Ajay Devgn’s upcoming comedy-drama ‘Son of Sardaar 2’ is all set to hit cinemas this Friday, August 1. Directed by Vijay Kumar Arora, the film will clash at the box office with ‘Dhadak 2’, starring Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri. But just days before release, Devgn’s film is reportedly facing a major problem, it’s struggling to get enough shows, especially in non-national cinema chains and single screens.
Screen troubles ahead of release
According to a Pinkvilla report, the distributors of ‘Son of Sardaar 2’ want 60 per cent of the total show timings for the film. But many cinema owners are not ready to give that much space.The report mentions, “Exhibitors are willing allot not more than 35 per cent of shows at their properties. While some single screens have agreed on two-shows per-day, the non-national chains are willing to give not more than 35 per cent shows to ‘Son of Sardaar 2’. This has left PVRInox fuming, and the fight is on to secure more shows.”
Exhibitors stick with current hits
One big reason for this struggle is that cinema owners don’t want to replace films that are already doing well. At the moment, both ‘Saiyaara’ and ‘Mahavatar Narsimha’ are attracting strong audiences, and exhibitors are not ready to let go of that success. These two films are continuing to gain momentum at the box office, making it harder for new films like ‘Son of Sardaar 2’ to get enough screens.
‘Dhadak 2’ avoids wide release rush
While Devgn’s film is having a tough time, ‘Dhadak 2′ seems to have avoided this issue by using a different release plan. The report further states, “’Dhadak 2’ team is going tight with their release with about 1000 screens on the first day. They are not looking for a wide release, and content with a strategic release on 1000 screens, mainly focused towards the urban markets.” This means ‘Dhadak 2’ is not competing for too many screens, and is instead focusing on specific audiences in urban areas.
Makers planned 3500-screen release
The makers of ‘Son of Sardaar 2’ were reportedly aiming to release the film on 3500 screens across India. But due to the current situation, that number might drop to just 2500 screens. With exhibitors preferring to stick with existing hits, Devgn’s film may have to settle for fewer showtimes than expected.Even though things are not looking ideal, there is still hope. The final decision about show sharing is expected to be taken by the morning of July 31. Negotiations are still ongoing between the makers and exhibitors, so the situation could improve at the last minute.
Big clash, bigger expectations
With a release just around the corner, ‘Son of Sardaar 2’ is entering a crowded box office. The clash with ‘Dhadak 2’, combined with the continued success of ‘Saiyaara’ and ‘Mahavatar Narsimha’, means the film has a tough fight ahead. But with Ajay Devgn’s fan following and the promise of comedy and action, the team is hoping that audiences will show up in large numbers, even if the number of shows are lesser on day one.
