‘2013 looks promising for Bollywood’

Year 2012 saw 163 Hindi films being released with the industry clocking net box office revenues of over Rs2,000 crore. Komal Nahta, noted film trade analyst and the host of Z ETC Bollywood Business Awards 2012 (to be aired on Z ETC channel on January 5) in conversation with DNA talks about how the year has been for the industry, highlights and trends. Excerpts...

How has 2012 been for Bollywood?
It’s been a very good 12 months for the trade. Although the success percentage (18-22%) of films that worked on the box office wasn’t any different from the last few years, the differentiator was that a lot of films did huge business. All kinds of films worked, be it comedy, horror, family drama, thriller or action. Then there were some films with complete newcomers like Vicky Donor and Ishqzaade that became big hits.

What has really brought about this change in the audience?
In the last few years, film makers have realised that it is not just the stars who could get audience to the theatres. While big stars could lure audience for one or two shows, 2012 has proved it is the content of the film that is the main driver. Mushrooming of film channels has exposed the audience to world cinema sitting in their home. This has developed a taste for newer subjects in a section of the audience, which is big enough to make such films viable.

With the first few days of release deciding the fate of a movie, how has film making changed?
We have seen this trend getting stronger, as a result a section of the film makers have diverted their focus from the script and are concentrating more on the promotion and marketing aspects. It is easier to promote the film in the last 15-20 days than to work on the film’s script for over 6-8 months.

Is 2013 looking equally good or better?
It is looking good and we are hoping it will be much better than the year going by. A line-up of big films — not only actors but directors as well — are due for release. Prominent among them are Aamir Khan’s Dhoom 3, Shah Rukh Khan’s Chennai Express and Hrithik Roshan’s Krrish 3.