Latest news with #Ormax
Mint
5 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Single screens rebel as revenue model puts Telugu cinema on edge
The Telugu film industry may have avoided a strike by single-screen theatres this month across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, but the issue is far from resolved. Single-screen cinemas are pushing for a shift from the minimum guarantee (MG) or rental-based model to a percentage-sharing arrangement, like the one enjoyed by multiplexes. Currently, single screens not only have to pay MGs to play films but also take home a meagre 10% of the box office, while multiplexes retain around 50%, with the larger chunk still going to distributors. This issue is especially crucial in the south, where single-screen theatres continue to operate in large numbers—unlike in the northern states—and drive substantial box office earnings. According to media consulting firm Ormax, Telugu films grossed ₹2,348 crore in 2024, contributing 20% of India's total box office. Trade experts estimate that over 80% of this revenue in the south comes from single-screen cinemas. Also read: Independent producers, boutique studios veer towards regional cinema for big gains 'There is no way single screen cinemas can survive if this continues. It is an unfortunate situation where distributors are acting very high handed and demand the commitment of MGs from single screens only who eventually earn 10-15% of what the film makes in their cinema, while multiplexes take home 50%," said Yusuf Shaikh, business head of feature films at Percept Pictures. Shaikh, who is also a committee member of the Film Federation of India, added that strong associations back single-screen operators in the south and the issue will likely be raised in other states like Maharashtra. Also read: The rise of Hollywood-style cinematic universes in southern films Cinemas under threat A single-screen theatre owner, who did not wish to be named, said, 'The loss is the producers' whose films may not release wide if theatres don't agree, but they don't seem to realise this." The owner warned that many small cinemas are shutting down, and the trend could accelerate. 'This is a time when India needs more second tier cinemas, which can operate at low costs in smaller markets. That is the only way for screen penetration to improve. This should force the industry to rethink else it is easy for owners to switch to other businesses or exit," the person added. Despite lower ticket rates, single-screen cinemas often match multiplex earnings due to higher footfalls. For instance, a major release that earns ₹60-65 lakh in a theatre might result in multiplexes earning ₹30 lakh, while the single screen takes home only ₹10 lakh. 'Such terms are outdated and leave nothing for the exhibitor. This is as good as asking the single screen to shut shop," said independent exhibitor Vishek Chauhan. Also read: Back to basics: PVR Inox to tap into underserved regions of India with low-cost cinemas for growth
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Not Shah Rukh Khan or Salman Khan, but THIS South star is the MOST POPULAR male actor in India
In the game of fame, there are a few names that have always outshone others. The Khans, Kapoors, Bachchans, all the megastars have been known to dominate the stardom conversation in India. However, as they say, everything changes, and the only thing that remains constant is change itself. Similarly, the dynamics of celebrity popularity are also shifting. In today's time, it is not Shah Rukh Khan or Salman Khan who are enjoying the reigns on the popularity ballet, but a star from the South Indian film industry . He is the one who is known as the 'Rebel' star, who in recent times featured in pan-India's biggest releases; he is none other than the 'darling' - Prabhas . According to the latest popularity report by Ormax, as of April 2025, in the India ranking, Prabhas stands at the number one position. The 'Kalki AD' star who gave cinephiles 'Baahubali,' 'Salaar' and more, stands tall in the latest popularity ranking. And if you think that on number two you will find a Bollywood name, well, you will have to wait a little longer. Following him closely behind another South heartthrob, Vijay , at number 2. This shows how the South Indian film industry is no longer confined to regional borders—it has gone national, even global. And now, for all the Bollywood lovers, here comes a name they were waiting for - the Badshah of Bollywood - Shah Rukh Khan. The 'King of Bollywood', who recently made his Cannes debut, holds the third position. Following him is the man who is now famous not with his real but reel name - 'Pushpa,' yet we are talking about everyone's beloved South star, Allu Arjun . And next, he is followed by another South actor, Ajith Kumar . This Tamil cinema giant secured fifth place on the list, and behind him are Mahesh Babu on number 6, Ram Charan on number 7, and Salman Khan on number 8. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo Shah Rukh Khan beats Salman Khan & Akshay Kumar to become the MOST POPULAR male star of India: Reports The last two positions are also divided between a national award-winning star and an artist whose song made India win an Oscar. On number 9 is Akshay Kumar , and on number 10 is Jr. NTR. This evolving popularity chart highlights how audiences across India are embracing talent beyond traditional boundaries, with South stars now sharing the spotlight alongside Bollywood's biggest names. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
India.com
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet Indias Most Popular Actor Who Is A Bachelor And Earns Rs 120 Cr Per Film, Beats Allu Arjun And SRK
