Women BD Desk: The ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 is almost here! One of the major sporting events in the world will kick-off on May 30 and will conclude on July 14 with the big finale. During the 46-day tournament, quite a few big-ticket Bollywood films are lined up for release. Among these are Bharat, Kabir Singh and Jabariya Jodi, which are scheduled to hit the screens on June 5, June 21 and July 12, respectively. Given the towering craze for cricket in India, will the business of these films be affected due to the World Cup?
“Before any other film, it will be Bharat that will definitely be hit due to the World Cup and more so because most of India’s matches are scheduled for weekends, when a mass film like this scores,” says film trade analyst Sumit Kadel, confidence in his voice.
He continues, “On June 5, the release day of Bharat, India will play its first match in the World Cup against South Africa. Then on June 9, which will be the film’s first Sunday, India has match against Australia. On 16th, Bharat’s second Sunday, India will play against Pakistan and I don’t need to tell what this face-off means for Indian fans. On 22nd too, which will be the film’s third Satuday, India is playing.” While Kadel believes Bharat, being a Salman Khan-starrer, is destined to work wonders at the box-office, he says that a dent of 10 to 15 per cent in its business is inevitable. “The major challenge in front of Bharat is that the world cup matches will be played between 3 pm and 11 pm, which are the most important hours from the perspective of business,” he adds. Film trade analyst Girish Johar shares Kadel’s view. He tells us over the telephone, “Cricket World Cup, as we all know, is a huge event. On days when India is playing, business of films will be affected for sure. Since matches will begin in the afternoon, the effect will be significant, especially when there is a critical match.” However, for the opening day of Bharat, Johar says that the Eid holiday will “mitigate” the damage caused by the India-South Africa match on the same day. But “achchi picture ko koi nahi rok sakta,” he says while adding that the merit of a film is above every factor. While Kabir Singh, Kadel feels, will suffer amid the World Cup hurricane, Jabariya Jodi, he says, will only be hurt if India reaches finals.
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