New Delhi, Oct. 9 -- The opening act of the crucial festive season hasn't stirred Indian movie theatres out of their slump, threatening to end the year with a thud. Their only big-budget hope is Ranveer Singh-starrer Dhurandhar, besides a few dark horses.

At last count, Dharma Productions' Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari had made only around Rs.38 crore, and even the Kannada fantasy thriller Kantara has received traction only in specific markets, including the Hindi belt and Karnataka. Thamma, scheduled for a Diwali release, has generated mixed buzz so far.

Key holidays such as Diwali and Christmas will be celebrated in the coming weeks, but the absence of big star vehicles is pretty evident, says Rahul Puri, managing director of Mukta A...