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Tag: Laal Singh Chaddha

  • Aamir Khan slams Hindi cinema’s bad scripts, says good films can’t be stopped

    Aamir Khan slams Hindi cinema’s bad scripts, says good films can’t be stopped

    MUMBAI: Hindi cinema needs to raise its game—and fast. That was the clear message from celebrated actor and filmmaker Aamir Khan at ABP Network’s high-octane India @ 2047 Summit, a national thinkfest charting India’s journey to becoming a fully Viksit Bharat by its centenary year.

    “India has no shortage of stories. The problem is the way we’re telling them,” Khan quipped in a sharp takedown of the Hindi film industry’s recent flops. “Hindi cinema is making bad films. You can’t stop a good film, and you can’t force a bad one to be a hit.”

    He didn’t hold back in comparing the current business model unfavourably to the booming south Indian industry. “We release films theatrically, and in eight weeks they’re available at home. Why would anyone go to a theatre?” he asked, pointing to a post-pandemic shift in viewing habits and a shrinking window between theatrical and satellite premieres.

    Speaking in the session The Attention Industry: Telling the Best Stories, Khan struck a nuanced note. “Box office numbers matter, but they’re not the only yardstick. We also need better stories, better policy support, and frankly, more screens.”

    Taking a macro view, Khan welcomed initiatives like Waves that support the creative industries, urging deeper government collaboration. “India has only 10,000 screens. For Hindi films, we get just 5,000. Compare that with China’s 90,000 or the US’s 35,000. We need more theatres, faster licensing, and incentives to build supporting infrastructure,” he said.

    Khan also teased his upcoming film Sitare Zameen Par, calling it a spiritual successor to his 2007 classic Taare Zameen Par. 

    “It carries the inclusion theme ten steps forward, but this time through comedy. My character Gulshan is a hot-headed basketball coach—the opposite of the gentle Nikumbh,” he smiled. “It’s about how we each define what ‘normal’ means.”

    In true method-actor style, Khan recounted not bathing for days while filming Raakh and Ghulam, laughing, “I had to look like I lived on the streets!”

    On his long-cherished dream of adapting the Mahabharat, Khan said, “That’s a sacred story. It won’t let you down—but you could let it down.” While coy about which character he’d play, he admitted, “Krishna inspires me a lot.”

    He also reflected on missing the re-release of cult comedy Andaz Apna Apna due to the Pahalgam terror attack. “We were devastated. I couldn’t bring myself to attend the premiere. But I trust the government will bring the perpetrators to justice.”

    Recounting a post-Article 370 visit to Srinagar, Khan noted, “There was peace and calm. The lockdown had just ended, but it felt like normalcy was returning.”

    On his unusual compensation model, Khan revealed he doesn’t charge fees upfront. “If the film profits, I earn. If it flops, I don’t. I didn’t take a rupee for Laal Singh Chaddha. I believe in putting my money where my mouth is.”

    At 58, Khan may be selective in his projects, but his voice still packs punch. Hindi cinema makers consider yourself warned.

  • Poor showing by Bollywood, Hollywood drags PVR to a Q2 loss of Rs 71.23 crore

    Poor showing by Bollywood, Hollywood drags PVR to a Q2 loss of Rs 71.23 crore

    Mumbai: The July-September quarter two 2023 fiscal for PVR was affected mainly because of the poor performance of Hindi movies. Making matters worse was the fact that Hollywood was also disappointed. As a result, it slipped back into a loss of Rs 71.23 crore compared with a consolidated net profit of Rs 53.38 crore in the first quarter of the fiscal ending June 2022. However, the loss was 53 per cent less than the Rs 153.13 crore for the second quarter of the previous fiscal, which had been affected by covid. Admissions and the average ticket price during the second 2023 fiscal quarter were impacted by the weak performance of Bollywood and Hollywood movies.

