FOCUS GROUP
Conducted on the Topic:
IMPACT OF IPL ON MULTIPLEX BUSINESS
Moderated by: VISHAKHA VARSHNEY
Views expressed by the Members: ANKIT SHARMA
AMIT KUMAR ALOK
BISHWADEEPAK SHARMA
BISHNU PRASAD NANDA PARDEEP KUMAR
SHANTANU GHOSH
SIDDARTHJHA TORIT BANRJEE
Focus Group Script
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA): I would like to start with a brief introduction with you guys.
PARDEEP: My name is Pradeep. My likes are, I do like movies. Its usually more of philosophical and on an academic side. About games I don’t like much.
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA): Which kind of movies do you like?
PARDEEP: Quite serious, documentaries kind of..
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA): So you don’t like bit of sports?
PARDEEP: No, not really
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA): What do you like the most? Do you like movies or sports? What is your views regarding this?
BISHWA DEEPAK: I do like the movies and movies can be of any type. I feel that movies are more interesting than sports. That’s why I am more inclined towards movies.
MODERATOR(VISHAKHA): So lets make it a healthy discussion here so those who like movies please raise their hand?
MODERATOR(VISHAKHA):Is there any person who actually likes both IPL and the movies ?
SHANTANU: Good morning all of you my name is Shantanu Ghosh..’m an MBA scholar. I like both movies as well as sports. If special event like IPL or World Cup is going on, I will definitely go for that otherwise I will go for movies. I have a tendency to go for entertaining things.
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA): What u would prefer to watch at the time of IPL? IPL match or the movies?
SIDDHARTH: I like watching movies but at the time of IPL I would like to watch IPL match more than movies. Because it’s better to watch IPL than watching movies.
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA): What fantasise u towards IPL?
SIDDHARTH: Lots of thing like many movie stars are also involved in this IPL match, the cheerleaders are there.
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA): Okay! The cheer girls basically fantasise you…
SIDDHARTH: No, not basically the cheer girls.
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA): If we make movies with a more glamorous actor than what would you prefer? What fantasise you more to watch IPL more than the movie?
SIDDHARTH: The kind of promotion they do for cricket and the cheer leaders.
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA): So don’t you think in the movies also the promotion is done on a regular basis and people can get attracted to that. Is it you are a boy that’s why you are focussed towards IPL or is it for all the youths and girls also?
SIDDHARTH: The format of IPL is like it’s 20-20 match, the match is over within very short time period it doesn’t take much more time and it’s not so much boring also.
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA): So you are saying movies is bit boring than IPL.
SIDDHARTH: Sometimes it’s bit boring like before interval it’s boring or after interval it’s boring. It also depend on the movies like if the movies will be interesting or the stars who are acting in the movies is my favourite than surely I will watch movies.
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA): The first thing that attracts you towards the IPL because it’s not boring and secondly as you say the cheer girls, so the cheer girls are not there in the movies.
SIDDHARTH: It’s like we can see live cheer girls.
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA): What you suggest, you also want to see the live cheer girls?
ANKIT: No, not exactly but it will be good when it is seen on the live. I think that the format of IPL is not boring and not much enthusiastic like the movies
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA): you must be watching films as well, what kind of expectations do you have from the films. Why don’t you go to the multiplexes during the time of IPL, Is there any specific reason?
ANKIT: I think that when the IPL was launched last year, that time there was not any good movie was launched, no any blockbuster movies was released because the movies were of low budget
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA):- budget also matters for the consumers
ANKIT: yes and the star cast was also not well.
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA): so the star cast also matters during the time of IPL.
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA): What are you like sports or movies?
AMIT ALOK: I like sports because I am sports loving person. Not I but youths like sport. Sports provide a special feeling for motivation & energy for health. In India the most popular sport is cricket. So I spend my free time with cricket. I want to play & watch cricket.
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA):-what do you like, movie or sports?
BISHNU: good morning to all.my name is bishnu Prasad and I like movies most.
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA): will a movie having sports as well as a good script attract you?
BISHNU: in India there are two things which attracts people most.one is movie and other is cricket. Fans of movies are mostly the middle age group people which are the largest population share in the country on the other hand sport loving people includes children to old age groups.so it depends upon the priority which they want to give. Suppose a person is a very big fan of a star and his movie has released at the time of ipl than he/she must watch the movie first. On the contrary a sports lover doesn’t want to miss any match of ipl.as per their view ipl gives more excitement in shorter period than movies. Alsopeople think that we can watch the movie after release any time through cds but we can’t see the telecast of live matches.
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA): what do you think about IPL?
AMIT ALOK: IPL is a popular and fantastic event in league cricket. People like this type sport-entertainment program. In this type of cricket provide full enjoyment.
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA): why do you prefer IPL rather than movie?
AMIT ALOK: In bollywood movie mostly same type of films have launched who only related to love story. So public prefer IPL and I also, in IPL more entertainment not only cricket but also other type things just like cheer leaders when any four, six, And out decision given by umpire then cheer leaders start dancing. This is a special impact for viewers. So youth also enjoy that moment.
