5 Responses to "Bollywood Movies in 2008 – How Did They Do?"

1. 

   Harry Butt   January 23, 2009 at 8:28 pm

   a column for the “budget” would be nice

   SearchIndia.com Responds:

   Hard to get budget details for Bollywood movies.

   Slumdog Millionaire Production Budget: $15 million (Source: boxofficemojo)

2. 

   elnino.aurora   January 23, 2009 at 8:37 pm

   Slumdog released in many more theatres in the US than “hardcore bollywood” movies like Ghajini did. (atleast that is what I think.), and probably the 10 dollar tickets sold over here may have added to the collections more than say a one n half dollar ticket in india may have for Ghajini or any other bollywood movie. ie for every 4 to 5 persons who watch a bollywood movie in india, the revenue may equal that generated by a single moviegoer in the US.

   Ultimately it might be the conundrum where many more people may have watched Rab Ne than Slumdog Millionaire, but the former may have generated less cashflow than Slumdog because of the currency factor involved and the ticket rates. Its interesting to think Slumdog may have been watched by fewer people worldwide than a trashy movie like Rab Ne in india alone.

   SearchIndia.com Responds:

   1. You write: Its interesting to think Slumdog may have been watched by fewer people worldwide than a trashy movie like Rab Ne in india alone.

   Well, people breed like mosquitoes in India & not many of the mosquitoes can follow English.

   2. BTW, Slumdog Millionaire is still playing only in 582 theatres in the U.S.. Its highest was 614 theatres (Dec 26-28). New Hollywood movies release on average in 3,000 theatres in the U.S. (Source: boxofficemojo)

   3. Please read this story on Piracy of Slumdog Millionaire in India.

3. 

   What_if   January 25, 2009 at 2:44 am

   SI:Well, people breed like mosquitoes in India & not many of the mosquitoes can follow English.

   The precise reason why dubbing/ sub-titling is done – to make the local audience comprehend Foreign Language films, how else could have Japanese liked a Tamil film “Muthu”?

   There is now “Slumdog Crorepati” as a Hindi Version, do you have any news if there will be a “Slumdog Kodeeswaran” for Tamil audience and “Slumdog Koteeshwarudu” for Telugu Audience?

   That is how “Yam petra Inbam, Peruga Iv Vaiyagame” will happen. Let all see and enjoy SM – in which ever language they comprehend.

   SearchIndia.com Responds:

   You write above: do you have any news if there will be a “Slumdog Kodeeswaran” for Tamil audience

   Since we didn’t find any under Slumdog Kodeeswaran, we are now checking under Cooum-nai Kodeeswaran

4. 

   elnino.aurora   January 26, 2009 at 9:55 am

   http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Slumdog_bags_two_more_US_awards_/articleshow/4032590.cms

   Slumdog’s playing in almost 1400 theatres now.

   SearchIndia.com Responds

   Slumdog Millionaire would probably be running in more theatres but for…Pl see this story from Chennai.

5. 

   hgquinn   January 28, 2009 at 6:47 pm

   Agree with the comment about a Budget column. More to the point is ROI.

   US gross numbers have am extra-weighted value for Indian films because their budgets are in INR. You can’t mix the gross from currencies that are so different in their relative values, and expect to show an accurate picture of the financial realities.

   If you want to give a fair view, show number of theaters, number of weeks in theaters, and average gross per theater, broken down by distribution area — India, US, Asia outside India, Europe.

   The slow-build distribution strategy worked with Slumdog, which opened limited in the US until word of mouth and reviews opened up additional distribution. When are Bollywood distribution deals in the US going to take advantage of this approach? More USD flowing into Bollywood, the better chance INR-budgeted Bollywood directors will have of doing work that’s good enough to please critics like you.

   I saw the request for you to review Dil Se. Best of luck with it. I saw a film recently that used a similar opening shot. I’d thought Dil Se’s opening shot was completely unique. Can’t remember the name of the film. It was about 20 years old. I love Dil Se’s opening even so, and SRK’s acting in the railroad station is great. Yet even then he could overact at the drop of a hat. Still, he always touches the heart.

   Mani Ratman is one of my favorite directors. I’d like to see some of his films get deals in the US. I’m sure he’d find a regular audience here amongst non-Desi populations in urban areas.

   SearchIndia.com Responds:

   1. You write above: Mani Ratman is one of my favorite directors. I’d like to see some of his films get deals in the US.

   Mani Ratnam’s Guru was released in the U.S. about two years back.

   2. You write: The slow-build distribution strategy worked with Slumdog, which opened limited in the US until word of mouth and reviews opened up additional distribution. When are Bollywood distribution deals in the US going to take advantage of this approach

   That’ll work only if they make good movies, which Bollywood seldom does.

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