LiveQnA: Post your questions now!

The second ‘LiveQnA’ session. Ask any movie related question in the comments section below and get it answered immediately.

We pick 10 questions and update this page with answers. A little late in the day because our servers cannot handle the high traffic during ‘LiveQnA’ during the day time.

Let’s start. Readers can refresh the page once every 10 minutes or so for the latest answers!

Q. If the clash between ‘Raees’ and ‘Sultan’ happens, which movie do you think will be the higher grosser?

A. When it comes to opening numbers at the box office, Salman Khan is likely to lead in India and Shahrukh Khan in the overseas markets. Circuit-wise, Shahrukh Khan has an overwhelming advantage in Mysore and West Bengal, and Salman leads in quite a few circuits and mass centres / single-screen dominated areas too. It will also depend on the genre and trailer. Just as an example, a film like ‘Swades’ can’t compete with a mass-appealing film like ‘Tere Naam’. If both ‘Sultan’ and ‘Raees’ hold universal appeal, the battle for box office supremacy will be something to watch out for. The higher grosser of the two will depend on word-of-mouth. From a trade perspective, exhibitors will love the clash, since a lot of people will want to watch both films and the ticket prices during festivals is the highest. The footfalls at multiplexes will break records and the combined collections of the two films will make box office history. It’s a huge clash, comparable to Hrithik vs SRK in 2000, a time when both were at the peak of their stardom.

Q. Who is the biggest crowd-puller of India?

A. Since you mention India, currently, it’s Salman Khan. A film like Kick collecting Rs 27 crore on a working day with a not-so-popular heroine (back then) and debut director, he had very little support apart from popular music and a mass-appealing title. A 27 crore opening on a non-holiday during the Ramadan period is probably equivalent to a 45 crore opening on a National holiday. The advantage of a holiday is around 35-40%, plus there was the Ramadan factor. Not just that, films like ‘Bodyguard’ and ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ broke records by a HUGE margin.

Q. Where was ‘Balleilakka’ song from Rajnikanth’s ‘Sivaji’ shot?

A. The song was shot at Dhom Dan in Wai, near Satara city in Maharashtra. Do note that we prefer to take Bollywood related questions!

Q. What is the best Aanand L.Rai movie according to you- Tanu Weds Manu, Raanjhanaa or Tanu Weds Manu Returns?

A. Personal opinion, has nothing to do with the reviewer of the film on Indicine. Quite liked all his films, although almost all his films tend to drag in the second half leading to the climax. To pick one, it would be the first Tanu Weds Manu film.

Q. When will all songs of Bajrangi Bhaijaan release? What is the total number of songs in the album? What is the budget of the film? When it is exactly releasing as EID is on Sunday? When do you think advance booking of tickets will be available? What is the genre of film?

A. Too many questions! Most production houses release the trailer first, followed by one song promo every week. The dialogue promos are then release one or two weeks before the theatrical release. Total number of songs in Bajrangi Bhaijaan music album is 7. Budget and other details will be published in a few days. Advance booking will begin a week before the release. Genre is ‘Indian drama’, has a bit of comedy, romance, action, emotion.. everything. In short, it’s a masala film.

Q. My question is Dilwale is releasing on 18th Dec 2015 which is a Friday . Christmas Day i.e. is also failing on Friday . So Dilwale’s 8th Day will be a Christmas Holiday . So can you tell me whether Dilwale will be a considered a Holiday release or a Non Holiday release because it has not happened in the last 7 years .

A. These terms are confusing! To keep things simple, ‘Dilwale’ is a Christmas release, which benefits from plenty of holidays in its first 2 weeks, but releases on a normal working day. The opening day collections should be compared to non-holiday releases and not to films like ‘Happy New Year’. If ‘Dilwale’ manages a 40 crore+ opening day on 18th, it’ll be considered earth-shattering. There is no big difference between Christmas falling on the 7th and 8th day after release.

Q. Which is the best film of Emraan Hashmi both commercially and critically?

A. It has to be ‘Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai’. It was received well by the critics and did well at the box office too. A lot of fans love ‘Awarapan’, it has grown on viewers over the year, but when the film released, it didn’t do well.

Q. How much Bahubali is going to affect Bajrangi Bhaijaan as news is that 1200 screens are being booked for hindi version for two week?

A. The Hindi version of ‘Bahubali’ would do well to even retain screens in the second week, which is when ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ releases. There is no market for dubbed south Indian films in major circuits like Mumbai, Delhi/UP and East Punjab. The interest this time around is because Karan Johar is backing it, but that will only increase the awareness, but not necessarily translate into increased footfalls at cinemas.

Q. What will be the opening day of Brothers and weekend business? and at what total collection it will be called blockbuster?

A. We expect it to take a 16-17 crore opening and then depending on the content, show growth over the weekend. It has to collect more than 180 crore to be declared a blockbuster. The costs are on the higher side, it needs about 110 crore to break even.

Q. Bajrangi Bhaijaan release date? July 16 or July 17?

A. Thursday, 16th July 2015 is the release date of Bajrangi Bhaijaan.

Q. Do u think fan will come after Eid 2016?

A. There is no confirmed release date for Yash Raj Films’ FAN. There are rumours that it might release in April before the IPL, which is possible because there has to be a gap of atleast 3 months between 2 Shah Rukh Khan films. If ‘Raees’ does indeed release during Eid 2016, then FAN can only release in April 2016 or after October 2016 during Diwali. We can only speculate about the release date of FAN. There has been no official confirmation from YRF or any reliable source from within YRF.