ITV

Category: Movies

  • Total value of the UK screen industry rose to £11 bn in 2022

    Mumbai: The value of the UK home entertainment category rose to £4.43 billion in 2022. This is inclusive of all SVoD, digital and disc sales, and rental (PEST, EST, PVoD, VoD, DVD, Blu-Ray, 4K UHD, BoxSet. This is up three per cent year-on-year (YoY), demonstrating choice and scale in a dominant UK entertainment category.

    The figures were released by the British Association for Screen Entertainment (base) and the Official Charts Company (OCC).

    Other Findings:

    •     The total value of the UK screen industry rose to £11 billion including home entertainment, cinema and payTV, showing 12 per cent yoy growth.
    •     Streaming video on demand (SVoD) is now embedded in the UK home entertainment landscape: UK consumers had nearly 50 million subscriptions in 2022, in a sector worth £3.8 billion, showing 17.6 per cent growth yoy.
    •     Free ad supported streaming TV (fast) continues its growth surge: the UK fast market is expected to be the second biggest in the world with a value of $500 million by 2027.
    •     Top Gun Maverick was the biggest home entertainment title delivering 1.566 million sales across all transactional formats (video on demand (VOD), digital electronic sell through (EST), Blu-ray and DVD) and Top Gun (1986) was the biggest title on VoD.
    •     Spider-man: No Way Home swung into a close second, delivering 365 million sales in 2022 across all transactional formats.
    •     TV converts across formats, where HBO House Of The Dragon: Season One led a TV disc chart dominated by franchises.
    •     51 titles were released on premium electronic sell through (PEST) and premium video on demand (PVoD) in 2022, a 6.3 per cent rise yoy, where the average window was 35 days out from theatrical release.
    •     Electronic sell through (EST) is the biggest transactional format with a value of £231 million, holding its value yoy, as 13 titles sell 100k+ units.
    •     Transactional video on demand (TVoD) grows in value to £132 million, up 6.1 per cent yoy.
    •     Warner Bros. Discovery was the leading transactional distributor across physical (34 per cent market share) and digital (17.8 per cent share).
    •     Physical delivered £209 million to the sector in 2022 (DVD, Blu-ray, 4K UHD, Boxset), as 13 titles sell over 100k units.
    •     Blu-ray and Blu-ray 4K UHD have grown to 40 per cent of the physical market, with 4K UHD demonstrating 14.7 per cent YoY growth.

    Top Gun Maverick’s release on SVod channel Paramount+ a few days before Christmas 2022 demonstrated a release strategy for this top-flight content that drove consumer engagement across multiple verticals.

    The original Top Gun (1986) was the most rented title in 2022, with 488k VoD transactions, giving audiences a much-loved nostalgia boost as the sequel flew to £83.6 million at the UK box office, ultimately claiming the number one UK box office spot of 2022.

    Spider-man: No Way Home was the second biggest overall title in the UK following its premiere in 2021, with a total UK box office performance of £97 million, followed by 1.365 million sales across transactional formats, where more consumers once again opted for ownership with 9,15,000 sales across DVD, Blu-ray, Boxset and EST, delivering a total value of £12.4 million to the sector, coupled with over 450k rental transactions (VoD).

    Base chair, Sony Pictures Entertainment VP commercial Robert Marsh said, “Spider-Man: No Way Home was a critical and commercial success for the UK category and a perfect example of an entertainment landscape that puts consumer choice first. Spider-Man continues to be a huge fan favourite, demonstrated by the phenomenal box office number it achieved across the end of 2021 and the beginning of 2022, and is now one of the top five biggest UK box office titles ever.”

    “That platform of success helped deliver an equally impressive performance across the breadth of the UK home entertainment category. It was the fastest title ever to sell 500k units on EST in the UK, and the second biggest title of 2022 across all formats combined, featuring in the top five for every individual format chart, including an incredibly strong complimentary performance on both VoD and Blu-Ray. Spider-Man: No Way Home became available to Sky Cinema and Now subscribers in July of 2022 offering consumers even more choice as to how to access the film, and appetite for transactional formats has continued, showing the enduring appeal of this franchise. It also spotlights the myriad ways that audiences can find their favourite films and shows across the first year of release,” he added.

