With the Centre having permitted cinemas to operate at cent per cent capacity, it was being assumed that producers would lose no time in announcing the release dates of their films. Probably because Sooryavanshi and 83 were the two big-budget films which would’ve released last year in March/April if the pandemic lockdown had not happened, the trade somehow thinks of only these two films to kickstart the release of big films post-lockdown.
And if Reliance Entertainment is still not finalising the release of these two big-budget fares, it is mainly because most of the state governments have still not ratified the revision of capacity, propagated by the Centre, at which cinemas can operate. Till each state government does not specify the percentage capacity at which cinemas in its state can function, the current capacity of 50% will continue. However, producers of big films would want to release their films if and only if cinemas across India are allowed to function at full capacity.
There is another reason why Reliance is still unsure about the release dates of its two big-ticket entertainers — cinemas in the USA and UK are closed. Everybody understands that Sooryavanshi and 83 are expected to yield huge shares from the US and UK markets. It is not a joke for any producer to think in terms of forgoing such huge potential shares. That’s also a solid reason why the release dates of the two films are not being announced even now.
Frankly, the comparison of the South film producers with Bollywood producers is not right if only because the sacrifice, which the former are making by releasing their films in India while forgoing the release in cinemas in the US and UK as they are shut, is nothing compared to the sacrifice which producers of Bollywood biggies will have to make. In other words, in the case of big-budget Hindi films, cinemas in the country being permitted to work to full capacity is only half the battle won. The other half battle of cinemas in the Overseas circuit remaining shut is still very formidable and needs to be fought.
P.S.: Incidentally, rumours are rife in trade circles that Sooryavanshi will hit the screens in the first week of April while 83 will come in June. Of course, these are mere rumours. The trade is awaiting an official announcement by Reliance Entertainment.
