Hollywood cashes in on Bollywood lull

MUMBAI: Who would have thought Hollywood would live to see this day? The multiplex-Bollywood producer face-off has had a curious fall-out; Hollywood films, without any competition from Bollywood because of the absence of a major release, have ruled the roost in Bollywood���s hometown between April and June.

Only one Bollywood release, Yash Raj���s New York, has been a hit between April and June 25 as Hollywood films have notched up huge numbers.

Trade insiders confirmed that Paramount���s Monsters Vs Aliens in 3-D did good business as did Angels Vs Demons, Sony���s prequel to the Da Vinci Code. Adding to Hollywood���s glee is the good business done by X-Men Origins-Wolverine, released through 20th Century Fox. Fox Star Studios, India, CEO Vijay Singh said: ���The first-week collections of Wolverine are a landmark for Fox Star Studios and it indicates that market for Hollywood films in India is expanding.������

Sunil Doshi of Alliance Media Entertainment, an independent producer dabbling in the foreign movie space, said: ���Hollywood collections used to be about 5 per cent of the total Indian box office. But indications are that there is a steady rise.������

Hollywood content has found steady viewers across multiplexes in India, studies have revealed. Doshi felt movies like XMen, which were popular in comic form (just like Phantom ), were a huge draw with the younger generation. Another landmark addition to the foreign pie comes from the re-introduction of 3-D cinema to the Indian market. Monsters Vs Aliens paved the path and Walt Disney���s Bolt has wowed both critics and audience.

Doshi felt that 3-D was Hollywood���s answer to combating piracy. Ice Age-3 is the third 3-D film to be released in quick succession. At least half-a-dozen more Hollywood films will be brought to the country by the year-end.