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Even though many directors tout the success of movies released during the World Cup as examples of how cricket does not affect the box office, there are others wary of releasing their films during the cricket season

Even though many directors tout the success of movies released during the World Cup as examples of how cricket does not affect the box office, there are others wary of releasing their films during the cricket season

Blame it on a cricket-obsessed nation. But Vishal Bhardwaj's 7 Khoon Maaf, which opened at the start of the World Cup season, got the lowest opening ever for a Vishal Bhardwaj film.

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Madhavan and Kangana Ranaut in Tanu Weds Manu

It went from bad to worse as the week progressed. Explains trade analyst Taran Adarsh, "The World Cup is a very big threat to new releases. The results were evident a day after 7 Khoon Maaf was released.

The film bore the brunt of the cricket fever. Forthcoming matches will only make a further dent, which explains why most filmmakers are avoiding releasing films in March."

Suffer
However Siddharth Roy Kapoor of UTV maintains that the 7 Khoon Maaf's collections did not suffer due to the World Cup. "I don't really think people stop watching movies during the World Cup as long as a film has good content and has been promoted well."

But does all the promotion goad people to abandon their cozy couches at home to brave expensive multiplexes? That's the question. Most filmmakers have been running scared of the World Cup trying frantically to rush-release their products before cricket fever gripped the nation, or otherwise waiting till the fever subsides.

Suicidal
Bheja Fry director Sagar Ballary says the release of his new film Kaccha Limboo was all about wrong timing and so it failed. "We should have waited until summer. Releasing it at the start of the World Cup and that too with a big film (7 Khoon Maaf) was suicidal." Would any producer think he would have an audience for Kaccha Limbo in theatres when they have world-class cricket at the tips of theiru00a0 remote control punching fingers at home?

Biggies
It is only the biggies that can risk the high-pitch competition from all the hype engulfing cricket at this time. But even the big ones have shrunk away in fear this time around. Why take on the mammoth publicity industry and blitz that engulfs the nation when the cricket World Cup comes around?

One of the many reasons why Imtiaz Ali's Rockstar featuring Ranbir Kapoor in the title role was pushed forward, was because of the ongoing World Cup. It was scheduled as the first major post-Cup release. Now, of course that honour will go to Anees Bazmi's big fat Akshay Kumar romantic comedy Thank You.

Quake
Yet not everybody has the World Cup quakes. There are brave hearts of the box office. On April 1 (no fooling) just one day before the World Cup final and when fever would be at its peak, producer Vashu Bhagnani is all set to release his movie called, F.A.L.T.U. Is this professional suicide? Or, is it sound sense? Says Bhagnani, "My movie, Biwi No.1 had worked at the height of the World Cup in 1999.
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Why would F.A.LT.U. not work? My film is high on content. My son Jackky is cast with three other bright newcomers. And yes, we are braving the World Cup. But so is Abhinay Deo's Game. We are both releasing a day before the World Cup final. Like I said, Biwi No 1 was a super hit during the World Cup. I feel cricket and cinema are like siblings. Bhai-bahen ka rishta hai cricket aur cinema ke beech (Cricket and cinema have a brother-sister relationship)."

Different
Yet, Vashu may be overlooking the fact that a David Dhawan-Salman Khan starrer in 1999 during the World Cup is a different kettle of fish from a Jackky Bhagnani-Riteish Deshmukh starrer in 2011 during the World Cup.u00a0
Most filmmakers have moved their films forward to a date that does not clash with the World Cup matches.
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Tigmanshu Dhulia who is set to release his long-delayed Shagird on March 11, feels movies may be affected only on days when India is playing. Says Dhulia, "Films will suffer only when India is playing and then the semi-final phase onwards, which would be towards the end of March. I don't think we need to be apprehensive of the number of viewers on the other match days."

Rivals
Anand Rai who releases his shaadi shindigs in Tanu Weds Manu this Friday (Friday, February 25) feels cricket and cinema don't have to look at each other's domains as rivals. "Today, entertainment is a buffet and both cricket and cinemau00a0 are on the menu.

The junta would go for whatever catches their fancy. Or, they can go for both. Who says cricket and cinema are mutually exclusive? As long as I offer value for money, Tanu Weds Manu will be as appealing to the average Indian as the next World Cup match."

This is an optimistic view of the trend amongst potential moviegoers to avoid stepping out of their homes during cricket matches. As one astute trade pundit points out, "Shagird, F.A.L.T.U and Tanu Weds Manu are those shots in the dark that could hit home any time, or not at all.

The performance of such medium-budgeted, no-star cast films does not depend on timing. The really big film won't risk rubbing shoulders with the World Cup. Anees Bazmi's two biggies, Thank You and Ready are both scheduled for after the World Cup."

Havoc
Suneel Darshan who directed successful entertainers like Jaanwar, Ek Rishta and Andaaz and is now looking to launch his son Shiv, adds, "The business of cinema has also become like a one-day international match. The majority of the theatrical takings are realised in the first weekend. So, any alternative entertainment within the same time slot and free of charge at that, backed by such euphoric promotional campaigns and often adding film stars to draw eyeballs, is playing havoc with box office receipts."

Excellence
Producer and movie baron, Pritish Nandy, has the last word on the subject. "Nothing is a threat to good, interesting, popular cinema and certainly not the World Cup. Nothing competes with excellence in a market as huge and diverse as India. It is only our paranoia that makes us think otherwise. And the fear that our movies may not be interesting enough to stand up to cricket excitement."

Aficionado
Hansal Mehta, cricket aficionado and filmmaker has an ideal solution to the quandary of the viewer, cricket or movies, caused by clashing cricket matches and cinema. Mehta says, "What would I choose between a good movie and an exciting match? I'd go watch the film and record the match." Elementary, my dear Watson ufffd er watcher.

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