This top actor from South, won a million hearts with his epic performance in 2-part series of Baahubali by maverick filmmaker SS Rajamouli. Ever since, he has been riding high on the popularity charts. Yes, you guessed it right. He is none other than Prabhas. Going by his fan-following of 'darlings' on social media, the actor has made it to the Ormax list of 'most popular actors' (March 2025) findings. Meet India's Most Popular Actor According to the Ormax 'most popular actors' list (March 2025), Prabhas got the maximum votes followed by Thalapathy Vijay, Allu Arjun and Shah Rukh Khan. Prabhas tops the list. He is considered to be one of the highest-paid stars in India. Reportedly, he was also the first South actor to have had a wax statue at Madame Tussauds in Bangkok. Here's the complete list: Prabhas Thalapathy Vijay Allu Arjun Shah Rukh Khan Ram Charan Mahesh Babu Ajith Kumar Junior NTR Salman Khan Akshay Kumar Prabhas's Staggering Fee According to Hindustan Times report, Prabhas, a Pan-India superstar takes home something around Rs 120-150 crore per film. Other reports suggest that his net worth is reportedly around Rs 241 crore. Prabhas's Upcoming Movies Last year he was seen in epic Kalki 2898 AD which was a huge hit. His upcoming films now include Raja Saab and Kalki 2898 AD Part 2 is also in the pipeline. He is also involved in humanitarian causes including anti-drug campaigns, flood relief work among others. Donations for Flood Relief When Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were hit by devastating floods, Prabhas once again stepped up. He donated ₹2 crore for relief efforts, dividing ₹1 crore each between the two states' Chief Minister Relief Funds, helping rebuild lives and communities. Spreading Awareness About Drug Abuse Using his massive influence for a social cause, Prabhas joined Telangana's anti-drug campaign to urge the youth to stay away from substance abuse. His message encouraged young people to live a fulfilling life without drugs and seek help if they were struggling.
Mint
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Pricey Hollywood tickets deter Indian moviegoers, dent box office in 2024
NEW DELHI : Hollywood films commanded a big premium at Indian box office in 2024, with average ticket prices soaring to ₹245, significantly outpacing local language cinema, said the latest Ficci-EY media and entertainment report. However, theatre owners are pushing back against this high-pricing strategy, warning that it is discouraging footfalls, particularly in small towns, contributing to one of Hollywood's weakest box-office performances in the country in nearly a decade. The average Hollywood ticket price of ₹245 towers over the all-India average of ₹134 and handily beats local languages like Hindi ( ₹203), the report said. Theatre owners emphasise that despite dubbing efforts, Hollywood's insistence on high ticket prices in India is alienating a significant portion of the movie-going population at a time when fewer films are achieving commercial success. With footfalls at 38 million and a 17% decline in box office, 2024 marked one of Hollywood's weakest years in India in the last decade, according to media consulting firm Ormax. This was the first time since 2015 that the industry failed to surpass the ₹1,000-crore mark in annual box office collection, excluding the pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021. Also read | Smalltown content creators can now play in the big leagues. All they need is AI. 'The high price floor set for Hollywood films is a struggle for smaller towns and markets like ours that are very price-sensitive. You're basically outpricing a large section of the population," Bihar-based exhibitor Vishek Chauhan said. In such cases, films tend to be extremely front-loaded, making most of their revenue over the first weekend and are unable to expand beyond the core fan base, Chauhan added. The latest Marvel film, Captain America: Brave New World, for instance, made ₹9.25 crore out of the total ₹18.45 crore box office earnings over the first weekend. In 2024, Deadpool & Wolverine, too, had clocked in ₹64.55 crore over the opening weekend alone, before going on to make ₹128.40 crore in total. Clear on targets Trade experts like Chauhan said Hollywood studios are quite clear about targeting only a specific, upmarket audience for their films, and therefore stick to high-pricing strategy. Besides, they tend to think of ticket rates in India in dollar equivalents, which may not seem unreasonable to them. 'At a time that big franchise films are anyway not coming and Hollywood content no longer working like it used to, higher prices only compound and aggravate the problem," Chauhan said. Also read | A.R. Rahman copyright case revives a frequent clash Pranav Garg, managing director at Maya Palace, a two-screen cinema in Muzaffarnagar, said there are other reasons for the prices of Hollywood films remaining higher than other languages. In case of American movies, VPF (virtual print fee), which is a cost usually borne by producers to show their films using digital projectors and technology supplied by digital service providers (DSPs) such as UFO Moviez and Qube Cinemas, is paid for by theatres. Plus, there is the expense for equipment such as 3D glasses, common for Hollywood movies. Making up with hikes Cinemas try and make up for these extra charges by hiking ticket rates. 'Also, it is uncommon for Hollywood films to get pirated and leaked like Indian titles do, so there is more incentive to come to theatres. That said, with so many films not working lately, exhibitors are taking off their DCI projectors," Garg said. As a rule, American studios only take their films to DCI (digital cinema initiative)-compliant theatres in India. DCI is a joint venture of several film studios, including Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, 20th Century Fox, Universal Studios, Walt Disney Co., and Warner Bros, to set up a common set of requirements that ensure a high and uniform standard of digital cinema viewing. Also read | Amazon Prime Video to start ads from 17 June; will offer paid ad-free options 'The average Hollywood film generally appeals to a higher socio-economic market and often makes it to more premium properties because the studios know who they are catering to. But given that Hollywood is now in the same boat as other languages, with no real blockbusters, especially over the last 18 months, the pricing may need to be kept in mind," Rahul Puri, managing director, Mukta Arts and Mukta A2 Cinemas, said.
