Production houses up the number of releases this year

While the past few years have seen the Bollywood actor brigade hop onto the producer bandwagon, the production houses already in business seem to have increased the number of their film releases by as much as three times the original number. So, while a couple of years back a production house would have about three releases on an average, today most of them have as many as eight to nine films being churned out from their stable each year. According to trade watchers and insiders, this increase can be attributed to several factors.

Filmmaker Subhash Ghai points out that much has to do with the fact that apart from producing their regular biggies, producers are now more open to exploring other avenues including looking at mid-to-small-budget films. “Today a production house does consider the possibility and the option of producing even regional cinema, which adds to the total number of films being produced in all,” informs Ghai. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh adds that much also has to do with the fact that most small-to-mid budget flicks are made on a start to end schedule. “These films have more takers today and instead of putting all their money on three biggies, the production houses now distribute it between three biggies and may be six other mid budgets which is profitable and minimises risks,” he explains.

A source from a leading production house says that the corporates often have to show a certain number of films being produced each year, since it reflects well overall in the balance sheets too. “Balancing our portfolio’s easier too now since we can churn out more films in the mid-budget range. Because of new talent being recognised, the projects today are as viable with them as they are with known names,” shares the insider.

Interestingly, most production houses have almost branched out based on the budget — one division caters to new and young talent, the other division takes care of the biggies under the main umbrella. “This allows a company to experiment and take risks,” says a filmmaker.