    Its revenue from operations has fallen from Rs 981.40 crore in the first quarter of the fiscal to Rs 686.72 crore in the second quarter. But it is a big improvement from the revenue of Rs 120.32 crore in the second quarter of the previous covid-impacted fiscal.

    The quarter, PVR noted, was marked by the continued underperformance of Bollywood movies. With the exception of ‘Brahmastra Part One : Shiva, most of the other big budget Bollywood movies performed below expectations, like Laal Singh Chaddha, Raksha Bandhan, and Liger. Brahmastra Part One : Shiva performed exceedingly well at the box office and emerged as the highest grossing Hindi film post-pandemic for PVR, with a net box office contribution of 19 per cent. The underperformance of Hindi films could be attributed to a number of factors, including films released prior to and during the pandemic that did not resonate well with current consumer tastes; content quality driving performance as opposed to star presence; and negative social media sentiments against certain Bollywood movies and stars.

    In Hollywood, the quarter ending September 2022 was the weakest globally in almost two decades, both in terms of the number of movies released and their box office collections. Box office collections for Hollywood movies for PVR dropped by a huge 47 per cent in Q2 FY’23 as compared to Q2 FY’20. Thor: Love and Thunder was the only big tentpole that performed well at the box office as compared to successful tentpoles like The Lion King, Spiderman : Far Away From Home, and Fast and Furious: Hobbs & Shaw in Q2 FY’20.

    If there was a silver lining, it was regional. For PVR, the box office contribution of regional movies increased nicely from 28 per cent in Q2 FY’20 to 44 per cent in Q2 FY’23. Movies like Sita Ramam, Kartikeya 2, Thiruchitrambalam, Rocketry, and Vikrant Rona performed well during the quarter ended September 2022.

    The multiplex exhibition industry on 23 September celebrated “National Cinema Day.” This was envisaged as an industry-wide initiative to welcome moviegoers back to theatres. More than 11 multiplex chains with 4,000+ screens across India participated in this initiative. Customers were offered movie tickets at Rs 75 and discounts on F&B products. PVR welcomed 6.5 lakh guests on this day, which proved to be the busiest day for it in 2022 and the second highest attended day till date with an occupancy of 80 per cent. PVR added that it is also implementing other initiatives to drive admissions back to cinemas.

    PVR added that the current third quarter has started off on a great note with strong responses received to new releases like Ponniyin Selvan – Part 1, Vikram Vedha and Kantara. The content pipeline over the next three months looks extremely promising. It has Bollywood movies that are up for release, like Ram Setu, Cirkus, Thank God, Drishyam 2, Bhediya, Kisi ka Bhai Kisi ki Jaan, Pathan, etc. From Hollywood, it is hoped for a better performance given the tentpoles like Black Adam, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and Avatar: The Way of Water. From the regional genre, there are Shaakuntalam, Vaathi, Kushi, Honeymoon, Padavettu, etc. lined up for release.

    PVR has opened 14 screens across three cinemas in the last quarter (24 screens across five cinemas in H1 FY’23) and is fast ramping up its capex plan to open a total of 110-125 new screens by the end of the current fiscal year.

    The announced merger with Inox Leisure, it said, is progressing well. Both the companies have received their respective shareholders and secured creditors’ approval for the proposed scheme of amalgamation. We expect that the NCLT process will be completed in 3–4 months.

    PVR chairman & MD Ajay Bijli said, “We remain focused on driving admissions back to our cinemas. India’s love for movies was well demonstrated by the massive success of the ‘National Cinema Day’. I am confident of a full recovery in the business, driven by the robust content lineup for this year and the various initiatives that we are implementing to rekindle the cinema-going habit amongst our loyal patrons. As we celebrate the silver jubilee for PVR this year, we are extremely optimistic that we will continue to set and exceed even greater benchmarks in the years to come.”

