Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the Indian cinema has been majorly affected. The dry spell of Bollywood was ended by films like Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and JugJugg Jeeyo, however, things returned to the way they were.
At frequent intervals, South films clawed their way into the North belt with KGF: Chapter 2 and RRR emerging as big commercial successes. But, Bollywood as a whole, seems to be struggling. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh has now pointed out that Sooryavanshi (2021), starring Akshay Kumar, is still the only film to have the highest weekend opening in Bollywood. Meanwhile, other films continue to deliver flops at the box office.
SOORYAVASHI HOLDS THE HIGHEST OPENING WEEKEND RECORD
In a Twitter thread, Taran Adarsh mentioned Sooryavanshi’s opening day numbers and wrote, “Fri 26.29 cr Sat 23.85 cr Sun 26.94 cr #Sooryavanshi – the first biggie to release in Nov 2021 – still holds the record of a smashing *opening weekend* at the #BO [despite 50% occupancy in #Maharashtra when it released] (sic).” Director Rohit Shetty’s Sooryavanshi, starring Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif, caused plenty of carnage at the box office. It was the highest Bollywood opening since the Covid-19 outbreak began.
Taran Adarsh further wrote, “Have we ever wondered why the subsequent *#Hindi* films weren’t able to surpass the *weekend biz* of #Sooryavanshi?… We celebrate and cheer when movies open in double digits [ 10 cr+], but the fact is we should’ve surpassed the numbers of #Sooryavanshi long back (sic).”
His Twitter thread further read, “If we haven’t been able to breach *Day 1* or *opening weekend* biz of #Sooryavanshi yet – even after 10 months [plus 100% occupancy across #India] – it’s time for some serious introspection… No point coming up with lame excuses for the non-performance of our films (sic).”
BOLLYWOOD FLOPS OF THE YEAR
2022 has been the year of Bollywood’s flop films! Among the movies that turned out to be a dud at the box office were Samrat Prithviraj, Anek, Dhaakad, Jayeshbhai Jordaar, Heropanti 2, Runway 34, Jersey, Attack, Rashtra Kavach Om, Bachchhan Paandey, Khuda Haafiz 2, Badhaai Do, Jhund, Hit: The First Case, Shabaash Mithu, Ek Villain Returns and Shamshera.
UPCOMING HINDI FILMS
2022 will see more big-budget films releasing in theatres. The latest ones are Aamir Khan’s Laal Singh Chaddha and Akshay Kumar’s Raksha Bandhan. Both the film release on August 11. Let’s see what they have to offer. There is also Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor’s Brahmastra: Part 1, Ajay Devgn and Rakul Preet Singh’s Thank God, Sidharth Malhotra’s Yodha, Taapsee Pannu’s Dobaaraa, Amitabh Bachchan’s Goodbye, Janhvi Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao’s Mr and Mrs Mahi, Varun Dhawan’s Bhediya, and Tiger Shroff and Kriti Sanon’s Ganapath, among others.
