Bollywood's losses double in 2009

1000 crores! That is what Bollywood lost in year 2009 with a string of flops. Last year's losses amounted to 500 crores. By doubling the losses, Bollywood breaks record this year. 

Bollywood, a US$ 2 Billion (Rs 9300 Crores) industry is going through rough patches. Despite the poor performance of the movies in box office, leading actors continue to command outrageous renumeration. Some even charging up to a cool 33 crores a movie. Even the new kids on the block charge in the range of 8 to 10 crores per movie.  

UTV managed by Ronnie Screwvala is regarded as the smartest player in the industry. Two back-to- back movies (What is your Rashee, Main Aur Mrs Khanna) of this production house flopped big time in the box office.  

Who should be held accountable for the losses? Ultimately the producer and the distributors remain at the loosing end for trusting the script and the director. What about the so called stars? Should they be blamed? Perhaps not. The enthusiasm and the euphoria created by the film makers about a script can be overwhelming and the temptation to accept is irresistible. Upon narration of the story, and given the big money involved, the star is already dreaming of a potential hit and thinking of his increased star power on the success of another hit.  

However should stars be held accountable for the flop of a movie? Should their renumeration be tied up to the performance of the movie at the box office? In the south, some stars' renumeration is tied to the performance of the movie. In addition to their pay, they are given distribution rights to certain areas or a certain percentage of the earnings is shared with them. Some are even known to compensate the distributors for flops. I think this trend should be brought forward to Bollywood allowing stars to share some of the losses.

Analyzing the flops in 2009, Dil Bole Hadippa but the audience bole bhago (run). Blue turned the audience's face red. London Dreams remained as a dream that never took off. What is your Rashee had its rashee already sealed. Chandni Chowk to China made people wonder whether the star was made a chef or chef was made a star. 8 X 10 tasveer is framed in the hall of flops for film students to study classic flops. The monkey man's inexplicable antics had the audience tearing its hair on watching Delhi 6. Aladin will remain as one of Amitabh Bachchan's worst nightmares.

All is not lost. At least some are rejoicing the Bollywood extravaganza. Countries like Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Bahamas, UK, US and South Africa clap and cheer the Bollywood industry for enhancing their economy. Bollywood spends millions to shoot on their exotic locations. These countries will continue to remain beneficiaries no matter what happens to the fate of a Bollywood movie.

Rajesh Kumar