Indian Cinema @ 2024: Pushparaj aka Allu Arjun Rules, Tollywood comes to Bollywood rescue! EXCLUSIVE

Bhubaneswar: Year 2024 is about to fade away from the arclight. It is time for some lekha-jokha (accounting).

One thousand four hundred seventy three films have portrayed the myriads of human shades – emotion, fear, action, romance, lighter sense and musings on provoking societal norms – on the big Indian canvass this eventful year. 

Year’s entertainment index peaked again. The box office numbers depict how the 2024 show was. Movie watchers flocked the theatre in big numbers. But the year’s filmy plot has its twists and turns.

FLASHBACK 2023

Year 2023 had been the jackpot year for Indian cinema. The year saw Indian box office minting a record 11, 400 crore (Rs 9700cr net). But the plot had not been rosy for Indian cinema of all hues. 

While the year had been a GOLDEN year for Hindi Cinema aka Bollywood, it had been a win-win year for Tamil and Kannada cinema. But Telugu (Tollywood) and Malayalam cinema had no such lady luck to shine on.

Hindi Cinema raked the moolah at the box office minting Rs 4800 cr with four in awesome Rs 500 club. Bollywood for the first time in history joined the Rs 500 club. Shahrukh Khan’s Jawan, Pathan, Sunny Deol’s Gadar 2 and Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal gave the new 500 club to Hindi film industry.

On the wings of the 4 super 500s, the Hindi Cinema witnessed a 45% jump in BO earnings in the year. The Year ended with Animal super show with the B-town slipping into 2024 with ‘Fighter’ confidence and ‘Singham’ valour!

THE YEAR 2024

It seems the plot of Hindi Cinema in year 2024 has gone awry. Sample the following.

• Total Indian Movies released in the year: 1473
• Gross income – 11,165 cr (till Dec 26, 2024)
• Net collection – 9656 cr (till Dec 26, 2024)

HINDI

• Total movies released – 218 (same as in year 2023)
• Net collection – 4033cr (till Dec 26, 2024)
• Net collection in 2023 was Rs 4800cr
• Net collection 2022 – Rs 3300cr (from 194 films)

TELUGU

• Total movies released – 305
• Net Collection – Rs 1987 cr (till Dec 26, 2024)
• Net collection in 2023 – Rs 1860 cr (from 317 movies)

TAMIL

• Total Movies – 235
• Net collection – 1549 cr (till Dec 26, 2024)
• Net collection in 2023 – Rs 1600cr (from 271 movies)

MALAYALAM

• Total movies – 189
• Net collection – Rs 957.11 cr (till Dec 26,2024)
• Net collection in 2023 – Rs 390 cr (from 218 movies)

KANNADA

• Total movies – 207
• Net  collection – Rs 209 cr (till Dec 26, 2024)
• Net collection in 2023 – Rs 200cr (from 241 movies)

WHO HOLDS THE SHOW?

As the camera zoomed on for ACTION time, unlike in 2023, Hindi Cinema didn’t record even a Rs 300cr movie, if one goes by the net collection. Read the top-10 table below to find out who holds the show?

A glance at the above big box office players brings to the following conclusions

• Like 2023, Hindi movie goers in 2024 have been fida over mass action thriller genre of movies   
• The Hindi movie goers love affair with massy action thrillers continued since the advent of Amitabh Bachchan on silver screen.
• The time has changed but movie taste of Hindi cine watchers almost has been the same.
• From Jaani Dushman to Stree 2 and Munjya, Horror-comic movies ruled the roost at box office.
• Bollywood losing revenue is evident for the reason of lacking of massy action stars.
• A glance shows year 2024 has only 1 Rs 500 cr movie, unlike 4 in 2023.
• But the chart is ruled by Pushparaj aka Allu Arjun.
• Pushpa 2 The Rule is a Tollywood movie.
• The film had contributed a massive Rs 716 cr.
• Pushpa 2 The Rule alone accounts for around 18 % of the Hindi Cinema’s net revenue.
• More so, Prabhas starred Kalki 2898 AD, another Tollywood movie, contributed another 7% of the total BO revenue in 2024
• Save these 2 Tollywood movies, The Hindi film net collection would have been at the level of Rs 3007cr, nearly 300 cr less than that of year 2022. 
• Despite release of movies of big action stars like Hrithik Roshan (Fighter), Ajay Devgn (Singham Again and Shaitaan), none of the Hindi movies could join the Rs 300 cr club in year 2024.
• The above analysis shows Tollywood has rescued Bollywood from a BIG drop in box office windfall in year 2024.

WHAT ABOUT LANGUAGE FILMS? 

Here is a look at how many blocksbusters the Tollywood, Kollywood, Mollywood and Sandalwood have given in the year 2024.

TOLLYWOOD: 3 blockbusters, 1 hit. Jr NTR’s much hyped Devara flopped.

• Allu Arjun starred Pushpa 2 and Prabhas starred Kalki 2898 AD proved blockbuster.
• Mahes Babu’s Guntur Kaaram turned average.
• In Tollywood too, Pushparaj aka Allu Arjun Rule continues.

KOLLYWOOD: 3 blockbusters , 1 Superhit.

• Superstar Vijay ruled at top with his film GOAT collecting Rs 225 cr in Tamil
• Sivakartikeyan starred Amaran also turned another blockbuster.
• Pushpa 2 The Rule (Tamil) figured among top -10 in BO earnings in Tamil Nadu. 
• Not good year for Thailava Rajnikanth, as his much hyped movie Vettaiyan flopped.
• Rajni starred movie life time collection stood at Rs 124cr in Tamil.
• Pushpa 2 within 21 days collected Rs 55.35cr net.

SANDALWOOD: Year 2024 has not been a good year. No wonder seen. None of the films turned blockbuster

• Sunny Leone and Murali Sharma starred UI topped the chart with Rs 22.23cr net collection.
• Allu Arjun’s Pushpa figured in the top -10 net earners with a collection of Rs 7.5cr in 21 days.

MOLLYWOOD: Year 2024 has been the golden year for the Malayalam film industry as the Industry has delivered 8 blockbusters, 1 All time blockbusters and 1 big hit.

• Soubin Shahir starred Manjummel Boys became first film in Malayalam to mint Rs 200cr.
• The film figured in the list of top-10 grossing Indian movies.
• Allu Arjun’s Pushpa here doesn’t figure in top -10 earners.

The BOTTOMLINE has been Year 2024 has been golden year for Mollywood as it has registered maximum number of blockbusters in 2024. 

• In Tamil, Vijay is number 1
• In Telugu, Allu Arjun
• In Hindi, Allu Arjun rules
• Therefore, in 2024 Pushparaj aka Allu Arjun Rules.