THE BIG RELEASE RUSH

Come July 7, and you will witness the clash between two Hindi films – the Sridevistarrer Mom and Paresh Rawal-starrer, Guest Iin London, even Spider-man Homecoming hits theatres on the same day. Not just the first weekend of this month, the release schedule looks jam-packed for the next three months (till September). Here’s what to expect:

BIG-TICKET LINE-UP

As per industry estimates, almost 25 major films – besides other smaller ones – are scheduled to hit the silver-screen in the next three months. “Historically too, it has always been the case. Post Ramzan (and Eid), filmmakers rush to release their films. So, you’ll always see that Juneend onwards, the release schedules are always packed. In fact, that’s why trade is always upbeat in the second half of the year, and is more fruitful than the first half,” says trade analyst Amod Mehra.

NO BREATHING SPACE

Filmmakers feel that “ideally, there should be ample breathing space between two films.” Mubarakan director Anees Bazmee says, “A simple logic is that if audiences have loved a film, there should be space for that film for a continuous run.” The large number of releases and the limited number of screens are responsible for the clutter, say filmmakers. Bazmee feels that there is a need for more theatres: “It will be good for the government too, as they can get more taxes.”

MONEY-SPINNING PHASE

Exhibitor-distributor Akshaye Rathi says that the period has emerged as a “money-spinner” in recent times. Rathi says that festive period releases mean a 15-20 per cent spike in the day one collections of a film. “And the festival fervour starts from July onwards, and hence the rush,” he says. Mehra concurs: “From July, a slew of films are lined up for release to cash in on festive holidays — Ganpati, Raksha Bandhan, Independence Day, Dussehra and more.”