Gadar 2, OMG 2, Jailer, Bhola Shankar: Trade experts dissect the success of commercial cinema | Hindi Movie News
All the top actors, who are over 55 years old, have created a record weekend of this year.
Trade feels it is the commercial cinema that has drawn the audience back to cinemas and seniors of the industry who have understood what works for the cinema audience.
Says exhibitor and distributor Raj Bansal told ETimes, “The business has been about Rs 400 cr plus and the biggest weekend of the year. So, what is the reason behind such a weekend? Also, most of the stars that have got the audience back are sixty plus years old.”
Bansal further added, “Most of the actors, be it Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Sunny and Rajnikanth are choosing action films and a good script and great action is the best way to reach the B and C centres of the country. The youngsters of today have been making the wrong choice and are staying off cinema with action and mass appeal which our senior actors are doing it well and you can see the result at the box office.’’
The realm of mass cinema has undeniably taken centre stage this week, casting an irresistible spell that extends beyond personal preferences. Trade analyst Atul Mohan said, “While one might harbour mixed feelings towards mass cinema, its undeniable impact demands attention. The fervor surrounding iconic titles like “Gadar 2,” “Jailer,” and “Bhola Shankar” is palpable, drawing enthusiasts into its grasp.’’
All the four actors including Rajnikanth, Chiranjeevi, Sunny Deol and Akshay Kumar have put in over 30 years in the film industry and are known to be action heroes with mass appeal.
Mohan continued, “A meticulous examination of this phenomenon unveils an intriguing thread—the protagonists commanding the screen are all seasoned, surpassing the age of 55 and donning the mantle of senior citizens. How did they achieve such enduring relevance? The answer lies in their embodiment of mass heroes. These seasoned performers possess an innate understanding of their audience’s pulse, an intuition guiding them to deliver precisely what the public yearns for. Their triumphs are rooted not solely in their artistic prowess, but in the profound bond they share with the masses.’’
While emerging talents in the industry grapple to forge unbreakable connections with their audience, these venerable luminaries have consistently cultivated unwavering loyalty and profound admiration from their fans, tracing a path paved with authenticity and dedication. In the same vein, the saga of Shah Rukh Khan resonates powerfully.
Mohan added, “His recent feat of delivering the most triumphant box office success in Hindi cinema this January attests to his ability to bridge the past and present, harnessing the essence of mass appeal. The box office landscape has experienced a remarkable resurgence, with these films breathing a newfound vitality into it, akin to a revitalizing infusion of life-giving oxygen. With Independence Day on the horizon, the box office is poised to unfurl its splendors to the fullest extent. Anticipation mounts as the first week of release promises to carve its name as the most monumental in the annals of cinematic history. The forthcoming days hold the promise of unparalleled success, charting a course towards a benchmark that is poised to eclipse all previous benchmarks.’’
Exhibitor Akshaye Rathi feels what worked for Gadar 2 was absolute mass appeal which has been missing from Bollywood. But Rathi has word of caution for the industry. He said, “As much as there have been great weeks keeping our fingers crossed that this one sustains.”
“I really think that having a couple of blockbusters after a very sporadic run of two and a half three years we really need to stop this chest thumping that a lot of people seem to be doing on the social media especially those who have got nothing to do with the films that have worked,” added Rathi.
“We need to put our heads down and continue to work, to learn from the success continue to take lessons from our failures and work harder and consolidate the success. We don’t get into any kind of provoking people who are critics of the industry who have run it down over the years build on the success we have got,” concluded Rathi.
