'Detective Byomkesh Bakshy' release postponed to avoid clash with WC

The film was initially slated to release on February 13 but now has been pushed to April 10 on fears of a drop in footfall as India and Pakistan play the World Cup match on February 15

It is an ironical coincidence that Sushant Singh Rajput starts shooting for his biopic on Mahendra Singh Dhoni, but it is cricket that has pushed the release date of his own film 'Detective Byomkesh Bakshy' to another date. The film was initially slated to release on February 13 but now has been pushed to April 10.

Dibakar Banerjee and Sushant Singh Rajput on the sets of 'Detective Byomkesh Bakshy'

According to an informer, the decision was taken after the announcement of dates for the Cricket World Cup 2015 was made. "The weekend match is between India and Pakistan which is bound to affect the collection of the film as February 15 is a Sunday and if India and Pakistan plays on that day, footfall is expected to drop."

Directed by Dibakar Banerjee, the film is a contemporary interpretation of war-torn Calcutta during the 1940s. The eponymous film looks at the first adventure of an immensely popular character, sleuth Byomkesh Bakshy.

Exhibitor Rajesh Thadani says that the decision to push the release date is entirely commerical. He says, "Sunday's business contribution to the business of any film is about 40 per cent of the total weekend collection. Besides, cinema business has always got affected because of cricket especially after the one day format gained popularity and if it is a India-Pakistan game, then watching a movie at that time would be the audiences' last priority."

Vishal Anand of Fun Cinemas adds, "Shifting of the date makes sense since Sunday provides nearly half of the revenue."

Cricket expert Hemant Kenkre points out, "An India-Pakistan match will definitely affect the business of a film — as it's always a point of discussion one day before and after the game — it's bound to have a ripple effect on the business of a film releasing around that time. Besides, World Cup Cricket is one of the most marketed event so anything that attracts mass audience will definitely get affected."

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