Bengaluru: Bonanza for movie buffs as 42 new films release this weekend

It’s a bonanza for movie buffs this weekend with a record number of films releasing in Bengaluru. If you’re a movie buff, this weekend at the movies is like an unlimited buffet. A record 42 new films are releasing in city theatres this weekend, the highest ever in a single week. These films are in 10 languages from
Kannada to Punjabi.

As usual, the trouble is for Kannada films which require more screens than films of other languages. Sudheendra Venkatesh, the publicist for eight of the films releasing this week says, “For Kannada films, this is the home market. They need to release in the maximum number of screens. For other languages, this is a bonus market. Be it single screens or multiplexes, the local films are fighting to get a decent number of shows due to this maximum rush.”

Nine Kannada films, eight Telugu, six films each in Bengali and Hindi, four Malayalam, three each in Tamil and English, two each in Gujarati and Marathi and one Punjabi film are competing for audience attention this weekend. Bhojpuri films too have a regular release in some single screens which are patronised by migrants from Bihar. If the Bhojpuri films releasing this week are added, the number of films releasing will add up to more than 42. In recent weeks there were Japanese and Assamese films as well in Bengaluru’s film screens. There aren’t any this week though.

There are around 100 single screens and over a 100 multiplex screens in Bengaluru. Kannada films release in both kinds of screens. Telugu and Tamil films too release in both single screens and multiplexes. Hindi and Malayalam films have a very limited single screen presence while the rest of the films release exclusively in multiplexes.

Exhibitor and former president of Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) KV Chandrashekar said, “Releasing films in theatres is no longer aimed at success or making money at the box office. For most it is just a
formality. The aim to make some money out of streaming platforms. Films are arriving on streaming platforms a week or two after their theatrical release.” Over 170 Kannada films have released so far this year.

However popular distributor Jayanna says it is only a matter of time before there is a collapse in this market. “This cannot go on forever. At one time there was a spate of films made in the hope of selling television broadcast rights. Now it is online streaming platforms. Nothing lasts. The bubble has to burst. Even now, not everyone is able to sell their film online. But new producers continue to bet on it,” he said. Chandrashekar blames it on the free market. “Show me one new producer in the last five years who has made a second film. Post 2011, when it became clear that KFCC or any other body is not authorised to regulate the release of films, it became free for all.

Last year the Kannada industry made the highest number of films in India. The same trend is seen this year. Selfregulation does not work. Only failure will prevent future misadventure,” he said.

The 42 Films