With cricket fever set to grip the country from February 19 when the World Cup kicks off, Bollywood has decided to play it safe and defer the release of big-budget films.

“With losses of Rs 475 crore in 2010, most producers and distributors are not taking any chances during the World Cup and the Indian Premier League that follows soon after,” an industry official told Business Line . IPL 4 starts on April 9, a week after the curtains come down on the World Cup. To get a better idea of Bollywood's ultra-cautious attitude, March will see just one release, Game , while in the same month last year 15-18 films were released.

UTV Motion Pictures has postponed the Akshay Kumar-Sonam Kapoor starrer Thank You after the World Cup. “We didn't want our movie to clash with the tourney and decided to release it on April 8,” said a company official.

Other production houses are exploring the option of early releases to beat the cricket hysteria. Saat Khoon Maaf , Run Bhola Run and Patiala House will hit the screens before the World Cup. PVR Pictures will release Teen Thay Bhai on April 1. “This is just before the final and since it is a comedy, we will take advantage of the dry movie line-up and offer a break between tournaments,” said Mr Kamal Gianchandani, Chief Executive Officer.

However, multiplex officials are hopeful that producers and distributors will consider releasing movies in March-April.

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