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA): why do you think that cricket is worshipped the most in India? Are there any sports which attracts the Indians or it is just cricket? Why only cricket fantasize you?
BISHWA DEEPAK: There is no doubt that cricket is worshipped in India. They are more attached to cricket. It is been watched by almost every conscious person in India. This is a gift to us by the Britishers. People from every society and every section watches cricket. While other sports like English premier league, Spanish LA Liga which are club football from Europe are being watched by selected people only. Even Olympics has not been a hit in India. Hence, according to me these are the reasons due to which cricket is worshipped the most.
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA): I just want to ask you one more question please.. If IPL is shown on multiplexes, what would you like to watch in multiplex IPL or the movie?
PARDEEP: Even then I might go for movies.
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA): Only movies?
PARDEEP: Ya sure, thing is that.. why are we comparing IPL with movies..its just because of the glamour factor..ok..’m not going for this purpose so I won’t go for IPL.
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA): So now here the question comes..its about your craze for something, if you are crazy for films then you are going for films even if its expensive also. If investment in IPL is lesser than movies which would you prefer?
PARDEEP: You are saying that instead of movies if IPL is being shown in the theatre what I will do whether I will purchase the ticket for IPL? In that case I will also consider the affordability factor because if the cost of IPL ticket is higher than the movies then I will definitely won’t be going for that. If the prices are same then I will consider the company..the people I am with because ‘m not going there for cricket as ‘m not a cricket fan. Its basically for entertainment that I go for movies so if I find that its not entertaining there(in IPL) I won’t be going there.IPL cheerleaders and all are little bit shallow things more than that its cricket that matters in IPL as its only when someone hits a six or a four or someone is out that cheerleaders will jump around and dance so entertainment is very little.
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA):ok.. so as per pradeep vashisht, he is saying that for him the focus is more on films though the tickets are expensive still he will go for IPL.
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA):-if at the time of ipl a movie is released, then how would you see that movie, will you prefer pirated cds?
BISHNU: no, it can available in original cd/dvd after some day.
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA):-if ipl matches are shown in multiplexes would like to go for that?
BISHNU: yes, off course but only selected ones.
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA):-if the prices of ipl tickets are lowered than movie tickets than which one do you prefer?
BISHNU: as I have already told it’s not possible to watch each and every match of ipl can’t be see in multiplexes though the price of tickets lower than movies. The time and money matters.
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA): What about you say special in IPL.
AMIT ALOK: In IPL always new excitement, drama & craziness are available. So people crazy for IPL. In IPL many film actors just like shahrukh Khan, Priety Zinta, Shilpa Setthy, Katrina Kaif, Akshay kumar, Juhi chawala. This is also an attraction point.
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA): why time of IPL, movie did not release?
AMIT ALOK: we saw history then approx all film who release at time of IPL are flop. Just like “chance pe dance, Run etc.” because mind set of Indian always prefer IPL.
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA): if the prices of the IPL tickets are reduced, would you prefer to go and watch IPL?
TORIT: No, why should I pay for watching IPL? If I need to watch IPL, I can watch it at home free of cost. Also I will be more comfortable at home rather than the stadium. But I will prefer to watch Bollywood movies in the multiplexes because that will be more entertaining to me and there will be variety in the movies.
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA): are you against the IPL merchandising or in the for of it?
TORIT: I am against IPL merchandising as the funky clothes are not meant for the employed people. It is only meant for the youngsters. It is just a way of publicity.
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA): If the IPL match is telecasted on the multiplex would you prefer to go there to watch IPL or watch it on the T.V.?
SIDDHARTH: If it will be telecasted over the multiplexes I will definitely go for that.
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA): Why?
SIDDHARTH: It’s more interesting to watch IPL in the multiplex….
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA): Now the cheer girl has failed; so you cannot see them live.
SIDDHARTH: No. I was not saying that I am sitting in the stadium and watching the match while sitting there.
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA): At the time of IPL there were some drinks offer to the people having the name of the team. Do the T-shirts or the cap attract you?
SIDDHARTH: Yeah it attracts me. Every team has their own T-shirts and caps having their own logo with different colours it attracts me a lot.
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA): The price of IPL ticket effects or not.
AMIT ALOK: No because main thing is satisfaction of people. They can pay this type amount for cricket. In India cricket is religion.
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA): What do you think about IPL merchandising?
AMIT ALOK: many famous brands use this event for merchandising. We take example Reebok, Reebok launch Kolkata Knight Riders T-Shirts as well as addidas and other brand also do same things. People take this hand to hand because India want to see “Sachin glance and Aishwarya dance” and IPL provide both things.
MODERATOR (VISHAKHA): So everyone is saying that most of them are attracted to IPL because may be as boys are always fascinated about cricket and basically,
i) they want to see real cheer girls;
ii) they do not want to get bored;
they want to see a blend of actors and cricketers as they like the bonding between them. 
