Film Production
Hindi Diwali blockbusters propel November box office to Rs 914 crore
MUMBAI: Diwali brought more than just lights and festivities this year—it ignited the Indian box office with a dazzling display of cinematic magic.
According to Ormax Media’s The India Box Office Report: November 2024 the month turned into a blockbuster bonanza, with the box office cash registers ringing up a jaw-dropping Rs 914 crore in gross collections. In a nation where movies are worshipped and stars are idolised, two powerhouse releases—”Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” and “Singham Again”—emerged as the true torchbearers of unity and entertainment, raking in Rs 664 crore and capturing a whopping 73 per cent of the month’s collections.
Despite a year marked by a 4 per cent dip compared to 2023, the silver screen proved its resilience, delivering joy, drama, and record-breaking numbers like never before. The numbers don’t just speak—they roar!
The Hindi film industry delivered a commanding performance in November. “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” emerged as the highest-grossing film of the month, amassing Rs 15 crore more than “Singham Again”. Both films now rank among the year’s top Hindi theatrical releases, trailing only “Stree 2” in total collections.
While “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” capitalised on nostalgia and engaging storytelling, “Singham Again” thrived on its action-packed narrative and star power. Together, they bolstered Hindi cinema’s contribution to the cumulative box office for January to November 2024, which stands at Rs 9,862 crore.
In contrast, non-Hindi films struggled to make a significant impact. The Tamil film “Kanguva”, despite a promising start, faltered due to poor audience reception, barely crossing the Rs 50 crore mark. Hollywood, regional Indian films, and dubbed releases collectively failed to breach the Rs 100 crore benchmark for November.
Hindi’s market share climbed to 38 per cent in 2024 from 34 per cent earlier this year, signaling a recovery. However, it remains below the 44 per cent dominance recorded in 2023, highlighting room for growth. With “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” & “Singham Again” being the latest additions, “Kalki 2898 AD” saw 45 per cent of its box office collection coming from its hindi version, further underscoring the language’s significant contribution to the year’s cinematic landscape.
The cumulative gross box office collections for 2024 have already surpassed the Rs 10,000 crore threshold, thanks to the enduring appeal of major releases like “Pushpa 2: The Rule”. Industry insiders are optimistic about December’s high-profile films, including “Baby John” (Hindi) and “Mufasa: The Lion King” (Hollywood). With the right audience response, 2024 could challenge the record Rs 12,226 crore gross achieved in 2023.
The industry’s resilience amidst a 4 per cent decline is commendable, yet the reliance on a handful of blockbusters underscores vulnerabilities in market diversification. For regional and non-Hindi films, capturing broader audience segments will be crucial.
As December’s releases roll in, the Indian box office’s final figures for 2024 remain a subject of keen anticipation. The industry’s ability to adapt and innovate will determine whether it can reclaim the highs of previous years or chart new territory in its post-pandemic resurgence.
Key takeaways:
1. “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” leads November 2024 with record-breaking collections.
2. Hindi films dominate, contributing 73 per cent of monthly revenue.
3. Regional and Hollywood films underperform, highlighting disparities.
4. The annual box office’s success hinges on December’s releases.
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Film Production
Priyanka Kaur Dhillon joins SVF Entertainment as lead for music distribution
A seasoned content dealmaker with 16 years in digital and satellite media joins the Bengali entertainment powerhouse as it pushes into the pan-India music market
Mumbai: Priyanka Kaur Dhillon has made her move. The content acquisitions and commercials veteran, most recently commercial manager at Sony Pictures Networks India, has joined SVF Entertainment as lead for music distribution, stepping into one of the more interesting briefs in regional entertainment right now.
SVF is no ordinary regional label. Over 30 years it has built a formidable legacy in Bengali cinema and music, driven by culturally resonant storytelling and a catalogue that consistently punches above its weight. Its recent success with Chiraiya underlines the point. But the Kolkata-based powerhouse now has its sights firmly set beyond Bengal, most visibly through Legacy, a rap reality series produced in collaboration with hip-hop label Kalamkaar that signals a deliberate push into the pan-India music ecosystem.
Dhillon brings precisely the kind of muscle SVF needs for that expansion. At Sony Pictures Networks India, she led film acquisition and commercials and handled music licensing across the entire satellite network. Before that, she spent nearly 15 years at Hungama, rising to assistant general manager and leading strategic content licensing for the platform’s digital entertainment business, with a particular focus on international markets. Her label relationships span the full roster: Sony Music, Universal Music, Warner Music, Believe International, Tunecore, The Orchard and a clutch of smaller aggregators. She has negotiated and closed deals with Hollywood studios, Bollywood production houses and regional content players alike, building pricing models and deal structures off data analysis rather than instinct.
Announcing the appointment, Dhillon said she was “thrilled to begin this journey with an iconic Bengali music label and content powerhouse,” adding that SVF’s “constant drive to push boundaries” was what drew her to the role.
SVF has spent three decades proving that regional does not mean limited. With a sharp commercial operator now steering its music distribution, its bid to go national just got a good deal more serious.
