‘Jailer’, ‘Gadar 2’, ‘Bhola Shankar’ and ‘OMG 2’ create box office history
The Hindu
Multiplexes sees record collection last weekend with gross box office collection nearing Rs 400 crore
Last weekend (August 11 to 12) multiplexes and cinema halls witnessed a record number of admissions driven by movies such as Gadar 2, Jailer, OMG 2 and Bhola Shankar, boosting their combined gross box office collection to over Rs 390 crore.
This weekend set a "new all-time theatrical gross box office record" in its 100 years of history, said a joint statement from the Multiplex Association of India (MAI) and Producers Guild of India (PGI). "The weekend drew over 2.10 crore moviegoers to theatres across the county, which is the highest combined admissions record in the last 10 years of history," it said.
The weekend of August 11 to 13 was the busiest single weekend post re-opening of the cinema industry after the Covid pandemic. "The turnout at theatres has infused a new energy in our industry, audiences are responding in numbers. We have not seen for a very long time, even the early morning shows are getting sold out," said PGI President Shibasish Sarkar.
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He further said: "This weekend has been a wonderful experience for people who love the mainstream cinemas." MAI President Kamal Gianchandani said this was a "historic weekend" for the cinema exhibition industry and it proves once again that India loves to go to movie halls to watch good movies.
"This weekend is also an undeniable demonstration of cinemas being the ultimate place to be part of shared experience," he said. Gianchandani further added he expects this momentum to continue for the rest of 2023.
MAI represents more than 11 cinema chains, operating over 500 multiplexes and 2,500 screens in India, which is around 75 per cent of the multiplex industry of India.
Almaya Munnettam (Lay People to the Fore), group in the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church opposed to the synod-recommended Mass, rejected a circular issued by Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil and apostolic administrator Bosco Puthur on June 9 to implement the unified Mass in the archdiocese from July 3.
Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten stated that “not so great decision making” contributed to his side’s defeat to India in the Group-A T20 World Cup clash here on Sunday. The batting unit came apart in the chase, after being well placed at 72 for two. With 48 runs needed from eight overs, Pakistan found a way to panic and lose. “Maybe not so great decision making,” Kirsten said at the post-match press conference, when asked to explain the loss.