‘Sanju’ tops off a sparkling run for Bollywood
NEW DELHI: After a stellar show in the first half of 2018 when it notched up more than 221 billion rupees ( RM13 billion) from cinemas in India, Bollywood is expecting an even better second half.
The first-half collections were buoyed by Rajkumar Hirani’s Sanju.
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh calls the first six months of 2018 “a dream” and “one of the best in the last few years”. In contrast, last year’s numbers benefited significantly from Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, the highestgrossing Indian film.
The string of blockbusters this year that had swelled boxoffice revenue this year have also included Padmaavat, Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, Raid, Baaghi 2 and Raazi.
Atul Mohan, editor of trade magazine Complete Cinema said the industry has already made 50- 60 per cent of the earnings notched up in 2017 and 2016.
“The industry has learnt a lot from the shoddy year that 2017 was,” said film distributor and exhibitor Akshaye Rathi, adding that unlike countries in Europe, cinema in India is not just art, but a means of entertainment and escapism. “Be it Raazi or Sanju, there is a conscious effort to make films that have pan-India appeal, are relatable outside the top metros and are comfortable and affordable for an average Indian to watch in the single screens as much as in the multiplexes.”