Movies
Regional films fared better in ’16 in terms of online booking
NEW DELHI: Regional films did exceptionally well at the box office in 2016 and Malayalam cinema particularly a major rise, if one is to go by online bookings for tickets.
Online movie ticketing for Malayalam cinema showed over 80 per cent growth as compared to in 2015, according to tickets sold by online entertainment ticketing brand BookMyShow.
However, the Rajinikanth starrer Kabali (Tamil) was the only regional film that made it to BookMyShow’s Top 10. The Shahrukh Khan starrer Fan was ranked 14th
While Kabali (Telugu) was the most sold regional film, Natsamrat (Marathi) was the top rated
Thus, regional and even Hollywood films did well during 2016 apart from Bollywood, according to the ticketing brand.
This was directly mirrored through millions of ratings and reviews that BookMyShow received on its platform this year.
While Sunday remains the best day of the week to watch a film and Friday to Sunday are the preferred days by cinegoers, 2016 threw up a surprise when Monday proved to be the fourth most popular film-watching day in comparison to 2015 when Thursday had reserved this honour.
Viewers generally preferred a 7:00 pm show on any given day of the week but the most perfect day and time combination for movie watching was Saturday at 10:00 pm.
Only four Hindi and English films rated in the top 10, while al the other spots were grabbed by regional films
The trailer of Sultan was most rated on BookMyShow, followed by M S Dhoni- The Untold Story
This year, BookMyShow also compiled a list of its favourites in four categories:
Cult- Among others, a movie that left a long lasting impression on BookMyShow and the editor was Miss Peregrines’s Home for Peculiar Children; Debutants as 2016 saw some noteworthy performances by new talent such as Waluscha De Sousa in Fan opposite Shahrukh Khan and Harshvardhan Kapoor in Mirzya; Dialogue- Movie buffs came across quite a few memorable dialogues this year. One of them definitely was Aishwarya Rai’s “Main kisi ki zaroorat nahi, khwaish ban-na chahti hoon” from Ae Dil Hai Mushkil; and Movers and Shakers – Among the ones who definitely made a huge impact to the films was definitely Dwayne Johnson who made the headlines all year long in 2016 for his act in Moana.
BookMyShow Co-founder & Director Parikshit Dar said, “As we near the end of 2016, we decided to revisit their truly incredible 2016 journey with us and summarize their year at the movies. Our objective has always been to enrich the user experience by smartly using technology, while enhancing content discovery on BookMyShow. In this regard, our comprehensive reviews and ratings platform, which has also established itself as an industry yardstick to evaluate a film’s popularity, has played an instrumental role in further assisting viewers in making informed decisions while transacting on BookMyShow. The year 2017 already looks promising with some great line content already lined up and we are excited to embark upon the New Year with our users.”
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Hindi
Rajesh Ramaswamy exits The Script Room to focus on filmmaking journey
Ad filmmaker steps away from own venture to pursue direction and storytelling
MUMBAI: In a move that has caught the attention of the advertising and creative community, Rajesh Ramaswamy has announced his exit from The Script Room, the company he co-founded, marking the end of a seven-year stint at the helm.
The decision, which came into effect earlier this month, signals a shift in focus for Ramaswamy, who is now looking to immerse himself fully in filmmaking and direction as an independent creative.
Known for blending sharp advertising insight with storytelling craft, Ramaswamy has been instrumental in shaping The Script Room into a creative hub that delivered campaigns, branded content, and original storytelling formats. Over the years, the company collaborated with agencies, directors, and a wide network of writers, while also experimenting with formats such as short films and web series.
Sharing his thoughts on the transition, Ramaswamy indicated that the move is driven by a desire to focus and explore stories he has been developing over time. While he acknowledged the unconventional nature of stepping away from one’s own venture, he also framed it as a necessary leap toward clarity and creative pursuit.
Importantly, The Script Room will continue its operations with its current team and leadership, with Ramaswamy expressing confidence in the group that helped build the company’s identity. The studio, he noted, remains well-positioned to evolve further with fresh talent and ideas.
His exit also reflects a wider industry trend, where experienced advertising professionals are increasingly transitioning into independent filmmaking, tapping into the growing opportunities across digital and long-form content platforms.
As Ramaswamy steps into this new phase, the move underscores a familiar creative instinct, sometimes, the boldest ideas begin with a clean break.
