LEDGER 2017: HIT OR MISS?
The year began with a boxoffice bang, and it’s ending well, too, but analysts wish the figures had been better
It’s that time of the year when Bollywood brings out its balance sheet — 2017 started with fanfare, with the big box-office clash between Shah Rukh Khan’s Raees and Hrithik Roshan’s Kaabil. And both became money-spinners. But after that, as trade pundits put it, the year turned out to be “terrible” and “messy”.
“Overall, I’d look at 2017 as a terrible year. And I sincerely hope that we’ve learnt our lessons,” says trade expert Taran Adarsh. “So, the first and foremost lesson has been that we should make and release films well. Also, the budgets play an extremely important part, so makers should be clear about what kind of money is at stake.”
BRIGHT SPOTS
However, the trade analysts maintain that “fortunately”, the year is ending on a high, with Tiger Zinda Hai on its way to becoming an all-time huge blockbuster (the Salman Khan-Katrina Kaif movie has already grossed ₹200 croreplus in India). Other major hits have been Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, Golmaal Again, Judwaa 2, Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, Badrinath Ki Dulhania, and Jolly LLB 2.
NOT ENOUGH, THOUGH
“[But] 2017 can be called quite a messy year. Although we’ve had two-three real blockbuster hits, that’s not enough for the industry,” says exhibitor-distributor Akshaye Rathi. “You need more such big money-spinners to keep the cash registers ringing through the year. It’s particularly demoralising is when bigticket films such as Tubelight and Jab Harry Met Sejal fail at the box office.”
SMALL WAS BIG
Another highlight of 2017 has been the resurgence of smaller films. That list includes Bareilly Ki Barfi, Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, Half Girlfriend, Hindi Medium, Newton, Tumhari Sulu, Fukrey Returns, and Qarib Qarib Singlle performing well, or even exceedingly well.
“In fact, those films saved the day for Bollywood. What’s worrying, for me, is that compared to 2016, the footfall fell 25-30% in 2017,” says Rathi.
The year proved that star power isn’t the only thing that works at the box office. While Ayushmann Khurrana and Varun Dhawan scored backto-back hits, other biggies stumbled. “As an actor, you want to enjoy this kind of love,” says Varun, “especially when films in general aren’t doing well. Also, when films like Badrinath Ki Dulhania and Judwaa 2 do so well, it proves that laughter is the best medicine. People just want to be entertained.”
Experts are upbeat about 2018. Adarsh bets on “some really interesting and big films” and hopes cinema wins.