The Kabir Khan directorial 83 released in December last year to a positive response from critics; however the audience did not really connect with the film. Dubbed in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam the Ranveer Singh starrer failed to see excellent footfalls at the theatres. The movie clocked Rs. 105.28 cr. at the India box office at the close of Week 5. In fact, the dubbed versions of the film contributed a meagre 5% of the film’s overall box office collections. But why did the dubbed versions of the film not contribute more to the box office collections of 83 is the question. Bollywood Hungama decided to take a look at the possible reason.
“If you look at past films as well, and not just 83, it is clear that Hindi films dubbed in South Indian languages have not really done much business at the box office. On the other hand South Indian films dubbed in Hindi have worked wonders, case in point being Allu Arjun’s Pushpa: The Rise which has crossed Rs. 100 in the Hindi dubbed version alone. The reason behind this is that the audience do not really connect with the Hindi film being dubbed in South Indian languages,” explains Trade Analyst Taran Adarsh. Ask him about why filmmakers opt to dub films in regional languages and he adds, “Though regional dubbed version of a film do not contribute to box office collections, they pay dividends when it comes to satellite rights. Since a film has multiple languages the earning from satellite rights sale is higher. So despite a low key box office contribution, filmmakers opt to dub films.”
Further taking about the audience connecting with Hindi films being dubbed in regional languages, Taran adds, “You have to understand that in South India, the fan following for local star is much higher than their admiration for a Hindi film star. So if given a choice between an A-List Hindi film actor and a regional actor the audience will almost always opt for the regional film.”
As per box office collections, 83 managed to draw in approximately Rs. 5.37 cr. from the regional dubbed versions at the close of Week 5. As compared to Rs. 100 cr. coming in by the end of the fifth week from the Hindi version alone the film saw just 5.09% of revenue being generate from the regional dubbed versions.
83 box office by language (at the close of Week 5)
Hindi - 100 cr.
Telugu - 1.31 cr.
Tamil - 2.75 cr.
Kannada - 0.71 cr.
Malayalam - 0.60 cr.
