As one of the most highly anticipated films in years, James Cameron’s Avatar sequel Avatar: The Way of Water is set to take the box office by storm later this year. With breathtaking visuals and a gripping story that expands on the fascinating world of Pandora, it’s no wonder Avatar 2 is already poised to break records upon release.
However, for Indian audiences eager to see the film, a key question arises – will Avatar: The Way of Water release in Hindi? Read on as we explore the availability of a Hindi dubbed version of Avatar 2 for the Indian market.
Avatar enjoyed immense popularity in India
To gauge whether a Hindi dubbed version of Avatar 2 will be available, it helps to look at the performance of the first Avatar film back in 2009. Avatar took the Indian box office by storm, grossing over ₹150 crores and becoming one of the highest-grossing Hollywood films in India at the time.
A key factor in its success was that Avatar was one of the first major Hollywood films to be released in India in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu along with the original English version. The Hindi dubbed version in particular saw excellent occupancy in both single-screen cinemas and multiplexes.
Avatar’s core story exploring colonialism and environmentalism resonated strongly with Indian viewers. The lifelike CGI and motion capture were a visual extravaganza for audiences. All of this created the perfect storm for Avatar to shatter language barriers and become a phenomenon pan-India.
Disney is dubbing Avatar 2 in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu
Fortunately for Indian fans of the franchise, history is set to repeat itself with Avatar: The Way of Water. Disney confirmed earlier this year that the Avatar sequel will indeed release in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu besides English on December 16, 2022.
Disney itself will be distributing the film in India. Given the franchise’s proven appeal for Indian viewers in local languages, it makes perfect business sense for Disney to invest in high-quality dubbing for Avatar 2.
The release of the Avatar re-release in India in September 2022 provided a test case to gauge audience interest. The Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu dubbed versions saw strong occupancy, which likely gave Disney the confidence to move ahead with dubbed versions of Avatar: The Way of Water.
Why a Hindi dubbed release makes sense
Beyond Avatar’s strong track record, there are several reasons why Avatar: The Way of Water is likely to be a smash hit in Hindi:
- Brand equity – Avatar is now a hugely popular franchise globally and in India. Viewers who watched the original have been awaiting the sequel for over a decade.
- Star value – Director James Cameron is a revered name among Indian viewers. Lead stars Zoe Saldana, Sam Worthington, and Sigourney Weaver are also big draws.
- Visual extravaganza – The trailers promise cutting-edge CGI and sweeping visuals designed for the big screen IMAX experience.
- Dramatic storytelling – The high-stakes family-driven story will have universal appeal and strong emotional resonance for Indian crowds.
- Hollywood spectacle – There is an appetite for the larger-than-life storytelling that a Hollywood production like Avatar can provide.
Given these advantages, a Hindi dubbed version is critical for Avatar: The Way of Water to maximize its box office prospects in India. Disney clearly recognizes this and has made the right call for Indian fans.
Potential to break more records
With both English and Hindi dubbed versions set to release on the same day as the worldwide premiere, Avatar: The Way of Water has the potential to break more box office records in India.
Some milestones the Avatar sequel could potentially surpass:
- Highest opening weekend for a Hollywood film in India
- Fastest film to gross ₹100 crores nett for a Hollywood release in India
- Highest grossing Hollywood film of all time in India (previous record held by Avengers: Endgame)
- Highest grossing IMAX film of all time in India
The advantage of simultaneous release gives Avatar: The Way of Water a chance to maximize revenues right from opening weekend. Positive word-of-mouth and repeat viewings could propel the film’s box office totals to new heights in the weeks that follow.
It’s also worth noting that the film faces limited competition from Bollywood through the crowded December release calendar. This gives Avatar: The Way of Water the space to dominate screens and eyeballs nationwide.
Key markets for Hindi dubbed release
In terms of regions and specific cinemas, a Hindi dubbed version of Avatar: The Way of Water has the potential for big numbers in:
- North India – Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab
- Central India – Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh
- West India – Gujarat, Maharashtra
- Single screen cinemas across India
- Multiplexes in major metro cities
Among metros, Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Kolkata, and Chennai may see the strongest turnouts by virtue of their immense populations and rapidly growing multiplex presence.
Booking trends in the lead up to release and initial occupancy rates will give Disney vital data on high-performing regions and cinemas to optimize screening ratios between English and Hindi (as well other languages) to maximize box office revenues.
Marketing efforts can target Hindi speakers
Disney is expected to back Avatar: The Way of Water with a marketing blitz across television, print, digital, and on-ground channels. The studio should focus advertising efforts towards Hindi speakers to raise awareness.
Some suggested marketing tactics include:
- Hindi trailer launch events in key cities
- Avatar merchandise giveaways on Hindi news and entertainment channels
- Contests to meet the Hindi voice cast
- Localization of Avatar Instagram filters into Hindi
- Hindi press junkets with Indian media
- Special promo screenings for Hindi bloggers and influencers
Hollywood studios rarely go all-out for dubbed Indian language marketing. But Avatar merits that extra effort from Disney given its history and prospects. Targeted Hindi marketing will ensure maximum footfalls from Hindi-preferring audiences.
The stage is set for more records
In summary, the Hindi (along with Tamil and Telugu) dubbed release of Avatar: The Way of Water is a wise move from Disney that taps into proven demand. Given Avatar’s phenomenal track record and the sequel’s sky-high anticipation, Avatar 2 is primed to set more new box office benchmarks for Hollywood in India.
Disney has given the film the best possible chance to find very long legs through December and January by going wide with dubbed languages on par with the English version. The stage is set for Avatar: The Way of Water to soar to new heights in India and deliver a record-smashing performance.
Conclusion
For Indian audiences eager to return to the visually stunning world of Pandora, the availability of Avatar: The Way of Water in Hindi along with other major Indian languages is welcome news. Given the franchise’s strong foundation and the sequel’s epic scale, a Hindi dubbed version could propel Avatar 2 to become India’s next box office phenomenon for Hollywood.
Disney has made a savvy move by announcing Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu dubs day-and-date with the global premiere. This provides the film maximum potential right out of the gates to draw in non-English speaking Indian viewers. With strategic marketing and release planning, Avatar: The Way of Water is primed to set new box office records and raise the bar for Hollywood’s prospects in India.