Independence Day movie clash: Battle for box office supremacy! |

This Independence Day it is going to be a bloodbath of releases at the box office. Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam films are all up in arms, trying to get as much screen space as they can for the big day. Falling on Thursday this year, filmmakers are hoping to bank on the extended five-day weekend, which ends with Raksha Bandhan on August 19.Screens are falling short and the audiences will also be faced with the tough task of making a choice! ETimes spoke to industry experts to gauge the never-before-seen box office phenomena unfolding this Independence Day!
‘There are 52 Fridays in a year, should we only release 52 films?’
This looks like a classic situation of everyone wanting a piece of the pie! Are filmmakers being far too greedy for the festive date? Nikkhil Advani, who is calling the shots for one of the biggest Independence Day releases, Vedaa, argues that clashes are inevitable and the audience is only hungry for good content. “There are 52 Fridays in a year, should we only release 52 films? Is that what the paying audience would like? Films are going to clash/come together. We are a huge audience that needs to be satiated with different genres and sizes of films. It really is quite inevitable,” laments the filmmaker.

‘It is suicidal to release so many films together’
Bollywood will be dishing out Khel Khel Mein, Stree 2 and Vedaa on August 15. All three films promise to be grand entertainers but will definitely eat into each other’s profits. The Tamil industry is offering the audience Thangalaan and Raghuthatha, while Telugu has four films lined up – Mr Bachchan, Double iSmart, 35 – Chinna Katha Kaadu and Jack.
Film distributor Raj Bansal sees this as a deadly move on the part of filmmakers. “I feel this is suicidal. There are weeks when there are no releases, we should release films on those dates. But unfortunately, just looking at the holiday week, everyone has piled up on the same date.” Gauging the excitement of the audience, Raj Bansal gives an insight on the number game too. He asserts, “Stree 2 is a huge film which will take about 22-24 crores on the opening day. Vedaa I feel will be the second best with Rs 6.6-5 crore opening and Khel Khel Mein will not take an opening over Rs 4 crore. Even for Double iSmart, which stars my dear friend Sanjay Dutt, I would not land in this clash. Plus these Hindi movies will suffer because of showcasing in the South.

Kannada films Gowri, Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi and Bhairathi Ranagal are arriving on August 15, while Malayalam movies Pongala and Nunakuzhi have also been announced for the same date. The audience will certainly be overwhelmed with choices, but is such an extensive selection really a need? Competitive forces are in play and the supply seems to be more than the demand for August 15! “No exhibitor will be able to justify the showcasing and programming of any of the movies. And because of that, there will be a loss of opportunity for exhibitors and the producers will be immense. I really hope that good sense prevails even now, some bit of moving and shaking happens as every film deserves optimal showcasing. It is an overkill, the audience is as it is spoiled for choices of avenues of recreation. Films have done well irrespective of the holiday weekend,” opines Akkshay Rathie.
August 15 is a gamble of ‘Hundreds of crores’
With nearly 15 movies vying for attention, Akkshay Rathie gives an insight on the investments, “Given the merits of all the films involved, the combined budgets and all of that, it’s hundreds of crores that are riding at the box office this 15th August weekend. And the next weekend, August 29, is looking near empty, so this mix, with big numbers, is just a recipe for disaster.” This definitely sounds all things risky, but as they say, life without risk is always a regret!
Trade expert Taran Adarsh feels that Bollywood has a major share of budget in this financial gamble. He says, “I would say that all three Hindi films, primarily Stree 2, Vedaa and Khel Khel Mein, are expensive films. Approximately 300-350 crores are riding on these three films at least, depending on the kind of budgets that they have. There are two South Indian films that are being dubbed in Hindi which are also releasing. One is Thangalan and the second one is Double iSmart, directed by Puri Jagannath. The main focus will be on Hindi films this time.”

What is the mood depending on the choices we ask, and Taran Adarsh opines, “As of now, when you look at the Independence Day releases, Stree 2 is leading, as far as the curiosity factor is concerned. People are excited to watch the film. The trailer has been wonderful, very well received. And also at the same time, the song, especially the one of Tamanna Bhatia, has become a rage. So this film is going to take a sure shot opening. Plus, it’s a long, long weekend. As you know, Thursday the movie is releasing, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, weekend begins. Monday is Raksha Bandhan. So it’s a long five-day weekend which is definitely going to boost the ticket sales. There was not much excitement for Vedaa earlier, but the trailer has done the trick. They just need to follow up till August 15 to create awareness. Since it is a long weekend, people are bound to step out and watch movies. But Vedaa needs to pump up the promotions further. Khel Khel Mein, well, the trailer was okay. I’ve seen the original and I want to see how the director has Indianized the film. So it’s a wait and watch situation. But as of now, as a viewer, if you ask me, my first choice will be definitely Stree 2.”

Which movie will make a killing? Which one will take the fall? Our guess is as good as yours! With nearly 15 releases scheduled for August 15, we’re witnessing history in the making. May the deserving champion arise!