    PVR’s total income rose to Rs 703.13 crore, compared with Rs 275.21 crore in the same quarter of the previous fiscal. The Ebitda for the quarter was Rs 170 crore, almost double the Rs 86.8 crore for the same quarter in the 2022 fiscal. Its total expenses rose to Rs 813.33 crore, compared with Rs 460.68 crore in the same quarter in the previous fiscal.

  • Zee and Sun TV likely to witness opportune times as ad revenue growth returns this festive season: Report

    Zee and Sun TV likely to witness opportune times as ad revenue growth returns this festive season: Report

    Mumbai: Despite facing an adverse impact in the wake of the covid pandemic last year, the media & entertainment industry witnessed some respite in ad revenues for the current quarter-on-quarter (QoQ). According to a report published by Elara Securities (India), in comparison to other traditional media, the television industry has reported healthy growth in the post-covid era. The report also indicated a positive outlook for ad revenues in the upcoming festive season.

    TV Segment: Some respite (QoQ) in ad revenue, led by festive season 

    Traditional advertisers such as fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) continue to spend on ads, while new-age players such as edtech, fintech, and gaming have chosen to reduce their ad spending. The CPG and automobile industries, as stated in the report, continue to maintain their ad spending, the report highlighted.

    The report noted that Zee group and Sun TV are likely to expect better ad revenue of 3.5 per cent and 6.4 per cent, respectively, while ad revenue may be flat for TV Today. This growth will be driven by some stability in ad spending and the start of the festive season.

    Zee’s subscription revenue, as noted by the report, may decelerate by 1.2 per cent, whereas Sun TV is likely to expect a growth of 4.2 per cent.

    Sun TV reported a growth of 12 per cent as compared to the pre-covid period or FY2020, which also witnessed the absence of income generated from IPL and movies, and stood at 7.4 per cent year-on-year (YoY) of Rs 8,899 million.

    Meanwhile, Zee and TV Today reported 3.7 per cent and 1.1 per cent YoY revenue declines, respectively.

    Zee’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (Ebitda) QoQ margin is expected to rise by 85 basis points (bps), while Sun TV and TV Today to fall by 100 and 535 bps, respectively.

    According to the report, expect margin to be under pressure on content investments for Zee and Sun TV, driven by programming initiatives in Tamil and other genres, and TV Today, on lower YoY revenue and digital segment development, which may also witness the same strain.

    Zee’s and TV Today’s YoY profit after tax (PAT) is estimated to decelerate by 46 per cent and 25 per cent, respectively. TV Today, as the report noted, is estimated to grow by nine per cent.

    Exhibitors – Subdued Q2 hit by weak content

    Multiplexes can experience a series of downgrades due to poor Bollywood content. Large-scale films with poor box office results like Laal Singh Chadha, Raksha Bandhan, Shamshera, and Ek Villain Returns were expected to drive strong Q2FY23 performance, but their failure hit revenue growth for mega-multiples operators PVR and Inox.

    According to the report, Hindi box office revenue has noted a decline of 47 per cent compared to pre-covid levels in Q2FY23, as no film performed except Brahamastra (which recorded Rs 256.25 crore in domestic ticket receipts).

    Domestic box office collections are expected to fall 41.5 per cent and 42 per cent sequentially, respectively, and 35 per cent and 34 per cent as compared to Q2FY20 for PVR and Inox.

    Average ticket price (ATP) and spend per head (SPH), driven by premium content traction, have already outperformed Q2FY20 by 22 per cent and 24 per cent, respectively, in Q1FY23. On low-quality content, ATP/SPH may start getting soft, the report said.

    It further highlighted that ad revenue recovery is delayed and may only revive to a pre-covid level in FY24 and added that this recovery is expected to recover to 60 per cent of pre-pandemic levels of Q2FY20.

    PVR and Inox (including INDAS) are expected to have Ebitda margins of 11.6 per cent and 11 per cent, respectively, in Q2FY23, as screen additions may pick up in H2FY23.