Mint
05-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Regional pride new trick to unlocking box office glory?
Even as Hindi language films fail to find a draw at the box office, trade experts and moviemakers see some potential in movies championing regional pride and cultural identity. For instance, Vicky Kaushal-starrer Chhaava, based on the life of Sambhaji Maharaj, the second ruler of the Maratha Empire, emerged as a blockbuster, earning over ₹ 500 crore earlier this year. It is the second successful film on Maratha pride in recent years after Ajay Devgn's Tanhaji - The Unsung Warrior. While the two films benefited from connection to Maharashtrian history, since the state and some surrounding markets make up 32% of Hindi domestic box office, media consulting firm Ormax has pointed out that for films driven by 'regional pride' to succeed at a national level, they must resonate with the dominant box office territories of Mumbai and Delhi-Uttar Pradesh. This means carefully selecting stories that combine region-specific authenticity and universal appeal. 'A significant portion of the box office performance for films like Chhaava and Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior has come from Maharashtra, considering that the historical narratives of these films are most closely tied to the region's legacy. This strong regional relevance often enhances audience interest, particularly when viewers are familiar with the historical context and characters. That connection, combined with scale, storytelling and performances, helps deepen engagement in key markets,' Ashish Saksena, chief operating officer, cinemas, BookMyShow said. While Maharashtra's size and scale offer commercial advantages as a keystone market for movie watching in India, Saksena emphasised that South Indian films have consistently gained traction across markets, reinforcing the view that compelling regional stories can succeed irrespective of geography. 'The key challenge and opportunity lie in expanding the appeal of such stories beyond their home regions. Audiences today are increasingly open to diverse storytelling. When narratives strike the right balance between authenticity and cinematic quality, they are more likely to travel across linguistic and cultural boundaries, ensuring commercial success as well,' he said. According to Ormax, regional pride differs from national pride in its emotional texture. 'National pride often centres on specific achievements of patriotic heroes, while regional pride is more cultural and intimate. For instance, the stories of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj are a cornerstone of Maratha identity, passed down over generations. Bringing these tales to the big screen fulfils a desire to preserve cultural heritage in an era where modernization often feels like it erodes traditional roots,' the firm said in a blog. However, for films driven by 'regional pride' to succeed at a national level, they must resonate with the dominant box office territories of Mumbai and Delhi-Uttar Pradesh, which, pre-pandemic, a film like Kesari, based on Sikh valour, had managed, though on a smaller scale. Kannada film Kantara (2022) also has deep cultural roots in Karnataka. Still, its folklore-style storytelling and universal themes allowed it to connect with audiences in Hindi-speaking markets as well, Ormax pointed out. At 16.6 million, the UP-Uttarakhand market leads the list of Indian states with the highest theatrical audience, followed by Maharashtra (15.9 million). 'The phenomenon (of stories based on regional pride working at the box office) is not true only of Maharashtra. India has unsung heroes and untold stories across languages, which can be and have been brought to the big screen. Of course, some of these have worked, and others haven't,' said Amit Sharma, managing director, Miraj Entertainment, which operates multiplex theatres. First Published: 5 May 2025, 11:57 AM IST
