MUMBAI: While the last couple of weeks saw some small budget Hindi films making their way on to the big screen, this Friday there were no new Hindi film that released in multiplexes or single screens. At a time when producers and distributors are at loggerheads with multiplexes over revenue sharing terms, film production studios like Yash Raj Films, Studio 18 and UTV Motion Pictures are re-releasing their hit films in single screen theatres.
Studio 18 has released Ghajini with approximately 20 prints in Bombay single screens. The company may also release its other movies Golmaal Returns and Singh Is Kinng in single screens. In Mumbai, Ghajini is playing in single screens such as Maratha Mandir, Apsara, Chitra, Premiere Gold, Gaitey, Ashish, Madhuban, Shreyas, Kasturba, Chandan and Paradise.
Meanwhile Yash Raj Films has released Dhoom:2 in two Mumbai single screen theatres today. Additionally, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, which is currently playing at two single screen theatres in Mumbai, will be released in nine more single screens like New Excelsior, Maxus, Jaya etc from 1 May onwards.
On the other hand, UTV Motion Pictures is also looking at releasing at least five of its previously released films in theatres. Some of UTV’s films that may be screened are: Jodhaa Akbar, Race, A Wednesday, Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!, Fashion, Goal, Aamir, Kismat Konnection and Welcome to Sajjanpur. Meanwhile, Anurag Kashyap’s Dev D, which released in February this year is already playing in some single screens.
In the coming weeks, multiplexes will have to bank on films like 8×10 Tasveer, Mee Shivaji Rao Bhoslay Boltoy and some Hollywood films. The only new English film to hit multiplexes today was the Meg Ryan starrer My Mom’s New Boyfriend. While the response to the re-released movies in single screens remains to be seen, the fact of the matter is that whatever monies these movies earn will only be a bonus as they’ve already had their fair share of run at the box office.
