The Bollywood industry seems to be caught up in poor release planning this year, especially on festive dates when two or more big films are clashing at the box office. A notable example is the upcoming Diwali clash between two high-profile films, Singham Again starring Ajay Devgn and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 featuring Kartik Aryan. Despite requests from the makers of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 to delay Singham Again, the creators of the Singham franchise remain firm on their Diwali release.
This situation leaves Bollywood with yet another major clash, following the Independence Day box office battle between Stree 2, Khel Khel Mein, and Veda, which resulted in Stree 2 taking the lead, while the other two films struggled to gain traction.
South Cinema’s Smarter Approach: Avoiding Unnecessary Clashes
While Bollywood faces multiple film clashes, South cinema seems to have adopted a more strategic approach. With a lineup of several big-budget films ready for release, the producers and directors of South Indian films are coordinating their schedules to prevent clashes.
For instance, this year’s Dussehra weekend was originally going to witness the release of three major South Indian films—Junior NTR’s Devara, Rajinikanth’s Vettaiyan, and Surya’s Kanguva. However, in a smart move, the filmmakers altered their plans to ensure their movies didn’t compete with each other. Junior NTR’s Devara was preponed to late September, and Surya decided to push his film to a later date, respecting Rajinikanth’s release schedule.
Such careful planning helps South cinema maintain healthy competition and ensures that each film gets its time in the spotlight without the pressure of a direct clash.
Why Bollywood Clashes Hurt More Than South Releases
While Bollywood clashes seem to have negative impacts on box office revenues, the South Indian film industry has been much more successful in avoiding such losses. By adjusting their schedules through mutual agreements, South cinema prevents major films from being released at the same time, thereby giving each movie the opportunity to perform well at the box office.
In contrast, Bollywood’s decision-makers seem more inclined to gamble on festive release dates. For example, during this Diwali clash between Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, both films are likely to divide the audience, potentially affecting their box office performance.
South Indian Films Set to Dominate December Without Clashes
Looking at the film release schedules for South Indian cinema, it is clear that their calculated planning helps both the filmmakers and the audience. Films like Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2 and Ram Charan’s Game Changer are set to release in December but will avoid competing directly against each other.
Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2 will be released in the first week of December, and Ram Charan’s Game Changer will come out two weeks later, in the third week of December. This two-week gap allows both films to get the attention they deserve, avoiding unnecessary box office clashes.
By carefully spacing out their releases, South cinema ensures that the films don’t eat into each other’s audiences, maximizing box office earnings for each release.
Multiplexes Benefit From Film Clashes, But Producers Take the Hit
Interestingly, while Bollywood producers may suffer due to clashes, multiplex owners see it differently. According to Yogesh Raijada, Vice President of Wave Cinemas, multiplexes thrive during these clashes as they have enough screens to accommodate multiple films simultaneously. He argues that these clashes actually give viewers more choices, boosting footfall in theaters.
However, for film producers, clashes are generally bad news. As per film business analyst Girish Johar, multiplexes may handle the clashes well, but the films themselves often have a tough time at the box office, with only one or two emerging as winners. The audience ultimately decides which film will dominate, and theater owners adjust the number of shows based on demand.
Bollywood Needs to Rethink Release Strategies
The frequent clashes in Bollywood this year reflect a need for better release strategies. While festivals are an attractive time to release films due to increased cinema attendance, crowding multiple big-budget films onto the same dates can backfire, as witnessed during Independence Day and now likely on Diwali.
Meanwhile, South cinema’s approach demonstrates the benefits of coordinated release dates, which allow each film to maximize its potential without being overshadowed by others. Going forward, Bollywood could learn from the South Indian industry’s approach and reconsider its strategy to reduce film clashes for the benefit of both producers and audiences.
Upcoming Big Releases
- South Cinema Release Dates:
- Devara – September 27
- Vettaiyan – October 10
- Kangua – November 15
- Pushpa 2 – December 6
- Game Changer – December 20
- Bollywood Diwali Clash:
- Singham Again
- Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3
