Blockbuster movie ‘Waar’ has now officially become the highest grossing film in Pakistan of all time after it surpassed ‘Choorian’s’ Rs200 million mark at the box office on just its 36th day of screening.
‘Waar’ has so far earned Rs200,145,809 in a little over five weeks of screenings. The film was initially released on 53 screens at 35 cinemas all across Pakistan on Eidul Azha. It is still playing at five different sites, meaning it could go on to gross a higher total take from the domestic screenings.
Bilal Lashari’s film, which had opened to sold out theatres, is still selling 30-40% of seats with films such as Sanjayleela Bhansali’s ‘Ramleela’ drawing packed houses. ‘Waar‘ is also expected to see a limited release in neighbouring India, and the UK.
‘Waar’ owes its massive success at the box office primarily to a long public holiday when it opened on Eid. More importantly, ‘Waar’ has benefited from an exponential increase in the number of screens over the past year. Of the 63 working screens in Pakistan, 17 were added just in 2013. The advent of multiplexes has also seen the price of tickets double from an average price of Rs150 to Rs350.
The business has proven to be lucrative for entrepreneurs who are seen to be pouring in substantial amount money in opening up bigger and better cinemas in Pakistan. If the sociopolitical situation remains favourable for films, Pakistan could see the number of cinema screens to triple to 200 by 2015.
Provincial distribution of business:
Punjab: 57%
Sindh: 35%
Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) : 8%
City wise distribution of business:
Karachi: 34%
Lahore: 29%
Rawalpindi: 17%
Islamabad: 8%
Faislabad: 4%
Multan: 2%
Gujranwala: 2%
Hyderabad: 1%
Gujrat: 1%
Other: 1%
News from Express Tribune written by Rafay Mehmood
Rashid Nazir Ali