After a lackluster first half, what does Bollywood have in store for the second half of 2021? | Bollywood

A long lull, followed by a wave of releases and then again by a veil of uncertainty, this is how one can describe the Bollywood box office situation in the face of the pandemic. Even as the year began on a promising note with Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi, Madam Chief Minister, Roohi, Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar, Mumbai Saga and Saina hitting theaters, the second wave made it impossible for a movie to be released after March, making the first half of the year lackluster.

As Bollywood continues to face the biggest box office test, will the second half be better?

Trade expert Taran Adarsh ​​says he’s very optimistic even though it’s about the third and fourth waves.

Claiming that reopening cinemas is what can save the second half of the year, he explains, until and unless the Mumbai circuit and Delhi cinemas open and the big movies don’t come in, business won’t be on the right track. In some areas, cinemas have reopened but the big business pockets need to be opened. All the producers are at a loss because they cannot advertise films. same The lower end of the bell which was due out on July 27, had to be pushed back again.

Echoing a similar sentiment, producer Anand Pandit, who has Chehre ready to be released and thank God in production, hope that with the increase in the number of vaccinations and stabilization a bit of things, the worst is behind us.

Hopefully in the second half of the year, we can see the production work return to some normalcy, the opening of theaters, the release of big movies and the industry to regain its marks. It’s a good sign. It testifies to our collective confidence in the times to come. This shows our belief that producers, exhibitors and audiences will connect again to celebrate cinema as before, he said, adding that despite all of this, every possible precaution must be taken because it was a global pandemic, like this one. we have never seen it before.

Even though things seem to be getting back to normal, there’s also constant fear among the filmmakers, and that’s why they haven’t announced any release dates yet, which leaves the second half looking rather pale.

The situation is so bad. There is so much uncertainty. How can we plan? underlines filmmaker Anees Bazmee, adding: “Moreover, we need an audience, without them we can do nothing. Theaters that have reopened in some parts are running at minimum capacity and not getting their comeback, so they don’t want to release new movies either.

Siddharth Anand Kumar, Vice President – Films and Events at Saregama India Ltd, notes that the sense of normalcy recorded by the industry in early 2021 was erased during the second wave of the pandemic. But the gravity of the situation could not be ignored and of course had to be corrected accordingly. However, as the country returns to normal, it is hoped that the tide will turn.

The calendar looks promising with mass artists like Sooryavanshi, 83, KGF 2 and Attack are also lining up for a theatrical release later this year. I think the Diwali festive period will be a turning point for Bollywood, with films likely to record business that is on par with the pre-pandemic era, provided you don’t see a third wave and the current pace of vaccination is maintained, he notes.

Some also believe that Hollywood films will boost confidence in the Hindi film industry, which is still waiting and determining release dates.

Exhibitor Akshaye Rathi adds, Hollywood will lead the way. There are a whole bunch of big ticket Hollywood movies coming out. For them India may be a small market, but for Indian exhibitors films like F9, a quiet place II, etc. are huge. So I think it’s going to take a few Hollywood movies to do the heavy lifting and get things done.