Will Kantara: Chapter 1 affect SSKTK’s box office? Trade experts reveal

Festival releases often translate into a box-office clash. With Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari and Kantara: Chapter 1, however, the war has begun even before they hit the theatres on October 2. The two releases are engaged in a screen war, which started when the distributors of the Rishab Shetty-starrer asked that the mythological action drama be allotted all single-screen theatres across the country and a dominant share of prime shows in multiplexes. This sparked a backlash from the makers of Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, who have now insisted on equal screen division across key territories.

Even as the two movies’ advance booking has opened, exhibitors fear being the worst hit as they will end up disappointing at least one major distributor no matter what they decide. Single-screen owners, especially in Tier-2 and -3 towns, are said to be under intense pressure from each party to increase the respective film’s shows.

The ongoing clash has left the trade on edge. Delhi-based screen owner Gurmeet Seble told mid-day, “Such clashes hurt everyone — producers, exhibitors, and sometimes even the audience, who may find their choice of film unavailable at their nearest theatre.” 

Ramesh Bala, a leading trade analyst, noted that while Kantara: Chapter 1 is expected to dominate screens in South India, the Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor-starrer will benefit in the northern region. “In the past, Kantara commanded the maximum share of screens in the South. In the North, the division of screens depends on advance bookings, with multiplex chains adjusting their show counts closer to release based on early demand. Dharma Productions has influence in the North, especially in multiplex circuits. That gives Sunny Sanskari... a negotiating edge in those markets,” he analysed.

Bala pointed out that the two films belong to different genres, and hence, will target different sections of the audience. “A middle ground will have to be found before the release weekend. By the Monday after the release, word-of-mouth will decide the hold.” 

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh revealed that there isn’t a neat 50-50 division across Mumbai screens. “In most multiplexes here, Kantara is getting more screens. The buzz is based on the euphoria of the last part [Kantara, 2022]. Sunny Sanskari... is a happy family film with a wedding backdrop and will pull crowds in the North sector.”

Sept 27 vs Sept 28
When the advance booking of Kantara: Chapter 1 and Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari began respectively