The highly anticipated Hollywood blockbuster, Avatar: Fire And Ash, is set to hit the screens tomorrow, December 19th. However, the excitement is tempered by a behind-the-scenes drama involving single-screen and two-screen cinemas. These cinemas are yet to start bookings due to a dispute over the demand for 'all shows' for the film. But here's where it gets controversial...
A trade source revealed to Bollywood Hungama that Disney, the studio behind Avatar: Fire And Ash, has requested single-screen theatres to allocate all their shows for the film. For two-screen cinemas, they've asked for 5 or 6 shows. This directive has caused a stir among exhibitors, who are already enjoying the success of Dhurandhar. They believe that Dhurandhar will continue to draw large audiences even in its third week, as evidenced by its steady weekday footfalls.
The exhibitors have proposed a fair division of shows between the two films, recognizing that Avatar: Fire And Ash will also be a crowd-puller. However, Disney has not yet accepted this idea. Negotiations are ongoing, and a compromise is expected to be reached today.
As of 8:30 am on December 18th, single-screen theatres in Mumbai, such as Gold Cinema Santacruz, Chitra Dadar, Roxy Opera House, Maratha Mandir, Kasturba Malad, Citylight Mahim, Inox Nakshatra Dadar, MovieTime Star City, New Excelsion, MovieTime Dahisar, Gold Cinema Sona Borivali, MovieMax Andheri East, MovieTime Suburbia, PVR Le Reve, and others, are yet to start bookings for the following day.
The same issue is also being faced by two-screen plexes like Sun City Vile Parle, Mukta A2 Cinemas Lalbaug, Topiwala Goregaon, PVR Milap Kandivali, Movietime Malad, and more.
Surprisingly, even some three-screen properties like Sterling, MovieMax Mira Road, MovieMax Sion, and four-screen properties like Miraj R Mall Mulund, Inox Raghuleela Kandivali, PVR Odeon Ghatkopar, Inox Korum Mall Thane, MovieMax SM5 Kalyan, MovieMax Wonder Mall Thane, and others, have not yet started ticket sales for Avatar: Fire And Ash and Dhurandhar for December 19th onwards.
At Mumbai's iconic G7 complex, known as Gaiety-Galaxy, advance bookings have opened in four cinemas, but Galaxy and Gemini are yet to begin. Dhurandhar will continue at Gaiety with three shows from December 19th. Until December 18th, it was being screened in both Gaiety and Galaxy. It remains to be seen whether Avatar: Fire And Ash will be accommodated at Galaxy or Gemini, or both, and whether Dhurandhar will also get additional shows in the other two cinemas at G7.
This situation raises questions about the balance between the demand for popular films and the need to provide equitable opportunities for all cinemas. It will be interesting to see how this dispute is resolved and whether it will impact the overall success of Avatar: Fire And Ash.
What do you think? Will the cinemas find a solution that satisfies both parties, or will this controversy impact the box office performance of the film? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
