Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

Coronavirus casualties: Movies which won't release now

March 16, 2020 13:41 IST

With theatres shut in most cities, producers are left with no choice but to postpone releases of their movies.

Joginder Tuteja draws up a list of films which will announce a new release date soon.

 

Angrezi Medium

This is going to be a unique case of a film seeing a theatrical release and already planning for a re-release.

Angrezi Medium arrived on the Friday gone by, just when theatres were ordered to shut down.

Producer Dinesh Vijan plans to re-release his film as soon as the coronavirus-inspired shutdown ends.

 

Sandeep aur Pinky Faraar

Stuck for a couple of years, its release date was announced suddenly for March 20.

This was anyways meant to be a token release by Yash Raj Films since its run would have curtailed just four days later with the arrival of Sooryavanshi.

A word of advice: Get a token release and arrive soon on satellite/digital platforms.

 

'83

Yet another biggie, its promotions began a month ago.

Producer Sajid Nadiadwala is sure to push for a fresh release date.

His Baaghi 3 has already been impacted and he wouldn't want the same for Kabir Khan's cricket epic.

Perhaps, he could release the movie in the week of June 25, timed for the 37th anniversary of India's greatest cricketing triumph.

 

Sooryavanshi

The makers of Sooryavanshi are the first to have pushed ahead the release indefinitely.

Produced by Karan Johar, Akshay Kumar and Rohit Shetty, the action entertainer is not expected to arrive before the end of April.

A wise decision indeed since big bucks are riding on this movie.

 

Haathi Mere Saathi

Another film slated to arrive in 2018, but pushed ahead again and again.

Its promotion started a month or so ago, but it is very unlikely that it will now make it for an April 2 release.

There is still uncertainty if theatres will open by then; it is better to plan for a later release date now itself.

 

From this point on till the big Eid releases -- Laxmmi Bomb and Radhe-Your Most Wanted Bhai, there are multiple films lined up for arrival.

The moving ahead of the aforementioned biggies will have a ripple effect on other April and May arrivals.

 

Gulabo Sitabo

Ayushmann Khurranna's coming together with Amitabh Bachchan was much awaited.

Audiences will have to wait longer for their escapades on screen.

 

Ludo

After the fantasy flick Jagga Jasoos, Anurag Basu was all set to return to the real world with the Abhishek Bachchan, Aditya Roy Kapur, Rajkummar Rao, Sanya Malhotra and Fatima Sana Sheikh starrer Ludo.

A dark comedy touted to take on from where Anurag's Life... In A Metro left,Ludo will face a 'Snakes & Ladder' scenario for its release date.

 

Gunjan Saxena -- The Kargil Girl

One waits to see what Karan Johar plans for his Janhvi Kapoor starrer Gunjan Saxena -- The Kargil Girl.

Dharma will plan Sooryavanshi's arrival first. If the Akshay Kumar starrer releases in April, then this one will move ahead.

 

Coolie No 1

Varun Dhawan is searching for a bonafide hit; his last superhit was Judwaa 2 was back in 2017.

Since then he has seen back to back average runners like October, Sui Daaga and Street Dancer 3D with the major flop Kalank in between.

Coolie No 1 reunites him with dad David Dhawan and the film looks like a certain hit. Best then for it not to arrive in a crowd.

 

The Girl On The Train/Shakuntala Devi -- Human Computer/Jhund/Dil Bechara

May 8 was getting crowded with Shakuntala Devi-Human Computer, The Girl On The Train, Jhund and Dil Bechara aiming for a release on the same date.

At least two of these films will definitely move ahead.

Ranveer Singh's Jayeshbhai Jordaar and Farhan Akhtar's Toofaan

A swapping of release dates has already taken between Ranveer Singh's Jayeshbhai Jordaar and Farhan Akhtar's Toofaan.

Jayeshbhai Jordaar arrives on October 2 and Yash Raj Films will hope to make a killing all over again on Gandhi Jayanti after its War created history on the same day last year.

Farhan and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra join hands again after Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, which had entered the Rs 100 Crore Club.

With boxing at the centre of Toofaan, one expects the film to make a thumping impact on its September 18 arrival.

JOGINDER TUTEJA