Years ago, only a small sliver of Indian who lived in large metro cities and had a western inclination would see Hollywood movies, which typically arrived years late and were not dubbed locally. Subsequently VCD and DVD piracy affected the long lead market as well. All that has changed now, with small towns showing Hollywood blockbusters, dubbed into local languages such as Hindi and Tamil and with release dates closely coordinated with the international premieres.
For example, Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader which debuts with 800 plus prints in 3D and 2D format, the highest ever for any Hollywood movie in India. Walt Disney’s Tron: Legacy (December 17) and Fox Star Studios’ Gulliver’s Travels (December 31) will be released with over 400 prints in 3D and 2D versions making for a brisk December in India. Recently, Walt Disney unleashed its marketing campaign and celebrated Tron Night by showcasing an exclusive sneak preview of 23 minutes footage from the movie.
“The market is growing every year as Hollywood films have mass appeal and dubbing them in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu has also created a new market,” said Mr Vivek Krishnani, Marketing, Distribution and Syndication Head – Fox Star Studios, whose Avatar had 50 per cent of its revenue from the dubbed version. “Most of these movies have a strong buzz around them and also have day-and-date release which helps check piracy. Plus, they are well-established franchises which have been well received here,” said Mr Sunil Punjabi, CEO, Cinemax.
Last updated: December 26th, 2025
