Bollywood adopts wait & watch on release of new films amid aver earnings of Bell Bottom,threat of third wave


By Rajesh Ahuja

With the Akshay Kumar starrer Bell Bottom netting average earnings at the box office and continuing uncertainty on reopening of theatres in Maharashtra amid the looming threat of the third wave of COVID-19,  Bollywood filmmakers are following a wait and watch approach on the release of their films in theatres.

Despite a reopening of theatres across India, cinema halls in Maharashtra continue to be shut due to rise in cases of the Delta variant of covid and looming threat of third wave of COVID-19.  Moreover,  cinema halls across the country are currently operating at 50 per cent occupancy due to the continuing threat of coronavirus pandemic.

Consequently,  filmmakers in Bollywood have been cautious over announcing release of their films in the months of September and October,  either releasing their films on the digital platforms or waiting for an opportune period for releasing their films in the theatres.

Despite release of Bell Bottom in theatres,  Bollywood adopts wait and watch approach on release of new films 



In what seems to be a case of 'once bitten twice shy', filmmakers are fearing a repeat of the scenario in February March this year when a sharp dip in covid-19 cases in the country led several of them to announce release dates of their films from April onwards, in anticipation of a Revival of the process of return of audiences to the theatres.

Following the makers of Roohi,  Mumbai Saga and Sania announcing release of the films in March, several film production houses like Yash Raj Films,  Tips films and others announced their line up of releases for the coming months.

However,  a sharp jump in the cases of Covid-19 beginning from late March led to makers of several films like  Haathi Mere Saathi, Bunty Aur Babli2, Chehre, Sooryavanshi and Satyamev Jayate 2 postponing release of these films till a later date. 

The Covid situation  adversely impacted the earnings of the films released in theatres during the period,  including Roohi, Mumbai Saga, Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar and Saina. 

Many films released on OTT amid uncertainty on reopening of theatres 


Amid the uncertainty on reopening of theatres , the last few months saw many of the filmmakers releasing their films directly on OTT.

Among the films that released on digital screen were Farhan Akhtar starrer Toofan,  Karan Johar’s production Shershah,  the Ajay Devgn starrer Bhuj The Pride of India,  the Manoj Bajpayee and Prachi Desai starrer Silence Can You Hear it and the Shilpa Shetty starrer Hungama 2.

Salman Khan’s Radhe also witnessed a multiplatform release on Eid .

Infact,  even makers of Bell Bottom had to reschedule the release of the film,  from the earlier release date of July 27 to August 19.

Apart from Bell Bottom,  the only films scheduled for release in cinemas in August and September are the Amitabh Bachchan Emraan Hashmi starrer Chehre and the Kangana Ranaut starrer Thalaivi,  the biopic on life of late Tamil Naidu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

While Chehre releases in cinemas tomorrow,  Thalaivi will release in theatres on September 10.




Coming weeks will see release of Chehre and Thalaivi in theatres 



Rest of the film makers seem to be playing a wait and watch approach.

For example the makers of big budget ventures RRR and KGF have announced a release date of the film in April next year amid the uncertainty on reopening of theatres in Maharashtra.

Others like the makers of Tadap,  which marks the debut of Suneil Shetty's son Ahan Shetty,  have announced the release of the film in December.  December is also likely to witness the release of the Aamir Khan Kareena Kapoor starrer Laal Singh Chaddha.

After the average box office numbers for Bell Bottom,  which is the first big budget venture to release in cinemas after the reopening of cinema halls post the pandemic,  not many filmmakers are willing to risk a release in theatres in September or even October.

Infact, makers of the horror comedy Bhoot Police had in July announced release of the film on Disney Hotstar on September 17. The coming months could also witness the release of another film Dhamaka,  starring Kartik Aaryan in the lead on the digital screen.

Bell Bottom, the first big starrer to release in theatres post pandemic and Touted in trade circles as a film that would draw audiences back to the cinemas after a prolonged period of shutdown of theatres due to Covid, earned around Rs 21 crore worldwide in its opening weekend, far below the expectations of the film trade .

The less than expected box office earnings for the film in India are attributed to the closure of cinema halls in Maharashtra,  which forms a big market for Hindi films , and the fact that theatres across India are currently operating at just 50 percent occupancy.

Trade sources,  however,  hope that the coming weeks could witness increase in earnings of Bell Bottom as well as the upcoming releases Chehre and Thalaivi with the further easing of Covid restrictions across India,  including Maharashtra. 

 The coming weeks will also witness the release of  big starrers Chehre,  a psychological thriller featuring superstar Amitabh Bachchan and Emraan Hashmi in the lead, and Thalaivi, biopic on life of late Tamil Naidu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

Chehre, whose scheduled release in March had to be postponed due to the second wave of COVID-19,  is scheduled to hit theatres on August 27 while Thalaivi will hit theatres on September 10.

The film trade is awaiting with fingers crossed the box office outcome of Chehre and Thalaivi to decide the future course of action as far as new releases are concerned. 

Bollywood is awaiting release of big starrers like Bunty Aur Babli 2,  Sooryavanshi, 83,  Jersey and Haathi Mere Saathi in the coming months. 





Bollywood awaiting release of big starrers like Sooryavanshi,  83, Bunty Aur Babli2,  Haathi Mere Saathi & Jersey 



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Bell Bottom earns Rs 21 crore worldwide on its opening weekend 




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Shriyam Bhagnani gets praise from Sachin Pilgaonkar for City of Dreams Season 2



Ahan Shetty's debut Bollywood film Tadap to release in cinemas on December 3




Biopic on life of iconic Tamil Nadu leader Jayalalitha Thalaivi releases in cinemas on September 10

https://raju0568.blogspot.com/2021/08/biopic-on-iconic-tamil-nadu-leader.html


Comedies,  horror flicks,  historicals, youth dramas and comedies entertain on OTT this week 





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