The Indian exhibition sector is currently grappling with a severe logistical nightmare. With less than 24 hours to go before the May 1 (Maharashtra Day) holiday weekend, several major cinemas across the country have yet to open advance bookings. Exhibitors are calling the situation an “Agni Pariksha” (Trial by Fire) as they struggle to divide limited screen time among nearly half a dozen high-profile new releases and strong holdover hits.
In Mumbai, iconic venues like Regal, Eros IMAX, and Sterling had not finalized their schedules as of Thursday morning. The delay stems from intense “screen-sharing” negotiations between distributors and theater owners, each vying for prime-time slots.
The Massive May 1 Lineup
The primary cause of the backlog is the sheer volume of content arriving simultaneously:
- Raja Shivaji (Hindi/Marathi): The heavyweight of the week. Jio Studios is demanding aggressive showcasing, including all shows in single-screen theaters and up to 16 shows daily in major multiplexes.
- Ek Din (Hindi): The Aamir Khan-produced drama starring Junaid Khan and Sai Pallavi.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 (English): The long-awaited Hollywood sequel, which has seen surprisingly strong advance sales.
- Regional Giants: Patriot (Malayalam), Kara (Tamil), Dhabkaaro (Gujarati), and KD – The Devil (Kannada) are all demanding significant space, with many featuring Hindi-dubbed versions.
Pressure from Holdover Hits
Compounding the problem are the films already in theaters that refuse to slow down. Michael, the record-breaking Michael Jackson biopic, and the Akshay Kumar-starrer Bhooth Bangla are still drawing significant crowds.
Exhibitors are finding it nearly impossible to accommodate these successful “holdovers” while meeting the high show-count demands for the new releases.
Jio Studios’ Bold Demands for ‘Raja Shivaji’
As the primary distributor for the week’s biggest film, Jio Studios has issued a strict requirement list to theater chains:
- Single Screens: 100% of shows dedicated to Raja Shivaji.
- 3-Screen Multiplexes: Minimum of 10 shows per day.
- 5+ Screens: A massive 16-show daily commitment.
- Premium Formats: The studio is also insisting on 4DX and EPIQ screenings for the historical epic.
For now, moviegoers are advised to keep a close eye on ticketing apps, as several theaters are expected to “go live” only at the eleventh hour.
