Latest news with #MuktaA2Cinemas
Mint
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Old hits and IPL screenings offer buzz, but not cash for cinemas
As the Bollywood pipeline ran dry, cinemas had turned to re-releases of older hits and screenings of live events like cricket matches to draw footfall. However, their contribution to overall revenues of movie theatres remained marginal. While these strategies help boost audience engagement and drive food and beverage (F&B) sales, these are more stopgap measures than sustainable revenue streams even as a couple of films did better than original theatrical runs. 'We don't see a great amount of revenue coming from these alternate streams. Their overall earnings are quite miniscule compared to a new blockbuster such as Chhaava that made up 75% of all box office in the January to March quarter," Rahul Puri, managing director, Mukta Arts and Mukta A2 Cinemas said. In lean quarters, the share of re-released films may appear inflated, but the model isn't viable in the long run, he added, even though some level of experimentation will continue. To be sure, for Indian cinema, tapping into nostalgia has become the latest gamble to lure audiences back to theatres. Re-releases of beloved hits like Rockstar, Tumbbad, and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani have struck gold at the box office. Movies that had barely found any draw during their initial run, are being rediscovered by audiences. Sanam Teri Kasam, a romantic drama, is currently one of the highest grossing re-releases in India, having made over ₹35 crore in box-office collections against ₹9.11 crore garnered in 2016. Laila Majnu earned over ₹11 crore last year, surpassing its original box-office takings of ₹2-3 crore when released in 2018. Also Read: Re-released romantic films capture the hearts of young, nostalgic viewers Evolving destinations Multiplex chains like PVR Inox have also experimented with live screenings of IPL matches across 30-plus cities, pitching cinemas as evolving 'multi-faceted entertainment destinations." These initiatives have picked up pace in recent months amid a dearth of big-ticket Hindi releases. 'These streams cannot be seen as a stable source of revenue in the digital age (where all the films and sports tournaments stream on OTT platforms)," independent exhibitor Vishek Chauhan said. 'It is a one-off thing primarily driven by the fact that the supply chain (of new movies) isn't fulfilling audience demand well enough." Even among the re-releases, it's a case of hit and trial, he added. While some titles, such as Sanam Teri Kasam, have done better than even new films, others, such as Andaz Apna Apna, Karan Arjun and Ghatak, barely found any draw. Similarly, sports tournaments such as the IPL or live screening of the Ram Mandir inauguration ceremony were seen more as space fillers than big revenue generators. 'Cinemas are meant for movies and new titles primarily drive admissions," said Amit Sharma, former managing director, Miraj Entertainment, which operates multiplex theatres. 'While theatres will bring re-releases back whenever there is an opportunity, these can't make a big difference to the numbers," added Sharma, who stepped down from his role last week. The release calendar is more evenly spread this year as compared to 2024, making for lesser scope for re-releases and other initiatives over time. Also Read: Single-screen cinemas hold off on property conversion offers even as theatrical business declines
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Business Standard
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Standard
Raid 2 crosses ₹130 crore in 13 days, drives strong cinema footfalls
Raid 2, revolving around an income tax officer played by Ajay Devgn confronting a corrupt politician portrayed by Ritesh Deshmukh, has crossed ₹130 crore at the box office (BO) in India since its release on May 1 (13 days). The film has provided much-needed relief to theatres, drawing footfalls amid the tense geopolitical situation and Bollywood's ongoing struggle to make a mark at the BO—apart from a few notable releases. Directed by Raj Kumar Gupta and produced by Panorama Studios and T-Series, the film is one of the few titles that have crossed the ₹100 crore mark in less time during the January–May (till May 14) period this year. However, Raid 2's box office performance is broadly in line with the fast pickup in BO collections seen for other franchise films released recently—such as the Allu Arjun starrer Pushpa 2: The Rule, Anees Bazmee's horror-comedy Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, Rohit Shetty's cop universe entry Singham Again (also starring Devgn), and the Rajkummar Rao–Shraddha Kapoor horror-comedy sequel Stree 2: Sarkate Ka Aatank. Gautam Dutta, chief executive officer, revenue and operations, PVR INOX, said the film has maintained a consistent occupancy of around 30 per cent even in its third week of theatrical run. 'At a time when national security and community solidarity are on everyone's minds, Raid 2—with its compelling storyline rooted in social justice—has struck a chord with viewers. This success reaffirms the impact of content-driven cinema and the power of storytelling to bring people together,' said Dutta. 'The success of Raid 2 has been a major highlight of the year and a strong driver for cinema footfalls,' said Rahul Puri, managing director, Mukta A2 Cinemas. 'It's a clear reminder of the power of compelling storytelling and a loyal fanbase.' Puri emphasised that the film has shown strong traction through both weekdays and weekends, with good holdover and repeat viewership. For Mukta A2 Cinemas, the film's performance has significantly contributed to energising its screens and bringing audiences back in large numbers. The average occupancy of the film is around 20 to 25 per cent, according to movie trade analyst Girish Wankhede. '₹130 crore in 13 days is a great number. Now, Raid 2 will grow gradually at the box office with around ₹3 to ₹4 crore per day in collections to reach ₹150 crore in India,' he added. The worldwide collection of Raid 2 on the 13th day stood at ₹174.25 crore. In comparison, Raid, released in 2018, had a gross Indian box office collection of ₹132.14 crore and a worldwide total of ₹154.19 crore, according to a Bollywood movie data company. Wankhede further noted that it will be tough for Raid 2 to gain significantly higher numbers at the BO due to the release of two major Hollywood films—Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (releasing on May 17) and Final Destination: Bloodlines (releasing on May 16). On the contrary, Puri expects the film's strong run at the BO to continue over the coming weekend. 'With positive word-of-mouth and growing audience interest, Raid 2 is well-positioned to keep its momentum going. It's one of those rare films this year that has managed to build on its opening and sustain long-term interest—something we're confident will reflect in the days to come,' Puri said.
