You tweeted earlier this week about social media influencers being paid by some producers to write glowing reviews of their films at the time of release. But the trade gets to know very fast which review is bought and which is impartial. Then what is the sense in paying influencers to write positive reviews?

– It is not just social media influencers but also critics and trade analysts who are involved in this racket of writing/posting/broadcasting reviews for money. This is telling upon the credibility of not just the community of journalists but also of producers, which is bad because the public already has a very negative image of the industry people, and this kind of practice doesn’t help in salvaging the image. What is even worse is that such paid tamasha stretches even beyond the reviews and manipulates the reporting of actual box-office collections. The two purposes such reviews and comments serve are: to massage the egos of the producers, directors and actors of those films; and to misguide the public which, in the first place, is not concerned with the box-office collections as much as it is concerned about the entertainment quotient in films. I tweeted because some such paid trade analysts, critics and social media influencers kept on running down those who had written/posted/broadcast genuine reviews of the recently released big-budget films while falsely announcing how those films had proven to be blockbusters at the box-office. I was targeted too. And one of the persons targeting me on Twitter was the content head of the production house which had produced the film so being glorified as a blockbuster rather than the box-office success which it actually was and which I had rightly predicted, it would be!! Can you believe this? Of course, the mischief-makers ran for cover (along with the producers, I’m sure) once GADAR 2 turned out to be the real blockbuster — without the support of those paid social media influencers, trade analysts and critics who sell their souls and their reviews. The unfortunate part for these liars was that GADAR 2 came in quick succession of the films which were being touted as blockbusters. Someone had to take a stand and expose such practices. I decided to do it. And I must add, the response of the Twitterati to my exposing tweets was phenomenal.

Why did R. Balki not postpone his Ghoomer instead of releasing it this week, in spite of the tough opposition of Gadar 2 which is still going great guns at the box-office?

– The all-India distributors of the film, PEN Marudhar Cine Entertainment, felt, there was no opportune date for releasing GHOOMER in the near future even if it were to be postponed. PEN Marudhar itself has DREAM GIRL 2 and THE VACCINE WAR for releasing in the forthcoming few weeks. But yes, I agree with you. A film like GHOOMER needed to be handled with kid gloves and needed to be released with a lot of planning, love and care. It deserved special attention.

What was the reason for the previous week being so bountiful for the box-office?

– It was an extraordinary week with a national holiday on 15th for Independence Day, and a festive holiday on 16th for Parsi New Year. Also, three big films — GADAR 2, OMG 2 and RAJINI THE JAILER — released last week and they were appreciated by the paying public, and hence the audience showered all their love on the three films!

How would you rate year 2023 from the box-office point of view?

– Outstanding! To have four of the five all-time biggest blockbusters released this year is no small wonder! 

Why don’t you review web series too?

– I should have the time to watch all of them. Only then can I review them.

What are your predictions for 2024 as far as the box-office is concerned?

– To say that it would match 2023 may be a tall order because 2023 was indeed an exceptionally good year. But let me just say, let’s hope for the best because we have some very exciting films lined up for release.      

Is its popular music the reason for Mr. & Mrs. Mahi taking an impressive initial today?

– Besides its hit music, the reasonably priced tickets (Rs. 99) due to the celebration of Cinema Lovers’ Day today is also a big reason for the good start.

Is Singham Again finally scheduled for release on Diwali this year? What about Telugu film Devara?

– Although SINGHAM AGAIN has not been announced for release on Diwali, the producers are eyeing that date. Meanwhile, BHOOL BHULAIYAA 3 has already been finalised for release on Diwali this year. As for DEVARA, the original as well as the dubbed versions are scheduled for release on Dassera. On Dassera is also scheduled another South film, KANGUVA (original Tamil as well as all the dubbed versions). Of course, it is unlikely that both the big South films will come on the same day. One of them will have to most likely be postponed.

If the trade can see the positive results of lower admission rates on the box-office, why don’t producers unite and reduce ticket prices?

– Unite? Multiplex chains decide ticket pricing, not the producers. It is not so easy to reduce admission rates. PVR-Inox, Cinepolis and several others don’t find it worth their while to reduce admission rates as, according to them, their overheads are way too high to permit permanent reduction of admission rates. But yes, it is likely that the multiplex chains might now see reason in reducing the rates for small and medium star-cast films. Warning: if the low rates become a regular feature, footfalls in multiplexes and cinemas may not always be high. Today’s (May 31) brisk ticket sales may also be because it is a one-off price reduction scheme.

In hindsight, was the tension between exhibitors and the distributors of last week’s Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 worth it?

– Not at all! Because both the films have underperformed. Compared to the promise the two films held, their performances at the box-office have been underwhelming. Since the producers of both the films had expected their respective film to prove a hit, none of them was willing to postpone the release of his film and hence the tension could not have been averted.

Why is IMPPA getting the governments of different states like Bihar and Jharkhand to announce film policies? Do producers shoot in these states?

– Of course, producers of small films do shoot in different states of India. And if they don’t already shoot, they will start shooting, thanks to the film policies.  

Why do big filmmakers in India generally avoid attending film festivals?

– Because they are busy making films and profits.

What has been the public response to the prevue of Jawan, released earlier this week?

– Phenomenal! The opening of the film should be outstanding, going by the craze witnessed for the prevue. People are discussing the prevue, Shah Rukh Khan’s bald pate in it, and what not! After the tremendous response to The Kerala Story, I had expected 72 Hoorain to do well. But it neither took a good opening nor picked up later. Why?

– And just why did you think that 72 HOORAIN would do well? Just because it was about Muslim characters, like THE KERALA STORY was? Well, you probably love to jump to conclusions, that’s the problem. Film business is not mathematics that you can say 2 + 2 = 4.   

You mentioned in your review of Marathi film Baipan Bhari Deva two weeks back that it should be remade in Hindi to reach a larger audience. Will such a film work for the Hindi film-going audience?

– What do you mean by “such a film”? Every film which touches the heart, works for the audience. BAIPAN BHARI DEVA is doing wonders at the Marathi box-office for this very reason. It netted Rs. 12.50 crore in the first week while the second week’s total was Rs. 24.85 crore!! 

Why are governments usually anti-film industry?

– Because the film industry people are not a huge vote bank. It’s as simple as that!

What are the principles to judge whether a potential web series would work after it is made?

– Not very different from the principles to judge a film. Entertainment is the catchword in the case of web series too.

Has Maidaan been postponed?

– Yes, MAIDAAN has been postponed once again. Ajay Devgan’s first release this year will now be BHOLAA (30th March) instead of MAIDAAN.

Given the first week’s business of Sooryavanshi, would you say that Reliance Entertainment and Rohit Shetty’s wait for more than 19 months to release the film in cinemas was worthwhile?

– Yes, it was. Had the film released in normal times, it would have been one of the highest-grossing films of Akshay Kumar, if not the highest-grossing film.

When will the promotion of 83 start? What kind of an initial do you expect the film to take?

– The promotions of 83 should start in a fortnight’s time. According to me, the cricket film will take an extraordinary initial.

Will Dharma Productions’ new film, directed by Shakun Batra and starring Deepika Padukone, Ananya Panday and Siddhant Chaturvedi, release in cinemas or straight on OTT? What is its title?

– Modalities about its release are being worked out. The plans have not yet been revealed. As for the title, the film is still without one.