In an era where streaming headlines dominate entertainment discussions, I find myself increasingly convinced of a simple truth: The theatrical experience isn’t going anywhere. As someone who has witnessed multiple “existential threats” to the four walls of the cinema over decades, what we are seeing today is at best another chapter in the exhibition industry’s resilient history.

When VHS brought films into living rooms, when satellite television expanded entertainment options and even when Amitabh Bachchan’s Kaun Banega Crorepati debuted, talk of the end of the big screen rang loud. But the industry met each such pronouncement with adaptation, not a sense of defeat. And here we are in 2025, with multiplexes still being built across markets and cinephiles still lining up for premiere nights.

Throughout, one metric has remained definitive: The theatrical run. Box office performances provide unmatched visibility and transparency in measuring a film’s cultural impact and commercial viability. This isn’t merely tradition; it’s a reflection of cinema halls’ continued centrality in the entertainment structure. Stars also gain validation of their potential and audience appeal exclusively through theatrical releases, with opening day and lifetime box-office collections serving as vital barometers of their drawing power and commercial performance.

Proving detractors wrong, 2025 began with strong box-office momentum across languages and genres. From mass entertainers drawing record crowds to........

© Indian Express