    Svod: UK consumers had nearly 50 million subscriptions in 2022, a 6.4 per cent growth yoy, following the 28 per cent yoy growth in 2021, and the 44 per cent surge of 2020. That averages at 2.7 subscriptions per household, compared to 2.3 services per household in 2021.

    The SVod channel of home entertainment is now worth £3.8 billion in subscriptions in the UK, up 17.6 per cent yoy. An audience base of 16.24 million UK households use at least one online video service, which is 56 per cent of homes, meaning that over 40 per cent of homes do not have SVoD. However, one in twenty households in the UK took out a new online video subscription in the last three months of 2022.

    In 2022 Netflix introduced new ad-tiered options to appeal to more consumers, with Disney+ announcing their intention to do the same in the future, creating dual and complimentary SVod/AVod models, while major new services like Paramount+ launched also in the UK. The growth of advertising across digital media continues to increase in the UK, where three out of every four advertising pounds is spent on online formats. The UK ad market grew to £30 billion in 2021, £8 billion more than predicted, due to the pandemic and a shift to online advertising, and the value of the UK advertising market in 2022 was predicted to be £35 billion, reflecting the huge revenue opportunities for the new wave of Fast and AVod channels.

    Fast: Fast channels from providers including Pluto TV, Roku, Peacock, Freevee and TV Player continued their growth in 2022. The UK is the second largest fast market in the world, runner up only to the US which currently accounts for 90 per cent approx. of the global fast channel market, valued at just under $4 billion in 2022.

    Current forecasts place the value of the UK fast market at $500 million by 2027. The success and growth of fast channels allows distributors to maximise and reinvigorate their catalogue sales while the breadth of channels and content appeals to multiple different sections of the market. The largest average generational users of fast in the UK in 2022 were millennials with a 33 per cent share. However, the largest individual generational share was on Pluto TV, where 44 per cent of users are boomers/seniors.

    Base CEO Liz Bales said, “UK home entertainment is now a model of complimentary channels and their successful co-evolution benefits savvy audiences. The top transactional titles are shown to perform across all platforms – 13 titles in 2022 sold over 100k units on both EST and disc. After a period of phenomenal growth in the last few years subscription rates are clearly slowing, but the introduction of ad-tiers to traditionally SVoD services like Disney+ and Netflix demonstrates the agility of our category to provide consumers with more affordable options amid the ongoing cost-of-living challenges. It also creates a significant new advertising revenue stream outside of traditional subscription and transactional revenues for the platforms, bolstering total industry revenue, and allowing continued investment in future content, while driving the potential for further subscription growth by giving consumers more options.”

    She added, “That said, a big box office number is still the greatest predictor of transactional home entertainment success, so it was fantastic to see Spider-Man: No Way Home and Top Gun Maverick convert their outstanding cinema performance into the biggest disc, digital and VoD performances of the year, and to see the original Top Gun (1986) movie have such a huge result on rental, proving once again that audiences love nostalgia, and that digital transactional channels, as well as the growing number of fast channels, are the perfect platforms to optimise consumer thirst for classic catalogue titles.”

    The continuing growth of the home entertainment industry in the UK saw 51 titles released on premium video on demand (PVoD) and/or premium EST (PEST) in 2022, showing momentum for this recently introduced transactional model which premiered in April 2020 in response to the global pandemic. 2022 saw a 6.3 per cent rise on the number of PVoD and PEST titles released YoY, despite a broad reopening of the cinema estate in 2022. The PVoD and PEST model of release is projected to have added an additional seven per cent to digital transactional consumer spend in 2022.

    The average release window from theatrical to PVoD and PEST is now 35 days from theatrical release. EST follows at 40 days post theatrical release, and Disc follows that, at 59 days. SVoD follows further down the window, as David Sidebottom, VP Insights at Fancensus, says, “Since the pandemic, the ‘1st Pay’ window i.e., the length of time between theatrical release and when a movie is released for the first time on a subscription service has fragmented significantly, varying across titles, studio, and platform. Typically for a major studio title this window now ranges from 6-9 months in the UK.”

    EST: Electronic sell through (EST), often referred to by consumers as download and keep, remains the biggest transactional format, with a small rise of 1.1 per cent yoy, and a value of £231 million. However, there were 16.8 million EST transactions in the UK in 2022, a drop of five per cent on the 17.7 million in 2021. Video on demand (VoD), often thought of as ‘rental’ by consumers, continues to perform an important role for the market as an entry point for digital consumption. Futuresource Consulting states that there were 33.6 million VoD transactions in 2022. The market is now worth £132 million, a 6.1 per cent growth yoy.

