News Desk
MUMBAI — On a humid Saturday evening in Hyderabad, the line outside Prasads Multiplex stretches down the block. Families chatter in Telugu, clutching tickets for the latest action-packed Tollywood blockbuster. A few streets away, a modest single-screen theater prepares for a sold-out showing of a Tamil drama that’s been making waves across South India. Meanwhile, in Mumbai’s bustling suburbs, Bollywood fans decked out in their weekend best pile into theaters for a romantic epic starring Shah Rukh Khan. This is cinema-going in India today: vibrant, diverse, and unmistakably alive.
While the world’s movie theaters struggle to lure audiences back from the comfort of their couches, India’s cinema culture is staging a remarkable comeback. The numbers tell part of the story: in 2023, nearly 943 million tickets were sold across the country, according to Statista, a figure that dwarfs the United States’ 837 million for the same year, despite India’s per capita attendance being lower at 0.66 visits per person compared to America’s 2.47. But beyond the stats lies a deeper truth—cinema here isn’t just entertainment; it’s a cultural lifeline, a family tradition, and a defiant stand against the streaming tide.
One of the biggest trends reshaping India’s theater scene is the rise of regional cinema. Bollywood, long the face of Indian film, is no longer the sole titan. South Indian industries—Telugu (Tollywood), Tamil (Kollywood), Kannada, and Malayalam—are stealing the spotlight. In 2022, the Telugu film RRR didn’t just dominate Indian box offices; it won an Oscar and captivated global audiences with its dazzling visuals and unapologetic storytelling. That same year, South Indian films outgrossed Bollywood in several markets, a shift industry insiders attribute to fresh narratives and a rejection of formulaic tropes.
“South Indian cinema has found its groove,” says Raj Rao, a film critic based in Chennai. “While Bollywood sometimes leans on star power, directors down south are taking risks—big action, local stories, and no compromise on quality.” The numbers back him up: post-pandemic, South Indian cinema has roared back faster than its northern counterpart, with theater attendance in states like Telangana and Tamil Nadu surging.
This regional boom reflects India’s diversity. With 22 official languages and countless dialects, films in Tamil, Telugu, or Bengali aren’t just movies—they’re mirrors of identity. In rural areas especially, theaters become gathering spots where communities celebrate their stories. “It’s not just about watching a film,” says Anil Sharma, a theater owner in Karnataka. “People come to feel connected—to their language, their roots.”
Walk into an Indian theater, and you’ll notice something else: it’s rarely a solo outing. Families arrive together—grandparents, kids, cousins—often dressed as if heading to a festival. Popcorn is swapped for samosas, and intermissions buzz with debates over the plot. This social ritual sets India apart from the West, where cinema-going has become more individualistic, squeezed by Netflix marathons and recliner sofas.
“The theater here is an event,” says Meena Kapoor, a Mumbai mother of two who takes her family to the movies twice a month. “We plan it, we dress up, we talk about it for days. It’s not something you replace with a phone screen.” That communal pull has helped India’s theater-going population climb to 157.4 million in 2024, a 29 percent jump from the pandemic slump, according to Ormax Media.
Globally, theaters are in a bind. In the U.S., attendance is creeping back—up 18 percent in 2023, per nscreenmedia.com—but still lags far behind pre-COVID highs. Streaming services like Disney+ and Amazon Prime have turned living rooms into cineplexes. India isn’t immune to this shift; subscriptions to platforms like Netflix India are growing. Yet, the country’s theaters are holding their own, thanks to a mix of cultural loyalty and sheer scale.
With over 9,000 screens nationwide, India boasts one of the world’s largest cinema infrastructures. Ticket prices, often as low as 100 rupees ($1.20), keep it accessible, especially compared to $15 stubs in American multiplexes. And while Hollywood banks on “event” films like Barbie to pack seats, Indian filmmakers churn out a steady stream of releases—over 1,500 films a year across languages—ensuring there’s always something new to see.
Indian cinema’s influence is spilling beyond its borders, too. The diaspora—spanning the U.K., the Middle East, and the U.S.—flocks to theaters for the latest releases, turning films like Pathaan and Jawan into international hits. RRR’s Oscar win was a milestone, but it’s part of a broader trend: Indian movies are claiming space on the world stage, blending local flair with universal appeal. “We’re not just making films for ourselves anymore,” says director Sanjay Gupta to Mumbai Mirror. “The world’s watching, and we’re ready.”
It’s not all rosy. Total admissions in 2023 were still below 2018’s peak of 2,022 million, a reminder of the pandemic’s lingering scars. Piracy remains a thorn, and urban multiplexes face rising costs. Streaming’s convenience tempts younger viewers, especially in cities. Yet, India’s cinema culture has a resilience that’s hard to shake. “Theaters here aren’t just buildings,” says Rao. “They’re part of who we are.”
As the lights dim in Hyderabad and the opening credits roll, the crowd erupts in cheers. It’s a sound that echoes across India—a testament to a nation that still believes in the magic of the big screen. In a world turning inward, India’s theaters are a defiant shout: the show goes on.
