2023 saw Film Industry full recovering to pre covid levels at Theatrical Business mainly Hindi Film Industry was resilience with Shah Rukh Khan , Deol Family [ Dharmendra , Sunny Deol & Bobby Deol ] back to form with their films performing well at box office.

And all the star driven films this year had minimum marketing / promotions.

Shah Rukh Khan did promotions with fans & audience on his social media accounts which able to transform conversions happening at Box Office for all the 3 films he starred in lead also did special appearance in YRF’s “Tiger 3”

“RRR” Telugu film & The Elephant Whisperers [Documentary] winning academy [Oscars] awards added new attention & Spot light of Indian Film Industry at Global level.

Reliance Limited own “Jio Studios” announced over 100 slate of films across all mediums like Theatrical, OTT Originals.

Key stake holders Producers, Distributors & Exhibitors include National Chain Multiplexes decision to keep average ticket price affordable for most of the medium & low budget films helped in bringing back audience & foot falls increase at Theaters. This was again eye opener & proved on National Cinema Day celebrated on October 13^th where ticket prices at National Multiplexes were priced INR 99 across the county was huge success with huge footfall & house full boards for even for some already 2 to 3 months old film like Oppenheimer, Barbie etc.

PVR –INOX introduced prepaid Passport for Rs 699 where audiences can watch 10 films in the month with conditions applicable in selected North Indian parts to encourage more foot falls which now will be extended to South India in 2024.

Just running successful blockbuster primary Kannada film “Kateera” & earlier Hindi film “Animal” had extra shows running full 24 hours / day like shows at 12.00 AM ,1.00 AM & 5.00 AM at some screens in Karnataka & Mumbai & others parts respectively at initial weekends encouraging to Exhibition Industry where it may think of 24/ 7 in future again.

It may be noted same idea was suppose to happen in March 2020 with Hindi Film “Sooryavanshi” but pandemic halted.

State Elections, World Cup Cricket , Climate Change Crisis etc are some of the factors affected Box Office Performance this year.

Union Ministry of Information & Broadcasting amendment of Cinematographic act of 1952 to deal & curb with piracy brought cheers to the Film Industry which average estimated loss in piracy was tune of 20 thousand crores annually.

All the major blockbusters of the year across all the languages were Super Star Driven & more than the content it was their charisma , Swag appealed to fans & audience &  had some content driven sleeper hits like The Kerala Story ,Baby , Dare Devil Musthafa , Hostel Hudugaru Bekagidre , Sapta Sagaradaache Ello Side A & B , Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, Furkey3 ,Satyanarayan Prem katha ,12^th Fail etc

OTT Players since from last year are now cautious acquiring movies only after its performance at Box Office Theatrical performance exception to some Star Driven or Big Production Houses where pre sales still exists & regard green lit of OTT Originals content mostly renewing already successful one to next seasons or if any Stars appearing or backed by Big Production Houses.

As of now stake holders accepted Theaters & OTT co exits going forward.

National Chain Multiplexes allowing screening of films which has OTT deal after 8 weeks of Theatrical in North India parts are affecting many South Indian originals & Dubbed where in general it has 4 weeks Theatrical OTT practice

Stars like Kareena Kapoor Khan ,Sonakshi Sinha & Naga Chaitanya made their OTT Originals debut in 2023.

Union Ministry of Information & Broadcasting [ Govt Of India ] introduced OTT awards from this year at their flagship International Film Festival of India [ IFFI ] & many OTT players partnered & associating  with ministry for many their programs & events.

Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos met all Big Super Stars in Telugu Film Industry  in Hyderabad giving speculations that they may go aggressively there & other parts of South India.

Zee , Jio Cinemas , Sun Network etc having all of umbrella under them like Production , Distribution ,Satellite & OTT.

Actors like Manoj Bajapayee , Pankaj Tripathi & new sensation Wamiqa gabbi & makers like Raj & DK are Super Stars in OTT Mediums.

Films like “Salaar” Cease Fire -1 & “Animal” would earned more footfalls & Box office revenue if it would have been not “A” certificate rated.

English films “Barbie” & Oppenheimer also did good business at Theatrical in India.

…..

Ajay KR