    Warner Bros. Discovery was the leading transactional distributor for the second year running, across both physical (34 per cent value market share) and digital (17.8 per cent value market share). With the strong performance and extended digital window of Top Gun: Maverick, Paramount home entertainment performed well on digital to secure a 16.6 per cent EST market share. The power of the collective gave elevation sales a strong market share with 17 per cent of the physical market, with its disc distribution of Paramount Home Entertainment, Lionsgate, and Studiocanal among others.

    Futuresource Consulting principal analyst, head of entertainment James Duvall said, “A return to a full year of new release content in 2022 has helped ensure the digital transactional market moves back into growth, even though UK consumers are struggling against rising inflation and increased energy costs. The latest blockbuster cinematic content, award winning originals and an ever-growing array of ways to watch movies and TV means that consumers have a rich vein of content available at their fingertips, evident by the YoY growth in spend across box office, pay-TV and SVoD.”

  • Hindi cinema must ensure its reach in dubbed market by appealing to larger audiences with relevant stories: Shibashish Sarkar

    Hindi cinema must ensure its reach in dubbed market by appealing to larger audiences with relevant stories: Shibashish Sarkar

    Mumbai: A panel discussion was held on the “Future of Cinema Distribution in India and Worldwide” on day three of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Film Festival in Mumbai. The session saw a discussion on various aspects of film distribution, including the impact of OTT platforms and the change in viewing habits brought by the pandemic.

    The panellists were SCO Film Festival jury member from China Ning Ying, 91 Film Studios founder, CEO Naveen Chandra, film producer Sunir kheterpal and Producers Guild of India president Shibashish Sarkar.

    Sarkar mentioned how Hindi cinema must ensure its reach in the dubbed market by appealing to larger audiences with relevant stories. He was also optimistic about OTT platforms and recognised their contribution to the enrichment of quality content. He also discussed how consumer expenditure has been impacted by inflation and recession globally. He describes how this has led to fewer people going to movie theatres after the pandemic. Naveen Chandra adds that a new wave of digitisation has created “individual critics” within every household. Reviews are posted within seconds, and this creates its own set of challenges for the movie. He also narrated how regionalisation of global cinema has impacted audience tastes and cited the example of how a Korean movie won the best movie at the 2022 Oscars.

    Kheterpal chimed in by stating that there are no big or small movies, but only good and bad cinema. He adds that the essence of cinema is to make a good film. Ning Ying spoke of a new challenge posed by big stars to global cinema. “Big stars create predictable gambling for the producers. However, they suffer when a film suffers badly at the box office,” she says. Similarly, she states that post pandemic China has been looking inwards when it comes to audiences since the huge population of China creates a strong market for domestic cinema.

  • SCO film festival to commence with the world premiere of Priyadarshan’s ‘Appatha’

    SCO film festival to commence with the world premiere of Priyadarshan’s ‘Appatha’

    Mumbai: The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation festival will commence on Saturday with the world premiere of the Tamil film Appatha. The film is directed by Padma awardee filmmaker Priyadarshan while Jio Studios and Wide Angle Creations are co-producers.

    The film features actor Urvashi in the lead role and will be benchmarked as her 700th film and 51 years in the Indian film industry. Director Priyadarshan has reunited with veteran actress Urvashi after 28 years, post the film Midhunam in 1993.

    On Appatha opening at the festival, union minister of information and broadcasting Anurag Thakur said, “India’s goal of organising the festival is to showcase the diversity of films and various styles of film making from from the SCO region. We also aim to build cinematic partnerships, have exchange programmes, nurture young filmmaking talent and act as a bridge between the cultures of this unique region. We are delighted to commence the festival with the world premiere of Priyadarshan’s film Appatha. It is a touching story of love and our bond with our pets.”

    Sharing his delight at the film opening the festival, Appatha director Priyadarshan said, “We are honoured Appatha has been selected as the opening film on this prestigious occasion. I would like to thank my producers Jio Studios and Wide Angle Creations for bringing this simple and lovely story to me. It has been a pleasure collaborating on this film and wonderful to be working with a phenomenal talent like Urvashi on her milestone 700th film. Appatha is different from anything I have attempted earlier and I am looking forward to seeing how the audience reacts to it.”

