The Indian box office in September 2024 saw a total domestic gross of Rs 1,066 crore, marking it as the third-best month of the year. This brings the cumulative box office from January to September to Rs 7,949 crore, which is 9.5% lower than the same period in 2023, as per report published by Ormax media. While the decline may concern some, the numbers highlight several ongoing trends and patterns rather than an industry-wide problem.
Devara Part – 1 emerged as the top performer of the month, grossing Rs 337 crore. It outpaced The Greatest Of All Time, though both films dominated September, collectively contributing nearly 60% of the total box office. These films, rooted in their home states, saw significant regional support, with Devara Part – 1 leading in Telugu-speaking areas and The Greatest Of All Time in Tamil-speaking markets. With no other films reaching the Rs 100 crore mark, and only the Malayalam film A.R.M. crossing Rs 50 crore, the month was largely shaped by these two blockbusters.
The cumulative decline in the box office compared to 2023 can be linked to a variety of factors. Hindi cinema, which had a 40% language share from January to August, saw its share shrink to 37% by the end of September. A weak slate of September releases and the holdover performance of Stree 2 from August offered little in the way of major earnings for Bollywood. In contrast, Telugu and Tamil films saw their language shares increase by two percentage points each, bolstered by the success of Devara Part – 1 and The Greatest Of All Time. The growing contribution of South Indian cinema is not new, but the data confirms the continued ascent of these industries in national and regional markets alike.
A notable highlight of September 2024 was the surprising success of the re-release of Tumbbad. Collecting Rs 40 crore during its second run, Tumbbad set a new benchmark for re-releases in India, more than doubling the box office numbers of its original release. This re-release also surpassed the Tamil film Ghilli, which had previously held the record with Rs 26 crore in collections during its April re-release. The strong performance of Tumbbad reflects a potential untapped opportunity in re-releasing films that may not have performed as well initially but have garnered cult followings or newfound interest over time.
Telugu cinema’s rise continues to be a key takeaway from this year. By September 2024, four out of the top 10 grossing films of the year—Devara Part – 1, Kalki 2898 AD, Hanu-Man, and Guntur Kaaram—hail from Telugu cinema. Devara Part – 1’s entry into this list strengthens the already formidable presence of Telugu films in the national market, with broader distribution networks and more pan-Indian appeal driving their success.
September’s box office figures reveal not just a month of highs and lows but a reflection of broader industry trends. The increasing influence of South Indian cinema, the potential of re-releases, and Bollywood’s fluctuating market share all hint at significant shifts underway. With the final quarter of the year approaching, these patterns will likely continue to shape the box office landscape, making for an intriguing close to 2024.