‘Pathaan’s release meant all the Bengali films like ‘Kaberi Antardhaan’, ‘Dilkhush’, ‘Doctor Bakshi’ and even Dev-Mithun Chakraborty’s superhit ‘Projapoti’ needed to be pulled down or shows counts cut short drastically. Now, the SRK-starrer action entertainer’s roaring form at the box office means the situation won’t improve even in February as well. Among the three Bengali films that hit the big screens prior to ‘Pathaan’s release two failed to attract the audience. However, the other film, starring Prosenjit Chatterjee in the lead, managed to get a decent footfall but without enough number of show counts its business got affected seriously. Meanwhile, ‘Pathaan’s box office rampage is expected continue in February as well.
When we reached out to a number of cinema halls they have confirmed ‘Pathaan’ is still enjoying houseful shows. For instance, a popular theatre in Behala had nine shows for the SRK film and one show for ‘Projapoti’ last week and they are saying it might well continue this week as well.
Tollywood stakeholders raising their voice for Bengali films were irked to see how the distributors of ‘Pathaan’ have put a clause for single screens. The distribution house made it clear that in order to screen ‘Pathaan’ the single screens have to give all the shows to SRK’s film and that’s what made Bengali filmmakers furious.
Meanwhile, the owner of a prestigious theatre in South Kolkata has admitted that not only another one week but they want to continue with ‘Pathaan’s shows for the next three weeks, “On February 17, a kartik Aaryan film is also releasing. So we have already started planning about how to give shows to this new film as well.”
It’s no doubt an alarming situation for the box office business of Bengali films. Within the first 10 days of February, as many as four films are releasing in Tollywood. A Kolkata hall owner who wants to remain anonymous has also admitted that it’s indeed a difficult time for Tollywood. “I seriously doubt how many shows these four Bengali films will get because nobody will take the risk of business getting damaged, especially when we have such a strong film like Pathaan in hand and the exceptionally well box office numbers it’s giving us.”
As a whole the debate that started after ‘Pathaan’s release will continue in February as well and the upcoming Bengali releases will continue to suffer at the box office.
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