  • Viacom18 files FIR over piracy of ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’

    Viacom18 files FIR over piracy of ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’

    Mumbai: An FIR was registered on a complaint filed by Viacom18 at Banaswadi police station, Bangalore against a suspect who was arrested on 12 August. Viacom18 received a tip from Cinepolis, Orient Mall, Bangalore, and made the arrest.

    During the investigation, police discovered incriminating evidence, and there is the possibility of an organised crime syndicate operating in the realm of illegal uploading and distribution of the film “Laal Singh Chaddha” and other pirated content.

    According to a preliminary police investigation, the accused may be involved in a larger piracy racket with websites such as Tamilrockers and Primerockers, which are engaged in uploading and illegally distributing pirated content. Because of their illegal actions, such pirate websites cause huge losses to producers, content owners, and creators.

    The arrest of the accused is a ray of hope for all content creators, and it could be a significant step toward action against pirates, as well as a sigh of relief for the industry.

    The company believes larger pirate networks may come to light as a result of this arrest, and the offenders may be prosecuted.

    Viacom18’s General Counsel, Anil Lale, said: “Viacom18 pledges its continuous support in the fight against piracy. We will continue our endeavour to create a secure and piracy-free space. It is important to take proactive measures to prevent piracy or infringement. We believe it is even more important to be involved and actively participate in the execution process to give effect to the larger interest we are trying to achieve.”

    Viacom18 recently obtained injunctive relief from the Madras High Court against a number of more than 12,000 specific websites/links, specified cable operators, internet service providers, as well as unknown individuals, prohibiting them from violating the film “Laal Singh Chaddha” or any part of it by copying, recording, reproducing, distributing, or downloading, etc. in any way without proper authorisation. 

  • Nickelodeon and Laal Singh Chaddha partner to entertain families across India

    Nickelodeon and Laal Singh Chaddha partner to entertain families across India

    Mumbai: Viacom18’s leading kids’ entertainment channel, Nickelodeon, has joined forces with Aamir Khan’s upcoming “Laal Singh Chaddha.” The film is the endearing story of the determined “Laal Singh Chaddha” who, like Nicktoons Motu Patlu and Bhoot Bandhus, through innocence and strength of character, overcomes all obstacles.

    With this collaboration, Nickelodeon has raised the existing fervour for “Laal Singh Chaddha” with unmatched and interactive initiatives that will provide entertainment and fun experiences for families to enjoy together.

    In addition to the tentpole campaign IPs and contests, “Laal Singh Chaddha” break bumpers will also run across key shows on Nick and Sonic. The campaign also extends to the Nickelodeon franchise’s social media channels and other digital media platforms with innovative posts and stories and influencer outreach. We are sure the adventures of Nicktoons and “Laal Singh Chadha” will entertain families this Independence Day weekend.

    The month-long integrated campaign will showcase Aamir Khan in his “Laal Singh” avatar having a fun time with India’s favourite Nicktoons, including Motu, Patlu, and Pinaki & Happy-The Bhoot Bandhus.

    With ideas that build resonance with the character of Laal, who has childlike innocence and honesty much like Nickelodeon’s young viewers and Nicktoons, the deep integrations will witness Laal immerse himself in the world of Nicktoons seamlessly. Through Nick’s Golgappa Party contest and Sonic’s Bhaag Laal Bhaag contest, kids will also get a chance to meet megastar Aamir Khan, in addition to winning a host of exciting prizes by simply participating in the on-air contests.

    Nickelodeon has also left no stone unturned to reach out to its young viewers with fun contests like the Chaddi Buddy Contest with Aamir.

    Finally, adding to the endless excitement is an innovative virtual running game that is sure to drive conversations while keeping kids on their toes. Resisting on nickindia.com, the virtual game allows one to play as Laal, Motu, or Patlu to chase the feather and collect coins along the way while chasing away evil.

