Follow Us
Join Us
If 2011 was a good year for Bollywood, 2012 has started off rather badly – and not just because Players, the first release in the new year, bombed at the box-office. There hasn’t been any major release after 6 January and even the small- and medium-budget fares which did release in the subsequent two weeks (13 and 20 January), failed to make any mark at the ticket windows. With only one more Friday left to complete the first month of the new year, all eyes are now on Agneepath to deliver at the box-office so that the month of January doesn’t go down in Bollywood history as one with zero success. Of course, the marketing and promotion of Agneepath have done what they ought to have done and, going by the market sentiments, the film will, in all probability, take a bumper initial next week, to ultimately emerge a winner. But even if that happens, it won’t be enough. For, what is one success in an entire month?
Will The First Quarter Of 2012 Disappoint?
Last year, we had about 30 films crossing the average line and proving either successful, earners, hits, super-hits or blockbusters. View full list here. Thirty-odd films in 12 months gives us an average of 2.5 films every month. The average of last year has been vitiated in the new year’s first month itself! An analytical glance at the list of forthcoming releases in the next two months does not inspire one’s confidence to make one believe that things will be very different from what they have been so far this year. No doubt, any film can ultimately spring a surprise and prove a box-office bonanza but there is something called hype, expectation, buzz etc. If what is feared comes true, the first quarter of the new year may turn out to be just a quarter as good as the first three months of 2011.
It would not be out of place here to recall the successful films of the first month of 2011: No One Killed Jessica, Yamla Pagla Deewana and Dhobi Ghat.
More Exclusives by Komal Nahta
Jodi Breakers Trailer Analysis
Bollywood Films To Look Forward To In 2012
Abhishek Bachchan On The Travails Of Stardom
Bollywood’s New Business Model Explained
Salman Khan’s Bodyguard Biggest Hit; 83 Percent Bollywood Films Flopped In 2011
Komal Nahta, the Editor of Koimoi.com, is Bollywood’s most trusted trade analyst & film reviewer. You can follow him on Twitter and check out his Video Blog.
