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Ask any film trade expert from Bollywood about the best time for a film’s release and pat comes the reply: “There is no better period in India than Diwali for a film.” This, in fact is now conventional wisdom in Bollywood and hence filmmakers bank upon the Diwali weekend to rake in the moolah. Diwali is unique in that it is spread over four days and thus its supposed to be the period that draws maximum crowds to movie theatres.

This Diwali too the box-office expects fireworks with two of the most anticipated films of the year releasing simultaneously. Some call it the clash of the titans: King Khan’s ‘Om Shanti Om’ VS magician Bhansali’s ‘Saawariya’. Each film has its own merit to lure the audiences. ‘OSO’ has SRK flaunting his newly developed six-pack abs alongside the gorgeous newcomer Deepika Padukone . The film is a love story based on the theme of re-incarnation. ‘Saawariya’, on the other hand, introduces two newcomers – Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor . But what’s going to pull audiences to the theatres is the fact that the film has been directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali , a man known to have a deft command over filmmaking.

So, since when did this idea of slating big-banner films for release during Diwali catch up? Its relatively a recent one, aver trade analysts. They point out the fact that it was not until the mid-1990s that it became an established trend. Maybe the filmmakers started to think seriously about Diwali after the success of Feroze Khan’s Yalgaar and Ajay Devgan’s Jigar in 1992. The following Deepawali (in 1993), ensured the trend became common practice when Shah Rukh Khan’s Baazigar became a big hit (unexpectedly!). Diwali has become a golden period for Bollywood (well almost!) since then. Lets take a look at some of the Box-Office sparklers released during Diwali from then:

• DDLJ : 1995
• Raja Hindustani : 1996
• Dil To Pagal Hai : 1997
• Veer Zaara : 2004
• Don : 2006

Some films however flopped miserably even though their release was scheduled during Diwali.

• Ashoka : 2001
• Jeena Sirf Mere Liye : 2002
• Jaan-e-Mann : 2006

Multiplexes these days determine the fate of a film over a single weekend. The four days of Diwali are more than adequate to decide whether a film sizzles or fizzles out at the box office. That’s precisely what Om Shanti Om and Saawariya are battling over this Friday.

However, as already pointed out just scheduling a release during Diwali wouldn’t make any movie a hit, it the paying public who would actually decide its fate. They nonetheless have ample time and choice! this Diwali.