  • Colors Bangla to present the world television premiere of ‘Hullor’

    Colors Bangla to present the world television premiere of ‘Hullor’

    Mumbai: Colors Bangla is all set to enthral cinephiles this festive season with the world television premiere of rib-tickling comedy drama Hullor. The movie featuring superstar Soham Chakraborty, Srabanti Chatterjee will premiere on 29 January at 2 p.m. and 9.30 p.m., respectively.

    Directed by Abhimanyu Mukherjee, the movie features some of the very popular stars of Tollywood including Srabanti Chatterjee, Soham Chakraborty, Om Sahani, Darshana Banik playing lead roles. The movie has an interesting plot which is about a grocery store in North Kolkata that stands in the way of developers who want to build a mall in that area.

    Soham is a ‘ghar jamai’ and is married to Srabanti. He dreams of being financially independent and earning the respect of his rich father-in-law. On the other hand, Om plays a young guy who is in love with Darshana Banik. Her dad owns the grocery store which is in deep debt and eyed by the realtors. The film follows the group of Soham, Srabanti, Om and Darsana as they seek to save the shop from being razed, leading to a series of hilarious events. The movie also stars Biswanath Basu, Santilal Mukherjee, Kanchan Mullick and Supriyo Dutta.

    Soham Chakraborty and Srabanti Chatterjee starrer Hullor will be aired on Colors Bangla Cinema subsequently on 12 February at 6 p.m. The show will be heavily promoted on air and on social media for better reach and engagement.

  • SCO Film Fest to be held in Mumbai from 27-31 Jan

    SCO Film Fest to be held in Mumbai from 27-31 Jan

    Mumbai: The ministry of information and broadcasting is organising the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Film Festival in Mumbai through the National Film Development Corp. (NFDC). The SCO Film Festival is being organised to mark India’s presidency.

    Briefing the media on the festival, additional secretary Neerja Sekhar said that the festival aims to build cinematic partnerships and act as a bridge between the cultures of various countries in the SCO. Through a collective cinematic experience, it will also foster synergies in the film fraternity of SCO members. She also added that the films being showcased in the SCO Film Festival, all brought by the SCO states, will allow spectators to experience different cultures and the films will be a window for people from the SCO countries to get to know each other better.

    According to Sekhar, the festival will feature films from the SCO countries in both competition and non-competition screenings. In addition to the film screenings, the festival will have master-classes, in-conversation sessions, country and state pavilions, photo and poster exhibitions, handicrafts stalls, and many more events.

    The festival will open with the world premiere of an Indian film. The opening ceremony will be held at the Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, NCPA, Mumbai.

    Film Festival screenings will take place at two locations in Mumbai, four auditoriums at the Film Division Complex at Pedder Road and 1 NFDC Theater at the Nehru Planetarium Building at Worli.

    The competition section is for SCO member states only and comprises various prestigious awards like best feature film, best actor (male), best actor (female), best director (feature film), and a special jury award.

    The non-competition section is for all SCO countries, viz., member states, observer states, and dialogue partner states, in the following categories:

    1. The SCO country focus films were chosen to represent each SCO country at the film festival. Thus, enabling exchange among the different countries and acting as a bridge between the cultures of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation members.

    2. Director focus films made by a well-known director of the SCO country, an acclaimed veteran who is well respected in the country for their craft and lineage of cinema, contributing to the heritage of the country.

    3. Children focus films that educate and entertain the young audience while being easy to understand. Thus, young children’s interests are developed and their minds are nurtured.

    4. Short films not exceeding 20 minutes in duration that are artistically and cinematically adept and capture the audience’s imagination by applying original ideas.

    5. Indian classics have been restored, and five films are being showcased.

    A total of 57 films from SCO countries will be showcased at the SCO Film Festival. In the competition section, 14 feature films are competing and will be screened, and the non-competition section will showcase 43 films.

    A total of 14 films have been nominated for the competition section.

    .Godavari, directed by Nikhil Mahajan, and The Last Film Show, directed by Pan Nalin, were both nominated from India’s member states.

