Last Potter film to be released with 600 prints in India

Come Friday next week and the decade-long Harry Potter saga on screen is set to weave a magical end, with the epic finale between the good and evil forces of the wizarding world. Warner Brothers in India will be splashing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows-Part 2, across 600 screens, making it the widest release of the series.

This final installment would be released in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu in 2D and 3D format. The earlier release, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows-Part 1, was released in 2010 with 433 prints. The first movie, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, was released in 101 prints in early 2002. (Click here for chart)

“Harry Potter has a dedicated fan following. Initially, the films drew children. Now, people from all age groups are tuning in to the Pottermania,” said a senior multiplex official.

Harry Potter is one of cinema’s most successful franchises, with a little over $6.37 billion (Rs 28,300 crore) in worldwide receipts. This last movie had a premiere in London yesterday and is expected to tumble records when it hits the theatres worldwide next Friday.

In India, Warner Bros is leaving no stone unturned for its marketing campaign, including a movie marathon and Harry Potter film festival from July 7-13 in Bangalore, New Delhi and Mumbai, at PVR Cinemas. “We have not compromised on the timings and all these movies have been given prime slots between 7 pm and 7.45 pm,” said Shalu Sabharwal, vice-president, sales and marketing, PVR.

The movie marathon, first of its kind in India, will have 21 hours of non-stop screening of the Harry Potter series, starting 5 am on July 13 and conclude with the premiere of the last movie. “Warner has also tied up with Weekender to launch a range of Harry Potter T-shirts in India and with Portico to launch a line of Harry Potter bedsheets, bath towels and pillow covers,” said Denzil Dias, deputy managing director (theatrical), Warner Bros Pictures India.

The adventure begins where Deathly Hallows-Part 1 ended: with a theft that will have lasting repercussions. The stone crypt of Albus Dumbledore is desecrated and a distinctively shaped wand taken from the late headmaster’s hands. The thief, Lord Voldemort himself, raises the Elder Wand in the belief that it provides mastery over Death, though it is much more complicated than that. Harry Potter is likely to be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Voldemort.

Trade analysts believe Deathly Hallows-Part 2 could give stiff competition to the much-anticipated Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, starring Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akthar, Katrina Kaif, Abhay Deol and Kalki Koechlin. The movie, distributed by Eros, has been shot in exotic locales of Egypt and Spain. Incidentally, Deathly Hollows-Part 1 was pitted against Guzaarish, the Hrithik Roshan-starrer. The Potter movie pipped Sanjay Leela Bansali’s magnum opus, grossing Rs 16 crore in the first weekend while Guzaarish collected Rs 14.5 crore during the period.