Bollywood faces a southern challenge

It was after almost two decades ago that a Rajnikanth film clashed with an Amitabh starrer

India, 3 Jul 2007 -- Will regional films eat into Bollywood’s fame and profit pie?

These are strange times for the Bollywood BO. While much-hyped, big banner films are being rejected by the audience, regional language films are raking in the moolah. Up North, it is yet another Bhojpuri film, Nirhua Rikshawala , which has won the BO battle hands down

And it was pitted against the Amitabh starrer Jhoom Barabar Jhoom . You could argue that it is a well-known fact that Bhojpuri films are the hottest sub-genre of the Indian cinema industry. Bhojpuri film tunes have reached even Brazil, as composer Vishal Dadlani discovered recently. But then...

The Sivaji mania
What explains the nationwide frenzy over the Tamil film, Sivaji ? It was after almost two decades ago that a Rajnikanth film clashed with an Amitabh starrer.
And those were the days when one didn't think twice before declaring a film which had AB in it a runaway hit. But now, the verdict is the exact opposite.
Rajnikanth's movie is said to have grossed nearly Rs 2.5 crore in just advance bookings nationwide. Says SC Babu, the CEO of AVM Productions - the makers of Sivaji , "It's a combo of a brilliant marketing strategy and hype - created, magnified and sustained."
Adds trade analyst Taran Adarsh, "The film has had an opening that Bollywood has only been fantasising about lately. Most of the cinemas pan-India are going houseful."

Bollywood vs regional cinema
So, do we now see Bollywood films being nudged and edged out by regional, vernacular films? Answers Amol Palekar, "Bollywood is a mere percentage of the Indian cinema as a complete entity. But the Indian psyche is such that it has personified Bollywood as mainstream cinema, and sidelined regional cinema. We have to end such compartmentalisations to be able to produce world-class movies. Take Sivaji , for instance. It's got the biggest opening so far in the history of Indian cinema. But Bollywood will take no notice. Neither does the media."
There are others who feel the same way.