    .The Russian films Mom, I’m Alive!, directed by A. Zairov, M. Mamyrbekov and Paralympian directed by Bairakimov Aldiyar, are nominated from the member state of Kazakhstan.

    .Kyrgyzstan member states have nominated the Kyrgyz films Akyrky Koch (The Road to Eden), directed by Bakyt Mukul, Dastan Zhapar Uulu, and Uy satylat (Home for Sale), directed by Taalaibek Kulmendeev.

    .The Italian and Chinese films B for Busy by Yihui Shao and Chinese film Home Coming directed by Xiaozhi Rao, are nominated from member states of China.

    .The Russian films Don’t Bury Me Without Ivan, directed by Liubov Borisova Sakha and Podelniki (The Riot), directed by Evgeny Grigorev, are nominated by the member states of Russia.

    . Uzbek member states have nominated the films Ael Kismati (The Fate of a Woman), directed by D. Masaidov and Meros (Legacy), directed by Hilol Nasimov.

    . The Tajik films Dov (Fortune), directed by Muhyiddin Muzaffar, and Okhirin Saydi Sayod (Hunter’s Final Prey),directed by Mahmadrabi Ismoilov, are nominated from the member state of Tajikistan.

    Indian films at SCO film festival –

    The most acclaimed Marathi film, Godavari, directed by Nikhil Mahajan and India’s official entry to the Oscars in the best foreign language category, Chhello Show, a Gujarati film also known as Last Film Show, will be screened in the competition section. Along with it, Shoojit Sircar’s Sardar Udham and SS Rajamouli’s period piece RRR are in the spotlight at SCO. Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Gangubai Kathiawadi in director focus, Mridul Toolsidas’s Toolsidas Junior in children focus, and the short film Jugalbandi by Chetan Bhakuni will be showcased. The festival will also feature five restored classics: Shatranj ke khiladi (1977, Hindi), Subarnrekha (1965, Bengali), Chandralekha (1948, Tamil), Iru Kodgul (1969, Tamil), and Chidambaram (1985, Malayalam).

    The official languages of the SCO, i.e., Russian and Chinese, will also be the official languages of the film festival. English will also be included as the functional language of the festival as it is being hosted in India. The films that will be shown must be dubbed or subtitled in English for the benefit of the jury and the local audience.

    Masterclasses and in-conversation sessions have been curated with filmmakers and actors of the SCO countries attending the festival, along with Indian film personalities. There will be sessions with the industry experts tracing the history of animation and also presenting the endless possibilities of ‘creating the shot’ with the help of animation & visual effects. Some sessions are also held on the changing landscape of film distributions and theatre language translations using emerging technologies.

    Filmmaker Rahul Rawail from India, film director Ning Ying from China, musician Dimash Kudaibergen from Kazakhstan, filmmaker and film critic Gulbara Tolomushova from Kyrgyzstan, film producer and journalist Ivan Kudryavtsev from Russia, film producer, actor, & author Mehmedsaid Shohiyon from Tajikistan and actor Matyakub Sadullayevich Matchanov from Uzbekistan will be the prominent jury for the SCO Film Festival 2023.

  • Zee Theatre stars share their nostalgic memories of Republic Day

    Zee Theatre stars share their nostalgic memories of Republic Day

    Mumbai: Flag hoisting on a misty, winter morning on the school grounds or huddling close to a television set to watch the Republic Day parade with loved ones are some of the most cherished memories we all recall from childhood.  Aahana Kumra who stars in Zee Theater’s  Sir Sir Sarla is no exception and says, “I remember waking up early in the morning to watch the Republic Day parade on Doordarshan and still cherish this family ritual. Flag hoisting too was a very integral part of my family as my mom has given 40 years to the police force and this is something we have always done. Another memory is watching her cry every time Ae mere Watan ke logo played on the radio or TV. The message inherent in this day reminds us that we are all Indians first and must put our country before anything else.”

    Sadiya Siddiqui who features in Zee Theatre’s literary anthology, Koi Baat Chale and reads Saadat Hasan Manto’s story  Hatak  says, ” I remember practising the march past for the  Republic Day parade in school as a a cadet. I would also give speeches about India’s ideals of unity in diversity. I felt very proud of the fact that India had so many languages, and religions but loved every citizen equally. We all celebrated each other’s festivals and I would like those days to come back. “Sadiya hopes, as a nation, we will honour our constitution,  and seek policies which help the less privileged, and the differently abled so that they can all live, commute, and work with dignity.  She adds, “And I definitely want more love, more tolerance for each other because life is short and only unity and peace can make this world a better place.”

