December 23, 2023
Salaar Vs Dunki: This week witnessed the biggest clash as Dunki hit theaters on December 21, followed by the release of Salaar on December 22. While clashes between big movies at the box office are not uncommon, the challenges faced by these two films have reached unprecedented levels.
Earlier, we reported that Salaar makers wiithdrew their film from PVR Inox and Miraj properties in the South, accusing the multiplex chains of unfair trade practices. After the article’s impact, all parties renegotiated the deal, expecting a resolution for show-sharing. Unfortunately, that hasn’t materialized. Instead, exhibitors were given the choice to play either Dunki or Salaar. As a result some opted for dunki while others for salaar.
Reports indicate that Mumbai’s single-screen cinemas are not sharing shows. theatres that are playing Dunki include PVR Le Reve Bandra, MovieTime Star City, Ajanta Cinema Cinex Borivali, Kasturba Malad, Gold Dadar, Roxy, Inox Thakur Movie, MovieMax Andheri East, MovieMax Goregaon West, Chitra, Regal, and Bahar. Meanwhile, Maratha Mandir, Citylight, Inox Nakshatra Dadar, Mukta A2 Orion Santa Cruz, Premier Gold, Plaza, Paradise, Gold Thane, Gold Borivali, K T Vision Vasai, Anand Cinema Thane, Movie Time Dahisar, New Excelsior, Movie Time Suburbia, and MovieMax Kandivali have chose Salaar.
A similar scenario unfolded across most centers in India. Surprisingly, Gopi Cinema in Dombivali chose not to screen either film, instead opting for two shows of Animal and two shows of the Marathi film Jhimma 2. An anonymous source from the exhibition industry revealed, “The team of Salaar was willing to share shows, but the distributors of Dunki insisted on exclusive screening for their film. Exhibitors had no choice but to pick one.”
A North Indian single-screen exhibitor, while successfully screening Dunki, expressed regret at not being able to showcase Salaar. He cited the precedent of Gadar 2 and OMG 2 sharing shows peacefully, suggesting that a similar arrangement could have been achieved for Dunki and Salaar.
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