Reel battle heats up as 13 Bengali films vie for silver screen space
Kolkata: With as many as 13 Bengali movies running now, the June fight for getting theatres has reached pre-pandemic frenzy. Just like pre-pandemic times, makers are taking their screen battles to social media and asking why their films are not getting good show timings despite good word-of-mouth publicity.
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The battle for screens has reached a feverish pitch this week with many openly expressing their disappointment at not getting their desired shows or screens. These 13 Bengali films competing for screens are 'The Eken: Benaras e Bibhishika', 'Grihapravesh', 'Sonar Kellay Jawker Dhan', 'Pokkhirajer Dim', 'Raas', 'Onko Ki Kothin', 'Batsorik', 'Aamar Boss', 'Aapish', 'Chabiwala: The Keysmith', 'Chandrabindoo', 'Aari' and 'Bhalobasa.Com'.
Giving them competition in Hindi are 'Housefull 5', 'Raid 2', 'Bhool Chuk Maaf' and 'How to Train Your Dragon' and 'From the World of John Wick: Ballerina', Celine Song's 'Materialists', 'Final Destination Bloodlines', 'Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning' and 'The Ritual' in English. The much-talked-about 'Thug Life' starring Kamal Haasan has also got a handful of shows too. Vying for attention is also Hemant Tiwari's 'Krishna Arjun'.
Described by the makers as the world's first double role single shot film, this film is being promoted inside metro trains by leaflet distribution as a film which didn't get screen space and can be watched on YouTube.
Many agree that the number of Bengali releases can be seen as a sign of the industry's good health. "I am a positive person and the fact that so many Bengali films are playing out in various theatres is a sign of films getting released finally.
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I feel sad that despite our film receiving such a warm response from the audience at KIFF, we did not get good shows," said actor Sudipta Chakraborty, whose 'Aapish' managed only 19 shows after release on June 13.
Shows and screen numbers are not stretchable and all makers believe their contents deserve show. "I am not a star who is consulted about release dates. But if I were, I would have chosen a week when there was less competition," Chakraborty said.
Actor Vikram Chatterjee, who was disappointed that his 'Raas' did not get a show at Nandan, said some films are doing good business but that hasn't yet resulted in new projects being sanctioned. "Neither is the number of films on floor at this time many, nor is the number of films that have been shot in first six months this year. But positive box office numbers and word-of-mouth publicity for multiple films in recent past give a ray of hope," Chatterjee said.
The battle next week is tougher with one new Bengali release — 'Rabindra Kabya Rahasya' — along with Aamir Khan-starrer 'Sitaare Zameen Par', Dhanush-Nagarjuna-starrer 'Kubera' and Danny Boyle's '28 Years Later'.
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