20 releases clamour for space as Chennai Express and OUATIMD arrive big

'Chennai Express' and 'Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Dobara' may have saved some trouble for themselves by allowing a gap of one week between them. However that has hardly helped the cause of 14 odd smaller films which are finding themselves in a cramped space this July when at least seven other major films are already set for release.

"Since the Shahrukh and Akshay starrers would be dominating for major part of August, no other filmmaker is daring to bring his film in and around Eid or Independence Day. The only film which has seen some promotion around itself is 'Satyagraha' and may eventually arrive in August. This has resulted in a massive pile up in July," says an insider.

While notable films like 'Lootera', 'Policegiri', 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag', 'D-Day', 'Ramaiya
Vastavaiya', 'Bajatey Raho' and 'Issaq' were always slated for July arrival, it still seemed good as one or two major releases every week is acceptable. However what cannot be fathomed is the fact that several other films have suddenly chosen July as the season of arrival. This, when there is not even a single festival holiday in the month.

"It is beyond imagination to see every other film clamouring for release next month," says a source, "Do films like 'B.A Pass', 'Boyss Toh Boyss Hain', 'Shorts', 'Sixteen', 'Prague', 'Oops A Desi', 'Tara', 'Ek Bura Aadmi', 'Luv U Soniyo' and others really stand any chance whatsoever? It is plain and simple suicide."

He adds, "Most of these won't even get more than one or two shows a day. We recently saw what happened to 'Shortcut Romeo' and 'Enemmy' when they arrived alongside 'Raanjhanaa' even as 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani' and 'Fukrey' were still going strong."

If one looks at the sum total of all films - whether big or small - arriving next month, it turns out to be an astonishing 20 odd releases in a span of four weeks. If this isn't a disaster waiting to happen, what else is?