    Speaking about the collaboration with “Laal Singh Chaddha,” Viacom18 head-Hindi mass entertainment & kids TV Network Nina Elavia Jaipuria said, “We are delighted to collaborate with “Laal Singh Chaddha” on this highly interactive and engaging campaign that will give kids and their families an opportunity to be a part of the film and celebrate the character of Laal along with their favourite Nicktoons. At Nickelodeon, each collaboration and partnership that we innovate for has kids at the heart of it, and this partnership with the adorable character of Laal is sure to strike a chord and provide many priceless moments. We look forward to further collaborating with brands and films to create deep and meaningful integrations for our young viewers.”

    Speaking about reaching out to kids with this family entertainer and about the association with Nickelodeon superstar Aamir Khan, he said, “”Laal Singh Chadha” is an inspiring film and the innocence and honesty of the affable character of Laal is sure to strike a chord with kids and families. This massively interesting and fun collaboration with Nickelodeon and its characters, who embody the same positive traits as Laal, was hence a great way for us to together take the story of “Laal Singh Chaddha” and make it a part of every child’s life along with their favourite characters. We are sure that kids will have a great time watching our labour of love with their families and look forward to the same.”

    On the collaboration with Nickelodeon, Viacom18 COO Ajit Andhare said, “The advantage at Viacom18 is the opportunities and ability we have to collaborate with the powerhouse brands in our platoon. Right from bringing the Paramount story to India under our banner to partnering with Nickelodeon, we have had seamless associations with the film. A family entertainer at its heart, we are looking forward to kids enjoying the film as much as adults, as they will resonate with the pure and simple soul of “Laal Singh”.”

  • Inox Leisure sees best quarterly performance in Q1 FY23; revenue up by 19 per cent

    Inox Leisure sees best quarterly performance in Q1 FY23; revenue up by 19 per cent

    Mumbai: Inox Leisure on Wednesday announced its first quarter results for financial year 2023. The company reported its best quarterly performance with revenue at Rs 589 crore up by 19 per cent year-on-year (YoY). It reported earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBIDTA) at Rs 130 crore up by 41 per cent YoY and profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 74 crore soar by 80 per cent YoY.

    The company’s average ticket price (ATP) peaked at Rs 229 up by 16 per cent YoY and spends per head (SPH) stood at Rs 96 up by 19 per cent YoY.

    Inox reported its highest food and beverage (F&B) revenue at Rs 164 crore. It added three new properties and 17 screens during the quarter. The company also rolled out a merchandise business so fans can buy products from their favourite super hero or movie franchises.

    “After facing a severe impact on business due to the pandemic in the last two years, the company reported its best quarterly performance across majority metrics on the back of tent poles that resonated with Indian audience, duly complemented by their huge pent-up appetite,” said the statement.

    The April-May-June quarter saw the release of blockbusters like “RRR”, “KGF: Chapter 2”, “Vikram”, “Bhool Bhulaiya 2” and “Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness” resulting in footfall of upto 18.4 million guests in Inox properties.

    Inox expects great turnaround in the business going forward with the content line-up in the upcoming quarter with releases like “Laal Singh Chaddha”, “Raksha Bandhan”, “Liger”, “Brahmastra” and “Vikram Vedha”.

    Inox Group director Siddharth Jain said, “During the entire stretch of the pandemic, something which kept us hold the fort, was the belief in ourselves, our passionate moviegoers, our stakeholders and our teams. From enabling us to see through the pandemic, to charting our path out of it, this belief has driven us towards this historical & miraculous performance in Q1.”

    He further added, “While our best-ever quarter marks a moment of rejoice, we will also ensure that it keeps inspiring us to raise the bar, while maintaining a strong focus on customer-centricity, innovativeness and profitability. We are committed to stay ahead of the curve, and keep delighting our stakeholders with such magical performances. We could not have asked for a bigger celebration on completion of 20 glorious years of our company’s operations.”

