This Diwali was indeed a big one at the movies , due to the release of Singham Again Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, both of which have taken a good start at the box office. However, is there more than what meets the eye vis-à-vis box office numbers? ETimes explores…
Strong opening
Talking about the two movies, trade expert Girish Wankhede says, “The weekend box office performance of “Singham Again” and “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” has generated a mix of excitement and concern for us . Both films had strong openings, with “Singham Again” earning ₹43.5 crore on its first day and “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” following closely with ₹35.5 crore. The Diwali holiday season provided a significant boost, allowing both films to attract large audiences despite receiving mixed reviews.”On Saturday, “Singham Again” managed to consolidate its position, while “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” too, saw a slight increase. However, the significant drop in collections on Sunday is concerning. This decline raises questions about the films’ sustainability in the coming week, especially with Monday typically being a critical day for gauging a film’s long-term success.
Long term success challenging?
With no major releases until “Kanguva” on the 14th, both films have the opportunity to maintain their box office momentum. However, the Sunday figures suggest that sustaining strong numbers may be challenging. The industry will be watching closely to see how both films perform on Monday, as it will likely determine their prospects for continued success in theaters.
Girish Wankhede adds, “The situation surrounding the box office numbers for “Singham Again” and “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” is indeed perplexing and raises concerns about transparency within the film industry. The discrepancies in reported figures from various sources—trade analysts, industry insiders, and even the producers—create confusion and make it difficult to gauge the true performance of these films.”
What is the actual drop?
With multiple parties providing conflicting numbers, it becomes challenging to assess the actual drop in collections, especially after the concerning decline observed on Sunday. This lack of consistent reporting can lead to inflated or misleading figures being circulated, which may not accurately reflect the films’ real box office status. If distributors or their representatives provide random or exaggerated figures, it further complicates the situation, as stakeholders may base their decisions on inaccurate data.
The ambiguity surrounding the daily collection reports (DCR) means that while everyone acknowledges a drop in earnings, the extent of that decline remains uncertain. This uncertainty can have significant implications for the films’ future performance, marketing strategies, and audience perception.
On the other hand, trade expert Raj Bansal says, “There is huge ambiguity in terms of numbers of both the movies. While, I won’t go into why this is happening, I do expect a drop of around 50% on Monday, as compared to Sunday, which is considered normal. If it is any less than that, it is a cause for concern and could spell trouble for both movies.”
Girish adds, “For the film fraternity, having a reliable and unified source of data is crucial for making informed decisions. As it stands, the inability to ascertain the true numbers creates a precarious situation for both films and could impact their longevity in theaters. The industry will need to address these discrepancies to ensure that stakeholders have access to accurate information moving forward.”
