Hindi
Single-screen theatres sink in losses
MUMBAI: Bollywood is possibly going through its darkest financial period in its over century-old existence. The producer-multiplex row is hurting stakeholders across the board.
Single-screen theatres and multiplexes have cut down on shows to reduce their operational losses. In the past five weeks there have been no new releases in Hindi with just a few in English. Going by the fact that Hindi films draw a large amount of moviegoers than those for English films, footfalls have dropped considerably, as a result of which cinema halls have been facing severe drop in their income.
Single-screen cinema halls in central Mumbai like Premiere and Chitra have seen a drop in revenue of between 60 to 75 per cent. “Though there are no new Hindi releases, Marathi films like Mee Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy have kept us afloat,” said Premiere Theatre manager Prem Kamat. “Our business has come down by 75 per cent, I do not want to shut shop as it will go against our ethics.”
Single-screen theatre Plaza that also shows Marathi films has managed to sustain its business to 50 per cent because it is alternating three films between four shows, one screening regularly in the matinee show. etc have been showing Bhojpuri films. “Bhojpuri-speaking cinegoers mainly women along with their children throng our cinemas in the afternoon and the evening shows more so because of the summer vacation in schools,” says Kalpana theatre manager Liaqat Khan.
According to trade analyst N.P. Yadav almost all of the 85 single-screen theatres including the ones in Thane and close to 30 multiplexes have been forced to cancel between five to 25 shows per week. A few Marathi films like Mee Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy and a few others have saved theatres located in areas where Marathi filmgoers exist.
Avers executive director Manoj Desai of Maratha Mandir and G-7 theatres like Gaiety, Galaxy, Glamour, Gossip and Gemini, “Our business has gone down by as much as 80 per cent. This situation is graver than the one we saw in 1989, when we were on a month-long strike.” Though Desai has kept his theatres open, he has been forced to cancel 50 shows across the six theatres under his control.
Hindi
Marico founder Harsh Mariwala’s book Harsh Realities set for film adaptation
Almighty Motion Picture taps Karan Vyas to script Marico story
MUMBAI: Almighty Motion Picture is turning its lens on India Inc., with plans to adapt Harsh Realities: The Making of Marico into a screen project. The story charts the rise of Harsh Mariwala, the chairman and founder of Marico, and is currently in early development, according to a report by Variety.
Writer Karan Vyas, known for his work on Scam 1992, Scoop and Made in India – A Titan Story, is attached to pen the screenplay. The project continues the studio’s growing interest in real-life Indian narratives that blend business with human drama.
At the heart of the story lies a defining moment in 1987, when Mariwala chose to step away from the family-run Bombay Oil Industries and strike out on his own. What followed was not just the creation of a company, but the reinvention of a legacy. Marico would go on to become a global FMCG player, with brands like Parachute, Saffola, Set Wet and Livon becoming household names, reaching nearly one in three Indians.
The source material, co-authored by Mariwala and renowned business strategist Ram Charan, offers more than a boardroom chronicle. It captures the grit behind the growth, the risks behind the rewards and the leadership lessons forged along the way.
The adaptation aims to move beyond balance sheets and brand milestones, focusing instead on the person behind the enterprise. Expect a narrative that leans into the emotional stakes of entrepreneurship, where decisions are as personal as they are professional.
Today, Marico draws about a quarter of its revenue from international markets across Asia and Africa, reflecting its steady transformation from a domestic player into a multinational force. Yet, if the makers have their way, the screen version will remind audiences that every global success story begins with a leap of faith.
With development set to begin soon, this is one business story that may just trade spreadsheets for storytelling, and profit margins for moments that linger
