Sooryavanshi looks for an I Day release amid  uncertainty on reopening of theatres

By Rajesh Ahuja

With state government in Maharashtra expressing its willingness to allow reopening of cinema halls in the state with 50 per cent capacity as part of the five level unlock process announced by it from June 7, makers of the much awaited and much delayed Akshay Kumar Karrina Kaif starrer Sooryavanshi are mulling  release of the film in cinemas on Independence day this year, sources in the film trade say.

The sources said that makers of Sooryavanshi,  whose release in cinemas had been earlier postponed severa times due to COVID-19 pandemic , are mulling to release the film on August 15 if  cinema halls in Maharashtra and other parts of the country are allowed to open to 50 per cent occupancy .

Trade sources said that Reliance Entertainment,  the makers of Sooryavanshi , are in talks with exhibitors across the country for reaching a deal for the release of the film in cinemas  on New terms.

The talks for release of the film notwithstanding , trade analysts say that the release of films in theatres is incumbent on uniform relaxation of lockdown conditions across the country  and not just in metro like Mumbai and Delhi.

With the number of daily covid cases in the country still hovering around the one lakh  ark and the number of daily deaths being above 3000, uncertainty continues  on the reopening of cinema halls across the country.

And, with the threat of a third wave of COVID-19 in November and December,  looming over the country, the possibility of operation of theatres on pre covid levels remains bleak for the next six to seven months.

In such a situation,  accurate predictions of theatrical release of films in the near future is a risky proposition.

Infact in a statement  last month, Akshay Kumar termed as speculative reports of release of Sooryavanshi and Bell Bottom on Independence Day and  said that announcement of release date of film will be made at the right time.

In a statement,  Akshay Kumar said that  at this juncture it was highly speculative to say that both films will release on Independence Day.

https://raju0568.blogspot.com/2021/05/reports-of-i-day-release-of.html

Directed by Rohit Shetty,  Sooryavanshi features Akshay Kumar and Katrina in lead roleswith Ranveer Singh playing a key role in the film.
The film had earlier been scheduled for a theatrical release on April 30 but the makers postponed it due to the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

Makers of Sooryavanshi mulling a theatrical release on I Day amid uncertainty on reopening of cinema halls 

Health experts say that notwithstanding a dip in COVID-19 cases in the country, which at one time hovered around the four lakh mark, it is advisable for people to follow the Covid appropriate behavior  for at least one more year which means the continuance of measures like wearing masks and observing social distancing outdoors to prevent the spread of the virus.

In such a situation,  the release of megastarrers like Sooryavanshi,  Chehre,  Bunty Aur Babli2 2, bell bottom, 83 and many others in theatres is likely to be an unviable proposition for the makers of these films.

With the less than encouraging response to Salman Khan's Radhe following its simultaneous release on various digital platforms and theatres abroad, makers of many small to medium budget films and even makers of  megastarrers, scheduled for release in cinemas in the coming months, are mulling possibility of a release on various digital platforms like Amazon Prime Video,  Netflix and Disney Hotstar.

The past few months have witnessed the OTT release of crime thriller Silence Can You Hear it  on ZEE5,  murder mystery The Girl On The Train and the family drama Sardar Ka Grandson on Netflix  and Radhe on ZEE5.

With continuing uncertainty  on reopening of cinema halls, the coming weeks could witness release of more films on OTT.

Trade sources say that the producers of Bhoot Police,  Tips films, are mulling an OTT release considering the unlikelihood of easing of the COVID-19 situation in the near future.

Sources said that producers of Bhoot Police are in talks with several OTT platforms for a digital release of the film.

Bhoot Police was scheduled to hit cinema screens in September.  Makers of the film had in February announced that the film would release in theatres on September 10.

https://raju0568.blogspot.com/2021/06/police-to-get-ott-release-other-films.html

Trade sources said that makers of mega starrer Bell Bottom,  which features Akshay Kumar,  vaani Kapoor, Huma Qureshi and Lara Dutta,  have also been  in talks with various digital platforms for an OTT release for the film.

They said that Pooja Entertainment of Jacky Bhagnani,  the producers of the film,  have signed a deal with Amazon Prime video for a release of the film on the platform in August.  Though Akshay Kumar,  in a statement,  said that reports of an August release of Bell Bottom are speculative,  the film is likely to release on Amazon Prime Video in August or September..

https://raju0568.blogspot.com/2021/05/covid-surge-bollywood-films-eying-ott.html

Trade sources said that  the makers of the Ranveer Singh starrer 83 are also in talks with various OTT platforms for a digital release of the film  in the coming months.

Makers of 83, which has been directed by Kabir Khan,  had earlier announced release of the film in cinema halls on June 4. However,  with the Covid-19 situation in the country still far away from normalcy,  the possibility of a theatrical release of the on its scheduled date is bleak.

Similarly,  other Bollywood releases like Kartik Aryan starrer Dhamaka and the Ayushmann Khurana Rakul Preet Singh starrer Doctor  G  could also go for an OTT release if situation in the country does not return to normalcy soon.

Several films,  including megastarrers like Chehre,  Bunty Aur Babli2,  Haathi Mere Saathi,  Sooryavanshi,  Maidaan, Jersey, Satyamev Jayate 2 and 83,  are slated for theatrical release in the coming months.

If  the prevailing Covid situation in the country does not ease soon, many of these films are like witness a digital release.

An unprecedented surge in covid cases in the country in April resulted in makers of mega starrers Haathi Mere Saathi, Bunty Aur Babli2, Chehre, Sooryavanshi , Satyamev Jayate 2 and Toofan postponing release of these films till a later date.

https://raju0568.blogspot.com/2021/05/excel-entertainment-postpone-release-of.html

The grave Covid situation  adversely impacted the earnings of recently released Bollywood films Roohi, Mumbai Saga, Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar and Saina.

https://raju0568.blogspot.com/2021/03/surge-collections-of-mumbai-saga.html

With the theatrical release of the above films failing to attract audience  footfalls in cinema halls,  all these films have now been released on various OTT platforms.

Roohi, Mumbai Saga, Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar and Saina have been released on Amazon Prime Video in recent weeks.