    Actor Vivaan Shah who reads Munshi Premchand’s story Gulli Danda in Zee Theatre’s Koi Baat Chale has vivid memories of  Republic Day parades, the jubilation, and the stirring spirit of the occasion and says, “I remember being a part of many functions at school on this day and watching films like Gandhi and Mother India which would be aired by Doordarshan. Bhisham Sahni’s Tamas also left a deep impact on me, growing up. What I have imbibed from the syncretic culture of India is that there is a difference between patriotism and nationalism. Patriotism is the love for one’s own country, whereas nationalism is the hatred for someone else or their country.  Gandhiji taught us to practise love and peace and not hatred and hostility. And that would be my message too on this special day.”

    Celebrated actor and director Seema Pahwa who helms Zee Theatre’s  Koi Baat Chale recalls, “I still remember fondly, practising for the Republic Day parade and watching films like Gandhi,  Shaheed and  Purab  Aur Paschim  which evoked such deep patriotic feelings. On this day, I would just say that if we want to see change, we must herald it ourselves. Only by developing ourselves, can we contribute to the development of the nation.  If we start working on ourselves eventually the country will progress as much as we do.”

  • MBC renews deal with Warner Bros. Discovery

    MBC renews deal with Warner Bros. Discovery

    Mumbai: The Middle East Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Group has extended its partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). MBC Group will continue to deliver Warner Bros. theatrical titles till 2026. In addition, it will add new Cartoon Network content to its lineup.

    Movies will air on MBC2. Titles will include Tenet, Wonder Woman 1984, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, It Chapter Two, and Joker. The deal also includes franchises like Batman, Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts, and The Lord of the Rings.

    “We have had a strong relationship with Warner Bros. Discovery for two decades and this deal cements it for years to come. The deal allows MBC Group to show some of the biggest theatrical titles by Warner Bros. to our audiences across the Middle East and North Africa and expand our Cartoon Network offering across the region,” said MBC Group CEO Sam Barnett.

    WBD GM CEE, the Middle East and Turkey Jamie Cooke said, “MBC is a highly valued and longstanding partner for Warner Bros. Discovery in Mena. We are happy to have found new ways to deepen our longstanding relationship while reinforcing our commitment to free TV. This partnership with them allows us to offer our unparalleled collection of content and provide consumers with entertainment variety.”

  • PVR posts consolidated revenue of Rs 9,608 mn for Q3FY23

    PVR posts consolidated revenue of Rs 9,608 mn for Q3FY23

    Mumbai: PVR Ltd. reported unaudited consolidated financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended 31 December 2022.

    The consolidated revenue, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (Ebitda) and profit after tax were recorded at Rs 9,608 million, Rs 3,088 million, and Rs 159 million, respectively, as compared to Rs 7,097 million, Rs 2,605 million, and Rs 102 million for the corresponding quarter in FY2022.

    After adjusting for the impact of IND-AS 116 — leases, the company’s consolidated revenue, Ebitda, and PAT were Rs 9,535 million, Rs 1,411 million, and Rs 252 million, respectively, compared to Rs 6,423 million, Rs 662 million, and Rs 219 million for the same quarter in FY2022.

    There is growth of 16 per cent in the average ticket price (Rs 244) and a CAGR of five per cent over three years when compared to Q3 FY’20 (the pre-pandemic period).

    The company witnessed a growth of 33 per cent in average food and beverage spend per patron (Rs 133), or a 10 per cent CAGR over three years when compared to Q3 FY’20 (the pre-pandemic period).

    As reported, 21.8 million patrons visited PVR cinemas during the quarter.

    Nine-month period

    For the nine-month period ended 31 December 2022, consolidated revenue, Ebitda and PAT were Rs 26,661 million, Rs 8,413 million, and Rs 24 million, respectively, as compared to Rs 10,775 million, Rs 2,895 million, and Rs 3,830 million for the corresponding period in FY2022.

