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Salman Khan’s ‘Sikandar’ is reported to release on Sunday, March 30 while coinciding with Eid al-Fitr. The unusual release day isn’t the only time Bollywood has had a no-go on a Friday, the traditional day of hitting the theatres.
Salman Khan’s Sikandar is being touted as the next big release in Bollywood during Eid. (YouTube / NadiadwalaGrandson)
Bollywood’s very own Bhai, Salman Khan, is finally returning to the big screen in a highly-anticipated action-thriller titled Sikandar. A break from his cameos– Singham Again (2024) and Baby John (2024)– Khan’s newest offering is in collaboration with producer Sajid Nadiadwala and director AR Murugadoss. The same Murgadoss known for his Tamil remakes, Ghajini (2008) starring Aamir Khan being one of them. Rashmika Mandanna will play the leading lady while Sathyaraj, Sharman Joshi, Kajal Aggarwal, and Prateik Babbar are given pivotal roles in the movie made on a staggering budget of Rs 200 crores. Sikandarunlike Khan’s previous big Friday releases, is set to premier on March 30, a Sunday. But why?
Sunday Release
Keeping up with the tradition, Khan’s Sikandar is slated for a festival release, coinciding with Eid al-Fitr, taking the theatres on March 30. As it turns out, March 30 is not a Friday but a Sunday instead. It has been widely reported that Sikandar‘s unusual approach to release on a Sunday may have been influenced by Khan’s Tiger 3 that dropped in the theatres on a Monday. Yes, Monday. Initially touted as an Eid release, the movie had a delayed release during Diwali in 2023. The day didn’t matter as Khan’s YRF collaboration earned about Rs 466 crores, while made on a budget of Rs 300 crores.
Not Alone
It only makes sense that a big budget (or a tiny one) movie released on a Friday or during a festival or on both. Friday rings the weekend for the masses and festivals are when the common person gets to escape the reality. The filmmakers want movie buffs to fill up theatres, sell tickets like hot potatoes, and be in tune with the commerce of the business. So why break the tradition?
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The simple answer is festivals do not always fall on Fridays (duh!), be it Eid, Diwali or any national holiday, the off day most definitely pushes a large amount of crowds to theatres. For instance, Chennai Express (2013) starring Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone had a Thursday release. This was aimed at clubbing both Eid and Independence Day holidays to achieve maximum footfall. It worked.
Salman Khan’s very own Sultan that made upwards of Rs 600 crores saw a Wednesday release back in 2016 on July 6. Eid, combined with long weekend, worked wonders. The numbers don’t lie.
Or take Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff’s War that hit the big screens across India on Wednesday. Produced under the banner of iconic Yash Raj Films, the movie accumulated a staggering Rs 475 crores with Gandhi Jayanti release. October 2, 2019.
Rakeysh omprakash mehra’s Rang De Basantian epic-coming-of-age-drama film became an instant icon among youngsters in India and shattered box office records unheard for the time. A Thursday release, Rang De Basanti captured the hearts on India’s Republic Day on January 26, 2006.
Have festival releases ever failed?
Coming back to Sikandarwhich has, according to several reports, already made most of its budget back owing to pre-bookings and general excitement leading up to watching Bhaijaan on the screen around Eid, are there any Bollywood movies that have tanked during festivals or major holidays?
Although Farah Khan’s Christmas eve offering Tees maar khan (2010) which has attained cult-like status among niche Bollywood fans over the years and did make a decent buck at the box office, the movie, at the time, was heavily panned for being “low IQ”. It was a commercial success, sure, but critically it was considered a major dud.
Ranbir Kapoor’s 2013 venture Besharama movie the actor would perhaps want to disappear from his filmography, had no impact on viewers, box-office or the critics. It was released in theatres on Gandhi Jayanti ahead of Dusshera. Kapoor’s first Bollywood outing Saawariya was a Diwali release. It didn’t explode, unfortunately.
Also Read: Why Most Bollywood Films Are Released On Fridays
Why Friday?
Hollywood’s Gone With The Wind (1939) was culturally and historically significant in every right and it is said that its Friday release may have inspired Bollywood, with Mugals being the first to start the trend. With Prithviraj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, and Madhubala playing the lead roles, the magnum opus changed the Hindi cinema forever when it released in India on August 5, 1960.
Fifth day of the week is also considered as Goddess Lakshmi’s day– producers felt that a release on Friday would bring wealth, good luck, and prosperity. In fact, the first scene shot in majority of movies has been shot on Fridays, being the most auspicious day for most religions in India. Some reports also suggest that people received their weekly salaries on Fridays, thereby enabling them to spend time with their families.
Salman Khan and Eid
Salman Khan has delivered some of his biggest successes on or around the festivities of Eid. From Wanted (2009), to playing the likeable cop Chulbul Pandey in Dabangg (2010) to Bodyguard (2011) to Ek tha tiger in 2012, to Kick (2014). Khan’s Eid releases have a separate fanbase.
