Bollywood couldn't have been more conspicuous by its absence in movie theatres this year, with nearly the full April-June quarter going by without any big releases. The industry was hit hard by the Lok Sabha elections and IPL (Indian Premier League) between April and May, and just a handful of titles attracted audiences to the theatres.
Trade experts estimate Hindi film revenue in 2024 to be at least 30-40% lower than in 2023, and the overall Indian movie box office, across languages, likely flat or 10-15% lower this year. Last year, the movie industry earned ₹12,000 crore in earnings, according to consulting firm Ormax.
There is more bad news for Bollywood: at ₹72 crore, the Hindi-dubbed version of Telugu action film Pushpa 2: The Rule has made for the second highest opening day ever in the Hindi-speaking belt, beating many original Hindi language films. In terms of total collections, it has beaten all original Hindi language hits, and is now the highest grosser in the Bollywood market.
The only Bollywood titles to have made a mark this year are horror comedy Stree 2 (₹627.02 crore), Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (₹278.42 crore) and Singham Again (₹268.35 crore). The numbers have been sourced from Bollywood Hungama.
On the other hand, success stories in the Tamil and Malayalam industries are quite a few-Amaran (Tamil, ₹216 crore), Manjummel Boys (Malayalam, ₹153 crore), Vettaiyan (Tamil, ₹143 crore), Aavesham (Malayalam, ₹97 crore), Premalu (Malayalam, ₹75 crore), and Maharaja (Tamil, ₹72 crore).
"The box office is currently tracking similar to or slightly lower than last year's numbers," said Sanjeev Kumar Bijli, executive director, PVR Inox Ltd.
This story is from the December 27, 2024 edition of Mint Chennai.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 27, 2024 edition of Mint Chennai.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Services exports save the day for current account in Sep quarter
A rise in services exports helped narrow India's current account deficit (CAD) in the September quarter, although this marked the second consecutive quarterly deficit after hitting a surplus in the final three months of FY24.
Sebi Issues Circular on Share Transfer
The circular provides clarity on the rules surrounding ownership transfers in intermediary cos
UltraTech to Acquire Minority Stake in Star Cement
UltraTech Cement on Friday said it will acquire a minority stake of 8.69% from the promoters of Meghalaya-based Star Cement in a deal worth up to ₹851 crore.
Rupee falls to record low as dollar bids spike
The rupee fell to an all-time low on Friday, as maturing non-deliverable forwards and currency futures boosted dollar demand, while the sharp fall led to panic dollar buying by importers.
JSW Neo to acquire O2 Power; EQT and Temasek to exit
The transaction entails acquisition of O2 Power Midco Holdings and O2 Energy SG, and is subject to customary nods
Rural-urban consumption gap shrinks in 2023-24
The monthly per capita consumption expenditure rose to ₹4,122 in rural areas and ₹6,996 in urban areas
Escorts Kubota's ride is bumpy amid demand concerns
Escorts Kubota Ltd continues to grapple with the challenges of weak export volumes and subdued construction equipment demand.
India's Textile Exports a Silver Lining as Trade Deficit Widens
Experts attribute this growth to govt policies, trade deals, and adoption of new technologies
The Archetypical Insider Who Guided India Towards Its Economic Potential
During Singh's tenure at RBI, India embraced a more flexible exchange rate to promote exports
A Vision
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh's tenure (2004-2014) witnessed significant reforms that profoundly impacted India's economy, governance, and social infrastructure. His reforms focused on pressing issues such as poverty alleviation, education, healthcare, and corruption. Mint takes a look at the key reforms that reflect Singh's enduring legacy.
