
FOX, starring two well-known actors, met with a poor response, except at a handful of single screens... AAGEY SE RIGHT, a comedy, proved a tragedy. The occupancy was slightly better at plexes... THREE - LOVE, LIES, BETRAYAL, a well-made thriller, didn't strike a chord either. It got sandwiched due to multiple releases... CHINTUJI and MOHANDAS and all other films that have strong merits, but can't stand on their feet, here's a thought that's nagging me since quite some time.
Should plexes charge the same ticket rates for KAMBAKKHT ISHQ, LOVE AAJ KAL, KAMINEY, CHINTUJI and MOHANDAS? Or should there be a different price structure for low-cost films? Think about it!
