16 February,2021 07:02 AM IST | Mumbai | Uma Ramasubramanian
Salman Khan in Radhe; (right) Satyameva Jayate 2 will release on May 12
Every summer, Bollywood takes a backseat during the Indian Premier League (IPL) season as the cricket fever takes over the country. But in 2021, the scene seems to have dramatically changed. Despite speculation that the IPL 2021 will kick off on April 11, filmmakers have lined up a string of big-ticket movies for the summer. Salman Khan's Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai and John Abraham's Satyameva Jayate 2 have sealed their date with the audience in the second week of May while Akshay Kumar's Sooryavanshi is expected to hit screens on April 2.
Trade analyst Akshaye Rathi reasons that after months of theatre shutdown, viewers are expected to flock to cinemas for their dose of entertainment. "This time around, cricket isn't a concern because sports are viewed in the intimacy of homes. Having spent a year confined to their homes, people are now craving community viewing. With the vaccination drive going strong, the fear of infection will have reduced considerably post April," he says.
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Sources indicate that Ranveer Singh's sports drama 83 will hit the marquee only post June, well after the IPL has concluded. Shibasish Sarkar, CEO, Reliance Entertainment group, refuses to confirm the details, but asserts the cricket league is not a key factor while determining release dates this year. "When it comes to IPL, only the days of semi-final and final matches are crucial. For us, it is not a parameter. We are [torn between] two weekends - Holi or Good Friday [April 2], and will announce the date as soon as the commercials are closed. People will head out to watch films despite the huge fan following of cricket."
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh notes that soon after the Centre allowed theatres to function at full occupancy from February 1, many filmmakers blocked dates for their offerings - if Rajkummar Rao and Janhvi Kapoor starrer Roohi is slated for March 11, Rana Daggubati's Haathi Mere Saathi will lure the audience on March 26. "When cinema can survive the pandemic, it can survive anything. It doesn't matter what the competition is; if the film's content is good, it will enjoy a strong run
in theatres."
