The year 2012 began on the heels of a very successful 2011, and here we are with the first three months of the year already behind us. So how has the first quarter been for the trade this year?

Starting with Players on January 6 till last week’s releases, Blood Money and Bumboo, a total of 31 films hit the marquee during the first three months of the year. Of these, Agneepath, Kahaani, Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu, Paan Singh Tomar and Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya managed to bring cheer to the trade in varying degrees with Agneepath undoubtedly being the pick of the lot in terms of box office collections –  almost touching a whopping Rs 125 crore at the domestic box office.

During the same period last year, the standout films were No One Killed Jessica, Yamla Pagla Deewana and Tanu Weds Manu. So not only do we have a larger number of successes this year, the total takings from the box office have also been substantially higher. This, as well as the overall trend in the last five years, is brought out by a perusal of the following numbers:

 

 

 

 

While it is early days yet, the trends of the first quarter would bolster one’s hopes of this year’s box-office performance not only living up to last year’s success but in fact even exceeding it.

And that hope is bolstered by the fact that while the second quarter of 2011 was a pretty dull period in terms of big-ticket releases in the wake of the ICC World Cup and the IPL, this time around producers have decided to take the IPL bull by its horns. Thus, we have a pretty substantial number of offerings from the bigger production studios lined up, including yesterday’s release, Housefull 2, and such films as Bittoo Boss, Vicky Donor, Hate Story, Tezz, Jannat 2, Dangerous Ishq, Department and Ishaqzaade scheduled to hit the screens in the April-to-June quarter.

Moreover, like last year, the biggest guns will come out firing in the second half of the year with Rowdy Rathore, Teri Meri Kahaani, Bol Bachchan, Ek Tha Tiger, Raaz 3, Jism 2, Heroine, Talaash, Shootout At Wadala, Son Of Sardar, Yash Chopra’s Shah Rukh Khan-Katrina Kaif starrer and Dabangg 2, all scheduled for release in the second half of the year.

So it’s all shaping up pretty well, but, of course, we should remain mindful of the old adage of not counting our chickens before they hatch!