    After adjusting for the impact of IND-AS 116 – leases, consolidated revenue, Ebitda, and PAT of the company were Rs 26,556 million, Rs 3,619 million, and Rs 369 million, respectively, as compared to Rs 8,552 million, Rs 1,373 million, and Rs 3,234 million for the corresponding period in FY2022.

    There is growth of 18 per cent in the average ticket price (Rs 241)—a six per cent CAGR over three years when compared to FY’20 (the pre-pandemic period).

    The company witnessed growth of 32 per cent in average F&B spend per patron (Rs 132), a CAGR of 10 per cent over three years when compared to nine months of FY’20 (pre – pandemic period). During the nine-month period ending December 2022, 65 million people visited PVR cinemas.

    PVR has added 63 screens across 11 properties to date.

    Commenting on the results and performance, PVR Ltd. chairman cum managing director Ajay Bijli said, “With the verbal approval for the merger coming through from NCLT, we are tracking well within the projected timelines for the closure of the transaction. We intend to complete all the formalities within the current financial year.”

    “The performance of the quarter gone by demonstrates the swift recovery in the business as soon as good-quality content is made available. After a dismal Q2, it also marks a good recovery in box office collections. With the regional movies’ superlative performances continuing across India, it is only a matter of time before the performance of Bollywood movies catches up. We are looking for a significant uptick in box office collections for the next fiscal year and a strong recovery in Bollywood and Hollywood collections.

    The quarter saw a significant improvement over the previous quarter due to strong content performance. The same pattern was observed in the growth of key operational metrics such as admits, ATP, and SPH.

    The third quarter saw Hollywood’s resurgence with the highest grossing movie of the quarter, Avatar 2: The Way of Water,and was supported by movies like Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Black Adam.

    Regional cinema’s dominance continued in the third quarter, with blockbusters such as Ponniyin Selvan 1 and Love Today. The biggest regional release during the quarter was Kantara, which proved to be a sleeper hit.

    Drishyam 2 from Bollywood was the second-biggest movie of the quarter, helped by content such as Vikram Vedha and Bhediya.

    During the year, PVR has opened 63 screens across 11 cinemas to date and is on track to open a total of 100 to 110 new screens by the end of the current fiscal year. Adding 20 screens across three properties during the quarter, PVR now operates 181 cinemas with 903 screens across 78 cities.

    PVR-Inox merger

    On 12 January 2023, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Mumbai bench, has through its verbal order allowed the proposed scheme of amalgamation between PVR Ltd. & Inox Leisure.

    The company expects to complete all the legal formalities with respect to the proposed merger, including the issue of PVR shares to Inox shareholders, within the next 45 days of receipt of a certified true copy of the order passed by NCLT.

  • Paan Singh Tomar writer Sanjay Chouhan passes away at 62 

    Paan Singh Tomar writer Sanjay Chouhan passes away at 62 

    Mumbai: With deep sorrow The Screenwriters Association (SWA) has informed us of the demise of their beloved screenwriter and fellow member, Sanjay Chouhan on 12 January.  He was extremely talented and devoted to his craft, and his contribution to the field of screenwriting and Indian cinema is invaluable.

    Sanjay’s career was an impressive one and he wrote some of the most acclaimed feature films including Paan Singh Tomar, I am Kalam, Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara, and Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster. His work was incredibly influential, paving the way for many artists today.

    He joined SWA as an executive committee member in the year 2016. He led the way for many initiatives benefiting the members during his tenure and was part of the welfare committee from 2016-18. He was the convener of the fifth Indian screenwriters conference and served as the co-convener during the recently held sixth Indian screenwriters conference. He was also serving as the vice-president of SWA till his last time.

    An inspiring writer and a very warm person whose presence will be missed dearly by all of us in the community especially at the SWA office.

    SWA pays homage to the talented writer and an activist for writer’s rights.

    May he rest in peace and our prayers for his family during this time of sorrow.

  • UAE is the Next Go-To Destination For Bollywood Lovers in 2023

    UAE is the Next Go-To Destination For Bollywood Lovers in 2023

    Both Bollywood and the UAE are synonymous with glitz and glamour. There is no better place than the UAE that embodies the dazzling, flamboyant film industry, with desi undertones and unique attractions. With a strong Indian community around and a never ending appetite for flair, it’s little surprise that the Emirates is emerging as the top destination for Bollywood fans across the globe, here is why.

