

More movies in the making, but fewer screens to go around
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. A flurry of strategic deals in India’s film production business is set to swell the pipeline of small and mid-budget movies, even as structural constraints in theatrical releases raise questions about where those films will ultimately play. Multiplexes in major cities are more open to mid-budget and regional films, but tier-two and tier-three markets remain thinly served.
As a result, the industry remains divided on whether the increasing volume of films can find adequate theatrical infrastructure. Recent deals that underscore the shift include Reliance Industries Ltd-owned Jio Studios' acquisition of a 50.1% stake in Sikhya Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.
Meanwhile, music label Saregama has invested ₹325 crore in an initial stake in film-maker Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s company. Universal Music has acquired a 30% stake in Excel Entertainment. “These kinds of deals can meaningfully increase output, especially in the small and mid-budget space where studios are better placed to back new voices, contained stories, and sharper genres.
That said, more films do not automatically mean more theatrical films," Bhuvanesh Mendiratta, managing director of multiplex chain Miraj Entertainment Ltd, said. “Many of these titles will still be built with a hybrid mindset, aiming to create strong IP (intellectual property) and then choose the best window based on audience pull, genre, and marketing scale," Mendiratta said. India’s screen density remains low relative to its population, with prime showtimes in multiplexes concentrated in major cities.
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