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NOT THE RIGHT TIME FOR BOX OFFICE WARS?
As the entertainment industry is on a road to recovery amid the pandemic with 100% occupancy in cinemas, many films have lined up for release. And as a result, filmmakers are now filling up the calendar which has quite a few clashes. John Abraham’s Satyameva Jayate 2 is set to clash with Salman Khan’s Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai this Eid, SS Rajamouli’s pan India project, RRR is clashing with Ajay Devgn’s Maidaan, Shahid Kapoor’s Jersey and Alia Bhatt’s Gangubai Kathiawadi
Aare both eyeing a Diwali release and there is also speculation about a possible clash between Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan and Aamir Khan’s Laal Singh Chaddha.
But the question arises that given the financial health of the film industry, shouldn’t clashes be avoided this year?
Film producer Anand Pandit says, “When two big ticket films clash on a Friday, everybody loses. The momentum that can turn a film into a blockbuster can be hindered when another big film is competing with it,” he shares.
Musing the same sentiment, trade analyst Atul Mohan adds to it, t 33 years of age and barely four years as the CEO of Dr Dangs Lab, Dr Arjun Dang cuts a confident picture. What it does to the business is for everyone to see, but what it means for his patients is a story that needs to be told. “Recovery from any disease has a psychosomatic angle too. The constant motivation, guidance and accessibility of the doctor are very important factors,” he says.
Acting swiftly in the Covid-19 pandemic, he launched drivethrough Covid-19 testing centres in Delhi. Beginning in April with a drive-through in the Central Market area of Punjabi Bagh and then
“At least, for one more year, we should avoid clashes. We have to get back into the business and leave the egos aside. Makers should not get into fights for screens.”
Industry experts also feel that a clash between two films of different genres is still acceptable but one between films which cater to the same audience base is not ideal. “It’d be nice to have something in the cinemas for all kinds of audiences at any given point of time. But movies poised to cannibalise into each other’s business is not a great idea,” says exhibitor Akshaye Rathi.
Then there are also the regional and Hollywood films which will expanding to Saket and Khel Gaon, he and his team ensured that people could get tested with maximum safety and minimum interaction.
“I was inspired by Covid-19 drivethrough centres in countries like Korea and the US. This made it the first such facility in India,” shares Dr Dang, who has a Clinical Fellowship in Liver Pathology from King’s College Hospital, London.
For a drive-through test, patients need to register on the website, provide vehicle number and Aadhar Card details. The lab gives a call back specifying time of the test. make the release calendar all the more crowded. Chiranjeevi’s Telugu film Acharya and Venkatesh’s Narappa is coming out on Eid. Telugu film BB3 (Balayya Babu 3) starring Nandamuri Balakrishna and Ravi Teja’s Khiladi will release on May 28.
“Producers have limited Fridays, holidays. Everyone wants to recover the loss,” explains trade analyst Taran Adarsh. But insiders are still hopeful that at least some clashes can be avoided. “There is still time and I am hopeful that rationalization will happen between those involved,” Rathi adds.
Several high profile film clashes are in the offing, but experts prefer they’re avoided
“The acknowledgement email gives the exact Google location of the drive-through centre. Each car gets a 5-10 minute time slot. From booking a test to getting the report, the entire process is contactless. Payments are only online,” he says.
Taking charge of an iconic institution, established in 1983, was a big responsibility, but he has taken it to new heights. “The pandemic has been a huge learning curve for me and my team. With God’s grace and our team’s hard work, we have made it,” says the proud recipient of the HT Trailblazer award.