One-month free-run for Baahubali 2?

One-month free-run for Baahubali 2?

The South sequel to not have any Bollywood competition for three weeks after release

Joginder Tuteja

In a scenario where two biggies slug it out over unavailability of release dates, Baahubali: The Conclusion is set for a month-long free run.

After Rustom vs Mohenjo Daro a few weeks ago, this Diwali will witness the Shivaay vs Ae Dil Hai Mushkil clash. Republic Day 2017 will see Kaabil and Raees go head-to-head with neither refusing to budge. "But Baahubali 2 doesn't just arrive in theatres solo on April 14, there are no Bollywood films "big or small " scheduled for three weeks after. Amazing!" informs a trade insider.

"After Baahubali: The Conclusion, the next big release is Ajay Devgn and Emraan Hashmi's Badshaaho. The Milan Luthria-starrer has been fixed for a May 12 release. However between April 14 and this date, it is going to be only one film, Baahubali 2," the insider continues.

The Telugu film is set for a wide release " it will be dubbed in Hindi and Tamil as well. "It occupies all screens meant for Telugu films on arrival. It will also be the biggest dubbed-in-Tamil release ever (and no Tamil film will take it head-on. So, that's South India covered). Moreover, points out a prominent exhibitor, Karan Johar has joined hands with the makers of the sequel again and the Prabhas-Tamannaah starrer is likely to see a pan-India release, thanks to a dubbed-in-Hindi, yet mainstream release."

Conservatively speaking, Baahubali 2 releases to at least 3,000 screens that would otherwise go to Hindi releases. "The film has earned this right," a senior distributor adds, "When the first part does a business of '117 crore without much of a hype or a known cast, solely on the basis of word-of-mouth, just imagine how it will do now when anyone who is a fan of Indian movies wants to know " Why did Katappa kill Baahubali?' Just to get this answer, the film will be hyped beyond imagination. It will be foolhardy for anyone to not go all out in terms of bringing the film to theaters. A regular biggie gets 3,500 screens and a Khan film doesn't bargain for anything less than 5,000. Does Baahubali 2 not warrant even 3000 screens?"

This pretty much takes care of any other Hindi film even daring to come alongside Baahubali: The Conclusion. However, avers one filmmaker, "It is unlikely that the April 28 and May 5 slots will remain vacant for long. And that a prominent maker might just take advantage of the lull and release a film on April 28, giving it a two-week run, ahead of Badshaaho."

For now, Baahu's bal is keeping the others at bay!