The Most Awaited movies of 2005

By IndiaFM News Bureau, February 1st, 2005 - 0930 hrs IST


With all eyes on Bollywood, and a whole slew of movies due for release, IndiaFM took up the challenge to chart out what are likely to be the biggest blockbusters of them all.

The analysis took the form of an extensive survey conducted amongst those who really matter – the fans. Spanning regions as diverse as South East Asia to the European Union and USA-Canada, the user had to select their top 10 most anticipated movies. A two level authentication check with email validation and IP mapping was put into place ensuring a completely transparent and accurate survey results.

The IndiaFM.com hotlist of ‘The Most Awaited Movies of 2005’ truly proved to be the voice of the masses garnering an overwhelming response. A 14-day survey, conducted between 28th December to 10th January, resulted in 7,12,428 valid responses. Results were compiled based on votes from 79 countries, which constitute about 98% of revenue towards Bollywood releases.

And the poll threw up several interesting results generating quite a buzz in the industry.

      
Overseas usa/can   India    Uk&nbs p;     UAE
1    Black 66%
2    The Rising 63%
3    Bewafaa 49%
4    Kisna 48%
5    Babul 47%
6    Kaal 39%
7    Elaan 38%
8    David Dhawan's next 37%
9    Bunty Aur Babli 36%
10    Shabd 34%
11    Phir Hera Pheri 33%
12    Family 31%

Table to be read as Rank, Movie Name and Percentage of respondents awaiting the movie. The findings should not be taken as predicting the fate of the movie at the box office.


Key Findings

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Black' is the most awaited movie across all regions


For the first time from the start of this survey since 2003, there is no Yash Raj Films' movie in Top 5. However it continues to remain the 'Top Distributor' for the second year in a row due to movies like Black, The Rising, Kaal and Bunty Aur Babli.


Stars to watch out for this year: Amitabh Bachchan & Rani Mukherjee.


Ravi Chopra's Babul is awaited the most in USA/Canada & UK than in other regions while Sarkar is awaited the most in India


Boney Kapoor is the only producer with two movies in the Top 15 list. (Bewafaa & No Entry)

Industry Speak

"I am screaming with joy. It's a wonderful feeling to know that the film has been thumped up by the people. Such a verdict re-instates my belief that I have done the right thing by making Black. Also the fact that the film is sitting at the No.1 spot further hammers the fact that people are open to a Bhansali making a film like Black after a Devdas & Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. It delights me. The poll assures me that Black will open big. It should take a huge opening in the first week of its release."
- Sanjay Leela Bhansali

"The results are a pat on our back, i am flattered that people are waiting for my film but it also adds to the pressure on us to make a better film and not let them down. There are benefits of such survey one being that i can actually take these statistics to the distributors and show them the potential audience. It also helps us collabarate with better brands and promise better team alliance. A survey conducted by IndiaFM is certainly reliable because it is a well worked on survey. Moreover using this new technology, it gives me feedback which was not available to me earlier and now i can gauge what people not only in India but globally are expecting from me".
- Ravi Chopra - Producer/Director of Babul

“It feels great, I definitely believe in the brand loyalty of Dharma Productions and since this film is a little different from what they normally make, it feels great that people are awaiting it. IndiaFM is one of the most trusted and sought after website in India and also abroad. I know people religiously surf it first thing in the morning. It is definitely reliable because it is comprehensive and has respondents globally. Also the fact that it is a new medium and gives us feedback even before our film releases adds to the confidence.”
- Soham Shah - Director of Kaal

"Yash Raj Films has always been committed to producing and promoting high quality cinema and this poll reconfirms the relation we have been able to build with our audience. We look forward to deliver more of quality cinema. IndiaFM over a period of time has grown and can feel the pulse of the audience globally, specially because of their Internet medium, and hence such polls provide us with reliable information."
- Tarun Tripathi - Marketing Manager, Yash Raj Films

"It feels great that year after year the polls are positive for us and i hope it continues to remain the same. And coming from IndiaFM it helps us from the customer point of view as most of the people abroad especially in USA read IndiaFM reviews and poll results before watching a film. Last year also, the results of the poll turned out to be quite accurate."
- Kumar Ahuja - Vice President, International Sales, Eros Multimedia

"Entertainment marketing is still instinct driven any kind of stats from IndiaFM that give insights into consumer perception adds great value in formulating or even relooking at strategies"
- Vishal Dembla - Head, International Marketing, The Factory


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