  • PVR’s Q1 consolidated revenue up to Rs 1,002 crore

    PVR’s Q1 consolidated revenue up to Rs 1,002 crore

    Mumbai: Multiplex operator PVR has announced its unaudited standalone and consolidated financial results for the first quarter ended 30 June 2022.

    Consolidated revenue, Ebitda and PAT were Rs 1,002 crore, Rs 362 crore and Rs 53 crore, respectively, as compared to Rs 93 crore, Rs 58 crore and Rs 220 crore for the corresponding quarter in FY ’22. After adjusting for the impact of IND-AS 116-Leases, the consolidated revenue, Ebitda, and PAT of the company were Rs 1,000 crore, Rs 208 crore, and Rs 68 crore, respectively, as compared to Rs 71 crore, Rs 110 crore, and Rs 142 crore for Q1 FY’22.

    This quarter was the best ever quarter in PVR’s history in terms of revenue, Ebitda, and PAT. The company recorded the highest ever ATP of Rs 250 for the quarter on the back of global and local tent poles that resonated with the Indian audience. The quarter was marked by the release of some of the biggest domestic hits like “KGF: Chapter 2,” “RRR,” “Vikram,” “Bhool Bhulaiya 2” and Hollywood tentpoles like “Doctor Strange” and “Top Gun: Maverick,” which PVR said performed exceedingly well at the box office. “KGF 2” went on to become the second largest blockbuster in the Indian market. It was the highest grosser ever for PVR, with a net box office of Rs 121 crore across its cinema circuit.

    PVR added that its team’s consistent work on F&B resulted in the highest ever average F&B spend per head (SPH) of Rs 134 being reported during the quarter, reflecting a growth of 32 per cent over pre-pandemic levels. The company has recorded the highest monthly average F&B revenue of Rs.100+ crore during the quarter.

    But the growth in ad revenue continues to lag. The company has reported advertising income of Rs 63 crore, which is 32 per cent lower than the pre-pandemic figures. Or in other words, it reflects a 68 per cent recovery in ad income vis-à-vis pre-pandemic levels.

    On the back of significant growth in ATP and SPH and a significant recovery in admissions, the Ebitda margins for the quarter were 20.8 per cent.

    The company said that the content pipeline for 2022 in the months ahead looks extremely robust. Over the next few months, it has several big-budget Bollywood movies lined up for release, like “Shamshera,” “Laal Singh Chaddha,” “Brahmastra,” “Vikram Vedha,” “Ram Setu,” “Phone Bhoot,” “Yodha,” “Drishyam 2,” “Cirkus,” “Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali,” etc.. “Bullet Train,” “Paws of Fury,” “DC League of Super Pets,” “Black Adam,” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Marvel),” and “Avatar: The Way of Water” are among the films from Hollywood. From the regional genre, we have “Vikrant Rona,” “Liger,” “Godfather,” “Ponniyin Selvan.”

    The company has revived its capex plans in a significant manner and is on track to open a total of 125 new screens during FY’23. It has opened 14 screens across 3 properties till date. About one-third of the new screen additions in this fiscal year will be in tier 2 and 3 cities. The company plans to enter nine new cities during the year.

    The announced merger with Inox Leisure is progressing well. Both the companies have received “No Objection Certificates” from the two stock exchanges (BSE and NSE) on the proposed scheme of merger. We are on track to submit our application for the approval of the scheme of merger before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) in the next couple of weeks.

    PVR chairman and MD Ajay Bijli said, “This quarter’s results are a reflection of the strength of the domestic film industry we have in India and the consumer’s unsatiated appetite to watch films on the big screen. The Indian exhibition industry has been one of the fastest to recover as compared to other international markets. The content line-up for the year ahead looks very promising, and we hope this will be a very strong box office year for the Indian exhibitors. As we celebrate the silver jubilee for PVR this year, we are extremely confident that we will continue to set and exceed even greater benchmarks in the years to come.”