Armed with film insurance, additional digital prints, and expectations of greater returns from the overseas market, My Name Is Khan, starring Shah Rukh Khan, is likely to withstand any possible adverse impact on business caused by Shiv Sena?s call to boycott the movie in Maharashtra.
The film is set to release on February 12 under a cloud of a boycott call given by the Shiv Sena over Shah Rukh?s comments last month on non-selection of Pakistan cricket players for the IPL-III. However, film experts say that the movie is likely to get released with over 1,500 prints. Of that, a minimum of 25% prints are for the overseas market, as it contributes nearly a third of overall box office collections of Bollywood films.
?Even in the worst case scenario in Maharashtra, the film is expected to do well in the rest of the country and abroad, thereby negating any possible financial loss for the producers. When it gets released in Maharashtra, the business will be even better,? says an analyst requesting anonymity due to sensitivity of the matter.
To further protect the business interest of the film, sources said the producer??Dharma Productions?? has got My Name Is Khan insured at a premium of between Rs 70 lakh and Rs 1 crore fearing any possible loss of business due to delay in release. However, top executives of the Karan Johar?s production house did not comment on the matter. Even top executives of Fox Star Studios, the distributor of the film, did not respond to call and text messages.
Film exhibitors in Maharashtra are eagerly awaiting the movie and hope that the matter would be resolved before the scheduled release. Around 40-odd multiplexes in Maharashtra and around 100 single screen theatres are waiting for the release of My Name Is Khan. ?It is the most awaited Hindi film and people will watch it at some point or the other. We will open the advance booking from February 10,? said Devang Sampat, vice-president, Cinemax.
?Most of the Bollywood films from organized productions houses have insurance to protect their business interest. In August last year, UTV had insured its film Kaminey from the business loss due to swine flu threat,? says Mihir Shah, media analyst at Prabhudas Liladhar, a leading brokerage firm.
Also, film experts say My Name Is Khan will see a far greater number of digital prints as they cost one-fifth of a physical print costing around Rs 50,000-Rs 55,000. ?Digital prints and satellite-based delivery of films to theatres have reduced the distribution cost significantly for the producers. Most of the overseas venues across the US, the UK and European countries get the digital print resulting in greater financial returns for the producers,? says Shah.