The success of new Bollywood release Ready is being attributed to the film’s music and promos, which helped get audiences to the theatres, according to trade analysts. “We expect 90 per cent occupancy through the weekend,” said Devang Sampat, chief strategy officer, Cinepolis, which has properties across Bangalore, Amritsar and Thane.
Film trade analysts and multiplex operators believe the movie benefited from the fact that viewers had not seen a multi-starrer in over three months.
Multiplex operators and distributors are keeping fingers crossed and hope the trend will continue, ending the poor show of movies at the box office throughout this year especially as some big releases are on the anvil. These are: Reliance Big Pictures’ Double Dhamaal, Aamir Khan Productions and UTV’s Delhi Belly (July 1) and Eros’s Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (July 15), Viacom 18’s Bbuddah Hoga Tera Baap, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Prakash Jha’s Aarakshan (August 12), Murder 2 (July 8), Rohit Shetty’s Singam remake with Ajay Devgn (July 22 ) and Reliance BIG Pictures’ Bodyguard starring Salman Khan (August 31).
Apart from this, the Bollywood biggies might have to face tough competition from Hollywood studios, gearing for a movie blitzkrieg as well this summer.
“The Hollywood line-up also looks exciting. Cars 2, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II and Transformers in the next three months,” said Amitabh Vardhan, director and CEO, Inspire Multiplex Pvt Ltd, which runs My Cinemas. Last month, Hollywood movies like Pirates of the Carribean:On Stranger Tides, Fast And Furious 5, Kung fu Panda II and Hangover II had kept the Indian box office buzzing.