    Hotspot for Bollywood Stars

    The rich and the renowned love sharing their experiences visiting the UAE. With ultra-luxurious hotels and accommodations, towering skyscrapers between the clouds, colourful souks and markets, it is no secret that the UAE is a hotspot for Bollywood stars and is one of their favourite holiday destinations. Be it actors, singers or rappers, the city’s pomp has always drawn more stars into the country to pamper themselves and catch a break from their star-studded lives. While you are here in the UAE, you may stumble across celebrities vacationing in style and exploring the city.

    The King of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan himself refers to Dubai as his second home, often vacationing in his beachfront villa overlooking the picturesque Palm Jumeirah. B-town’s favourite Bhai Salman Khan also calls Dubai his favourite city in the world, joining the list of several A-listers, such as Shilpa Shetty, Abhishek and Aishwarya Bhachan, Anil Kapoor and many more owning homes in Dubai, preferring to call the UAE as home, away from home.

    Bollywood Parks Dubai

    Did you know that Dubai has its very own Bollywood-themed park? Bollywood Parks Dubai is a one-of-a-kind entertainment park comprising 6 vibrant zones inspired by Bollywood blockbusters, nailing the perfect desi vibe the moment you step into this complex. Start your trip strolling across the colourful buildings of Bollywood Boulevard, complete with cafes and live entertainment embodying the different cultures of India.

    The very essence of Bollywood is contained within Mumbai Chowk, the bustling gullies with overflowing people, and plenty of streetside stalls selling delicious chats. Head over to Rustic Ravine to watch your favourite movies come to life and be part of the real-life action played out in Lagaan and Sholay. Hop onto the tallest swing ride in the world, the Bollywood Skyflyer here, and explore the majestic Rajmahal Theatre, which hosted the very first Broadway-style Bollywood musical in the region.

    Louvre Abu Dhabi

    The Louvre Abu Dhabi, which arose out of a partnership between the  United Arab Emirates and France, is a cultural institution perfect for art aficionados. The Louvre Abu Dhabi is currently gearing up to launch ‘Bollywood Superstars: A Short Story of Indian Cinema” to celebrate the regional film industry. From the commercial Hindi films produced in ‘Bollywood’ to ‘Kollywood’s’ Tamil-language movies and the more socially engaged Bengali cinema, Indian cinema reflects the subcontinent’s diversity and acts as a vessel for public opinion where current social and cultural issues are reenacted and debated out.

    The exhibition will be open from 24 January to 24 June this year. Fans and history buffs may want to start browsing for cheap flights to Abu Dhabi now!

    Featuring extracts from over 80 artworks from 40 films, Bollywood Superstars investigates the diverse roots of Indian cinema. Be it 19th-century traditional shadow theatre and early silent movies to the 21st-century gods of the screen, the exhibition presents the richness of India’s image-making traditions alongside the influence of popular arts such as storytelling, dance, and theatre and its close relationship with mythology and religion.

    Organised by the France Museums, Musée du Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Bollywood Superstars is co-curated by Julien Rousseau– Jacques Chirac with Hélène Kessous, Anthropologist, and specialist of South Asian cinema. The exhibition includes a wide range of shadow puppets, photography, Mughal armours, daggers, and mythological and religious lithographs.

    Catch the IIFA!

    The International Indian Film Academy Awards, or the IIFA, is the annual awards ceremony for Bollywood, attended by everyone in the industry, from artists, performers, singers, directors and more. This year’s mega-event is all set to be held in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi in Yas Island. To be held on 10 February and 11 February, this will be a fun-filled weekend of music, cinema, fashion, and culture with the very best of the Indian cinema and film fraternity.

    Enjoy a weekend full of glamour in style and see the stars hit the green carpet yourself at the Etihad Arena. Tickets are already on sale on Yas Island Abu Dhabi’s official website. The fees breakdown is as follows:

    Lower Tier A–AED 1,350

    Lower Tier B–AED 1,000

    Lower Tier C–AED 750

    Middle Tier A–AED 550

    Middle Tier B–AED 440

    Lower & Middle Tier C–AED 330

    Upper Tier A–AED 220

    Upper Tier B–AED 110

    Accessible Seating–AED 440

    You can also buy packages starting from AED 1208, including a 1-night stay with breakfast at one of Yas Island’s hotels and an event ticket for 2 adults.