You must have often wondered why Bollywood movies usually end up releasing on the last day of the working week, Friday. Although there isn’t any solid reason behind it, it is believed to be an influence from the release of a popular Hollywood movie and a few more reasons.
The film ‘Gone with the Wind’ was released on Friday, December 15, 1939. The film earned, which inspired producers in India as well. In India, the first film to start the trend of Friday releases was Mughal-e-Azam. It was released on August 5, 1960, and became a huge hit among the masses. This Indian epic historical drama film was produced and directed by K. Asif. Starring Prithviraj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, Madhubala, and Durga Khote, it follows the love affair between Mughal Prince Salim and Anarkali, a court dancer.
With the release and success of this movie, Bollywood accepted the trend of releasing movies on Fridays by the late 1960s.
Fridays are also considered the day of Goddess Laxmi, so it was commonly believed among the producers that releasing a film on Friday would bring prosperity and wealth. Most producers shoot the first shot of a film on Fridays because it is considered auspicious by most religions in the country.
Another big reason can be Friday being the last day of the working week, hence, people would be idle and looking for a source of entertainment, and therefore movies are your saviour, and that would also result in a good box-office collection!
Back in the day, people used to get their weekly salaries on Fridays. This made it a convenient day for them to go out and enjoy themselves with their families, often by watching movies. Additionally, the cost for producers to screen their films on Fridays was lower compared to other days of the week, making it a more attractive option for moviegoers. These factors combined to establish Friday as the traditional day for movie outings.
