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Not the mainstream, but the unconventional is what worked in the first half of the year. With around 60 movies released, ones that stroked success at the box office can be counted on the finger tips. With films like Baby, Badlapur, Gabbar Is Back, Piku, Tanu Weds Manu Returns and ABCD2 turning out to be surprising hits at the box office; the highly anticipated films like Shamitabh, Bombay Velvet, Hamari Adhuri Kahani, Mr. X and Roy were the major disappointments.
As the second half of the year kick starts, with a huge number of exciting and intriguing films lined up; here we have the trade experts giving out their prediction. Will the second half cover-up for the not so alluring first half? Which films will contribute humongous numbers at the box office?
Rajesh Thadani (Exhibitor and Distributor)
First half is average I would say. The second half will obviously be better because we have Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo and Dilwale and these films will contribute humongous at the Box Office. Yes, there are chances that this year may be bigger and better than the last year, but we have to be prepared. To the whole, second half would be better and first half could have been better.
Akshaye Rathi (Exhibitor)
The first half of the year has been depressing, barring a few films like Baby, Gabbar Is Back, Badlapur, ABCD2 and Dil Dhadakne Do to some extent managed to strike gold at the box office. And then because of IPL and whole of other factors which made the first half a damp squib. The second half of the year looks phenomenal with movies that are lined up which look sure shot blockbusters which may do a bare minimum of 200 Cr essentially at the box office each. Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo and Dilwale are three films that in my opinion have the potential to become the biggest grossing films in India. Particularly Prem Ratan Dhan Payo and Dilwale both these films have the potential to go beyond PK; whether they do it or not are another story, but I certainly think these two films have the potential to do that. The second half has an exciting line up; there is a huge platter of films like Singh Is Bling, Rocky, Tamasha, Bajirao Mastani, Hera Phera 3 and many others, every week you have something to look forward to. I am pretty sure second half of the year will make up for the first half. We had phenomenal films across the second half of the last year, a phenomenal dose of entertainment, but this year looks even bigger; Expect huge numbers to kick in.
Ashok Ahuja (Consultant sales distribution & IPR management. Ishka films & Mangalmurti films)
First quarter of the first half was very dismal, second quarter got the smiles back and made up for the first quarter. The second half list looks very rosy from the first month itself and I am sure the industry will rake in huge numbers. My personal choice is “Prem Ratan Dhan Payo” should record huge numbers at the box office.
Kirtan Shetty (Unit head, Cinepolis, Mangalore)
First half was not that good as there were no big releases; the second half may do good but not as last year. I think, Bajrangi Bhaijaan may do well and contribute well to box office.
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