The trailer of Vashu Bhagnani and Nikhil Advani’s Bellbottom has brought back smiles to the faces of the people of an industry that has been depressed for far too long because of the adverse effects of the Coronavirus pandemic lockdown. The trailer of the Akshay starrer was released today and it has met with a unanimously good response in the trade. Even members of the public have given it the thumbs up. The joy is even more pronounced because the film will release in cinemas.
The film is slated for theatrical release on August 19 (Thursday). After the trailer’s release, the trade is praying even more fervently that cinemas in Maharashtra should reopen before August 19. Bombay, which falls in the state of Maharashtra, is the nerve-centre of Bollywood, and it would indeed be a tragedy if the film were to release all over India but not in Bombay (and Maharashtra) on August 19.
Bellbottom seems to be in the same territory as Baby, Airlift and Special 26. It is common knowledge that Akshay won encomiums for all these three films. How one hopes, history repeats itself for the fourth time.
Looking at the trailer, it can easily be said that had the film been released theatrically in normal times, it would have taken a fantastic initial. A first-day net collection of Rs. 13-15 crore (also because of the holiday for Muharram) would have been an achievable target. A first four-day weekend of Rs. 65 crore would have been a distinct possibility. Of course, with cinemas currently operating at 50% capacity in most of the states, and with cinemas in Maharashtra shut (unless the government order to reopen them comes before August 19), the film just could end up netting Rs. 7 crore. And if that happens, the trade should stand up and clap in applause for the film which is daring to be the first to welcome the audience which may, even today, be scared to visit the cinemas.
Another trailer which has given an adrenaline rush to the public and the trade alike is that of Ajay Devgan’s Bhuj: The Pride Of India. It is indeed unfortunate that the film will premiere digitally, without a theatrical release. The trailer is so full of patriotic dialogues that people would have clapped and whistled had the film been released in the cinemas. Since it will stream on Disney+ Hotstar, one will get to see none of the madness which one could have experienced in theatres. The film’s story itself is so powerful that armed with that knowledge, one could easily say that the trailer has success written all over it.
Again, had Bhuj been released during normal times and in cinemas, an opening day collection of Rs. 13-15 crore would be an easily achievable figure for it, thanks to the wonderful dialogues and the element of patriotism oozing in the trailer. Additionally, August 15 (Independence Day) would fall in the the film’s first weekend. Although August 15 this year would fall on a Sunday, the patriotic fervour during that period would have ensured a first weekend total of at least Rs. 50 crore. But alas! Bhuj: The Pride Of India, directed and co-written by Abhishek Dudhaiya, will not be the pride of cinemas as it had been committed for an OTT premiere during the first lockdown itself.
One might ask why Disney+ Hotstar does not rethink its strategy and release the film theatrically before streaming it on its platform. It is probably because the platform is looking at this film as its first major potential hit of the lockdown as none of its other releases have really fared too well.